15 Things You Never Knew About ‘I Dream of Jeannie’

4. Barbara considered herself a lion expert

During the first season they had a lion on set, and Barbara had worked with lions before so she offered the following advice: “You have to stand very still and let the lion smell you. Then, when he’s finished doing that, you should lean forward very, very gingerly and stroke him as gently as you can. That way, he’ll get to know you and everything will be fine.” Larry was not interested in bonding with the lion, and when he came on set the lion roared at him and he and some of the crew bolted.

5. Convicted murderer Phil Spector was on the show

Phil Spector was a big record producer in the 1960s and 70s before heading to prison for shooting actress Lana Clarkson in 2003. He made a cameo on the show playing himself when Jeannie had musical aspirations, and poked fun at the industry in general.

6. The Monkees show made some Jeannie references

The Monkees show only lasted a couple seasons, but while it did it referenced Jeannie a couple times. One time the guys found a genie lamp and a genie came out, which led Davy Jones to respond: “Imagine that—wrong show!” Cue the laugh track.