About this season
Just Our Luck is a short-lived American sitcom which aired on the American Broadcasting Company in the fall of 1983. Created by brothers Lawrence and Charles Gordon, it was considered a modernized version of the classic 1960s sitcom I Dream of Jeannie. The series stars Richard Gilliland as a mild-mannered TV weatherman for KPOX-TV, and T. K. Carter as a hip, fun-loving 3,000-year-old genie who is freed by Gilliland after being imprisoned in his bottle for nearly two centuries. The series was produced by Lorimar Productions, and initially promoted by ABC as one of its new ambitious comedies along with Webster. Just Our Luck was created to compete against The A-Team on NBC but earned low ratings for much of its run. It was poorly received by critics, however, and was the subject of controversy when the NAACP charged the show with promoting negative stereotypes of African-Americans. The NAACP originally campaigned to have the show removed but later settled for a degree of creative control in the show's development. This included changes to Carter's dialogue, the hiring of black staff writers and the addition of Leonard Simon to the cast. The show was cancelled after three months.
Episodes (13)
1. Pilot
Aired 20 September 1983 • 30 min
A young television reporter finds a mysterious green bottle which contains a genie. The genie is none too happy with his new master, having previously served Cleopatra, King Arthur and Napoleon, and soon shows a predilection for practical jokes at the worst possible times.
2. The Shabelles
Aired 27 September 1983 • 30 min
Shabu clones himself in a vocal quartet in order to enter a talent contest and win money so Keith can go on vacation.
3. Transition
Aired 4 October 1983 • 30 min
Shabu tries to inspire Keith to apply for a promotion by inspiring him with visions of other great Americans.
4. Photo Finish
Aired 18 October 1983 • 30 min
When Nelson brags about his racing victories, Shabu forces him to relive the marathon races where he cheated in order to win.
5. Uncle Harry
Aired 25 October 1983 • 30 min
Shabu wants to surprise Keith on his birthday, so he conjures up his long-lost Uncle Harry. Unfortunately, the man he transports is the wrong Harry, and the old man promptly wanders away before he can be sent back.
6. Something Alien This Way Comes
Aired 1 November 1983 • 30 min
7. Engelbert Humpercricket
Aired 8 November 1983 • 30 min
Shabu decides that the party Keith is throwing for his station manager is too dull, so he decides to use magic to spice it up.
8. No Holds Barred
Aired 22 November 1983 • 30 min
Keith must fight a professional wrestler who takes a dim view of the story he did on the sport for his television station.
9. Wedding Bell Shablues
Aired 6 December 1983 • 30 min
One day after being challenged to find a girlfriend without using his magic, Shabu announces he's engaged to a beautiful woman.
10. Ballad of Dead Eye Dick
Aired 13 December 1983 • 30 min
11. King Kahomni's Curse
Aired 20 December 1983 • 30 min
Keith finds a royal scarab with a curse on it.
12. Keith's Car Crusade
Aired 27 December 1983 • 30 min
Keith agrees to do commercials for a disreputable used car dealership and is harassed by customers who bought lemons because of his advertisements.
13. Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Burrows
A new and obnoxious Keith emerges when Shabu decides to zap his roommate with a bolt of self-confidence after he is nominated for a prestigious award.