How would you have handled the show after Dick York's collapse? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

YELLOW11 · 07-16-2007, 10:55 PM

How would you have handled it?

A. Do what they did and replace the actor with no explanation.
B. Have Samantha divorce Darrin and marry another mortal.
C. Have Endora change Darrin's looks.
D. Continued to write episodes where Darrin's "away" until Dick York was strong enough.

catlover79 · 07-16-2007, 11:00 PM

None of the above - I would've just ended the show. The plots were already getting stale and recycled, the show had run five seasons and there were 170 episodes in the can. I would've taken the show out on top. Having said that, I'm glad they recast rather than have Darrin and Sam split up. With the romantic and sexual chemistry that EM & DY brought to the characters, it surely would've been a shame. Too bad EM & DS didn't even have a smidgen of chemistry together, but that's another post for another day,

.

Mr. Television · 07-16-2007, 11:02 PM

I would have ended the show when DY could no longer appear. What made the show great was Elizabeth Montgomery and Dick York....no substitutes.

catlover79 · 07-16-2007, 11:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Walking Tall

I would have ended the show when DY could no longer appear. What made the show great was Elizabeth Montgomery and Dick York....no substitutes.

Sonny, you summed it up perfectly! Agreed!

Mr. Television · 07-16-2007, 11:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catlover79

Sonny, you summed it up perfectly! Agreed!

Thanks Monika

What I never liked about Dick Sergents Darrin is he always seemed so angry. I never really saw awhole lot of love between Samantha and Darrin after Dick York left the show. And during the 1970's when I really watch Bewitched a lot, the first 2 seasons were hardly ever rerunned and they were the best shows. I never understood that just because they were in black and white.

Janice · 07-17-2007, 12:17 AM

I would have tried to make it work with Dick York. From what I read, his collapse that final day was caused by being overmedicated. I realize they accommodated York for years, but I think he deserved more time. Had he ever missed any time before that?

roseha · 07-17-2007, 12:28 AM

I haven't seen Bewitched in a very long time, but yes they should have tried to accommodate Dick York. They could have worked something out, Darrin could have gotten a new job that required him to travel and they could have just reduced his scenes. They could have filled some of the time with the other actors.

Larry Tate · 07-17-2007, 11:43 AM

After his collapse in Late Nov/69 Dick York was beddridden for over a year & only semi-lucid during this time, so how could they have made it work in that context, how could they have accomadated him.

He made the decision to quit right after his collapse, he knew his body had given out & that he would never be able to play the role again.

So the idea that if they just gave him a chance or worked things out with him makes no sense, he was a drug addicted physical wreak at that point of time.

He was not overmedicated, his body just gave out.

As well it would have been a terrible mistake to try to turn Darrin into an
occasionally reoccuring character.

So what was there to work out with him, nothing, as after all he made the decision to quit.

Larry Tate

Janice · 07-17-2007, 12:49 PM

Dick York was taking too many drugs as he states in this interview. It's a vicious cycle that often happens to chronic pain patients. Who knows, maybe he needed to be detoxed and try another course of therapy. They could have given him a chance, that's all I'm saying. He deserved it.

http://www.bewitched.net/filmfax.htm

Mirri · 07-17-2007, 01:14 PM

How can you give someone another chance when THEY quit the show themselves of their own accord right away, what were they supposed to do get a court order to make him return with forced pain medication or something.

He was literally bedridden for over a year after his collapse unable to get out of it.

What chance in that context did he deserve?
Should they have gone into Hiatus for a year to give him a chance to recover?
That would not have been a rational option for obvious reasons, & as well he still would have been unable to film a single frame at that point of time.

They did the right thing, the only thing to do & at the right time for the good of the show.

Janice · 07-17-2007, 01:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mirri

How can you give someone another chance when THEY quit the show themselves of their own accord right away, what were they supposed to do get a court order to make him return with forced pain medication or something.

He was literally bedridden for over a year after his collapse unable to get out of it.

What chance in that context did he deserve?
Should they have gone into Hiatus for a year to give him a chance to recover?
That would not have been a rational option for obvious reasons, & as well he still would have been unable to film a single frame at that point of time.

They did the right thing, the only thing to do & at the right time for the good of the show.

I think that Dick York was a gentleman, and he graciously stepped aside. Had he been given encouragement by Asher and Montgomery, I think he would have tried. Nobody knew at the time that he would be flat out for over a year. We're all brilliant in hindsight. I am of the opinion that he needed to be detoxed, rested up and alternate methods tried for his back.

They could have at least tried. It cost them in the end anyway because the showed sucked rotten eggs after York left.

*reconsidered and edited*

Scoobiedoo30 · 07-17-2007, 03:41 PM

if my memory is correct he was on the drugs for back Trouble

Mikado · 07-17-2007, 04:06 PM

They should have ended the show .....the later years are simply painful to watch with DS

queenFrostine278 · 07-26-2007, 01:54 AM

howabout mother turns dumbo into a thimble or something and loses him forever. i would have just had him disappear. i never liked any of that darrin office life larry tate crap anyway. i really only like to watch sam, endora,tabitha, and serena :-D

Madame X · 07-26-2007, 10:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Janice

I am of the opinion that he needed to be detoxed, rested up and alternate methods tried for his back.

They could have at least tried. It cost them in the end anyway because the showed sucked rotten eggs after York left.

*reconsidered and edited*

Janice, I agree. That's probably how they would have handled it nowadays. Remember, we are talking over 40 years ago. They didn't know as much about backs, drugs, detoxing and alternatives then.

I have had a bad back for over 30 years and had 3 surgeries in the '80's. I can't believe the improvement in treatment since then! Poor Dick didn't have much of a chance at that time.

They should have ended the show while it was still a winner and show Mr. York some respect.

07-16-2007, 10:55 PM	#1
YELLOW11 Member Occasional Poster Join Date: May 19, 2007 Posts: 54	How would you have handled the show after Dick York's collapse? How would you have handled it? A. Do what they did and replace the actor with no explanation. B. Have Samantha divorce Darrin and marry another mortal. C. Have Endora change Darrin's looks. D. Continued to write episodes where Darrin's "away" until Dick York was strong enough.

07-16-2007, 11:00 PM	#2
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,392	None of the above - I would've just ended the show. The plots were already getting stale and recycled, the show had run five seasons and there were 170 episodes in the can. I would've taken the show out on top. Having said that, I'm glad they recast rather than have Darrin and Sam split up. With the romantic and sexual chemistry that EM & DY brought to the characters, it surely would've been a shame. Too bad EM & DS didn't even have a smidgen of chemistry together, but that's another post for another day, .
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07-16-2007, 11:02 PM	#3
Mr. Television 23 Years at Sitcoms Online Forum Icon Join Date: Jun 06, 2003 Location: Somewhere you're Not Posts: 62,132	I would have ended the show when DY could no longer appear. What made the show great was Elizabeth Montgomery and Dick York....no substitutes.
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07-17-2007, 11:43 AM	#8
Larry Tate Member Senior Member Join Date: Dec 26, 2001 Location: Vancouver, Canada Posts: 1,569	Dick York was Done After his collapse in Late Nov/69 Dick York was beddridden for over a year & only semi-lucid during this time, so how could they have made it work in that context, how could they have accomadated him. He made the decision to quit right after his collapse, he knew his body had given out & that he would never be able to play the role again. So the idea that if they just gave him a chance or worked things out with him makes no sense, he was a drug addicted physical wreak at that point of time. He was not overmedicated, his body just gave out. As well it would have been a terrible mistake to try to turn Darrin into an occasionally reoccuring character. So what was there to work out with him, nothing, as after all he made the decision to quit. Larry Tate

07-17-2007, 03:41 PM	#12
Scoobiedoo30 Member Forum Superstar Join Date: Jun 27, 2002 Location: KENNER, LOUISIANA Posts: 27,654	if my memory is correct he was on the drugs for back Trouble
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07-17-2007, 12:17 AM	#6
Janice Retired Admin - Hollywood Swingin' Forum Legend Join Date: Aug 03, 2001 Location: Beantown Posts: 36,388	I would have tried to make it work with Dick York. From what I read, his collapse that final day was caused by being overmedicated. I realize they accommodated York for years, but I think he deserved more time. Had he ever missed any time before that?

07-17-2007, 12:28 AM	#7
roseha Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Feb 20, 2007 Location: New York City Posts: 100	I haven't seen Bewitched in a very long time, but yes they should have tried to accommodate Dick York. They could have worked something out, Darrin could have gotten a new job that required him to travel and they could have just reduced his scenes. They could have filled some of the time with the other actors.

07-17-2007, 12:49 PM	#9
Janice Retired Admin - Hollywood Swingin' Forum Legend Join Date: Aug 03, 2001 Location: Beantown Posts: 36,388	Dick York was taking too many drugs as he states in this interview. It's a vicious cycle that often happens to chronic pain patients. Who knows, maybe he needed to be detoxed and try another course of therapy. They could have given him a chance, that's all I'm saying. He deserved it. http://www.bewitched.net/filmfax.htm

07-17-2007, 01:14 PM	#10
Mirri Member Forum Cub Join Date: May 06, 2007 Posts: 2	How can you give someone another chance when THEY quit the show themselves of their own accord right away, what were they supposed to do get a court order to make him return with forced pain medication or something. He was literally bedridden for over a year after his collapse unable to get out of it. What chance in that context did he deserve? Should they have gone into Hiatus for a year to give him a chance to recover? That would not have been a rational option for obvious reasons, & as well he still would have been unable to film a single frame at that point of time. They did the right thing, the only thing to do & at the right time for the good of the show.

07-17-2007, 04:06 PM	#13
Mikado Main st bridge Forum Superstar Join Date: Jul 06, 2005 Posts: 25,892	They should have ended the show .....the later years are simply painful to watch with DS

07-26-2007, 01:54 AM	#14
queenFrostine278 Jen Frequent Poster Join Date: Apr 27, 2005 Location: NY Posts: 263	howabout mother turns dumbo into a thimble or something and loses him forever. i would have just had him disappear. i never liked any of that darrin office life larry tate crap anyway. i really only like to watch sam, endora,tabitha, and serena :-D
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