Tony Nelson

[BSDDomi]

Everyone has quirks, whether we like them or not. What do you think makes Tony Nelson so unique? What are his positive and his negatives traits? And why do you love or hate them? In what way do you think they affect Jeannie, Roger, Dr Bellows and everyone else who is close to him. What, on the other hand, makes him lovable?

[kandykisses]

He is a bachelor who is set in his ways. Then along comes Jeannie & turns his world upside down.
KandyKisses!

[BSDDomi]

So you think that with Jeannie being at his side all the time she's been able to change him to the better or worse?

[Patterson Lundquist]

I personally feel Jeannie didn't exactly change Tony. I think Jeannie made Tony take a different look at things. I think her presence showed him that there is/was more to life than just being an astronaut. Clearly Tony was 'meant' for Jeannie (even though in this case writers created the situation). If you were to look at the show as if it was in real life, Jeannie causing Tony to see that Melissa was wrong for him was probably the best thing she ever did for him.

[kandykisses]

How true!
KANDYKISSES!

[Dreamer Girl]

One thing I really like about Tony is his love for his job and how he's determined to achieve his goal by himself. I mean, any man who have his head turned upside down if he found (see our dear Roger for example). But still Tony keeps being honest to himself, and to NASA. I might be taking the character too seriously but I think he sets an example in this aspect.
As for Jeannie, I think she added a fun side to his life. I think that after she came along Tony became more relaxed and less uptight.

[98slbrookes98]

I believe Jeannie and Tony are soulmates and belong ogether. Like Roger said "She couldn't really belong toanyone else but you". I believe Roger loves her too though he wo't admit to that but he accepts that she loves Tony. I think Tony's problem is he is impulsive like when he makes Jeannie swear not to help him and then when he really needs help from her he can't have it. Then he can be a bit self centred.

[littlegenie63]

I tihnk that Tony was the hardest character to play on the show. always up and down. ;D He was a emotional rollercoaster. sometimes he would show a little to much anger. I loved him best when he would show his real side to Jeannie and would say he was sorry for his actions.. He was very romantic with her in the last season.

[theduck]

Wow, great question!

Tony was very complex.

I always thought Tony was selfish with Jeannie. The relationship always had to go HIS way. The best part about it was that Tony knew his feelings for her actually went HER way.

All Jeannie wanted was for Tony to *need* her, and for him to "say" he needed her. Tony wanted his job, his independence, and he also wanted Jeannie. He certainly didn’t want anyone else to have her. The best moments of the show were when Tony thought he was going to loose Jeannie. I wish the show had even had more of those moments.

I loved the way Tony had Jeannie figured out. I mean he knew when she was up to something by the way she would repeat things, or make a certain eye movement. Yet she never could figure him out.

I think Jeannie was the biggest uproar to Tony’s life. Until she came along he had complete control over his life, his job, and his actions. Then comes Jeannie and he no longer had control. Jeannie taught him to let go of his control issues, and except the things he really needs in his life (like her).

The Duck

[AlphaSigOU]

Great to see an online community for IDOJ on the Net.

I was always impressed that the show took great pains (for the most part) depicting U.S. military uniforms, customs and courtesies correctly.

For those wanting to know what's on Major Nelson's ribbon rack, below is an illustration:



Wings: Senior Pilot Astronaut (Over 1000 hours and seven years of flying time, plus one flight above 50 miles in altitude.)

Top row: Airman's Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal.
Bottom row: Air Force Outstanding Unit Award, Korea Service Medal, Air Force Longevity Service Award with two bronze oak leaf clusters (12 years service).

Unlike today's Air Force, where they're practically creating awards like sausages, the Oooold Air Force was pretty stingy with giving out medals back then.

Although technically he should have one more ribbon added - not sure if it was added in later seasons:



This adds the National Defense Service Medal (aka the 'Firewatch' medal).

Working on Major Healey's and Doctor Bellows's ribbon rack...

[jeannietonyfan]

Thanks for that! That was interesting to see.

[AlphaSigOU]

Thanks!

What makes it interesting is that Tony Nelson has the Airman's Medal, which has very unique award criteria:

This decoration, one of several Air Force awards established by Congress on July 6, 1960, takes the place of the Soldier's Medal for Air Force personnel. It is awarded to any member of the Armed Forces of the United States or of a friendly nation who, while serving in any capacity with the United States Air Force after the date of the award's authorization, shall have distinguished himself or herself by a heroic act, usually at the voluntary risk of his or her life but not involving actual combat. The saving of a life or the success of the voluntary heroic act is not essential. Do not award for normal performance of duties.

This medal (pictured below) was designed and sculpted by Thomas Hudson Jones of the Institute of Heraldry. On the obverse of the circular medal is the figure of the Greek god Hermes, son of Zeus, resting on one knee. He has just released from his open hands a falcon, shown rising into flight. Within the raised rim of the medal, is the inscription "Airman's Medal" in raised letters. The reverse of the medal, has a raised outer edge and bears the inscription, "For Valor" above a space for the recipient's name which is within a stylized laurel wreath open at the top and tied at the bottom.

The Airman's Medal is unique in that its shape does not follow the octagonal shape of its counterparts, the Soldier's Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Medal and the Coast Guard Medal. It had been established practice heretofore to design military decorations with a distinctive shape, so that they would not be confused at a distance with service or campaign medals, which are always circular in shape. The reason for this is because the design was originally approved for use as The Air Force Distinguished Service Medal. The ribbon is based on that of the soldier's Medal but using different colors. In the center are alternating thin stripes of gold and dark blue, (seven gold and six dark blue) bordered at the edges with wide stripes of pale (sky) blue.

Authorized Device: Oak Leaf Cluster

You might also notice that in the pilot episode Captain Healey was Air Force before he took the 'blue to green' interservice transfer to the Army. (There were no Army astronauts in the Astronaut Corps during the 1960s; it wasn't until the Shuttle era that the Army got some representation.)

[jeanniegirl]

One of my favorite things about Tony is what I call his "crazy laugh." Like, when Jeannie just got him in trouble and he puts his head in his hands and just starts laughing because he's so upset. I just find that so funny, but I do feel bad for him because he has so much to put up with. I remember in one episode where he's like, "you know how you worry about me?" Jeannie nods and he continues. "Well, you have a reason to!" lol

[jeannietonyfan]

hee hee... I love that laugh too jeanniegirl... Larry always did that so well.

[Subspace]

littlegenie63 said:

I tihnk that Tony was the hardest character to play on the show. always up and down. ;D He was a emotional rollercoaster. sometimes he would show a little to much anger. I loved him best when he would show his real side to Jeannie and would say he was sorry for his actions.. He was very romantic with her in the last season.

I agree completely. I too felt that there were moments when Tony was too harsh with Jeannie (especially in the earlier seasons), bordering, at times, on being cruel - I guess that part of the reason was that I Dream of Jeannie was filmed in the 1960's in an era where women were still expected to be somewhat subservient to the 'man of the house' who was expected to have the 'final say' in things (something which Tony often tries to have), and dominate and run the household (in effect, be the 'Master'). If IDOJ were done today, Tony's character would never have be written to be that harsh to Jeannie. And if he were, Jeannie's character would be written so that she would never accept that sort of treatment.

I always thought Jeannie calling Tony 'Master' was a subtle poke at the attitude of the times... a somewhat sarcastic reminder that even the 'Master' is not always really in control or the 'Master' of everything, and that the 'Master', and that even the 'Master' needs other people and love (which is demonstrated many times in IDOJ, whenever Tony is on the verge of losing, or has lost, Jeannie).

I think at least IDOJ was done better in this regard than the - other famous 1960's sitcom - in that Tony, while he may blow his top every so often, respects Jeannie and accepts her for what she is, and doesn't try to order her to give up magic, or things of that nature.