Bewitched featured several Christmas-themed episodes during its eight-season run in the 1960s and early ‘70s, but series star Elizabeth Montgomery had a personal favorite.
In an interview with Liberty Voice, cast member Erin Murphy, who played mini-witch Tabitha Stephens in the ABCsitcom, said her TV mom Montgomery favored “Sisters at Heart,” a holiday-themed episode that first aired on Christmas Eve in 1970.
“My favorite Christmas episode was one called 'Sisters At Heart,’ which was also Elizabeth Montgomery’s favorite episode of the entire series,” Murphy said. “The episode dealt with prejudice and was awarded a special Governor’s Emmy.”
The memorable Bewitched episode focused on the friendship between Tabitha and her new friend Lisa Wilson (Venetta Rogers), who called themselves sisters but were told by a bully at the park that they couldn't be sisters because they had different skin colors. Tabitha then cast a spell, which made them both polka dotted. In addition, a racist advertising client mistakenly believed that Tabitha’s father, Darrin (Dick Sargent,) was married to Lisa’s mother (Janee Michelle) and declared he wanted Darrin off of his account.
The Story for ‘Sisters at Heart’ Came From a High School Class
“Sisters at Heart” was unique because it wasn’t written by the show’s regular writers. Instead, a 10th-grade English class from Thomas Jefferson High School in Los Angeles collaborated on it as part of a special assignment in 1969.
According to Collider, school teacher Marcella Saunders came up with the idea for the class to visit the Bewitched set as a way to inspire them. She then challenged her class to write an episode of Bewitched after finding many of them watched the show. Producer William Asher was so impressed with the script that he and writer Barbara Avedon made just a few adjustments, including changing the teleplay to a Christmas setting.
In an interview with Closer Weekly, Murphy, who was just six years old at the time the episode aired, recalled that the whole English class came to the table read for the episode. “I remember the entire process of that episode because it was completely different than usual. …It was a great experience, and it was Elizabeth Montgomery’s favorite episode by far,” she said.
More than 55 years later, the names of all 26 students in Thomas Jefferson High’s Room 309 English class are still listed in the episode’s closing credits under the title “Story By.”
Murphy explained that the episode about racism made even more of an impact because it was written from the point of view of teenagers. “Kids see things differently than adults do, but I think Elizabeth Montgomery, William Asher, and the other people in charge read their script and were compelled by it,” she told Closer Weekly. “In the end, just the concept that we were sisters at heart, that we didn’t need to have the same color skin, that we were still sisters, was just a beautiful concept.”
“There are a lot of underlying themes that kind of cross over to all different groups of people. I think Elizabeth Montgomery and her husband Bill Asher were political people and I don’t think they were afraid to kind of face the issues," the Bewitched star added. "It’s definitely been one of the episodes that I’m asked about the most.”
?SIGN UP for Parade's Daily newsletter to get the latest pop culture news & celebrity interviews delivered right to your inbox?
Hence then, the article about bewitched star s favorite christmas episode was written by 26 high school students was published today ( ) and is available on Parade ( Saudi Arabia ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( ‘Bewitched’ Star’s Favorite Christmas Episode Was Written by 26 High School Students )
Also on site :
- Driver dies in fiery freeway crash on Christmas Eve near Sacramento
- Trump’s Christmas Eve calls with children asking about Santa’s whereabouts are steeped in partisan politics
- JCPenney Has a 'Stunning' White Sapphire Jewelry Set on Sale for Just $16, and It's Perfect for Every Occasion