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Erin Murphy just exposed the shocking truth behind Bewitched’s abrupt ending. The beloved sitcom ended March 25, 1972, without warning due to star Elizabeth Montgomery‘s divorce from showrunner Bill Asher. After eight seasons, the cast never got proper closure.
🔥 Quick Facts
- Final Episode: “The Truth, Nothing But the Truth, So Help Me Sam” aired on March 25, 1972, unaware it was the series finale
- No Cancellation: The show wasn’t canceled, rather Elizabeth Montgomery chose not to return after hiatus due to her divorce
- Erin Murphy’s Age: Murphy was only 8 years old when the show ended after joining cast at age 2
- Cast Reaction: Actors received telegrams and letters with the news, with no official farewell party or closure
The Shocking Telegram That Changed Everything
Erin Murphy revealed in an interview on The Magnificent Others podcast with Billy Corgan how the Bewitched family learned about the show’s sudden end. The cast expected to film two more seasons after their hiatus break.
“We all got telegrams and letters saying, ‘We have decided not to do the show,'” Murphy explained. The communication method felt cold and impersonal, offering no chance for goodbyes. No cast member saw it coming, and no official finale episode was planned.
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Elizabeth Montgomery’s Divorce Derailed the Series
Bill Asher, who directed and produced Bewitched, was going through a divorce from star Elizabeth Montgomery. Montgomery made the executive decision to end the beloved fantasy sitcom rather than continue working during the marital split.
“Bill Asher and Liz were going through a divorce and they just, she especially, decided just not to do the show anymore,” Murphy stated. The personal relationship troubles simply didn’t allow the creative partnership to continue, affecting 254 episodes of television history.
A Regular Episode Became the Series Finale
The final episode felt completely ordinary. Murphy told Remind Magazine that she has no special memories of filming the last episode because “it wasn’t supposed to be the final episode.” The crew wrapped that day thinking they’d return in September 1972.
| Detail | Information |
| Series Run | 1964 to 1972 |
| Total Episodes | 254 episodes |
| Final Episode Title | “The Truth, Nothing But the Truth, So Help Me Sam” |
| Final Airdate | March 25, 1972 |
Cast members like Dick Sargent, Agnes Moorehead, and David White all received the same shocking news via telegram. There was no wrap party, no tearful goodbyes, just the standard end-of-season farewell.
“So there was no goodbye. It wasn’t like we said, you know how at the end of a school year you cry, you say goodbye. None of us had that. We had the ‘see you soon, we’ll be back’ kind of thing.”
— Erin Murphy, actress who played Tabitha Stephens
Young Tabitha Star Felt Mixed Emotions About the End
Murphy, who had been acting since age 2, described her feelings as complicated. She missed the cast and crew, but at 8 years old, she was also excited to experience normal childhood activities. The abrupt ending meant no closure, but it also freed her from the demanding schedule.
“It was hard maybe in the way that, ‘Oh, I miss those people. I wish I saw them more,'” Murphy reflected. However, she noted that being freed from Bewitched’s constraints allowed her to audition for other projects. Her contract had previously prevented her from acting in commercials, other shows, or movies while filming the sitcom.
Did You Know What Really Happened When Bewitched Ended?
Erin Murphy‘s 2026 revelations finally answer decades-old questions about television’s most mysterious cancellation. Fans had speculated for over 50 years why their favorite show vanished without explanation. Now the truth emerges: personal drama behind the scenes, not ratings or network decisions, killed the magic
Murphy stayed in touch with Montgomery through the actress’s children long after the show’s cancellation. The Bewitched cast family eventually reconnected through Christmas cards and occasional visits, maintaining the bonds formed during eight years of collaboration.
Sources
- Parade Magazine – Erin Murphy’s May 2026 interview revealing new details on Bewitched’s sudden ending
- Entertainment Weekly – Murphy discussing emotions and closure following the show’s abrupt conclusion
- The Magnificent Others Podcast – Billy Corgan’s interview with Erin Murphy about her Bewitched experience
