I know it's an age old question but which is the better half Bewitched or IDOJ?

And Does anybody know who won Bewitched vs. IDOJ on the N@N vote?

Jeannie could so beat Sam anyday. I move the poll about this to the top, o.k. Oh, and sadly I think that Sam beat Jeannie on the N@N vote probably because I and many others were to young to vote then.

I love both shows but Bewitched is a little better in my opinion. The characters in Bewitched really worked well together and captured the special magic.

Well, if we're comparing the sitcoms themselves without having another "showdown" between Samantha and Jeannie, then I'll participate in this.

They're both great shows, but I like I Dream of Jeannie better. Don't get me wrong, I love the first season of Bewitched, but that show eventually went downhill after the birth of Tabitha and Dick York was later replaced by Dick Sargeant. It also got a little redundant after a while to see one of Sam's eccentric relatives pop in and put a spell on Darrin (sp?) or screw up in some other way.

(Edited to add: Tabitha's birth, a marvelous event, was one of the landmarks of Bewitched, but there was nothing much to look forward to after that. The birth of Adam was grand too, but that ep didn't take place till a few seasons later in the midst of the more tedious eps).

As for IDOJ, I think there's more to look forward to, considering that it gives us the opportunity to watch Major Nelson and Jeannie's relationship grow, and eventually we get to watch them walk down the aisle (finally!). Also, I'm not a feminist, but I do love to watch the earlier eps of Jeannie as well, when they were in the initial stages of that "master and genie" relationship. It always cracks me up to watch Jeannie say "no" to her master and make her own decisions. The ep where she locked him in jail in his own living room was hilarious!

I think that Bewitched was the far better show because the magic seemed to be controlled better and you know, Samanthat knew exactly what she was doing and everything, But Jeannie is another story indeed.

It seemed that all Jeannie could ever do is to make trouble for Tony Nelson because she was totally out of control with her magic powers. I know that Jeannie means well and her heart is in the right place, but I sure as hell would love to know where her head was. Tony would tell her to coool it a bit because of the ways of the world (at that time), but she wouldn't listen. She would just blink up stuff without any thought to the consequences that could occur. Just look at the show and see what I mean.

And plus, The show lasted only five years, whereas "Bewitched" lasted a long eight. I think that "I Dream of Jeannie" tried too hard to be like "Bewitched" that I think that it carried itself out. And her marraige to Tony didn't help matters any.

Bewitched may have lasted longer, but the final seasons of it were pracitcally remakes of earlier episodes, or just alike! And Dick Sargeant (sp?) completely ruined the show! He wasnt as affectionate and comical as Dick York. Although his last season on the show wasnt very good either. I Dream of Jeannie may not have lasted as long, but at least it didnt go extremely downhill. I will say that some of the ideas were running low, but they married Tony and Jeannie in the middle of the season which produced new ideas. Oh and not mention, Larry Hagman played Tony through-out the whole duration of the show.



They have come to take me away!!!!! :lol:

:ufo:

I like Bewitched as much as I like I dream of Jeannie, But I dream of Jeannie leaves a better impression in my head then Bewitched.
I'm kind of glad they axed I dream of Jeannie when they did or it would have gone down hill like Bewitched did. After Dick York left (or should I say was fired), I think they should have finished the show in 1969 because everyone missed the old Darrin and the show wasn't worth looking at. As for which one is better, you can't compare the two they were different the only thing that was the same was the troble the two caused with there magic, Bewitched was about a married couple. I dream of Jeannie wasn't until they got married. I think I dream of Jeannie had a bit of an edge with the sexual tension between Major Nelson and Jeannie, and the fact that I dream of Jeannie had Dr Bellow's "He's done it to me again" and the girl chasing Major Healey, oh and the stylish Mrs Bellows. The fact is Major Nelson risked his job that meant the whole to him but so did his love for Jeannie he tryed to balance the two by hiding his love for Jeannie and hiding her too but when he loses her, he realizes really how much he loved her and he picks her over everything else that matter in the world to him. (now how sweet is that)
"I dream of Jeannie was a every man fantasy" as Larry Hagman said and I guess we kind of watch TV to ecape the real world.

This is what Nick at nite had to say about the two:

"Sam didn't have enought wattage to keep the same Darrin for the run of her show. She also recevied frequent paranormal assists from Endora and her TV coven. Meanwhile, bottled beauty Jeannie not only kept Major Nelson in a trance for 5 season, she wed him, kept her evil sister in check, and did it all with nothing but her arms crossed and a blink of her eyes"

So really which one do you think is better now?

They are both great shows! But in my opinion, IDOJ is so much greater. I loved watching Jeannie and Tony they loved each other more than anything as they later found out. I think that's why I love it. You can want them to get married the whole show. And in the end they finally are married and happy together. It's so sweet. Ms. Garthe Knight I think you said that very well. NICK AT NIGHT was so right. I mean Sam had to love two Darrins and that took something out of the show. While Jeannie loved only Tony.

Thank you for that I Dream Of Jeannie, And I agree with the fact that Sam had to love two Darrins and that took something out of the show. While Jeannie loved only Tony 100%

I love both shows but Bewitched is a little better in my opinion. The characters in Bewitched really worked well together and captured the special magic.

The characters in I Dream of Jeannie really worked together and captured the special magic as well.

Personally, I think I Dream of Jeannie is better. It's funnier.

I think that Bewitched was the far better show because the magic seemed to be controlled better and you know, Samanthat knew exactly what she was doing and everything, But Jeannie is another story indeed.

It seemed that all Jeannie could ever do is to make trouble for Tony Nelson because she was totally out of control with her magic powers. I know that Jeannie means well and her heart is in the right place, but I sure as hell would love to know where her head was. Tony would tell her to coool it a bit because of the ways of the world (at that time), but she wouldn't listen. She would just blink up stuff without any thought to the consequences that could occur. Just look at the show and see what I mean.

And plus, The show lasted only five years, whereas "Bewitched" lasted a long eight. I think that "I Dream of Jeannie" tried too hard to be like "Bewitched" that I think that it carried itself out. And her marraige to Tony didn't help matters any.

Well, that only made Bewitched a less magic show with the magic being more "controlled."

Also, Bewitched may have lasted longer, but it should have just went off the air when Jeannie did and when Dick York left. The storylines were recycled stories of earlier storylines. So, just because it lasted longer, doesn't mean it was better.

Also, Jeannie did not try hard to be like Bewitched. It was a great show in it's own right. I Dream of Jeannie was better than Bewitched, in my opinion. Besides, there were some episodes where Bewitched would copy from Jeannie.

theres no competition I dream of jeannie is the best so much better than bewitched. I can't stand bewitched. I have all 5 seasons of IDOJ and I'm loving it. My favorite one is when roger gets a birthday wish and he and tony switch places

Bewitched is a little more subdued and sophisticated while I Dream Of Jeannie is more energetic and relies more on visual humor and wild sight gags. Overall I think Bewitched is the better written show. I Dream Of Jeannie started out similar to Bewitched, but by the third season the show began to sacrifice good writing in favor of wild visual gags and the plots of some episodes went over the top and made nearly no sense. Not including the three seasons with Dick Sargeant, I would say Bewitched is the better show. The writing was a little better and more consistent. But when you compare Elizabeth Montgomery and Barbara Eden, there is no contest. Sexy Barbara Eden wins that vote by a landslide.

I liked IDOJ way better, but i love lucy is still my fav. :)

Jeannie seemed more fun, it seemed like she was more powerful.

The characters had more chemistry in jeannie, while in bewitched i didnt think it was funny (apart from where larry sees the money bag flying out the window with wings)

But, i still liked both shows. I guess it depends what specific question ur asking. If whos more powerful, then Jeannie.

If, who was more funny, Jeannie.

If, who had more love life shown in the show-then bewitched,

etc, both shows had good & to be improved points.

:)

I think most everyone here knows my answer:

I like both shows a lot but if I had to pick I would go for Bewitched.

Either way I am happy watching both :)

^ I think we all know why Bewitched gets your vote:

^ I think we all know why Bewitched gets your vote:



Yeah its obvious lol :D

I think that Bewitched was the far better show because the magic seemed to be controlled better and you know, Samanthat knew exactly what she was doing and everything, But Jeannie is another story indeed.

I disagree that the magic being controlled made Bewitched better. It just made the show less magical. But Being magical is what made the shows unique. I don't see how doing magic on a magical show would be a negative. I also disagree that Samantha knew exactly what she was doing. That's not true. Samantha was not perfect. She would use her magic and cause trouble or chaos as well.


It seemed that all Jeannie could ever do is to make trouble for Tony Nelson because she was totally out of control with her magic powers.

Sometimes, it would, but most of the time Jeannie's magic saved, helped or entertained Tony. Samantha's powers would also get Darrin in trouble as well, but that's kinda the point of the shows. Otherwise, there would be no chaos or action. Shows about perfect people can be on the dull side.


. Tony would tell her to coool it a bit because of the ways of the world (at that time), but she wouldn't listen. She would just blink up stuff without any thought to the consequences that could occur. .

Samantha also did this. She was a married woman who would sneak and use her powers behind her husband's back which was disrespectful and would cause problems for her husband. Or she would allow her relatives to continously torture and disrespect her husband, hence causing problems.



And plus, The show lasted only five years, whereas "Bewitched" lasted a long eight.

That doesn't make it better. Honestly, Bewitched should of ended when Dick York left. The later seasons were mostly repeats of earlier shows and far less entertaining.


I think that "I Dream of Jeannie" tried too hard to be like "Bewitched" that I think that it carried itself out. And her marraige to Tony didn't help matters any.

I disagree that Jeannie was trying to be like Bewitched. In that case, Bewitched was trying to hard to be like I Love Lucy, The Dick Van Dyke Show, Topper, and My Favorite Martian.

Jeannie was nothing like Bewitched. For starters one was a witch and the other was a genie. Funny, how many Bewitched fans will call Jeannie a "copy" of Bewitched, yet that always point out many differences the two shows have....of course, always painting Jeannie as having negative or inferior differences. For example, I often hear that Samantha is "smart" and Jeannie is "dumb." Or Jeannie is a "slave" and Samantha is not. Or Bewitched was about "family and love." Jeannie was not. So, make up your minds. They can't be different and similar. It seems when the Bewitched fans want to praise Bewitched as being "original," then Jeannie is similar and accused of being a "copy," but when they want to bash/degrade Jeannie, then suddenly they're different with Jeannie being inferior and lacking. Go figure!

And I saw nothing wrong with them getting married. They were two strangers who met, who turned into friends, and eventual romantic partners. The next step would be marriage since they were living together. It made sense, but it never reminded me of Bewitched. Samantha and Darrin were an old married couple with two kids, while Jeannie and Tony were fun newly weds. Plus, we got to see Jeannie and Tony's romance for years. This was different than Samantha and Darrin. Bottomline, most sitcoms with a male and female lead usually end up with the characters becoming romantic. Samantha and Darrin were not the only (or first) married couple (be it movies or television), and they won't be the last. Jeannie and Tony getting married (after 4 years) has nothing to do with Bewitched, but the awesome romantic chemistry between Barbara Eden and Larry Hagman. They were so great together, and the Jeannie/Tony fans deserved to see their couple take the next step! :D

And to answer the question:

Bewitched vs. IDOJ?

I vote for........IDOJ!

I like both shows, but IDOJ is definitely my favorite. And I like the characters on IDOJ better than on Bewitched. Plus, I find Jeannie more fascinating than Samantha. Jeannie was never suppressed or inhibited. She was not typical. She was unique. She was a free spirit who was unapologetic about who she was. And knew how to have fun......and that fun was contagious.

Hence, for me, Jeannie will always be the epitome of magic. :D

Bewitched is my fave.

They are both great shows! But in my opinion, IDOJ is so much greater. I loved watching Jeannie and Tony they loved each other more than anything as they later found out. I think that's why I love it. You can want them to get married the whole show. And in the end they finally are married and happy together. It's so sweet. Ms. Garthe Knight I think you said that very well. NICK AT NIGHT was so right. I mean Sam had to love two Darrins and that took something out of the show. While Jeannie loved only Tony.

There was only ONE Darrin even though he was portrayed by two actors. As far as the characters were concerned it was the same Darrin throughout.

It's not even close. Bewitched was a smart, sophisticated show , whereas IDOJ (though funny) was silly and slapstick. But the main difference was the supporting cast. In addition to the leads, you had Endora, Larry Tate, Gladys and Abner Kravitz, Aunt Clara, the Stephens parents, Tabitha, Uncle Arthur, Dr. Bombay, etc. Outside of Roger Healey (who was excellent, I admit) and Dr. Bellows ( a shrill, annoying one-note character), who was there?

I Dream Of Jeannie for me! Bewitched is OK at best, but not my favorite

Bewitched hands down! Esp. The Aunt Clara eps!

IDOJ is enjoyable, and Barbara Eden is gorgeous but...Bewitched just seemed a lot more funnier. And Sam, the character, was much nicer than Jeannie, who was often very manipulative and dominating.

And...Gladys Kravitz was a HOOT on Bewitched....much much funnier than IDOJ's Dr. Bellows counterpart (both devoted to outing or discrediting a/the major character.)

Dick York episodes are better than Jeannie, but Jeannie is better than Dick Sargent episodes. The balance favors Jeannie.

Yeah, It just wasn't the same after Dick York left; that's why I stopped collecting Bewitched from S6 on. But Samantha and Gladys are such great charcters...that I still vote Bewitched.

Yeah, It just wasn't the same after Dick York left; that's why I stopped collecting Bewitched from S6 on. But Samantha and Gladys are such great characters...that I still vote Bewitched.

The quality of the writing started dipping during the fourth season, then Dick York's missed episodes made it worse. At least Dick Sargent (the original choice for Darrin) made a constant presence of a major character. It's not his fault the writing wasn't as good and that they had to remake episodes because they couldn't think of anything else to do. Blaming Dick Sargent for the fall in quality of Bewitched is like blaming Shemp for the drop in quality because of lesser budgets and remakes in the Three Stooges shorts.

I disagree that Jeannie was trying to be like Bewitched. In that case, Bewitched was trying to hard to be like I Love Lucy, The Dick Van Dyke Show, Topper, and My Favorite Martian.

Jeannie was nothing like Bewitched. For starters one was a witch and the other was a genie. Funny, how many Bewitched fans will call Jeannie a "copy" of Bewitched, yet that always point out many differences the two shows have....of course, always painting Jeannie as having negative or inferior differences. For example, I often hear that Samantha is "smart" and Jeannie is "dumb." Or Jeannie is a "slave" and Samantha is not. Or Bewitched was about "family and love." Jeannie was not. So, make up your minds. They can't be different and similar. It seems when the Bewitched fans want to praise Bewitched as being "original," then Jeannie is similar and accused of being a "copy," but when they want to bash/degrade Jeannie, then suddenly they're different with Jeannie being inferior and lacking. Go figure!

And I saw nothing wrong with them getting married. They were two strangers who met, who turned into friends, and eventual romantic partners. The next step would be marriage since they were living together. It made sense, but it never reminded me of Bewitched. Samantha and Darrin were an old married couple with two kids, while Jeannie and Tony were fun newly weds. Plus, we got to see Jeannie and Tony's romance for years. This was different than Samantha and Darrin. Bottomline, most sitcoms with a male and female lead usually end up with the characters becoming romantic. Samantha and Darrin were not the only (or first) married couple (be it movies or television), and they won't be the last. Jeannie and Tony getting married (after 4 years) has nothing to do with Bewitched, but the awesome romantic chemistry between Barbara Eden and Larry Hagman. They were so great together, and the Jeannie/Tony fans deserved to see their couple take the next step! :D

Disregarding opinions and dealing only in fact, the simple fact is NBC saw the ratings ABC had with Bewitched and wanted a similar series for themselves. I Dream of Jeannie was a copy from the beginning. Of course, it wasn't an exact copy. But you must take into account that both programs were produced by the same studio (Screen Gems/Columbia, now Sony) so they were able to get closer to being a copy than if it had been at a different studio.

As far as the marriage is concerned, of course it had nothing to do with Bewitched. It was a simple ratings ploy to try to increase ratings. This rarely works as evidenced by programs such as Get Smart (cancelled the same season by NBC, even though it was picked up by CBS, who tried another ratings ploy (birth of twins) which didn't work either) and Mork & Mindy (cancelled the same year by ABC).

As far as I can remember, it was stated in an earlier episode that Jeannie would lose her powers if she got married. Of course, this didn't happen. This inconsistency would be more of an argument against the marriage than comparison with Bewitched, whose marriage was a part of the original premise and not an added plot device.

And to answer the question:

Bewitched vs. IDOJ?

I vote for........IDOJ!

I love both shows, but IDOJ has a slight edge, and I like the characters on IDOJ better than on Bewitched. So IDOJ is definitely my favorite of the two. Plus, I find Jeannie more fascinating than Samantha. Jeannie was never suppressed or inhibited. She was not typical. She was unique. She was a free spirit who was unapologetic about who she was. And knew how to have fun......and that fun was contagious.

Hence, for me, Jeannie will always be the epitome of magic. :D


Jeannie was like a spoiled brat on more than one occasion. She used her magic to get what she wanted or to get revenge on Tony because he didn't always want to do things her way. Her jealousy of any woman Tony was seen with was obvious. Samantha, on the other hand, was an adult and acted like one. Even though her magic wasn't any more perfect than Jeannie's, her intentions were good, either to try to help someone or to stop her relatives from interfering in her marriage to the man she loved.

No comparison.

Jeannie was like a spoiled brat on more than one occasion. She used her magic to get what she wanted or to get revenge on Tony because he didn't always want to do things her way. Her jealousy of any woman Tony was seen with was obvious. Samantha, on the other hand, was an adult and acted like one. Even though her magic wasn't any more perfect than Jeannie's, her intentions were good, either to try to help someone or to stop her relatives from interfering in her marriage to the man she loved.

No comparison.

YES, you hit the nail on the head. Samantha was a much nicer person than Jeannie; that made me prefer Bewitched too.

The quality of the writing started dipping during the fourth season, then Dick York's missed episodes made it worse. At least Dick Sargent (the original choice for Darrin) made a constant presence of a major character. It's not his fault the writing wasn't as good and that they had to remake episodes because they couldn't think of anything else to do. Blaming Dick Sargent for the fall in quality of Bewitched is like blaming Shemp for the drop in quality because of lesser budgets and remakes in the Three Stooges shorts.

I never noticed anything about the writing, and while Dick Sargent was a decent enough actor, Dick York was cemented in my mind as Darrin. Similarly, no one could really replace Elizabeth Montgomery either.

But I have to say I LOVED both Gladyses. And even though I did, there will always be a special place in my heart for Alice Pearce-the first Gladys. The poor thing was dying of cancer as she was doing the series, and I cherish the episodes she was in.

Jeannie was like a spoiled brat on more than one occasion. She used her magic to get what she wanted or to get revenge on Tony because he didn't always want to do things her way. Her jealousy of any woman Tony was seen with was obvious. Samantha, on the other hand, was an adult and acted like one. Even though her magic wasn't any more perfect than Jeannie's, her intentions were good, either to try to help someone or to stop her relatives from interfering in her marriage to the man she loved.

No comparison.

Plus, Samantha used her magic to help Darren at work more than once.

You're confusing manners with substance. Samantha gave the appearance of being nice, but she always had it within her ability to put her foot down and stop her family from tormenting Darrin, but she never did that. She also deceived Darrin about being a witch and having a sadistic family. Jeannie may have been an emotional powder keg, but Samantha was coolly manipulative and deceptive.

Hi Alan Brady's Hair. I really appreciate your post (even though our takes on Samantha are completely different). You made me realize I need to clarify my post. Saying someone is "nicer" is kind of vague so let me expand. When I say Sam was "nicer", I mean she was FAR LESS manipulative of Darrin than Jeannie of Tony. Sam tried to respect Darrin's wishes as much as possible, and only lied or used witchcraft when it served a higher purpose-like keeping her father or another witch/warlock from trying to harm him.

And she DID try to put her foot down, but did it diplomatically. She loved many members of her side of the family, who were strong personalities; she worked hard to keep situations from degenerating into "it's either us" or "him". There were COUNTLESS times she stood up for Darrin, diffusing situations. And she only had so much control over how others chose to behave.We have complete free will to change our own behavior, but only so much over another's.

An other way Sam was nicer was that she was much less vindictive than Jeannie. The worst thing I ever saw Sam do to Darrin in anger was blink him from their bed to the sofa downstairs. Jeannie, on the other hand, would blink Tony to hanging onto a rope a few feet above crocodiles.

In IDOJ there's no question in my mind that the real "master" was Jeannie. Because if Tony didn't do something she wanted, she was willing to terrorize him. Jeannie didn't want a master, she wanted a love slave.

Back to Bewitched, it's also important to add that Darrin brought a good amount of Sam's family disdain onto himself-especially with Endora. He could be quite testy and insulting; not wise things to do with others more powerful.

But, I probably haven't changed your viewpoint or yours mine, so let's, if you'll forgive the cliche, agree to disagree. It would be a boring world if we all thought the same way.

Plus, Samantha used her magic to help Darren at work more than once.

And your point is?

That Samantha acted like an adult on more than one occasion while Jeannie acted like a spoiled brat on more than one occasion?

I accept that.

And your point is?

That Samantha acted like an adult on more than one occasion while Jeannie acted like a spoiled brat on more than one occasion?

I accept that.

Then I guess you got my point.

Jeannie was luckier than Samantha in that she only had ONE 'master' [Tony] while Samantha had to referee TWO [Darren and Endora]. :rolleyes:

Jeannie was luckier than Samantha in that she only had ONE 'master' [Tony] while Samantha had to referee TWO [Darren and Endora]. :rolleyes:

Cute-and true! Endora could be a handful.

Oh, please! Bewitched is leaps and bounds better than I Dream of Jeannie!

This debate is as old as the shows themselves. I can just see how it was in the 60s premiere of IDOJ, the first brake comes on and one person turns to another and ask "who do you like better Jeannie or Sam?

By the way I always liked betwitched better, Jeannie was funny but sometimes it seems as thought she has no control over her powers at all.

Oh, please! Bewitched is leaps and bounds better than I Dream of Jeannie!

Oh, please! Jeannie is leaps and bounds better than Bewitched!

By the way I always liked betwitched better, Jeannie was funny but sometimes it seems as thought she has no control over her powers at all.

I always liked Jeannie better. And Jeannie definitely had control over her powers.

Oh, please! Jeannie is leaps and bounds better than Bewitched!

Obviously you know nothing about taste... :rolleyes:

Oh, please! Jeannie is leaps and bounds better than Bewitched!

By whose standards? Bewitched, at least at the beginning, was a literate look at a mixed marriage. One might be surprised after seeing later episodes how serious the early episodes could be. Which isn't to say it wasn't funny as well. I Dream of Jeannie, already discussed as an NBC copy of Bewitched, was just a jokey, kiddie-type show from the get-go.

I liked Bewitched better. It's probably because I liked Samantha better than Jeannie.

Bewitched for me. Looking at it now, Sam is better than Jeannie.

Bewitched is miles better than I Dream Of Jeannie

Obviously you know nothing about taste... :rolleyes:
Well, seeing as how this is the forum for the show I Dream of Jeannie, and not the forum for Bewitched, it's all a matter of opinion, especially for the fans of IDoJ. We have our reasons that can sometimes be put into words and sometimes cannot. Is that taste? Yes, it is, and our tastes favor I Dream of Jeannie.

To be honest, I used to like Bewitched, but got tired of how it seemed to be nothing more than Darrin's constant belligerence against anything to do with magic, and Samantha's relatives attempting to teach him a lesson.

In contrast, while Tony sometimes lost his temper at Jeannie about her use of magic, he only forbid her to use it a few times and got to see/experience the consequences of those bad decisions. Eventually, he came to like her magic and even expected her to use it to his benefit (such as suggesting that she make Susie and everyone else forget they ever saw Jeannie in that particular episode.) He did learn that she could do good things for him that wouldn't get him in trouble, though his imagination for anything else was lacking. Then again, I've known way too many engineers just like him. Imagination aplenty for their work, and no clue about anything outside of that. When presented by fantasy/magic they try to 'explain' the unexplainable.

Darrin never grew to like magic, ever. Which is too bad that he remained so stubborn and couldn't let go of that. The writers could have evolved him, but chose to keep his character as negative and fearful as possible with regards to the magic in his life.

Tony at least learned how to have fun with Jeannie and her magic, and the writers kept that characteristic they had developed in him :)

As I said above, I think the Dick York episodes are better than I Dream of Jeannie, but the Sargent episodes are worse, so maybe I can see both sides of this.
Okay, but I was never comparing the actors. I was describing the character of Darrin and how he was portrayed by the writing alone. They wrote him to have an on-going abject fear of magic and that then leads to his belligerence with his wife any time she used even just a little bit of that "unnatural" energy. That got tedious to me. Tony was never like that and thus, much more likable.

Anyway, even though this is one of those X-Show vs. Y-Show threads, I really don't care what the fans of Bewitched think about the show they love. This is the I Dream of Jeannie forum. Expect us to love the show for which we are fans, to defend it, and yes, for some to even to compare it to other shows. Whereas I'd much rather discuss the minutia and Arabian Fantasy nature of the show instead :)

Now then, it's usually a good idea for folks to not go to the forums of competing shows and berate, however politely one goes about that. That's why I really don't get the reason this thread was started. I see no redeeming qualities to it or threads like it. Such topics only fuel long-lasting arguments and fights.

When both shows started (the black and white episodes) they were both similar, fantasy/romantic comedies. When the color episodes started, IDOJ turned into a silly comedy, almost like a live action cartoon. Bewitched color episodes have their silly moments, but Bewitched always tried to maintain somewhat of an adult sophistication to it. Between the two shows, I used to prefer IDOJ but now I prefer Bewitched because overall I think it has better writing. Of the two actresses, both women are pretty but I like Barbara Eden better.

By whose standards? Bewitched, at least at the beginning, was a literate look at a mixed marriage. One might be surprised after seeing later episodes how serious the early episodes could be. Which isn't to say it wasn't funny as well. I Dream of Jeannie, already discussed as an NBC copy of Bewitched, was just a jokey, kiddie-type show from the get-go.

By my standards. Jeannie is better and that's my opinion.

Bewitched for me. Looking at it now, Sam is better than Jeannie.

I'm the opposite. Looking at it now, Jeannie is better than Samantha.

Bewitched is miles better than I Dream Of Jeannie

I disagree. I Dream of Jeannie is miles better than Bewitched.

Saying someone is "nicer" is kind of vague so let me expand. When I say Sam was "nicer", I mean she was FAR LESS manipulative of Darrin than Jeannie of Tony. Sam tried to respect Darrin's wishes as much as possible, and only lied or used witchcraft when it served a higher purpose-like keeping her father or another witch/warlock from trying to harm him. .

Samantha was VERY manipulative starting with the pilot episode. She let Darrin fall in love with her and marry her and she did not tell him that she was a witch. Her being a witch was a big deal and it was VERY manipulative. It was made worse because she KNEW her family (her father, for example) would not approve of Darrin and, in fact, would try to harm him, which some did try to do. It's different with Jeannie. You are comparing a married couple (Darrin/Samantha) to two unmarried people (Tony/Jeannie). The relationship dynamics are different. Jeannie was not married to Tony and she was trying to get him and we saw that for 5 years before they were married. So, of course, there was a difference. We did not see Samantha and Darrin for years before they were married. We did not see Samantha trying to get Darrin. However, Samantha proved she could be very manipulative, which was worse since Darrin was her husband at the time, someone she made a promise to and took vows with , unlike Major Nelson who was not yet Jeannie's husband. Plus, Samantha lied to Darrin over and over again. She used her magic even when she did not have to. It was not always about protecting Darrin. She snuck behind Darrin's back using her witchcraft for little things, like, locking the door, turning a cat into a human, cleaning up the living room, and zapping a Christmas tree. She even used her witchcraft during the pilot episode with Darrin's ex and she also used her witchcraft to clean the kitchen. The same pilot episode where she promised her husband that she would not use her witchcraft. She took marriage vows with Darrin and promised to not use her witchcraft. Yet she was sneaky, manipulative and dishonest........over and over and over again. I don't consider that "nice." After Jeannie and Major Nelson got married, she did not lie to her husband over and over again and she did not allow her relatives to constantly victimize or disrespect her husband like Samantha did.

And she DID try to put her foot down, but did it diplomatically. She loved many members of her side of the family, who were strong personalities; she worked hard to keep situations from degenerating into "it's either us" or "him". There were COUNTLESS times she stood up for Darrin, diffusing situations. And she only had so much control over how others chose to behave.We have complete free will to change our own behavior, but only so much over another's.

Samantha could of threatened that if they did not treat Darrin better, they were no longer welcomed in their home. Or she could visit them instead of her family constantly popping in all the time, uninvited and victimizing her defenseless husband. But she did not do this at all. She even laughed when some of her relatives disrespected and victimized her husband in his own home.

An other way Sam was nicer was that she was much less vindictive than Jeannie. The worst thing I ever saw Sam do to Darrin in anger was blink him from their bed to the sofa downstairs. Jeannie, on the other hand, would blink Tony to hanging onto a rope a few feet above crocodiles..

There was an episode in which Darrin asked Samantha to help him change a flat tire, so they wouldn't be late for a dinner party. However, Samantha refused to help him and he was forced to do it himself. It was raining. Darrin could of gotten pneumonia. But she refused because of her ego. She was upset that Darrin caught her using her magic (which was not for an emergency nor a life and death situation) and scolded her about it. She let her husband, whom she took vows with, be humiliated once they made it to the dinner party as well, all to teach him a lesson. So Samantha could definitely be vindictive, which was worse since Darrin was her husband. However, Jeannie was not vindictive when she took vows and Major Nelson became her husband and she did not constantly lie to her husband over and over and over again (like Samantha did).

btw -- that episode with Major Nelson and the crocodiles was not Jeannie's fault. Major Nelson told Jeannie to read a torturing book and do exactly what it said. Jeannie tried to explain that it was a book of tortures but Major Nelson would not listen and hence she did what he said. She did not want to do it but Major Nelson demanded it.

In IDOJ there's no question in my mind that the real "master" was Jeannie. Because if Tony didn't do something she wanted, she was willing to terrorize him. Jeannie didn't want a master, she wanted a love slave.

Not true. She wanted a husband. When Jeannie thought that Major Nelson didn't want to be with her, she left him. It was Major Nelson who came after her and asked her to marry him.

Back to Bewitched, it's also important to add that Darrin brought a good amount of Sam's family disdain onto himself-especially with Endora. He could be quite testy and insulting; not wise things to do with others more powerful.

Endora and Maurice threatened to kill Darrin. Samantha's father did, in fact, kill Darrin. Darrin knows that Samantha's family does not like him. He has a right to be testy and insulting to people who tried to harm him in his own home. Samantha should of put her foot down and not allow her husband to be made uncomfortable, disrespected, and victimized in his own home.

and we saw that for 5 years before they were married.

4 years 1965-69

Samantha could of threatened...Samantha should of put her foot down...

Always should have, could have, would have...never should of, could of, would of.

If Samantha didn't do any witchcraft, there would be no show. If Darrin didn't object to Samantha's witchcraft, there would be no show. When Samantha does things that Darrin doesn't approve, it shows she has a mind of her own. Unlike Jeannie who did just two things: whatever she thought Tony wanted or would help him or when she got mad, she got vindictive and unreasonable.

Bewitched, at least in the beginning, started out as a show for adults kids could also like, with some episodes quite serious. Jeannie, was a kiddie show from the beginning

My TV show can beat up your TV show.

Always should have, could have, would have...never should of, could of, would of.

If Samantha didn't do any witchcraft, there would be no show. If Darrin didn't object to Samantha's witchcraft, there would be no show. When Samantha does things that Darrin doesn't approve, it shows she has a mind of her own.

I disagree. It makes Samantha sneaky, manipulative, deceitful and dishonest. She made a promise to her husband yet she lied and dishonored him over and over. She can still have a "mind of her own," and not be dishonest about it. Don't marry a person under false pretenses. She withheld important life-changing information from him, which was that she was not a normal woman. She was a witch. That is not having a "mind of her own." That was her being manipulative, unreasonable, and dishonest. It was totally disrespectful each and everytime she used witchcraft behind her husband's back after she agreed and promised that she would not to the man she took marriage vows with.

Bewitched, at least in the beginning, started out as a show for adults kids could also like, with some episodes quite serious. Jeannie, was a kiddie show from the beginning

Actually, I thought of Jeannie as a show for all ages......adults and kids. I know plenty of adults who watch IDOJ and love it.

When Samantha does things that Darrin doesn't approve, it shows she has a mind of her own. Unlike Jeannie who did just two things: whatever she thought Tony wanted or would help him or when she got mad, she got vindictive and unreasonable.

Okay. If that's the case. The same thing can be said about Jeannie. Jeannie did two things that showed she had a mind of her own. Just like Samantha did one thing (lying, deceiving Darrin and sneaking behind his back and breaking her promise to him) which apparently shows her having a mind of her own. At least in Jeannie's case, it was not her husband. It was a different relationship from the married Darrin/Samantha relationship. When Jeannie and Tony got married she did not lie to her husband constantly like Samantha and allow him to be disrespected/threatened and made to feel uncomfortable in his own home by her family over and over again.

btw -- Samantha could also be vindictive and unreasonable, in my opinion.

My TV show can beat up your TV show.

Actually, I don't have this attitude, but with the constant bashing of IDOJ/Jeannie, I just had to state my opinion, as it seems Jeannie is always wrong to some people while Samantha is always right or perfect to those very same people.

Believe it or not, I like both shows. However, IDOJ has always been my favorite of the two.

But the main difference was the supporting cast. In addition to the leads, you had Endora, Larry Tate, Gladys and Abner Kravitz, Aunt Clara, the Stephens parents, Tabitha, Uncle Arthur, Dr. Bombay, etc. Outside of Roger Healey (who was excellent, I admit) and Dr. Bellows ( a shrill, annoying one-note character), who was there?

In addition to the leads......you had Major Healy, Dr. Bellows, General Petterson, General Shaeffer, Amanda Bellows, and Jeannie II. Jeannie's cast was smaller, but I liked the cast of Jeannie more than the whole cast of Bewitched combined. I guess for me, it's quality instead of quantity.

Jeannie was like a spoiled brat on more than one occasion. She used her magic to get what she wanted or to get revenge on Tony because he didn't always want to do things her way. Her jealousy of any woman Tony was seen with was obvious.

Jeannie was willing to walk away from Major Nelson (3 times to be exact), so obviously she was not that worried about always wanting to do things her way (which was marrying him). And even though she was jealous, she did let Major Nelson go out on a date with his ex-girlfriend (whose boyfriend was a mobster), even though she was not happy about it.

Samantha acted like a spoiled brat on more than one occasion. She used her magic to get what the wanted, which made her a deceitful and sneaky. Samantha got revenge on Darrin, her husband, because she was upset that he caught her being sneaky and deceitful using her magic. She became vindictive and wanted to punish Darrin when he asked her to help him change a flat tire out in the rain. She refused. Darrin was forced to do it himself, in the pouring rain. He could of gotten pneumonia. And so what if Jeannie was jealous of other women. Tony would kiss Jeannie and sometimes treat her like his girlfriend, so it's understandable that she would, indeed, be jealous.

Samantha, on the other hand, was an adult and acted like one. Even though her magic wasn't any more perfect than Jeannie's, her intentions were good, either to try to help someone or to stop her relatives from interfering in her marriage to the man she loved.

No comparison.

Samantha had already gotten her man, so she didn't have to worry about jealousy too often. However, it did not stop Samantha from lying about her true identity when Darrin fell in love with her and married her. I don't consider that very adult. I consider it being a spoiled, deceitful, manipulative brat who only cared about getting her way and not caring about the harm (her parents tried to kill Darrin) she was bringing to her mortal husband.

And Jeannie also used her magic for good. But everytime Samantha used her magic behind her husband's back (which was often), I did not consider it good. I considered it deceitful, sneaky, and disrespectful. She made a promise to her husband only to break that promise several times. She wanted to have her cake and eat it, too. Hence to get what she wanted at the expense of her husband who was constantly threatened and disrespected by her relatives. She did not stop this and even occasionally laughed along with her relatives who disrespected Darrin. Yep. Sounds like a spoiled, selfish brat to me. If Samantha was such an adult, she would not have to sneak around and use her magic behind her husband's back (like a child sneaking around and doing something behind their parents' back).

Even though her magic wasn't any more perfect than Jeannie's, her intentions were good, either to try to help someone or to stop her relatives from interfering in her marriage to the man she loved.


If Samantha's intentions were truly "good," she would of put a stop to her family torturing her husband, but she did not.

Disregarding opinions and dealing only in fact, the simple fact is NBC saw the ratings ABC had with Bewitched and wanted a similar series for themselves. I Dream of Jeannie was a copy from the beginning. Of course, it wasn't an exact copy. But you must take into account that both programs were produced by the same studio (Screen Gems/Columbia, now Sony) so they were able to get closer to being a copy than if it had been at a different studio.

Well, I never saw IDOJ as a copy of Bewitched. If that's the case, then Bewitched is a copy of "My Favorite Martian" as well as the movies "Bell, Book, and Candle, and "I Married A Witch." So Bewitched is not the first or original.

However, most shows on TV are not original.

For example:

Should there only be one daytime soap opera on TV?

Should there only be one news show on TV?

Should there only be one married couple on TV?

Should there only be one western show on TV?

Should there only be one African-American show on TV?

Should there only be one court show on TV?

Should there only be one talk show on TV?

Should there only one game show on TV?

Should there only be one cartoon on TV?

Should there only be one cop show on TV?

Should there only be one comedy show on TV?

If that's the case, then "Bewitched" should never exist. "My Favorite Martian" should of been the only supernatural show on TV. In fact, by those standards, if only one show (the original) is allowed, then we wouldn't even have this very forum to talk about all the many (not original) television shows that we love and enjoy.

Disregarding opinions and dealing only in fact, the simple fact is NBC saw the ratings ABC had with Bewitched and wanted a similar series for themselves.

So what? Aren't there soap operas, news show, and sitcom comedies on just about every network television station? Wasn't "My Favorite Martian" on CBS? If so, then the same can be said about "Bewitched." It was ABC's answer to CBS' "My Favorite Martian."

Darrin never grew to like magic, ever. Which is too bad that he remained so stubborn and couldn't let go of that. The writers could have evolved him, but chose to keep his character as negative and fearful as possible with regards to the magic in his life.

Tony at least learned how to have fun with Jeannie and her magic, and the writers kept that characteristic they had developed in him :)

That is something that I always liked about Tony. It's also why I like Tony and Jeannie as a duo/couple better than Samantha and Darrin as a duo/couple and as individual characters.

Jeannie was more fun than Samantha. And Tony was definitely more fun than Darrin. :)

Don't forget Jeannie was also very jealous of women Tony dated. She would turn them into dogs and other things. She also kept Tony from dating by keeping him in a cage, hanging upside down on a rope and also putting him in her own bottle.

Hi Wiseguy, In regards to your post - Dr. Bellows was a one note character.... but Gladys or Abner Kravitz or any of the other supporting characters such as Uncle Arthur or Esmerelda for example weren't???? I love both shows - truly, but neither delved into the nuances of supporting characters (nor did any sitcoms) like it was Shakespeare. Hayden Rorke was EXCELLENT as Dr. Bellows just as the supporting actors on Bewitched were as well! :)

I Dream of Jeannie WASN'T a "Rip-off" of Bewitched. I posted this on another forum:

As a fan of BOTH shows, I really get tired of hearing how Jeannie was a "rip-off" of Bewitched. That simply is NOT true. First off, the concept for Bewitched was NOT William Asher and Elizabeth Montgomery's. Originally Tammy Grimes is the actress that the studio had in mind for the role. Elizabeth M. and William A. took ANOTHER concept to Screen Gems. It was after Grimes had turned down the role that the Screen Gems executives looked at the idea Asher and Montgomery brought in and told them to look at Bewitched, which they liked better. As for Sidney Sheldon "stealing" any ideas, that is simply not true. Sheldon had seen a movie "The Brass Bottle" in 1964 (the year before the premiere of Jeannie) with Berle Ives as a male genie which Tony Randall finds in a lamp (Barbara Eden was also in that movie as Randall's fiance'). He had an idea THEN to do a show about a beautiful female genie. Bewitched was not an original premise either, as creator Sol Saks, explained. There was the movie "I Married A Witch" and "Bell, Book, and Candle," which both came prior to Bewitched. Sol Saks was afraid they could get sued for doing Bewitched until he was told that Columbia Pictures owned both movies. Screen Gems, that owned Bewitched and Jeannie, was the "TV side" of Columbia Pictures. Yes, Saks was asked to do another show about a witch - but NOT by NBC. He was asked by Screen Gems executives - who wanted ANOTHER hit show. He turned them down and they later asked Sidney Sheldon. Sheldon told them he did not want to do a show about a witch but he had another idea he had been thinking about doing. As for the meeting Sheldon had with Asher and Montgomery, William Asher coined the phrase that Sheldon wanted to do "a sort of rip-off." Actually, Sheldon wanted to get a dark haired middle-eastern type to fit the role but also to lessen any comparisons between both shows. He could not find the innate quality he was looking for in anyone except Barbara Eden. Also, someone posted that Sheldon copied everything including the animated opening from Bewitched. That is ridiculous as most ALL shows from that era had an animated opening (Batman, The Lucy Show, My Favorite Martian, Dennis the Menace, etc.). Speaking of My Favorite Martian, another supernatural sitcom, it premiered one year BEFORE Bewitched but I doubt anyone ever claims Bewitched came about in any way because of it. As for "stealing scripts," Sidney Sheldon and William Asher both worked on The Patty Duke Show which aired before either Bewitched or Jeannie. Sheldon, who wrote virtually every script for The Patty Duke Show, wanted TWIN SISTERS. William Asher suggested TWIN COUSINS which they ultimately went with on the show. Twin "Cousin Serena," who first showed up in season 2 of Bewitched (in 1965) when Tabitha was born and not again until season 4, was not an original concept (incidentally Serena's 2nd appearance aired one week after Jeannie's sister was introduced in season 3 of I Dream of Jeannie). I say that Serena was not an original concept meaning the evil twin plot line has been done for years - and, as noted with Parry Duke, was done before Bewitched. Also, remember Bette Davis in the 1964 movie, Dead Ringer??? I've never heard that the "Cousin Serena" was stolen from The Patty Duke Show or any other similar plot. Actually, as far as scripts go (and I'm not talking about the ones with Serena or Jeannie's sister) I once listed 15 different scripts where EACH SHOW had a script and the other did it either one or two years LATER - both Jeannie AND Bewitched. Do I think they deliberately copied each other? No. They both were produced by Screen Gems and used some of the same writers. Writers discuss ideas, etc. and ideas get recycled. How many times and on how many shows have we seen the amnesia bit? Plus, the execution of those similar or "same"ideas on Bewitched and Jeannie looked different most every time. Sheldon stated in an interview that Jeannie never took any scripts from Bewitched and to his knowledge Bewitched never took any from Jeannie. One more thing to remember - Bewitched aired Sept. 17, 1964. The pilot of I Dream of Jeannie was BEING SHOT in December of 1964. Think about it - Sidney Sheldon would have had to have written the script, hired everyone in the cast for the pilot, and had everything ready (sets, costumes, etc.). All of that takes TIME. Barbara Eden has said in interviews that she had been seeing reports in Variety for MONTHS about the testing of actresses for the role of Jeannie. That Jeannie was a "copy" of Bewitched is just not logical in relation to the time factor. It makes more sense that (as Sheldon has stated in interviews) he was inspired by the movie The Brass Bottle, released in 1964, and that is how the concept was born. I DO think that where Bewitched comes in to play is that it was such an immediate hit for Screen Gems, they wanted another supernatural hit for another network and Sheldon was eventually approached. Sheldon told them about the idea he had for a female genie, it was pitched to the networks, and NBC bought it. It also makes sense that he told Asher and Montgomery about it due to the obvious comparisons that would be drawn. It's funny to me that William Asher stated in interviews how Jeannie "stole ideas" from them (even though - again - I can name at least 15 times on both sides - where each had a plot at least one year before the other) yet if he felt that way so strongly, why did he agree to direct the I Dream of Jeannie: 15 Years Later reunion movie on NBC in 1985? No disrespect, but it just sounds very petty. I LOVE both shows and the stars in both, but this topic drives me crazy! To my knowledge no one associated with I Dream of Jeannie, including Sidney Sheldon, has ever said a bad word about Bewitched or anyone associated with it. Both are GREAT TV classics and should stand on their own merits. They are DIFFERENT shows. The premises are different and the characters certainly are different. I'm just thankful we are fortunate to have them BOTH!




Actually, I don't have this attitude, but with the constant bashing of IDOJ/Jeannie, I just had to state my opinion, as it seems Jeannie is always wrong to some people while Samantha is always right or perfect to those very same people.

Believe it or not, I like both shows. However, IDOJ has always been my favorite of the two.



In addition to the leads......you had Major Healy, Dr. Bellows, General Petterson, General Shaeffer, Amanda Bellows, and Jeannie II. Jeannie's cast was smaller, but I liked the cast of Jeannie more than the whole cast of Bewitched combined. I guess for me, it's quality instead of quantity.



Jeannie was willing to walk away from Major Nelson (3 times to be exact), so obviously she was not that worried about always wanting to do things her way (which was marrying him). And even though she was jealous, she did let Major Nelson go out on a date with his ex-girlfriend (whose boyfriend was a mobster), even though she was not happy about it.

Samantha acted like a spoiled brat on more than one occasion. She used her magic to get what the wanted, which made her a deceitful and sneaky. Samantha got revenge on Darrin, her husband, because she was upset that he caught her being sneaky and deceitful using her magic. She became vindictive and wanted to punish Darrin when he asked her to help him change a flat tire out in the rain. She refused. Darrin was forced to do it himself, in the pouring rain. He could of gotten pneumonia. And so what if Jeannie was jealous of other women. Tony would kiss Jeannie and sometimes treat her like his girlfriend, so it's understandable that she would, indeed, be jealous.



Samantha had already gotten her man, so she didn't have to worry about jealousy too often. However, it did not stop Samantha from lying about her true identity when Darrin fell in love with her and married her. I don't consider that very adult. I consider it being a spoiled, deceitful, manipulative brat who only cared about getting her way and not caring about the harm (her parents tried to kill Darrin) she was bringing to her mortal husband.

And Jeannie also used her magic for good. But everytime Samantha used her magic behind her husband's back (which was often), I did not consider it good. I considered it deceitful, sneaky, and disrespectful. She made a promise to her husband only to break that promise several times. She wanted to have her cake and eat it, too. Hence to get what she wanted at the expense of her husband who was constantly threatened and disrespected by her relatives. She did not stop this and even occasionally laughed along with her relatives who disrespected Darrin. Yep. Sounds like a spoiled, selfish brat to me. If Samantha was such an adult, she would not have to sneak around and use her magic behind her husband's back (like a child sneaking around and doing something behind their parents' back).



If Samantha's intentions were truly "good," she would of put a stop to her family torturing her husband, but she did not.



Well, I never saw IDOJ as a copy of Bewitched. If that's the case, then Bewitched is a copy of "My Favorite Martian" as well as the movies "Bell, Book, and Candle, and "I Married A Witch." So Bewitched is not the first or original.

However, most shows on TV are not original.

For example:

Should there only be one daytime soap opera on TV?

Should there only be one news show on TV?

Should there only be one married couple on TV?

Should there only be one western show on TV?

Should there only be one African-American show on TV?

Should there only be one court show on TV?

Should there only be one talk show on TV?

Should there only one game show on TV?

Should there only be one cartoon on TV?

Should there only be one cop show on TV?

Should there only be one comedy show on TV?

If that's the case, then "Bewitched" should never exist. "My Favorite Martian" should of been the only supernatural show on TV. In fact, by those standards, if only one show (the original) is allowed, then we wouldn't even have this very forum to talk about all the many (not original) television shows that we love and enjoy.



So what? Aren't there soap operas, news show, and sitcom comedies on just about every network television station? Wasn't "My Favorite Martian" on CBS? If so, then the same can be said about "Bewitched." It was ABC's answer to CBS' "My Favorite Martian."

[QUOTE=Wiseguy2 I Dream of Jeannie, already discussed as an NBC copy of Bewitched, was just a jokey, kiddie-type show from the get-go.[/QUOTE]

Here are the facts about I Dream of Jeannie and its creation from an earlier post of mine. I'm a fan of BOTH shows for different reasons. They are BOTH television classics but are DIFFERENT.

As a fan of BOTH shows, I really get tired of hearing how Jeannie was a "rip-off" of Bewitched. That simply is NOT true. First off, the concept for Bewitched was NOT William Asher and Elizabeth Montgomery's. Originally Tammy Grimes is the actress that the studio had in mind for the role. Elizabeth M. and William A. took ANOTHER concept to Screen Gems. It was after Grimes had turned down the role that the Screen Gems executives looked at the idea Asher and Montgomery brought in and told them to look at Bewitched, which they liked better. As for Sidney Sheldon "stealing" any ideas, that is simply not true. Sheldon had seen a movie "The Brass Bottle" in 1964 (the year before the premiere of Jeannie) with Berle Ives as a male genie which Tony Randall finds in a lamp (Barbara Eden was also in that movie as Randall's fiance'). He had an idea THEN to do a show about a beautiful female genie. Bewitched was not an original premise either, as creator Sol Saks, explained. There was the movie "I Married A Witch" and "Bell, Book, and Candle," which both came prior to Bewitched. Sol Saks was afraid they could get sued for doing Bewitched until he was told that Columbia Pictures owned both movies. Screen Gems, that owned Bewitched and Jeannie, was the "TV side" of Columbia Pictures. Yes, Saks was asked to do another show about a witch - but NOT by NBC. He was asked by Screen Gems executives - who wanted ANOTHER hit show. He turned them down and they later asked Sidney Sheldon. Sheldon told them he did not want to do a show about a witch but he had another idea he had been thinking about doing. As for the meeting Sheldon had with Asher and Montgomery, William Asher coined the phrase that Sheldon wanted to do "a sort of rip-off." Actually, Sheldon wanted to get a dark haired middle-eastern type to fit the role but also to lessen any comparisons between both shows. He could not find the innate quality he was looking for in anyone except Barbara Eden. Also, someone posted that Sheldon copied everything including the animated opening from Bewitched. That is ridiculous as most ALL shows from that era had an animated opening (Batman, The Lucy Show, My Favorite Martian, Dennis the Menace, etc.). Speaking of My Favorite Martian, another supernatural sitcom, it premiered one year BEFORE Bewitched but I doubt anyone ever claims Bewitched came about in any way because of it. As for "stealing scripts," Sidney Sheldon and William Asher both worked on The Patty Duke Show which aired before either Bewitched or Jeannie. Sheldon, who wrote virtually every script for The Patty Duke Show, wanted TWIN SISTERS. William Asher suggested TWIN COUSINS which they ultimately went with on the show. Twin "Cousin Serena," who first showed up in season 2 of Bewitched (in 1965) when Tabitha was born and not again until season 4, was not an original concept (incidentally Serena's 2nd appearance aired one week after Jeannie's sister was introduced in season 3 of I Dream of Jeannie). I say that Serena was not an original concept meaning the evil twin plot line has been done for years - and, as noted with Parry Duke, was done before Bewitched. Also, remember Bette Davis in the 1964 movie, Dead Ringer??? I've never heard that the "Cousin Serena" was stolen from The Patty Duke Show or any other similar plot. Actually, as far as scripts go (and I'm not talking about the ones with Serena or Jeannie's sister) I once listed 15 different scripts where EACH SHOW had a script and the other did it either one or two years LATER - both Jeannie AND Bewitched. Do I think they deliberately copied each other? No. They both were produced by Screen Gems and used some of the same writers. Writers discuss ideas, etc. and ideas get recycled. How many times and on how many shows have we seen the amnesia bit? Plus, the execution of those similar or "same"ideas on Bewitched and Jeannie looked different most every time. Sheldon stated in an interview that Jeannie never took any scripts from Bewitched and to his knowledge Bewitched never took any from Jeannie. One more thing to remember - Bewitched aired Sept. 17, 1964. The pilot of I Dream of Jeannie was BEING SHOT in December of 1964. Think about it - Sidney Sheldon would have had to have written the script, hired everyone in the cast for the pilot, and had everything ready (sets, costumes, etc.). All of that takes TIME. Barbara Eden has said in interviews that she had been seeing reports in Variety for MONTHS about the testing of actresses for the role of Jeannie. That Jeannie was a "copy" of Bewitched is just not logical in relation to the time factor. It makes more sense that (as Sheldon has stated in interviews) he was inspired by the movie The Brass Bottle, released in 1964, and that is how the concept was born. I DO think that where Bewitched comes in to play is that it was such an immediate hit for Screen Gems, they wanted another supernatural hit for another network and Sheldon was eventually approached. Sheldon told them about the idea he had for a female genie, it was pitched to the networks, and NBC bought it. It also makes sense that he told Asher and Montgomery about it due to the obvious comparisons that would be drawn. It's funny to me that William Asher stated in interviews how Jeannie "stole ideas" from them (even though - again - I can name at least 15 times on both sides - where each had a plot at least one year before the other) yet if he felt that way so strongly, why did he agree to direct the I Dream of Jeannie: 15 Years Later reunion movie on NBC in 1985? No disrespect, but it just sounds very petty. I LOVE both shows and the stars in both, but this topic drives me crazy! To my knowledge no one associated with I Dream of Jeannie, including Sidney Sheldon, has ever said a bad word about Bewitched or anyone associated with it. Both are GREAT TV classics and should stand on their own merits. They are DIFFERENT shows. The premises are different and the characters certainly are different. I'm just thankful we are fortunate to have them BOTH!

Here are the facts about I Dream of Jeannie and its creation from an earlier post of mine. I'm a fan of BOTH shows for different reasons. They are BOTH television classics but are DIFFERENT.

As a fan of BOTH shows, I really get tired of hearing how Jeannie was a "rip-off" of Bewitched. That simply is NOT true. First off, the concept for Bewitched was NOT William Asher and Elizabeth Montgomery's. Originally Tammy Grimes is the actress that the studio had in mind for the role. Elizabeth M. and William A. took ANOTHER concept to Screen Gems. It was after Grimes had turned down the role that the Screen Gems executives looked at the idea Asher and Montgomery brought in and told them to look at Bewitched, which they liked better. As for Sidney Sheldon "stealing" any ideas, that is simply not true. Sheldon had seen a movie "The Brass Bottle" in 1964 (the year before the premiere of Jeannie) with Berle Ives as a male genie which Tony Randall finds in a lamp (Barbara Eden was also in that movie as Randall's fiance'). He had an idea THEN to do a show about a beautiful female genie. Bewitched was not an original premise either, as creator Sol Saks, explained. There was the movie "I Married A Witch" and "Bell, Book, and Candle," which both came prior to Bewitched. Sol Saks was afraid they could get sued for doing Bewitched until he was told that Columbia Pictures owned both movies. Screen Gems, that owned Bewitched and Jeannie, was the "TV side" of Columbia Pictures. Yes, Saks was asked to do another show about a witch - but NOT by NBC. He was asked by Screen Gems executives - who wanted ANOTHER hit show. He turned them down and they later asked Sidney Sheldon. Sheldon told them he did not want to do a show about a witch but he had another idea he had been thinking about doing. As for the meeting Sheldon had with Asher and Montgomery, William Asher coined the phrase that Sheldon wanted to do "a sort of rip-off." Actually, Sheldon wanted to get a dark haired middle-eastern type to fit the role but also to lessen any comparisons between both shows. He could not find the innate quality he was looking for in anyone except Barbara Eden. Also, someone posted that Sheldon copied everything including the animated opening from Bewitched. That is ridiculous as most ALL shows from that era had an animated opening (Batman, The Lucy Show, My Favorite Martian, Dennis the Menace, etc.). Speaking of My Favorite Martian, another supernatural sitcom, it premiered one year BEFORE Bewitched but I doubt anyone ever claims Bewitched came about in any way because of it. As for "stealing scripts," Sidney Sheldon and William Asher both worked on The Patty Duke Show which aired before either Bewitched or Jeannie. Sheldon, who wrote virtually every script for The Patty Duke Show, wanted TWIN SISTERS. William Asher suggested TWIN COUSINS which they ultimately went with on the show. Twin "Cousin Serena," who first showed up in season 2 of Bewitched (in 1965) when Tabitha was born and not again until season 4, was not an original concept (incidentally Serena's 2nd appearance aired one week after Jeannie's sister was introduced in season 3 of I Dream of Jeannie). I say that Serena was not an original concept meaning the evil twin plot line has been done for years - and, as noted with Parry Duke, was done before Bewitched. Also, remember Bette Davis in the 1964 movie, Dead Ringer??? I've never heard that the "Cousin Serena" was stolen from The Patty Duke Show or any other similar plot. Actually, as far as scripts go (and I'm not talking about the ones with Serena or Jeannie's sister) I once listed 15 different scripts where EACH SHOW had a script and the other did it either one or two years LATER - both Jeannie AND Bewitched. Do I think they deliberately copied each other? No. They both were produced by Screen Gems and used some of the same writers. Writers discuss ideas, etc. and ideas get recycled. How many times and on how many shows have we seen the amnesia bit? Plus, the execution of those similar or "same"ideas on Bewitched and Jeannie looked different most every time. Sheldon stated in an interview that Jeannie never took any scripts from Bewitched and to his knowledge Bewitched never took any from Jeannie. One more thing to remember - Bewitched aired Sept. 17, 1964. The pilot of I Dream of Jeannie was BEING SHOT in December of 1964. Think about it - Sidney Sheldon would have had to have written the script, hired everyone in the cast for the pilot, and had everything ready (sets, costumes, etc.). All of that takes TIME. Barbara Eden has said in interviews that she had been seeing reports in Variety for MONTHS about the testing of actresses for the role of Jeannie. That Jeannie was a "copy" of Bewitched is just not logical in relation to the time factor. It makes more sense that (as Sheldon has stated in interviews) he was inspired by the movie The Brass Bottle, released in 1964, and that is how the concept was born. I DO think that where Bewitched comes in to play is that it was such an immediate hit for Screen Gems, they wanted another supernatural hit for another network and Sheldon was eventually approached. Sheldon told them about the idea he had for a female genie, it was pitched to the networks, and NBC bought it. It also makes sense that he told Asher and Montgomery about it due to the obvious comparisons that would be drawn. It's funny to me that William Asher stated in interviews how Jeannie "stole ideas" from them (even though - again - I can name at least 15 times on both sides - where each had a plot at least one year before the other) yet if he felt that way so strongly, why did he agree to direct the I Dream of Jeannie: 15 Years Later reunion movie on NBC in 1985? No disrespect, but it just sounds very petty. I LOVE both shows and the stars in both, but this topic drives me crazy! To my knowledge no one associated with I Dream of Jeannie, including Sidney Sheldon, has ever said a bad word about Bewitched or anyone associated with it. Both are GREAT TV classics and should stand on their own merits. They are DIFFERENT shows. The premises are different and the characters certainly are different. I'm just thankful we are fortunate to have them BOTH!

It doesn't matter what the origins of the two shows are. The only thing I'm saying is that NBC CHOSE I Dream of Jeannie as a similar program to Bewitched in hopes of getting similar ratings. In NBC's mind it WAS a copy of Bewitched. Even if the pilot had already been filmed, it if weren't for Bewitched and its ratings, NBC might not have bought the series.

I think I see what you are saying. Actually, I think in my earlier post I kind of say the same thing. Screen Gems wanted ANOTHER hit for another network. They approached Sidney Sheldon (after Sol Saks declined) to do another show about a witch. Sheldon declined but said he had already had an idea about a show with a female genie. NBC bought it. NBC certainly wanted a SIMILAR type hit show, but I don't think they saw it as an exact COPY as the premise and characters were different. I do agree that certainly the success of Bewitched played a part in NBC buying it in hopes of their own successful supernatural sitcom. :)

I grew up watching both very regularly, love them both. I've always seen Bewitched a tad more "cerebral/mature"....and IDOJ was just a lot more "fun." Both are so solid and worth the time and will always be some of my very favorite classic TV shows.

Excellent post.....ansara1! BRAVO! :thanx:

*standing up clapping*

It doesn't matter what the origins of the two shows are. The only thing I'm saying is that NBC CHOSE I Dream of Jeannie as a similar program to Bewitched in hopes of getting similar ratings. In NBC's mind it WAS a copy of Bewitched. Even if the pilot had already been filmed, it if weren't for Bewitched and its ratings, NBC might not have bought the series.

They didn't want a "copy." They wanted another hit magical show. That doesn't make it a "copy."

If that's the case, Bewitched was a "copy" of the magical show My Favorite Martian that came one year before Bewitched. Maybe Bewitched came from the success of My Favorite Martian.

My Favorite Martian - CBS
Bewitched - ABC
I Dream of Jeannie - NBC

Question: Do you consider all the news shows and soap operas (that are on different stations, NBC/CBS/ABC etc.) copies?

They didn't want a "copy." They wanted another hit magical show. That doesn't make it a "copy."

If that's the case, Bewitched was a "copy" of the magical show My Favorite Martian that came one year before Bewitched. Maybe Bewitched came from the success of My Favorite Martian.

My Favorite Martian - CBS
Bewitched - ABC
I Dream of Jeannie - NBC

Question: Do you consider all the news shows and soap operas (that are on different stations, NBC/CBS/ABC etc.) copies?

You just can't understand the simplest concept. NBC wanted a copy of Bewitched. They chose the I Dream of Jeannie concept. Whether I Dream of Jeannie was created as a copy of Bewitched is irrelevant (but one that you people can't stop bringing up); NBC CHOSE IT as a copy of Bewitched and approved the addition of the dark-haired relative of the star character (and played by the star) as a further attempt to copy Bewitched. Your refusal to understand this simple concept doesn't change the fact that Bewitched was written as a complex examination of a marriage while Jeannie was a silly cartoon with silly characters from the beginning. Got it now? No, I didn't think so.

You just can't understand the simplest concept.

I feel the same about you.

.NBC wanted a copy of Bewitched.

If IDOJ was about a "smart" witch who was married with constant in-law/family problems with a husband in advertising, then you might have a point. However, it was not, so I did not see IDOJ as a "copy." They wanted another magical show. My Favorite Martian was a magical show that was already on CBS. I guess ABC wanted a magical show as well and they got Bewitched. So if Jeannie is a "copy" then so is Bewitched.

Whether I Dream of Jeannie was created as a copy of Bewitched is irrelevant (but one that you people can't stop bringing up); NBC CHOSE IT as a copy of Bewitched and approved the addition of the dark-haired relative of the star character (and played by the star) as a further attempt to copy Bewitched.

Bewitched was not the first show that featured twin relatives. So I guess Bewitched is a copycat.

.Your refusal to understand this simple concept doesn't change the fact that Bewitched was written as a complex examination of a marriage while Jeannie was a silly cartoon with silly characters from the beginning.

Well, if that's the case, since it is so much different, there's no way it's a "copycat." That's my point. Finally, we agree. It's not the same or a "copy."

My argument in favor of "I Dream of Jeannie" ...

Jeannie and Anthony's Love

Jeannie and Tony's love story is so much more romantic to me than Darrin and Samantha's. Darrin loved Samantha but was appalled by her magic and preferred that she not be a witch. He was angered and frustrated by the magical part of her and it didn't seem to lessen over time as much as it should have. Anthony, on the other hand, knew from day one that Jeannie was a genie and although she repeatedly got him into so much trouble, he never tried to talk her out of being a Jeannie nor was he disgusted by her magical abilities. He was charmed by her and found her amusing, loving, and fun.

Darrin was such a grumpy old fuss budget most of the time that the romantic scenes between Darrin and Sam weren't as impactful as they were probably supposed to be because he spent so much more time criticizing her and her family. Darrin was lucky to have Samantha in the first place! lol. The episode where it's Tony & Genie's 6 month anniversary and they both fail to get each other's presents in time and they confess that to each other in her bottle, that is SO ROMANTIC. Jeannie tried so hard to make him his gift without using any magic and when she failed, Tony made her feel better by saying that he didn't get anything for her either. And the love and relief in her eyes when she said, "Oh that is wonderful!" I mean seriously, that's what love is. OMG, I get goosebumps with that scene. So, the love story on IDOJ is an automatic win for me.

The Ensemble

The cast of I Dream of Jeannie was PHENONEMAL. Every character was star quality, honing their craft perfectly for their character. It is a genuine comedy show. Doctor and Amanda Bellows BEHAVE like a couple who have been married forever and both of them have crisp theatrical training that adds to the dimension of their physical comedy. Hayden is definitely "of the theatre". He adds polish to the show with his refined skill. Roger is absolute light. In a way, he is the constant, the one who will never betray Jeannie's secret, and on top of it, his oblivious, uncomplicated duhhhh-ness adds to his charm. There is no one like Roger. I can't even describe it because I don't want to say he's stupid, because he's not stupid exactly. He's more like innocently daffy from time to time. But he is loyal to a fault, helping keep Jeannie's secret for almost the entire series. General Schaeffer was HILARIOUS. I believed he was a NASA General. He had the look, the authority, the seasoned experience, and yet he had this brilliant ability to deliver the comedy. Wow. Just wow.

What is important about Jeannie's ensemble is although they are fabulous, Jeannie and Tony hold onto the spotlight. They are never outdone by their supporting cast. On Bewitched, I feel like the opposite is true. Without Endora, the show would've lacked about 70% of it's charm. Endora provided that same refined acting skill that Doctor Bellows brought to Jeannie. But even more, Endora was Bewitched's royalty. Every time she walked into the room, you knew it was going to be a good scene. Aunt Clara, Larry Tate, Uncle Arthur, Doctor Bombay, Gladys and Abner Kravitz, these are iconic characters! When you list them all together like that, as much as I love Samantha and Darrin, they kind of fade away in the presence of such greatness.

So that's my argument. I love both shows, but Jeannie is the winner for me. :)

Although I truly love both shows and they are unforgettable classics that will never go off the air, my heart has always leaned more to Jeannie! But I absolutely adored Samantha and Endora on Bewitched!

The shows are actually very different from each other, Bewitched appeals more to women, it's a relation based comedy generally a much more subdued show than Jeannie. I Dream of Jeannie is clearly a guy's show, lots of physical comedy, running amok, nothing laid back about this show. All the comedy went out of Bewitched with the exit of Dick York, Jeannie was funny right up until the end.

My point, women generally are going to vote for Bewitched, men, I Dream of Jeannie. This is a difference of the sexes issue, the classic example, all men love The Three Stooges, all women hate them.

The shows are actually very different from each other, Bewitched appeals more to women, it's a relation based comedy generally a much more subdued show than Jeannie. I Dream of Jeannie is clearly a guy's show, lots of physical comedy, running amok, nothing laid back about this show. All the comedy went out of Bewitched with the exit of Dick York, Jeannie was funny right up until the end.

My point, women generally are going to vote for Bewitched, men, I Dream of Jeannie. This is a difference of the sexes issue, the classic example, all men love The Three Stooges, all women hate them.
The shows are different, yes, but I have never considered the fandoms to be split on the gender lines. In fact I've found the opposite to be true. Gender stereotypes, as far as who finds what funny, are rarely accurate. People will watch shows they enjoy, for reasons of their own, despite what demographic studies say.

I know a lot of girls who find The Three Stooges funny so that's wrong as well.

The shows are different, yes, but I have never considered the fandoms to be split on the gender lines. In fact I've found the opposite to be true. Gender stereotypes, as far as who finds what funny, are rarely accurate. People will watch shows they enjoy, for reasons of their own, despite what demographic studies say.

I know a lot of girls who find The Three Stooges funny so that's wrong as well.

There are exceptions to every rule, but generally speaking women don't care for The Three Stooges.

With respect to the two shows under discussion, it doesn't mean that men didn't like Bewitched or that some men might like Bewitched more, if the question is which show do you like better, most men will pick Jeannie over Bewitched.

There are exceptions to every rule, but generally speaking women don't care for The Three Stooges.

With respect to the two shows under discussion, it doesn't mean that men didn't like Bewitched or that some men might like Bewitched more, if the question is which show do you like better, most men will pick Jeannie over Bewitched.
I suppose that's true if speaking in generalizations.

I've said this in past threads, but I've always been a fan of I Dream of Jeannie. :thumbsup:

The shows are actually very different from each other, Bewitched appeals more to women, it's a relation based comedy generally a much more subdued show than Jeannie. I Dream of Jeannie is clearly a guy's show, lots of physical comedy, running amok, nothing laid back about this show. All the comedy went out of Bewitched with the exit of Dick York, Jeannie was funny right up until the end.

My point, women generally are going to vote for Bewitched, men, I Dream of Jeannie. This is a difference of the sexes issue, the classic example, all men love The Three Stooges, all women hate them.

I disagree. I know plenty of women that either like both or prefer "I Dream of Jeannie."