Should they end Bewitched after Dick York left the series? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

cjmalagodi · 08-26-2003, 05:26 AM

Bewitched is one of my favorite sitcoms, and I strongly feel they should have ended the series after Season 5, when Dick York who played Darrin left the show due to health problems. Dick Sargent was a fair replacement of York, but it wasn't the same. What do you think?

CJ Malagodi

Just Popped In · 08-26-2003, 03:21 PM

I agree; the show should have ended after Dick York left.

rml83 · 08-26-2003, 04:52 PM

I have mixed feelings about that whole thing, actually. Realistically, Dick York was my FAVORITE part about the whole show. I mean, I just adore him. Yet, I still enjoy the last three seasons a lot, even parts of the eighth season. So, if my favorite thing about the first five seasons was Dick York himself, then with him gone, I shouldn't enjoy the show that much, should I? But I do. It was just SUCH a different show after he left that I have trouble comparing the two. And there were some great episodes to come out of those last three seasons, some great work by the rest of the cast (including Sargent), so I just can't imagine NOT having those last three seasons. The first five were superior, sure, but I've come to realize that the last three were still a part of one the best sitcoms on television, ever.

So no, I don't think they should have ended the series after DY left.

Just Popped In · 08-26-2003, 05:29 PM

Dick Sargent was a decent actor, though in my heart Dick York was the "true" Darren. Still, I think that Sargent should have been given a different role; heck, I would say that he even would have made a great warlock.

Well then, maybe rather than ending the show, I think that Dick York could have been given bitsy parts here and there and still should have kept his role as Darren. He was already surviving anyhow, and maybe they could have kept him and just not worked him so hard. Did they REALLY have to dismiss him?

(edited for misspelling "Sargent")

Mr. Television · 08-26-2003, 05:35 PM

Dick York was the best Darren. I don't even watch the last 3 seasons. Maybe as Just Popped In said if Dick Sargent had played a different role it might have been better.

Novarro · 08-26-2003, 07:09 PM

Certainly I feel the show lost alot of its spark with the beginning of the sixth season. Dick York was irreplacable as Darrin and the show never really recovered from such a massive change as this. Dick Sargent while a good actor I feel had a real up hill battle coming into such a difficult situation after Dick York had done such wonderful work for 5 years. Also most sit coms anyway begin to run down abit by tradition once they get past their 5th year and the shows lack of that real fresh quality I think is accountable to that .

hawaii five-o · 08-26-2003, 07:13 PM

It wasn't the same without Dick York. However, at the time, "Bewitched" was ABC's most popular sitcom and they probably didn't want to let it go without a fight.

Novarro · 08-26-2003, 07:20 PM

Yes so true it was still rating well and the idea of a sixth season I'm sure was always in their plans anyway. There were a number of good episodes in seasons 6 and 7 but I feel even those episodes would have been even better with Dick York in them but of course that wasn't possible so we'll never really know.

LucyFan · 08-27-2003, 02:25 AM

Dick Sargeant, in my eyes, was the best Darrin. His role as Darrin wasn't as gruff and he seemed more passionate than the "past" Darrin. Also, it was obvious that there was greater chemistry between Sargeant and Montgomery. I read somewhere that Elizabeth enjoyed working with Dick Sargeant more than Dick York. Also, Dick Sargeant was originally chosen to play to the role of Darrin.

I think it was a great choice of having Bewitched continue even without Dick York.

Arfies · 08-27-2003, 09:44 AM

I liked Dick York, the "first Darrin", better. I think he was funny, passionate, romantic, good with kids and the rest of the cast, boyish, and hilariously manic all at the same time.

Since there are a few gems in the Dick Sargent years, with Tabitha, Salem, and all, I think it should have continued- but with at least an introduction explaining why there was a "new Daddy".

Lizzie McGuire · 08-27-2003, 01:53 PM

I think the new Darrin is okay well i have get use to the new one oh well.

Raven-Symone · 08-28-2003, 12:22 AM

now I do like Dick York but I started to like Dick Sargent I think he is ok, I got to get used to him but I think it is a nice show with the new Darrin there.

RichFonz · 08-28-2003, 09:38 PM

It's really interesting when you compare the two Darrins. I don't know why, but Sargent was a bit better than York. That's just my opinion. Probably because I saw his episodes first. Anyway, when you look at York and Sargent, they could be identical twins. Many viewers don't like the final three seasons, but I don't mind. When my father saw DS at first, he HATED him. Now, he can get used to him. I can't wait to see the famous 'Pighead' episode when TV Land picks it up.

Josh9125 · 08-28-2003, 11:52 PM

No it shouldn't have ended.

CHUCK T · 08-29-2003, 01:49 PM

Dick York was irreplaceable on BW. DS was a good actor and did his best but I just don't think the show was as stimulating.

On Screen, DY and EM had magic--a great chemistry. All the great romantic episodes were done when DY was on the show. The idea that DS and EM were more romantic baffles me. If they were, where were the "Charlie Harper, Winner", "If They Had Never Met", "A is for Aardvark" episodes under DS rein? they don't exist.

Perhaps in "real life" DS and EM had a closer relationship, but on film where it counts the chemistry was more real and more romantic with DY and EM.

08-26-2003, 05:26 AM	#1
cjmalagodi Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Aug 23, 2003 Posts: 46	Should they end Bewitched after Dick York left the series? Bewitched is one of my favorite sitcoms, and I strongly feel they should have ended the series after Season 5, when Dick York who played Darrin left the show due to health problems. Dick Sargent was a fair replacement of York, but it wasn't the same. What do you think? CJ Malagodi

08-26-2003, 03:21 PM	#2
Just Popped In Lucy & Ricky forever Frequent Poster Join Date: Nov 16, 2002 Location: Monterey Peninsula, California Posts: 304	I agree; the show should have ended after Dick York left.
	__________________ Sanity is simply the ability of the mind to adjust to reality. If we can't adjust, we either hide from reality, or we put ourselves above life, where we're super-beings who don't have to follow the rules. ~Sidney Sheldon ("The Naked Face")

08-26-2003, 04:52 PM	#3
rml83 we <3 you, john. Occasional Poster Join Date: Jul 05, 2003 Location: New York Posts: 41	I have mixed feelings about that whole thing, actually. Realistically, Dick York was my FAVORITE part about the whole show. I mean, I just adore him. Yet, I still enjoy the last three seasons a lot, even parts of the eighth season. So, if my favorite thing about the first five seasons was Dick York himself, then with him gone, I shouldn't enjoy the show that much, should I? But I do. It was just SUCH a different show after he left that I have trouble comparing the two. And there were some great episodes to come out of those last three seasons, some great work by the rest of the cast (including Sargent), so I just can't imagine NOT having those last three seasons. The first five were superior, sure, but I've come to realize that the last three were still a part of one the best sitcoms on television, ever. So no, I don't think they should have ended the series after DY left.
	__________________ Randie "in paris, people eat better. and in paris, people make love -- well, perhaps not better, but certainly more often."-- love in the afternoon

08-26-2003, 05:29 PM	#4
Just Popped In Lucy & Ricky forever Frequent Poster Join Date: Nov 16, 2002 Location: Monterey Peninsula, California Posts: 304	Dick Sargent was a decent actor, though in my heart Dick York was the "true" Darren. Still, I think that Sargent should have been given a different role; heck, I would say that he even would have made a great warlock. Well then, maybe rather than ending the show, I think that Dick York could have been given bitsy parts here and there and still should have kept his role as Darren. He was already surviving anyhow, and maybe they could have kept him and just not worked him so hard. Did they REALLY have to dismiss him? (edited for misspelling "Sargent")
	Last edited by Just Popped In; 08-26-2003 at 07:47 PM.

08-26-2003, 05:35 PM	#5
Mr. Television 23 Years at Sitcoms Online Forum Icon Join Date: Jun 06, 2003 Location: Somewhere you're Not Posts: 62,132	Dick York was the best Darren. I don't even watch the last 3 seasons. Maybe as Just Popped In said if Dick Sargent had played a different role it might have been better.
	__________________ Sonny

08-26-2003, 07:09 PM	#6
Novarro Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jun 02, 2002 Location: Melbourne Australia Posts: 191	Certainly I feel the show lost alot of its spark with the beginning of the sixth season. Dick York was irreplacable as Darrin and the show never really recovered from such a massive change as this. Dick Sargent while a good actor I feel had a real up hill battle coming into such a difficult situation after Dick York had done such wonderful work for 5 years. Also most sit coms anyway begin to run down abit by tradition once they get past their 5th year and the shows lack of that real fresh quality I think is accountable to that .

08-26-2003, 07:13 PM	#7
hawaii five-o Book 'Em, Dano Senior Member Join Date: Jun 27, 2003 Location: At home, eating cereal straight out of the box Posts: 1,406	It wasn't the same without Dick York. However, at the time, "Bewitched" was ABC's most popular sitcom and they probably didn't want to let it go without a fight.

08-26-2003, 07:20 PM	#8
Novarro Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jun 02, 2002 Location: Melbourne Australia Posts: 191	Yes so true it was still rating well and the idea of a sixth season I'm sure was always in their plans anyway. There were a number of good episodes in seasons 6 and 7 but I feel even those episodes would have been even better with Dick York in them but of course that wasn't possible so we'll never really know.

08-27-2003, 02:25 AM	#9
LucyFan Still Loving Lucy! Forum Fanatic Join Date: Sep 23, 2001 Location: In the Wonderful World of Lucy! Posts: 8,198	Dick Sargeant, in my eyes, was the best Darrin. His role as Darrin wasn't as gruff and he seemed more passionate than the "past" Darrin. Also, it was obvious that there was greater chemistry between Sargeant and Montgomery. I read somewhere that Elizabeth enjoyed working with Dick Sargeant more than Dick York. Also, Dick Sargeant was originally chosen to play to the role of Darrin. I think it was a great choice of having Bewitched continue even without Dick York.

08-27-2003, 09:44 AM	#10
Arfies Memberific Frequent Poster Join Date: Dec 29, 2001 Location: There beneath the blue suburban skies, in summer, meanwhile back.... Posts: 481	I liked Dick York, the "first Darrin", better. I think he was funny, passionate, romantic, good with kids and the rest of the cast, boyish, and hilariously manic all at the same time. Since there are a few gems in the Dick Sargent years, with Tabitha, Salem, and all, I think it should have continued- but with at least an introduction explaining why there was a "new Daddy".

08-27-2003, 01:53 PM	#11
Lizzie McGuire John Cena and Edge are fine Forum Regular Join Date: May 11, 2003 Location: Chicago Posts: 731	I think the new Darrin is okay well i have get use to the new one oh well.
	__________________ Edge take Bubbles away I Hilary Duff Bubbles Edge Love Lita John Cena and Edge Rules

08-28-2003, 12:22 AM	#12
Raven-Symone john cena and edge rules Senior Member Join Date: May 08, 2003 Location: Chicago IL Posts: 2,390	now I do like Dick York but I started to like Dick Sargent I think he is ok, I got to get used to him but I think it is a nice show with the new Darrin there.
	__________________ <------ Bubbles John Cena Rules, and he is 3x WWE. Champion Edge get well soon, I miss you so much John Cena and Edge rules.

08-28-2003, 09:38 PM	#13
RichFonz Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jun 21, 2002 Location: Campbell, California Posts: 337	It's really interesting when you compare the two Darrins. I don't know why, but Sargent was a bit better than York. That's just my opinion. Probably because I saw his episodes first. Anyway, when you look at York and Sargent, they could be identical twins. Many viewers don't like the final three seasons, but I don't mind. When my father saw DS at first, he HATED him. Now, he can get used to him. I can't wait to see the famous 'Pighead' episode when TV Land picks it up.

08-28-2003, 11:52 PM	#14
Josh9125 Member Senior Member Join Date: Mar 19, 2001 Location: Sunset Beach, NC Posts: 2,912	No it shouldn't have ended.

08-29-2003, 01:49 PM	#15
CHUCK T Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Jun 15, 2002 Posts: 84	Dick York was irreplaceable on BW. DS was a good actor and did his best but I just don't think the show was as stimulating. On Screen, DY and EM had magic--a great chemistry. All the great romantic episodes were done when DY was on the show. The idea that DS and EM were more romantic baffles me. If they were, where were the "Charlie Harper, Winner", "If They Had Never Met", "A is for Aardvark" episodes under DS rein? they don't exist. Perhaps in "real life" DS and EM had a closer relationship, but on film where it counts the chemistry was more real and more romantic with DY and EM.