I Dream of Jeannie

I Dream of Jeannie (1965) TV series is something of every man's dreams; to have their cake and eat it too. Which is a beautiful knockout blonde female like Jeannie and anything else desired. This is really a timeless masterpiece. The problem with Nelson is he seemed too wrapped up in his astronaut duties/career that he seem to take for granted the appealing female Genie. I bet a lot of guys watching the show would had no problem or hesitation in wanting Jeannie for themselves. When it came to Jeannie, Nelson made me feel like I wish I could go up to him and POW right in the arm for being so blind to her. It's funny but I didn't realize until now, after all these years, that the name Jeannie matches what she was... which is a Genie. Barbara Eden will always be the Genie of our dreams!

Every time I read the threads about the comparison between these shows, I must question the age of the writer. While both shows were based upon very beautiful magical ladies, they had very different reasons to exist. I grew up watching both of these shows in the 60's, and liked each of them very differently. Bewitched was created after the success of the movie "Bell, Book, and Candle" (staring Jimmy Stewart and Kim Novak). In the early sixties, the women's movement was strong and changed the shape of society. June Cleaver (Leave it to Beaver) cleaning the house in "pearls and high heels" was to be challenged. Bewitched offered a love story between a husband and wife, where the wife had real power (in this case Samantha's magic). This presented a new tension to what viewers were used to (although it always ended with a love note). With Jeannie, we have a great deal of sexual tension created! What man would not wish for a beautiful magical servant, albeit deviant at times. Kinda sexy in the sixties when sexual openness was being discussed for the first time (although not directly in the media). Bewitched, I would argue, was marketed towards both sexes (men wanting a Samantha, and women wanting to be her), and IDOJ being more of a men's fantasy series where many women watched just to see Jeannie get even. Both good shows in my book!

In the world of the 50s and 60s silly sitcoms, this is an except, a colorful and exciting show. Barbara Eden is very good at her role, Larry Hagman is better actor here than in "Dallas" or another serieses. The best is Bill Daily's Maj. Healey, but I like the late Hayden Rorke's suspicious Dr. Bellows too. When I saw the series' episodes first time I got a laughing-stock. It is fantastic! The first and second seasons are perfect, the third and fourth are good, but the fifth is a silly, American family sitcom. After Jeannie marries her master, the series goes wrong. But except for those 20 episodes, the whole series is my favorite sitcom of all times!

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.

The 1960s saw some very good to classic shows. One doesn't have to have been born then or before to feel that way, speaking as someone born in the 1990s but has always been fascinated by older shows. 'I Dream of Jeannie' is one such show, has much enjoyment still and perhaps deserves more credit.

'I Dream of Jeannie', with the unique (then and even now) concept of the pairing of a genie and an astronaut, is a dream to watch when at its best and is still watchable when it isn't quite. Like 'Bewitched', a show that is often compared with 'I Dream of Jeannie' (put them about equal myself), the early seasons fare better than the later ones, where the stories do start to lack freshness and the sexual tension is stronger in the earlier seasons.

Also, 'I Dream of Jeannie' can have some sloppy continuity errors and can fall into silliness, like going back in time in Persia.

On the other hand, 'I Dream of Jeannie' is particularly noteworthy for the very likable and memorable assortment of characters, the regulars are not easy to forget and the supporting/secondary cast are really good fun, and a great cast.

Barbara Eden is beautiful, charming and sensual, you would be hard pressed to find genies portrayed in this way. Larry Hagman's mannerisms are a true joy and Hagman has wonderful comic timing and endearment that is deserving of more credit. His chemistry with Eden is one of a kind, one of television's finest ever chemistries and a huge part of the show's appeal.

There has probably never been a funnier doctor in television than the hilariously prissy one portrayed by Hayden Rorke. Bill Daily's Healey doesn't develop as much, or as much as could, but Daily clearly has fun with the character and makes it his own.

Production values were clearly made with love and affection, with beautiful use of both black and white and colour, and the slick photography complements them well. For the 60s, the show does still look pretty good. Like with 'Bewitched', the effects are not always special (particularly early on) and there could have been more of them but most of the time they are hardly slapdash and have real charm. The bottle is famous for good reason.

Music is dynamic and groovy, with all the theme music tunes being noteworthy. The animated opening sequence is both beautiful and lively and is utilised cleverly. The expository narration of the first few episodes, up to episode 8, delivered by Paul Frees was not used as much and not as striking as the animated sequence, but nonetheless was interesting and made its mark.

Writing is funny, snappy, charming and thoughtful, while the stories have magic, sexual tension, charm and immense likability on the most part, though the earlier seasons have more freshness.

Overall, a dream to watch. 8/10 Bethany Cox