Barbara Eden Larry Hagman on the set question - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

HuffingtonSmythe · 08-23-2008, 10:02 PM

Hello, I'm new here and read most of the posts for IdoJ. I certainly have learned a lot! I've watched all of the TV Legends videos with Barbara, Larry, Hal Cooper and Sidney Sheldon. Their memories are pretty much in synch with a few discrepencies here and there, but hey, it was a long time ago.

On this site, reading about Larry's issues on the set, I'm still very puzzled about Jeannie and Tony only sharing a few scenes together because Larry wasn't comfortable filming with Barbara after his breakdown.

Doesn't this mean that the scripts were tailored to them not having a majority of scenes together? It doesn't make sense. Throughout the five years of the show, Jeannie would be home and Tony would be at the base, he'd come home, they'd go out, or she'd blink Tony somewhere. You get my point. The stories always moved along and was always fun when other characters got involved.

Of course Barbara became wildly popular and there might have been some jealousy on Larry's part, but that's just a guess on my part. I really don't see why Larry would ostracize Barbara when he wanted to make a great show.

Can anyone cite a source for Larry Hagman's request to not film with Barbara Eden? Did he say it in his book?

TV Knowledge Fan · 09-15-2008, 04:49 PM

...Sidney Sheldon mentioned the fact that Larry came to him at one point, and told him he wanted more scenes featured around him. Sheldon said he did have more scenes written for him, but did not say the actual circumstances as to WHY that happened. Larry did indeed suffer a nervous breakdown in late '67, and, according to most accounts, insisted he'd film only one or two key scenes with Barbara in each episode until he felt more "comfortable" working with her on camera. This practice started around the middle of the third season, and stretched towards the end of season four (1968-'69). You can tell which episodes this occured {"The Indispensible Jeannie" is a good example, with "Jeannie" only appearing in a total of about five minutes during the episode, with Barbara and Larry sharing just TWO brief scenes together}. Hagman could be a stubborn "cuss" at times, but realized the series' future was at stake if he did anything to "usurp" anybody's authority [he did direct three episodes during 1967]. He continued to insist on "embellishing" certain lines and bits of "business", working out his frustrations off-camera (including, unfortunately, the imbibing of alcohol before each day's shooting, as mentioned in his autobiography).

HuffingtonSmythe · 11-12-2008, 10:46 PM

Thanks for your reply. I heard the same things on the interviews but never heard Larry Hagman say these things, so once again it's uncited sources and hearsay. That comfortable on camera is krap. No proof. Not what I was looking for.

cat899 · 01-04-2009, 06:08 AM

wow, i never knew that sidney sheldon was asked by larra to have more parts, where did you find that info? a book? or a website,

thankyou for letting the jeannie fans know

MickeyMac · 01-05-2009, 11:05 PM

If Hagman did have issues on the show, he has apparently mellowed out over the years. In recent interviews he has nothing but good things to say about the show and about Barbara Eden.

CAJeannieFan57 · 01-11-2009, 01:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cat899

wow, i never knew that sidney sheldon was asked by larra to have more parts, where did you find that info? a book? or a website,

thankyou for letting the jeannie fans know

It was in Sidney Sheldon's autobiography, "The Other Side of Me", that came out about 2-1/2 years ago or so. He had a few short pages dedicated to "I Dream of Jeannie" in that book, but honestly - Mr. Sheldon had a very soft spot in his heart for Jeannie. I was able to meet him one time. I brought along my Jeannie bottle, and when I brought it out for Mr. Sheldon to sign, his agent kept saying, "He's only signing his book", but Mr. Sheldon's eyes lit up at the sight of my bottle. "Is Jeannie in there?!" he excitedly asked me. "Not at the moment, I let her out," I told him. He was so excited and very willingly signed my bottle - he loved doing that show he told me.

08-23-2008, 10:02 PM	#1
HuffingtonSmythe Member Forum Cub Join Date: Aug 23, 2008 Posts: 2	Barbara Eden Larry Hagman on the set question Hello, I'm new here and read most of the posts for IdoJ. I certainly have learned a lot! I've watched all of the TV Legends videos with Barbara, Larry, Hal Cooper and Sidney Sheldon. Their memories are pretty much in synch with a few discrepencies here and there, but hey, it was a long time ago. On this site, reading about Larry's issues on the set, I'm still very puzzled about Jeannie and Tony only sharing a few scenes together because Larry wasn't comfortable filming with Barbara after his breakdown. Doesn't this mean that the scripts were tailored to them not having a majority of scenes together? It doesn't make sense. Throughout the five years of the show, Jeannie would be home and Tony would be at the base, he'd come home, they'd go out, or she'd blink Tony somewhere. You get my point. The stories always moved along and was always fun when other characters got involved. Of course Barbara became wildly popular and there might have been some jealousy on Larry's part, but that's just a guess on my part. I really don't see why Larry would ostracize Barbara when he wanted to make a great show. Can anyone cite a source for Larry Hagman's request to not film with Barbara Eden? Did he say it in his book?

09-15-2008, 04:49 PM	#2
TV Knowledge Fan Member Senior Member Join Date: Mar 29, 2006 Location: Long Branch, N.J. Posts: 2,577	In "The Other Side Of Me"... ...Sidney Sheldon mentioned the fact that Larry came to him at one point, and told him he wanted more scenes featured around him. Sheldon said he did have more scenes written for him, but did not say the actual circumstances as to WHY that happened. Larry did indeed suffer a nervous breakdown in late '67, and, according to most accounts, insisted he'd film only one or two key scenes with Barbara in each episode until he felt more "comfortable" working with her on camera. This practice started around the middle of the third season, and stretched towards the end of season four (1968-'69). You can tell which episodes this occured {"The Indispensible Jeannie" is a good example, with "Jeannie" only appearing in a total of about five minutes during the episode, with Barbara and Larry sharing just TWO brief scenes together}. Hagman could be a stubborn "cuss" at times, but realized the series' future was at stake if he did anything to "usurp" anybody's authority [he did direct three episodes during 1967]. He continued to insist on "embellishing" certain lines and bits of "business", working out his frustrations off-camera (including, unfortunately, the imbibing of alcohol before each day's shooting, as mentioned in his autobiography).

11-12-2008, 10:46 PM	#3
HuffingtonSmythe Member Forum Cub Join Date: Aug 23, 2008 Posts: 2	Thanks for your reply. I heard the same things on the interviews but never heard Larry Hagman say these things, so once again it's uncited sources and hearsay. That comfortable on camera is krap. No proof. Not what I was looking for.

01-04-2009, 06:08 AM	#4
cat899 Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Jan 04, 2009 Location: Australia-Melbourne Posts: 13	wow, i never knew that sidney sheldon was asked by larra to have more parts, where did you find that info? a book? or a website, thankyou for letting the jeannie fans know

01-05-2009, 11:05 PM	#5
MickeyMac Member Forum Star Join Date: Jun 18, 2008 Location: Kalamazoo, Michigan Posts: 19,006	If Hagman did have issues on the show, he has apparently mellowed out over the years. In recent interviews he has nothing but good things to say about the show and about Barbara Eden.