"I Dream of Jeannie" (1965) TV series 1965-1970

User Rating:

7.6/10   

Creator:

Sidney Sheldon

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5

Release Date:

18 September 1965 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Family | Fantasy

Plot:

A United States astronaut finds his life vastly complicated when he stumbles on to a bottle containing a female genie.

Plot Keywords:

Bottle | Genie | Astronaut | Desert Island | Florida

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Golden Globes. Another 2 wins & 1 nomination

US TV Schedule:

Mon. July 13	12:00 AM	WGNAMER	My Master, the Thief	#1.27
Mon. July 13	12:30 AM	WGNAMER	This Is Murder	#1.28

Cast

Barbara Eden	...	Jeannie / ... (139 episodes, 1965-1970)
Larry Hagman	...	Major Anthony Nelson / ... (139 episodes, 1965-1970)
Bill Daily	...	Major Roger Healey / ... (128 episodes, 1965-1970)
Hayden Rorke	...	Dr. Bellows / ... (127 episodes, 1965-1970)

Runtime:

Argentina:30 min | USA:30 min (139 episodes) | Chile:30 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White (1965-1966) | Color (1966-1970)

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

USA:TV-G | Australia:PG (some episodes) | Singapore:PG | Argentina:Atp | Australia:G

Filming Locations:

Columbia/Sunset Gower Studios - 1438 N. Gower Street, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

National Broadcasting Company (NBC)

Trivia:

In one episode, Tony and Roger are working training a chimp named "Sam". This was seen as a slap at the show "Bewitched" (1964), whose producers accused "Jeannie" of stealing some of their ideas.

Goofs:

Continuity: In one episode Jeannie's eyes are dilated after getting an exam. She is unable blink a jewelry shop out of Tony's office, but after saying she can't blink, she does.

Quotes:

Nelson: How are things going?
Jeannie: Terrible. I have to make dinner - I mean actually make it without magic. We are liable to die.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "The New Price Is Right: (2008-08-12)" (2008)

Soundtrack:

Theme song

An underrated gem

In my view, this is one of the top 10 or 15 sitcoms ever, and it certainly is one of my personal favorites. Its misfortune was to be produced during an era full of silly, mostly non-topical comedies (Beverly Hillbillies, Bewitched, My Favorite Martian and so on) and I think it's been underrated because of that.

But sit down sometime and take a good look. You'll see a spirited ensemble performance from the actors, with standout work from Larry Hagman and Hayden Rorke. I don't think Hagman ever got enough credit for the wonderfully manic and nervous mannerisms that made Major Nelson so damn funny and endearing. And Rorke's prissy and arrogant Dr. Bellows was a terrific comic foil -- cartoonish in the best sense of that word.

Bill Daily did a good comic turn as Major Healy, although I think his character never was allowed to develop as much as Hagman's and Rorke's. (His finest comic hour was to come, on "The Bob Newhart Show.") And of course, there was the gorgeous Barbara Eden as Jeannie, sprightly and innocent and an excellent counterpoint to Hagman's world-weary astronaut. The romantic chemistry between Jeannie and Tony was one of the strongest in TV history.

The show was fast-paced, rarely sappy, full of pleasant "NBC Peacock" colors, and a showcase for fine comic timing and physical slapstick.