Barbara Eden: Marriage “Ruined” ‘I Dream of Jeannie’
on Jan 06, 2021
Was marriage the kiss of death for I Dream of Jeannie? Barbara Eden sure thinks so!
I Dream of Jeannie was one of the most beloved shows of the ’60s. In the fantasy series, Barbara Eden starred as a 2,000-year-old genie who falls for her astronaut “master,” played by Larry Hagman. In the fifth and final season, Jeannie marries her master, Major Anthony “Tony” Nelson. Shortly after, the series was canceled.
The marriage ended the sexual tension that had once fueled the show. In an interview with the Today Show, Eden explained that the marriage between Jeannie and Tony also “broke” the show’s credibility. Eden explained:
“It just ruined the show. Because she wasn’t human! She was an entity—genies aren’t human. Witches are human. Genies are not. And she thought she was, and he knew she wasn’t.”
Eden did not shy away from giving viewers her honest opinion. The actress felt that the marriage between a genie and a human crossed a line.
“Well, I think it broke credibility,” Eden recalled the onscreen wedding.
Although Eden might harbor harsh feelings for the show’s marital storyline, the actress admits that she has nothing but fondness for her I Dream of Jeanie character.
“She’s [Jeannie] very easy to live with. I like her,” Eden reflected on her former role.
Watch Eden’s full interview in the video below!
