The Joker Is a Card (14 Oct. 1965)

Uncle Arthur makes his first practical joke laden visit.

Director:

E.W. Swackhamer

Writers:

Ron Friedman, Sol Saks (creator)

Stars:

Elizabeth Montgomery, Dick York, Agnes Moorehead

Cast

Episode complete credited cast:
Elizabeth Montgomery	...	Samantha Stephens
Dick York	...	Darrin Stephens
Agnes Moorehead	...	Endora
Douglas Evans	...	Mr. Foster
David White	...	Larry Tate
Paul Lynde	...	Uncle Arthur

Storyline

One practical joke after another created by witchcraft is the first introduction Darrin has to Samantha's favorite uncle and the black sheep of her family, Uncle Arthur. Seeing Darrin's antagonistic relationship with Endora, Arthur offers to help him by giving him one spell to get back at Endora whenever she needles him, that spell which will make her disappear. Darrin refuses Arthur's help until Darrin faces one antagonistic encounter too many with Endora, at which time he relents to Arthur's request. What Darrin is unaware of is that Arthur has been the cause of much of his latest grief which he attributed to Endora, and that the outrageous spell is another of Arthur's practical jokes as it has no effect beyond the amusement factor of Darrin saying the nonsense words, ringing a cowbell and blowing on a duck whistle with much fervor. Once they find all this out, Samantha, Endora and Darrin believe Uncle Arthur is the one who needs to be taught a lesson.

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Genres:

Comedy | Family | Fantasy

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

14 October 1965 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Screen Gems

Technical Specs

Runtime:

25 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Paul Lynde makes his first appearance as Uncle Arthur.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Endora: I'm so sorry I'm late, but I ran into a slight headwind on my way back from Paris.

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Soundtracks

"Yaga-Zoozie (Incantation)"
Performed by Paul Lynde and Dick York.

User Reviews

Forget the basic plot. Paul Lynde steals the show.

For a time in the seventies and eighties, the black and white episodes from the first two "Bewitched" seasons were only sporadically broadcast. They were never as popular in syndication as the post 1966 color ones and, not surprisingly, Sony sells more of the "colorized" versions on DVD than the original BWs. Thanks to Nickelodeon and TV Land, the BWs started enjoying a cult status in the nineties. Today, many fans say that first two seasons ape the final six and maybe they're right; there are fewer clunkers among these.

"The Joker Is A Card" has been popping into many Top Ten Lists of favorite TV shows. It is a classic combination of star power and great dialog, although the basic storyline (Uncle Arthur helping Darrin get back at Endora with a hokey spell) is less sophisticated than other episodes of the period. Yes, this is the one with the famous "Yaga suzi, yaga suzi, yaga suzi, zim" incantation; watching Darrin take Arthur's advice with intense seriousness is part of the fun.

This marked Paul Lynde's second appearance (his first was as a frazzled driving instructor) and his first as Uncle Arthur. According to the pregnant Samantha: "He's my favorite uncle. Do you know, when I was little, he taught me to make my first pony. I was only four. I couldn't get the spell right." Although all performers here are in top form, Lynde is the obvious star. A line borrowed from Grouch Marx is treated with Lynde's unique delivery and made twice as funny: "One morning I shot a lion in my pajamas. Now, what he was doing in my pajamas, I'll never know!" His appearance as a "head dish" is also priceless.