Could 'I Dream of Jeannie' Survived Without Major Nelson? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Brian Damage · 06-21-2010, 10:19 PM

No offense to Larry Hagman fans, but Barbara Eden WAS the show. I went to a TV/Movie convention a couple of years ago and the lines to see Ms. Eden were out the door, where as you could walk right up to Larry Hagman without blinking an eye.

old grouch · 06-22-2010, 12:51 PM

No, Jeannie needed her Master. It would be like Samantha without Darren or Gilligan without Skipper.

catlover79 · 06-22-2010, 02:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by old grouch

No, Jeannie needed her Master. It would be like Samantha without Darren or Gilligan without Skipper.

Exactly.

CAJeannieFan57 · 06-22-2010, 04:42 PM

Here's another thought....

The vast majority of men fall in love with Jeannie. After all, isn't every man's dream to have a subserviant woman to do everything he wants? It's the fantasy. In line with others to meet Barbara Eden after a show, the vast majority of people waiting were men. Oh, there was a mom and her 6 year old daughter, and then there was me with my 2 (then-teenaged) daughters.

Women, on the other hand, have TWO men on that show to choose from. They can either fall in love with Nelson, or with Healey.

I have this information regarding autograph shows. If Barbara is alone, she does very well, with long lines. Hagman may have a line, or may not - - but many will be holding DALLAS memorabilia, while not so many will have IDOJ stuff. Daily will probably not have much of a line, but he's told me this: when he's with Barbara and Larry, he does REALLY well. When he's alone, the vast majority will want IDOJ photos more than TBNS.

BTW, all three will be at an autograph show in Atlanta over Labor Day Weekend. Larry's been confirmed for DragonCon for a few months, but Bill and Barbara just got added this past week. (I haven't put it up on our site yet.)

catlover79 · 06-22-2010, 04:49 PM

Thanks for sharing that story, Donna!!!

Mr. Television · 06-22-2010, 05:03 PM

What made the show a success was the relationship between Barbara and Larry. The show wouldn't have lasted without either of them. I became a Larry Hagman fan when I was about 5 years old when I first remember watching reruns of IDOJ. I've been a fan ever since.

MickeyMac · 06-22-2010, 06:06 PM

Barbara Eden was the star, but without Larry Hagman no way this show would have worked. I cant picture anybody else playing the role of Major Nelson was well as Hagman. Same thing with J.R. Ewing. No Hagman, no Dallas.

TV Knowledge Fan · 06-28-2010, 04:20 PM

...was a major disappointment for most people because "Tony Nelson" wasn't around. Without Larry, there was no reason to film another one.

catlover79 · 06-28-2010, 04:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TV Knowledge Fan

...was a major disappointment for most people because "Tony Nelson" wasn't around. Without Larry, there was no reason to film another one.

Wayne Rogers (!) played Tony in the first reunion flick. Who played Tony in the second? I forgot.

Retro4Life · 06-28-2010, 06:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by old grouch

No, Jeannie needed her Master. It would be like Samantha without Darren or Gilligan without Skipper.

That's pretty much how I feel, too.

Marvo301 · 06-28-2010, 06:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catlover79

Wayne Rogers (!) played Tony in the first reunion flick. Who played Tony in the second? I forgot.

In the second reunion movie Tony was recently deceased and Jeannie was in search of a new master lest she be sent back to Bagdad. So no one played Tony in that movie. However Christopher Bolton played Tony Nelson Jr. who was kidnapped and needed to be rescued by Jeannie.

catlover79 · 06-28-2010, 09:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marvo301

In the second reunion movie Tony was recently deceased and Jeannie was in search of a new master lest she be sent back to Bagdad. So no one played Tony in that movie. However Christopher Bolton played Tony Nelson Jr. who was kidnapped and needed to be rescued by Jeannie.

I see, thanks!

ansara1 · 06-30-2010, 03:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catlover79

I see, thanks!

Just FYI:

Tony was NOT deceased. There had been talk to "kill off" the character of Tony Nelson but instead the writers decided to have Col. Nelson in orbit on a secret mission. Jeannie needed to get a "temporary" master while he was away. She was able to get Ken Kercheval (Cliff Barnes from Dallas) to "fill in". In the movie he played Jeannie and Tony's son, TJ's, teacher.

06-21-2010, 10:19 PM	#1
Brian Damage I'm Rich Bitch Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 03, 2002 Location: What Ain't No Country I Ever Heard Of...They Speak English in What? Posts: 63,107	Could 'I Dream of Jeannie' Survived Without Major Nelson? No offense to Larry Hagman fans, but Barbara Eden WAS the show. I went to a TV/Movie convention a couple of years ago and the lines to see Ms. Eden were out the door, where as you could walk right up to Larry Hagman without blinking an eye. Attached Images
	__________________ The Key to the Kingdom of Heaven: John 3:3 *Money Doesn't Buy Happiness...But I'd Rather Cry in My Private Jet*

06-22-2010, 04:42 PM	#4
CAJeannieFan57 Member Forum Regular Join Date: May 01, 2005 Location: Central Missouri Posts: 871	Here's another thought.... The vast majority of men fall in love with Jeannie. After all, isn't every man's dream to have a subserviant woman to do everything he wants? It's the fantasy. In line with others to meet Barbara Eden after a show, the vast majority of people waiting were men. Oh, there was a mom and her 6 year old daughter, and then there was me with my 2 (then-teenaged) daughters. Women, on the other hand, have TWO men on that show to choose from. They can either fall in love with Nelson, or with Healey. I have this information regarding autograph shows. If Barbara is alone, she does very well, with long lines. Hagman may have a line, or may not - - but many will be holding DALLAS memorabilia, while not so many will have IDOJ stuff. Daily will probably not have much of a line, but he's told me this: when he's with Barbara and Larry, he does REALLY well. When he's alone, the vast majority will want IDOJ photos more than TBNS. BTW, all three will be at an autograph show in Atlanta over Labor Day Weekend. Larry's been confirmed for DragonCon for a few months, but Bill and Barbara just got added this past week. (I haven't put it up on our site yet.)
	__________________ Donna

06-22-2010, 05:03 PM	#6
Mr. Television 23 Years at Sitcoms Online Forum Icon Join Date: Jun 06, 2003 Location: Somewhere you're Not Posts: 62,132	What made the show a success was the relationship between Barbara and Larry. The show wouldn't have lasted without either of them. I became a Larry Hagman fan when I was about 5 years old when I first remember watching reruns of IDOJ. I've been a fan ever since.
	__________________ Sonny

06-28-2010, 04:20 PM	#8
TV Knowledge Fan Member Senior Member Join Date: Mar 29, 2006 Location: Long Branch, N.J. Posts: 2,577	The 1991 "reunion movie"... ...was a major disappointment for most people because "Tony Nelson" wasn't around. Without Larry, there was no reason to film another one.

06-22-2010, 12:51 PM	#2
old grouch Member Senior Member Join Date: May 13, 2010 Location: montana Posts: 1,877	No, Jeannie needed her Master. It would be like Samantha without Darren or Gilligan without Skipper.

06-22-2010, 04:49 PM	#5
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,382	Thanks for sharing that story, Donna!!!

06-22-2010, 06:06 PM	#7
MickeyMac Member Forum Star Join Date: Jun 18, 2008 Location: Kalamazoo, Michigan Posts: 19,006	Barbara Eden was the star, but without Larry Hagman no way this show would have worked. I cant picture anybody else playing the role of Major Nelson was well as Hagman. Same thing with J.R. Ewing. No Hagman, no Dallas.