An interesting question, and I hope somebody has the answer. I always assumed (perhaps wrongly) that Asher, with his background and expertise in the sitcom genre, was there to help get TPDS off the ground and to find its footing, and would have been unlikely to stay around for long anyway. After all, he had "Bewitched" and the AIP beach-party movies waiting in the wings for him back in California.
I've never quite known how to gauge Asher's overall output. His work always seems very competent, but sometimes hit-or-miss on the aesthetic level. When it comes to his short TPDS tenure, I have to give him credit, since a high percentage of those early episodes rank among the series' best. I loved how a few of them utilized some on-location work. After he exited, the series fell into a slightly more conventional groove (which was nonetheless extremely pleasing). But I do like to ponder how the series might have progressed otherwise, perhaps more incorporation of the Uncle Kenneth aspect, Martin's job, and maybe even more 'drama.' It always did seem a bit crazy to have the high-calibre acting talent of the TPDS cast and not fully take advantage of it. As much as I've always adored the series, that is my one little criticism of it.
|