I just bought Seasons 5 and 6 of “Bewitched.” I watched Season 6 first since I bought that first on Ebay for only $10. Then I bought Season 5 for $20 at Borders since I had a coupon. When I popped in the Season 6 DVDs in my DVD player, I was expecting to be disappointed because many people here don’t like Dick Sargent and when I watched those episodes when I was younger, I was never crazy about him. However, I was quite surprised to find out that he wasn’t so bad after all. In fact, after watching all of Season 6 and then now watching Season 5 (the last season of York), I find that Sargent’s acting was more natural. Dick York seem to be overacting most of the time, especially in Season 5. Dick Sargent acted more natural and he seemed to be more believable than York.

Basically, what I’m saying is….. I don’t think ether actor was necessarily better than the other. Both of them had a different style of acting. Both of them were good in their own way.

So, why all the hatred towards Sargent? What exactly was so bad about him?

I am in the minority because I too like Dick Sargent. York was more of a physical comedy actor, which I liked. Sargent I thought brought a more laid back approach to Darrin. Season 5 wasnt as good as the previous seasons because York missed shows because of his back. Season 6 I think is really good and is Sargent's best season as Darrin. The one weak season is the last, where several episodes were remade, and the spark had burned out. They probably should have cancelled the show after the seventh season.

I like both actors. I don't care who plays Darrin.

Well Dick Sargent wasn't that BAD, he just wasn't that good. The first five seasons are enough fun for me. But it was when Marion Lorne passed (God Rest Her Soul) that the show really lost someone special. (You could always count on Aunt Clara for a wild story line and ep) Those eps were the ones I esp. treasure.

Dick Sargent wasn't that bad he just wasn't the original Darrin. Also I believe that Dick York had better on screen chemistry with Liz than Dick Sargent.

I thought York was at his best in the first 2 seasons. His acting was more natural there. But in the color episodes, his acting started to become a bit too overdone. By Season 5, he definitely overdid it. Maybe it was because his back was killing him by that time and overacting helped cover that up. Who knows?

Dick Sargent wasn't that bad he just wasn't the original Darrin. Also I believe that Dick York had better on screen chemistry with Liz than Dick Sargent.

My sentiments exactly!! I enjoyed Dick Sargent in other shows - he did many fun guest spots on episodes of Family Ties, Dukes of Hazzard, Charlie's Angels, Three's Company, Alice, etc. Plus he seemed like a nice man in real life - he was very involved with charities like the Special Olympics, and like Mr. York, was dedicated to helping feed the poor. So I think Mr. Sargent was a good actor in his own right, but to me, the only TRUE Darrin was and is Dick York.

I thought York was at his best in the first 2 seasons. His acting was more natural there. But in the color episodes, his acting started to become a bit too overdone. By Season 5, he definitely overdid it. Maybe it was because his back was killing him by that time and overacting helped cover that up. Who knows?

He was still fairly natural up until parts of season 4 (depending on the episode, of course). Season 1 was the most mellow for the entire cast. Actually, the overacting-to-cover-up-pain thing was exactly what I thought about Season 5 Darrin, too. He seems much more tense and on edge, which is probably how York felt. :(

He was still fairly natural up until parts of season 4 (depending on the episode, of course). Season 1 was the most mellow for the entire cast. Actually, the overacting-to-cover-up-pain thing was exactly what I thought about Season 5 Darrin, too. He seems much more tense and on edge, which is probably how York felt. :(

Yeah, you’re right. I thought I was the only person to realize that. In Season 5, he seemed to be very irritable, which I always found unusual. In fact, if you watch closely, he seems to always have that bitter look on his face throughout the episodes. He was never like that in the previous seasons. I suspect that it has to be his bad back. I can only imagine that it probably was killing him by that time. I also can’t help but noticed that he lost weight in Season 5. He’s noticeably thinner than the previous four seasons.

Yeah, you’re right. I thought I was the only person to realize that. In Season 5, he seemed to be very irritable, which I always found unusual. In fact, if you watch closely, he seems to always have that bitter look on his face throughout the episodes. He was never like that in the previous seasons. I suspect that it has to be his bad back. I can only imagine that it probably was killing him by that time. I also can’t help but noticed that he lost weight in Season 5. He’s noticeably thinner than the previous four seasons.
I read an article about that...he said something about having pneumonia around that time, I think. Pneumonia makes you lose weight...:(

I wonder what 'Bewitched' would have been like if Dick Sargent were the original Darrin and Dick York was his replacement???

I wonder what 'Bewitched' would have been like if Dick Sargent were the original Darrin and Dick York was his replacement???

I don't think it would've been as big of a hit as it was. A huge selling point for "Bewitched" was the love story, and Sargent just didn't have the same chemistry. It may not have lasted long enough for York to replace him!

Tammy Grimes was to be the original Samantha/Cassandra, but turned it down, and at that point, Dick Sargent was to be the original Darrin (once the Ashers were brought on board, York was apparently always their first choice). Both Grimes and Sargent ended up starring together in "The Tammy Grimes Show," and that didn't even last a full season.

I rewatched some of the later Sargent episodes, and by then, he sort of grew into the role more (season 6 was awfully stiff). I do catch myself wishing that York had done this or that, but I also noticed that the writers would have Sargent's Darrin say something like, "Oh brother," get a drink, and exit the scene often (which Darrin probably would've done by that point). The focus would then be more on Sam, Endora, or Tabitha, which was more exciting anyway.

I suspect that it has to be his bad back. I can only imagine that it probably was killing him by that time. I also can’t help but noticed that he lost weight in Season 5. He’s noticeably thinner than the previous four seasons.

I don't know how he held on as long as he did. THAT, my friends, is a TROOPER!!!!!

One thing I must say that I like about York is his reaction when he sees Samantha using witchcraft. The expression on his face is priceless!! Dick Sargent doesn’t have much expression.

One thing I must say that I like about York is his reaction when he sees Samantha using witchcraft. The expression on his face is priceless!! Dick Sargent doesn’t have much expression.

Oh, Dick York's facial expressions were pure GOLD!!! :cool: :D

Oh, Dick York's facial expressions were pure GOLD!!! :cool: :D

Love your avatar! I have that Samantha Christmas ornament.

Love your avatar! I have that Samantha Christmas ornament.

Thanks! I wish I had one. :lol:

Thanks! I wish I had one. :lol:



I wish I had one too, and I dont even buy Christmas trees.

Dick York was the perfect Darrin. He and Elizabeth Montgomery were pure gold. The show should have ended when York left the show. His departure and Marion Lorne's death really hurt the show. Dick Sargent was a good actor but he had no chemistry with Montgomery even though they were great friends in real life. I did like him in other shows. It's very hard to replace an original actor especially when the one they replace is very popular. Daytime soaps do it all the time but it rarely has been successful on primetime shows.

Couldn't have said it better myself! (I know I'm a good fan when I'm on the same pg with you re Bewitched - wonderful show - nothing relaxes me as much as a Bewitched ep - with DY of course)

Yeah, York made Darrin come alive with expressions, body English and tone of voice. York WAS Darrin while Sargeant (though as others have said, a nice person and good actor) was ultimately just a placeholder in the role.

And also,in the 1967 Elvis Presley film "Live a little,Love a Little",he was great in that film (and sang,too),in a role in which was similar to Dick York's version of Darrin.And Dick Sargent brought to the role in that movie the same kind of enthusiasm that Dick York brought to Darrin.But when Dick Sargent took over the role as Darrin,he brought to the role of Darrin none of the enthusiasm that Dick York as Darrin had.In my opinion,although Dick Sargent tried hard,there was only ONE TV Character Darrin Stephens-and that was Dick York.

Dick York was brilliant at using facial expressions and body language in his portrayal of Darrin. And that is something Dick Sargent was never able to replicate.

My favorite Darrin was Dick York since he originated the role. I did get use to Dick Sagent after awhile, both of their syles are different.

Dick Sargent wasn't a bad actor; he was just bland and a poor choice for the role of Darren. That he was one of the original choices is very odd,IMHO, as the role seem to require a sense of comedic timing that he seemed to lack.

Frankly, when Dick York left the show, Bewitched was over as the series. however there was no way the networks or William Asher were going to bring them into their cash cow just because a key actor had left the program.

I don't know that he was that bad, just out of his element. We were used to a more physical comedian like Dick York. Dick Sargent is more of a dry comedian that I liken to British Comedy. I like most all of Bewitched (although Season Eight was a bit stale) but still watch the seasons with Dick York more often.

What really gets me is this...did they really, honestly think they could pull that off (switching Darrins) without us noticing? Really?

What really gets me is this...did they really, honestly think they could pull that off (switching Darrins) without us noticing? Really?

Yeah, I think that's what hurt the show..... replacing a main character with a different actor. Ok, they were able to pull it off with Gladys, Louis, and Frank, but they were just side characters. Darrin is a main character and is an essential part of the show. To just replace him with a different actor is a bad move (whether the actor is good or bad). Any idiot would know that the guy looks different, lol. Rarely do I see shows do something like this. Most of the time, they would just write off the character. But since the character of Darrin is such an important part of the show, then you can't really write him out. In that case, ending the show after 5 seasons would seem like the wisest choice.

But to be honest, I was happy they were able to go on for a few more seasons with Sargent. Like I said, he wasn't bad and there were still some funny episodes here and there.

I agree with most of the posters. Dick Sargent was a good actor but was just not right for the role. Did anyone see him do a guest spot on I Dream of Jeannie during the 4th season of the show (that would have been the 5th season for Bewitched)? He played Maj. Nelson's crooked attorney when he and Roger got caught speeding in a small town. He was really good in that role and pretty funny! Though as Darrin he was flat and came across mean spirited and grumpy a lot of the time. Also as many have said he and Elizabeth simply did not have the chemistry she had with Dick York. And I've heard this said before but to me it always seemed like on screen Sargent treated Tabitha like a step daughter. I don't know why... As for Dick York I have always thought his contribution to the show was underestimated though the ratings did show his importance as each season he was not on it they steadily declined (it was only in the top 25 Sargent's first season - falling from number 12 York's last season - season five - to number 25 Sargent's first season - season six). That's a pretty big drop in the ratings. I also don't think York's acting was any worse in seasons 4 or 5 but rather there simply were not AS MANY good scripts. Actually if you look at all of the characters they all changed somewhat as the series went on. Endora seemed "softer" in the first two seasons as well as Darrin and even Samantha seemed softer as well during the first three or four seasons. It's only fair to point out that Sargent (as well as York in the fifth season) suffered from even more mediocre to bad scripts - though York seemed to be able to rise above them more. I can't imagine how...different... an even bad episode from season five would have been with Sargent though just compare even some GOOD episodes from seasons one or two with York that were remade in season six, seven or eight with Sargent. Again - NO OFFENSE to Dick Sargent as a person or actor - he simply was not right for the role. I agree with the other poster that the series should have ended after season five.

What really gets me is this...did they really, honestly think they could pull that off (switching Darrins) without us noticing? Really?
It's often been suggested that they should explained Darrin's altered appearance as the result of one of Samantha's relative's spells, instead of no explanation at all!

It's often been suggested that they should explained Darrin's altered appearance as the result of one of Samantha's relative's spells, instead of no explanation at all!

While that would help explain why Darrin looks different, it’s a terrible idea and I’m glad they never did that. Samantha has always been portrayed as witch who loves Darrin for who he is. She wouldn’t want anything different about him. She’s willing to sacrifice her witchcraft and live the mortal life for him. Whenever Sam’s relatives do anything to change Darrin (physically or mentally), she does everything possible to have them change him back. So, it would be odd for her relatives to change him into a different looking man and for Sam to accept that all of sudden. It just doesn’t fit.

Cancelling the show after 5 seasons seems like the smartest thing to do.

Another factor for the lower ratings after season five, besides Sargent, was the competition from the other networks on Thursdays at 8:30. 'Ironside' was becoming a big hit for NBC at that time. On CBS 'The Jim Nabors Show', although it only lasted two seasons, was in the top 20. Both of these shows beat 'Bewitched' during the 1969-70 season.

I’m about 3/4 done watching my Season 5 DVD and I notice that towards the end (before he starts missing several episodes), his acting becomes natural again. It’s only the first 10 episodes where his acting is overdone and he looks very irritable. But later in the season, he goes back to his usual self. It’s interesting watching these episodes in order. I’m noticing stuff that I never noticed before.

Yes. If you watch Season Five in filming order instead of airdate order it is very interesting. Of course this means a long run without Dick York to finish out the season. As for Dick Sargent, I loved his role in "Jeannie for the Defense" as a crooked lawyer. That was a great IDOJ episode all around.

Now, I have a question for all of you (especially those of you who don't like Sargent). What would you guys rather watch..... an episode with Darrin missing or a Darrin episode with Dick Sargent?

The reason I ask is because I want to see how much people hate Dick Sargent.

Now, I have a question for all of you (especially those of you who don't like Sargent). What would you guys rather watch..... an episode with Darrin missing or a Darrin episode with Dick Sargent?

The reason I ask is because I want to see how much people hate Dick Sargent.

Missing Darren.
Sargeant was just that bland.
I didn't even buy him as being an advertising executive.

Now, I have a question for all of you (especially those of you who don't like Sargent). What would you guys rather watch..... an episode with Darrin missing or a Darrin episode with Dick Sargent?

The reason I ask is because I want to see how much people hate Dick Sargent.

Neither - sorry.

I'm just currently watching season 5, also. I have to say whether or not you missed York when he wasn't there, the producers did an over-all great job at making his absence as little noticable as possible in late season 4 and season 5. Broadcasting the episodes out of the order they were filmed; filming scenes with York separate from other scenes; when Maurice turned Darrin into a Mule, that gave York a reason not to have to be present during partial filming; when an episode dealing with Tabitha happens during the day, Samantha just points out Darrin is at work; or "Darrin is on a business trip" which explains, partially why Larry might be around even though Darrin isn't. (Larry still had the nerve to expect Sam to entertain clients :lol:)

The thing that stands out the most to me is of course that we never see Darrin's reaction to the announcement that Sam is pregnant again, as I pointed out in another thread.

I have to say, I find myself cracking up A LOT more in the York episodes. I watched "Samantha, the Sculptress" last night and I laughed so hysterically that my whole family thought I lost it. When I watched Season 6, I wasn't laughing so much. Just a few "Heh" here and there, but that's about it.

That said, while York is definitely better than Sargent, I still don't think Sargent was so bad that I will omit Seasons 6-8 out of my life. He was ok, but he certainly wasn't terrible.

I have to say, I find myself cracking up A LOT more in the York episodes. I watched "Samantha, the Sculptress" last night and I laughed so hysterically that my whole family thought I lost it. When I watched Season 6, I wasn't laughing so much. Just a few "Heh" here and there, but that's about it.

That said, while York is definitely better than Sargent, I still don't think Sargent was so bad that I will omit Seasons 6-8 out of my life. He was ok, but he certainly wasn't terrible.

True Dick Sargent wasn't terrible but the first five seasons are so rich in laughter and riotess situations that the 150+ eps there are enough for me.

To answer the question, I would choose a Darrin-less episode over a Sargent episode.

I've grown up watching Bewitched re-runs, and I have lived with fact that there were 2 Darrins, and thats just the way it is.

Now I'm asking myself, if the Darrin switcheroo were to happen present day after knowing the first Darrin for 5 seasons, how would I feel if I knew he were about to be replaced. I think I would feel the show should just end its run. That's what I think should happen with The Office since Steve Carroll (Michael) is supposedly leaving that show at the end of the 2010-11 season.

I still like Dick Sargent, but the last season was bad.

True Dick Sargent wasn't terrible but the first five seasons are so rich in laughter and riotess situations that the 150+ eps there are enough for me.
Same here!!

Personally, I feel that Darrin is Darrin no matter what. (We all know that York is the better one, but still. :lol: ) He is my favorite character, after all. :angel:

[QUOTE=BewitchedFan]I have to say, I find myself cracking up A LOT more in the York episodes. I watched "Samantha, the Sculptress" last night and I laughed so hysterically that my whole family thought I lost it.QUOTE]

I thought those talking busts were creepy, but oh well. The Larry bust is on display at David White's final resting place - here are pictures:

http://www.harpiesbizarre.com/DavidWhiteMemorial.htm

[QUOTE=BewitchedFan]I have to say, I find myself cracking up A LOT more in the York episodes. I watched "Samantha, the Sculptress" last night and I laughed so hysterically that my whole family thought I lost it.QUOTE]

I thought those talking busts were creepy, but oh well. The Larry bust is on display at David White's final resting place - here are pictures:

http://www.harpiesbizarre.com/DavidWhiteMemorial.htm

Amen to that! The first five seasons were a blast esp. ANY ONE with Aunt Clara (God Love Her)

I never knew that York was regarded so highly over Sargent until I had internet access. I did find many of York's performances to be exceptional prior to finding that out, while not being able to quite say the same for Sargent -- but still I always accepted Sargent as a perfectly decent Darrin, to be honest.

This is influenced by the fact that I grew up with the color seasons only, so I missed much of York's best work when I was younger.

I never knew that York was regarded so highly over Sargent until I had internet access. I did find many of York's performances to be exceptional prior to finding that out, while not being able to quite say the same for Sargent -- but still I always accepted Sargent as a perfectly decent Darrin, to be honest.

This is influenced by the fact that I grew up with the color seasons only, so I missed much of York's best work when I was younger.

The early seasons were just AWESOME - esp. the one's with Aunt Clara. Hope you get a chance to see many of them - I don't think you will be disappointed!

The early seasons were just AWESOME - esp. the one's with Aunt Clara. Hope you get a chance to see many of them - I don't think you will be disappointed!
I agree strongly. The first episodes were THE best, although I do sort of enjoy how they all transitioned into the 1970's.

I am in the minority here, but I like Dick Sargent better then Dick York as Darrin.

I am in the minority here, but I like Dick Sargent better then Dick York as Darrin.

I personally don't really see a difference. I think Dick Sargent is the victim of the same thing as any other actor who steps into a show when it's past its prime: the new actor is associated with the already downhill slide of the show. It's guilt by association and they get blamed for something they have no control over: a show whose glory days are in the past. Usually by the time a show reaches its sixth season, its already seen its best days. One exception is Cheers, where they brought Kirstie Alley on in the sixth season and the show had sort of a rebirth. But in that case, the writers had decided to take the show in a very new and different direction and it was sort of like a brand new show. Had they continued on the same path as before, and brought in a new actress to be the new Diane, it would have been a different story. It would have been in decline and viewers would have blamed the new actress. Think about other series where there is no major change, just a new actor hired to step into old shoes as a true replacement for an original character:

o Gale Gordon replacing Joseph Kearns as the new Mr. Wilson on Dennis the Menace. By the time he came on the show, Jay North was no longer the cute little kid. He was growing up and outgrowing his role. That wasn't Gale Gordon's fault.

o Ted McGinley essentially replacing Ron Howard on Happy Days. Happy Days literally and figuratively had already "jumped the shark" by the time McGinley arrived. They had run out of ideas and scripts go progressively sillier. There is nothing McGinley could have done to change that.

o Any time a new kid is brought onto a TV show late in its run to try to reinvigorate it: Cousin Oliver and The Brady Bunch; Stephanie on All in the Family; neighborhood kid Ricky on The Partridge Family; Olivia on The Cosby Show. People associate the lousy scripts on the new arrival when, in fact, the lousy scripts would have come anyway.

So back to Darrin. There's nothing Dick Sargent, or any other actor, could have done to overcome the fact that the show he was stepping into was running out of steam. Dick York benefited from the fact that the show was new and young and vibrant when he came on board. He was able to play Darrin when the scripts were rich and their most creative and funny. And that's what he'll be remembered for. Dick Sargent was not blessed with being able to perform such great material, so he will always be associated with the show when it was past its prime. And the fact that it was past its prime had nothing to do with him.

Dick Sargeant wasn't bad, but DickYork was magnificent. So in comparison, DS comes off lackluster and is why I never bothered to buy the seasons missing DY.

I definitely prefer York, by a country mile. I didn't like Sargent on the show at all. York was just a far superior comedic actor to Sargent. Sargent has that creepy vibe about him and he couldn't suppress it, even on Bewitched. His Darrin always came across as cranky and snarky to me. He's much better as the villain like some roles he played in a few Charlie's Angels' episodes or as the sleazy, cheating husband in the Three's Company episode. He was terrific in those and many other TV roles. His look, his manner of speaking, and his shifty eyes all make him better suited to that creepy or smarmy character, in my opinion.

Dick York was so much better at comedy than Sargent and he even had a somewhat comical face, which helped. York's comedic timing and acting ability were far superior to Sargent's, in my opinion. I even theorize that his frequent absences are the reason Elizabeth Montgomery started using more zany-looking facial expressions in Season 3 onward, to make up for the absence of York and the masterful use of his face in his performances. When he started missing episodes, it seemed that Montgomery increased her use of that sort of zany, wide-eyed, exasperated look she used when things went wrong during an episode.

Anyone stop to think that by the time Dick Sargent replaced Dick York, Darrin and Samantha's marriage had lasted five years? If you've been married that long, you find yourself "mellowing," so to speak...the quirks that made York's Darrin go haywire in 1964 were almost "been there, done that" to Sargent's Darrin.

That doesn't mean there was "no zip in Sam's zap," to paraphrase one of the later episodes--it just means there's a perspective there that wasn't there earlier. Had Dick York been able to continue, you would have had the same issues with the show that were there in its last three seasons. It's no secret that "Bewitched" recycled many of its episodes in later years, and they were remaking episodes from the first couple of seasons as early as the '67-'68 season...and episodes involving Sam's second pregnancy were in many respects re-runs of the third season, except that Adam was a boy and Tabitha a girl.

I am in the minority here, but I like Dick Sargent better then Dick York as Darrin.


I like Dick Sargent better too, and I think it's because he seemed to be less "freaked out" over...whatever. I always thought Dick York's Darrin constantly overreacted to everything going on around him - it was just too much,. A lot of the time when he yelled at Samantha it was like he was an irate daddy yelling at his child instead of a husband who was angry with his wife, for whatever reason.

I'm in the middle of watching season 5 right now and I do love the chemistry between Samantha and Darrin when Darrin is not yelling or angry.

I like Dick York over Sargent, and just made myself believe that the Sargent portrayal was Darrin's finally coming to terms with Samantha's uniqueness.

Dick York was a brilliant actor. I love anything he is in, and I do mean anything. DY is SO GREAT, that NOBODY could compare to his role as Darrin. DS does an acceptable job. That's all.

Dick York was a brilliant actor. I love anything he is in, and I do mean anything. DY is SO GREAT, that NOBODY could compare to his role as Darrin. DS does an acceptable job. That's all.

Sargent skill set as an actor didn't match the part in any sense of the word. He had zero on screen chemistry with Elizabeth Montgomery (although I think they were friends offscreen), he was picked primarily because he looked somewhat like York. He was a stationary actor in a role that required an ability to mug for the camera and explode on screen. He basically deadpanned the role. The only part I can imagine he would have been able to play on that show (and he would have had to be 25 years older) is Abner Kravitz.

No. Dick Sargeant wasn't that bad.

However, I just felt that Dick York was made for the role. He was perfect as the loveable Darrin. :D

Oh, good point, I could totally see him as Abner!

It's really no contest, of course, York was the Best Darrin. For one major reason, he made the most hilarious faces in reaction to the various crazy things that were going on around him. He had a great rubber face that was perfect for the wild facial reactions necessary to make a TV series funny. Sargent never expressed anything with his face other than boredom or scary type anger. I just saw recently saw S.3.31 & 3.32, Darrin's (York) faces in these episodes were just the best and really made the episode as funny as it was.

I thought Sargent was fine as Darrin. I preferred Dick York, but I liked the mellow-ness Sargent brought into the role.

My issue is that Sargent had no chemistry with Elizabeth Montgomery. She and York shared a wonderful chemistry, which really drew you into the show, and that just wasn't there between her and Sargent. Which is a shame.

i think dick york was a better actor overall esp his preformence in inherit the wind but i sstill have always liked dick sargent better as darrin

I checked to see if someone had brought up the original plans for Bewitched, and Arfies did on the first page. Would the show have run past two seasons with Tammy Grimes and Dick Sargent in the leads? I'm guessing the two didn't have the chemistry in The Tammy Grimes Show. But then, shows with everything going for them have been killed off in almost no time.

He was OK but after Dick York, he was a tough act to follow. York was great as Darren, I think it would be hard for any actor to match him playing Darren. Sargent was a bit boring as Darren, but not bad.

I think he did a good job. I can't imagine how much pressure he had. I bet Dick York's departure was a huge thing in the media at the time and any actor would be shaking in their boots to take on that role. I did find Dick S's portryal slightly calmer and reasonable than Dick Y. He could of easily had taken over from where Dick Y left off, but he gave the character some different traits. I believe Liz M was much closer to him in real life anyway, right up to his death. She publicly supported him when he came out gay.

I think he did a good job. I can't imagine how much pressure he had. I bet Dick York's departure was a huge thing in the media at the time and any actor would be shaking in their boots to take on that role. I did find Dick S's portryal slightly calmer and reasonable than Dick Y. He could of easily had taken over from where Dick Y left off, but he gave the character some different traits. I believe Liz M was much closer to him in real life anyway, right up to his death. She publicly supported him when he came out gay.


Since Dick S. came late into the show, it was kind of cool that the character changed to be more mellow than Dick Y's nervous wreck character!:eek: Believable be cause by that time maybe Darren would be used to the shenanigans that went on with having a witch for a wife! He acted more annoyed than nervous.:rolleyes: Darren 1 and Sam seemed more in love (new couple) and Darren 2 and Sam were more like an old married couple. As you said in your post, they were friends in real life. It showed. So it worked out and Dick Sargent was a good later Darren .;) I still prefer Dick York, and I don't think Dick Sargent would have worked as well as the original Darren .

Well Dick Sargent wasn't that BAD, he just wasn't that good. The first five seasons are enough fun for me. But it was when Marion Lorne passed (God Rest Her Soul) that the show really lost someone special. (You could always count on Aunt Clara for a wild story line and ep) Those eps were the ones I esp. treasure.

he was good but we were just so used to seeing dick york as darrin.

Short answer to the original question: no.

I can't say he was bad, but he was not Darrin. Dick York made the role his own. I did enjoy some of Dick Sargent's episodes, but not nearly as many. Plus, Elizabeth Montgomery and Dick York has such great chemistry. It was almost magical.

Sargent wasn't that bad. I think he did a pretty good job as Darin.

Short answer to the original question: YES! York was Darrin and the unsung true star of the show. His reactions and believability and interplay with the other actors was truly brilliant.

I definitely prefer York, by a country mile. I didn't like Sargent on the show at all. York was just a far superior comedic actor to Sargent. Sargent has that creepy vibe about him and he couldn't suppress it, even on Bewitched. His Darrin always came across as cranky and snarky to me. He's much better as the villain like some roles he played in a few Charlie's Angels' episodes or as the sleazy, cheating husband in the Three's Company episode. He was terrific in those and many other TV roles. His look, his manner of speaking, and his shifty eyes all make him better suited to that creepy or smarmy character, in my opinion.

Dick York was so much better at comedy than Sargent and he even had a somewhat comical face, which helped. York's comedic timing and acting ability were far superior to Sargent's, in my opinion. I even theorize that his frequent absences are the reason Elizabeth Montgomery started using more zany-looking facial expressions in Season 3 onward, to make up for the absence of York and the masterful use of his face in his performances. When he started missing episodes, it seemed that Montgomery increased her use of that sort of zany, wide-eyed, exasperated look she used when things went wrong during an episode.

With Dick Sargent, it seemed like most of the time, he would just stand there, smirk, and then deadpan a smarmy remark towards Endora, Serena, Uncle Arthur, etc. It just made him come across as mean, catty instead of somebody that you could truly sympathize with or at the very least, understand.

Looking back on it, this may have been the first time I exercised "taste." I was ten, and I thought that he was awful.

Over the years, there have been several threads that have been extended diatribes with arguments about these two actors.

Like I answered a few years back, short answer: no.

It's not very often you see a longtime lead replaced, in the same role. Viewers get used to a lead after five seasons.