Hi,

What was the best season of I Dream of Jeannie, a 1965-70 NBC TV series starring Barbara Eden and Larry Hagman (pre-J. R. Ewing)?

The 1st season theme song (not as well known as the one used from season 2 onward) was composed by Richard Wess, who had been hired to do so after Sidney Sheldon, the show's creator, had rejected an earlier theme song for the show - during pre-production - that was composed by supreme '60s songwriting duo Carole King and Gerry Goffin.

The 2nd theme song, which was used on all colored seasons of the show (1966-70), had music by famed composer Hugo Montenegro (who had also composed stock music for season 1 of the show prior to coming up with the new theme song) and lyrics by Buddy Kaye (yes, this theme did have lyrics... but for some reason Sidney Sheldon rejected them when this season of the show had finished production, though Kaye was listed in the closing credits anyway). Two other well-known shows that had unused lyrics in their theme songs were the themes from Star Trek and M*A*S*H ("Suicide is Painless", of which the original version was heard in the 1970 movie that inspired the 1972-83 CBS TV series). The 2nd I.D.O.J. theme song saw new life, twenty years after its introduction, as the sampled melody in rap duo DJ Jazzy Jeff and The Fresh Prince's hit song "Girls Ain't Nothin' But Trouble". (Was Jeannie nothing but trouble, too? Tony Nelson thinks so at times.)

But, what was the best season overall of I.D.O.J.? Perhaps, the colored episodes, as they were the easiest to remember (not the least of it being the more catchy theme song) as early syndication rules had prohibited reruns of black and white programs (this rule was overturned sometime in the early 1980s).

~Ben

I used to love that show when I was a kid. Can't seem to remember many of the episodes though. I remember the shows seasons being fairly consistent in terms of quality.

Yeah I loved that show, but I can't really remember...

Oh yeah, still a "I Dream of Jeannie" fan after all of these years. There is no question that my favorite season for the show was it's final season. But first, the opening theme music.

Season one's theme song was not my favorite when I was a kid. But you all know the drill; as you age and your base of experience grows you see and hear with new awareness. Now I love the original music. What a charming instrumental mix of early 1960's cool especially the extended intro as the cartoon Jeannie forms. That intro is coy, playful, sexy and sweet! Just like a 60's night club fan dance. The original theme has more in common with the 1950's than the 1960's, a fact mentioned repeatly by my dad with every episode.
I do understand the need for a theme change for season two. As a kid I liked the new music better. But the original theme now has a special place in my memory with its mix of light jazz musical phrasings.

Is there anyone at RJ that can top the tv shows I saw as an elementary school kid? Bewitched, I Dream of Jeannie, Batman, Time Tunnel, Lost in Space, Star Trek, Gilligan's Island and that's just the beginning. All this during the era of NASA, astronauts and the USA in Space. The same generation that built skyscrapers, the Hover Dam, the Golden Gate Bridge and the Interstate Highway System was launching space ships to set the first human on the moon. And NASA's progress was all on tv for me to watch right along with those crazy 60's tv shows.

I Dream of Jeannie hit the mark! The magic of Bewitched with the wonder of the space age. So the handsome astronaut and the beautiful Jeannie got off to a luke-warm start in season one, by season three Watch Out! Wow, did I dream of Jeannie catch fire or what? Everthing missing from season one was there in the final seasons. Magic effects were sharper and more numerous. Dialouge was snapier and faster paced. Scene cuts, fadeaways and multiple plot lines are a giveaway that a show has hit it's stride. And most important, secondary cast members had more to do and say in each episode. Case in point, that wonderful actress Emmaline Henry as Amanda Bellows - Outstanding. Her character came alive in season four and the antics she and Hayden Rorke as Dr.Bellows got into made I Dream of Jeannie a comedy rollercoaster ride. Remember when Jeannie's magic dog "Chin Chin" didn't like strangers and would go invisible to attack? That scene with Dr. Bellows and Amanda, clothes torn to shreads, running for their lives while all you hear is an angry dog that no one can see, LMAO!

What a wonderful time to be a kid! Even Republicans were happier back then.

Famed animation pioneer Friz Freleng did the season 2 animated opening title sequence.

What is your favorite catchphrase from this series. Mine has to be "Jeannie!!"

Maybe you remember this.
By the shows final season Dr. Bellows had grown used to seeing Major Nelson explain his way around Jeannie's magic mixups. In fact Dr. Bellows began to relish in Major Nelson's convoluted excuses, the crazier the better.
So in the final season each episode had Dr. Bellow's say out loud in exasperation;
"Major Nelson, you've done it to me again. I don't know how you do it. But one day I will".
Now that was the Dr. Bellows catchphrase and Hayden Rorke said it in a quiet, steady tone of voice. Never yelling it. That's why I remember it, because it was a quiet threat. The joke of course is that we knew Jeannie would just blink and all would be fixed and poor Dr. Bellows would just be left asking;
"Why me? Why is it always Me?"

I love I Dream of Jeannie. I first saw it on Nick at Nite.

That's such a great show. I only remember the black and white episodes though.

I grew up watching Jeannie. I loved it when they finally got married. My favorite music was from the first season. The first season was my favorite seasons. But no one seems to remember it. I love Barbara Eden and Larry Hagman.

ABSOLUTE CLASSIC SHOW! I thought the TV movie that came out in the late 80s was weak...

But this show really had it all. The writing was great.

Oops, you stepped on a land mine! TV sitcoms where the main characters get married are a sure-fire way to ruin a show. Marriage is a "jump the shark" indicator for certian types of shows.

Because the first season was in black and white tv stations shied away from showing them when I Dream of Jeannie went into syndication. I've heard that a few stations didn't show them at all.

I used to watch I Dream Of Jeannie with my mom when I was little. I used to love the theme song.

I've read that they're planning to do a movie version of Jeannie. If they're gonna do it right, here's who I think should be in the movie

Ryan Reynolds


and

Sarah Chalke as Jeannie

BARBARA EDEN WAS SO HOT, WHAT A BEATUFULL WOMAN FOR MANY YEARS AFTER AS WELL, ALLWAYS LOVED THE SHOW & all the crazy things major nelson got caught up in becouse of jeannie.

My favorite episodes are where her sister shows up. I know a lot of people will disagree, but my favorite season was the last one. The Bellows, especially Mrs. Bellows, were hilarious in some of the episodes. Barbara Eden is still HOT today!

I'd hit that for sho!

more partial to elizabeth montgomery from "bewitched", but "jeannie" could still catch the wang.

The first made-for-TV movie was called I Dream of Jeannie: 15 Years Later, released in 1985. Six years later came I Still Dream of Jeannie. Which one of these two was better in your humble opinion?

~Ben

I enjoyed watching reruns of the show when I was 7-8 or so. After finding some episodes on youtube, I noted something I seem to have overlooked at the time: Barbara Eden had great legs!