Month Long Bewitched Fest

[Dick York was Darrin]

Okay, I've spent the last month immersed in Bewitched. I literally hadn't seen the show in over 40 years. But for some reason, I got Bewitched on the mind, and decided to do the following:

1. Bought all eight seasons on DVD.
2. Watched about 150 episodes from season 1 through season 5.
3. Watched every youtube video on Bewitched of every kind. Biography's documentaries, interviews.
4. Read every thread (to include those where Larry Tate made a fool of himself).

And I've come to some conclusions.

The good...

1. Dick York carried the comedy of that show on his back.
2. Samantha Stevens was absolutely adorable. Any man alive would be thrilled to put up with the mayhem, to be married to her.
3. The show, for the first five seasons, had two stars. Dick York and Elizabeth Montgomery, and a half dozen other excellent supporting characters.
4. The on screen chemistry between Elizabeth Montgomery and Dick York was fantastic.
5. The show was funny, funny, funny.

The bad...

1. Dick York's physical ailments, which forced him off of the show, and necessitated Dick Sargent taking over the Darrin role, was catastrophic to the show's success.
2. Elizabeth Montgomery welcomed the casting change, with evidence that she tried to get Dick York fired at one time.
3. When Dick York was rushed to the hospital, Elizabeth Montgomery evidently never visited him, nor spoke to him again.
4. Either Elizabeth Montgomery flat out didn't like Dick York, or she was threatened by the heavy load he carried to make the show successful.
5. Everyone on the show loved Dick York, most especially Agnes Moorehead, and were in his corner.
6. Dick York, in his public statements was extremely gracious toward his former colleagues, especially Elizabeth Montgomery, even though he was in very bad health and she did not return the public graciousness.
7. Dick York, nearing death, reached out to Elizabeth Montgomery, and she ignored him, having evidently, never even spoken to him after he was taken from the set of Bewitched, in an ambulance.
8. Even after Dick York's death, Elizabeth Montgomery was very conspicuous in the fact that she would not even mention Dick York's name in public, and never gave him the credit he deserved, in making her show a successful show.
9. Elizabeth Montgomery, whenever asked about the success of Bewitched, would invariably mention just about everyone except for Dick York, which was clearly her way of disrespecting Dick York.

Everyone on the set of Bewitched loved Dick York, except for Elizabeth Montgomery (and I've read some outlandish things written, but unsupported by any real believable documentation, as to why Montgomery didn't like York).

So, my conclusions are that the show was great, but Elizabeth Montgomery was no Samantha Stevens. She was not a bright and cheery human being. She was not a ray of sunshine. She was a cynical woman, who had few real close friends. She was not kind and caring. And in her treatment of Dick York, she was a small, small woman.

But at least we can love Samantha Stephens.

[Monliz]

It's funny how you're trying to push a false narrative that York was treated badly by Liz, but you don't talk about the bad things York did to her.


Liz didn't like York because he was in love with her, he had inappropriate behavior towards Liz, what York did was so bad that Liz stayed away from him behind the scenes and wanted nothing to do with him.


York in his book talked about Liz in a lecherous way, that proves how obsessed he was with her, and a producer of Bewitched said that behind the scenes York was always staring at Liz, so she did what any other women would have done, which is staying away from that creep.

[KatieAnn]

What Monliz describes would be called "sexual harassment" these days, and would not be tolerated. But it seems that back in the 60s (and well before and after) women were expected to just put up with that sort of treatment. Maybe they were even expected to be "flattered" by that sort of attention.

That Elizabeth Montgomery allegedly tried to get Dick York fired just speaks of her strength and the belief that she had the right to a safe work place environment. That it took Dick York collapsing to get him removed from the show really speaks to how little people seemed to care about Elizabeth's feelings and her right to a safe work place environment, free of sexual harassment. They cared more about putting on the show. It seems that even her own husband put the show ahead of her feelings and her safety.

And clearly time did not heal Elizabeth and the feelings she had regarding Dick York. She stayed true to her feelings even after the show ended and she kept quiet about York. She could have complained about him, but she took the high road.

Even if there was no harassment from Dick York, Elizabeth would still have the right to feel the way she felt about York and not mention him when talking about the show. If there were hurt feelings or hard feelings on her side, it makes me feel sad for her. It's not something one would ever guess, watching her act opposite Dick York. She was a good actress - she really hid her feelings very well.

[Dick York was Darrin]

Originally Posted by KatieAnn

What Monliz describes would be called "sexual harassment" these days, and would not be tolerated. But it seems that back in the 60s (and well before and after) women were expected to just put up with that sort of treatment. Maybe they were even expected to be "flattered" by that sort of attention.

That Elizabeth Montgomery allegedly tried to get Dick York fired just speaks of her strength and the belief that she had the right to a safe work place environment. That it took Dick York collapsing to get him removed from the show really speaks to how little people seemed to care about Elizabeth's feelings and her right to a safe work place environment, free of sexual harassment. They cared more about putting on the show. It seems that even her own husband put the show ahead of her feelings and her safety.

And clearly time did not heal Elizabeth and the feelings she had regarding Dick York. She stayed true to her feelings even after the show ended and she kept quiet about York. She could have complained about him, but she took the high road.

Even if there was no harassment from Dick York, Elizabeth would still have the right to feel the way she felt about York and not mention him when talking about the show. If there were hurt feelings or hard feelings on her side, it makes me feel sad for her. It's not something one would ever guess, watching her act opposite Dick York. She was a good actress - she really hid her feelings very well.

What Monliz has posted has been nothing but uncorroborated slanders against Dick York. Nothing he/she has posted has been convincing, and in fact, all other testimony except for second hand hearsay says that Dick York was very well thought of by everyone on the show, except for Elizabeth Montgomery. And that they only interacted on camera, and in front of everyone. So, if there was inappropriate behavior, it would have been witnessed by everyone involved.

Who was it that posted something to the effect that York had some kind of hygiene issue, and that's why Elizabeth Montgomery didn't like him? Which is laughable. Not even worth addressing.

And KatieAnn, you sure have taken Monliz's unsubstantiated crap and run pretty dang far with it. You've built up an entire "me too" episode in your mind, and forced that into this narrative and this thread. Which no one has ever insinuated happened between York and Montgomery.

I'd very much like to see any evidence Monliz (and you too KatieAnn!) has that there was some type of sexual harassment taking place. As far as I know, KatieAnn has just introduced to the world, for the first time, fifty years after the fact, an accusation that Dick York sexually harassed Elizabeth Montgomery. Wow.

[Dick York was Darrin]

Originally Posted by KatieAnn

That Elizabeth Montgomery allegedly tried to get Dick York fired just speaks of her strength and the belief that she had the right to a safe work place environment. That it took Dick York collapsing to get him removed from the show really speaks to how little people seemed to care about Elizabeth's feelings and her right to a safe work place environment, free of sexual harassment. They cared more about putting on the show. It seems that even her own husband put the show ahead of her feelings and her safety.

I demand an apology for the family of Dick York.

Elizabeth Montgomery's HUSBAND was on the set as the DIRECTOR of the show, and clearly would have seen any sexual harassment. And yet, Bill Asher didn't want to fire Dick York, and tried to convince Montgomery that it was a bad idea.

About the worst thing I've heard Asher say about York was that he was a little weird. Clearly, if York was harassing his wife on the set of Bewitched, I seriously think he would have been happy to fire York. Not to mention, he would have punched him in the mouth.

[Monliz]

Who said York sexually harassed Liz? York had inappropriate behavior towards Liz, that doesn't mean he sexually harassed her. I mean, if you associate inappropriate behavior with sexual harassment, then you've got some issues, that means you don't understand the meaning of those words.


In the other threads I posted a link of an interview that was done to William Frough, a producer of Bewitched, he said that behind the scenes York was constantly staring a Liz and she was annoyed by that.


A man staring constantly at women is inappropriate, you don't believe it? well then, I dare you stare at a woman all the time in your job, do it, and then tell us how the woman reacts, maybe that's the only way you'll understand how Liz felt.

[RetroGuy2000]

Originally Posted by Monliz

Who said York sexually harassed Liz?

KatieAnn, immediately above, who claimed "What Monliz describes would be called "sexual harassment" these days, and would not be tolerated."

But it's pretty weird.

[Dick York was Darrin]

Originally Posted by Monliz

In the other threads I posted a link of an interview that was done to William Frough, a producer of Bewitched, he said that behind the scenes York was constantly staring a Liz and she was annoyed by that.

Isn't that the same producer who you said every that man Elizabeth Montgomery met fell in love with her, or something to that effect?

Considering they kissed a thousand times in the show, snuggled hundreds of times, and held each other in their arms dozens and dozens and dozens of times, I find it difficult to believe York couldn't keep his eyes off of her when the camera wasn't rolling.

What it sounds like to me is that there was a concerted effort by Montgomery apologists to besmirch Dick York. And none of it is believable.

Dick York married one woman, and there are zero rumors of his having affairs all over the place. Elizabeth Montgomery was married four times, and there are rumors galore of her affairs.

Nothing in the narrative smells right. It's clear that Montgomery and her apologists want to minimize Dick York in every way they can.

[Monliz]

Originally Posted by Dick York was Darrin

Isn't that the same producer who you said every that man Elizabeth Montgomery met fell in love with her, or something to that effect?

Considering they kissed a thousand times in the show, snuggled hundreds of times, and held each other in their arms dozens and dozens and dozens of times, I find it difficult to believe York couldn't keep his eyes off of her when the camera wasn't rolling.

What it sounds like to me is that there was a concerted effort by Montgomery apologists to besmirch Dick York. And none of it is believable.

Dick York married one woman, and there are zero rumors of his having affairs all over the place. Elizabeth Montgomery was married four times, and there are rumors galore of her affairs.

Nothing in the narrative smells right. It's clear that Montgomery and her apologists want to minimize Dick York in every way they can.

No, it's not William Frough the producer who fell in love with Liz, it was Richard Michaels.


And I believe William Frough more than I believe you, because he was there in the set, and you were not, so his words are more believable than yours.


Who are we supposed to believe? a man who worked in Bewitched, or somebody like you who probably was not even alive when Bewitched was on air?


The answer is obvious

[Monliz]

And one more thing, after reading the lecherous way York talked about Liz in his book, it's not difficult to believe that he was madly in love with her and that he couldn't take his eyes of Liz behind the scenes

[tcr1701]

Originally Posted by Dick York was Darrin

Isn't that the same producer who you said every that man Elizabeth Montgomery met fell in love with her, or something to that effect?

Considering they kissed a thousand times in the show, snuggled hundreds of times, and held each other in their arms dozens and dozens and dozens of times, I find it difficult to believe York couldn't keep his eyes off of her when the camera wasn't rolling.

What it sounds like to me is that there was a concerted effort by Montgomery apologists to besmirch Dick York. And none of it is believable.

You are correct. York never harassed Montgomery and Froug never even hinted that he did. Froug's comment was that York looking at her lovingly ticked Montgomery off because she was "a tough cookie and nuts" who didn't want any man's love. Technically, he was insulting Montgomery not York. And I don't necessarily believe him about Liz. It was his opinion and he even stated "no one will really know."

And actors playing romantic roles often fall in love in real life too. Jane Seymour did with Christopher Reeve and Joe Lando. Neither of those worked out but she remained friendly with each. It's just something that happens with actors. Actors use that in their performance.

Elizabeth was smart enough to use any emotions with York to fuel her performance and it worked beautifully onscreen. Bill Asher himself said "They (Samantha and Darrin) were in love and they (York and Montgomery) acted like it."

To even suggest York sexually harassed Montgomery with Bill Asher 10 feet away is preposterous to say the least. And there are many behind the scenes shots of York and Montgomery laughing and smiling together.

[Monliz]

Hi tcr1701 it's nice to have you back here with us

Now, stop pushing that false narrative of York and Liz being good friends. It was you who said that Dick York in his book said he and Liz were friends but only in the first two seasons, then something changed and she grew tired of him.

I mean, according to you York said Liz grew tired of him after the second season, and now you're trying to convince us that they were good friends, don't you realize that makes you look ridiculous?

I did a screenshot of your comment about York saying Liz grew tired of him after the second season, you got caught, everybody knows that now you're denying what you have said before, only because you have an agenda against me and Larry Tate

[Monliz]

By the way tcr1701, why did you think York blamed himself for any rift between him and Liz? Could you explain us?

[KatieAnn]

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

KatieAnn, immediately above, who claimed "What Monliz describes would be called "sexual harassment" these days, and would not be tolerated."

But it's pretty weird.

The description fits. Whether it happened or not, who knows? A lot of people here seem to know for CERTAIN, one way or another, but it's just a side note to the show.

I'd like to believe it didn't happen, just thinking how DY had support from other castmates...would they have supported someone who allegedly made EM feel that uncomfortable? Hopefully not, but it's clear that people have a way of overlooking things that don't affect them, or they diminish their significance. Whatever it was, it was significant enough for EM that she cut DY out of her life and out of her commentary as soon as he left the show.

And as I said in my previous comment, "even if there was no harassment from Dick York, Elizabeth would still have the right to feel the way she felt about York and not mention him when talking about the show."

Maybe the one thing people here can agree on is that EM didn't want to talk about DY, and she didn't, until the day she died.

[RetroGuy2000]

Originally Posted by KatieAnn

The description fits. Whether it happened or not, who knows? A lot of people here seem to know for CERTAIN, one way or another, but it's just a side note to the show.

I'd like to believe it didn't happen, just thinking how DY had support from other castmates...would they have supported someone who allegedly made EM feel that uncomfortable? Hopefully not, but it's clear that people have a way of overlooking things that don't affect them, or they diminish their significance. Whatever it was, it was significant enough for EM that she cut DY out of her life and out of her commentary as soon as he left the show.

And as I said in my previous comment, "even if there was no harassment from Dick York, Elizabeth would still have the right to feel the way she felt about York and not mention him when talking about the show."

Maybe the one thing people here can agree on is that EM didn't want to talk about DY, and she didn't, until the day she died.

I totally agree that whether or not creepy glances happened, Liz had the right to talk about what she wanted to talk about in interviews. But I've seen no evidence that even creepy glances occurred.