Dr Bellows
Encyclopedia
Dr. Alfred E. Bellows is a fictional character in the popular 1960s situation comedy
I Dream of Jeannie
, which ran for five seasons, starring Barbara Eden
as Jeannie
, Larry Hagman
as Tony Nelson and Bill Daily
as Roger Healey. Dr. Bellows is portrayed by Hayden Rorke
. Hayden Rorke is perhaps most memorable for his role of NASA medical officer in this sixties sitcom. He reprised this role in the movie "I Dream of Jeannie - 15 years later" and it was his last role as he died of cancer soon afterwards. As Dr. Bellows, he appeared "Tall, well postured and handsome with a kindly face, wavy graying hair, steely blue eyes and a friendly smile". He was also prolific as Dr. Bellows.
Rorke portrayed Dr. Bellows from 1965 to 1970.
). I Dream of Jeannie is set in the town of Cocoa Beach, Florida
. Dr. Bellows is a colonel
.
Dr. Bellows is a shrewd and cautious man who is inevitably and unfortunately used as a scapegoat. Tony Nelson and Roger Healey (captains at the start of the series but promoted to major during the first season) become the fascination of Dr. Bellows when they are caught in a web of inexplicable situations resulting from the magic of a genie, appropriately named Jeannie. Tony Nelson in particular baffles Dr. Bellows because of his peculiar behavior. He observes, records and ponders their activities, determined to uncover the cause.
Dr. Bellows is always made to look foolish and he never proves that he is right about Tony Nelson. Generals Hadley
, Peterson
, Stone
, and Schaeffer
in turn reluctantly accompany Dr. Bellows when he attempts to prove Tony's strange "tricks". Fortunately, thanks to Jeannie, none of these generals witness the strange events and Tony is saved from being fired from the space program. This means that the generals are more wary of Dr. Bellows than Major Nelson or Major Healey. In some cases the trick can extend to the generals, such as Jeannie's mother trying to court Dr. Bellows and dressing him in the robes of a pasha
(and causing Jeannie to scold her mother for going after a married man). Dr. Bellows' appearance causes one general to worry he is suffering from hallucinations by seeing Dr. Bellows in pasha robes, and Bellows in turn saying the vision is real but he has no clue how he acquired such exotic clothing. Nevertheless, Dr. Bellows relentlessly devotes his entire life to "figuring out" Major Nelson. At one point Bellows seems to "catch on" by telling Nelson and Healy that the moment he brings in General Peterson it all goes away, so he is forgetting this is brought up
.
In season 2, it is revealed that Dr. Bellows is married (actually, his wife was mentioned in a first-season episode but was not seen or heard). His wife, Amanda Bellows, is an inquisitive woman who shares his interest in Major Nelson and Major Healey. Despite wanting to unravel the mystery around Tony and to some extent Roger, Dr. Bellows remains a true and loyal friend to Tony though he is never as close to Tony as Roger is. That is understandable, since Roger is the only character other than Tony who knows and understands Jeannie's true identity. Despite Bellows' trouble for Tony and Roger, at one point Tony needed to preserve Bellows' medical career when the generals had enough of Bellows' antics and ordered a new medical officer brought in, who was far more blunt and planned to inject Tony with truth serum
. Had this happened, Jeannie's true abilities would have been revealed.
Yet his manner causes Tony and Roger to sometimes make fun of him in private. Jeannie is often sorry for him as her attempts to help her master often result in landing Dr. Bellows in trouble as well as Tony and Roger. Sometimes Jeannie will Dr. Bellows is quite smart. Fans of this 1960s sitcom created a journal in which Dr. Bellows recorded his psychiatric observations of Tony Nelson.
Dr. Bellows never discovers Jeannie's true identity, although in season 5, after her marriage to Tony, Tony dreams that Bellows discovers and accepts the truth about his wife. However, after Tony introduces Jeannie to Bellows as his fiancee, Bellows concludes that Tony simply being "in love" was the underlying cause of much of what Bellows perceived as unusual behavior. His relationship with Tony subsequently changes, with his wife Amanda appearing more frequently. This does cause some tension, as the well-meaning Bellowses perceive Jeannie as naive and become overbearing towards the newlyweds at times.
When he made his cameo appearance in "I Dream of Jeannie - 15 years later" Dr. Bellows had retired from the U.S. Airforce and become a psychiatrist in private practice.
" on the sitcom Bewitched
, who was likewise unsuccessful in having her husband corroborate the strange happenings she had seen.
Situation comedy
A situation comedy, often shortened to sitcom, is a genre of comedy that features characters sharing the same common environment, such as a home or workplace, accompanied with jokes as part of the dialogue...
I Dream of Jeannie
I Dream of Jeannie
I Dream of Jeannie is a 1960s American sitcom with a fantasy premise. The show starred Barbara Eden as a 2,000-year-old genie, and Larry Hagman as an astronaut who becomes her master, with whom she falls in love and eventually marries...
, which ran for five seasons, starring Barbara Eden
Barbara Eden
Barbara Eden is an American film and television actress and singer who is best known for her starring role in the sitcom I Dream of Jeannie.-Early years:...
as Jeannie
Jeannie
Jeannie was a 30-minute Saturday morning animated series produced by Hanna-Barbera Productions in association with Screen Gems from September 8, 1973 to August 30, 1975 on CBS...
, Larry Hagman
Larry Hagman
Larry Martin Hagman is an American film and television actor, producer and director known for playing J.R. Ewing in the 1980s primetime television soap opera Dallas and Major Anthony "Tony" Nelson in the 1960s sitcom I Dream of Jeannie.-Early life and career:Hagman was born in Fort Worth, Texas...
as Tony Nelson and Bill Daily
Bill Daily
Bill Daily is an American comedian and dramatic actor, and a veteran of many television sitcoms. He is best known for playing astronaut Roger Healey on I Dream of Jeannie and commercial airline navigator Howard Borden in The Bob Newhart Show.-Biography:Daily's father died when Bill was very...
as Roger Healey. Dr. Bellows is portrayed by Hayden Rorke
Hayden Rorke
William Henry Rorke was an American actor best known for playing Col. Dr. Alfred E. Bellows on the hit 1960s American sitcom I Dream of Jeannie.-Career:...
. Hayden Rorke is perhaps most memorable for his role of NASA medical officer in this sixties sitcom. He reprised this role in the movie "I Dream of Jeannie - 15 years later" and it was his last role as he died of cancer soon afterwards. As Dr. Bellows, he appeared "Tall, well postured and handsome with a kindly face, wavy graying hair, steely blue eyes and a friendly smile". He was also prolific as Dr. Bellows.
Rorke portrayed Dr. Bellows from 1965 to 1970.
Overview
Dr. Bellows from the first season onwards is the psychiatrist at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASANASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...
). I Dream of Jeannie is set in the town of Cocoa Beach, Florida
Cocoa Beach, Florida
Cocoa Beach is a city in Brevard County, Florida, United States. The population was 12,482 at the 2000 census. According to the U.S. Census Bureau estimates of 2008, the city had a population of 11,920...
. Dr. Bellows is a colonel
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
.
Dr. Bellows is a shrewd and cautious man who is inevitably and unfortunately used as a scapegoat. Tony Nelson and Roger Healey (captains at the start of the series but promoted to major during the first season) become the fascination of Dr. Bellows when they are caught in a web of inexplicable situations resulting from the magic of a genie, appropriately named Jeannie. Tony Nelson in particular baffles Dr. Bellows because of his peculiar behavior. He observes, records and ponders their activities, determined to uncover the cause.
Dr. Bellows is always made to look foolish and he never proves that he is right about Tony Nelson. Generals Hadley
Hadley
- People :Surname* Arthur Twining Hadley , American economist* George Hadley, meteorologist, hence also:** Hadley cell** Hadley Centre for Climate Prediction and Research...
, Peterson
Peterson
Peterson is a common name, and may refer to:People*Peterson Fictional characters* Lindsay Peterson, character in the television series Queer as Folk* Minty Peterson, character in EastEnders...
, Stone
STONe
is a Japanese manga written and illustrated by Sin-Ichi Hiromoto. Kodansha released the two bound volumes of the manga on April 23, 2002 and August 23, 2002, respectively.The manga is licensed for an English-languague released in North America be Tokyopop...
, and Schaeffer
Schaeffer
Schaeffer is a term primarily used as a surname in a number of countries in the Western world, and is derived from the Middle High German term schafferre, which —in that language— referred to the manager or steward of a household....
in turn reluctantly accompany Dr. Bellows when he attempts to prove Tony's strange "tricks". Fortunately, thanks to Jeannie, none of these generals witness the strange events and Tony is saved from being fired from the space program. This means that the generals are more wary of Dr. Bellows than Major Nelson or Major Healey. In some cases the trick can extend to the generals, such as Jeannie's mother trying to court Dr. Bellows and dressing him in the robes of a pasha
Pasha
Pasha or pascha, formerly bashaw, was a high rank in the Ottoman Empire political system, typically granted to governors, generals and dignitaries. As an honorary title, Pasha, in one of its various ranks, is equivalent to the British title of Lord, and was also one of the highest titles in...
(and causing Jeannie to scold her mother for going after a married man). Dr. Bellows' appearance causes one general to worry he is suffering from hallucinations by seeing Dr. Bellows in pasha robes, and Bellows in turn saying the vision is real but he has no clue how he acquired such exotic clothing. Nevertheless, Dr. Bellows relentlessly devotes his entire life to "figuring out" Major Nelson. At one point Bellows seems to "catch on" by telling Nelson and Healy that the moment he brings in General Peterson it all goes away, so he is forgetting this is brought up
Fourth wall
The fourth wall is the imaginary "wall" at the front of the stage in a traditional three-walled box set in a proscenium theatre, through which the audience sees the action in the world of the play...
.
In season 2, it is revealed that Dr. Bellows is married (actually, his wife was mentioned in a first-season episode but was not seen or heard). His wife, Amanda Bellows, is an inquisitive woman who shares his interest in Major Nelson and Major Healey. Despite wanting to unravel the mystery around Tony and to some extent Roger, Dr. Bellows remains a true and loyal friend to Tony though he is never as close to Tony as Roger is. That is understandable, since Roger is the only character other than Tony who knows and understands Jeannie's true identity. Despite Bellows' trouble for Tony and Roger, at one point Tony needed to preserve Bellows' medical career when the generals had enough of Bellows' antics and ordered a new medical officer brought in, who was far more blunt and planned to inject Tony with truth serum
Truth Serum
Truth Serum is an independent comic book series created, written and drawn by author Jon Adams.-Overview:Originally published as a mini comic in 2001 and given away for free, it appeared as a three-issue mini series published by Slave Labor Graphics in 2002...
. Had this happened, Jeannie's true abilities would have been revealed.
Yet his manner causes Tony and Roger to sometimes make fun of him in private. Jeannie is often sorry for him as her attempts to help her master often result in landing Dr. Bellows in trouble as well as Tony and Roger. Sometimes Jeannie will Dr. Bellows is quite smart. Fans of this 1960s sitcom created a journal in which Dr. Bellows recorded his psychiatric observations of Tony Nelson.
Dr. Bellows never discovers Jeannie's true identity, although in season 5, after her marriage to Tony, Tony dreams that Bellows discovers and accepts the truth about his wife. However, after Tony introduces Jeannie to Bellows as his fiancee, Bellows concludes that Tony simply being "in love" was the underlying cause of much of what Bellows perceived as unusual behavior. His relationship with Tony subsequently changes, with his wife Amanda appearing more frequently. This does cause some tension, as the well-meaning Bellowses perceive Jeannie as naive and become overbearing towards the newlyweds at times.
When he made his cameo appearance in "I Dream of Jeannie - 15 years later" Dr. Bellows had retired from the U.S. Airforce and become a psychiatrist in private practice.
Similarity
In Dr. Bellows' continual witnessing of strange events, inevitably erased before he can summon his superior as a witness, he assumes a role analogous to that of "Gladys KravitzGladys Kravitz
Gladys Kravitz is a fictional character on the American situation comedy Bewitched . Portrayed by Alice Pearce from the show's premiere in 1964 until Pearce's death in 1966 and then by Sandra Gould from 1966 until her last appearance in 1971, Gladys Kravitz is an across-the-street neighbor of the...
" on the sitcom Bewitched
Bewitched
Bewitched is an American situation comedy originally broadcast for eight seasons on ABC from 1964 to 1972, starring Elizabeth Montgomery, Dick York and Dick Sargent , Agnes Moorehead, and David White. The show is about a witch who marries a mortal and tries to lead the life of a typical suburban...
, who was likewise unsuccessful in having her husband corroborate the strange happenings she had seen.