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T for Tabitha
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A young, inquisitive female witch who enjoys leading a normal mortal life is the central character of "Tabitha.' Columbia Pictures Television's new half-hour romantic fantasy comedy series.

"Tabitha" is the story of what is happening to the bewitching Samantha's daughter now that she's grown up. It's 1977 and Tabitha is now 22. She's lovely, high-spirited and works as a production assistant on a late night interview show at a metropolitan television station.

Lisa Hartman stars in the title role. Tabitha's brother Adam, who is a mere mortal and constantly afraid that the world will find out that his sister is a witch, urges her to forget that she's a witch and to live the normal life of a mortal. Adam, portrayed by David Ankrum, is the television station's assistant program manager.

Tabitha's Aunt Minerva, playey by Karen Morrow, is an attractive witch in her mid-30's who is slightly eccentric in dress and attitude and takes her duty as Tabitha's guardian very seriously. She tries to persuade Tabitha to kick up her heels and use her powers for fun and profit, just as any other beautiful witch would do. This, naturally, sets up a constant tug of war between Adam and Minerva with Tabitha right in the middle.

Also in the cast are Robert Urich, Mel Stewart and Barry Van Dyke. Robert Urich portrays Paul Thurston, popular star of "The Paul Thurston Show". He is 30, charming , handsome , sarcastic and completely oriented to his own ego. Mel Stewart is cast as Marvin Decker, Tabitha's boss and producer of "The Paul Thurston Show". He is constantly under a barrage of ratings, deadlines, pressures from the top brass and Paul's bullying, but somehow manages to juggle everything successfully and get the show on the air every week.

Barry Van Dyke, in the role of Roger Bennett, Adam's fraternity brother, is Tabitha's frequent date. He is puntual, wholesome and often the unknowing victim of her witchcraft.

In the pilot episode, Tabitha and her Aunt Minerva use witchcraft to deliver poetic justice to Thurston when he decides to put a rather dumb ex beauty contestant on his program instead of the famous fuel conservation physicist originally scheduled. Timothy Blake and Eric Server guest star.

The differences between "Tabitha" and "Bewitched" are as marked as the differences between 1963 (sic) and 1977. Tabitha is single, liberated and more sophisticated than a television witch would have been 14 years ago. Excecutive producer Jerry Mayer wrote the pilot script for "Tabitha". Robert Stambler produces the series with Bruce Bilson directing the pilot.


Meet the cast:

LISA HARTMAN AS TABITHA

Lisa Hartman , who stars in the title role of ?itha??olumbia Pictures Television?ew half hour romantic comedy series, comes from a show business family.

Her Father , Howard, is an actor / singer and her mother, Jonni, is a television presenter in Houston, Texas. Born in Houston on June 1, Lisa began modeling, appearing in television commercials and performing in children?heater productions as a youngster. She attended Houston?igh School for the Performing and Visual Arts and appeared in such Houston stage productions as ?th Pacific??d ?derella??

The 5?blue eyed blonde has since guested on television in an episode of ?ice Woman??d in ?der at the World Series?? made for television movie. She has also been seen in numerous TV commercials. In addition to acting, Lisa is an accomplished singer and has recently recorded her first record album. She enjoys horseback riding, motorcycle riding and tennis. Lisa is single and resides in Los Angeles, California.

KAREN MORROW AS AUNT MINERVA

Karen Morrow thought she was accompanying her five roomates to the super market. Little did she know it was a ploy to get her to an audition. Karen , who portrays Aunt Minerva in ?itha??on the audition and was hired to sing in the chorus at the Equity Theater in Milwaukee.

Prior to that , she had completed studies at St Joseph?cademy in Des Moines, Iowa, and Dubuque?lark College for Women and moved to California on a dance scholarship. Finding she couldn?urvive financially with her dance carreer, Karen turned to teaching at a Catholic grade school in La Canada, California.

Unsatisfied with teaching , Karen moved to Milwaukee where , in addition to singing at the Equity Theater, she appeared in Milwaukee stage productions. She then ventured off to New York where she performed in the off Broadway production of ?g, Muse??d with the national company of ? Unsinkable Molly Brown??he 5? brown eyed blonde made her Broadway debut in ?ad a ball??d soon became a regular cast member on such television series as ? Jimmy Dean Show??The Garry Moore show??d ? Sid Caesar Hour??lt;br>
In 1969, Karen returned to LA to perform as a regular on ? Jim Nabors Hour ?he has since continued to guest on television series , talk shows , and telethons. She sang twice at the White House for President Johnson and currently performs a nightclub routine with actress / singer Nancy Dussault. Born December 15 in Chicago, Illinois, Karen is a physical fitness buff. She is single and resides in Los Angeles, California.

DAVID ANKRUM AS ADAM

Acting was in David Ankrum?lood at an early age. The son of the late character actor, Morris Ankrum, he worked with his Father in repertory productions as a youngster but soon lost interest in the craft. Ankrum portrays Adam Stephens in ?itha??lumbia Pictures Television?ew romantic comedy series. He resumed his acting interest when his football coach at Fairfax High School in LA encouraged him to join the school?rama department.

Prior to that time he had spent his childhood as a ?ular kid?? La Canada Elementary and Junior High School?nd Flintridge Prep School for Boys. Born in Palo Alto, California, on May 2, Ankrum carried his drama interest to Los Angeles Valley College where he participated in numerous plays.

Since then, he has been active in theater workshops and improvisation groups and is a member of the Theater Arts Program in LA, a free theater serving the Los Angeles area.

The 6? brown eyed actor has guested in such television series as ?naby Jones??Cannon??The Waltons??d ? Theater??d appeared in numerous commercials. He also has had featured roles in the motion pictures , ?ry Little Crook and Cranny??d ?ra Force??nkrum , who is single , lists his favorite pastimes as swimming, framing and assisting his mother with displays for her art gallery (Ankrum Gallery). He resides in LA, California.

ROBERT URICH AS PAUL THURSTON

It took a football injury and a stab at the business world before Robert Urich found acting would be his niche in life. The handsome native of Toronto, Ohio, stars as Paul Thurston in "Tabitha", Columbia Pictures Television's half hour romantic fantasy comedy series. Urich enrolled at Florida State University on a football scholarship and majored in drama because "it was fun".

When an injury ended andy hopes of becoming a professional football player, he made use of the appreciation for security his parents had instilled in him and returned to the business world.

The 6'2" hazel eyed actor entered Michigan State University where he received his Master's Degree in Broadcast Management. He promptly landed his first job as an account executive for EGN Broadcasting Company in Chicago. Five months later, unhappy and desiring an acting career, he began calling theatrical producers around town.

Within three months, he began getting roles in various local productions. In March of 1972 - less than two years after initiating his new career - Urich arrived in Hollywood. His first major role was in an episode of "Kung Fu". Since then , he has starred in the television series "S.W.A.T", as Bob in the short lived TV series, "Bob and Carol and Ted and Alice" and guested in such series as "The F.B.I" and "Marcus Welby, M.D". He also appeared in a TV pilot entitled "Bunco".

In addition to a role in the motion picture "Magnum Force", Urich has performed in a Chicago theater production of "Sabrina Fair" among others. Urich's favorite pastimes include snow skiing , swimming and writing. Born December, 19 he and his wife, actress Heather Menzies, reside in Studio City, California.
It took a football injury and a stab at the business world before Robert Urich found acting would be his niche in life. The handsome native of Toronto, Ohio, stars as Paul Thurston in "Tabitha", Columbia Pictures Television's half hour romantic fantasy comedy series. Urich enrolled at Florida State University on a football scholarship and majored in drama because "it was fun".

MEL STEWART AS MARVIN

Mel Stewart, who plays television producer Marvin Decker in "Tabitha", started his show business career as a musician and got into acting by hanging around his New York neighborhood theaters.

Born in Cleveland, Ohio, on September 19, Stewart was raised in New York where he attended Central High School and Western Reserve College. After performing in several off Broadway plays, he landed a role in the Broadway production of "Simply Heavenly" a role which took him from New York to London and back again. Since then , he has appeared in such stage productions as "Me, My Mother, My Father and I" and "In the Counting House".

Stewart has guested in numerous television series, including "Sanford and Son", "Police Story", "All in the Family", "Good Times" "What's Happening" and "Marcus Welby, M.D" and had a regular role in "Harry-O". The brown eyed actor made his motion picture debut in "Odds Against Tomorrow" and has since added "The Hustler", "Trick Baby", "Newman's Law", "Let's Do it Again", "Summer Kill", "The Landlord" and "Scorpio" to his film credits. Skilled in the martial arts, Stewart enjoys photography, woodwork and writing screenplays. He and his wife, Annie, reside in Berkeley, California.

BARRY VAN DYKE AS ROGER

Barry Van Dyke , who portrays Roger Bennett in "Tabitha", broke into acting behind the scenes as a production assistant on his father's comedy series, "The New Dick Van Dyke Show". He attended Birmingham High School in Van Nuys ,California, before heading to Carefree, Arizona where "The New Dick Van Dyke Show" was filmed and his show business career was to begin.

After appearing in bit parts on the show, Van Dyke studied acting with Jeff Corey and landed roles in such television series as "The Tony Randall Show", "Wonder Woman", "Van Dyke and Company", "Lucas Tanner", "Spencer's Pilot" and "Gemini Man". He also appeared in the television movie, "Stalk the Wild Child" and has done numerous commercials.

The 6'1" green eyed actor enjoys surfing and skateboard riding. He , and his wife, Mary , and son , Carey, reside in Agoura, California.