I Dream of Jeannie

I Dream of Jeannie was a popular American sitcom. Produced by Screen Gems, it aired from 1965 to 1970 on NBC.

Related Topics:
American - Sitcom - Screen Gems - 1965 - 1970 - NBC

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It was created by Sidney Sheldon in response to the great success of rival network ABC's Bewitched series, which had debuted in 1964 as the second most watched program in the United States. William Asher, the producer of Bewitched, was called upon unofficially to comment on the final script for the pilot episode which Sheldon was hoping would capture the essential elements of Bewitched.

Related Topics:
Sidney Sheldon - ABC - Bewitched - 1964 - William Asher

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The premise of the two programs was very similar. Both featured beautiful women who were possessed of magical powers and who tried to integrate with the mortal world to please the men they loved. The comedy in both series was derived from her attempts at keeping her powers secret, while very often needing to use those powers to resolve situations. Both featured a rambunctious relative (Jeannie's sister, Samantha's cousin) played by the lead actress, with a black wig to mark her "black hat" status.

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Jeannie was a genie awakened from her sleep when astronaut Anthony Nelson, who worked at Cape Kennedy (the present-day Cape Canaveral) in Florida, found a bottle washed up on a desert-island beach. As he had found her, it was both his right and his obligation to take future responsibility for her. Returning home to Cocoa Beach, Florida, with him, Jeannie was initially little more than a servant, but as the series developed, so did their relationship, and eventually the couple was married.

Related Topics:
Genie - Astronaut - Cape Kennedy - Florida - Cocoa Beach, Florida - Servant

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In most episodes, Barbara Eden wore little more than her revealing "Jeannie" costume. But despite the fact that she was allowed to be depicted living in a house with a man to whom she was not married, censors of the day would not allow Eden's navel to be seen. The makers of the series were also presented with the challenge of filming around Eden's real-life pregnancy, without writing it into the Jeannie storyline.

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The NASA shown in the series appears to be launching a few more flights than real-life NASA, since Tony makes it into space at least three times during the series, but it was rare for an astronaut to make even a second flight. The spacecraft shown in the opening titles appears to be a one-man Project Mercury spacecraft, but during the series' run, the two-man Project Gemini and three-man Project Apollo craft were flying, aside from the hiatus between Gemini 12 and Apollo 7. In fact, Tony may have been the only astronaut in history to fly Mercury, Gemini and Apollo craft, as well as the Space Shuttle (if you count the TV movies.)

Related Topics:
NASA - Project Mercury - Project Gemini - Project Apollo - Space Shuttle

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I Dream of Jeannie was a moderate success on NBC, but the show's popularity exploded when the series began playing in syndication. Reruns became one of the highest rated series during the 1970s (even more so following the success of Larry Hagman's role as J.R. Ewing on Dallas), and the show continues to have a cult following today. Hanna-Barbera Productions produced an animated spin-off, Jeannie, in 1973, which featured Jeannie and genie-in-training Babu (voiced by Joe Besser) as the servants of a high-school student (voiced by Mark Hamill).

Related Topics:
Syndication - Larry Hagman - Dallas - Hanna-Barbera Productions - Jeannie - 1973 - Joe Besser - Mark Hamill

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The I Dream of Jeannie cast reunited for several television features, with their most recent reunion taking place in I Still Dream of Jeannie (1991) and ' (1985). Columbia Pictures is currently developing a feature film version of I Dream of Jeannie (set for release in 2006) with Gurinder Chadha set to direct. Kate Hudson will portray Jeannie with Jimmy Fallon as Maj. Tony Nelson. Jessica Alba, Jessica Simpson, Lindsay Lohan, Paris Hilton, Kristin Chenoweth, Parminder Nagra, Jenna Elfman, and Lisa Kudrow have been considered for the part of Jeannie. Over the past ten years, merchandise based on the series has been produced including numerous dolls, ceramic pieces, lunchboxes, a board game and a series of Instant Scratchit cards.

Related Topics:
I Still Dream of Jeannie - 1991 - 1985 - Columbia Pictures - 2006 - Gurinder Chadha - Kate Hudson - Jimmy Fallon - Jessica Alba - Jessica Simpson - Lindsay Lohan - Paris Hilton - Kristin Chenoweth - Parminder Nagra - Jenna Elfman - Lisa Kudrow

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Recently, Cocoa Beach has been embracing the fame it garnered from Jeannie. On September 15, 2005, they held the We Dream Of Jeannie Festival, during which were memories of the show and a Jeannie look-alike contest. There were plans for one in 2004, but it was interrupted by Hurricane Frances and Hurricane Jeanne. They did, however, hold the Jeannie look-alike contest in 2004, with Bill Daly attending. None of the cast members went to the 2005 festival.

Related Topics:
September 15 - 2005 - 2004 - Hurricane Frances - Hurricane Jeanne - Bill Daly

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