Classic television fans have always been captivated by the enduring rumor of a missing, banned episode of Bewitched.
The true story behind the beloved show’s history involves a heartbreaking national tragedy and a massive cultural revolution.
The myth of the banned footage stems from a jarring broadcast interruption on the night of April 4, 1968.
Viewers watching a lighthearted episode were stunned when the screen suddenly went completely dark without warning.
ABC abruptly severed the feed to announce the tragic assassination of civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
This sudden transition to continuous news coverage was later falsely remembered as the network burying inappropriate episode footage.
The series faced another massive hurdle when actor Dick York endured a catastrophic spine injury on a previous movie set.
Working in agonizing pain, York eventually suffered a massive seizure on the Bewitched set and had to resign.
The incredibly risky decision to recast the role with Dick Sargent kept the show alive but altered its original chemistry.
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By 1972, the television landscape was shifting rapidly due to an industry-wide movement known as the Rural Purge.
Network executives realized that younger demographics were losing interest in the innocent, escapist fantasy of the previous decade.
Star Elizabeth Montgomery declined massive financial incentives to return, choosing instead to gracefully end the series and pursue dramatic roles.
