The Sitcom Studies Podcast

Welcome to the world, sweet Tabitha. This week we finally get to meet the Stephens' little girl, as well as Sam's cousin Serena - and a nurse who gives Gladys a run for her money?  History Highlights: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tabitha  

This week, time away at Larry Tate's cabin is supposed to help ease Darrin's burnout and Samantha feels pressured to hire a maid as her due date approaches. While we noticed some significant plot holes this week, the visual gags continue to impress. We hope all of your meal prep during the upcoming holiday season goes much more smoothly than it does for our Bewitched families! History Highlights:...

We have two episodes this week that surprisingly see everything turn out for the best. Some of our favorite characters' innermost thoughts are revealed; Samantha shows once again how golden her heart is; and the Stephens are able to bring the joy of Christmas to a young boy in desperate need of some holiday cheer. We wholeheartedly encourage you to listen to this episode while decorating for the h...

Happy Halloween! We are thrilled to be joined this week by Herbie J Pilato for a very special conversation about some important episodes of Bewitched not included in Season 2. Herbie is a renowned actor, writer, producer, and TV scholar who has devoted much of his career to preserving the history of Bewitched and other beloved classic sitcoms. He has written Bewitched Forever: The Immortal Compani...

You would think that babysitting a young warlock and confronting a jewel thief would be enough excitement for one week. But since this is Samantha and Darrin we're talking about...well, there's also the possibility that Larry Tate has been turned into a teddy bear.    Historical Highlights: https://www.fastcompany.com/90220227/the-history-of-how-we-got-paid-vacation-in-the-us

This week Bewitched dives into questions of nostalgia, with Darrin...revisiting?...his childhood while working on a toy advertisement campaign and sweet Aunt Clara reuniting with her "one that got away"! We really enjoyed how much heart there was in these two episodes, but we also have a few notes on the writing - couldn't Samantha have turned herself into young Darrin so that all could be present...

This week's two episodes are all about the costumes and physical comedy, with Sam imagining characters from the Civil War era and Darrin ending up in jail after attending a work event with Aunt Clara. But some much deeper themes are explored here: Where do writers find their inspiration? How do we come to a more nuanced understanding of certain overlooked aspects of our history? And of course, the...

Happy October! This week Darrin tries desperately to get the ingredients for a medicine that Samantha needs, and our favorite couple hosts the Tates for a Halloween party. Oh, and Endora turns Darrin into a werewolf? Let spooky season begin... History Highlights: https://www.history.com/articles/history-of-halloween

Please welcome a very special guest, podcast pioneer Kevin T. Porter, as he discusses with us this special episode of Bewitched, the first to feature Paul Lynde as Samantha's Uncle Arthur. Kevin is a comedian and renowned co-host of the Gilmore Guys podcast, included on Time's List of the 100 Greatest Podcasts of All Time, and he currently hosts the Good Christian Fun podcast. We had the best time...

Sam and Darrin have a lot on their plates this week, between trying to save their friend Adam from a centuries-old curse to watching the Tates' son while they’re away. We meet Sam's father; Dick York once again proves he is a MASTER of physical comedy - but is Gladys Kravitz once again the true star here?   Historical Highlights:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1969_Texas_vs._Arkansas_football_game...

We meet both Gladys Kravitz and Aunt Clara in our first two episodes of Season 2, and we could not be more excited. But Darrin being turned into a chimpanzee AND experiencing pregnancy symptoms? Hopefully it's only up from here!   Historical Highlights: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9745905/

Welcome to Season 3 of the Sitcom Studies Podcast! We are kicking off September by beginning one of Marlessa's absolute favorites, an absolute classic during Spooky Season (and year-round) - Bewitched! We focus this introduction on considering some of the show's hidden themes, and Marlessa explains why she chose a Dick York season for our deep dive. Thank you for being along with us for what's sur...

Please join us in welcoming a very special guest, expert on all things enneagram, Tyler Zach! Tyler is an author, enneagram coach, and founder of the EnneaSummit, a virtual event that brings together experts on the enneagram to share their insights and experiences. You have heard us mention the enneagram many times on this podcast, and we decided that before kicking off Season 3 we wanted to give...

It's time to bid adieu to the Bunkers and their little corner of the world in Queens. We discuss character enneagram types; rank our favorite episodes; and of course consider how the show evolved towards Archie Bunker's Place. Thank you for sharing Season 2 with us!   Foundation Interviews with Carroll O'Connor and Jean Stapleton: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3FxgAp96hg0&t=18s https://www.y...

Welcome to our final deep dive of season 2! You would think these two stories would be as simple as Archie paying a twenty dollar debt and Mike graduating...nope! Find out where we leave the Bunker clan before our season wrap up next week. Those were the days talking about this show with you!    History Highlights:  https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2020/09/04/a-majority-of-young-adults-in-t...

We feel that both of these episodes could do with a renaming, but as always they leave us with many questions to discuss. Will no one show Gloria a bit of compassion when she has the flu? How would Archie and Mike have enjoyed the fishing trip they don't get to go on? And is Gloria truly suffering from depression?    History Highlights: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ralph_Nader  

We are delighted to meet Jenny in these episodes and so sorry for the chaos that ensues just because Louise is trying to celebrate her son and his new fiancé. But the situation gives us some hilarious moments to talk about, so we're not complaining. Especially since these episodes give Marlessa the chance to reference not one but TWO classics: Of Mice and Men and The Hunchback of Notre Dame.    Hi...

We're not sure about the titles of these two episodes, but we're so glad they both give us the chance to dive a bit deeper into Archie's character. We get to see Mr. Quigley and Jo again, and we meet another character Joe from Archie's past. Most importantly, though, Marlessa takes on Historian duties this week! :)   History Highlights: https://history.blog.fordham.edu/?p=296 https://fordhamobserv...

We are joined for our second Side Quest episode by our dear friend Megan Tisdall, and we're discussing all things sitcom weddings! The vows, the dresses, the things that go wrong - we hope you have as much fun listening as we did recording!   Marlessa's Picks M*A*S*H 5.25 Margaret's Marriage Modern Family 5.23-24 The Wedding   Megan's Picks Brooklyn Nine Nine 5.22 Jake & Amy Friends 10.12 The...

We're quite frustrated with Mike this week...is this becoming a trend? It all takes a back seat, however, to seeing our favorite lady Edith deal with a serious health scare. We are so glad to see how her family and neighbors care for her when she is so in need of others' compassion and understanding.  History Highlights: https://www.healthline.com/health/history-of-breast-cancer#research-milestone...

Between being robbed, cursed with the malocchio, and forced to play pool with Irene Lorenzo, this has not been Archie's week. But we are in complete agreement that in both episodes, he gets what's coming to him.    History Highlights: https://www.nyc.gov/html/media/totweb/taxioftomorrow_history_earlyyears.html https://www.boweryboyshistory.com/2022/07/taxi-a-history-of-the-new-york-taxi-cab.html

While these were not our two favorite episodes of the season, we still found so much to discuss here: nostalgia, anniversary trips...and two very different sides of Archie? And push those insecurities aside, Gloria - we love you with or without the wig!   History Highlights: https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/beauty/hair/g3471/most-popular-hairstyles-of-all-time/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George...

Please join us in thanking today's guest, Ryan Lintelman, who is the Entertainment Collection Curator at the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History in Washington, DC! We discuss not only the religious humor and Archie storylines at the heart of these two episodes, but also some behind the scenes stories of how curators at the Museum work to preserve the history surrounding some of our f...

Here's hoping no technology issues prevent you from listening today because we have two incredibly funny and thought-provoking episodes to discuss. A group therapy game brings a lot of emotion out from under the surface; we find a refreshingly open and honest Edith; and...where is Archie?  Historical Highlights: https://www.computerhistory.org/timeline/computers/

Today we say goodbye to Henry Jefferson but hello to another Jefferson family member, and we're a little excited... History Highlights: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gambling_in_the_United_States