I happened upon an episode of I Dream of Jeannie late last night. It was from season 2. Episode 31(!) (This was back when a TV show gave you a TV show). It was entitled "The Mod Party" and it aired in April of 1967. Boy was it stupid. Moronic. Immature. Silly. Beyond silly. And boy was it delightful. I laughed out loud several times. I can't seem to post it here, but you can find it quite easily online.
It's a rather involved 22 minutes. Major Nelson's friend Major Healy has friends visiting from out of town. He's planning on throwing a "mod party"; to which he invites Major Nelson (Tony) and Jeannie (she's a genie...but surely you know this...). Anyways, Dr. Bellows (the psychiatrist at NASA) thinks Tony and Major Healy (Roger) need to go on a hunting trip or something and they lie to get out of it. Meanwhile, Jeannie goes to a boutique to buy a "mod outfit." Now, this begs several questions. Like, in the late 60's, when the "mod" thing was happening; did it just happen or was it such an instant fad that people referred to it self-reflexively? Like, back in the disco era, people didn't say: "I'm going to a disco party." You just went to a party and the music was disco. Also, why does Jeannie need to buy an outfit when she can just "blink" one into existence?
(I just rewatched it and I must've missed the beginning. Tony insists Jeannie go to a store to get her "mod" outfit, as the party is mostly about what everyone's wearing and he doesn't want Jeannie to look out of place...which doesn't really make sense; but it's the only way the writer can get her somewhere where Mrs. Bellows can eavesdrop.)
It's a rather involved 22 minutes. Major Nelson's friend Major Healy has friends visiting from out of town. He's planning on throwing a "mod party"; to which he invites Major Nelson (Tony) and Jeannie (she's a genie...but surely you know this...). Anyways, Dr. Bellows (the psychiatrist at NASA) thinks Tony and Major Healy (Roger) need to go on a hunting trip or something and they lie to get out of it. Meanwhile, Jeannie goes to a boutique to buy a "mod outfit." Now, this begs several questions. Like, in the late 60's, when the "mod" thing was happening; did it just happen or was it such an instant fad that people referred to it self-reflexively? Like, back in the disco era, people didn't say: "I'm going to a disco party." You just went to a party and the music was disco. Also, why does Jeannie need to buy an outfit when she can just "blink" one into existence?
(I just rewatched it and I must've missed the beginning. Tony insists Jeannie go to a store to get her "mod" outfit, as the party is mostly about what everyone's wearing and he doesn't want Jeannie to look out of place...which doesn't really make sense; but it's the only way the writer can get her somewhere where Mrs. Bellows can eavesdrop.)
The plot thickens: at the boutique, Jeannie is overheard by Mrs. Bellows (Emmaline Henry: see top photo) talking about the plans for the party. Later that night, she drags her husband there to prove to him that Tony and Roger are not out hunting. Tony spots Dr. Bellows and tells Jeannie to put him and Roger in hunting clothes; which she does, except they end up in togas with bows and arrows. Then, Dr. Bellows insists they go hunting and drives them out to the woods with their ancient hunting gear. It starts raining and the boys try to set up a tent. Slapstick and some actual (albeit minor) hilarity ensues (and an eyeful of Larry Hagman's equally delightful rear end (he gets tangled up in the tent, and then well...just watch it). It all ends well when Roger and Tony return to the party with a beautiful doe they've caught. And then they do The Frug. I'm not making this up.
What struck me about the show was how game the players were to participate in the silliness. Even or perhaps especially, Larry Hagman. By all accounts he was unhappy on the show and battling addictions to several substances; particularly alcohol. So how does he come across so delightfully on the show? Perhaps it was doing the silly slap-stick that was the show's stock-in-trade. It was goofy, sloppy slap-stick. Slap stick needs to be razor sharp and done with panache. I Dream of Jeannie didn't quite pull it off; but it didn't keep them from trying. Occasionally they succeeded. Maybe it was doing this type of comedy that kept Larry's mind off of his problems.
What struck me about the show was how game the players were to participate in the silliness. Even or perhaps especially, Larry Hagman. By all accounts he was unhappy on the show and battling addictions to several substances; particularly alcohol. So how does he come across so delightfully on the show? Perhaps it was doing the silly slap-stick that was the show's stock-in-trade. It was goofy, sloppy slap-stick. Slap stick needs to be razor sharp and done with panache. I Dream of Jeannie didn't quite pull it off; but it didn't keep them from trying. Occasionally they succeeded. Maybe it was doing this type of comedy that kept Larry's mind off of his problems.
I don't know if the above clip is a case of them succeeding or not; but it makes me laugh out loud. I wish the show didn't have a laugh track. It would be even funnier. And can you imagine producing thirty plus episodes of a show? They must've had cots on the sound-stage!
One of the funniest people on the show was the unsung Emmaline Henry. As I mentioned, she played Amanda Bellows. She epitomized the 1960's bourgeoise wife. And she did it with just the right amount of everything. Dry and detached but also warm and somehow wacky. Her facial expressions were sublime. And devine.
One of the funniest people on the show was the unsung Emmaline Henry. As I mentioned, she played Amanda Bellows. She epitomized the 1960's bourgeoise wife. And she did it with just the right amount of everything. Dry and detached but also warm and somehow wacky. Her facial expressions were sublime. And devine.
Not to be crude; but she's a total MILF. I'm gay and I'd like to MILF her! No, that is crude. But you get what I'm saying. In her own way she's just as sexy as Jeannie. Maybe because she's funny. Pretty women have a tendency to not be funny. It's pretty rare to find a woman who is beautiful and funny. Why? Because beautiful people generally get a pass in life and don't have to come up with alternatives. Like making people laugh. Emmaline was taken from us too soon. She died of a brain tumor in 1979. Her scenes with her husband, played by the undeniably gay Hayden Rorke were magic. In fact, all her scenes with any other person on the show were magic. She has chemistry with everyone. She doesn't try to hog scenes. She brings out the best in her colleagues. And btw, in the above scene, don't you love that Mrs. Bellows has no questions about the outfit Jeannie is actually wearing? Oh wait, she does...
I love Bewitched but I think I might like I Dream of Jeannie better. Why? Well, because Tony seems to enjoy Jeannie's antics more than he might admit. Darren Stephens on Bewitched was kind of a buzz-kill.
Switching genres but remaining with the fantastical...that brings us to Gilligan's Island and it's MILF, Mrs. Lovey Howell, played delightfully by Natalie Schafer. Actually, she's more of a GILF. Okay, that's the last time I'll mention any "ILFS."
Switching genres but remaining with the fantastical...that brings us to Gilligan's Island and it's MILF, Mrs. Lovey Howell, played delightfully by Natalie Schafer. Actually, she's more of a GILF. Okay, that's the last time I'll mention any "ILFS."
Like Emmaline, Natalie managed to bring class and sophistication (genuine) to the goings-on of what is indeed as silly and moronic as any other fantasy sit-com from the 1960's. But Jeannie and Gilligan have really stood the test of time, haven't they? Bewitched too. And, in my humble opinion, they are all funny (to varying degrees). How many things did (and do) kids learn from Gilligan's Island. I know it taught me about movie-making, psychology, stage adaptations, the properties of certain vegetables, Pacific Island culture (sort of), musical theater, science (sort of), voo-doo, taboos, acting techniques, silent movies, the avant-garde and necessity being the mother of invention...
Okay, maybe it didn't "teach" me those things; but it certainly sparked an interest. Remember that time when the castaways found a trunk full of silent movie equipment and they made a film to tell the world their story and then sent it off on a raft, where it was discovered and then hailed as an avant-garde film-making masterpiece by an unknown director?
Okay, maybe it didn't "teach" me those things; but it certainly sparked an interest. Remember that time when the castaways found a trunk full of silent movie equipment and they made a film to tell the world their story and then sent it off on a raft, where it was discovered and then hailed as an avant-garde film-making masterpiece by an unknown director?
You know, rewatching it, I think that episode may very well have been the impetus in my subconscious to go to film school. A major life decision that set my life's course on a certain path. My life, influenced by an episode of Gilligan's Island? Maybe so. Everything's connected.
So, thank you Emmaline and Natalie; for all the laughs, the glamour and the entertainment. Because those little people inside the TV set were our friends, weren't they? They kept us company after school and on those late nights when you couldn't fall asleep. It's true. Didn't the folks at Dunder-Mifflin kind of get most of us through the pandemic? Or the gang at Central Perk? Or Mrs. Bellows and Mrs. Howell? You bet they did!
And why haven't Gilligan and Jeannie, two of the most popular sitcoms of all time, not been given the Big Screen treatment? Remember when they were remaking everything? Like, even Car 54 got a movie. Is it because Nora Ephron put the kibosh on the trend with her abysmal cinematic take on Bewitched? Sorry Nicole; but even you couldn't save that hot mess of celluloid. And please, whoever attempts movie versions of Jeannie and Gilligan: don't do meta. Those properties don't need meta. They need bettah!
Also, here's a fascinating interview with Natalie Schafer; the only one I've ever seen her do. It's with Skip E. Lowe who I think may have been the inspiration for Martin Short's "Jiminy Glick" persona:
So, thank you Emmaline and Natalie; for all the laughs, the glamour and the entertainment. Because those little people inside the TV set were our friends, weren't they? They kept us company after school and on those late nights when you couldn't fall asleep. It's true. Didn't the folks at Dunder-Mifflin kind of get most of us through the pandemic? Or the gang at Central Perk? Or Mrs. Bellows and Mrs. Howell? You bet they did!
And why haven't Gilligan and Jeannie, two of the most popular sitcoms of all time, not been given the Big Screen treatment? Remember when they were remaking everything? Like, even Car 54 got a movie. Is it because Nora Ephron put the kibosh on the trend with her abysmal cinematic take on Bewitched? Sorry Nicole; but even you couldn't save that hot mess of celluloid. And please, whoever attempts movie versions of Jeannie and Gilligan: don't do meta. Those properties don't need meta. They need bettah!
Also, here's a fascinating interview with Natalie Schafer; the only one I've ever seen her do. It's with Skip E. Lowe who I think may have been the inspiration for Martin Short's "Jiminy Glick" persona:
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