Original Air Date: March 6, 1967
Starring: Larry Hagman, Barbara Eden, Bill Daily
Also Starring: Tye
Directed by: Claudio Guzman
Cat Out of the Bag Alert! This review contains some spoilers for this episode!
Synopsis: Jeannie (Barbara Eden) dreams that Major Tony Nelson (Larry Hagman) is going to be attacked by a ferocious, deadly animal. Little does she know that she inadvertently brings about the fulfillment of her own prophesy when she accidentally shrinks Tony leaving him at the mercy of a cat.
Cinema Cat: After Jeannie leaves Major Nelson and Major Healey (Bill Daily), not knowing she accidentally shrank her master, Dr. Bellows (Hayden Rorke) shows up at the Nelson home looking for some files. As he enters an orange tabby cat follows him inside. The cat then chases the tiny Major Nelson around the house for a majority of the show.
The cat actor in this episode is Tye, one of Frank Inn’s animal actors and descended from the cats who worked on the film Rhubarb (possibly even Orangey, who co-starred in the film this episode is spoofing, The Incredible Shrinking Man!) Tye must have had a fun day’s work on this show since all of the scenes simply involved the cat jumping up and down from tables and playing with props.
Larry Hagman and the cat are never seen in any scenes together at all, although Hagman does share the screen with a rather unconvincing (and sadly misproportioned) fake cat paw.
Cat Burglar (Scene Stealer): At the end of the episode Major Nelson is bragging to Jeannie about how he wasn’t really afraid of the cat. This sets up the final gag when he squats down next to the stairs where an adorable, tiny kitten with a ribbon around its neck is sitting. Major Nelson screams and jumps onto a chair where Dr. Bellows finds him and (once again) questions his sanity. Why a kitten is present in Major Nelson’s home at all is anyone’s guess!
Final Mewsings: Major Nelson’s house apparently has an open door policy regarding cats.
Many thanks to @tvdvdguy for letting us know about this episode!
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