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William Asher

William Asher

Director, producer and writer · Died July 16, 2012, aged 90 · New York City, New York, USA

William Milton Asher (August 8, 1921 – July 16, 2012) was an American television and film producer, film director, and screenwriter. He was one of the most prolific early television directors, producing or directing over two dozen series. With television in its infancy, he introduced the sitcom Our Miss Brooks, which was adapted from a radio show. He began directing I Love Lucy by 1952. As a result of his early success, Asher was considered an "early wunderkind of TV-land," and was hyperbolically credited in one magazine article with "inventing" the sitcom. In 1964, he began to direct episodes of Bewitched, which starred his wife Elizabeth Montgomery. He produced the series from the fourth season. He was nominated for an Emmy Award four times, winning once for directing Bewitched in 1966. He was also nominated for the DGA Award in 1951 for I Love Lucy. In 1951, he married actress Danny Sue Nolan, with whom he had two children; the couple divorced in 1961. He then married actress Elizabeth Montgomery in 1963, just before Bewitched began its run. They had three children and divorced in 1973. His third marriage was to actress Joyce Bulifant and it lasted from 1976 to 1993. He adopted her son, actor and director John Mallory Asher. This marriage also ended in divorce. In 1998, he married Meredith Coffin Asher, his fourth and final wife. Description above from the Wikipedia article  William Asher, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
August 8, 1921
Died
July 16, 2012 (aged 90)
From
New York City, New York, USA
Works as
Director, producer and writer
Titles
25 on MovieCove · 52 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 38 days to Oct 27Down 23% in 30 days

What are William Asher's films like?

Across their 15 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Self.

Genres

Comedy9 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 26th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Action2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 36th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Action movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Bonds
45%
Self
17%
Morality
16%
Society
11%
Survival
5%
Ideas
4%
Power
2%
Romantic love6 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity4 titles, browse their movies with this themeDuty2 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity2 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds2 titles, browse their movies with this themeLoyalty3 titles, browse their movies with this themeComing of age2 titles, browse their movies with this themeAmbition2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 14 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Light: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their light movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 9 · Serious 2 · Dark 3

Stylized: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their stylized movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

A split, not a type: Grounded 8 · Stylized 6 · Heightened 0

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

A split, not a type: Gentle 6 · Charged 5 · Intense 3

Steady: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their steady movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 12 · Shifting 2 · Whiplash 0

Some laughs: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their some laughs movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

A split, not a type: Straight-faced 4 · Some laughs 4 · Funny 6

Slow burn: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their slow burn movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 10 · Even-paced 4 · Relentless 0

Casual: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their casual movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 8 · Engaged 6 · Full focus 0

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 12 · Open-ended 2 · Ambiguous 0

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Joyful
7
Tense
6
Warm
5
Thrilling
3
Absurd
3
Other
13

How their films linger

Feel-good9 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteWistful3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 1 with a twist

  • Happy10
  • Bittersweet3
  • Ambiguous1
  • Cyclical1

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch William Asher's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 19 of their 25 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (11).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for William Asher's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

52 credits, 25 with a MovieCove page; 1 appearance as themselves is hidden until asked for.

  • I Hate Kids(2019)

    Thanks

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • The Patty Duke Show: Still Rockin' in Brooklyn Heights(1999)

    Writer

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • Jungle Cubs(1996)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all shows

  • E! True Hollywood Story (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • A Bewitched Christmas (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    Director

  • Return to Green Acres(1990)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 22nd percentile of all films

  • Kay O'Brien (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    Show Creator

  • I Dream of Jeannie... Fifteen Years Later(1985)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • Movers & Shakers(1985)

    Director · Producer

    Midcredits score: 4th percentile of all films

  • Crazy like a Fox (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • Charley's Aunt (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    Director

  • American Playhouse (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • Butcher, Baker, Nightmare Maker(1981)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • Private Benjamin (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    Show 8 episodes · Director

  • Harper Valley (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    Show 5 episodes · Director

  • A Christmas for Boomer (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    Director

  • The Bad News Bears (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    Show 3 episodes · Director

  • Flatbush (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • Tabitha (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

  • Alice(1976)

    Show 27 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all shows

  • The Paul Lynde Show (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    Show 5 episodes · Director

  • Temperatures Rising (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    Show 47 episodes · Director · Creator · Producer

  • Marcus Welby, M.D.(1969)

    Show Director

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all shows

  • Jan & Dean: On the Run (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)

    Director · Producer

  • Fireball 500(1966)

    Director · Writer

    Midcredits score: 17th percentile of all films

  • Gidget(1965)

    Show 7 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all shows

  • How to Stuff a Wild Bikini(1965)

    Director · Writer

    Midcredits score: 13th percentile of all films

  • Beach Blanket Bingo(1965)

    Director · Writer

    Midcredits score: 34th percentile of all films

  • Bewitched(1964)

    Show 254 episodes · Director · Producer

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all shows

  • Bikini Beach(1964)

    Director · Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films

  • Muscle Beach Party(1964)

    Director · Story

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all films

  • Johnny Cool(1963)

    Director · Producer

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • The Patty Duke Show(1963)

    Show 8 episodes · Director · Creator

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all shows

  • Beach Party(1963)

    Director · Writer

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • Vacation Playhouse (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • Pippi Longstocking (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    Producer

  • The Twilight Zone(1959)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all shows

  • Fibber McGee & Molly (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

  • Shirley Temple's Storybook(1958)

    Show 41 episodes · Director · Producer

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all shows

  • The Thin Man (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

  • Sally (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    Show Creator

  • The Shadow on the Window(1957)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • The 27th Day(1957)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films

  • Mobs, Inc. (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

    Director

  • The Jane Wyman Show (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • The Danny Thomas Show (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    Show 3 episodes · Director

  • General Electric Theater (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • Four Star Playhouse(1952)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all shows

  • I Love Lucy(1951)

    Show 96 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all shows

  • Racket Squad (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • Leather Gloves (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1948)

    Director

  • Mr. Bevis (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Director

Career shape

A full career of 50 titles, 49 of them dated from 1948 to 2019.

Biggest box office

Movers & Shakers (1985)

$372K worldwide

Highest rated

Butcher, Baker, Nightmare Maker (1981)

Midcredits 57th

Most popular right now

Marcus Welby, M.D. (1969)

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting1 of 50: 1 only acting, 0 with another roleDirecting45 of 50: 33 only directing, 12 with another role · typical Midcredits score43rdWriting5 of 50: 0 only writing, 5 with another role · typical Midcredits score20thProducing7 of 50: 1 only producing, 6 with another roleOther crew5 of 50: 3 only other crew, 2 with another role

50 titles, 12 with more than one role — directing and producing overlap on 6 of them.

By decade

1940s1 · crew1950s14 · crew1960s13 · crew1970s7 · crew1980s9 · crew1990s4 · 1 acting · 3 crew2010s1 · crew

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored.

How do William Asher's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 34th percentile, the median of all 15; across their 14 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 38th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

38thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 14

Approval · how many liked their films

31stpercentile
Typical film, the median of 14

Reach · how many have seen their films

57thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 14

Midcredits score across 25 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up3
  • 50th to 74th5
  • 25th to 49th11
  • Below 25th6

Shape of the crowd

10 of their 25 titles are Mixed.

  • Universally Loved1
  • Universally Panned1
  • Cult Classic3
  • Crowd Pleaser7
  • Broadly Agreed3
  • Mixed10

Most divisive · director

Return to Green Acres (1990)

88th percentile spread · 37% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · director

The Twilight Zone (1959)

Midcredits 97th · 89% liked

Reviewers score the atmosphere 58/100 and the pacing 45/100 in their films, across 14 reviewed titles. The element that speaks to their work as a director.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Who does William Asher work with?

People who share at least 2 of William Asher's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Annette Funicello shares the most, 6.

Writers

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers