Most Bewitched fans probably think Dick York was a better Darrin than Dick Sargent was, and I agree with that. But how do you think they would have been perceived if their time on the show was switched? That means Dick Sargent would have been on the first five years and Dick York on the last three.

I don't know. Most of the time fans don't like it when characters switch actors. I know for me what made Bewitched so great was the chemistry between EM and DY. I just never saw that with DS. His Darren seemed so angry. If he had been there originally I don't know if I would have enjoyed the show as much as I did.

I don't know. Most of the time fans don't like it when characters switch actors. I know for me what made Bewitched so great was the chemistry between EM and DY. I just never saw that with DS. His Darren seemed so angry. If he had been there originally I don't know if I would have enjoyed the show as much as I did.
Sonny, you summed up my feelings perfectly!!! DY was married in real life to a woman he was very much in love with (and remained so for 40 years until he passed). He wrote in his book that EM had qualites that reminded him of his wife. That made it easy to act out - and the chemistry EM & DY shared was out of this world!!! DS stepped into a very difficult situation and tried his best - but DY WAS Darrin, period!!

I was going to post a thread similar to this about Dick Sargent, so I'll just say what I have to say here.

I can see why the fans like Dick York a lot more, he was certainly more of a physical comedy actor I always though. That said, I have been watching season 6 and you know what, I think Dick Sargent is really good. I see chemestry there between him and Liz Montgomery, and also I just noticed, not only was Dick Sargent a good actor, but he was quite handsome too.

I think Dick Sargent should be given credit considering he was replacing Dick York who was so popular with the fans.

I do think that Dick Sargent is sometimes underestimated simply because he had such a tough act to follow. Overall he was a very good replacement choice, and of course he had been considered for Darrin originally.

Your question is interesting. Especially considering that several DY episodes were redone with DS, it's not difficult to imagine DS in the earlier seasons. But I think DY was able to step up into the role in ways that just about no one else could match!

Some of my favorite DS episodes were the time travel scripts and any other on-location filming. Getting him out of the home and office seemed to liven him up.

Some of my favorite DS episodes were the time travel scripts and any other on-location filming. Getting him out of the home and office seemed to liven him up.

Very well put. I really enjoy the Salem episodes and the ones that started off the eighth season where they were dealing with Henry the VIII. I have said before that Dick Sargent was a fine actor and certainly did no harm to Bewitched. It is just very difficult for anyone to replace a star on a tv show.

Just think of how many shows they tried to do this with and it flopped much more miserably than Bewitched did. Remember "The Dukes of Hazzard" when they replaced Bo and Luke? That was a fiasco for sure and the show never recovered. Also, the final season of "Welcome Back Koetter" was pretty bad IMHO. I mean the star of the show was Gabe Kaplan. For me the final season of "Chico and The Man" was just bad. I know that when Freddie Prinze died there was no way around it so they should have just ended the series after that season. I know he passed away in the middle of a season so I can understand them finishing that season without him.

I liked both Darrins but, I'm more use to Dick York. They also replaced Bea Benedaret who played Kate Bradley on Petticoat Junction. The show managed three seasons without her. Also sometimes replacing an actor can work, like in the case of Valerie Harper who was fired from her show and replaced by Sandy Duncan.

Dick Sargent was also tapped in 1980 to step in for a very popular actor. In this case, it was on Dukes of Hazzard. James Best (Rosco P. Coltrane) was on strike due to poor working conditions, and several temporary sheriffs were called in. One was DS as Grady Byrd, who lasted only 2 episodes. Then they brought in another guy, and finally James Best returned and would stay put for the remainder of the series' run. It just seemed DS never found a role he could TRULY call his own.

That saddens me, because he deserved better. However, we can take heart knowing that he will be remembered for a longtime for his Bewitched work.

With Dukes, that makes at least THREE series that DS was a replacement--BW and Down to Earth being the others. wow.....

With Dukes, that makes at least THREE series that DS was a replacement--BW and Down to Earth being the others. wow.....
I never saw Down to Earth - was it any good?

I'll be honest with you, Monika--this is one instance where Dick Sargent is indeed the better actor out of the two to play the dad and his episodes are more enjoyable. But over all--it's a very mediocre sitcom. Ronnie Schell had a supporting role for several episodes as a head angel to Carol Mansell's trying to earn her wings angel on earth. Best thing about the show is the theme song!

^ Thanks for the info, Jude. I'd also like to see the 1989 film Teen Witch - DS co-starred and got good reviews for his performance.

Here are a couple of screen captures of DS on Dukes as replacement sheriff Grady Byrd, with Sonny Shroyer as Deputy Enos Strate.

^ Thanks for the info, Jude. I'd also like to see the 1989 film Teen Witch - DS co-starred and got good reviews for his performance.

Here are a couple of screen captures of DS on Dukes as replacement sheriff Grady Byrd, with Sonny Shroyer as Deputy Enos Strate.
No offense to Dick Sargent but I'm glad that James Best came back. Rosco and Boss Hogg's interaction was one of the best things about that show. :lol:

No offense to Dick Sargent but I'm glad that James Best came back. Rosco and Boss Hogg's interaction was one of the best things about that show. :lol:
Agreed! Others who filled the sheriff slot until James Best returned to the show were Clifton James (as Sheriff Lester Crabb) and James Hampton (as Sheriff Buster Moon). None of them even came close to recreating the chemistry James Best had with Sorrell Booke. They were like the Laurel & Hardy of Hazzard County! :rofl:

Dick Sargeant's take on Darrin, (angry, impatient, hardly seemed to love Sam at ALL) would have been just as bad if he'd been first, in fact, had this been the case, I feel the show would have likely been cancelled in its first year!

Completely agree with you, Mikado.

Dick Sargeant's take on Darrin, (angry, impatient, hardly seemed to love Sam at ALL)

He also reminded me of Tabitha and Adam's Step dad instead of their father. The way he had Tabitha go up to her room without eating.

He also reminded me of Tabitha and Adam's Step dad instead of their father. The way he had Tabitha go up to her room without eating.
I didn't like that, either. I loved the father/daughter scenes between Dick York and Erin Murphy. In real life, she kept in touch with him until he passed, according to an interview I saw on http://bewitched.net a while back. That's so sweet. :D

I agree with all of your comments regarding Dick York's Darrin being angrier. I have always thought that, too! Great minds think alike!:yourock:

I also think that Dick Sargent was more handsomel! That's sweet that Erin Murphy kept in touch with him, but I didn't know (or have forgotten) that he passed away. When did this happen?

This is so terrible to say but I was watching ET one night and they had this snippet of an interview with Dick York and he looked absolutely awful! I think he was very ill at the time. I don't know what year the interview took place but it was WAY after "Bewitched" ended! I felt bad for him, though!

Andrea

I also think that Dick Sargent was more handsomel! That's sweet that Erin Murphy kept in touch with him, but I didn't know (or have forgotten) that he passed away. When did this happen?

This is so terrible to say but I was watching ET one night and they had this snippet of an interview with Dick York and he looked absolutely awful! I think he was very ill at the time. I don't know what year the interview took place but it was WAY after "Bewitched" ended! I felt bad for him, though!

Andrea

Dick York died on 20 February 1992, Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA (emphysema).

Grand Rapids is an hour north of where I live. I remember reading about Dick York's passing when I was in high school and was unaware he lived so close.

So sad that he ended his life in poverty but he never let it break his spirit. All of us should be as generous to others as he was.

I just saw an interview online with Dick York, about a year or so before he passed away. What a wonderful human being he was. He seemed like he was liked by everyone, and he was talking about how he never met anybody in his life he didn't like. How many people can say that?

He is my new role model.

Not to mention what a humanitarian he was.

I just saw an interview online with Dick York, about a year or so before he passed away. What a wonderful human being he was. He seemed like he was liked by everyone, and he was talking about how he never met anybody in his life he didn't like. How many people can say that?

He is my new role model.

Not to mention what a humanitarian he was.
You really ought to check out DY's book, entitled The Seesaw Girl & Me. It was finally published in 2004, 12 years after his passing. You can find it here:

http://www.newpathpress.com/

^ Here's what the front of the book's dust jacket looks like:

You really ought to check out DY's book, entitled The Seesaw Girl & Me. It was finally published in 2004, 12 years after his passing. You can find it here:

http://www.newpathpress.com/



I want to read his bio, but I know I'll cry.

Maybe someday.

I want to read his bio, but I know I'll cry.

Maybe someday.
It's so worth it - just reading about the love story between him and his wife is amazing. :love:

I just caught an episode of Family Ties where DS played Meredith Baxter's father. THAT was interesting. :lol:

So sad that he ended his life in poverty but he never let it break his spirit. All of us should be as generous to others as he was.

I agree catlover.

Sonny, you summed up my feelings perfectly!!! DY was married in real life to a woman he was very much in love with (and remained so for 40 years until he passed). He wrote in his book that EM had qualites that reminded him of his wife. That made it easy to act out - and the chemistry EM & DY shared was out of this world!!! DS stepped into a very difficult situation and tried his best - but DY WAS Darrin, period!!

I agree once again, catlover. DY WAS Darrin. The show was not the same without him.

Dick York

I agree once again, catlover. DY WAS Darrin. The show was not the same without him.
:nod:

I haven't watched Bewitched in years, but I do remember that Dick Sargent's Darrin seemed more stern, too straight by comparison to Dick York's portrayal of the role he originated.

I know that Dick York had to leave due to medical reasons (a chronic back problem, I think), but I wonder if Dick York and Dick Sargent ever met in real life or if they ever talked to each other.

I know there are some instances when an actor is asked to take over a role, they'll sometimes contact the original actor and ask for their blessing or at least tell them they're going to be assuming the role.

I wondered if Dick Sargent and Dick York ever had a conversation about that.

I imagine if Dick York did watch Bewitched after his departure, it must've been hard for him. Maybe a part of him understood the show had to go on, but it had to have been hard to watch the show he was on and not be a part of it anymore.

The last paragraph is just speculation on my part -- I think about weird stuff like that sometimes. I know -- I'm probably the only person on this forum who thinks that way.:rolleyes:

Well the original characters are eventually taken over by someone else in the soaps too without thought and sometimes it's a mistake.

I remember seeing an interview with Dick York where I believe he said he had seen some of the Dick Sargent episodes and thought DS did a pretty good job---couldn't tell you where I saw that, though, as it was YEARS ago...

I like Dick York's Darrin better, but I think Elizabeth Montgomery and Dick Sargent looked better together as a couple. I've always thought Dick York looked a little old for Liz Montgomery. I believe Dick Sargent was actually the original choice for the role of Darrin, but he wasn't available so they went with Dick York.

I remember seeing an interview with Dick York where I believe he said he had seen some of the Dick Sargent episodes and thought DS did a pretty good job---couldn't tell you where I saw that, though, as it was YEARS ago...
If you ever find the interview, let me know! It sounds great. :cool:

I like Dick York's Darrin better, but I think Elizabeth Montgomery and Dick Sargent looked better together as a couple. I've always thought Dick York looked a little old for Liz Montgomery. I believe Dick Sargent was actually the original choice for the role of Darrin, but he wasn't available so they went with Dick York.



Dick Sargent was the first choice for Darrin, but wasn under contract elsewhere.

definatley York! He appeared in other shows as well including Twilight Zone. Very good actor & very funny

definatley York! He appeared in other shows as well including Twilight Zone. Very good actor & very funny


I couldn't agree with you more, Sargent was in over his head. His wooden performance and lack of on screen chemistry with Elizabeth Montgomery ruined the show. Playing off this type of material is difficult needing an energized performance with an ability to mug for the camera, York had all that, Bixby (My Fovorite Martian), Hagman (I Dream of Jeannie) had it, Sargent didn't.

definatley York! He appeared in other shows as well including Twilight Zone. Very good actor & very funny
He appeared twice on TZ!! You're right, the performances were great. :cool:

I couldn't agree with you more, Sargent was in over his head. His wooden performance and lack of on screen chemistry with Elizabeth Montgomery ruined the show. Playing off this type of material is difficult needing an energized performance with an ability to mug for the camera, York had all that, Bixby (My Fovorite Martian), Hagman (I Dream of Jeannie) had it, Sargent didn't.
EM & DS were very good friends off screen, but they had zip chemistry as Sam & Darrin. I liked DS in other roles (he did a good job in guest spots on shows like Charlie's Angels, Family Ties and Dukes of Hazzard to name a few), but you're right, he didn't have the frantic comedic edge like the other actors you mentioned. It doesn't mean he was a bad actor, just badly miscast.

I am really not trying to keep this debate going, but I beg to differ about Dick Sargent. He wasnt as good as Dick York, but I think he pulled off the role great. In fact I dont think there are any other actors than these two guys who could have pulled off the role of Darrin.

I am really not trying to keep this debate going, but I beg to differ about Dick Sargent. He wasnt as good as Dick York, but I think he pulled off the role great. In fact I dont think there are any other actors than these two guys who could have pulled off the role of Darrin.
There's nothing wrong with feeling that way, Mickey. As for the Darrin debate, it will go on forever! :eek: :lol: