Here you can see a picture of Elizabeth Montgomery and Dick Sargent together, the picture was taken in the early 90s in Los Angeles.

I enjoyed Sargent's work on Bewitched, I liked his sarcasm and his more relaxed way of playing Darrin.

It's great to see that Sargent and Liz remained close friends after Bewitched ended.

https://i.gyazo.com/296bbc1d06d7abe20cb54887364889c9.png

By the way, Liz still looked beautiful in her 60s, it's like she hasn't aged

Elizabeth Montgomery was superb as Samantha. She was a splendid actress. However Dick Sargent was horrid. I watch reruns only of the York episodes. I never get tired of the York episodes.

I've seen the Sargent episodes only once, he was so dreadful that I can't watch reruns of his Bewitched episodes. It's bizarre that Elizabeth Montgomery kept in touch with the Darrin everyone despises , or at least the majority of the audience despises.

Elizabeth Montgomery was superb as Samantha. She was a splendid actress. However Dick Sargent was horrid. I watch reruns only of the York episodes. I never get tired of the York episodes.

I've seen the Sargent episodes only once, he was so dreadful that I can't watch reruns of his Bewitched episodes. It's bizarre that Elizabeth Montgomery kept in touch with the Darrin everyone despises , or at least the majority of the audience despises.

For me it's like two different shows: the York Years and the Sargent Years. It's really not the same character when Dick Sargent took over. All continuity between Samantha and Darrin was gone. I have a hard time seeing Sam and Darrin as a romantic couple in the Sargent years - especially because Sargent played Darrin as rather asexual with a lot of pent up anger - often toward Samantha.

As I recall Sargent and Elizabeth had not kept in constant contact after the show. But Pilato's Bewitched book got everyone in touch again. I think Elizabeth had a busy life in the 70s after the show doing her occasional movies and raising her kids. She was just busy.

For me it's like two different shows: the York Years and the Sargent Years. It's really not the same character when Dick Sargent took over. All continuity between Samantha and Darrin was gone. I have a hard time seeing Sam and Darrin as a romantic couple in the Sargent years - especially because Sargent played Darrin as rather asexual with a lot of pent up anger - often toward Samantha.

As I recall Sargent and Elizabeth had not kept in constant contact after the show. But Pilato's Bewitched book got everyone in touch again. I think Elizabeth had a busy life in the 70s after the show doing her occasional movies and raising her kids. She was just busy.

In an interview with Pilato, Sargent said he and Liz were in touch by telephone and even having dinners together. They remained friends

https://www.harpiesbizarre.com/sargent_interview.htm

York and Sargent looked similar but had different personalities. York was more goofy, and Sargent was more serious. It wasnt that seemless of two actors playing the same character.

Elizabeth Montgomery was superb as Samantha. She was a splendid actress. However Dick Sargent was horrid. I watch reruns only of the York episodes. I never get tired of the York episodes.

I've seen the Sargent episodes only once, he was so dreadful that I can't watch reruns of his Bewitched episodes. It's bizarre that Elizabeth Montgomery kept in touch with the Darrin everyone despises , or at least the majority of the audience despises.

The majority of the audience didn't despise Sargent, you have no evidence of that. In fact, in the Bewitched documentary, producers of Bewitched said that the audience didn't sent them complaints about the switch, nor asking what happened to York.

The majority of the audience didn't despise Sargent, you have no evidence of that. In fact, in the Bewitched documentary, producers of Bewitched said that the audience didn't sent them complaints about the switch, nor asking what happened to York.

No, we just sat at home, shaking our heads at the change, wondering what happened to Dick York. "That's Hollywood!" we said, rolling our eyes. :lol:

I do not know if they despised him (DS) or not but he was not Darrin to most people. You can read these boards and tell the switch was not well liked. If social media had been around back then, the producers would have gotten an earful. I do not hate the last three season but it does feel like a different show. I do not think that DY and DS look or act at all like each other. DY had life and charisma. Monliz, watch the first few episodes of season one. There is no way that DS would have had the chemistry with EM that DY had. The show would not nearly been as successful.

I do not know if they despised him (DS) or not but he was not Darrin to most people. You can read these boards and tell the switch was not well liked. If social media had been around back then, the producers would have gotten an earful. I do not hate the last three season but it does feel like a different show. I do not think that DY and DS look or act at all like each other. DY had life and charisma. Monliz, watch the first few episodes of season one. There is no way that DS would have had the chemistry with EM that DY had. The show would not nearly been as successful.

Liz and York had chemistry together, I know that. But she had chemistry with Sargent too, it's just that the Liz/Sargent chemistry was different than Liz and York's.

If Sargent had taken the rol originally, in the first two seasons he would have been as romantic as York was, the thing is that when Sargent took over, Darrin and Samantha have been married for 5 years already, and after all those years of being married the passion and romance is not the same as the beginning.

Sargent and Liz acted like a married couple who are in love with each other, a married couple that have been together for 5+ years and have two kids to take care of.

If York had stayed, in the seasons 6, 7 and 8, he wouldn't have acted the same say he did in the first two seasons, he would have acted more like father of two kids and a husband who has been with his five for a long time.

In most marriages, 5 years is still the honeymoon era. Since DY was not in the last 3 seasons you cannot state how he would act. He was still very loving in season 5. DS was a good actor just not a romantic one. I did like his role in I Dream of Jeannie.Those were the kind of roles he was good at. He did not seem comfortable, natural in romantic situations. I always thought he seemed kind of distant from Tabitha and Adam.

I always thought he seemed kind of distant from Tabitha and Adam.

It's interesting you note that because I've noticed it too. I can't tell if it's the writing or if Sargent just didn't play to the kids as an actor. I remember one episode where Dick York comes into the Kitchen set and sweetly says to Tabitha "How's my little sweetheart" and Erin Murphy just beamed back at him affectionately. I think as a father himself York knew how you talk to little kids.

It's interesting you note that because I've noticed it too. I can't tell if it's the writing or if Sargent just didn't play to the kids as an actor. I remember one episode where Dick York comes into the Kitchen set and sweetly says to Tabitha "How's my little sweetheart" and Erin Murphy just beamed back at him affectionately. I think as a father himself York knew how you talk to little kids.

I agree.

Actually Dick Sargent was good at playing to the kids.

Look at this episode of a sitcom he did in the 1980s, the episode revolves around Dick Sargent and his on screen son.

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The majority of the audience didn't despise Sargent, you have no evidence of that. In fact, in the Bewitched documentary, producers of Bewitched said that the audience didn't sent them complaints about the switch, nor asking what happened to York.

In the first 5 seasons Bewitched was one in the top 10 most viewed shows, with Dick Sargent the show wasn't even in the top 30, so yes the majority of the audience didn't like Dick Sargent.

In the first 5 seasons Bewitched was one in the top 10 most viewed shows, with Dick Sargent the show wasn't even in the top 30, so yes the majority of the audience didn't like Dick Sargent.

In the Bewitched documentary, a writer of the show said that nobody wrote them a letter complaining about the Darrin switch, nobody even asked what happened with York and why he wasn't on the show anymore. So the audience didn't despise Sargent.

lCtNDRz308s

Fast forward to 52:15

They both looked great!

In the first 5 seasons Bewitched was one in the top 10 most viewed shows, with Dick Sargent the show wasn't even in the top 30, so yes the majority of the audience didn't like Dick Sargent.

Good point! :wave:

It's bizarre that Elizabeth Montgomery kept in touch with the Darrin everyone despises
Or......stated another way, she was never that crazy about Dick York. Yeah, explore that for a while and see how many fires you can start around here. Meanwhile, York and Moorehead got along swimmingly. Yep, that's television for ya! :lol: :happyface :wave:

They both looked great!

That's right, Liz and Sargent made such a good couple

In the Bewitched documentary, a writer of the show said that nobody wrote them a letter complaining about the Darrin switch, nobody even asked what happened with York and why he wasn't on the show anymore. So the audience didn't despise Sargent.

lCtNDRz308s

Fast forward to 52:15

Hard to believe that nobody even commented on the change... but, come to think of it, neither did I.

I suppose we i the television audience were just used to such stunts as replacing actors...

I remember my family talking about it and they did not like it. However, my parents had six kids and that was the least of their worries.

In the first 5 seasons Bewitched was one in the top 10 most viewed shows, with Dick Sargent the show wasn't even in the top 30, so yes the majority of the audience didn't like Dick Sargent.

Actually, for Sargent's first season it was #24 - and still ABC's #1 comedy - and It's #4 series overall - "Marcus Welby,MD" (Season 1) was ABC's #1 Show, and #1 Drama at #8, "The Johnny Cash Show" (Season 1) was ABC's #1 Variety Show at #15, "The Mod Squad" (Season 2) was ABC's #2 Drama at #23.

So the Drop didn't happen till Season 7 - Sargent's 2nd Year. (Same year "Marcus Welby,MD" would be The #1 Show on TV overall,and ABC's #1 Show and #1 Drama in it's 2nd Year - ABC had NEVER had a #1 show overall in it's 20+ years as a TV Network for a full season.)("Batman" being mid-season 65-66 only placed 5th and 10th for the season, and "Bewitched" was #7, and Still ABC's #1 Sitcom.)

In the Bewitched documentary, a writer of the show said that nobody wrote them a letter complaining about the Darrin switch, nobody even asked what happened with York and why he wasn't on the show anymore. So the audience didn't despise Sargent.

York's back injury dated back to a 1959 movie. So over the next ten years (switch came in '69), likely more and more people knew about his health problem. Or was the info kept from the general public's knowledge?

York's back injury dated back to a 1959 movie. So over the next ten years (switch came in '69), likely more and more people knew about his health problem. Or was the info kept from the general public's knowledge?

Actors and actresses tended to keep their problems out of the public eye back then although they may have been well-known to Hollywood insiders. It was likely an interview York did shortly before his death that showed the public how badly he his health had deteriorated.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tO2H_iVN6kU

We'll never see a picture of York and Liz together after Bewitched ended, they didn't keep in touch, however Liz and Sargent remained close friends till the end

And after that video we saw of York talking in a lecherous way about Liz, we all can agree that she did the right thing by staying away from that creep.

We'll never see a picture of York and Liz together after Bewitched ended, they didn't keep in touch, however Liz and Sargent remained close friends till the end

And after that video we saw of York talking in a lecherous way about Liz, we all can agree that she did the right thing by staying away from that creep.

What video??

What video??

This one

ymyCPDcaqVw

What video??

Don't mind that poster; it's literally all they ever post about. No wonder this board is dead now; nobody wants to deal with them.

It's pretty well-known York was attracted to Montgomery (who wouldn't be?!), but there's also no evidence he did anything other than look at her. Like 2 people have made it their life's mission to smear him for some reason.

Anyway, viewers at the time DID miss Dick York, and even wrote to their local newspapers about it (https://majicst.proboards.com/thread/16) (Tinypic is no longer hosting screenshots of the blurbs). Given that, I find it hard to believe they didn't also write the network about it, but my guess is higher-ups may have prevented any letters from going to the cast and crew. Probably for the best.

All these disprove completely the "AND NO ONE NOTICED!" outburst from the "Bewitched" movie. People noticed (and missed) York's departure before the Sargent episodes even aired. Even if it wasn't Sargent replacing York, any actor would've had some pretty high expectations to meet.

It's also interesting how wrong many of the articles are on why he left (a seizure in January 1969 due to the painkillers he was taking for his back injury).

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SHOWTIME
by William E. Sarmento
The Lowell Sun, Monday, February 3, 1969

After five years as Samantha's bewildered husband, Darryl (sic), Dick York is leaving the series at the end of this season. Dick Sargent will take over the role next fall. Should be interesting to see if the public will show any disaffection with "Bewitched" after five years of getting to know Elizabeth Montgomery and Dick York. And let me add that York is a great asset to that show. He has been the perfect foil for his ghostly relations.

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Television Mailbag
CitiSun
Feb. 16, 1969

What's this I hear about Dick York leaving "Bewitched"? I think he's wonderful and I would miss him if we were to leave. Please fill us in on the truth. - Mrs. B.E., Siler City, North Carolina.

A. - Dick York has elected to leave the successful series after five years of playing Darrin Stephens, harassed husband of Samantha, he suburban witch-wife. The producers wanted him to stay but York says he's ready to try other things. Dick Sargeant (sic), who was seen as one of "Broadside" and as Tammy Grimes' twin brother in her short-lived TV series, is going to replace Dick York in "Bewitched." The change won't take place until next season.

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Squawk Box
San Antonio Express and News
May 11, 1969

DICK'S NOT BEWITCHED ANYMORE- Why is Dick York being replaced on Bewitched? He was so perfect with facial expressions. - M.A., Miami, Fla.

York decided to leave the show - he felt he wasn't being used to his best advantage. His replacement is Dick Sargent.

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It seems like the vast majority of blurbs concerning York's departure were of the "he elected not to renew his five-year contract" or "he has decided to leave for greener pastures" variety, but this is the first one that actually mentioned the back problems, but only in speculation... which turned out be the real reason after all:

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Hollywood Show Beat
by Dick Kleiner
The Altoona Mirror, Altoona, PA
Wednesday, Feb. 12, 1969

HOLLYWOOD (NEA) Twentieth-Century Fox, which made "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn," is going to use the property again- this time as a television special . . . Agness (sic) Moorehead is flying back and forth between here and New York, playing the mother on "Bewitched." She must like the part pretty well because Aggie's fear of flying is legendary.

Speaking of "Bewitched," Dick York may have to leave that series because of back troubles . . .

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Well, this turned out to be right in 1968 but wrong in 1969:

Winnipeg Free Press, September 14-21, 1968

Q - Is Samantha going to get a new husband on Bewitched? My friend says she read this in a magazine. I think Samantha's husband is perfect and I hope she doesn't change him.

- Mrs. E. M.

A - Your friend has been misinformed. There will be no major cast changes on the successful TV comedy series, Bewitched. Dick York will continue playing Elizabeth Montgomery's harassed husband.
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Here are two short blurbs, slightly earlier, from the same page on Tuesday, Jan. 28, 1969- so really, it wasn't much time at all.


(The Times-Reporter, Dover, Ohio)

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The producers of ABC's "Bewitched," which was renewed for the 1969-70 season several weeks ago, are now busily seeking a replacement for Dick York who costarred as the witch's husband in the series during the past five seasons.

York informed Screen Gems, the producer, on Friday that he would not renew his contract which expires at the end of this season.
_________________________

TV Answer Man

(Q) Is Dick York of the "Bewitched" program married or does he have enough trouble keeping up with Elizabeth Montgomery's antics on the show? - P.A., Rockford.

(A) - Most actors would love to be in Dick's position of keeping up with Samantha's tricks. He is indeed married to his teen sweetheart, the former Joan Alt, and they have 5 children: Kimberly, 15; Aanda (sic), 14; Stacie, 12; Christopher, 8 and Matthew, 7.
_____________________________


And the next day....

Independent
Long Beach, CA
Wednesday, January 29, 1969

DICK SARGENT has been picked to costar with Elizabeth Montgomery in "Bewitched" for the 1969-70 season, replacing Dick York. York is winding up his five year contract and has asked out.

Sargent's previous TV series include "Broadside" and "The Tammy Grimes Show."