Major Anthony Nelson
Major Anthony "Tony" Nelson as portrayed by the ever popular and famous, Larry Hagman. No one oculd have portrayed
Major Nelson the way Larry did. Tony seemed to be so serious. Even though he could have Jeannie blink up anything
extravagant, he wasn't into that. He was bent much on material things, although everyone knows, Jeannie tried time
and time again to blink up one thing after another. And when Roger would cut and be a clown, Tony would basically
roll his eyes and move on with what he was doing.
He was also very much into his work. He was very serious minded when it came to his work, but he loved what he did.
He may have picked a tough career to follow, but he loved it and he enjoyed it. As Dr. Bellows once said, Tony was
one of their finest officers. When there was something to be done, he did it and with excellence.
He also related extremely well to the people around him. Take Jeannie first for example. Even though he knew how to
handle her for the most part, he could still become a nervous wreck when she would pull her shinanigans. He came close
quite a few times to being washed out of the space program it seemed, but he always managed to get out of the trouble
Jeannie had gotten him into and sometimes with her help. Even with all her shinanigans, there was no doubt he loved her.
Next is his relation to Roger. It seems as though Tony and Roger were complete opposites. Roger was the clown and a
ladies man and Tony was the more serious one. But they were the best of friends. And a lot of the times, it was Roger
who helped Tony get out of the messes that Jeannie got him into. They made quite a pait at times. One of the most
interesting shows ever made was the third season finale, "Haven't I Seen Me Someplace Before?". Tony and Jeannie had given
Roger a birthday dinner with gifts and Tony permitted Jeannie to give Roger a wish for his birthday. Without even thinking,
Roger blurted out he wished he was going on the space mission Tony was going on and right then and there Tony and Roger
switched bodies, but neither one knew it til later. It was so funny to see Tony's voice coming from Roger and just as much so
seeing Roger's voice coming from Tony's. Tony was less than thrilled, but Roger thought it was great so he could go on the space
mission, but Tony said he'd blwo everything if Roger didn't take back his wish. But no matter what differences there were between
them, they remained close friends.
Next we take the Bellows. Tony was always okay with the Bellows, until Jeannie got involved somehow. Then Tony would go crazy
trying to explain to Dr. Bellows the why behind the what. And Tony's most famous explanation was he or he and Roger were working
on an experiment and he usually got away with it. Although it seemed no matter what, Dr. Bellows seemed to stop trying to figure
Tony out. Even Mrs. Bellows and all her nosiness, Tony didn't seem to let it really bother him too much. He took the Bellows with
a grain of salt and remained friends with them. At least once he and Jeannie were married, he didn't have to "hide" her anymore; only
what she was.
All in all, Tony was a classic. Even though he was a very serious minded person, he knew how to have fun. He loved his life and he
cared about people. I guess one could say he was definitely a one of a kind character. :)