MovieChat Forums > I Dream of Jeannie (1965) Discussion > Ethnic diversity

Ethnic diversity

posted 15 years ago by robtadrian
45 replies | jump to latest

It seems that I Dream Of Jeannie unlike other shows of the era seemed to showcase minority actors..was this progressiveness on the part of the producers, actors and directors? were they trying to make a statement?...lots of speaking parts and background scenes..if anyone has any intelligent feedback or background info I'd appreciate it thanks

[–] Sparky48 10 years ago

I disagree.

As with most TV sitcoms of that era, black actors made few appearances on this TV series, and if they did they played minor, subordinate roles. For instance, in one of the first episodes of the series, Davis Roberts, a black actor who made numerous guest appearances on TV shows during the 60s and 70s, appeared as an air force sergeant serving food to Dr. Bellows. However, Sammy Davis Jr. appeared in an episode playing himself.

[–] !!!deleted!!! (49761343) 9 years ago

It seems that I Dream Of Jeannie unlike other shows of the era seemed to showcase minority actors..was this progressiveness on the part of the producers, actors and directors?

Why does everyone act as if minorities didn't appear on TV at all during the 1950s and 60s? They did. Eddie Rochester Anderson was a staple on the Jack Benny Show, and not as a bit player, either, but as an actual cast member. There was even an all black show called Amos and Andy.

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[–] MyMovieTVRomance 7 years ago

Why does everyone act as if minorities didn't appear on TV at all during the 1950s and 60s? They did.

Quite right. Not only that, but there was a show called Beulah, which starred a black couple back in the 1950s!

It's a false notion that blacks were not on TV or in the movies until the diversity movement kicked in. That's just not true. They were – they just weren't always in the same shows as white people, and they weren't in as many – but that's due to the fact that there weren't as many of them. So, there's nothing offensive about that at all. What is offensive though, is that people today in our politically correct climate like to whine about equality all the time, while not realizing that they are some of the least equality minded people out there. Because equality would mean that white people could have movies and TV shows with all white casts, just like black people do, and it wouldn't cause a riot, because that's equality. But not so today.

The concept of equality has been turned on its head. Equality today means that black people can have movies and TV shows with all-black casts, but white people can't without criticism. That's equality? No, but don't tell anyone of this stupid era we live in.

We have progressively gotten more and more hypocritical and uptight about race relations so much over the years, that it's actually come back to bite us. Blacks and whites are getting along less now than they did 30 years ago! Thanks, PC culture!

I fear we've reached a point of no return, and it's just getting worse. Unfortunately though, the PC crowd are all in denial about it. They always will be. Ignorance is bliss for them, I guess.

Please excuse typos/funny wording; I use speech-recognition that doesn't always recognize!

[–] adamdurrance 7 years ago

There's a Disney movie called Zootopia. Some of the humor highlights just what you're talking about. They do it using animals but the point is obvious.

Movie is actually funny to a point for what it is.

[–] TimMC (9143) 4 years ago

They did have a very rare ethnicity on the show, genies.