I Dream of Jeannie still holds as one of the best sitcoms to ever be aired on TV, and marks over six decades since the premiere of its first episode on Sept. 18, 1965.
In the mid ’50s, Barbara Eden was making her way in her career as a singer and actor, appearing on The Johnny Carson Show and other series. She soon became a bigger star thanks to How to Marry a Millionaire and A Private’s Affair. By 1965, she was selected by Sidney Sheldon to star in the fantasy sitcom I Dream of Jeannie in the title role, a role that would make her a household name on TV.
I Dream of Jeannie starred Eden as Jeannie, a 2,000-year-old genie who meets Captain/Major Anthony “Tony” Nelson, played by Larry Hagman. The sitcom follows their story: Jeannie begins to fall in love and eventually marries him.
Sheldon was already a well-known writer and producer when he was approached by Screen Gems to create a new series. At the time, he was working on The Patty Duke Show and simultaneously worked on both shows at the same time. According to the Television Academy, the sitcom was influenced by the 1964 movie The Brass Bottle. It just so happened that Eden also starred in the film alongside Tony Randall and Burl Ives. The storyline also involved and eberyday man stumbling upon a genie in a bottle.
It was also reported that I Dream of Jeannie was created to become a rival sitcom to ABC’s Bewitched, starring Elizabeth Montgomery. At the time, it was the second most-watched series on TV and ran for eight seasons. Both sitcoms were Screen Gems productions that featured a supernatural female character living in the modern world.
Believe it or not, Sheldon originally didn’t want to cast Eden in the role of Jeannie. It was largely due to him not wanting a blonde actor similar to Montgomery in Bewitched. After many auditions, Sheldon couldn’t find an actor who fit the role he created, and instead called Eden’s agent to offer her the role.
Due to both I Dream of Jeannie and Bewitched having been major hits, many speculated there was tension between Eden and Montgomery.
Eden revealed decades later that it was far from the truth and told Fox News Digital that “If there was any perceived rivalry, it was the producers’ invention.” She also stated that Montgomery was always “pleasant,” but didn’t have the time to really become friends.
I Dream of Jeannie aired 139 episodes over its five-season run on NBC. It became one of the biggest pop culture staples, with the iconic genie bottle, its theme song, and overall costuming. Eden reprised her role years later for two made-for-television reunion films.
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