George Washington Zapped Here

 In the delightfully anachronistic and socially cheeky Season 8 episode of *Bewitched* titled “George Washington Zapped Here,” which first aired on February 26, 1972, the series delivered one of its most ingeniously absurd—and quietly pointed—historical farces, blending patriotism, bureaucracy, and magical mishap into a tale that was as humorous as it was subtly subversive. The episode begins with Tabitha facing a school assignment on American history, specifically a presentation about George Washington. Ever the well-meaning but magically impulsive housekeeper, Esmeralda (played with fluttery earnestness by Alice Ghostley, though notably absent from the credited cast in this prompt) attempts to help by conjuring up the *real* first U.S. president—believing, in her endearing naivety, that nothing could be more authentic than the man himself. With a nervous incantation and a cloud of sparkles, the stately, bewigged George Washington (portrayed with dignified gravitas by veteran actor Will Geer) materializes in the Stephens’ living room, standing ramrod straight and speaking in formal 18th-century cadence, utterly bewildered by refrigerators, telephones, and “carriages without horses.” Elizabeth Montgomery, as Samantha, reacts with her trademark mix of maternal calm and mounting concern, knowing full well that introducing a Founding Father into 1970s suburban America is a recipe for chaos. True to form, Washington—ever the statesman—feels compelled to share his wisdom with the “citizens” of this strange new era. When he wanders out of the house to gaze upon the modern world, he’s quickly spotted on a street corner delivering an impromptu oration on liberty, civic virtue, and the perils of factionalism. Alas, in contemporary Westport, public speaking without a permit is a municipal offense, not a revolutionary act. Officer O’Hara (played by the wonderfully deadpan Herb Vigran) arrives on the scene, utterly unfazed by the historical magnitude of his detainee, and arrests Washington for “unlicensed oratory” and “causing a public nuisance.” The resulting scene at the police station—featuring John Garwood as a skeptical, by-the-book desk sergeant—becomes a masterclass in comic irony: the man who once led a nation to freedom now sits in a holding cell, politely requesting quill and parchment while explaining the Bill of Rights to a yawning booking officer. Samantha, racing against time to prevent a constitutional crisis (or at least a very confusing newspaper headline), must delicately negotiate Washington’s release—without revealing the truth—while simultaneously teaching Tabitha that history is best honored through understanding, not literal resurrection. Montgomery shines throughout, her performance grounded in warmth and quick-thinking pragmatism, especially in her scenes with Geer, whose portrayal of Washington balances noble dignity with fish-out-of-temporal-water befuddlement. Beneath the laughs, the episode offers a gently satirical jab at red tape, the erosion of public discourse, and the paradox of a society that venerates its founders while criminalizing the very acts—like passionate public speech—that defined them. In the end, Washington is whisked back to his own century with a respectful bow and a whispered thank-you, leaving behind only a faint scent of parchment and a renewed appreciation in Tabitha for the power of words—even if you do need a permit to say them. “George Washington Zapped Here” remains a standout for its clever premise, historical wit, and the quiet brilliance of Elizabeth Montgomery, who, as always, ensured that even the wildest magic served a human truth: that the spirit of liberty lives not in monuments alone, but in how we treat each other—whether we’re wearing a powdered wig or a police uniform.