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OH Nuts! · 08-08-2010, 05:20 PM

Have you ever watched "Tabitha" - it appeared in the 70s with Tabitha as a young woman in her 20's and she and Adam work together in a TV station. It only lasted 12 eps. But I borrowed it from the library. Of course it doesn't compare to Bewitched (the real deal!) but its pleasant nonetheless. Anyone want to discuss. (I couldn't find a subforum for it in the 70s )

TV_on_the_Porch · 08-08-2010, 06:20 PM

I watched in when first aired and thought it was OK. I probably liked the concept of reviving Bewitched characters so much that I more or less went along for the ride. The Kravitzes guest appearance was of course a highlight. It was also nice to see Mary Grace Canfield (Harriet Kravitz) guest in another role on a different episode. She was mentioned in that episode's TV Guide encapsulated description, but only had a couple of lines.

Tabitha made enough of an impression on me that I anticipated a revival of the show that never came. In one of the original network airings, Tabitha mentions her parents' 25th anniversary. In 1977 that really stood out as an anachronism--spoken by adult Tabitha notwithstanding. That line alone apparently made enough of an impression on me to anticipate one of the cable networks bringing back Tabitha in 1989 as a "contemporary" show, the true chronological period between the parent show and its spinoff having then passed. But I would have to wait another decade.

When TV Land finally aired Tabitha, I found myself underwhelmed by it. It is nowhere near as good as Bewitched in its prime. In fact, from a creative standpoint, it's about as close to a what a 9th season of Bewitched might look like as could be imagined. Someone mentioned in another thread that, toward the end of Bewitched, hiding of magic powers from mortals became almost an afterthought. That can be seen in Tabitha as well. In the episode where Tabitha wrecks a TV ad for a pizza joint with a spell, she later apologizes, apparently taking responsibility--while offering no explanation--for supernatural tricks.

Lisa Hartman has said in interviews that the network never gave the show a chance, but producer Jerry Mayer literally deleted his involvement with it from his resume. Well...at one time he did. That credit is now restored at IMDB, where for a long time it had been conspicuously absent from his page.

catlover79 · 08-08-2010, 07:17 PM

Yeah, I've seen it. I took the DVD set out of the library a couple of years ago. While Lisa Hartman and Robert Urich were certainly charming, the show itself wasn't.

MickeyMac · 08-09-2010, 02:30 PM

I couldnt get into it.

OH Nuts! · 08-09-2010, 03:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catlover79

Yeah, I've seen it. I took the DVD set out of the library a couple of years ago. While Lisa Hartman and Robert Urich were certainly charming, the show itself wasn't.

Of course NOTHING compares to Bewitched, but "Tabitha" was rather pleasant. I think the show flopped more bec. of bad timing than anything else. It was TOO SOON after Bewitched left the air to present Tabitha as a young woman. And if they were going to do a show about Tabitha it should have been Erin Murphy in the star role. Had Tabitha come along in the mid 80s it might have fared better. But its still a fun show - sorry it didn't take off. But I'm glad I've had a chance to watch it. IMO Minerva is a great character and the geust appearances were very enjoyable.

catlover79 · 08-09-2010, 04:02 PM

Agreed. I would have loved to see a show with Erin Murphy playing the grown-up Tabitha.

Jude The Obscure · 08-09-2010, 04:42 PM

^Would love to see Erin Murphy now doing Tabitha...she's hot

McGillicuddy · 08-09-2010, 04:46 PM

The character of Adam was a waste. (I suppose him being mortal, was supposed to represent mortal Darrin)
Aunt Minera's relationship should have been explained. (Was she Samantha's sister? If so, why do we never hear of her before?)
The Nancy Kravitz character was a plus. (imo) They explained she used to visit Aunt Gladys & Uncle Abner, and played with Tabitha, and the guest appearance of Sandra Gould & George Tobias was great.
Also Dr. Bombay's appearance a +++.
I do wish they made more connections to the show, and more of the Bewitchedcast appeared. And it would have been great if they waited 10 years and given the role to Erin Murphy, (who has an amazing resembalance to Eliz. Montgomery).

Otherwise it was what it was, fun to have on dvd, if just for nostalgic purposes.

catlover79 · 08-10-2010, 01:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jude The Obscure

^Would love to see Erin Murphy now doing Tabitha...she's hot

Erin has even gone on the record saying she would have loved to do the Tabitha show.

comedyfreak · 08-10-2010, 05:59 AM

I liked the show and have the dvd it's not perfect but better than nothing. I would have had Adam as a Warlock whose powers would come and go setting up the plots for Tabitha. I would have also had Larry Tate's son Jonathan as a love interest for Tabitha and lastly I would have introduced the Kravitz' via their Nephew, a Niece was never mentioned during the original series.

catlover79 · 08-10-2010, 11:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by comedyfreak

I liked the show and have the dvd it's not perfect but better than nothing. I would have had Adam as a Warlock whose powers would come and go setting up the plots for Tabitha. I would have also had Larry Tate's son Jonathan as a love interest for Tabitha and lastly I would have introduced the Kravitz' via their Nephew, a Niece was never mentioned during the original series.

Those are all very good ideas.

OH Nuts! · 08-10-2010, 10:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catlover79

Erin has even gone on the record saying she would have loved to do the Tabitha show.

Maybe they should try to do another Tabitha show now. Erin would make a great mommy witch. And of course she should have a blond daughter. And the show should have flashbacks to grandma Sam. You never know. I think it would be a fun show. But then - its hard to go wrong with anything "Bewitched."

comedyfreak · 08-11-2010, 05:32 AM

I'm for that, they could do it right this time. They should also have Diane be Tabitha's look alike cousin too, lol.

catlover79 · 08-11-2010, 11:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by comedyfreak

I'm for that, they could do it right this time. They should also have Diane be Tabitha's look alike cousin too, lol.

So am I. The only thing is that fraternal twins Erin and Diane look NOTHING alike!!

catlover79 · 08-11-2010, 11:12 AM

Here are some more pics of Erin and Diane (circa early 1990s):

08-08-2010, 05:20 PM	#1
OH Nuts! Forum Celebrity Riding on the Cannonball! Join Date: Feb 15, 2005 Posts: 41,091	Hey fellow Bewitched Fans... Have you ever watched "Tabitha" - it appeared in the 70s with Tabitha as a young woman in her 20's and she and Adam work together in a TV station. It only lasted 12 eps. But I borrowed it from the library. Of course it doesn't compare to Bewitched (the real deal!) but its pleasant nonetheless. Anyone want to discuss. (I couldn't find a subforum for it in the 70s ) __________________ Thank you SHOUT! & Antenna TV xxoo You both Rock!!

08-08-2010, 07:17 PM	#3
catlover79 Moderator Forum Legend God Bless Val Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 67,615	Yeah, I've seen it. I took the DVD set out of the library a couple of years ago. While Lisa Hartman and Robert Urich were certainly charming, the show itself wasn't. __________________ "Jesus loves you and He approves this message." "I'm alive. I'm feeling good. I'm trying to live every moment as much as I can." - Valerie Harper, March 2013

08-10-2010, 05:59 AM	#10
comedyfreak Senior Member Where No One Has Gone Before Join Date: Dec 14, 2005 Location: Sunny California Posts: 9,057	I liked the show and have the dvd it's not perfect but better than nothing. I would have had Adam as a Warlock whose powers would come and go setting up the plots for Tabitha. I would have also had Larry Tate's son Jonathan as a love interest for Tabitha and lastly I would have introduced the Kravitz' via their Nephew, a Niece was never mentioned during the original series. __________________ www.facebook.com/comedyfreak

08-11-2010, 11:12 AM	#15
catlover79 Moderator Forum Legend God Bless Val Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 67,615	Here are some more pics of Erin and Diane (circa early 1990s): Attached Images

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08-08-2010, 06:20 PM	#2
TV_on_the_Porch Forum Regular anything good on? Join Date: Oct 18, 2005 Posts: 647	I watched in when first aired and thought it was OK. I probably liked the concept of reviving Bewitched characters so much that I more or less went along for the ride. The Kravitzes guest appearance was of course a highlight. It was also nice to see Mary Grace Canfield (Harriet Kravitz) guest in another role on a different episode. She was mentioned in that episode's TV Guide encapsulated description, but only had a couple of lines. Tabitha made enough of an impression on me that I anticipated a revival of the show that never came. In one of the original network airings, Tabitha mentions her parents' 25th anniversary. In 1977 that really stood out as an anachronism--spoken by adult Tabitha notwithstanding. That line alone apparently made enough of an impression on me to anticipate one of the cable networks bringing back Tabitha in 1989 as a "contemporary" show, the true chronological period between the parent show and its spinoff having then passed. But I would have to wait another decade. When TV Land finally aired Tabitha, I found myself underwhelmed by it. It is nowhere near as good as Bewitched in its prime. In fact, from a creative standpoint, it's about as close to a what a 9th season of Bewitched might look like as could be imagined. Someone mentioned in another thread that, toward the end of Bewitched, hiding of magic powers from mortals became almost an afterthought. That can be seen in Tabitha as well. In the episode where Tabitha wrecks a TV ad for a pizza joint with a spell, she later apologizes, apparently taking responsibility--while offering no explanation--for supernatural tricks. Lisa Hartman has said in interviews that the network never gave the show a chance, but producer Jerry Mayer literally deleted his involvement with it from his resume. Well...at one time he did. That credit is now restored at IMDB, where for a long time it had been conspicuously absent from his page.

08-09-2010, 02:30 PM	#4
MickeyMac Moderator Forum Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 18, 2008 Location: Kalamazoo, Michigan Posts: 16,951	I couldnt get into it.

08-09-2010, 04:02 PM	#6
catlover79 Moderator Forum Legend God Bless Val Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 67,615	Agreed. I would have loved to see a show with Erin Murphy playing the grown-up Tabitha.

08-09-2010, 04:42 PM	#7
Jude The Obscure Senior Member Retired Join Date: Dec 10, 2006 Posts: 7,277	^Would love to see Erin Murphy now doing Tabitha...she's hot

08-09-2010, 04:46 PM	#8
McGillicuddy Senior Member Member Join Date: Sep 28, 2002 Posts: 4,156	The character of Adam was a waste. (I suppose him being mortal, was supposed to represent mortal Darrin) Aunt Minera's relationship should have been explained. (Was she Samantha's sister? If so, why do we never hear of her before?) The Nancy Kravitz character was a plus. (imo) They explained she used to visit Aunt Gladys & Uncle Abner, and played with Tabitha, and the guest appearance of Sandra Gould & George Tobias was great. Also Dr. Bombay's appearance a +++. I do wish they made more connections to the show, and more of the Bewitchedcast appeared. And it would have been great if they waited 10 years and given the role to Erin Murphy, (who has an amazing resembalance to Eliz. Montgomery). Otherwise it was what it was, fun to have on dvd, if just for nostalgic purposes.

08-11-2010, 05:32 AM	#13
comedyfreak Senior Member Where No One Has Gone Before Join Date: Dec 14, 2005 Location: Sunny California Posts: 9,057	I'm for that, they could do it right this time. They should also have Diane be Tabitha's look alike cousin too, lol.