"Tabitha" is the story of what is happening to the daughter of Samantha and Darrin of the long-running "Bewitched" television series now that she's grown up.
Tabitha is 22 years old and works as a production assistant on a late night interview show at a metropolitan television station. She has inherited her mother's beauty, magical powers and healthy sense of humor. Tabitha enjoys leading a normal mortal life and her attempts to keep her use of witchcraft to a minimum provide the central theme of Columbia Pictures Television's half-hour romantic fantasy comedy series. Executive producer Jerry Mayer, who has written material for such television series as "All in the Family," "M*A*S*H ", "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" and "Bewitched," wrote the "Tabitha" pilot.
He chose to have Tabitha working at a television station because it is a contemporary story that is realistic -- many young people today are working within the entertainment industry. Tabitha got her job through her brother, Adam, who is the television station's assistant program manager. He, like his father Darrin, is a mere mortal and his constant fear that the world will find out that his sister is a witch makes the television station an ideal setting place for humorous brother-sister, mortal-witch encounters throughout the series Lisa Hartman won the role of Tabitha after more than 100 girls were auditioned by casting directors looking for someone. who would resemble what Erin Murphy, the little girl who portrayed Tabitha in "Bewitched," might look like today.
Lisa not only fit the bill but also has a strong resemblance in look and voice to Elizabeth Montgomery, who starred in the series as Samantha. Lisa is also exactly what casting directors were looking for in terms of personality. Like the character of Tabitha, she's high-spirited, mischievous and open-minded to witchcraft. And, an added plus -- she can sing. Her talent will be utilized as she sings the modern rock-oriented theme song during the opening credits of each episode. Mayer, who wrote seven "Bewitched" scripts, feels that the success of 'Bewitched" was due to Samantha's ability to be mischievous and have fun with it, with such straight mortals as Darrin. Mayer carries this formula on to "Tabitha," with Tabitha taking on the characteristics of her mother while Adam resembles his father.
Conflict is a good comedy element and Mayer makes good use of it. He incorporates a tug o'war situation between Adam, who urges Tabitha to forget that she's a witch and to live the normal life of a mortal, and their Aunt Minerva, a slightly eccentric witch who tries to persuade Tabitha to kick up her heels and use her powers for fun and profit. This, naturally, puts Tabitha right in the middle. Mayer feels the television audience is ready for "Tabitha" --that it's a natural inclination to wonder what Tabitha grown up would be like. "It's like a reward for an audience. Their curiosity is satisfied and although they are reminded of 'Bewitched,' there is an entirely different feel. 'Tabitha' is very 1977. Lifestyles, whether you are a witch or a mortal, have changed."
In addition to Lisa, the series cast includes David Ankrum as Adam, Karen Morrow as Aunt Minerva; Robert Urich as the handsome, egotistical star of "The Paul Thurston Show", Mel Stewart as Marvin Decker, Tabitha's boss and producer of "The Paul Thurston Show" and Barry Van Dyke as Roger Bennett, Adam's fraternity brother and Tabitha's frequent date.
In addition to writing television scripts, Mayer has served in the television industry as executive story editor of "The Bob Newhart Show" producer of the "Faye' TV series and has written television specials and nightclub material for Mitzi Gaynor. Robert Stambler produces "Tabitha". He has produced such television series as "Hawaii Five-O", "Kate Mcshane", "Paper Moon" and "Mr Novak" and the television movie/pilot, "The Deadly Triangle". He has also produced the feature films, "Hang 'Em High" and "The Hawaiians". Bruce Bilson, who won an Emmy Award in 1968 for Best Direction of a segment of television's "Get Smart" series, directed the pilot episode of the sitcom. His TV directing credits include "Barney Miller", "Hawaii Five-O", "The Rookies", "S.W.A.T", "Love American Style", "Hogans Heroes" and numerous movies made for television.
Filmed at The Burbank Studios and local LA locations, "Tabitha" is produced by Columbia Pictures Television, a division of Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc.
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