I Dream of Jeannie (Television program)
"I Dream of Jeannie" is a classic American sitcom that aired from 1965 to 1970, centering around the whimsical relationship between an astronaut, Major Anthony Nelson, and a two-thousand-year-old genie named Jeannie. The show begins with Major Nelson, played by Larry Hagman, discovering an old bottle on a deserted beach, which, when opened, releases Jeannie, portrayed by Barbara Eden. Grateful for her release, Jeannie decides to make Major Nelson her master, leading to a series of comedic situations as she attempts to fulfill his wishes, often with unexpected results.
The series is characterized by its blend of fantasy and humor, although it has been critiqued as embodying aspects of male wish-fulfillment. Notably, the show's depiction of Jeannie faced scrutiny from network censors, who imposed strict guidelines on her costume design to ensure modesty. Over its five-year run, Jeannie never exposed her navel on-screen, a point of contention that was only resolved in a later television film in 1985. "I Dream of Jeannie" remains a significant part of American pop culture, reflecting both the era's societal norms and the evolving landscape of television comedy.
I Dream of Jeannie (Television program)
Type of work: Television program
Broadcast: 1965-1970
Creator and executive producer: Sidney Sheldon (1917- )
Subject matter: Sitcom about an astronaut who becomes the reluctant master of an attractive female genie
Significance: Although the sitcom was designed to exploit the physical beauty of its star, network censors would not allow her navel to be exposed
This sitcom began with an American astronaut (Larry Hagman) finding an old bottle on a deserted beach. When he opens it, an attractive two-thousand-year-old female genie (Barbara Eden) pops out. Grateful for being freed, she rewards the astronaut by making him her master. The astronaut is flabbergasted by what has transpired. The genie—who is named Jeannie—is determined to make life wonderful for her newfound master, whether he likes it or not.
Although I Dream of Jeannie was never anything more than a male wish-fulfillment fantasy, censors of the National Broadcasting Company (NBC) were adamant about covering Eden’s body as much as possible. The first costume presented to the censors was too revealing: Eden’s outfit was to consist of a bolero jacket top, an Asian dancer’s belt, and Arabian pantaloons. It was such a titillating and sexy outfit that the network censors were outraged. They insisted that Eden wear lined pantaloons in order to hide her legs. They also insisted that her navel could not be exposed. When newspaper reporters learned of the furor, they wrote editorials ridiculing the network, which refused to back down. Through the five years that the series was produced, Eden never exposed her navel to audiences; instead, she hid it under wide belts or plugs that matched her skin tone.
In 1985 the cast of the original series reprised their roles in a television film entitled I Dream of Jeannie: Fifteen Years Later. For the first time in her Jeannie role, Eden was allowed to expose her navel.