Still, the show would never have been more than a knockoff of the similar Bewitched (basically, the battle of the sexes with a magic twist) if Tony's secret hadn't been discovered midseason by his best friend, fellow astronaut Roger (the wonderful Bill Daily, later on The Bob Newhart Show). Unburdened by the need for decency, Roger could be the show's insatiable id, eager to use Jeannie for no end of self-serving purposes. Meanwhile, psychiatrist Dr. Bellows (Hayden Rorke) served as the show's perpetually flabbergasted superego, constantly demanding a rational explanation for all the madcap events around him. All at once the show's storylines--which had previously been dominated by Jeannie's desire for marriage--could wander in any daffy direction the writers chose. The result was deeply silly and utterly charming. I Dream of Jeannie's first season was shot in black and white, so The Complete First Season is available in its original form or colorized (which, though skin tones seem a little waxy, is relatively inoffensive). Also included is a short feature with enjoyable interviews with Eden, Hagman, and Daily, as well as the show's creator, Sidney Sheldon. --Bret Fetzer
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