BONUS: Bewitched, BeMagical and BePregnant | A Crossover with Breaking Mayberry

BONUS: Bewitched, BeMagical and BePregnant | A Crossover with Breaking Mayberry

Author: 134 West | Susan Lambert Hatem & Sharon Johnson July 30, 2025 Duration: 1:05:49
"Darrin is super comfortable in himself. Darrin knows he is not the powerful one 'cause he is like, ‘I married a witch'…  It's nice to see a dude that loves his wife.” - Marty Schneider

Hosts Susan Lambert Hatem and Sharon Johnson team up with Marty Schneider and Dan Ludwig of the Breaking Mayberry podcast for a magical, hilarious crossover! In this bonus episode, the crew dives into the world of “Bewitched,” focusing on Season 2, Episode 2: “A Very Special Delivery,” where Samantha is pregnant, Darrin is doting, and then not. Chaos (and comedy) ensue when Endora curses Darren to experience pregnancy symptoms himself. In this episode:
  • The legacy of “Bewitched” and its place among TV’s “magical women” sitcoms
  • Comparing 1960s and 1990s TV, and the evolution of family and gender roles on screen
  • The real-life pregnancy of Elizabeth Montgomery and how it shaped the show
  • A deep-dive into the episode’s plot: overprotective husbands, meddling mothers-in-law, and the infamous “pickle scene”
  • The gender-bending, trope-twisting humor of making a man “pregnant” on 1960s TV
  • Endora’s iconic role as both antagonist and secret hero
  • The surprising (and sometimes cringeworthy) moments of 60s sitcoms, from beds on TV to threats of domestic violence
  • Fun behind-the-scenes trivia: recurring character actors, colorized vs. black-and-white, and more!
“Who's the figure from Greek myth, the oracle that was like both a man and a woman, which made them incredibly wise? I feel like Darrin by season six is going to be the ultimate version of that because he has been a man, a woman, a monkey, a dinosaur, probably a race car driver.” - Dan Ludwig

Plus:
  • The “Breaking Mayberry” team shares insights from their own podcast, which explores the weird messages and generational impact of classic TV
  • Crossover fun: Listen to Part 1 on Breaking Mayberry, where the group covers “Alias Darrin Stephens” (Season 2, Episode 1)
  • Where to watch “Bewitched” for free, and how to find more from both podcasts
“I think in terms of Endora, this was one of the best episodes for her character. She was really, really standing up for her daughter in this one.” - Sharon Johnson

Links & Resources:
Vote for us:
  • Help us get THREE PODCAST AWARDS!
  • GO HERE: Podcastawards.com
  • Give an email and register. It’s easy! CLICK ON: Sign Up To Vote Now. NOMINATE 80s TV Ladies for: Best Female Hosted, People's Choice and TV & Film
PS: While you're there, also NOMINATE Richard Hatem's Paranormal Bookshelf in Religion and Spirituality. Podcastawards.com

CONNECT

Visit 80sTVLadies.com for transcripts.
Sign...

Remember those iconic women from television who defined an era? 80s TV Ladies revisits the groundbreaking, often delightfully campy, female-driven series that filled our living rooms with big hair and even bigger personalities. Hosts Susan Lambert Hatem and Sharon Johnson, under the 134 West banner, aren't just offering nostalgic recaps. They dig into the fascinating stories behind how shows like "Murder, She Wrote," "Kate & Allie," or "Designing Women" were actually made, examining the creative forces and network battles that brought them to air. Each episode explores how the politics and social climate of the 1980s shaped these narratives, and conversely, how the characters and stories themselves pushed cultural conversations forward, often in a complex dance of progress and tradition. This podcast celebrates the legacy of these programs while honestly assessing their place in history through that "two-steps forward, one-step-back" lens. It's a deep, engaging listen for anyone who loves television history, cultural analysis, and the powerful, complicated women who made the decade's TV so memorable. The show's quality is underscored by its recognition as a 4-time Podcast Awards winner and a Webby nominee for Best Indie Podcast. Tune in for thoughtful, well-researched discussions that go far beyond the opening credits.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

80s TV Ladies
Podcast Episodes
SUMMER RERUN: The First Time with Scarecrow and Mrs. King [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:05:10
In this special summer rerun reminiscent of those hot and fabulous days of 1980s television, hosts Sharon Johnson and Susan Lambert Hatem take listeners back to the very first episode of our own 80s TV Ladies. Originally…
Jon Cryer, Part 2 | 80s television, Two and a Half Men and Lex Luthor [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:04:22
Welcome to our final Season Three episode of 80s TV Ladies! Hosts Sharon Jonson and Susan Lambert Hatem continue their in-depth conversation with actor Jon Cryer. In this second part, Jon shares behind-the-scenes stories…
Jon Cryer, Part 1 | The Facts of Life, Pretty in Pink and Annie Potts [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:05:22
Susan and Sharon are thrilled to welcome director, writer and actor Jon Cryer to 80s TV Ladies!Jon Cryer is an Emmy-winning film and television icon, known for starring as “Duckie” in the 1986 John Hughes teen classic Pr…
The Facts of Life with the 90s TV Babies! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 56:23
“This show makes me feel like I have a blanket around me and I’m eating mac & cheese.” -- Megan Ruble, 90s TV Baby, about The Facts of Life.Susan and Sharon welcome back the notorious “90s TV Babies” to find out what the…
The Facts of Life with Director Asaad Kelada | Part 1 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:07:06
“There was a sense of discovery about what this series was going to be about. It was going to be about young people -- with all of their shenanigans, and the maneuvering, and all the silliness that takes place with that.…