How many Jeannie fans dislike Bewitched?

[OH Nuts!]

Originally Posted by gidgetgrape

I think I have a greater appreciation of IDOJ now than I did as a kid. I remember watching the reruns and liking Bewitched more because I thought Samantha Stephens was nicer because she tried to live the way Darren wanted her to. Now as an adult, I like Jeannie's independent streak. I like that if Tony ticks her off she can put him on top of a mountain. Jeannie makes things happen. Most of the time Samantha is reacting to things that have happened to her.

I can't imagine my life without either shows. Love 'em both!

Yes, both are fine shows. And, its hard for me to imagine liking one and not the other. As I've said before, it was the supporting cast of Bewitched & the wonderful trick photography that have me enraptured of B. But IDOJ is great fun, and if you're a Barbara Eden fan, which I am, what's not to like.

What it really comes down to here, on this thread, is agreeing to disagree. Active participants on SO clearly love their shows, and many times it can boil down our subjective takes on things;.

[Duster76]

Once Jeannie got rolling (2nd season) it was no contest. Jeannie was a funny show in a way that the more mature Bewitched could never be. Bewitched could be a bit on the self-righteous side, which I always found a little odd considering Darrin was an advertising executive. Jeannie went for laughs and was far more entertaining. The Jeannie cast was top shelf there were many different combinations you could work for laughs, Bewitched, Dick York did most of the heavy lifting. Look at how unfunny Bewitched became after York left, and speaking of that, someone has to answer for the Dick Sargent casting fiasco.

I have the impression Bewitched is more of a woman's show, and Jeannie which leaned more on physical humor was more of a man's show.

[Lee G]

Originally Posted by Duster76

Once Jeannie got rolling (2nd season) it was no contest. Jeannie was a funny show in a way that the more mature Bewitched could never be. Bewitched could be a bit on the self-righteous side, which I always found a little odd considering Darrin was an advertising executive. Jeannie went for laughs and was far more entertaining. The Jeannie cast was top shelf there were many different combinations you could work for laughs, Bewitched, Dick York did most of the heavy lifting. Look at how unfunny Bewitched became after York left, and speaking of that, someone has to answer for the Dick Sargent casting fiasco.

I have the impression Bewitched is more of a woman's show, and Jeannie which leaned more on physical humor was more of a man's show.

Interesting observations there. Since I began this thread, I've learned to appreciate Bewitched as well. In some ways, Bewitched is actually better than Jeannie. The show generally maintained a level of sophistication, and overall I think it had better writing than Jeannie did. The first two seasons of Jeannie had good writing in the episodes for the most part, but starting with season three they often went over the top with crazy visual gags and silly situations. Some later episodes of Jeannie are silly to the point where they could just as easily be animated cartoons, the show compares to The Monkees in that regard. Jeannie is definitely the more energetic show, while Bewitched is more mature, tending to play it safe and stick with the formula. But I'll still give a nod of approval to Jeannie, I like the supporting characters a little better and Barbara Eden always looks lovely in her Jeannie outfit!

[Elizabeth Eden]

I loved both, and when people say they are too alike, I don't agree. I think they're different, and fantastic in their own ways. And I love Elizabeth and Barbara; thats how I got my username. Elizabeth (Elizabeth Montgomery) and Eden (Barbara Eden)

[ansara1]

I love BOTH shows for different reasons. The only thing that bugs me with all due respect is what William Asher said about, "They stold story ideas from us." He then went on to say how upset it made Liz. First of all, this was said years after Liz passed away. Personally I don't think it's fair to be saying what she thought or didn't think when she's not here to speak for herself. Also, Barbara has said that after Liz had her 1st baby (they both were pregnant during part of the 1st season of their shows - and Liz again during the 2nd season) that she kindly gave Barbara some maternity clothes...she slao said they used to talk a lot in between filming). Perhaps Liz was irritated with Sidney as I have heard but who knows? Though, back to William Asher - when he stated that Jeannie"stold scripts" on the E! True Hollywood Story on I Dream of Jeannie, they quickly showed a clip of COUSIN Serena and Jeannie's sister Jeannie. I write cousin in all caps because E! True Hollywood didn't mention a fewthings. First, before either show was written Sidney Sheldon wrote most all of the scripts for "The Patty Duke Show," a series about a teenage girl an her....IDENTICAL COUSIN. Interestingly enough William Asher worked some on that show with Sheldon as Sheldon wrote most all of the episodes!!!! So, one could make the case that he took the idea of Serena being an "identical brunette cousin" from Patty Duke. Also, BOTH shows have several episodes that "copy" each other. Did they truly copy or was some of it sheer coincidence? Who knows?. On the side of "Bewitched" "taking" from "I Dream of Jeannie" (or appearing to take however one wants to look at it), a few examples are Jeannie's "What House Across the Street?" in which Jeannie blinks a house across the street on a vacant lot in comparison to an episode a year later on "Bewitched" in which Endora pops a house across the street on....a vacant lot - even the same house was used in both episodes! Another example is Jeannie's "My Master, the Great Rembrandt" in which Jeannie changes Tony's painting up for auction for an Air Foce charity event to an original Rembrandt and experts bid in the thousands for his painting. A few years later Endora ahcnges Samantha's charity painting up for auction to a famous French artist and Darrin's client bids $1,000 and over for it in season three's "Art For Sam's Sake." The list like this goes on and on and THE LIST ON BOTH SIDES ARE COMPARABLE. In addition, while Screen Gems asked Sidney Sheldon to write something for NBC to compare with "Bewitched" which was hugely successful and put ABC on the map, it was NOT a "rip off" of "Bewitched." Just as "Bewitched" was inspired by Columbia Pictures (who also owns "Bewitched" and "I Dream of Jeannie") films such as "Bell, Book, and Candle" and "I Married A Witch," according to creator Sidney Sheldon "I Dream of Jeannie" was inspired by the feature film "The Brass Bottle" starring Berle Ives (who played a male genie), Tony Randall, and Barbara Eden. I point all of this out only because I don't think it's fair on either side to say that one copied from another. They were both Screen Gems series with some of the same writers, etc. which could explain some of it while some of it could be sheer coincidence. I only wish William Asher had thought more before he spoke. Also, since he obviously felt that way I don't see why he was so willing to work on the TV movie "I Dream of Jeannie: 15 Years Later"???? Both are classics in their on right and I'm simply glad we have them both to enjoy!!!

[likewow]

Another reason I prefer Jeannie is there was hardly any tension on the show. By that I mean the characters liked each other and had fun. On Bewitched almost all Samantha's relatives disliked Darrin and vice versa. So many plots centered on someone doing something rotten to someone else. There was a lot of friction on that show

The plots on Jeannie usually stemmed from an innocent mistake on Jeannie's part, not an act of malice. Also, the Jeannie writers wisely didn't make Dr. Bellows mean or insufferable. He had a lot of charm and clearly didn't dislike Tony or Roger. This made for a much more lighthearted show

[icecream]

I love both shows. Jeannie and Bewitched are my two favorite comedies and I have one season of both on DVD.

[Abbie]

I liked both shows.

Sam was a homemaker who wasn't ditzy. Although she was a beautiful woman, she used her brains more than her beauty. At a time when women's rights movements were the center of attention, this was important.

Jeannie had a master. This did have sexual overtones that were played down. However, at a time when the sexual revolution was going on, this was very popular.

[kooky12]

I enjoy both shows.

I like the comment about Bewitched being more of a woman's show and IDOJ a man's.

Darrin seemed so helpless sometimes against the witches, especially Endora and Serena. I wished that he got back at them sometimes.

While Jeannie was "only here to please you, master" !

[catlover79]

^ That's a very insightful comment. Darrin was always the rescuee, not the rescuer. Samantha always was.

[CAJeannieFan57]

I see that this thread has resurrected itself - either Samantha twitched it out or Jeannie blinked! :-)

With the help of another experienced web person, Jeannie Sisters attempted to resurrect IDOJ: The Website's old BW vs IDOJ page. Unfortunately, the Internet archives had only tiny bits and pieces of it. Those are on one of my other computers, hoping that some day I might have time to reconstruct the old file (giving Carpet/Carrie complete credit, of COURSE!).

In the meantime - if anyone's interested - we do have her old "Deja Vu!" file (that contains some comparisons between BW and IDOJ) and one of her fan-fiction stories (a crossover between BW and IDOJ).

[catlover79]

^ Awesome, Donna. Thanks!

[kooky12]

That sure is an impressive list of coincidences between the 2 shows !

[Fallon97]

Originally Posted by dawsongirl

Man....anyone who had a problem with these two shows being so similar should see what happened in the 90s.


Anyway, I can watch Bewitched, but I find it kind of boring. And I have never been able to stand Darrin not letting Sam use her magic. I thought Sam was too much of a meek 50s housewife in that regard. I liked Jeannie because she did what she wanted. Got her in trouble a lot...but she was still independent.

I agree with you, and Sam did act too much like a meek 50s housewife. Whereas Jeannie was stubborn, sassy, fiesty, strong-willed, daring, mischieveous, independent, did her own thing and just plain spunky and fun. Also, Jeannie just seemed more magical, charming, charismatic, mysterious, and interesting as well.

And boy did Jeannie have a temper.....that temper often intimidated Major Nelson. Jeannie didn't take crap from anyone. And she was always doing things to Major Nelson, even if he didn't like it. Jeannie was definitely in charge in that relationship and got the last word.

She would blink Major Nelson in her bottle. She would put him in prison to keep him from leaving the house. And she always did something, even if Major Nelson told her not to. I remember an episode where she changed Major Healy into a poodle and Major Nelson begged her to change Major Healy back, but she WOULD NOT! Jeannie rarely listened to Major Nelson, and she always had the upper hand with him. The other day Major Nelson the so-called "Master" had to meekly ask Jeannie if it was ok if he went out. No way was Jeannie "subservient." Jeannie was fiesty, independent, sassy, mischieveous and very rebellious. Jeannie is the one that had the final say, and, unlike Samantha, she does NOT have to go behind Major Nelson's back. She always did things right in front of him, whether he agreed or not.

However, Samantha was more easygoing and a YES woman to Darrin. She always pleased him and did whatever he said. That's why she had to go behind Darrin's back. She even would look somewhat scared and nervous of Darrin's reactions when he learned of one of her relatives antics. Samantha was far more meeker than Jeannie. Jeannie was more headstrong, stubborn, and strong-willed. For example, the other day when Samantha was explaining to Darrin about Mother Goose being turned into a real-life person, she nervously said to Darrin "How long are you gonna let me keep talking before you kill me?"

Darrin often would yell and scream at Sam and demand "No more magic" and Samantha would meekly and sheepishly agree. Samantha did not have spunk like Jeannie did. I LOVED Jeannie's spunk!

[Fallon97]

Originally Posted by kooky12

I enjoy both shows.

I like the comment about Bewitched being more of a woman's show and IDOJ a man's.

Darrin seemed so helpless sometimes against the witches, especially Endora and Serena. I wished that he got back at them sometimes.

While Jeannie was "only here to please you, master" !

Actually, in my opinion, Jeannie didn't seem to be there to "only please her master." Jeannie did her own thing, and rarely listened to Major Nelson. She basically had him wrapped around her bottle. lol