Posted by Dr. Bombay on July 15, 2011, 1:34 pm Resident Bewitched Historian
...tonight ABC re-aired Episode #214, "Mother-in-Law of the Year" which originally aired January 14, 1971.
Durwood believes he’s come up with the perfect campaign for Bobbins Bon-Bons by saying “Celebrate your secretary with a box of Bobbins Bon-Bons.” When Endora pops in and hears it, she feels it’s terrible and suggests that he say that everyone should give their mother-in-law a box on Mother-in-Law Day. However, Samantha says that can’t happen because there isn’t a Mother-in-Law Day but that doesn’t stop Endora from believing in her idea.
At the office, when Durwood goes to present his ideas to Larry and Mr. Bobbins, Endora invisibly pops in and casts a spell wherein Durwood will speak but relate the ideas she puts in his head and he proceeds to tell them the Mother-in-Law Day idea. Mr. Bobbins loves it and decides that they can promote it on the Bobbins Sweetheart Parade on TV. Durwood is furious when he gets home and Samantha tells him it’s silly for him to be mad at Endora when it looks like she’s helping him out. However, she realizes it is her mother they’re talking about so when Durwood leaves the room she hollers for Endora who pops in looking innocent as a lamb.
Larry and Mr. Bobbins show up to tell Durwood how they’ve decided to capitalize on the Mother-in-Law Day idea. While they discuss, Endora casts another spell on Mr. Bobbins that when he hears her name his heart will flippity-flop. The spell works and any more business is shoved aside when Endora says she is going to go home in a cab and Mr. Bobbins whisks her away.
Durwood is furious, even more so when Larry tells him that they’ve decided to crown a Mother-in-Law of the Year at the Sweetheart Parade, and their first candidate is Endora!
Later, at home, Durwood is still seething about Endora but Samantha assures him that Endora will show up at the TV studio, however she pops in ready to go skiing with a friend named Peabody (who apparently invented thunder) and says that she has no intention of going to the TV studio and she pops out. Realizing that he’ll be out a job if his mother-in-law doesn’t show up, Durwood goes to call Larry to try and cancel but Samantha tells him it’s much too late for that and suggests that she show up as Endora. At first he balks, but when he finds that he really will lose his job if she’s not there, he concedes.
At the ABC studios, Mr. Bobbins presents “Endora” with a bouquet of roses and the director briefs her on how the commercial will go. As they prepare to start filming in about a minute, Endora shows up furious and demands to speak to Samantha. They sneak behind the set and Endora reams Samantha for trying to imitate her “when everyone knows I’m inimitable.” She also suggests that if Samantha is going to be her, she is going to be Samantha and zaps herself into Samantha’s form just as the director comes looking for Endora. “Endora” goes back on set and begins filming the commercial about Bobbins Buttery Bon-Bons and as she’s gushing about how great they are, “Samantha” pops in ranting about how fattening they are and ridiculously high priced. Mr. Bobbins, Larry, and Durwood are shocked but Durwood tells everyone to keep calm, that there is a surprise coming up. “Endora” refutes all claims until “Samantha” zaps herself back into Endora causing Samantha to change back into herself. When the commercial is done, Durwood says he spoke to the crew about adding the special effect and it turns out Mr. Bobbins loves it!
This one is definitely a four star episode and Elizabeth Montgomery and Agnes Moorehead should've been nominated for Emmys for their performances. Endora is especially hysterical when she walks into the living room to meet Mr. Bobbins and says, "Mercy me! I didn't know you had guests!"
I also liked seeing her sitting on the lamp in the office. We've only ever seen Samantha do that in the first Halloween episode and I think it looks cool.
I also noticed that Liz was going free as a bird in that brown top at the end.
My only complaint is that I thought we might get a little extra always cut out scene explaining just exactly who Peabody was. I have never been able to find something on the ‘net that would tie thunder and someone named Peabody together. I also don't like it when Durwood says he has to get to the studio for the TV show and Endora says all irritated, "What TV show?!" It seems like there is a line missing, along with the two kids.
I did notice Agnes Moorehead had a lot of liver spots on her neck! I had never noticed that before either in this episode or any other and it made me think how far the cancer was probably spreading in her body.
But all in all, I really like this episode.
"I never did dig what Sammy dug about that dodo." ~ Serena
Re: 40 Years Ago...
Posted by MrMortimer on July 15, 2011, 6:34 pm, in reply to "40 Years Ago..."
Thanks for the re-run re-posts Doc. I love this one too. The "commercial with EM and AM is very long for a "Commercial". I like the addition of Jim Lange too !
Re: 40 Years Ago...
Posted by maurine on July 20, 2011, 9:22 pm, in reply to "Re: 40 Years Ago..."
I agree: this is a super episode! I laughed when I read that this was the episode you were covering, Doc, because just several hours ago, my hubby and I were walking to lunch here where we're on vacation. He said something about a restaurant being really good, and I said, "IF you can afford the ridiculously high prices!" and then said, "That's a BW quote, ya know." He's actually pretty used to that from me..."Witches are good! Witches are dear!"