Articles and Blurbs on the "Darrin Switch"

[Arfies]

These were originally posted on the Harpies board, but I've copied them here for posterity:

Posted by Arfies on August 29, 2010, 1:41 pm

I guess it was known in Hollywood about York's bad back, as per this article:

Hollywood Closeup
by Marilyn Beck
Waterloo Daily Courier, Waterloo, Iowa
May 29, 1968

BOB CRANE, the "Hogan's Heroes" lead, says he can't get out of the rut of being master of ceremonies and a TV lead, wants to be considered a serious movie actor. Last week a network offered him $5,000 a week to o a Johnny Carson-type show during his hiatus from the series. "I turned the offer down, and I'll keep turning them down until someone finally believes that I want to act for a living."

Bob admits the transition won't be an easy one. He was hired to star with Helen Hayes in "Arsenic and Old Lace," but only as a last-minute replacement when Dick York's bad back wouldn't allow him to fulfill the commitment.

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That's a shame- I would've loved to see York in that.


All these disprove completely the "AND NO ONE NOTICED!" outburst from the "Bewitched" movie. People noticed (and missed) York's departure before the Sargent episodes even aired. Even if it wasn't Sargent replacing York, any actor would've had some pretty high expectations to meet.

It's also interesting how wrong many of the articles are on why he left.

SHOWTIME
by William E. Sarmento
The Lowell Sun, Monday, February 3, 1969

After five years as Samantha's bewildered husband, Darryl (sic), Dick York is leaving the series at the end of this season. Dick Sargent will take over the role next fall. Should be interesting to see if the public will show any disaffection with "Bewitched" after five years of getting to know Elizabeth Montgomery and Dick York. And let me add that York is a great asset to that show. He has been the perfect foil for his ghostly relations.

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Television Mailbag
CitiSun
Feb. 16, 1969

What's this I hear about Dick York leaving "Bewitched"? I think he's wonderful and I would miss him if we were to leave. Please fill us in on the truth. - Mrs. B.E., Siler City, North Carolina.

A. - Dick York has elected to leave the successful series after five years of playing Darrin Stephens, harassed husband of Samantha, he suburban witch-wife. The producers wanted him to stay but York says he's ready to try other things. Dick Sargeant (sic), who was seen as one of "Broadside" and as Tammy Grimes' twin brother in her short-lived TV series, is going to replace Dick York in "Bewitched." The change won't take place until next season.

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Squawk Box
San Antonio Express and News
May 11, 1969

DICK'S NOT BEWITCHED ANYMORE- Why is Dick York being replaced on Bewitched? He was so perfect with facial expressions. - M.A., Miami, Fla.

York decided to leave the show - he felt he wasn't being used to his best advantage. His replacement is Dick Sargent.

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It seems like the vast majority of blurbs concerning York's departure were of the "he elected not to renew his five-year contract" or "he has decided to leave for greener pastures" variety, but this is the first one that actually mentioned the back problems, but only in speculation... which turned out be the real reason after all:

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Hollywood Show Beat
by Dick Kleiner
The Altoona Mirror, Altoona, PA
Wednesday, Feb. 12, 1969

HOLLYWOOD (NEA) Twentieth-Century Fox, which made "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn," is going to use the property again- this time as a television special . . . Agness (sic) Moorehead is flying back and forth between here and New York, playing the mother on "Bewitched." She must like the part pretty well because Aggie's fear of flying is legendary.

Speaking of "Bewitched," Dick York may have to leave that series because of back troubles . . .

[Arfies]

Well, this was wrong (browsing old newspaper articles) :

Winnipeg Free Press, September 14-21, 1968

Q - Is Samantha going to get a new husband on Bewitched? My friend says she read this in a magazine. I think Samantha's husband is perfect and I hope she doesn't change him.

- Mrs. E. M.

A - Your friend has been misinformed. There will be no major cast changes on the successful TV comedy series, Bewitched. Dick York will continue playing Elizabeth Montgomery's harassed husband.
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Posted by Joe on August 27, 2010, 7:10 pm, in reply to "Re: Well, this was wrong"


The earliest reference to DS taking over that I've found was in the LA Times, January 31, 1969. It was just a short blurb that he was replacing DY.

When that mystery person posted the belongings of DY's storage unit from California on eBay a while back, there was a script for "Samantha's Surprise" Part 1, with a date of January 1969 (the picture is hard to read, it might be January 6). The characters and the dialogue are the same ones that were used on "Daddy Comes for a Visit" and "Darrin the Warlock" in season six. So I think DY must have collapsed sometime around the new year, if he was in possession of a script. If this is correct, then I think he missed "Mrs. Stephens, Where Are You?", came back and then collapsed, and then the rest of the Darrin-less episodes were filmed after he left.

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Posted by Arfies on August 29, 2010, 2:05 pm

Here are two short blurbs, slightly earlier, from the same page on Tuesday, Jan. 28, 1969- so really, it wasn't much time at all.


(The Times-Reporter, Dover, Ohio)

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The producers of ABC's "Bewitched," which was renewed for the 1969-70 season several weeks ago, are now busily seeking a replacement for Dick York who costarred as the witch's husband in the series during the past five seasons.

York informed Screen Gems, the producer, on Friday that he would not renew his contract which expires at the end of this season.
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TV Answer Man

(Q) Is Dick York of the "Bewitched" program married or does he have enough trouble keeping up with Elizabeth Montgomery's antics on the show? - P.A., Rockford.

(A) - Most actors would love to be in Dick's position of keeping up with Samantha's tricks. He is indeed married to his teen sweetheart, the former Joan Alt, and they have 5 children: Kimberly, 15; Aanda (sic), 14; Stacie, 12; Christopher, 8 and Matthew, 7.
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Posted by Arfies on August 29, 2010, 2:09 pm
And the next day....

Independent
Long Beach, CA
Wednesday, January 29, 1969

DICK SARGENT has been picked to costar with Elizabeth Montgomery in "Bewitched" for the 1969-70 season, replacing Dick York. York is winding up his five year contract and has asked out.

Sargent's previous TV series include "Broadside" and "The Tammy Grimes Show."