Bewitched: Season 06 (1969)

Yes, that's Elizabeth Montgomery, still securely in her role as glamorous witch Samantha Stevens as the fantasy sitcom Bewitched enters its sixth season. But, gosh, doesn't Samantha's mortal husband, ad executive Darrin Stephens look a bit different this year? This, of course, is because Dick York, who'd played Darrin since the series' debut in 1964, was forced to leave the show at the end of season five for health reasons (a serious, degenerative muscular injury) that were discreetly hidden from the public at the time. Thus, beginning in season six, Darrin Stephens is played by Dick Sargent, who takes over with such assurance and aplomb that, after a few episodes, it is hard to imagine anyone else in the role. Sargent would remain with Bewitched until the series shut down production three years later. Otherwise, the rest of cast remains as before: Agnes Moorehead as Samantha's imperious witch mom, Endora; David White as Darrin's supercilious boss, Larry Tate; Erin Murphy as Samantha and Darrin's daughter, Tabitha (a budding witch in her own right); Sandra Gould as the Stephens' snoopy, suspicious next-door neighbor Gladys Kravitz; and Paul Lynde as "Sam"'s prankish warlock uncle Arthur. However, season six features the debut of a brand new character. Originally telecast October 16, 1969, the episode "And Something Makes Four" marks the birth of Darrin and Sam's second child, a baby boy named Adam. Portrayed by a variety of uncredited twin infants during his first few appearances, Adam would be played by twin boys David and Greg Lawrence beginning in season seven. With the arrival of Adam, it behooves Darrin and Sam to hire a housekeeper, who also happens to be a witch: thus is introduced Alice Ghostley as Esmerelda, whose chronic inability to cast a spell without causing chaos was intended to evoke fond memories of the late Marion Lorne as Sam's Aunt Clara. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi