Adamantium

If you were alive back then and part of the creative team, able to make the decisions about cast changes what would you do?

First, the sickness and death of Alice Pearce, aka Gladys Kravitz.
Second, Irene Vernon aka Louise Tate leaving the show.
Third, the passing of Marion Lorne aka Aunt Clara.
Fourth, and most importantly, the departure of Dick York aka Darrin Stephens.

Here's what I probably would have done:

The passing of Alice Pearce was very sad and not an easy decision to make in replacing her. But I don't like the idea of replacing an actor with another actor, playing the same character. Not when the original player is so unique and funny. So I would have had Abner (since the producers wanted him to stay) become a widow and his sister (maybe even played by the second Gladys) would move in with him and pretty much fill the snooping duties of the late Gladys Kravitz. I think they did this idea for a couple episodes, having Gladys "away for a while." But mine would be permanent. If this arrangement didn't work out, then I would just write Abner and his sister out of the show entirely. Bring in another couple.

As for Louise Tate, I think (and this is rare that I think this) they did the right thing. Her role was small enough, yet important enough to be there. Especially since she became a mother in the first season. So simply switching actresses was the right way to go.

As for Aunt Clara, well even though the actress passed away, her character was an immortal. So she couldn't just die. I wouldn't recast the role either. Just no more Aunt Clara, though Samantha would mention her from time to time.

As for Darrin - and here's the big one - I'd have A witch who hated Darrin, cast a spell on him. He gets sent to another world, somewhere that Samantha and her family couldn't go to. Because she was pregnant in season five (which I would have avoided that storyline if I could) Endora, Ezmeralda and even Uncle Arthur would move in with Samantha to help her raise Tabatha and her new son, Darrin, Jr. (Named after his father, who's pretty much considered dead). I'd also have Dick Sargent enter the show as Darrin's brother (whether he had one in the show or not, lol). He'd move into the Stephen's house, too, in order to help raise his niece and nephew. I'm not sure, maybe he'd move in or maybe he'd just visit a lot. In memory of Darrin, Samantha tries to raise her children without witchcraft - remember, that's what gave the show conflict. Assuming the show ended when it really did, I would have gotten Dick York to come back for the final episode, where Darrin returns from the other world, and has a tearful and heartwarming reunion with Samantha, Tabitha and the rest of the family.

Even though Darrin would be gone, I'd find ways to keep Larry and Louise Tate in the show. Maybe they'd move into the neighborhood and visit Samantha often. Though Larry wouldn't be the same with Darrin.

Okay, what would you do?

comedyfreak

If you were alive back then and part of the creative team, able to make the decisions about cast changes what would you do?

First, the sickness and death of Alice Pearce, aka Gladys Kravitz.
Second, Irene Vernon aka Louise Tate leaving the show.
Third, the passing of Marion Lorne aka Aunt Clara.
Fourth, and most importantly, the departure of Dick York aka Darrin Stephens.

I would have kept her replacement the same, no changes there. As for Irene Vernon, I would have first wanted to find out why and resolve the conflict with Danny Arnold. The reason for Irene's departure was because she was close to Danny Arnold, from what I understood Ms. Montgomery wanted Irene to leave the show. If I couldn't resolve the conflict I would keep the change the same. I wouldn't change how they handled Aunt Clara. I would have tried to get someone who resembled Dick York, Sam did need a husband since that was the premiss of the show. One thing I would change later is focus more on Tabitha and Adam during the 8th season, have his powers come and go since Darrin doesn't want witchcraft used. I'm probably the only one who actually likes seasons 6-8.

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catlover79

To me, the best recast was Kasey Rogers as Louise Tate. I liked Irene Vernon too, and felt this was a very smooth transition.

I'm glad that Aunt Clara was not recast. NO ONE could replace Marion Lorne in that role. No way. The show never was the same without the special bond and love Clara had with her niece Samantha.

I would also say the same thing about the infamous Darrin switch. I think the show should've ended after 5 seasons. Scripts and plots were already being recycled and this was BEFORE Dick York left the show. I just did not care for the DS era. Nothing against the actor, but the show was veering away from the romantic comedy into time travel, pratfalls, etc. It just wasn't fun or fresh to me anymore.

Just my 2 cents...

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Madame X

I like your idea to replace Alice Pearce with a "relative" to live with Abner. Sandra Gould was ok and could have been Abner's sister or something.

The Louise Tate switch was a good one as it was.

Aunt Clara couldn't be replaced. Other witches got more story lines to fill her void and that's all they could do with that.

Forget even trying another Darrin (sorry DS, I like you), and end it there.

Adamantium

I was thinking about my version for getting rid of Darrin and I don't think it would last three seasons. So I'm changing it to last only one or maybe two seasons without Darrin, giving the show seven seasons total. And Endora and the gang wouldn't live with Samantha, but they would drop by more often.

I understand that the premise of the show was the married couple and the mortal husband trying to keep the witch from using her powers. The show would simply change it's premise. Out of respect for Darrin, and thinking he may one day return (which he would) Samantha tries to not use her powers. And like I say, Dick Sargent would come in and play Darrin's brother, so there would be another long-suffering mortal in Samantha's life. But I don't think anyone would want to see her in love with anyone other than Darrin.

It's weird, I guess, that I'd rather have no Darrin than another Darrin. I would rather they get rid of Darrin and introduce a new character (though I doubt Samantha and Darrin would ever get divorced, they loved each other too much) because in my mind it's disrepectful to Dick York to bring in someone else to play the role he made famous and gave his all to. I feel the same way about Gladys. It was worse, because she died in real life. Again, it's not that they replaced her, but because it's the SAME character is what bugs me.

In my version, Darrin comes back for the finale. I really only planned the last scene having him return. I don't know how seriously ill he was. But if it was possible to shoot his reunion with Sam before he officially left the show, we wouldn't have to bother calling him up and having him return to shoot the finale. There wouldn't be any physical bits to it.

charlenez

Alice Pearce Mrs. Kravitz 1 died of ovarian cancer. They shot episodes out of order to accommodate the fact that she was dying.( There was an episode of the show were Elizabeth Montgomery was still pregnant, yet Samantha already just gave birth to Tabatha) Apparently Alice Ghostly (who started off doing a guest shot as Naomi the maid) was offered the role of Mrs. Kravitz, but she turned it down because Alice Pearce was a friend of hers. (So Sandra "Sandy" Gould took over the role)

The first time I remember seeing Dick Sargent playing Darrin was in 1973 when I was nine (ok, so I am giving away my age) That was when my late uncle was getting married. Anyway, it was the episode where Endora puts a spell on Tabitha to make her a great skater. I notice there was something different about Darrin, put I couldn't put my finger on it. (They mentioned Adam, and I had no idea Tabitha had a brother, I had forgotten that.) Then we go forward into the future. I am twelve now and start to watch the old b&w episodes of Bewitched. I had no idea until then the first two seasons were shot in b&w. Then I go away to camp, and when I came back Dick Sargent was playing Darrin. Then I went to California to see family and every day watch season 2 of Bewitched. When I came home they were playing season 1. Then in December of that year, I saw the "Samantha's Secret Spell" episode (and don't laugh) but that made me develop the biggest crush on Darrin played by Dick Sargent. I then could not wait for him to play the role. Then in 1978 I start to watch "Mork and Mindy". Then on July 19, 1979 I watch the "Mork Runs Down" episode of "Mork and Mindy", and forget Dick Sargent. Robin Williams becomes my idol. ( I am not in love with any of these actors)

I still love Bewitched, and I know the Mork and Mindy board is somewhere else.

warp9p65

First, they should not have recast the role of Gladys Kravitz. Alice and Sandra were too dissimilar in appearance and in the way they each played the character differently. The transition was not believable. Sandra should have been cast as a completely new character, a new busy-body next door neighbor or something. Abner and Gladys should have been written out as having moved away. Abner's only function anyway was just to tell Gladys to take her medicine when he thought she was hallucinating.

The change of actresses for the Louise Tate character was hardly noticeable at all. It was pulled off without a hitch. Many people probably didn't even notice there had been a change until all the reruns started years later.

Poor Aunt Clara. No other actress would have been acceptable for the role. By the time Marion Lorne passed away, the character of Aunt Clara had become almost a regular on the show. She appeared very frequently and was the center of so many episodes and plot lines. Clara should have at least been mentioned once or twice per season thereafter in dialogue just to be remembered.. For example Endora could have mentioned having spent the weekend with Clara and Bertha in Scotland or something like that. Some people think that the character of Esmeralda was created as a direct replacement for Aunt Clara. I don't think it was. The Esmeralda character did not appear until the 6th season and was not used all that much. I believe she only appeared in 15 episodes spanned out over seasons 6, 7, and 8. Aunt Clara appeared much more often, particularly in seasons 3 and 4.

The role of Darrin, of course, had to be filled or that would have been the end of the show. I personally preferred York's portrayal of Darrin over that of Sargent's, but that's just a matter of preference. Each played the role differently, and I think the directors/producers were correct to modify the character somewhat with the change in actors. Sargent attempting to duplicate York's facial expressions, mannerisms, and demeanor would not have worked.

Nobody mentioned two actors playing the role of Frank Stephens. That was such a minor character I don't think it mattered.

tcr1701

They could have introduced a new neighbor since Alice Pearce was so special, but then they would have lost George Tobias as Abner and he was too good to lose as well. Initially Sandra Gould did play up the frightened Gladys a bit more than the rather harsh one she morphed into.

According to Irene Vernon she was fired by the Ashers so she would have stayed most likely through the entire run of the show. David White said he thought she was a more (age) appropriate Louise. But I found Kasey more charming and lively.

It is interesting that with Bill Asher's penchant for just hiring a new actor that he never tried to replace Marion Lorne. Perhaps because of her Emmy win?

Elizabeth wanted to end the show at season 5 when Dick York left - because of his departure or not isn't known. But the Ashers were offered a lucrative syndication deal if they stayed. And that's the main reason the show went on. That decision did make sense as it gave the Ashers a huge financial incentive (and security) to continue - could anyone turn that down?

The two Franks was just annoying. I figure the original Frank was Darrin #1's father and the second #2's.

Bill Asher seemed to view casts as interchangeable which is interesting. He replaced Larry Hagman in the (awful) I Dream of Jeannie reunion movie and it just didn't work.

Kasey

Mary Grace Canfield played Abner's sister in Season 2's "Follow That Witch" episodes and I thought she did a great job filling the shoes of Gladys. I wish she had stayed on as I liked her better than Sandra Gould. But Mary Grace went on to a semi-regular role on Green Acres. Too bad she couldn't do both.

Monliz

So you're implying that Liz may have wanted to leave the show because of York's departure.

You're contradicting yourself dude, because according to you Dick York said in his book that after the second season Liz grew tired of him.

Dick York was Darrin

I agree 100 percent about Gladys. That is the route I'd go.

As for Louise Tate, I honestly prefer the first Louise Tate to the second Louise Tate, and I think the recasting reveals a broader problem with the show. From what is out there, it appears she was forced to resign because of a friendship she had with a producer that the Ashers (Bill Asher, and Elizabeth Montgomery) didn't like. So, it appears that Asher and Montgomery were not above placing their own petty likes and dislikes ahead of the show. There are some who say the first Louise "retired" but evidently, according to her, she was basically fired. And they signed on an inferior replacement for her.

The third, Aunt Clara, to be honest, I'm not a fan of her episodes. The idea that they would tolerate her epic bumbling, especially when they had massive effects, was not believable to me. So, I would have no problem eliminating the character altogether, or at a minimum, Samantha gently demanding that she not use magic at all. It's kind of like having an elderly person in the family who isn't safe behind the wheel any longer. To be believable, Samantha would have to intervene, and stop Aunt Clara from using magic any longer. For her good, and for everyone else's good. But that didn't happen.

As for Darrin, I thought the recasting was a catastrophic event for the show. But it was something that Elizabeth Montgomery welcomed. She wanted York to leave the show, because she felt threatened by how much of the show's success depended on York. How many times have we seen the star of the show have the show stolen right from under their noses, by a supposedly supporting character, who becomes hugely popular, and gets all the laughs?

The best example of this I can think of was Andy Griffith and Don Knotts. Where Andy Griffith played the straight man, and Don Knotts got all the laughs and accolades. But in Griffith's case, he rolled with it, and understood it, and understood that the success of his show depended on Barney Fife being the funny one. And when Knotts left, Griffith knew it was a hit to the show. And while he tried to replace Knotts, he knew that the heart of the show had left. And he didn't really want to replace Knotts, he was forced to replace Knotts. And his show suffered, and ultimately died because of it.

Elizabeth Montgomery, on the other hand, did not deal with it that way. She felt threatened by Yorks importance to the show. And wanted to get rid of York, so she could be the center of the comedy. She didn't want to be co-stars with York, she wanted to be the star, and everyone else in clearly, supporting roles. So, she wanted the change, and denied the effects of York leaving, at least in public, to her dying day. And while the Andy Griffith example is not a perfect example, because Andy Griffith had no problem with Knotts popularity, I still think it's a good example. And because of her need to be the center of the show's comedy, her show suffered, and the ratings dropped, and her show went bye bye.

In retrospect, they should have done anything in their power to keep York. And work around his illness. If at all possible. They should have moved heaven and earth to keep him. Dick York was at least half the show's success. Maybe more. But they were okay with losing York, because of course Elizabeth Montgomery didn't want York anyway, and looked on his departure as a good thing for her. And to the end of her life, at least publicly, she refused to acknowledge how important York was to Bewitched. Which I thought was very small of her.

That's my take.