NEW YORK, NY /UCWE/ - Just in time for Halloween, INSIDE TV brews up this list of the 10 best broom-jockeys on television to ever cast a spell (from the Oct. 31 issue of INSIDE TV, on newsstands Thursday, Oct. 27). Topping the list as No. 1 TV Witch of All-Time is the nose-twitching Samantha Stephens (Elizabeth Montgomery) of "Bewitched," followed by Amanda Tucker (Catherine Hicks) of "Tucker's Witch," and Wilhelmina W. Witchiepoo (Billie Hayes) of "H.R. Pufnstuf."
Sex and the City's Kim Cattrall starred in the pilot episode of the '80 series "Tucker's Witch," but was replaced by "7th Heaven" mom Catherine Hicks. The original McDonaldland characters - including Grimace, The Hamburglar and Mayor McCheese - were based on the "H.R. Pufnstuf" characters, which led to a lawsuit in which McDonald's was forced to pay $50,000 for infringement.
Below is INSIDE TV's complete list of Top 10 TV Witches (from the Oct. 31 issue, on newsstands Thursday, Oct. 27):
10. Grandmama Addams
Marie Blake on "The Addams Family"
Grandmama was the well-intentioned meddlesome mama of Gomez, though in the animated spin-off series and "The Addams Family" movies, she was Morticia's mom.
Spell Check: The only thing Grandmama loved more than resting on her bed of nails: cooking up love spells, like Love Potion 666, and, ahem, tasty treats for the family, like the infamous yak stew that turned Gomez into a sleepwalking cat burglar.
Secret Ingredient: During the run of the series, Marie was actually credited under her other (much more colorful) stage name, Blossom Rock.
9. Tabitha Stephens
Lisa Hartman on "Tabitha"
The grown-up witch daughter of Bewitched's Samantha and Darrin moved to Los Angeles, where she and mortal brother Adam worked at TV station KLXA.
Spell Check: Adam, like his father, was against Tabitha's witchcraft, but it didn't stop her from using it to save her boss/love interest Paul (Robert Urich) from a coven of angry witches, or to cast a little truth spell to find out Paul's true feelings for her.
Secret Ingredient: Unfortunately, Tabitha's magic didn't extend to the Nielsen ratings, and the show lasted less than a season.
8. Sabrina Spellman
Melissa Joan Hart on "Sabrina, the Teenage Witch"
Sabrina's magical powers didn't prevent her from experiencing the normal trials and tribulations of school, friendship and dating.
Spell Check: She used truth sprinkles on her enemy, Libby, who not only confessed her catty misdeeds, but also revealed that the object of her affection was Sabrina's crush, Harvey.
Secret Ingredient: The Sabrina character was a spin-off from the wholesome Archie comic book series. When Melissa Joan posed for some racy magazine photos in 1999, the Archie Comics CEO demanded that she apologize for the pics or the company would fire her from the show. She didn't, and they didn't.
7. Witch Hazel
June Foray on "Looney Tunes"
With pale green skin, a shock of frightful black hair, twiglike legs and a cackling laugh, Hazel was the creepy witch who was always outwitted by Bugs Bunny.
Spell Check: Dressed as a witch, Bugs raised Hazel's ire because she was afraid he was uglier than she was. She finally realized he was really a rabbit, but her delight turned to horror when Bugs tricked her into drinking the "pretty potion" that caused her to lose her cherished bad looks.
Secret Ingredient: June is a legendary voice artist who's the sound behind Tweety's owner Granny, Bullwinkle's pal Rocky, and, in an episode of "Bewitched," Baby Darrin.
6. Tabitha Lenox
Juliet Mills on "Passions"
Her sweet, kindly persona hides the fact that most of her time is actually spent torturing the citizens of Harmony because their witch-hunting ancestors burned her at the stake centuries ago.
Spell Check: Among the 300-year-old witch's many evil misdeeds: keeping lovers Luis and Sheridan and Miguel and Charity apart, and trying to send Eve to jail.
Secret Ingredient: Juliet also played a nanny with psychic powers on the short-lived '70s sitcom "Nanny and the Professor."
5. Prue, Piper & Phoebe Halliwell, Paige Matthews
Shannen Doherty, Holly Marie Combs, Alyssa Milano and Rose McGowan on "Charmed"
The "Charmed Ones" are the San Franciscan Halliwells, a trio of prophesied witches. After sister Prue (Shannen) is killed by Shax, the women discover they have a half-sister Paige (Rose), who helps them restore the "power of three."
Spell Check: Guided by The Book of Shadows, the women cast various spells to thwart evildoers, using their individual powers, including freezing time and the ability to levitate objects.
Secret Ingredient: In Season 4, Phoebe (Alyssa) was given a hexed engagement ring that would turn her into a 1950s housewife, which she feared would force her to suppress her magic skills, like Samantha on "Bewitched."
4. Willow Rosenberg
Alyson Hannigan on "Buffy the Vampire Slayer"
Willow was a kind, gentle, loyal friend to Buffy. But her witchy powers were strong, and when she was properly motivated, her sweet temperament could turn deadly.
Spell Check: When her girlfriend and fellow witch Tara was murdered, Willow exacted a gruesome revenge, and it was her awesome powers that eventually doomed Sunnydale's Hellmouth.
Secret Ingredient: Riff Regan played Willow in the original Buffy pilot, but the role was recast with Alyson after the WB green-lighted the show.
3. Wilhelmina W. Witchiepoo
Billie Hayes on "H.R. Pufnstuf"
Witchiepoo was Living Island's resident baddie, flying on her Vroom Broom (a tricked-out broomstick equipped with a steering wheel), trying to steal Freddie the magic talking flute.
Spell Check: Jimmy, Freddie's owner, was lured to Living Island by Witchiepoo, who turned Jimmy into a mechanical boy, and cast other spells to keep him, and the coveted Freddie, trapped far from home.
Secret Ingredient: The original McDonaldland characters - including Grimace, The Hamburglar and Mayor McCheese - were based on the "H.R. Pufnstuf" characters, which led to a lawsuit in which McDonald's was forced to pay $50,000 for infringement.
2. Amanda Tucker
Catherine Hicks on "Tucker's Witch"
Her P.I. hubby Rick (Tim Matheson) had the sleuthing skills, but Amanda had something even better: witchcraft, including the ability to communicate telepathically with her cat, Dickens.
Spell Check: Her skills could be erratic. And when tracking down bad guys, like an international assassin who's out to bump off a celebrity hairdresser, conjuring up a bit of misinformation was often a dangerous thing.
Secret Ingredient: Sex and the City's Kim Cattrall starred in the pilot episode of the '80s series, but was replaced by "7th Heaven" mom Catherine.
1. Samantha Stephens
Elizabeth Montgomery on Bewitched
Sweet witch Samantha's mortal hubby Darrin was against her using her "witch twitch" nose to conjure up magic -- unless it was to get him out of a jam!
Spell Check: Samantha's many memorable spells included turning Darrin into a giant fish to keep him from kissing another woman. But our favorite bit of Stephens magic? That automatic vacuum cleaner and the levitating furniture.
Secret Ingredient: Samantha's famous nose twitch was an illusion. Elizabeth was actually twitching her upper lip, which made her nose wrinkle, too.
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