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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Grant Jennings" data-source="post: 180106" data-attributes="member: 746">You can't discuss recasts without including "Bewitched". The first recast role was Glady Kravitz; Alice Pearce was battling cancer when the series began. When Pearce died Mary Alice Canfield was hired to play Harriet Pearce, Gladys' sister-in-law who served the same function on the series. I imagine some scripts may have even been written for Gladys and quickly revised for Harriet. Sandra Gould was later hired to play Gladys; it is reported that Elizabeth Montgomery preferred Pearce's interpretation of the role and wasn't pleased with Gould. To me, Pearce's Gladys was a lonely neurotic; I imagine the Kravitz children (I don't recall "Bewitched" ever mentioning them, though there was a daughter on "Tabitha") growing up and moving away. Abner had retired and Gladys hoped they would spend time together but Abner was preoccupied with every hobby known to man and neglected his wife. Gould's Gladys comes across as a know-it-all and neighborhood gossip. I much prefer Pearce's Gladys.Next, they recast Louise Tate. Irene Vernon was the first actress to play Louise but when producer Danny Arnold left the series (apparently due to "creative differences" - Arnold viewed the show primarily as a romantic comedy while William Asher and ABC wanted to play up the fantasy element of the series) Vernon was asked to leave. Irene Vernon and Danny Arnold were close friends and Asher and ABC thought it would be awkward for the friend of the fired producer to remain on the show. Kasey Rogers, who had been appearing on "Peyton Place" replaced Vernon and initially donned a brunette wig styled similarly to Vernon's hairstyle. Though I can't fault Rogers' performance, I prefer Vernon in the role. I also think Vernon was given better scripts.Robert F. Simon originated the role of Darrin's father, Frank, but was replaced by Roy Roberts before Simon returned to the role (I don't know why).Though not technically a recast, I think the character of Esmeralda is similar enough to Aunt Clara to mention here. When Marion Lorne passed away the producers chose not to recast but they soon introduced the character of Esmeralda (played by Alice Ghostley) whose spells, much like Aunt Clara's, often went awry leaving Samantha to put things right.Last but certainly not least is Darrin. William Asher considered casting Dick Sargent for the pilot but he was tied to another project at the time so Dick York was cast as Darrin instead. Dick York had suffered a serious back injury several years earlier while making a film, his injury eventually worsened which resulted in him missing work. Some episodes were written with Darrin only appearing in the first and last scenes; other episodes had to be rewritten with Darrin not appearing at all. York eventually decided to leave the series and Asher recruited Sargent as his replacement. When ABC broadcast reruns of "Bewitched" that Summer, they aired all of the episodes in which York did not appear last so the change in actors when the new season began would not be as jarring. Most people prefer Dick York's Darrin over Dick Sargent, I agree. The most noticeable difference between the two performances is how the actors portray anger: York plays it very broadly for comedic effect; Sargent's Darrin scowls and folds his arms across his chest - he appears genuinely angry - it isn't very funny. While Dick York and Elizabeth Montgomery apparently had a very cordial working relationship, Montgomery and Dick Sargent would become close, life-long friends. I mention this because I find it interesting that Montgomery clearly had better on-screen chemistry with her co-worker (York) than she had with her friend (Sargent).Now for some "Bewitched" trivia:Alice Pearce and Marion Lorne both received posthumous Emmy Awards for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series.Lorne and Kasey Rogers (under the name Laura Elliott) both appeared in Alfred Hitchcock's "Strangers On A Train".Lorne and Alice Ghostley share a brief scene in "The Graduate".Ghostley and Paul Lynde (Uncle Arthur) both appeared in guest roles on "Bewitched" as other characters prior to being cast in recurring roles.</blockquote>

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