This past Saturday we
reported that Amazon had "broken the news" via a pre-order listing (see button link below) that
I Dream of Jeannie - The Complete Series would be coming out on DVD from Sony on
November 4th.
Since word was out, we went ahead with further details and preliminary art, which the studio had made available to retailers in an early alert. We had gotten that, thanks to our industry sources, and while the info/art was sourced from Sony, we warned our readers at the time that this would not necessarily be the final material and could be subject to change.
Which turns out to be the case. This morning the official Sony press release came in from the studio's publicity team, accompanied by the package art picture seen below. It seems to essentially be the same as our previous graphic, but a bit more "polished" (for example, the wording in the top right is shaded differently, and the left spine art has been changed).
However, the press release itself notes a bigger change: it says that there will be 139 episodes in this set, accompanied by bonus "Trivia Cards" which are described as "
episode cards with trivia from each season". There is NO mention made of either of the post-series telefilms (1985's "I Dream of Jeannie: 15 Years Later" or 1991's "I Still Dream of Jeannie") being included. So the preliminary info Sony provided to retailers has undergone a change: it had said the 1985 reunion movie-of-the-week would be included in the release, but apparently that is no longer the case.
That new content info matches the announcement rundown posted this morning for the title at Sony's password-protected press site, and also the details reported by today's new print editions of trade magazines
Video Business and
Home Media Magazine. So we apologize if we got anybody's hopes up by passing on planning info that had changed at the studio, but neither telefilm will be included in the release. As longtime readers know, sometimes retailer early alerts can contain obsolete info that isn't included in the final package configuration.
We also noticed that Sony's press site info specifies that the video specs for this release are "color", with no indication of any black-and-white episodes included in the set (something press release doesn't address). This gives us reason to expect
The Complete Series to contain colorized 1st Season episodes, instead of the original black-and-white broadcast versions. Also, it may be worth noting that the disc count at the press site says "19" in two places, and "20" in a third place, so IF you see confusion around the 'net over the set's disc count in various reports, this is why. We'll try to find out what's correct, so stay tuned. Now here is Sony's slightly-revised package art, and their formal press release:
UPDATE: Sony has responded to our inquires about the number of discs, and whether the Season 1 episodes on this release will be the colorized versions or the original black-and-white. The first season episodes ARE indeed the colorized versions. And the disc count is correct in the press release at "20"; these will use the exact same masters that were used to stamp out the discs for the individual 5 season sets, with 4 DVDs per season (our contact at Sony will look into correcting the places where "19 discs" is indicated). We also asked if the packaging would still be considered for further revisions, and we were told no, that this is "final art". Enjoy:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Barbara Eden & Larry Hagman Uncork All the Magic!
I DREAM OF JEANNIE:
THE COMPLETE SERIES
20-Disc Box Set Features 139 Fanciful Episodes
On DVD November 4
Culver City, Calif. (August 25, 2008) -
I Dream of Jeannie: The Complete Series, starring Barbara Eden and Larry Hagman in one of the most beloved sitcoms in television history, comes to DVD in collectible bottle packaging November 4 from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment. This collector's set also includes episode cards with trivia from each season. The 20-disc box set features the romantic magic of all 139 episodes and will be available for $174.95 SRP.
Eden (TV's "
Harper Valley PTA") starred in her career-defining title role with Hagman (TV's "
Dallas") who played the hapless Major Tony Nelson. The heady chemistry and deft comic timing of the adorably mismatched couple was made even more successful by series' talented regulars Bill Daily (TV's "
The Bob Newhart Show") as Tony's best friend and secret-keeper, Major Roger Healey; Hayden Rorke (
The Unsinkable Molly Brown) as nosey Dr. Bellows; and Emmaline Henry (
Rosemary's Baby) as his wife, Amanda Bellows.
Inspired by other supernatural shows of the time (particularly "
Bewitched"),
I Dream of Jeannie began its five-season run on September 18, 1965. Created by best-selling author Sidney Sheldon, the series cleverly blended romantic and slapstick comedy with outstanding special effects, making it an immediate success.
I Dream of Jeannie enjoyed renewed popularity when it went into syndication during the 1970s; and, to this day, Eden and Hagman's good-natured, high-spirited antics continue to attract new generations of fans.
DVD Special Features Include:
- Digitally Remastered Audio and Video
- Full Screen Presentations
- Audio: English, Spanish, Portuguese
- Subtitles: Spanish, Portuguese
- Closed Captioned
I Dream of Jeannie: The Complete Series (BROADCAST YEAR: 1965-1969) has a run time of approximately 3138 minutes and is not rated. Visit Sony Pictures Home Entertainment on the Web at www.SonyPictures.com.
About Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
Sony Pictures Home Entertainment is a division of Sony Corporation of America, a subsidiary of Tokyo-based Sony Corporation. Sony Pictures Entertainment's global operations encompass motion picture production and distribution; television production and distribution; digital content creation and distribution; worldwide channel investments; home entertainment acquisition and distribution; operation of studio facilities; development of new entertainment products, services and technologies; and distribution of filmed entertainment in 67 countries. Sony Pictures Entertainment can be found on the World Wide Web at http://www.sonypictures.com.
