It seems My Favorite Martian gave us shows like Bewitched and I Dream of Jeannie. It came out in 1963.

Check it out:

Here's an interesting piece:

"Receiving widely agreeable praise from TV critics across the nation, the show rose steadily in the ratings, ranking usually in the lower top ten and reaching #5 with a rating of 31.8 for February 1964. It achieved a rank of #10 among all shows for the 63-64 TV season.

It is hardly coincidental that the 64-65 TV season had the appearances of Bewitched, My Living Doll, The Addams Family and The Munsters, all programs which might not have seen the light of airing had not MFM done so well in the ratings and thereupon opened the door for this type of genre. And while "Martian" did have its own derivative moments from The Twilight Zone and Topper, (both of which get a mention during MFM’s first season), it is worth noting that the 64-65 fantasy/sci-fi series and their subsequent imitators freely copied My Favorite Martian’s gimmicks and even plot lines throughout their own runs"


http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&frm=1&source=web&cd=3&cad=rja&ved=0CDsQFjAC&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmembers.tripod.com%2F~jhh_2%2FINFLUENCE.htm&ei=IU8FUsvXHqqK2wXhsYCACg&usg=AFQjCNFrq5gKCqprybq42aaipgYZeZbqEg&sig2=DvWPShgIRTHTogkKmlwKvg

Yes I have all 3 seasons and while I am not finished watching them, I have thought that MFM does not get the credit it deserves in the supernatural sitcom genre and is often overshadowed by Bewitched and Jeannie.

I have thought that MFM does not get the credit it deserves in the supernatural sitcom genre and is often overshadowed by Bewitched and Jeannie.

I agree Kasey. I also feel it does not get enough credit for being the first magical show that inspired Bewitched and I Dream of Jeannie.

MFM started first in 1963 on CBS.

BW was the answer to MFM the following year in 1964 on ABC.

IDOJ was the answer to both MFM and BW in 1965 on NBC.

I think it was cool that all the major networks had magical shows. It makes the 60s all the more, well, magical. :D

I would agree that My Favorite Martian helped ignite the wave of supernatural sitcoms that began the year after it debuted, but as the article notes, the first seeds of this concept really began with the 1953-1955 sitcom, Topper, which was based on a 1937 movie of the same name, and which in turn was based on the 1926 novel. Topper created the concept that most of these other supernatural sitcoms would follow where one poor soul had to endure the secret of a supernatural presence in his life. In the case of Topper, only Topper could see the ghosts that inhabited his home. That idea was taken to a new level with Mister Ed in 1961. Like My Favorite Martian, Bewitched and I Dream of Jeannie, everyone could see this supernatural being (in this case, a horse), though maybe (or maybe not) his/her particular supernatural abilities. It's just that the revelations of those abilities could be problematic for Wilbur/Tim (from MFM)/Darrin/Tony Nelson if the secret got out. So Wilbur made sure no one else heard him conversing with Mister Ed (or they'd think Wilbur was looney), just as Tim, Darrin and Tony tried to make sure no one saw Uncle Martin, Samantha and Jeannie perform their tricks. My feeling is, had it not been for the success of Mister Ed, My Favorite Martian might not have come about, and thus no Bewitched or Jeannie.

By the way, Mister Ed was surely inspired by the Francis the Talking Mule movies of the 1950s. And let's not forget yet another sitcom from this genre: The Ghost and Mrs. Muir, which was based on the 1947 movie. Oh yeah, and that great classic, My Mother the Car. :)

Aloha Spicolli!

I would agree that My Favorite Martian helped ignite the wave of supernatural sitcoms that began the year after it debuted, but as the article notes, the first seeds of this concept really began with the 1953-1955 sitcom, Topper, which was based on a 1937 movie of the same name, and which in turn was based on the 1926 novel. Topper created the concept that most of these other supernatural sitcoms would follow where one poor soul had to endure the secret of a supernatural presence in his life. In the case of Topper, only Topper could see the ghosts that inhabited his home. That idea was taken to a new level with Mister Ed in 1961. Like My Favorite Martian, Bewitched and I Dream of Jeannie, everyone could see this supernatural being (in this case, a horse), though maybe (or maybe not) his/her particular supernatural abilities. It's just that the revelations of those abilities could be problematic for Wilbur/Tim (from MFM)/Darrin/Tony Nelson if the secret got out. So Wilbur made sure no one else heard him conversing with Mister Ed (or they'd think Wilbur was looney), just as Tim, Darrin and Tony tried to make sure no one saw Uncle Martin, Samantha and Jeannie perform their tricks. My feeling is, had it not been for the success of Mister Ed, My Favorite Martian might not have come about, and thus no Bewitched or Jeannie.

By the way, Mister Ed was surely inspired by the Francis the Talking Mule movies of the 1950s. And let's not forget yet another sitcom from this genre: The Ghost and Mrs. Muir, which was based on the 1947 movie. Oh yeah, and that great classic, My Mother the Car. :)


Great Post! Well said, LittleRickyII! :)

Great Post! Well said, LittleRickyII! :)

Thanks, Rookielove! And great topic. Thanks for bringing it up. :)