The Man in the Bottle

Mesmerized by their acting and chemistry. So much to learn from these 2 actors, I was pleasantly surprised.

I knew there was an episode of this show about a genie. I just always envisioned him as looking like a standard genie. Instead, he looked like just a normal person. It really is neat to read about something from a movie or TV show and then see how it's different than what you thought. So, there's this genie this couple summons. He gives an easy way of giving them a million dollars.

They end up losing 94% of it to taxes. I really don't know if that can even happen, but we'll let it slide. There's a somewhat famous wish near the end. The husband wishes he was the ruler of a country where he couldn't be voted out of power and turns into Hitler. I've never heard of a genie that gave four wishes. Well, I like unique stuff. ***1/2

I don't like genie episodes. Many TZs have an object with a completely unexplained special power and the stories usually work well enough. Providing a genie does nothing for a plot, and the genie (Joseph Ruskin) is superfluous here. Arthur Castle (Luther Adler) and his wife Edna ( Vivi Janiss from The Fever, season one) are struggling with their tat filled antique shop. The bottle is charitably bought by Arthur from another poor soul in financial need - I like the way the lady then admits to how she got the 'heirloom' on her way out of the shop. The wishes have catches to them, one especially puts Arthur in a position he didn't expect to be in! The ending is one of the better parts. I wouldn't say this is a meaningless story - just look at the Castles before and after the wishes.

I think this episode is a great example of how people can be okay with the status quo given to them until they have an opportunity for greener pastures. We pretend to be okay with the cards dealt to us in life, but as soon as we see an opening for a better life, one filled with riches and power, we pounce on it immediately without a thought to the repercussions that may come. We're all probably a bit more self- centered than we'd like to think.

At no point does either character consider asking for world peace or curing diseases or solving world hunger. All wish consideration is focused on their personal lives. I'm not going to sit here on my high horse and pretend I would be selfless in that situation but I think it's important for us to remember this lesson as we strive up the ladder of life.

Joseph Ruskin stars as a dapper looking and well-spoken Genie who is brought out of his bottle by Arthur & Edna Castle, a nearly broke married couple desperately trying to hold on to their little curio shop. The Genie grants them four wishes that he urges them to think through carefully, but of course they never do, as unexpected complications ensue from the wishes, whether it be money or power, making the Castles wish that they could put things back the way they were before... Uninspired outing has a good performance by Ruskin, but otherwise is pretty run-of-the-mill overall, though remains at least watchable.