Agnes Moorehead being kinda betchy in this article

[Arfies]

This is from the Oct. 1967 issue of TV Radio Show with the tawdry title "Liz Montgomery and Her Husbands: The Feud She Can't Stop!"

This was one of those "gossip rags" from back in the day where sometimes articles were concocted out of whole cloth, and stars would read "interviews" with themselves that never happened. What's interesting about this one is that it was in Agnes Moorehead's personal scrapbooks, which one wouldn't expect if it wasn't real. And how she felt about York and Montgomery does match the correspondence she had with her personal secretary (which was kinda betchy towards Liz's acting ability; she came around eventually, but not at this point. "I have heard that Elizabeth has definite potential"- ouch). It's not something I think she would've said publicly (too classy for that?) even though it does match what she said privately at the time, so where did this author get the leaks from? And if that was true, was the other stuff in this article true as well? For example, if Dick York's chair wire accident happened, which episode would that have been? He did take a nasty fall during season 3's "Sam's Spooky Chair" but wasn't suspended up in the air for that.

Some takeaways: Harry Ackerman is quoted as saying, "She plays herself. Elizabeth has a pixie-like way of behaving... when she's in good humor. We call it 'Samantha'."

Agnes Moorehead's full quote is, "I've never seen her act (Elizabeth), This role she does in the show could hardly be classified as acting, now could it? Well... it couldn't! Being cute and making childish little faces requires very little discipline or creative energy. However, I have heard that Elizabeth has definite potential." (I personally think Montgomery was a fine actress). Then Agnes says, "If you ask me, the most demanding role is that of Darrin, Samantha's mortal husband. This part demands acting, not comedy antics and cute mannerisms. Sustaining this character is darned hard work. It is difficult to play one who reacts naturally to unnatural elements surrounding him. It is the actor at work here, not the comedian. Dick York does a masterful piece of acting. He makes the show work. Few people see this." Then, "Miss Moorehead's tart comment prompted questions about why so little attention is given to Dick, and revived rumors of a cool feeling between Dick, on one side, and Liz Montgomery and her husband, on the other."

I don't think they realized how much pain he was in. Dick (if he did say this to this interviewer; he never complained about it but apparently would talk about it when asked) says, "It hurts like hell most of the time, but I take pills to kill the pain. Sometimes they work better than other times. I've had it for years... Now it's [his back] is a mess. I'll be lucky if..." he stops and smiles. [lucky if what? If he finishes the series?] "Trouble with me, I'm a hypochondriac. That's what Bill Asher says. Naturally Elizabeth agrees with him."

I was under the impression that York's back problem and pain pills were kept more hush-hush at the time but I guess not.

[Arfies]

Second chunk:

[Arfies]

Hopefully this reads all right.

[Arfies]

Last page.

[RetroGuy2000]

Wow! That's very interesting. Never knew the Asher/York spat was public knowledge!

Thanks Arfies!

Also... that Agnes quote... ouch!

[Arfies]

Even if the "gossip rag" is true and the Ashers didn't realize the extent of the pain he was in, William Asher did fight to keep him on the show despite his health problems (and if William Froug is correct, Elizabeth's objections). He knew how good he was for the show, at least.

Also, it's nice that York finally got an Emmy nomination after this (the 1967-68 season). Maybe this article helped with that. I really think he should've gotten one especially in the second season- that was his best work, IMO, with "Divided He Falls," "The Joker is a Card," and more. I wonder if the (reported) cancelled publicity campaign was for the second season when they took all those pictures of Darrin and the baby doll, because I don't think those were used much.

Agnes Moorehead REALLY liked Dick York, both on a professional and personal level.

[Arfies]

I think I found the source of the leak, as pointed out by Chuck T. years ago: Bob Palmer, Screen Gems publicist. On page 276 of "Dreaming of Jeannie," he says, matching what's in the above article:

"Agnes Moorehead once said to me that [York] was the one who really held the show together," Palmer says. "And that he was the least appreciated, because the hardest job in the world is to react to crazy situations in a believable way. He made Darrin so believable. I don't think Elizabeth Montgomery ever fully appreciated his contribution. Agnes would get impatient with Elizabeth and she didn't like the way they treated Dick York," says Palmer. "She thought Elizabeth was a bit of a 'spoiled little girl,' as she put it."

So judging by that quote, it's probably Palmer who is the unnamed "interviewer" in the article that fed Charles Lido that information. It doesn't really make Montgomery or Moorehead look very good, but I guess even bad publicity is still publicity?

[RetroGuy2000]

Originally Posted by Arfies

I think I found the source of the leak, as pointed out by Chuck T. years ago: Bob Palmer, Screen Gems publicist. On page 276 of "Dreaming of Jeannie," he says, matching what's in the above article:

"Agnes Moorehead once said to me that [York] was the one who really held the show together," Palmer says. "And that he was the least appreciated, because the hardest job in the world is to react to crazy situations in a believable way. He made Darrin so believable. I don't think Elizabeth Montgomery ever fully appreciated his contribution. Agnes would get impatient with Elizabeth and she didn't like the way they treated Dick York," says Palmer. "She thought Elizabeth was a bit of a 'spoiled little girl,' as she put it."

So judging by that quote, it's probably Palmer who is the unnamed "interviewer" in the article that fed Charles Lido that information. It doesn't really make Montgomery or Moorehead look very good, but I guess even bad publicity is still publicity?

I think it makes them look human, faults and all. Yes, Elizabeth comes across as spoiled. Yes, Agnes comes across a bit two-faced. But those two ladies managed to work together for eight years nonetheless. Sure appreciate this rare insight... and without any edits.

[Willbo]

This was a very good, unedited article. It shows that they are all humans with opinions, feelings and even pettiness. So common in most work places. I agree with AM comments about DY's Darrin character. He definitely had the most challenging role when it came to acting. I am glad Bill Asher finally went to bat for Dick at the end but it was to late.

[Arfies]

You're welcome! And yes, I still enjoy the whole cast. They're mere mortals like the rest of us, after all.

[Arfies]

I think one of the more emotional parts of William Asher's Television Academy interview that I didn't know before watching the whole thing was that after Dick's seizure in season 5, York went into a coma at the hospital, and someone suggested that the right person to talk Dick out of his coma was Bill. There was a nurse there crying. Asher had already spoken to York's wife Joan, who begged him to not let Dick go back to work because it was killing him. So Asher went there to the hospital for hours and talked to York, repeating "we won't fire you, you can have your job back after you're out of the hospital," etc. (He said it was a promise he couldn't keep but knew he had to say something to get him out of the coma). It worked, Dick woke up, and that's when Bill said, "What do you want to do, Dick? Do you want to quit?" And Dick replied, "If it's all right with you, Billy," and they hugged for the first time.

[Arfies]

But yes; happy to post the entire (unedited!) article.

[RetroGuy2000]

Originally Posted by Arfies

I think one of the more emotional parts of William Asher's Television Academy interview that I didn't know before watching the whole thing was that after Dick's seizure in season 5, York went into a coma at the hospital, and someone suggested that the right person to talk Dick out of his coma was Bill. There was a nurse there crying. Asher had already spoken to York's wife Joan, who begged him to not let Dick go back to work because it was killing him. So Asher went there to the hospital for hours and talked to York, repeating "we won't fire you, you can have your job back after you're out of the hospital," etc. (He said it was a promise he couldn't keep but knew he had to say something to get him out of the coma). It worked, Dick woke up, and that's when Bill said, "What do you want to do, Dick? Do you want to quit?" And Dick replied, "If it's all right with you, Billy," and they hugged for the first time.

That's really heartwarming!

[Dick York was Darrin]

I notice there is a poster missing from this thread? Perhaps it confirms something she has denied?

It may be a gossip rag, but there are elements of the story that have been corroborated by the historical record, so there is that.

[Dick York was Darrin]

Originally Posted by Arfies

I think I found the source of the leak, as pointed out by Chuck T. years ago: Bob Palmer, Screen Gems publicist. On page 276 of "Dreaming of Jeannie," he says, matching what's in the above article:

"Agnes Moorehead once said to me that [York] was the one who really held the show together," Palmer says. "And that he was the least appreciated, because the hardest job in the world is to react to crazy situations in a believable way. He made Darrin so believable. I don't think Elizabeth Montgomery ever fully appreciated his contribution. Agnes would get impatient with Elizabeth and she didn't like the way they treated Dick York," says Palmer. "She thought Elizabeth was a bit of a 'spoiled little girl,' as she put it."

So judging by that quote, it's probably Palmer who is the unnamed "interviewer" in the article that fed Charles Lido that information. It doesn't really make Montgomery or Moorehead look very good, but I guess even bad publicity is still publicity?

This kind of solidifies the power struggle theory, where it is clear Elizabeth Montgomery did not want to share the spotlight with York, so she consistently downplayed his importance to the show. To the point of wanting to get rid of him.

And then they put an inferior actor (Dick Sargent) in the role and the show dropped like a rock...

Yep, I knew it...