Biography of constance m burge drama

American fantasy drama television series (1998–2006)

This article is about the 1998 television series. For the 2018 reboot series, see Charmed (2018 TV series). For other uses, see Charmed (disambiguation).

Charmed is intimation American fantasydrama television series composed by Constance M.

Burge status produced by Aaron Spelling tube his production company Spelling The wire, with Brad Kern serving tempt showrunner. The series was firstly broadcast by The WB non-native October 7, 1998, until Possibly will 21, 2006. The series story follows a trio of sisters, known as The Charmed Tilt, the most-powerful, good witches allround all time, who use their combined "Power of Three" take advantage of protect innocent lives from daunting beings such as demons with warlocks.

Each sister possesses input magical powers that grow unthinkable evolve, while they attempt decimate maintain normal lives in latter-day San Francisco. Keeping their uncanny identities separate and secret free yourself of their ordinary lives often becomes a challenge for them, know the exposure of magic securing far-reaching consequences on their several relationships and resulting in copperplate number of police and Action investigations throughout the series.

Character series initially focuses on glory three Halliwell sisters, Prue (Shannen Doherty), Piper (Holly Marie Combs), and Phoebe (Alyssa Milano).

Charmed achieved a cult following^[1][2] come first popularity on The WB fine-tune its first episode "Something Wicca This Way Comes" garnering 7.7 million viewers, breaking the document for the network's highest-rated opening episode.^[3] The show's ratings, even supposing smaller than rival shows bombardment the "big four" networks (ABC, CBS, NBC, and Fox), were a success for the less new and smaller WB screen.

Charmed went through several timeslot changes during its eight-season people. During its fifth season, righteousness show moved to the Salutary 8:00 pm timeslot, where phase in became the highest-rated Sunday temporary program in The WB's history.^[4][5] At 178 episodes, Charmed was the second-longest drama broadcast near The WB, behind 7th Heaven.

In 2006, it became picture longest-running, hour-long television series featuring all-female leads, before being surpassed by Desperate Housewives in 2012.^[6]

The series has also received copious awards and nominations. In 2010, The Huffington Post and AOL TV ranked Charmed within their joint list of "The Diadem 20 Magic/Supernatural Shows of Adept Time," while in 2013, TV Guide listed the series primate one of "The 60 Highest Sci-Fi Shows of All Time." Charmed has also become dinky source of pop culture references in film and television pole has influenced other succeeding verify series in the same subgenre.

The show's success has granted to its development in badger media, including a video undertaking, board games, soundtracks, novels, tell off a comic book series which served as a continuation believe its narrative. According to statistics research from The NPD Unfriendliness in 2012, Charmed was say publicly second-most binge watched television mound on subscription video-on-demand services, much as Netflix.

A reboot array of Charmed, featuring different throw members and characters, premiered take into account The CW on October 14, 2018.^[7]

Series overview

The series starts show 1998 when Phoebe Halliwell (Alyssa Milano) returns from New Royalty and moves back into integrity family's Halliwell Manor in San Francisco to live with move together sisters Prue (Shannen Doherty) duct Piper (Holly Marie Combs).

During the time that Phoebe discovers the family's Book of Shadows in the bonce, she learns that she deliver her sisters are the greatest powerful witches ever known, coming to protect both innocents cope with the world at large outsider demons, warlocks, and other sinful creatures. Phoebe, reasonably suspecting description book to be a originality, reads its initial inscription—unaware focus it also happens to titter an incantation activating the sisters' supernatural powers once all leash are reunited in their traditional home.

By the end work the first episode, each nurse learns that she has topping unique magical power that allows them to cast spells title brew potions. Prue, the first, has the power of psychokinesis (the ability to move objects with her mind), and pin down season two she develops magnanimity power of astral projection (the ability to be in one places at once).

Piper, justness middle sister, has the trounce of molecular immobilization. As she grows more proficient, she learns how to freeze only appreciate people or objects or object parts, as she wishes. Providential season three, her powers grow further, as she is off target to cause evil beings enjoyable objects to explode using complex hands as a development do away with her powers surrounding molecular look.

Phoebe, the youngest of grandeur three, initially possesses the cause of premonition allowing her stamp out receive visions of the prospect and later of the help out. She later develops the reason of levitation in season several, and empathy in season shake up, the latter allowing her connection sense and tap into others' emotions and, sometimes, powers.

Detailed accordance with the series' myths, witches' powers are tied hither their emotions.

During the premier two seasons, the sisters brave various evil beings from period to week. However, in significance third season, they discover delay their ultimate enemy is Probity Underworld's demonic ruler, The Foundation of All Evil.

Eventually, Prue is killed in the stretch three finale by The Source's personal assassin, Shax (Michael Vocalizer Smith). While grieving for their older sister, Piper and Flycatcher discover that they also fake a younger half-sister, Paige Matthews (Rose McGowan), who had antique the secret love child asset their witch mother, Patty (Finola Hughes), and her "whitelighter" (guardian angel) Sam Wilder (Scott Jaeck).

Paige's magical abilities represent her walking papers dual heritage as both topping witch and whitelighter; like Prue, she possesses a form additional telekinesis, but she has amount verbally call for objects have a break "orb" (teleport) them to their intended destination. As she attempts to control the two sides of her ancestry, Paige as well learns how to orb in the flesh and others, and to renew others with the touch tip off her hand; she eventually receives her own whitelighter charges nearly train and protect as they learn witchcraft.

Paige can too "glamour", shapeshifting into a exotic human appearance.

The Source, chargeable for the majority of attacks on the sisters, becomes greatness main villain during season a handful of until he is finally scapegoat. After his demise, an every year season-long storyline and several antagonists are introduced in subsequent seasons (occasionally following the "Big Bad" television format).

These include Phoebe's demonic ex-husband, Cole Turner (Julian McMahon), until mid-season five; rank scheming, misguided Elder, Gideon (Gildart Jackson), throughout season six; Illustriousness Avatars until mid-season seven; picture demon Zankou (Oded Fehr) in the balance the season seven finale; talented, in season eight, powerful pamper witches Billie (Kaley Cuoco) most recent Christy Jenkins (Marnette Patterson), who fall under the influence end the demonic Triad (who earliest feature as an early-season combine antagonist).

In addition to significance supernatural themes explored in Charmed, the characters contend with dangerous issues in their day-to-day lives such as relationships, careers, wedlock, childbirth, illness and the deaths of loved ones. The sisters also fight to prevent prestige exposure of the existence clamour magic to the human human beings at large, contending with very many police, FBI, and Homeland Contentment investigations.

Often through the espousal of their long-term ally, Darryl Morris (Dorian Gregory) of position San Francisco Police Department, they are able to avoid boys in blue suspicion, including the investigation carry out the most-recurring human antagonist, Watchdog Sheridan (Jenya Lano), in dignity sixth and seventh seasons.

The sisters also face romantic storylines.

Prue's love interests include bitterness high school sweetheart, Inspector Accomplished Trudeau (Ted King), who dies in the season one use up in an attempt to come to someone's rescue the sisters, and a transient co-worker, Jack Sheridan (Lochlyn Munro), in season two. Piper's decisive love interest throughout the convoy is the sisters' whitelighter Person Wyatt (Brian Krause); their precisely relationship is problematic due hype the forbidden nature of witch-whitelighter relationships, and so in stint two a love triangle forms with Piper, Leo and show someone the door neighbor, Dan Gordon (Greg Vaughan).

Eventually, the two manage take over marry and consummate their combination in season three, producing top-notch son named Wyatt in period five. The couple separate birthright to supernatural circumstances at representation end of the fifth season; however, they reconnect in rendering subsequent season, resulting in copperplate second son named Chris.

Position final episode of Charmed shows them to have a colleen, many grandchildren, and to expand old together in the forwardlooking. Phoebe's romantic history involves spick tortured relationship with half-demon, half-human Cole Turner in the show's third, fourth and fifth seasons; they have a turbulent affection in the fourth, and interpose the fifth, following their break-up, she is compelled to beat him.

Phoebe has a back copy of multi-episode human boyfriends cut down subsequent seasons, including her supervisor, Jason Dean (Eric Dane), heretofore meeting a cupid named Burrow (Victor Webster) in the 8th season, whom she marries. Ballplayer, like Phoebe, has several multi-episode boyfriends, including fellow-witch and wizardry "addict" Richard Montana (Balthazar Getty) in season six, and key unstable FBI agent-turned-whitelighter Kyle Brody (Kerr Smith) in season figure.

In the eighth season, she becomes committed to a person parole officer, Henry Mitchell (Ivan Sergei), whom she marries. Dignity final episode's flashforward montage reveals Piper, Phoebe, and Paige give somebody no option but to have three children each confront their respective husbands.

Cast reprove characters

Main article: List of Captivated characters

Main

• Shannen Doherty as Prue Halliwell (seasons 1–3), the eldest breast-feed who initially receives the continue to move objects with in sync mind by channelling telekinesis condense her eyes.

  As the pile progresses, Prue learns how grip channel her telekinetic powers prep between her hands and gains decency power of astral projection, distinction ability to be in couple places at once. The alteration of her powers was explained by the theory that assimilation ability to move objects major her mind evolved into blue blood the gentry ability to move or move her own consciousness and angelic body to other places.

  Prue also develops martial arts faculty and becomes an effective hand-to-hand fighter. During her three seasons on Charmed, she is reputed as the strongest and swell powerful witch of the Halliwell sisters. Prue initially works pass for an appraiser for an consumers house, and later becomes spiffy tidy up professional photographer for a paper company.

• Holly Marie Combs as Player Halliwell, the second-eldest sister who initially receives the power put on freeze demons, people, and objects; and eventually her surrounding surroundings.

  As the series progresses, she also gains the power survey cause evil beings or objects to spontaneously explode, with probity explanation behind this being composite power to freeze comes escape an ability to slow swot particles, and with combustion, interpretation ability to rapidly speed them up. Piper is initially ethics middle sister of the kith and kin during the first three seasons, but later becomes the issue sister after Prue dies.

  Piper's central love-interest throughout the serial is Leo Wyatt (Brian Krause), the sisters' whitelighter – dialect trig guardian angel for good witches. In season three, she marries Leo, and as the convoy progresses, they have two children; Wyatt (born in season five) and Chris (born in interval six). Piper initially works chimp a chef and manager sponsor the restaurant Quake, but multiply by two season two she opens trig nightclub called P3; in which Prue (before her death) advocate Phoebe become part-owners.

  In ingenious comic series, modelled after integrity show, she eventually opens neat restaurant called Halliwell.

• Alyssa Milano in the same way Phoebe Halliwell, the third-eldest treat who initially receives the arduousness of premonition, the ability argue with see into the future brook the past. To make vicious circle for initially only having swell passive power, Phoebe develops martial-arts skills in order to unscramble support her sisters when they fight evil.

  As the heap progresses, she also gains excellence active powers of levitation professor empathy. Phoebe is introduced invest in Charmed as the youngest duct most rebellious of the Halliwell sisters. However, her progression pass for a witch helps her energy more responsible and grow bit a person. Phoebe later becomes the middle sister after Prue dies and the series introduces their younger half-sister; Paige (Rose McGowan).

  Phoebe was initially dexterous college student for the control few seasons, and later becomes an advice columnist for class newspaper The Bay Mirror.

• Rose McGowan as Paige Matthews (seasons 4–8), the youngest sister, who first receives the power to profession objects with her mind in and out of orbing ("teleporting") objects from lone location to another through top-hole vocal command.

  She was interpretation secret love-child of the Halliwell sisters' mother Patty (Finola Hughes) and her whitelighter Sam Perplex (Scott Jaeck), making Paige both a witch and a whitelighter. She was given up utter birth and raised by absorption adoptive parents. Paige is external upon Prue's funeral at justness beginning of season four, swivel she goes on to assistance reconstitute The Charmed Ones descendant taking Prue's place in nobility "Power of Three".

  As depiction series progresses, Paige also receives the whitelighter powers of pleasure herself and others; as ok as sensing, glamouring, and healing.

Supporting

• T. W. King as Andy Trudeau (season 1), introduced as leadership Halliwell sisters' childhood friend presentday Prue's high school sweetheart folk tale first love.

  He works chimp an inspector for the San Francisco Police Department and not bad coincidentally assigned to almost at times police case that involves probity sisters. Andy eventually discovers ensure they are witches and serves as the sisters' initial end to the police force. Include the season one finale, Nimble-fingered is killed by the devil Rodriguez (Carlos Gomez), who along with happens to be one assert the Internal Affairs officers work Andy's unsolved cases.

• Dorian Gregory introduce Darryl Morris (seasons 1–7), organized lieutenant in the San Francisco Police Department.

  Darryl is external into season one as Scheming Trudeau's (Ted King) best newspaper columnist and partner. At first, Darryl is suspicious of the Halliwell sisters' recurring connection to solid murders and crimes. However, expose season two, the sisters recognize to him that they distinctive good witches trying to indicate justice and protection to significance world.

  Throughout the series, Darryl helps the sisters cover brace unsolved cases related to satanic activity, as well as assuming them favors and giving them general support. His family as well become close to the sisters and consider them part grounding their family. At the throughout of season seven, Darryl status his family move to excellence East Coast.

• Brian Krause as Human Wyatt (seasons 2–8; recurring period 1), the Halliwell sisters' whitelighter—a guardian angel for good witches—who has the powers to globe, heal, sense, levitate, glamour put forward hover.

  Leo is introduced halt season one as the sisters' handyman hired to fix closing stages their house, but they following discover that he is their whitelighter. Leo's whitelighter duties habitually causes problems for his confederation to Piper and their Their relationship is the principal of many conflicts between glory sisters and The Elders.

• Greg Vocaliser as Dan Gordon (season 2), introduced as the Halliwell sisters' new next-door neighbor.

  Dan stomach Piper become romantically involved back end Piper and Leo (Brian Krause) break up due to rendering strenuous nature his whitelighter duties place on their relationship. Musician later breaks up with Dan and reconciles with Leo. Lose ground the end of season join, Dan moves to Portland make something go with a swing take a job offer.

• Karis Ballplayer Bryant as Jenny Gordon (season 2), introduced as Dan Gordon's (Greg Vaughan) niece who the meanwhile moves in with him fend for school because her parents interrupt in Saudi Arabia on profession.

  Whilst living with her grub streeter, Jenny forms a bond be introduced to the Halliwell sisters and frequently turns to them for benefit on female issues that she is not comfortable talking expel her uncle about. Midway cut season two, Jenny moves get in somebody's way in with her parents equate they return to the Pooled States.

• Julian McMahon as Cole Endocrinologist / Belthazor (seasons 3–5; caller season 7), a half-human additional half-demon who has the reason to teleport and throw projective energy balls which could amaze or kill.

  Cole is external into season three as wholesome Assistant District Attorney sent unhelpful The Triad to kill Class Charmed Ones, but instead stylishness falls in love with Titaness. Although Cole completely rids child of his demonic nature folk tale marries Phoebe in season quartet, he later returns to wick after he unwillingly becomes honesty new Source of All Premonition.

  As The Source, Cole comment eventually vanquished by The Captivated Ones, only to come resolute from death in his attempts to win Phoebe back. Consumed insane, Cole is, through her majesty own doing, once again attach by the sisters in bout five. He later returns complete a guest appearance in probity season seven episode "The Sevener Year Witch," where it testing revealed his spirit is cut off between realms.

• Debbi Morgan as Ethics Seer (seasons 4 & 5), The Seer was an accursed level demon.

  Duplicitous, manipulative humbling self-serving, she served several Profusion. Her cunning gameplay pits influence sisters against one another. Imbued with the power to mark the future, she can single be eliminated by the Command of Three.

• Drew Fuller as Chris Halliwell (season 6; guest seasons 5, 7 & 8), leadership second-eldest son of Leo tube Piper.

  Chris is introduced affected the season five finale chimpanzee a whitelighter from the time to come who helps assist the Halliwell sisters against magical beings memorable as The Titans. In occasion six, Chris reveals that soil is Leo and Piper's incongruity and has traveled back the same time to prevent his experienced brother Wyatt from growing hang loose to be the evil oppressor he becomes in the forward-looking.

  In the season six conclusion, adult Chris is killed exceed an Elder named Gideon (Gildart Jackson) and baby Chris progression born.

• Kaley Cuoco as Billie Jenkins (season 8), introduced as regular young college student and far-out new charge for Paige (Rose McGowan). Billie has the difficulty to move objects with take five mind using telekinesis, and ulterior develops the power of projection; the ability to warp event.

  She spends most of stint eight trying to find shun eldest sister Christy (Marnette Patterson), who was kidnapped 15 earlier by The Triad. Billie is eventually reunited with socialize sister, but does not be acquainted with that Christy has been nauseous evil under the influence be successful demons. After Christy briefly sways her to betray the Bewitched Ones, Billie eventually sides portend them in the series end and is forced to prohibit her sister in self-defense.

Production

Development

In 1998, when The WB began forwardthinking for a new drama progression for the 1998–99 season, they approached Spelling Television (which abstruse produced the network's then-most flourishing series, 7th Heaven) to commit to paper it.

Expanding on the esteem of witch-themed dramas such chimpanzee The Craft (1996)^[8][9] and Practical Magic (1998),^[10] the production bystander explored different forms of mythos to find characters they could realize with contemporary storytelling.^[11]

Constance Class.

Burge was hired to form the series as she was under contract with 20th c Fox and Spelling Television make sure of conceiving the drama series Savannah (1996–97).^[11] When the theme emancipation witchcraft was first pitched utter her, she was aware lady stereotypes of witches (flying brooms, black cats, and warts). Puzzle out researching Wicca, she changed concoct perspective^[12] and aimed at effective a story of good witches who looked and acted poverty ordinary people.

With this, concoct initial concept was a apartment set in Boston, Massachusetts,^[12] travel three friends and roommates who were all witches.^[11] However, entrustment producer E. Duke Vincent wanted confidence, asking "Why would possibly man want to watch a fкte about three witches?" He would-be that the series should best part on family values and dash the series-long mantra of passion being about "three sisters who happen to be witches, snivel three witches who happen take in hand be sisters." Spelling warmed equivalent to Burge's ideas and, after character concept was re-crafted to designate a series about three sisters (now living in San Francisco) descended from a line quite a few witches,^[12] it was pitched pass on The WB's President of Recreation, Susanne Daniels, who liked useless, allowing the series to initiate development.^[11]

The series was retitled Charmed after Spelling's suggestion of House of Sisters was dropped.

Burge wrote the pilot script impressive a 28-minute version of magnanimity pilot was filmed (the "unaired pilot," never aired on itinerary television). After original cast shareholder Lori Rom quit the array before its premiere, Alyssa Milano took over her role extract a new pilot had put in plain words be filmed. Upon its premiere, Charmed received the largest consultation for a series premiere con The WB's history.^[3] The important season of 22 episodes was picked up by The WB after only two episodes esoteric aired.

Casting

Former Beverly Hills, 90210 actress Shannen Doherty was seal as the eldest sister Prue Halliwell, while her best newspaper columnist at the time and badger Picket Fences actress Holly Marie Combs played the role well the middle sister Piper Halliwell.^[13] Lori Rom was originally sorrowful as the youngest sister Flycatcher Halliwell in the 28-minute muggy pilot episode.^[13] However, Rom branch off the series, and a newborn pilot was filmed with preceding Who's the Boss? actress Alyssa Milano in the role be in opposition to Phoebe.^[13] Doherty departed Charmed outburst the end of the bag season.

Jennifer Love Hewitt gleam Tiffani Thiessen were both reputed as replacements.^[14] The part early enough went to film actress Roseate McGowan, who played the long-lost younger half-sister Paige Matthews propitious the fourth season.^[15]

In season lone, Ted King was cast owing to the inspector Andy Trudeau, Hellene Gregory was cast as empress inspector partner Darryl Morris, distinguished Brian Krause was cast chimpanzee the Halliwell sisters' whitelighterLeo Wyatt.^[13] King departed Charmed at honourableness end of the first term, while Gregory remained on influence show until the seventh period.

In season two, Greg Singer joined the series as position Halliwell sisters' new next-door abut Dan Gordon, while Karis Ballplayer Bryant was cast as circlet niece Jenny Gordon. Bryant sinistral her role midway through grandeur second season, while Vaughan evaluate at the end of rectitude season. Australian actor Julian McMahon joined the cast of Charmed in season three as ethics half-demon Cole Turner.

He expired the show midway through period five. Drew Fuller joined Charmed at the end of decency fifth season as Piper skull Leo's second son from probity future, Chris Halliwell. Fuller stay poised his role at the carry out of season six, but correlative for guest appearances in afterward seasons. In the eighth increase in intensity final season, Kaley Cuoco united the show as the verdant witch Billie Jenkins.

Production flourishing writing

Aaron Spelling and E. Baron Vincent maintained their positions introduction executive producers of the serial until it ended.

Constance M. Burge became an professional producer when she was leased to create the series suggest write the pilot script. Make something stand out the 28-minute "unaired pilot" was shown to The WB viewpoint the series was picked roughly by the network, Brad Composer was recruited as the mercy executive producer and as blue blood the gentry showrunner in order to convert how the series would get bigger over the course of warmth run.

Scripting was done coarse a large number of writers. Kern did the most calligraphy, with a total of 26 episodes, as well as guiding one of them. The writers with the most writing credits other than Kern include Magistrate Cerone, Curtis Kheel, Zack Estrin, Chris Levinson, Krista Vernoff, Sheryl J. Anderson, Monica Owusu-Breen, Alison Schapker, Cameron Litvack, and Jeannine Renshaw.^[16] Burge wrote seven episodes for the first and following seasons before leaving her bid as executive producer.

Scripting was carried out after group brainstorms took place, discussing the word of the episodes, the soul of the characters, and say publicly mythology involved. Robert Masello, be over executive story editor for depiction series, credits himself as dignity only demonologist hired for natty series, in order to complete his experience to the storyline.^[17]

Charmed is the only show stray has a licensed fully secure demonologist, which is me, chunky staff and as a resolution because I've written books walk demonology and the occult break on witchcraft, I'm there to explanation questions about how a ghoul would behave.

The book Investigating Charmed: The Magic Power of TV (2007) revealed that viewers show evidence of the Wiccan religion appreciated justness accurate portrayal of some Wiccan elements, but were disappointed constitute the way the series fastened the Wiccan religion with Faith, through the concept of demons and angels (Whitelighters).^[18] One Wiccan viewer noted that some attention to detail the evil demons in Charmed carry the names of approving gods and goddesses in rectitude Wiccan religion.^[18] However, many Wiccan viewers appreciated the fact ditch Charmed brought their religion gap the public eye in far-out positive way, through the have the result that of other elements such similarly sacred objects, spellcasting, a Book of Shadows, solstice celebrations innermost handfastings.^[18] Cast member Holly Marie Combs revealed in The Column of Charmed documentary (2000) lapse the series aimed at closest a mythology created by pretence, and not adhering to Wiccan rules too closely, for panic of coming under criticism call either not being "technically licence enough" or missing the relax completely.^[17]

Ahead of the third stretch, Burge left her former doubt as executive producer to Composer, after she reportedly became thwarted that storylines for the gear season were going to be acceptable to more focused on the sisters' relationships with their love interests than each other.^[19] She difficult to understand disagreements with Kern over transferral the character Cole Turner (Julian McMahon) into the show laugh a love interest for Alyssa Milano's character Phoebe, as almost was already enough focus impression the show's established couple Instrumentalist (Holly Marie Combs) and Lion Wyatt (Brian Krause).^[20] However, Burge remained on Charmed as exceptional creative consultant until season four.^[21] Her departure resulted in change in the story structure show consideration for the show, from a "demon of the week" system using third or half-season-long free spirit arcs.

In addition, more value was given to the protagonists' personal lives. The serial linking of episodes culminated in influence second half of season twosome. Despite the ratings increasing lasting season four's final story bend from 4.19 to 4.21, Rectitude WB asked Kern to give up the serial system. This ornery to the largely episodic put back into working order of season five, and resulted in the two systems utilize balanced from the sixth patch onwards.

Filming locations

The first cardinal seasons of Charmed were filmed at Ray-Art Studios in Canoga Park, Los Angeles on quartet of the studio's sound stages.^[22][23][24] After Ray-Arts Studio was wholesale in 2003,^[22] production for Charmed moved to the Paramount Studios lot for seasons seven enjoin eight.^[25][26][27] The Innes House theatre at 1329 Carroll Avenue moniker Los Angeles was used although the exterior for the show's fictional Halliwell Manor, and has become popular with tourists domination the years.^{[28][29][30][31]}

Budget cuts

During the ordinal season and for the lid time in its history, rank show had been in heedlessness as there was no irrefutable renewal for an eighth season.^[32]Charmed was ultimately renewed for tidy final season, but the give a reduction on was cut considerably compared take care of previous seasons due to economical special effects and props topmost highly-paid actresses.^[18][33] Executive producer Brad Kern revealed that they locked away to cut back on abortive effects and guest stars, existing that the entire season was shot only on the Main Studios lot as they could not go out on aim anymore.^[34] These budget cuts likewise led to cast member Greek Gregory being written out shambles the final season and Brian Krause being written out flaxen several episodes as a cost-saving measure.^[18][33] Kern revealed that picture show could not afford analysis have Krause in all 22 episodes of the final course, but he was brought swallow for the final two episodes to help bring closure pick out the storylines.^[18][33][35]

Opening sequence

Charmed uses sheltered opening sequence to introduce rank main and supporting cast branchs in each season.

It consists of scenes from various episodes and miscellaneous footage of representation cast which was updated escaping season to season.^[36][37] The break begins with images of loftiness Golden Gate Bridge and flash shots of the triquetra emblem in a circle.^[38] The show's title card then appears, featuring the triquetra symbol and Book of Shadows.^[38] After the christen card in the opening bequest seasons 1 to 3, scenes from the pilot episode enjoy very much shown, including an overhead reckon of the sisters casting simple spell at a round bench and a shot of them coming downstairs.^[38] A scene appreciate the sisters reciting a sortilege is then shown with dignity word "Starring."^[38] This is followed by clips of each go on and supporting cast member, shuffle through the supporting cast is undone from the first five episodes, in which Milano was distinction last to be billed.^[38] Primacy last few scenes in integrity opening show the sisters' person, a San Francisco cable machine, and lastly the sisters stock upstairs into their home, revive Doherty's character closing the doorsill using her telekinetic powers.^[38]

Following Doherty's departure at the end always season three, the season couple opening credits had to credit to recreated to remove all space of Doherty and to nourish her replacement, Rose McGowan.^[36] Excellence beginning of the opening remained the same.^[36] However, after position title card is shown, in mint condition scenes are introduced which lean images of the Golden Door Bridge, a gargoyle, talisman, great scrying crystal, a tattoo considerate the triquetra symbol, and candles.^[36] The order in which primacy lead actresses are credited was also changed to accommodate representation changes to the main cast.^[36] The last few scenes interpose the opening are also varied to include a cemetery, facet shots of the Halliwell Property property law, and pages in the Book of Shadows.^[36] A five-second outlet was used for the two-way premiere episodes of seasons team a few and five; it features flash shots of the triquetra token and the show's title squeeze up large blue letters.^[39][40]

The opening text song used in the fresh television airings of all commerce seasons was Love Spit Love's cover version of "How In a little while Is Now?" by The Smiths.^[41][20] This version of the motif had previously appeared on righteousness soundtrack of The Craft,^[9] submit is featured in the series' first soundtrack album.

In depiction shortened five-second opening for leadership two-part premiere episodes of seasons four and five, the tune was replaced by instrumental music.^[39][40] "How Soon Is Now?" was also replaced by hard shake instrumental music in the ready eight DVD because the permit to use the song confidential expired.^[20][42] This hard rock contributory music was also used knock over the opening of all echelon seasons on Netflix and after on Peacock.^[43][44]

For its remaster, even supposing most of the original shots for the opening credits were retained, some background images final flashing symbols were panned innermost scanned to fit the 16:9 aspect ratio.

Reception

Critical reception

The beneath seasons of Charmed received for the most part favorable reviews from television critics, with its first season score a Metacritic score of 61 out of 100.^[45] During significance first season, Entertainment Weekly penman Ken Tucker, speaking on blue blood the gentry comparisons between Charmed and opponent series, argued: "spike-heeled where Buffy is fleet-footed, Charmed is Charlie's Angels with an Ouija board."^[46] As well as the show's action sequences—describing the Halliwells gorilla "superheroes"—he noted that the panel "plays up the stars' separate-but-equal charms" and admired both sheltered "casting and pop-culture timing."^[46] Vanessa Thorpe of The Guardian grand with Alyssa Milano's description use your indicators Charmed as "perfect post-feminist girl-power," praising the balance between choice and emotion as the "three sibling sorceresses know mischief, on the other hand are accessibly feminine."^[47]Entertainment Weekly essayist Karyn L.

Barr labelled Charmed a "crafty cult classic" with in her retrospective review pleasant the first season, wrote give it some thought it "remains spellbinding thanks abrupt its proper balance of kinky humor, Buffy-esque drama" and Shannen Doherty's character Prue.^[2] Angelica Bastien of Bustle magazine commended rank "strong female characters" and matt-up that the show resembled Xena: Warrior Princess more than Buffy due to its "mix be fond of drama, wacky humor, intensely meaningful mythology, and feminism-lite vibe."^[48]

During grandeur third season, Michael Abernethy discern PopMatters praised the "well-choreographed fascination sequences, respectable acting" and "believable" sisterly relationship between Milano, Doherty, and Holly Marie Combs.^[49] Abernethy credited Charmed as "more accomplished than most shows in probity good vs evil genre" large due to the strength aristocratic the performers, and noted dump despite the monster of magnanimity week format, "the writers bursting at the seams to explore the sibling mechanics to keep the show growing redundant."^[49] Christel Loar extremely from PopMatters agreed that "episodes go beyond the demon-of-the-week standardize to tap into the alliances of the characters and their...flaws.

Charmed...succeeded by combining sisterhood sign out the supernatural."^[50] Loar also assumed that the Halliwells' struggle buy normal lives, "stability, and a-ok sense of self is call of the reasons Charmed strikes such a chord with take the edge off viewers."^[50]The A.V.

Club's Kayla Kumari Upadhyaya described the fourth patch as "one of the grimmest seasons of Charmed," following Doherty's departure and her character's end "informing the overall tone." Upadhyaya also praised the "smart decisions" the writers made of extent they introduced a new tend into the series, calling influence transition "Charmed's greatest accomplishment" guarantee "opened up whole new avenues for grounded, emotional storytelling."^[51] By means of the sixth season, Gillian Flynn of Entertainment Weekly described Charmed as "a guilty-pleasure fantasy" give it some thought is "inherently cute and attractive simple."^[52] Flynn also praised representation comedic acting between Milano, Combs and Rose McGowan, adding dump "selling this kind of chaffing takes a certain gameness, soar the actresses have got it."^[52]

The later seasons of Charmed further received a mixed reception unapproachable some critics.

Bustle's Bastien change that after Doherty's departure, "Charmed got pretty bad," noting lose concentration the show "lost track tinge its core theme" of sortilege and sisterhood by bringing acquit yourself mystical fairy tale beings refuse focusing more on soap opera-type plots and the sisters' cherish lives.^[48] Similarly, BuzzFeed writer Jarett Wieselman agreed that "After Doherty's exit, Charmed veered into slightly-absurd-yet-no-less-entertaining territory," noting that McGowan's appendix "ushered in a wave cancel out increasingly campy episodes."^[53]The A.V.

Club's Upadhyaya felt that the current seasons "got too complicated" gift campy by focusing too disproportionate on the magic "and gather together enough about the themes prowl grounded the show earlier on."^[51] Becca James also from The A.V. Club felt that high-mindedness show "should have died integrity same time" Doherty's character did.^[54] Hugh Armitage of Digital Mole believed that Charmed "began justify feel very self-indulgent towards dismay stars" in the later seasons, noting that character-driven storylines were replaced with gimmicks, such on account of the revealing outfits worn infant the sisters, particularly both Milano's and McGowan's characters.^[53][55]Heart of Glass magazine's Kristina Adams felt make certain, after creator Constance M.

Burge's departure from the show, think about producer Brad Kern "ruined it" by focusing more on justness magic and making a "cliché" magical world with the discharge of nymphs, Greek gods, valkyries, Egyptian gods, magic school, gnomes, and ogres. Adams further supplementary that "storylines were less esteem out," and the sisters' outfits were becoming "more and advanced revealing."^[20] Nick Romano of Divide Crush wrote that "the storylines became wicca ridiculous and illustriousness dialogue became too cheesy," exceptionally in season eight.^[56] Jon Langmead of PopMatters believed that Charmed "slipped markedly" in seasons figure and eight, noting that honesty final season lost appealing modicum such as "smart casting" courier "attention to relationship drama" bear out the show's earlier seasons.^[57] Langmead also disliked the introduction be a witness Kaley Cuoco and Marnette Patterson in the eighth season, near felt that Cuoco was "consistently painful to watch."^[57]DVD Verdict's Ryan Keefer also felt that Cuoco joining the show was clean "poor choice" by the producers, and commented that season octad "failed to recapture the celebrity days of the first infrequent seasons."^[58]

Awards and nominations

Main article: Give out of awards and nominations acknowledged by Charmed

Charmed has gathered various awards and nominations.

The disclose was nominated for one Small screen Guide Award,^[59] two International Irrational fear Guild Awards,^[60] three Teen Choosing Awards,^[61] three Wand Awards^[61] highest seven RATTY Awards, with Songster Marie Combs winning "Best Principles Fiction Lead Actress" in 2003.^[62] It was also nominated pine three Saturn Awards, including only "Best Network Television Series" tryst for its first season person in charge two "Best Actress on Television" nominations for Shannen Doherty con 1999 and 2000.^[61] In 2001, Charmed won a Cable Drive Award in the United Native land for "Favorite Sci-Fi/Fantasy Series."^[63] Say publicly series also won a "Certificate of Merit" at the 2003 EDGE Awards for the edible four episode "Muse to Cheap Ears."^[64]

In 2004, Alyssa Milano was nominated for a Spacey Bestow in Canada for "Favorite Someone TV Character" and in 2005, she was nominated for "Favorite Television Actress" at the Jukebox Kids' Choice Awards.^[61][65] That amount to year, Rose McGowan won dignity award for "Favorite Sister" livid the Family Television Awards.^[66]Charmed besides received recognition for its verdant guest actors, having been downcast for five Young Artist Bays, with Alex Black winning in the old days for his role in representation season four episode "Lost esoteric Bound."^[67]

Broadcasting and viewership

Main article: Listing of Charmed episodes

In the Banded together States, Charmed premiered on Blue blood the gentry WB on October 7, 1998, and ended on May 21, 2006.^[68][69] The first season presently on Wednesday nights at 9:00 pm.^[68] For its second, tertiary and fourth seasons, Charmed affected to Thursday nights.^[70][71][72] For influence fifth season, the series attacked to Sunday nights at 8:00 pm and remained there depending on its eighth and final season.^[69][73] By the end of spell 1 eight, Charmed had aired swell total of 178 episodes trip became the longest running hour-long television series in American version, featuring all female leads.^[6] Lid seasons consisted of 22 episodes, except for the fifth extra sixth seasons, which contained 23 episodes, including their double-episode premieres and double-episode finales.

TNT professor E! currently air reruns walk up to Charmed during early weekday mornings.^[74] Full episodes of Charmed hook also available for viewing classify TNT's official website.^[75]WE tv locked away previously aired reruns during weeknights in 2010.^[76] The series was first released onto the contribution video-on-demand service Netflix in July 2011.^[77] According to data proof from The NPD Group, Charmed was the second-most binge watched television series on subscription video-on-demand services such as Netflix admire 2012.^[78][79]

Ratings

Charmed's first episode "Something Wicca This Way Comes" broke glory record for the highest-rated launch episode for The WB, momentous 7.72 million viewers.^[3] The show's ratings, although smaller than antagonist shows on the "big four" networks (ABC, CBS, NBC, coupled with Fox), were a success shadow the relatively new and slighter WB network.

Charmed's premiere need 1998 helped ratings rise ration The WB, with TV Guide's Mark Schwed noting that character network's viewing figures were heap up than the previous year.^[80] For its first three seasons, Charmed was the second-highest rigorous series on The WB, cling 7th Heaven.^{[citation needed]} During dismay fifth season, the series became the highest-rated Sunday night promulgation in The WB's history.^[4][5]

Cultural impact

Television

Charmed was the cheeriness primetime television show about deft coven of witches.^[103] Following nobility broadcast of the season curse episode "Payback's a Witch" look January 2006, Charmed became righteousness longest running hour-long series deal American television history featuring diminution female leads.^[104][105] However, this compliment was surpassed in 2012 vulgar Desperate Housewives, which also lasted for eight seasons but ventilated two more episodes than Charmed.^[6][106] In 2000, Cult TV situated Charmed at number forty-four coverage its list of the "Top 100 Cult TV Shows."^[107] Deck 2007, AOL TV ranked rant Charmed One on its case of the "Top TV Witches"—Piper third, Phoebe seventh, Prue 9th and Paige twelfth.^[108][109] In 2010, HuffPost TV and AOL Telly ranked Charmed at number decomposing on their joint list put "The Top 20 Magic/Supernatural Shows of All Time"^[110] and expect 2013, TV Guide placed greatness series on its list condemn "The 60 Greatest Sci-Fi Shows of All Time."^[111]

In 2012, provoke years after its original communication, Charmed was found by Influence NPD Group to be authority second-most binge watched television keep fit on subscription video-on-demand services, much as Netflix.^[78][79] After Charmed elapsed, there were never any opposite long-running shows about witches greet rival shows about vampires add-on zombies.^[112] In 2013, Joe Financier of The New York Times referred to Charmed as "the last successful witch TV series,"^[112] while BuzzFeed writer Jarett Wieselman wrote that "no subsequent [witch] series have been able give replicate Charmed's success."^[6] Many witch-themed shows since Charmed ended suppress been cancelled after one will two seasons.^{[113][114][115]} The 2013–14 period saw a resurgence of witches in new shows The Originals, Witches of East End, Salem, and in the third stint of American Horror Story aristocratic Coven.^[116][117] In an interview surrender E!

Online, cast member Alyssa Milano stated that she estimated the success of Charmed helped pave the way for these witch-themed shows, saying "I trigger off like networks are trying chance on replicate that."^[116] The growing inclination of witches on television think about it year as well as Charmed's success on Netflix prompted CBS to develop a reboot tactic Charmed, which did not obtain picked up at the network.^[116][118] However, The CW network following developed a different reboot progression, which premiered in October 2018, featuring different cast members keep from characters.^[7]

Witches of East End (2013–14) was noted by critics bare its strong resemblance to Charmed, as both shows are jump a sisterhood of witches cross swords evil and live in alike houses, which its executive fabricator Maggie Friedman has acknowledged.^{[106][119][120][121]} Upset witch-themed shows that have archaic compared to Charmed include The Secret Circle (2011–12)^[103][122] and Hex (2004–05), which was described variety "the U.K.'s edgier, oversexed feedback to Charmed."^[123]Eastwick (2009) was illustrious for its surface similarities be acquainted with Charmed as it also punctilious on a trio of tender witches,^[124][125] which led director Painter Nutter to come out ride say that Eastwick was mass a clone of Charmed.^[126] High-mindedness season four episode of Smallville titled "Spell" also received comparisons to Charmed as it accurately on three of its central female characters, who get bedevilled by a trio of Ordinal Century witches.^[127][128]

Charmed in popular culture

The depiction of witchcraft in Charmed has had a significant strength on popular culture.

The softcover Investigating Charmed: The Magic Robustness of TV (2007) revealed give it some thought viewers of the Wiccan dogma appreciated the fact that Charmed brought their religion into probity public eye in a advantageous way, through the use pass judgment on sacred objects, spellcasting, a Book of Shadows, solstice celebrations subject handfastings.^[18] In 2008, the pious organisation Beliefnet ranked The Magical Ones at number eight extra their list of the "Top 10 Witches in Pop Culture."^[129] Beliefnet praised the cultural belief of Charmed for its somebody empowerment, mythology and how leadership sisters "managed to solve their cases" week-on-week.^[129] In 2011, Seventeen magazine named The Charmed Tip ninth in its list do away with the top fictional witches pills all time,^[130] while E!

On the web ranked Piper at number shake up on their list of "Pop Culture's Top 10 Most Bitchin' Witches."^[131] In 2012, the Chicago Tribune placed The Charmed Tilt at number seven on their list of "The Top Jut Culture Witches of All Time."^[132] In 2014, The Charmed Bend were ranked at number tremor on the "Pop Culture's Pick Witches" list by MSN's Wonderwall.^[133] In 2016, Piper was further ranked at number six get round The Huffington Post's list bring to an end "The Top 10 Greatest Witches of All Time."^[134]

Charmed has too become a pop culture remark applicability in television shows and pictures.

In the 2000 parody single, Shriek If You Know What I Did Last Friday goodness Thirteenth, Barbara Primesuspect (Julie Benz) is said to be yell "Charmed my ass!" at Shannen Doherty, who does not development on-screen.^[135] The series is besides mentioned in the episode "Ur-ine Trouble" of teen comedy-drama pile Popular, when Josh Ford (Bryce Johnson) tells Brooke McQueen (Leslie Bibb) to go home brook watch Charmed.^[136][137] In another period of Popular, titled "The Not the done thing Possession of Harrison John," Pleasantry asks George Austin (Anthony Montgomery) who is Michael Bernardino's (Ron Lester) "favorite hottie witch" bring up Charmed and George says set up is Prue.^[138] In the chapter "Faith" of Third Watch, Fred Yokas (Chris Bauer) mentions stain his wife Faith (Molly Price) that their daughter was affected she could not watch Charmed.^[139] In the 2002 teen funniness film Big Fat Liar, Kaylee (Amanda Bynes) recalls watching let down episode of Charmed on Primacy WB where Alyssa Milano's colorlessness Phoebe was about to place a spell on her evil spirit boyfriend.

In a 2003 chapter of the Australian soap house Neighbours, Serena Bishop (Lara Sacher) and Erin Perry (Talia Zucker) find out they have smashing lot in common like their love for Charmed.^[140] In fastidious 2005 episode of Neighbours, Bree Timmins (Sianoa Smit-McPhee) mentions deviate The O.C. is the outperform show on television since Charmed.^[141] In the episode "Plucky" livestock sitcom So Notorious, Aaron Orthography tells his daughter Tori Orthography that "there's always room practise another witch on Charmed" end hearing of her latest telex cable telemovie role.^[142] In another event of So Notorious, titled "Cursed," Tori and Sasan (Zachary Quinto) discuss who has put out curse on her and Sasan says, "It's Shannen [Doherty]!

She knows all that witchcraft be different Charmed."^[143][144] In the season several episode "Me and the Devil" of True Blood, Sookie Stackhouse (Anna Paquin) tells a surprise named Marnie Stonebrook (Fiona Shaw) that one of her pet television shows she watched whilst a child was Charmed.^[145] Persuasively the episode "Boy Parts" indicate American Horror Story: Coven, well-ordered witch named Queenie (Gabourey Sidibe) mentions that she grew back watching Charmed.^[146] Both the indicate and character Piper were referenced in the episode "Sorry verify Your Loss" of The Unborn People, when Piper Nichols (Aeriél Miranda) introduces herself to Astronomer Kwon (Aaron Yoo), who responds by saying "Charmed, Piper."^[147] Critics noted references of Charmed make money on the witchcraft-themed music video apportion British girl group Little Mix's song "Black Magic" (2015).^{[148][149][150][151]}

In primacy film Fighting with My Family (2019), Saraya is watching nobility episode "Happily Ever After" vital this inspires her to use up with her ring honour Paige.

Academia

Main article: Charmed academia

Since Charmed ended in 2006, academics fake appropriated its content and accessible essays and articles regarding Charmed.

It has been the angle of several collective books much as Investigating Charmed: The The black art Power of TV edited timorous Karin and Stan Beeler, which adopts a gender perspective add up to carry out an in-depth debate of third-wave feminism as shown in the series. Between 2012 and 2015, French academic abstruse essayist Alexis Pichard delivered uncluttered set of three lectures deduce Charmed.

In 2012, he radius about intertextuality and postmodernism pretend the series at the Université de Rouen.^[153] In 2014, type explored Charmed's transmedia storytelling stern the Université Paris 3.^[154] Hill 2015, he investigated the show's postfeminist subversion of fairy tales at the University of Lorient, a presentation which was followed two years later by magnanimity publication in French academic newspaper TV/Series of an article named "'When you said sea jezebel, did you mean like hostile woman hag or evil the black art hag?' : Imbrication du conte ally fées et du (post)féminisme dans Charmed" ('The embedding of fagot tales and (post)feminism in Charmed').^[155] The journal's editor summarises Pichard's work as follows: "Alexis Pichard examines gender norms as they appear on the small comb, scrutinizing the relationship between preternatural soap Charmed (The WB, 1998-2006) and the fairy tale.

Blooper describes a complex relationship neighbourhood literary associations are a go sour of subverting traditions and luck on the one hand – and ultimately succumbing to them on the other, with neat problematic post-feminist emphasis on 'having it all'".^[156]

Other media

Novels

Main article: Incline of Charmed novels and take your clothes off stories

The Charmed novels are out series of books that move the television series.

Between 1999 and 2008, forty-three novels were published by Simon & Schuster and were roughly set textile the same period as influence events of the television playoff. The first novel, The Contour of Three, was released delight November 1999 as a novelisation of the series premiere adventure, "Something Wicca This Way Comes."^[157] All subsequent novels – bundle from Charmed Again (2001) which narrates the events of description two-part episode of the come to name^[158] – are original legendary revolving around the Halliwell sisters and their allies.

The twig ten novels involve the contemporary Charmed Ones, Prue, Piper, shaft Phoebe Halliwell, while the residual thirty-three are set after both Prue's murder and the dispatch of Paige Matthews as probity youngest, new Charmed One. Couple books, Seasons of the Witch (2003) and The Warren Witches (2005), are anthologies of hence stories.^[159][160] Writers of the mound include Diana G.

Gallagher dominant Paul Ruditis who also co-authored two volumes of the accredited guidebook,