Bill Daily always played the best friend.

[Tiger32]

Bill Daily reminds me a little of Vivian Vance, because he always seemed to play the role of the rational best friend. First in I Dream of Jeannie, then in the Bob Newhart Show.

I think that he was great in both shows.

[~*Hannah_Lee*~]

Bill Daily is my ultimate favorite classic star!! His characters were not only the best friend, but also somewhat clueless!

[sg1niner]

Hannah, a well-renowned fan of Bill Daily's on this board, said Roger was "clueless."

Let's examine some "clueless" people. I equate that to "not having much sense," which Roj certainly demonstrated at least a few times (eg, Tony trying to cover for something Jeannie did, and Roj not picking up on it.)

EINSTEIN had no common sense. Many people say that. Yet he was brilliant.

Okay, I'm the only other person I can think of. I ain't got a lick o'sense, but I'm actually rather intelligent ("superior intellect," just one step down from genius.) Modest, too.

I've also seen Roger refered to as "bumbling." Not true.

The man was an ASTRONAUT, folks, and a TEST PILOT. Inept, bumbling people cannot do that type of work, when you're in closed spaces (like a space capsule) or when you need to have lightning-fast reflexes (like a test pilot or fighter pilot would). Right?

He was INTELLIGENT! Ever meet a stupid astronaut? Me either. Never heard of the Army Corps of Engineers with stupid people, although I don't claim to know them all.

OH, that just raised another point: As far as I know, Roger was the only US Army astronaut during that era; doesn't that say something very unusual about him?

His personal life was rather fluffy and flaky at times, yes, but did he ever NOT take his job and career seriously? If he had not been serious and dedicated, would the Generals have kept him around? Of course not.

Roger was also in touch with his feelings and emotions. Would HE have had a problem with Jeannie smooching on him, like Tony did in the Pilot? Heck no, he would've been all over that. Why Tony felt the need to hide Jeannie out all those years still eludes me.

I found something on an IDOJ website that said Roger's character was partly based on the real astronaut Alan B. Shepard (the first American in space). Shepard apparently was well-known for his profound sense of humor, and that was incorporated into Roger. Or so I read.

Roger's a sneak. Yes, he is. Tony knows it and Jeannie knows it, yet they still consider him their bestest friend. Why? Because in the end, Roger values their friendship more than he does material goods. He managed to "get" Jeannie for a time, but he gave her back. Not just because he was close to getting busted, either (she could've unblinked the stuff as easily as blink it). He did it because Tony's friendship was more important. After that first season ep, he had other chances to "steal" her from Tony and didn't.

Okay, I'm done ranting about Roger (grin!) If you're a Roger fan like myself, go to my original fanfic blog and read more on Roj.

And check out this picture, one of those rare pictures of Major Roger Healey looking serious. I think Bill looks very handsome here, too.