You mentioned Bewtiched and someone says, "Oh yeah that's the one who lives in the bottle, right?"

This happens to me a lot when I talk about Jeannie or Samantha.

I went to see the Bewitched movie with a friend and she KEPT saying, "Why did they make her a witch? She was a genie!!!"

I kept trying to explain they were 2 different shows but she really would NOT believe me!

You mentioned Bewtiched and someone says, "Oh yeah that's the one who lives in the bottle, right?"

This happens to me a lot when I talk about Jeannie or Samantha.

I went to see the Bewitched movie with a friend and she KEPT saying, "Why did they make her a witch? She was a genie!!!"

I kept trying to explain they were 2 different shows but she really would NOT believe me!


No, but when I mention that I am a Bewitched fan a lot of times people go. "Oh that was a good old show, like I Dream of Jeanie". I say I liked Bewitched better and they either agree or say they liked Jeannie better, and we get in a debate over which show is better. :)

IMO Bewitched is MUCH better. IDK why, but I never really was much of an I dream of Jeannie fan! :confused:

Nope. "I Dream of Jeannie" was NBC's attempt to capture the magic of "Bewitched" in a bottle (no pun intended), and like any copycat show, the copy is never as good as the original. And when Tony and Jeannie got married, it was "been there, done that" for people who saw both shows. No wonder "Jeannie" was cancelled after the wedding!

Anyone who can't distinguish between these 2 shows has no business even owning a television. :rolleyes:

Anyone who can't distinguish between these 2 shows has no business even owning a television. :rolleyes:



LOL!!! Agreed!! I don't even need to add anything to your post! ;)

:lol: :D :talk:

Nope. "I Dream of Jeannie" was NBC's attempt to capture the magic of "Bewitched" in a bottle (no pun intended), and like any copycat show, the copy is never as good as the original. And when Tony and Jeannie got married, it was "been there, done that" for people who saw both shows. No wonder "Jeannie" was cancelled after the wedding!


I am not a woman's libber by any means!! I even get accused of being too old fashioned in the way of male/female roles! I love a man that is a REAL man and I LOVE being a woman.:) ;) With that being said, I can only take so much of Jeannie's 'Oh, master, master, this master that"!!! It's a little much!! :( Samantha was a much cooler women, and she seemed to really love Darren, and he seemed to love her too!!!! ;) And there was respect too. Jeannie was making ladies look really subservient ! :( And in I Dream of Jeanie, I didn't see the love or the chemistry between Jeannie and Tony like I saw between Sam and Darren!!! Bewitched was much more believable, and funnier too! IMO!!! :)

Nope. "I Dream of Jeannie" was NBC's attempt to capture the magic of "Bewitched" in a bottle (no pun intended), and like any copycat show, the copy is never as good as the original. And when Tony and Jeannie got married, it was "been there, done that" for people who saw both shows. No wonder "Jeannie" was cancelled after the wedding!


The original proposal and script for I Dream of Jeannie was written before Bewitched was on the air.

I would take Barbara Eden over Elizabeth Montgomery any day of the week but the Bewitched supporting cast was much more varied and interesting.

The original proposal and script for I Dream of Jeannie was written before Bewitched was on the air.

I would take Barbara Eden over Elizabeth Montgomery any day of the week but the Bewitched supporting cast was much more varied and interesting.


Barbara Eden was a beautiful women, nothing at all against her. I just never really got into her TV show too much . I preferred Bewitched over I dream of Jeannie! :)

Good point, bonniegirl62, about Jeannie vs. Samantha.

"Yes, master," "no, master," "yes master." Barbara Eden is attractive (and even today she's still quite fetching), but watching Jeannie play the helpless subservient genie got pretty old after a while.

Samantha didn't plan to be a feminist, but her show was more feminist in nature than any of the other shows of the mid-60's. While she loved and respected her "sweetheart," she found herself defending her family throughout their mixed marriage (witch vs. mortal, mortal vs. mortal, and witch vs. witch). When needed, she didn't sit around waiting for things to happen, she made them happen. And she was able to think on her feet (the clever conversion of "Mother Flanagan's Irish Stew" to "Mother Flanagan's Doggie Stew" comes to mind).

Jeannie doing that? I don't think so.

In my opinion Elizabeth and Barbara's sexiest roles were as guests on other shows -- Liz on The Untouchables and Barbara on Rawhide.

Both very beautiful women, but I've always been more turned on by Liz. Gorgeous long legs, nice body, beautiful face, great hair. To paraphrase Dick York, she was S-E-X-Y!!!!

I Dream of Jeannie is a superior series, full stop.

Jeannie episodes have the aura of something that was hand crafted; Bewitched episodes have the aura of an assembly line.

Jeannie has relatively few clunky episodes; Bewitched has entire clunky seasons.

Barbara Eden graciously put up with the very difficult Larry Hagman; Liz couldn't wait to get rid of "all wet" Dick York--now tell me which one cared more about the good of her show?!

I could go on, but won't.

As far as the "all wet" York, when York bowed out of the series the series went downhill. It was still good, but never as comical as it was with the Real Darrin. Last word, subject settled, period.

As far as the love between Darrin/Sam or Jeannie/Master, I find the love between Darrin and Sammie to be much more genuine than any supposedly between Jeannie/Master. First of all, I've always wondered why would someone who supposedly loves you zap you to the edge of a building, put you in a bullfight, hang you up to be tortured, the list goes on and on.. Jeannie continuously put Master in actual life threatening situations ON PURPOSE and far from trying to get him out she would then laugh and giggle at Master's desperate screams for his life.

At least when Darrin was in trouble (but never life threatening) Sam was worried and tried to get Darrin out of it. She was never the one putting Darrin into the trouble, much less life threatening situations. It's obvious Jeannie got great pleasure out of regularly almost killing her Master, she could barely control her laughter whereas Sam acted like someone who really cares and tried to get Darrin out of trouble (notice I didn't say danger, Sam would never put Darrin in life threatening danger).

Darrin's trouble came from Sam's family usually, Master's life was threatened often by Jeanie herself. Jeannie's response to Master about to be killed? Rolling with laughter. Sam's response to Darrin's trouble (big nose, becoming a goat, etc. never his life about to end)? Sam did everything she could to get Darrin out of trouble and was worried to boot. If putting you into a situation where you're about to be killed can be called love, someone's got the wrong dictionary. Case closed.

Very thoughtful answers to two questions that weren't asked. You may not think the dynamic between Jeannie and Tony was as optimal or even as genuine as that between Samantha and Darrin #1, but it certainly isn't something that's determinative as to which is the better show.

I appreciate the complement of being thoughtful, but take a look at Bonniegirl62's comment above and you'll see the subject of love between Darrin & Sam vs. Jeannie and Tony was indeed brought up. I was replying to that (agreeing with Bonniegril's conclusion, by the way).

2nd, I never said that either couple's love for each other (or lack of) was what made one show superior over the other. That is a subject I never brought up at all. However, as long as you asked, I will say that I have always liked Bewitched better than Jeannie, simply because I find it funnier. I agree Barbara is a very delectable creature as is Elizabeth, I would even say Barbara might win a beauty contest over Sam if there ever was one.

But as far as which is the better sitcom, I have always liked Bewitched better. It was the funnier program. Even with the 2nd Darrin, after a while you get used to him and you go along with the program even if I do miss York. But Jeanie was definitely eye candy and probably the only reason I'd tune in for each episode. Jeannie & the antics of Bill Daily who is a very funny guy, he was what made the show funny. Barbara was the beauty that got me to come back. The humor in Bewitched is what made me come back. :)

I have always prefered Bewitched over Jeannie

Mainly for these reasons

Elizabeth was a much better actress. Liz was brilliant at delivering comedic lines. Barbara for me was wooden.

I also think Samantha is a better representation of how a women should be than Jeannie. Jeannie to me was a puppet. A robot. She was there to serve people. You never knew where you stood with her. The character and how she was portrayed never felt like someone you could indentify with. I felt she lacked any personality. She was a magical metaphor of an old fashioned housewife who was there to be seen and not heard.

Samantha was a married women who was very independant, always put her foot down and wasn't afraid to disagree and put her husband in his place. She was very kooky. Very open minded. Warm. Made you feel welcome. Samantha was and still is a brilliant representation of how women could be back in the 1960's and how they have come to be in 2014.

I never met anyone who confused "Bewitched" and "I Dream of Jeannie."

"Bewitched" had a certain "special something" that I loved as a child, I could never sit through "I Dream of Jeannie."

When I grew up and found out that Larry Hagman played a character on "I Dream of Jeannie" I tried watching it again - but it had no appeal, seemed silly and cartoonish while "Bewitched" was elegant, intriguing and bewitching - on different levels; the relationship between Sam and Darrin, the relationship between Darrin and the magical "in-laws," and the relationship between Sam and her family. There's no confusing all that with a show about a "genie" in a bottle.

http://i.imgur.com/MCPjXJx.jpg (http://lunapic.com>)

Okay,. . .Which one is which again??

...I can only take so much of Jeannie's 'Oh, master, master, this master that"!!! It's a little much!! :( Samantha was a much cooler women, and she seemed to really love Darren, and he seemed to love her too!!!! ;) And there was respect too. Jeannie was making ladies look really subservient !

The whole "master, master" thing really gets on my last nerve. I mean, Jeannie is soooooooooooo needy and childish. I just can't stand that show! Bewitched blows I Dream of Jeannie right out of the water.

The Bewitched vs Jeannie debate has been going on forever. I'll bet after the pilot of Jeannie aired the first time some one turned to the person next to them and ask "who's better Samantha or Jeannie?"

The Bewitched vs Jeannie debate has been going on forever. I'll bet after the pilot of Jeannie aired the first time some one turned to the person next to them and ask "who's better Samantha or Jeannie?"


Yeah!! :D It's the same thing as the Munsters and The Adams Family. Both shows were on the same years, and with the same format. Spooky family in a spooky house! :)

My vote goes to the Munsters!!! ;) And of course Bewitched too! ;)

I have encountered a number of people who get the two shows mixed up. I guess we have to understand that not everyone is as into TV shows as the people who visit this site. It is hard to understand how they could mix them up, though.
I would have a hard time saying that I enjoy one show more than the other. It kind of depends on what mood I'm in as to which one I would rather watch. The shows are similar in some ways, but are each very distinctive in my opinion.
To me, Hagman and York were the most important actors in each of the respective shows. Eden and Montgomery were great as well, but needed those guys to make it work. We know how Bewitched was with a different Darrin (lackluster), but I can't conceive anyone but Hagman playing Major Nelson.

I appreciate the complement of being thoughtful, but take a look at Bonniegirl62's comment above and you'll see the subject of love between Darrin & Sam vs. Jeannie and Tony was indeed brought up. I was replying to that (agreeing with Bonniegril's conclusion, by the way).

2nd, I never said that either couple's love for each other (or lack of) was what made one show superior over the other. That is a subject I never brought up at all. However, as long as you asked, I will say that I have always liked Bewitched better than Jeannie, simply because I find it funnier. I agree Barbara is a very delectable creature as is Elizabeth, I would even say Barbara might win a beauty contest over Sam if there ever was one.

But as far as which is the better sitcom, I have always liked Bewitched better. It was the funnier program. Even with the 2nd Darrin, after a while you get used to him and you go along with the program even if I do miss York. But Jeanie was definitely eye candy and probably the only reason I'd tune in for each episode. Jeannie & the antics of Bill Daily who is a very funny guy, he was what made the show funny. Barbara was the beauty that got me to come back. The humor in Bewitched is what made me come back. :)

I am so sorry I missed your great posts. Yeah this idea of Jeannie loving her master the way Sam loved Darrin is a lot of hooey-and your excellent examples proved it. If Jeannie was anything it was passive-aggressive with the emphasis on AGRESSIVE. Real hard to think of Jeannie "loving" her " master" as she dangled him an inch away from TERRIFYING situations and giggled.

Bewitched was a much better and tighter show, with imo more talented supporting actors--Agnes Morehead, Marion Lorne, Paul Lynde. IDOJ can be a fun show and the ultra-hot Barbara Eden made the show. But it will never ring my bell the way Bewitched does.

(On another note your screen name and great av are givin me a real Hazel craving...think I'm gonna watch one or two today from the many eps I'veburned from Antenna...just love that Julia Child queen-of-the-buttinskys with the HEART Of Gold....lol where would Mr. B be w/o her!)

I am so sorry I missed your great posts. Yeah this idea of Jeannie loving her master the way Sam loved Darrin is a lot of hooey-and your excellent examples proved it. If Jeannie was anything it was passive-aggressive with the emphasis on AGRESSIVE. Real hard to think of Jeannie "loving" her " master" as she dangled him an inch away from TERRIFYING situations and giggled.

Bewitched was a much better and tighter show, with imo more talented supporting actors--Agnes Morehead, Marion Lorne, Paul Lynde. IDOJ can be a fun show and the ultra-hot Barbara Eden made the show. But it will never ring my bell the way Bewitched does.

(On another note your screen name and great av are givin me a real Hazel craving...think I'm gonna watch one or two today from the many eps I'veburned from Antenna...just love that Julia Child queen-of-the-buttinskys with the HEART Of Gold....lol where would Mr. B be w/o her!)


I love Hazel too! ;)

Bewitched might have had a different dynamic if Sam had told Darrin the truth about being a witch BEFORE they were married. How more subservient could she be than promising not to act like a witch acts - SHE'S A WITCH!!!

I think Dick York episodes are way better than Jeannie, but the Dick Sargents are way worse. That's not saying Dick Sargent was the whole decline. Recycling of scripts, emphasis on the kids, inferior replacement actors/characters - these were all problems. And Jeannie had it all over Sam when they went 70s "mod".

There's no question for me that Bewitched had its watershed jumped-the-shark moments. First, the loss of Aunt Clara. While not a death blow she was a GREAT CHaRACTER whose loss was deeply missed; may dear Marion Lorne r.i.p. Second, Dick York leaving-he was and always will be the Darrin for me. That's my BIG jump the shark. I only have the Dick York seasons. But still, there are five of them, all magnificent and utterly clever. So I'll always be a diehard Bewitched fan; S6+ may have slept but 170 great S1-5 eps is none too shabby!

I've always loved the time-travel episodes of Bewitched, both with York and Sargent. Jeannie never really explored that type of theme, at least not in the same way. Bewitched also had some great characterizations of history figures, like Will Geer as George Washington -- and the guy who did an uncanny Ben Franklin.

Another significant loss for Bewitched was when Irene Vernon (Louise Tate) was let go, although I've come to appreciate Kasey Rogers more and more. Jeannie you might say actually moved upward in cast, as Emmaline Henry did a wonderful job as Amanda Bellows. But I have to add that Bill Daily's character Roger gets on my nerves at times -- the greed act gets a little stale.