Dick York vs. Dick Sargent - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

icecream · 08-15-2008, 09:21 PM

Most Bewitched fans probably think Dick York was a better Darrin than Dick Sargent was, and I agree with that. But how do you think they would have been perceived if their time on the show was switched? That means Dick Sargent would have been on the first five years and Dick York on the last three.

Mr. Television · 08-15-2008, 09:25 PM

I don't know. Most of the time fans don't like it when characters switch actors. I know for me what made Bewitched so great was the chemistry between EM and DY. I just never saw that with DS. His Darren seemed so angry. If he had been there originally I don't know if I would have enjoyed the show as much as I did.

catlover79 · 08-15-2008, 10:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clint Eastwood Fan

I don't know. Most of the time fans don't like it when characters switch actors. I know for me what made Bewitched so great was the chemistry between EM and DY. I just never saw that with DS. His Darren seemed so angry. If he had been there originally I don't know if I would have enjoyed the show as much as I did.

Sonny, you summed up my feelings perfectly!!! DY was married in real life to a woman he was very much in love with (and remained so for 40 years until he passed). He wrote in his book that EM had qualites that reminded him of his wife. That made it easy to act out - and the chemistry EM & DY shared was out of this world!!! DS stepped into a very difficult situation and tried his best - but DY WAS Darrin, period!!

MickeyMac · 08-16-2008, 02:23 PM

I was going to post a thread similar to this about Dick Sargent, so I'll just say what I have to say here.

I can see why the fans like Dick York a lot more, he was certainly more of a physical comedy actor I always though. That said, I have been watching season 6 and you know what, I think Dick Sargent is really good. I see chemestry there between him and Liz Montgomery, and also I just noticed, not only was Dick Sargent a good actor, but he was quite handsome too.

I think Dick Sargent should be given credit considering he was replacing Dick York who was so popular with the fans.

Dusty's Fan · 08-16-2008, 02:54 PM

I do think that Dick Sargent is sometimes underestimated simply because he had such a tough act to follow. Overall he was a very good replacement choice, and of course he had been considered for Darrin originally.

Your question is interesting. Especially considering that several DY episodes were redone with DS, it's not difficult to imagine DS in the earlier seasons. But I think DY was able to step up into the role in ways that just about no one else could match!

Some of my favorite DS episodes were the time travel scripts and any other on-location filming. Getting him out of the home and office seemed to liven him up.

storrs19 · 08-17-2008, 11:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dusty's Fan

Some of my favorite DS episodes were the time travel scripts and any other on-location filming. Getting him out of the home and office seemed to liven him up.

Very well put. I really enjoy the Salem episodes and the ones that started off the eighth season where they were dealing with Henry the VIII. I have said before that Dick Sargent was a fine actor and certainly did no harm to Bewitched. It is just very difficult for anyone to replace a star on a tv show.

Just think of how many shows they tried to do this with and it flopped much more miserably than Bewitched did. Remember "The Dukes of Hazzard" when they replaced Bo and Luke? That was a fiasco for sure and the show never recovered. Also, the final season of "Welcome Back Koetter" was pretty bad IMHO. I mean the star of the show was Gabe Kaplan. For me the final season of "Chico and The Man" was just bad. I know that when Freddie Prinze died there was no way around it so they should have just ended the series after that season. I know he passed away in the middle of a season so I can understand them finishing that season without him.

comedyfreak · 08-17-2008, 07:22 PM

I liked both Darrins but, I'm more use to Dick York. They also replaced Bea Benedaret who played Kate Bradley on Petticoat Junction. The show managed three seasons without her. Also sometimes replacing an actor can work, like in the case of Valerie Harper who was fired from her show and replaced by Sandy Duncan.

catlover79 · 08-19-2008, 12:33 AM

Dick Sargent was also tapped in 1980 to step in for a very popular actor. In this case, it was on Dukes of Hazzard. James Best (Rosco P. Coltrane) was on strike due to poor working conditions, and several temporary sheriffs were called in. One was DS as Grady Byrd, who lasted only 2 episodes. Then they brought in another guy, and finally James Best returned and would stay put for the remainder of the series' run. It just seemed DS never found a role he could TRULY call his own.

Dusty's Fan · 08-19-2008, 09:03 PM

That saddens me, because he deserved better. However, we can take heart knowing that he will be remembered for a longtime for his Bewitched work.

Jude The Obscure · 08-19-2008, 10:27 PM

With Dukes, that makes at least THREE series that DS was a replacement--BW and Down to Earth being the others. wow.....

catlover79 · 08-19-2008, 11:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jude86

With Dukes, that makes at least THREE series that DS was a replacement--BW and Down to Earth being the others. wow.....

I never saw Down to Earth - was it any good?

Jude The Obscure · 08-20-2008, 11:30 PM

I'll be honest with you, Monika--this is one instance where Dick Sargent is indeed the better actor out of the two to play the dad and his episodes are more enjoyable. But over all--it's a very mediocre sitcom. Ronnie Schell had a supporting role for several episodes as a head angel to Carol Mansell's trying to earn her wings angel on earth. Best thing about the show is the theme song!

catlover79 · 08-21-2008, 12:10 AM

^ Thanks for the info, Jude. I'd also like to see the 1989 film Teen Witch - DS co-starred and got good reviews for his performance.

Here are a couple of screen captures of DS on Dukes as replacement sheriff Grady Byrd, with Sonny Shroyer as Deputy Enos Strate.

Mr. Television · 08-21-2008, 12:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catlover79

^ Thanks for the info, Jude. I'd also like to see the 1989 film Teen Witch - DS co-starred and got good reviews for his performance.

Here are a couple of screen captures of DS on Dukes as replacement sheriff Grady Byrd, with Sonny Shroyer as Deputy Enos Strate.

No offense to Dick Sargent but I'm glad that James Best came back. Rosco and Boss Hogg's interaction was one of the best things about that show.

catlover79 · 08-21-2008, 12:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clint Eastwood Fan

No offense to Dick Sargent but I'm glad that James Best came back. Rosco and Boss Hogg's interaction was one of the best things about that show.

Agreed! Others who filled the sheriff slot until James Best returned to the show were Clifton James (as Sheriff Lester Crabb) and James Hampton (as Sheriff Buster Moon). None of them even came close to recreating the chemistry James Best had with Sorrell Booke. They were like the Laurel & Hardy of Hazzard County!

08-15-2008, 09:21 PM	#1
icecream Cat-tastic and Whiskerlicious Forum Celebrity Join Date: Sep 01, 2006 Location: The Catacombs Posts: 20,789	Dick York vs. Dick Sargent Most Bewitched fans probably think Dick York was a better Darrin than Dick Sargent was, and I agree with that. But how do you think they would have been perceived if their time on the show was switched? That means Dick Sargent would have been on the first five years and Dick York on the last three.
	__________________ Top 200 TV Shows https://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards...14#post6225214 Top 150 Movies https://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards...84#post6175384 Top 1100 Scripted TV Characters https://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards...d.php?t=493306 Top Rookie TV Shows by Calendar Year https://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards...d.php?t=365017 Top Movies by Calendar Year https://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards...d.php?t=473533

08-15-2008, 09:25 PM	#2
Mr. Television 23 Years at Sitcoms Online Forum Icon Join Date: Jun 06, 2003 Location: Somewhere you're Not Posts: 62,132	I don't know. Most of the time fans don't like it when characters switch actors. I know for me what made Bewitched so great was the chemistry between EM and DY. I just never saw that with DS. His Darren seemed so angry. If he had been there originally I don't know if I would have enjoyed the show as much as I did.
	__________________ Sonny

08-17-2008, 07:22 PM	#7
comedyfreak Cheers! Forum Fanatic Join Date: Dec 14, 2005 Location: Sunny California Posts: 11,060	I liked both Darrins but, I'm more use to Dick York. They also replaced Bea Benedaret who played Kate Bradley on Petticoat Junction. The show managed three seasons without her. Also sometimes replacing an actor can work, like in the case of Valerie Harper who was fired from her show and replaced by Sandy Duncan.
	__________________ www.facebook.com/comedyfreak

08-21-2008, 12:10 AM	#13
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,382	^ Thanks for the info, Jude. I'd also like to see the 1989 film Teen Witch - DS co-starred and got good reviews for his performance. Here are a couple of screen captures of DS on Dukes as replacement sheriff Grady Byrd, with Sonny Shroyer as Deputy Enos Strate. Attached Images

08-16-2008, 02:23 PM	#4
MickeyMac Member Forum Star Join Date: Jun 18, 2008 Location: Kalamazoo, Michigan Posts: 19,006	I was going to post a thread similar to this about Dick Sargent, so I'll just say what I have to say here. I can see why the fans like Dick York a lot more, he was certainly more of a physical comedy actor I always though. That said, I have been watching season 6 and you know what, I think Dick Sargent is really good. I see chemestry there between him and Liz Montgomery, and also I just noticed, not only was Dick Sargent a good actor, but he was quite handsome too. I think Dick Sargent should be given credit considering he was replacing Dick York who was so popular with the fans.

08-16-2008, 02:54 PM	#5
Dusty's Fan Member Senior Member Join Date: Mar 13, 2007 Location: Indiana Posts: 1,092	I do think that Dick Sargent is sometimes underestimated simply because he had such a tough act to follow. Overall he was a very good replacement choice, and of course he had been considered for Darrin originally. Your question is interesting. Especially considering that several DY episodes were redone with DS, it's not difficult to imagine DS in the earlier seasons. But I think DY was able to step up into the role in ways that just about no one else could match! Some of my favorite DS episodes were the time travel scripts and any other on-location filming. Getting him out of the home and office seemed to liven him up.

08-19-2008, 12:33 AM	#8
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,382	Dick Sargent was also tapped in 1980 to step in for a very popular actor. In this case, it was on Dukes of Hazzard. James Best (Rosco P. Coltrane) was on strike due to poor working conditions, and several temporary sheriffs were called in. One was DS as Grady Byrd, who lasted only 2 episodes. Then they brought in another guy, and finally James Best returned and would stay put for the remainder of the series' run. It just seemed DS never found a role he could TRULY call his own.

08-19-2008, 09:03 PM	#9
Dusty's Fan Member Senior Member Join Date: Mar 13, 2007 Location: Indiana Posts: 1,092	That saddens me, because he deserved better. However, we can take heart knowing that he will be remembered for a longtime for his Bewitched work.

08-19-2008, 10:27 PM	#10
Jude The Obscure Retired Eternal Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Dec 10, 2006 Posts: 7,520	With Dukes, that makes at least THREE series that DS was a replacement--BW and Down to Earth being the others. wow.....

08-20-2008, 11:30 PM	#12
Jude The Obscure Retired Eternal Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Dec 10, 2006 Posts: 7,520	I'll be honest with you, Monika--this is one instance where Dick Sargent is indeed the better actor out of the two to play the dad and his episodes are more enjoyable. But over all--it's a very mediocre sitcom. Ronnie Schell had a supporting role for several episodes as a head angel to Carol Mansell's trying to earn her wings angel on earth. Best thing about the show is the theme song!