It's been said that the script for "Daddy Does His Thing" had to be redone because of Dick York's back trouble. I wonder if their original idea was a two part plot like "Darrin The Warlock" with Dick Sargent. The starting premise of these episodes are very similar, but develop considerably differently. It stands to reason that they'd try to redo it again. Any thoughts?

"Daddy Does His Thing", is probably the most emotional episode for any follower of "Bewitched", to watch because of the absolutely tragic behind the scenes goings on that occured while this particular episode was filming. I always still feel uneasy watching it as Dick York is obviously very ill in his few scenes, poor man.
I dont personally think that their original intention was to make it a two parter but it would have had to have some hasty rewriting done as Dick York after years of back troubles finally collapsed totally and went into a coma on the set during "Daddy Does His Things" production. I think having turned him into a mule was a way of not needing him much on the set and the last scene where the family are gathered and Samantha says Darrin was tired and had gone to bed covered an original scene that would have obviously had Darrin in it. I can't say for sure about the similiarity to "Darrin the Warlock", but they might have adapted at least part of the same idea

I've always wondered if "Daddy Does His Thing" was supposed to have an entirely different plot. I mean, I'm sure it was supposed to because the whole mule plot was only created because of DY's collapse, right? :( Considering Bewitched's affinity for re-using plots and episode arcs, I wouldn't be surprised at all if the original script for "Daddy Does His Thing" was used later. I don't know if it was remade into the "Darrin the Warlock" two-parter, but it would make sense, because you're right, they do begin pretty similarly. That's something to think about.

I've always wondered if "Daddy Does His Thing" was supposed to have an entirely different plot. I mean, I'm sure it was supposed to because the whole mule plot was only created because of DY's collapse, right? :( Considering Bewitched's affinity for re-using plots and episode arcs, I wouldn't be surprised at all if the original script for "Daddy Does His Thing" was used later. I don't know if it was remade into the "Darrin the Warlock" two-parter, but it would make sense, because you're right, they do begin pretty similarly. That's something to think about.


I think this episode was originally intended to be the one where Sam announces she is pregnant with Adam, because a clue early on states Sam saying to Darrin "I have another present for you, but actually it is for both of us".......we never did find out in that episode what she was going to reveal.

I think this episode was originally intended to be the one where Sam announces she is pregnant with Adam, because a clue early on states Sam saying to Darrin "I have another present for you, but actually it is for both of us".......we never did find out in that episode what she was going to reveal.
I agree with Jude.

I think this episode was originally intended to be the one where Sam announces she is pregnant with Adam, because a clue early on states Sam saying to Darrin "I have another present for you, but actually it is for both of us".......we never did find out in that episode what she was going to reveal.
Is that when Darrin said he didn't know if he could stand anymore surprises? All these years since I first saw that ep. on TBS back in the Fall of 1989, I thought that "present" was when Maurice was coming to visit.

Not sure, John if Darrin says that, but Maurice was not the present--since Samantha was surprised by the interruption herself.

Not sure, John if Darrin says that, but Maurice was not the present--since Samantha was surprised by the interruption herself.
Yes, I do remember Darrin saying he wasn't sure he could stand anymore surprises. Anyhow, I don't know, Jude. There's one problem. In this Daddy Does His Thing ep., Samantha didn't yet seem aware that she was expecting another baby. Because near the end of Samantha's Good News which I believe was one of the several eps. produced after Dick York had apparently left the show for good, she, herself, looked and sounded surprised when she just found out that news from her mother about her expecting a second child. And so were the viewers, apparently.

Such a shame - I would've loved to see DY's Darrin as the father of a little boy.

I think Sam was playing coy with her mother and daddy about not knowing she was pregnant! :lol:

To me, Samantha's Good News was a hurried up, hastily written effort since DY had already departed the show due to his back problems. Liz was already pregnant(and had a baby bump already) and they needed to get the explanation out there. I believe Daddy Does His Thing was to supposed to serve that purpose, but, due to DY's tragic day on the set, things had to be rewritten and reshot in order to salvage the episode.

I think Sam was playing coy with her mother and daddy about not knowing she was pregnant! :lol:

To me, Samantha's Good News was a hurried up, hastily written effort since DY had already departed the show due to his back problems. Liz was already pregnant(and had a baby bump already) and they needed to get the explanation out there. I believe Daddy Does His Thing was to supposed to serve that purpose, but, due to DY's tragic day on the set, things had to be rewritten and reshot in order to salvage the episode.

Maybe you're right, Jude. That sounds neat. Would be like when Samantha announced that she was expecting her first baby, whom we all know is Tabatha, when Darrin was transformed into a chimp by one of Aunt Clara's goofed-up spells in an earlier b&w ep. I just thought of that. They could have done the same in this later ep. and have her reveal that she was expecting her second child while he was that jackass. LOL!

HEE HAW!!!! :lol:

I think Sam was playing coy with her mother and daddy about not knowing she was pregnant! :lol:

To me, Samantha's Good News was a hurried up, hastily written effort since DY had already departed the show due to his back problems. Liz was already pregnant(and had a baby bump already) and they needed to get the explanation out there. I believe Daddy Does His Thing was to supposed to serve that purpose, but, due to DY's tragic day on the set, things had to be rewritten and reshot in order to salvage the episode.
Good call, Jude. Yes, the show was in a bind at that point and needed to get the explanation out there. I still think it was so sad that things ended up the way they did for DY.

Thanks, Monika! :)

Sometimes it takes awhile to see all the responses to a post--LOL

Thanks, Monika! :)

Sometimes it takes awhile to see all the responses to a post--LOL
Better late than never. :lol: