...what is your wish, Master?
Gone, but not forgotten, are those afternoons spent watching Jeannie skip around in a bust hugging diaphanous ensemble designed to emphasize her scandalously bare midriff. What boy in his formative years could resist that level of magical cuteness? Naturally, the re-run competition such as Bewitched and Gilligan's Island sported their own attempts at icons of attraction (Samantha, Mary Ann, Ginger, the Professor1). However, Samantha all nose-a-wiggle with that annoying "weeeeell" as she tried to explain to Dirwood her latest screw up, Ginger and her dropped at birth sensuality, and Mary Ann with her cloying tom-boy innocence, all fail to measure up to Jeannie's blinky energy, rampant jealousy, and debatable state of dress. You can't tell me she wasn't completely naked when in gaseous form.
...of course, Master
Cast:
a Genie, born either 64 B.C. or 21 B.C. (continuity problems apparently). She was originally mortal, but was transformed into a Genie, who spent much time languishing in her funky bottle until Tony crashed nearby. Loves her 'master', knows nothing of contemporary US life (in the sixties at least), and has the Genie 'blink' which is the manifestation of virtually unlimited magic power (which apparently can only be used to further the causes of screwing up alarmingly, and giving form to jealous vengeance). Guaranteed to cause pre/early pubescent straight boys to think impure thoughts.
NASA astronaut (on detached service from the Army), he discovered and released Jeannie after crash landing near one of those stereotypical desert islands in a space flight gone fubar. Becomes Jeannie's master. We all know he wants her, we all know she wants him; the show thrives on the sexual tension and Jeannie's jealous vengeance. They eventually marry, and the show ceases production shortly thereafter. Tony employs at least 17 different facial expressions per second as he madly ad-libs his way through the aftermath of Jeannie's magical machinations.
Captain/Major Roger Healy: Bill Daily
NASA astronaut (on detached service from the Air Force), Tony's only apparent non-Genie friend, and thorough rat bastard. Knows of Jeannie's true nature, and is generally out to get her for himself, but spends most of his screen time helping Tony cover for some weirdness created by Jeannie, that is about to be discovered by Dr. Bellows.
Doctor Bellows, psychologist for NASA is endlessly suspicious of the goings on surrounding Tony and Roger. Doomed (almost endlessly), to search for the truth behind the zane(ie. Jeannie), experience extreme levels of weirdness, and subsequently question his own sanity.
...are you not pleased, Master?
A sitcom created by Sidney Sheldon, I Dream of Jeannie first aired in the US from 1965 to 1970, spanning the transition from Black and White to Colour TV. Naturally, it has since been aired in everything even vaguely resembling a country, multiple times. The episodes follow a number of definable themes with scientific rigour. The formulae:
- Jeannie's powers and impulsiveness create trouble for Tony, who using a combination of amazingly absurd ad-libs, and threats/pleas to Jeannie, manages to avoid any repercussions of his seemingly bizarre actions, or the revelation of Jeannie's existence/true nature. Dr. Bellows will come perilously close to the truth, only to find himself questioning his sanity yet again.
- Some aspect of Jeannie's Genie past comes back to haunt her. Bizarre things happen, then all is well. Dr. Bellows forced to question sanity.
- Roger attempts yet again to 'gain use' of Jeannie. He succeeds for a short period, then it all falls apart in Midas touch like fashion. Tony and Roger continue to be best buddies despite the fact that Roger is a rat bastard with no morals. Dr. Bellows hits the couch.
- Tony is forced for some NASA related reason to entertain the daughter/niece of a visiting general/dignitary. Jeannie becomes insanely jealous and Tony spends some quality time freezing in Antarctica or equivalent hostile location. Some revelation of Tony's lack of feeling for Jeannie's competition solves the problem, and all is well. Dr. Bellows - sanity ... you get the picture.
Further Reading (and partial Bibliography2)
For pictures, episode listings, trivia, audio snippets and more:
- http://www.geocities.com/carpet65/astro.html
- http://mars.spaceports.com/~jeannie/
1 Ok, so there was something about the Professor, but that's a story for another time.
2 Webliography? Perhaps arachniography - thanks going to the obviously over Lovecrafted cognitive process that is Pseudo_Intellectual for pointing this out.