The Real Reason There Were Two Darrins On Bewitched

Grunge ^ | 6/15/21 | Karen Corday

[DallasBiff]

It's a question that continues to puzzle people 50 years after it happened: why did the TV show Bewitched suddenly and seemingly inexplicably replace the actor who played Darrin in the middle of its run?

[DallasBiff]

I know not relevant, but Bewitched had some great writing.

It's saturday have fun and not worry about polls.

Oh and Dick York was the better Darrin.

Flame away.

[joshua c]

back injury

[Right_Wing_Madman]

Flame away.

I hated Bewitched. I didn't like either Darrin, Samantha, or the mother-in-law. And the daughter was a brat.

[OttawaFreeper]

I know about Dick York and the terrible problems he had with his back. You wonder if modern surgery and rehab would have worked miracles for him and likely saved his acting career.

[mairdie]

Own the whole series on DVD. Husband adores it and I enjoy it. We periodically go through the whole series. Also, I Dream of Jeanne.

[Steely Tom]

I got a boxed set of all episodes of Bewitched when my children were little. They watched them all. We never had broadcast TV when they were growing up. They loved Bewitched, and often talk about it today. It was a lovely sitcom, and the relationship between Darrin and Larry Tate was (I believe) written by someone who knew the ad business.

Someone here on FR told me it was based on a movie called Good Neighbor Sam, which starred Jack Lemmon.

Oh, and my kids loved Dick York, and disliked Dick Sargent.

[CatOwner]

I think it has been written about before, but the main actors did not live long in real life. Dick York died at age 63. Dick Sargent at age 64. Elizabeth Montgomery at age 62.

[cotton1706]

Both were Dicks!

[Windcatcher]

I hear you. I CAN’T WAIT until this election is over. Every Saturday night I watch Svengoolie on MeTV and Kamala has been HAMMERING the channel with ads for ages. I can’t take it anymore. I WANT THIS ELECTION OVER!

[wjcsux]

Also, I Dream of Jeanne.”
I loved I Dream of Jeanie. The lucky guy got to hang out with Barbera Eden and drive Pontiac GTOs!

[SomeCallMeTim]

As as I kid, I loved Samantha... a lot. Frequently.

[Leaning Right]

I always assumed Endora killed the first Darin.

[Jane Long]

That’s Derwood, to her! ;^)

[BradyLS]

Fun show. Elizabeth Montgomery certainly had that grin and look that sold viewers on her character.

I know everyone loves Dick York’s Darren. But he played him a little too manic for my tastes.

[OttawaFreeper]

Dick York, in addition to his back problems, was a very heavy smoker and died from emphysema. Believe prostate cancer killed Dick Sargent and Elizabeth Montgomery passed away from colon cancer.

[Beowulf9]

York was a good compliment to Montgomery. He was a strong masculine male, even his coloring went well with hers. Sargent I really think did his best but York was a hard act to follow. Speaking of I dream of Jeannie there is a photo of Larry Hagman in character as Tony with Barbara Eden dressed as Jeannie and he is looking at the camera like, ‘I’m not supposed to be interested in Jeannie, I’m more interested in my career…are you kidding!’, It’s priceless 😆

[Leaning Right]

I didn’t like any of the main characters either. But Dr. Bombay and Uncle Arthur were both quite good.

[mikey_hates_everything]

Bewitched started a year before I Dream of Jeannie. In Bewitched, Darrin and Sam were always married but when Tony finally married Jeannie, it killed that show. The writing, Agnes Moorehead and the relationship between Darrin, Endora and the rest of Samantha’s family made a big difference.

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

I hated Bewitched. I didn't like either Darrin, Samantha, or the mother-in-law. And the daughter was a brat.

But how about the Father-in-Law? And the batty aunt?

[Dr. Sivana]

I hated Bewitched. I didn't like either Darrin, Samantha, or the mother-in-law. And the daughter was a brat.

Is that you, Mrs. Kravitz?