Why was I Dream of Jeannie cancelled after five seasons - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

TMC · 10-30-2018, 02:53 AM

I know that many viewers believe that the show jumped the shark when Jeannie and Tony got married. Apparently, Larry Hagman found out that the show got cancelled from a studio security guard. Would IDOJ gotten a Season 6 had that major plot point not occurred or was it a justifiable excuse to get rid of it? It was never really a big ratings hit to begin with and in its last year, it wasn't even in the top 30.

kentauros · 11-04-2018, 01:38 PM

It never had good ratings because it never remained on the same night more than one year at a time. If they'd just left it alone on whichever night it had aired originally, it might have garnered better ratings. People had to search for it every year for the new night it was moved to.

Plus, back then, or on that show, there was no "show bible" or a set of instructions, rules, world-building, and so forth. And so, we got all of those discrepancies within the series. (Maybe other shows did that, but I don't know of such instances.) Other writers, and maybe even Mr. Sheldon, then made mistakes after setting up certain 'knowns' or facts about the characters and their world in the first season.

Maybe the audiences back then didn't notice those mistakes either, I don't know. I just wish that Sheldon had set up the rules of the show so that fewer mistakes would have been made, and thus fewer inconsistencies. They might also have found a way of marrying them without it adversely affecting how the audience and actors might have reacted.

Personally, I think that a lot of people have allowed themselves to be swayed by the idea that any show can't go on after a couple is married, because of the (in my opinion) silly notion that the sexual tension is gone. Well, good! There's so much more potential in this show beyond that minor plot point if they had just insisted on better writing.

treky · 11-05-2018, 02:23 AM

it was originally on Saturday at-I think-either 8 0r 8:30 on NBC.

Hazel Anyday · 11-05-2018, 11:15 PM

Probably because she never went topless.

torcan · 05-18-2020, 04:04 PM

According to the Teletype sections of TV Guide, I Dream of Jeannie was originally supposed to be cancelled at the end of the third season, but was renewed at the last minute. Same thing at the end of the fourth season.

Oddly, that same teletype section in the fall of 1969 stated that NBC had picked up the option for the sixth season and that it would be coming back again in fall 1970. I guess they figured the characters getting married would have made the show a bigger hit than it did.

10-30-2018, 02:53 AM	#1
TMC Member Forum Idol Join Date: Jan 09, 2001 Posts: 126,334	Why was I Dream of Jeannie cancelled after five seasons I know that many viewers believe that the show jumped the shark when Jeannie and Tony got married. Apparently, Larry Hagman found out that the show got cancelled from a studio security guard. Would IDOJ gotten a Season 6 had that major plot point not occurred or was it a justifiable excuse to get rid of it? It was never really a big ratings hit to begin with and in its last year, it wasn't even in the top 30.
	Last edited by TMC; 12-07-2018 at 12:20 AM.

11-04-2018, 01:38 PM	#2
kentauros Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Jan 20, 2001 Location: Houston Posts: 78	It never had good ratings because it never remained on the same night more than one year at a time. If they'd just left it alone on whichever night it had aired originally, it might have garnered better ratings. People had to search for it every year for the new night it was moved to. Plus, back then, or on that show, there was no "show bible" or a set of instructions, rules, world-building, and so forth. And so, we got all of those discrepancies within the series. (Maybe other shows did that, but I don't know of such instances.) Other writers, and maybe even Mr. Sheldon, then made mistakes after setting up certain 'knowns' or facts about the characters and their world in the first season. Maybe the audiences back then didn't notice those mistakes either, I don't know. I just wish that Sheldon had set up the rules of the show so that fewer mistakes would have been made, and thus fewer inconsistencies. They might also have found a way of marrying them without it adversely affecting how the audience and actors might have reacted. Personally, I think that a lot of people have allowed themselves to be swayed by the idea that any show can't go on after a couple is married, because of the (in my opinion) silly notion that the sexual tension is gone. Well, good! There's so much more potential in this show beyond that minor plot point if they had just insisted on better writing.
	__________________ (username blinked from "djinnitaur")

11-05-2018, 02:23 AM	#3
treky star trek fan Eternal Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Feb 25, 2002 Location: Conshohocken, pennsylvania Posts: 14,490	it was originally on Saturday at-I think-either 8 0r 8:30 on NBC.
	__________________ the Clampetts are in a fancy Beverly Hills jewelry store. Granny points to a tray of rubies. Granny: "How much fer one o' them red diamonds?" clerk: "Madam, those are rubies." Granny: "OK ask her kin we buy one offa her." clerk: " The ruby I am talking about is not a lady." Granny: "Lissen, how she got them diamonds is her business. I'm just sayin' ask her kin we buy one from her."

11-05-2018, 11:15 PM	#4
Hazel Anyday Member Senior Member Join Date: Apr 12, 2002 Posts: 2,135	Probably because she never went topless.
	__________________ Haaazeelll!! Last edited by Hazel Anyday; 11-06-2018 at 04:03 AM. Reason: Cleverer

05-18-2020, 04:04 PM	#5
torcan Member Frequent Poster Join Date: May 04, 2009 Location: Toronto Posts: 154	According to the Teletype sections of TV Guide, I Dream of Jeannie was originally supposed to be cancelled at the end of the third season, but was renewed at the last minute. Same thing at the end of the fourth season. Oddly, that same teletype section in the fall of 1969 stated that NBC had picked up the option for the sixth season and that it would be coming back again in fall 1970. I guess they figured the characters getting married would have made the show a bigger hit than it did.