How To Explain Where He Was
The producers needed to explain why the original Tony Nelson did not appear in the reunion films. Everyone wanted to know where Larry Hagman was! In the second reunion special, they made the decision to say that the character was away on a NASA mission. The character was hardly mentioned in the movie, especially after the opening sequence. Jeannie had no master in this plane of reality, so she needed to find someone else to stay here. This was why she went to singles bars in the hopes of finding a new adventure!
Friends And I Dream Of Jeannie
John Bennett Perry was the name of the actor who portrayed the sporting goods store owner in Jeannie: 15 Years Later. Fun fact: he is the father of Matthew Perry of Friends fame. There was another interesting connection between the two shows. The foundation in the opening sequence of Friends has actually appeared in episodes of I Dream of Jeannie! The fountain is found across the street from the Nelson house on what is now called the Warner Ranch.