You Wish
Encyclopedia
You Wish is an American fantasy
sitcom
that premiered on September 26, 1997. It started as part of ABC's TGIF
programming on Friday nights for the fall of 1997, along with Sabrina, the Teenage Witch
, Boy Meets World
, and Teen Angel
.
, You Wish was a 1990s version of I Dream of Jeannie
. In this situation, a genie
lives with a family, instead of a single man.
In the show's pilot episode, Gillian Apple (Harley Jane Kozak
) and her two children, Mickey Apple (Alex McKenna
) and Travis Apple (Nathan Lawrence
) visit a rug shop where they meet the owner, Madman Mustafa (John Rhys-Davies
). There they buy a rug, where they unexpectedly release a genie (John Ales
), who has been imprisoned for 2,000 years. The genie's name is simply "Genie", although in the first episode Gillian refers to him as "Steve from Canoga Park
", an alias he later uses. Jerry Van Dyke
was introduced to the show in the third episode as Genie's Grandpa Max.
crossover, which started with Sabrina. Sabrina invented a time ball, which Salem swallowed and caused the time period to be the 1960s. Salem then crossed over to Boy Meets World, turning it into the 1940s, then this series to the 1950s and then to Teen Angel to the 1970s.
Fantasy television
Fantasy television is a genre of television programming featuring elements of the fantastic, often including magic, supernatural forces, or exotic fantasy worlds. Fantasy television programs are often based on tales from mythology and folklore, or are adapted from fantasy stories in other media...
sitcom
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...
that premiered on September 26, 1997. It started as part of ABC's TGIF
TGIF (ABC)
TGIF was the name of an American family-friendly prime time television programming block on the ABC network. The name comes from the initials of the popular phrase "Thank God It's Friday"...
programming on Friday nights for the fall of 1997, along with Sabrina, the Teenage Witch
Sabrina, the Teenage Witch (TV series)
Sabrina, the Teenage Witch is an American sitcom based on the Archie comic book series of the same name.The show stars Melissa Joan Hart as Sabrina Spellman, a teenager with magical powers, who lives with her aunts Hilda and Zelda , and their magical talking cat Salem...
, Boy Meets World
Boy Meets World
Boy Meets World is an American comedy-drama series that chronicles the events and everyday life lessons of Cory Matthews, played by Ben Savage, a kid from suburban Philadelphia who grows up from a young boy to a married man. The show aired for seven seasons from 1993 to 2000 on ABC, part of the...
, and Teen Angel
Teen Angel (TV series)
Teen Angel is an American fantasy sitcom that aired during ABC's TGIF Friday night lineup from 1997 to 1998. The series was created by Simpsons writers/producers Al Jean and Mike Reiss.-Synopsis:...
.
Synopsis
Just as Sabrina, the Teenage Witch was considered a 1990s version of BewitchedBewitched
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...
, You Wish was a 1990s version of 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...
. In this situation, a genie
Genie
Jinn or genies are supernatural creatures in Arab folklore and Islamic teachings that occupy a parallel world to that of mankind. Together, jinn, humans and angels make up the three sentient creations of Allah. Religious sources say barely anything about them; however, the Qur'an mentions that...
lives with a family, instead of a single man.
In the show's pilot episode, Gillian Apple (Harley Jane Kozak
Harley Jane Kozak
-Life and career:Kozak was born Susan Jane Kozak in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, the daughter of Dorothy , a university music teacher, and Joseph Aloysius Kozak, an attorney. She has seven siblings: brothers John, Joseph, Peter and Andrew and sisters Dorothy, Mary and Ann. Harley is the youngest of...
) and her two children, Mickey Apple (Alex McKenna
Alex McKenna
Alex McKenna is an American television and film actress perhaps best known for her role as Abby Macy in the American television series Crossing Jordan. She also played Petunia Stupid alongside Tom Arnold in the 1996 movie The Stupids.-Early life:McKenna was born in Los Angeles, California...
) and Travis Apple (Nathan Lawrence
Nathan Lawrence
Nathan James Lawrence is an American actor best known as the character Leon Wennick on the short-lived TV series Tucker. Contrary to popular belief, he is not related to the actors Joseph Lawrence, Matthew Lawrence or Andrew Lawrence.-External links:...
) visit a rug shop where they meet the owner, Madman Mustafa (John Rhys-Davies
John Rhys-Davies
John Rhys-Davies is a Welsh actor and voice actor. He is perhaps best known for playing the charismatic Arab excavator Sallah in the Indiana Jones films and the dwarf Gimli in The Lord of the Rings trilogy...
). There they buy a rug, where they unexpectedly release a genie (John Ales
John Ales
John Ales is an American actor best known for appearing in Spy Hard, The Nutty Professor, You Wish, and more.-Film:*Crime Killer ... Kids*Spy Hard ... Kabul*The Nutty Professor ... Jason...
), who has been imprisoned for 2,000 years. The genie's name is simply "Genie", although in the first episode Gillian refers to him as "Steve from Canoga Park
Canoga Park, Los Angeles, California
Canoga Park is a district in the San Fernando Valley region of Los Angeles, California, United States about 25 miles northwest of Downtown Los Angeles....
", an alias he later uses. Jerry Van Dyke
Jerry Van Dyke
Jerry Van Dyke is an American comedian and actor. He is the younger brother of comedian and actor Dick Van Dyke, and made his acting debut on The Dick Van Dyke Show with several guest appearances as Rob Petrie's brother, Stacey...
was introduced to the show in the third episode as Genie's Grandpa Max.
Crossovers
Although the series made a total of 13 episodes, it was taken off after the seventh episode, "Genie Without a Cause." This episode, which aired on November 7, 1997, was part of a night-long TGIF retroRetro
Retro is a culturally outdated or aged style, trend, mode, or fashion, from the overall postmodern past, that has since that time become functionally or superficially the norm once again. The use of "retro" style iconography and imagery interjected into post-modern art, advertising, mass media, etc...
crossover, which started with Sabrina. Sabrina invented a time ball, which Salem swallowed and caused the time period to be the 1960s. Salem then crossed over to Boy Meets World, turning it into the 1940s, then this series to the 1950s and then to Teen Angel to the 1970s.
Cancellation
After the series was withdrawn from the TGIF lineup, reruns of Sabrina, the Teenage Witch (mainly from the previous season) took the show's spot. The remaining 5 unaired episodes of the series were shown in May and June 1998; these episodes were aired after the season finales of Sabrina and Boy Meets World.Episodes
| Episode # | Episode title | Original airdate |
|---|---|---|
| 1-1 | Pilot | September 26, 1997 |
| 1-2 | "Jillions of Gillians" | October 3, 1997 |
| 1-3 | "The Big Ride" | October 10, 1997 |
| 1-4 | "Mind Games" | October 17, 1997 |
| 1-5 | "A Real Don Juan" | October 24, 1997 |
| 1-6 | "Halloween" | October 31, 1997 |
| 1-7 | "Genie Without a Cause" | November 7, 1997 |
| 1-8 | "Future Shock" | May 22, 1998 |
| 1-9 | "All in the Family Room" | May 29, 1998 |
| 1-10 | "Welcome to the Dollhouse" | June 5, 1998 |
| 1-11 | "The Bad Influence" | June 12, 1998 |
| 1-12 | "Bride and Prejudice" | June 23, 1998 |