The role of Samantha was originally offered to Tammy Grimes.
'Helen Hunt' and Jodie Foster were once considered for the role of Tabitha.
Dick Sargent was William Asher's and Elizabeth Montgomery's original choice for the role of Darren, but Sargent was under contract with Universal at the time, and could not commit to the series. Dick York was then hired, and Sargent replaced him when York left the series due to increasing back pain.
Jim Backus was the first choice to play Abner Kravitz, but turned it down, because he was already working on "Gilligan's Island" (1964).
Elizabeth Montgomery played the roles of Samantha Stephens and her more free-spirited cousin Serena. However in the cast listing, the role of Serena was listed as being played by Pandora Spocks. Many viewers didn't realize this, and wrote "Pandora" fan mail. (Montgomery and Asher once left the set together, with Montgomery still wearing her Serena costume and makeup, and checked into a motel instead of going home.)
Paul Lynde, who played Uncle Arthur, appeared in an earlier episode as a nervous driving instructor who teaches Samantha how to drive.
Mercedes McCambridge who played Carlotta in episode #144 "Darrin, Gone and Forgotten" was in fact born "Carlotta" Mercedes Agnes McCambridge. So her first name was used as the character she played in that episode during the fifth season.
'Irene Vernon' (the first Louise Tate) was let go by the Ashers from the show after season two because of her association with producer Danny Arnold, who left at that time.
Even though Mr. McHahon was often referred to, he only appeared in two episodes.
'Bernard Fox' appeared earlier on the show as a witch-hunting anthropologist before taking on the role of Dr. Bombay.
The show had an unusual amount of roles played by more than one person: two Darrins, two Gladys Kravitzes, two Louise Tates, two of Darrin's father. Dick York left the show in 1969 due to health problems; his role of Darrin was taken over by Dick Sargent. When Alice Pearce died, her role of Mrs. Kravitz was taken over by Sandra Gould.
Alice Ghostley originally did not appear as Esmeralda but as maid Naomi who caused havoc at the Stephens'. In the same episode ("Maid To Order"), she is asked to help with a client dinner at the Tate's home because their own maid was ill that night. The name of the Tate's usual maid was Esmeralda!
Bernard Slade, a director with the series, was married to Jill Foster, who played Darrin's secretary Betty from 1965-69.
On Bewitched, Elizabeth Montgomery wed the show's producer / director William Asher. In one episode in 1969, a valentine with the pair's initials is seen on the wall of a baseball stadium. The last season was produced by "Ashmont", the company owned by the couple.
Elizabeth Montgomery became pregnant on two occasions during the shows run and both were written into the show.
On "Bewitched", almost all of the female witches' character names end with the letter "a", including Samantha, Endora, Esmerelda, and Tabitha.
The show's theme song was composed by Howard Greenfield and had lyrics written by Jack Keller that were never used on the show. Several artists recorded versions of the song including Steve Lawrence and Peggy Lee. The lyrics are: Bewitched, bewitched, you've got me in your spell. Bewitched, bewitched, you know your craft so well. Before I knew what you were doing, I looked in your eyes. That brand of woo that you've been brewin' Took me by surprise. You witch, you witch! One thing that's for sure, that stuff you pitch, just hasn't got a cure. My heart was under lock and key, but somehow it got unhitched. I never thought my heart could be had. But now I'm caught and I'm kind of glad To be bewitched. Bewitched.
The show's now-famous animated opening credits were created by Hanna-Barbera Productions.
Both Samantha and Darrin Stephens of "Bewitched" appeared (in animated form) on an episode of "The Flintstones" as the Stone Age couple's new neighbours.
The when the show originally aired the animated opening credits were changed each season to include the current sponsor. The credits shown on the currently syndicated version of the show eliminates these sequences. Originally the sequence began with a carton of the sponsor's logo and a voice over saying "Chevrolet (or Quaker Oats or Aunt Jemima or Oscar Mayer...) presents." Ending the credits, after the cartoon smoke with Agnes Moorehead's credit (where the credits in the syndicated version stop), was a brief cartoon ad for the sponsor.
The theme music to the show was a variation of the Chevrolet jingle, "See the USA in your Chevrolet". There would be a scene in the opening credits where Samantha's broom turns into the Chevrolet logo.
During the first six years, practically every car in sight is a Chevrolet, because the car company was one of the show's original sponsors.
In "Bewitched", Samantha's nose twitch evolved out of a real life mannerism. Elizabeth Montgomery would twitch her upper lip, causing her nose to follow.
Samantha's birthdate is April 15, Ages Ago.
In the episode "Eye of the Beholder" (25 February 1965), Samantha tells Darrin her birthday is June 6.
Samantha's maiden name was never revealed.
Darrin says Samantha has a mole in the middle of her back.
The only members of Samantha's family to consistantly call Darrin by his first name were Aunt Clara and Uncle Arthur.
The Tates had a son named Jonathan that was a few months older than Tabitha, but was only seen occasionally.
Darrin and Samantha Stephens lived at 1164 Morning Glory Circle.
In the episode "Hippie, Hippie, Hooray", we see Larry and Louise Tate in their kitchen. It's Tony Nelson's kitchen from "I Dream of Jeannie" (1965).
The exterior of the Kravitz house is the same exterior as used in "Partridge Family, The" (1970).
The April 4, 1968 episode "I Confess", was interrupted by ABC during its original airing for news coverage of the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King.
Many of the plots from earlier shows were repeated later.
The final black and white episode was "The Prodigy".
Jackie Cooper writes in his autobiography that when the show was in the beginning stages, Elizabeth Montgomery demanded her husband should produce the show, or else she would walk. Cooper states her demands were obviously not met but she handled things professionally.
During Dick York's final season on the show it was frequently not known if he would be well enough to work any given week. When he couldn't, a line making reference to Darrin being on a business trip was added to the script and York's lines were given to another actor (usually David "Larry" White) with few or no changes. Unfortunately dialog that would have been fine between Samantha and Darrin played a bit oddly between Samantha and another character.
When it was quite clear Dick York could not continue with the series, William Asher considered canceling the show, not only because of York, but because he, and Elizabeth Montgomery were getting tired of doing it, and they wanted to move on. However, the ratings were still high enough at the time where the network wanted the show to go on. So, Dick Sargent was brought in to be Darren. However, there was still one problem; how to explain why Darren looks, and sounds different. Many people came up with different ideas, but William Asher thought the viewers understood this was an actor playing a roll, so he decided that the best explanation was no explanation.
During the hiatus between the 1968-1969 and 1969-1970 seasons, the network reran all fourteen episodes in which Dick York did not appear in hopes of making it easier for the fans of the show to accept Dick Sargent as the new Darrin.
After her initial five-year contract was up, Elizabeth Montgomery announced she would move on to other things. Desperate to keep the show going, the network gave her part ownership of the show as part of her new contract.
Two supporting actresses: Alice Pearce (Gladys) and Marion Lorne (Aunt Clara) both were awarded Emmys posthumously.
Nicole Kidman is set to play Samantha Stephens in the movie version of the long-running series, "Bewitched". For the role, Nic has to "train" her nose to twitch in order to cast her spells. She's undergoing an unusual kind of exercise routine to achieve the nose wriggle made popular by Elizabeth Montgomery in the TV show. In a recent interview, she said, "I haven't gotten the nose down yet, but I'm determined that I'll do my own nose twitching and they won't have to use special effects".
