I Dream Of Jeannie – The Complete Second Season

 

Picture: C+     Sound: C     Extras: D     Episodes: C+

 

 

How can you not love Barbara Eden?  It is almost impossible.  The camera loves her and especially what she has been though in recent times, her resilience is nothing short of incredible.  Even before I Dream Of Jeannie, she is always a standout in anything she did, but this is the show that put her on the map to permanent TV and Hollywood star immortality and The Complete Second Season is the first one filmed in color.

 

Still with the astronaut/good guy (Larry Hagman as Major Tony Nelson) who got her out of that bottle in the first place, the color shows is when the series started to shine.  Though the scripts and situations are formulaic and predictable, the duo’s chemistry is great and they remain one of the great TV couples to the point that they often exceeded their material and kept the show on top during its entire run.  Often and rightly compared to the original (and only) Bewitched, this show was not as caddy and in conflict, but it did not have as stable a couple (i.e., the two Darrens) but was still always a pleasant show.

 

Highlights among the 31 half-hour shows for this season include Sammy Davis Jr. in The Greatest Entertainer In The World, My Master, The Spy and My Incredible Shrinking Master.

 

The 1.33 X 1 image is not bad, with good color and some good detail, while the Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono is sometimes harsh and distorted.  Why, it is hard to tell, but be careful the levels you play the shows at.  There is also warping and harmonic distortion that needs tended to for future HD release.  Sadly, there are no extras.

 

 

-   Nicholas Sheffo