Bewitched was renewed for more seasons, but Elizabeth Montgomery’s decision—and other behind-the-scenes factors—brought the classic sitcom to a close in 1972.
One of the most beloved sitcoms of all time didn’t simply fade away the way most people assume.
Bewitched premiered on ABC in 1964 and quickly became a cultural favorite. Elizabeth Montgomery’s nose-twitching witch Samantha Stephens, her mortal husband Darrin, and the colorful magical family around them created a mix of fantasy and domestic comedy that still resonates decades later. The series ran for eight seasons and 254 episodes, ending in 1972.
Many viewers assume classic shows disappear because ratings collapse or the network pulls the plug. That is not what happened here.
The network wanted the show to continue
ABC renewed Bewitched for seasons 9 and 10. Cast members, including Erin Murphy (who played young Tabitha), later confirmed they had contracts and fully expected to return after the usual hiatus. The final episode that aired—“The Truth, Nothing But the Truth, So Help Me Sam”—was filmed like any other. No one on set treated it as a series finale.
Then the telegrams and letters arrived. The show would not be coming back.
Elizabeth Montgomery’s decision
The primary reason was Elizabeth Montgomery’s choice to step away. After eight seasons she wanted to move on from the role of Samantha. Her marriage to the show’s longtime producer and director, William Asher, was also ending. The personal and professional overlap made continuing difficult. Sources close to the production have described tensions that made another season impractical.
Montgomery owned a significant stake in the series and later pursued different, often more dramatic roles. The network’s interest in continuing could not overcome her decision to leave.
An earlier major change on the show
Years before the end, another major shift had already occurred. Original Darrin actor Dick York left after season 5. He had suffered a severe back injury years earlier while filming the 1959 movie They Came to Cordura. Chronic pain and related health struggles made continuing the demanding schedule impossible. Dick Sargent took over the role for the final three seasons. The recasting was handled without on-screen explanation at the time and remains one of the better-known transitions in classic television.
A quiet ending for a lasting show
Because the cast and crew did not know the last episode would be the last, there was no big farewell or retrospective. The series simply stopped. Yet Bewitched never really disappeared from American culture. Reruns, nostalgia, and the enduring image of Samantha’s magic kept it alive long after the final broadcast.
The story is less about a show that failed and more about a popular series that ended because its star was ready for the next chapter—while the network still wanted more.
That is why one of the most beloved sitcoms of all time didn’t fade out the way most people think.
