William Asher, prolific TV director-producer was 90

William Asher directed 100 episodes of "I Love Lucy," brought the Gidget character to television, directed the popular series of 1960s beach movies starring Frankie Avalon and Annette Funicello, and produced the "Bewitched" TV series that starred his then-wife, Elizabeth Montgomery. He also directed the "Mr. Bevis" episode, starring Orson Bean, in the first season of "Twilight Zone" in 1960. Other series where he directed episodes include
"The Thin Man," "The Patty Duke Show," "Marcus Welby, M.D.," "Alice" and "The Dukes of Hazzard."

Asher died Monday died Monday at a facility in Palm Desert of complications from Alzheimer’s disease. From the Hollywood Reporter story:

Asher's association with Lucy stars Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz began when he directed the pilot of Eve Arden's Our Miss Brooks for their Desilu Studios.

That job led to his helming at least 100 episodes of Lucy, starting in the 1951-57 series' second season. Among the episodes he helmed was the classic “Job Switching,” in which which Lucy and Ethel (Vivian Vance) are seen working in a candy factory -- and unable to keep up with the chocolates being sent down the conveyor belt that they are supposed to be wrapping....

Asher got his start working in the mailroom at Universal Studios while writing short fiction. His first job in TV was adapting those stories for an anthology series called Invitation Playhouse, which he also directed.

Asher's IMDb credits.