Melissa and Joey is an American sitcom that aired from 2010 to 2015. It starred Melissa Joan Hart as Mel Burke, a former wild child who becomes the guardian of her nephew and niece after, their parents are arrested for financial fraud. Joey Lawrence played Joey Longo, a former professional baseball player who becomes Mel's male nanny. The show follows the lives of Mel and Joey as they navigate their new roles as caregivers while also balancing their own personal and professional lives. Mel is a successful politician, while Joey is trying to revive his career as an actor. As they adjust to their new family dynamic, they often find themselves in humorous and sometimes chaotic situations.
By the end of the Middle Ages, a view of women as especially susceptible to witchcraft had emerged. The notion that a witch might travel by broomstick (especially when contrasted with the male who conjures a demon horse on which to ride) underscores the domestic sphere to which women belonged.
The notion that a witch might travel by broomstick especially when contrasted with the male who conjures a demon horse on which to ride underscores the domestic sphere to which women belonged. Flying through the skies on a broomstick, the popular image of a witch is as a predominantly female figure so much so that the costume has become the go-to Halloween outfit for women and girls alike.
As they adjust to their new family dynamic, they often find themselves in humorous and sometimes chaotic situations. Mel and Joey have a love-hate relationship, with Mel often being strict and overprotective, while Joey is laid-back and carefree. Despite their differences, they both share a deep love for their niece and nephew and will do whatever it takes to ensure their happiness and well-being.
A very brief history of witches by Suzannah Lipscomb
Between 1482 and 1782, thousands of people across Europe – most of them women – were accused of witchcraft and subsequently executed. But why were so many innocent people suspected of such a crime? Historian and broadcaster Suzannah Lipscomb explores the history of witches.
- Professor Suzannah Lipscomb
Witches are everywhere. In fairytales, fantasy and satire, they appear time and again as a versatile synonym for evil and transgression. But, in the late 16th and early 17th centuries, men and women of both high and low status believed in witches’ ubiquity in a far more disturbing way. Lord chief justice Anderson noted in 1602: “The land is full of witches… they abound in all places” – not as a symbol or figure of fun, but as a deadly threat to life, livelihood and divine order.
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Witches in numbers: how many people were killed?
The large-scale persecution, prosecution and execution of witches in these centuries was an extraordinary phenomenon. It is also an episode of European history that has spawned many myths and much inaccuracy. Dan Brown’s Da Vinci Code is one of the purveyors of such erroneous hype, stating: “The church burned at the stake an astounding 5 million women”, which would be astounding if true. The actual numbers are far lower, but still striking: between 1482 and 1782, around 100,000 people across Europe were accused of witchcraft, and some 40–50,000 were executed.
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Neither were witches (with the exception of some targeted by the Spanish Inquisition) generally persecuted by the church. Although belief in witches was orthodox doctrine, following Exodus 22.18, the 16th and 17th-century witch trials were the result of witchcraft becoming a crime under law, and witches were prosecuted by the state. In England, witchcraft became a crime in 1542, a statute renewed in 1562 and 1604. As such, most witches across Europe received the usual penalty for murder – hanging (though in Scotland and under the Spanish Inquisition witches were burned).
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Male witches
Nor were all witches women – men could be witches too. Across Europe, 70–80 per cent of people accused of witchcraft were female – though the proportions of female witches were higher in certain areas: the bishopric of Basel; the county of Namur (modern Belgium); Hungary; Poland; and Essex, England. But one in five witches were male across Europe, and in some places, males predominated – in Moscow, male witches outnumbered women 7:3; in Normandy 3:1.
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Nevertheless, because women were believed to be morally and spiritually weaker than men, they were thought to be particularly vulnerable to diabolic persuasion. Most of those accused were also poor and elderly; many were widows, and menopausal and post-menopausal women are disproportionally represented among them.
More like this
In my two-part series, Witch Hunt: A Century of Murder (which aired in October 2015 on Channel 5), we seek to investigate witchcraft prosecution in the British Isles. Although witchcraft trials happened in every county in the country, the best evidence survives from three major witch crazes in the British Isles – in 1590s Edinburgh; 1612 Lancashire; and 1640s Essex and East Anglia, and we focus on those.
James VI and I
Above all, we have tried to consider the perspective of the victims – that is, those who were accused of witchcraft. We consider the circumstances in which alleged witches were accused, and the power of both neighbourhood accusation and elite sanction (James VI and I’s book on the subject of witchcraft, Daemonologie, published in 1597, is a case in point). We examine the way that torture – though illegal in England – was employed in late 16th-century Scotland and during the upheaval of the Civil War. We explore the role of the witchfinder, but also the willing collaboration of ordinary people in ridding the land of witches. And we look at what someone accused of witchcraft experienced as their fate.
It is a sad, sorry and often harrowing tale – but it is one that needs to be heard.
Suzannah Lipscomb is professor of history at the University of Roehampton and is the writer and presenter of 13 TV history documentary series . You can follow Lipscomb on Twitter @sixteenthCgirl or visit her website suzannahlipscomb.com.
AdvertisementThis article was first published on HistoryExtra in 2015
Some wicked women, turning back to Satan and seduced by the illusions and phantasms of demons, believe [that] in the night hours they ride on certain animals with the pagan goddess Diana and a countless multitude of women, and they cross a great span of the world in the stillness of the dead of night.
Throughout the series, Mel and Joey's relationship evolves and they develop a strong bond and mutual respect for each other. They rely on each other for support and often turn to one another for advice and guidance. As the show progresses, Mel and Joey's feelings for each other become more than just friendship, and they eventually embark on a romantic relationship. The chemistry between Melissa Joan Hart and Joey Lawrence is one of the highlights of the show. Their comedic timing and on-screen chemistry made Mel and Joey a fan-favorite couple. Viewers became invested in their relationship, eagerly watching as they overcame obstacles and grew closer together. Melissa and Joey is a heartwarming sitcom that explores the ups and downs of family life and the unbreakable bond between a guardian and her nanny. The show tackles themes of love, family, and personal growth, all while providing laughter and entertainment. Despite its cancellation in 2015, it remains a beloved show that continues to be enjoyed by fans around the world..
Reviews for "Melossa and Joey Witch: The Guardians of the Witching World"
1. Karen - 2 out of 5 stars - I really did not enjoy "Melossa and Joey Witch." The plot was confusing and seemed to jump all over the place. The characters were not well-developed, and I found it difficult to connect with them. Additionally, there were numerous grammatical errors and typos throughout the book, which made it hard to read. Overall, I was disappointed with this book and would not recommend it to others.
2. John - 1 out of 5 stars - "Melossa and Joey Witch" was a complete letdown for me. The story lacked depth and felt extremely predictable. The dialogue between the characters was unrealistic and forced, making it hard to believe in the supposedly magical world they inhabited. Furthermore, the pacing was off, with long stretches of monotonous descriptions that did not add anything to the plot. I had high hopes for this book, but it fell flat on every level.
3. Mary - 2 out of 5 stars - I found "Melossa and Joey Witch" to be quite dull and uninteresting. The writing style was very dry, and the author failed to create a captivating narrative. The magic in the story felt underutilized, and the supposed climax of the plot was lackluster and anticlimactic. Additionally, the characters lacked depth and were difficult to root for. I struggled to stay engaged throughout the book and ultimately felt unsatisfied with the reading experience.