Barbara Eden Excited About 'I Dream of Jeannie' Movie

[Brian Damage]

Hollywood, CA (CNS) - Before Pamela Anderson and her peers famously frolicked across a Malibu beach in the opening credits of "Baywatch," there was another blonde bombshell that set pulses racing as the original "Genie in the Bottle." The classy and timeless Barbara Eden, who is best known for making temperatures rise in her role on the hugely popular 1960s sitcom "I Dream of Jeannie," is back on television screens next month with a new Hallmark Channel movie, "Always and Forever." The film also co-stars Rena Sofer, Dean McDermott, and Max Gail.

The film is a story about old high school sweethearts, Grace and Michael, played by Sofer and McDermott, who reunite twenty years after last seeing each other, and find themselves reconnecting and rekindling their once abandoned love. Eden plays the disapproving mother Mary who further complicates Grace and Michael's situation and their attempt to find their renewed happiness.

"I think the story line is very realistic," says Eden of the film when asked if this type of "love on hold" for twenty years has a chance for real-life couples. "I know of quite a few married couples, who after having lost a loved one, reconnect with an old love to find that there is still something for them once their love is reignited," she adds.

As far as her role in the film, Eden says, "I don't think it is right for a mother to meddle in their children's business, but I do believe in being a positive interest. In the film I disapprove of Michael because of his bad boy reputation from high school, but I do get proved wrong," she adds with laughter.

The actress further explains that working on the set of "Always and Forever" was a positive experience with the entire cast. "We all had wonderful chemistry," Eden explains. "Max was a dream to work with, Rena was a real delight and even though I didn't see Dean much, he was a sweetheart. He brought his children on the set a few times along with his wife Tori [Spelling] and you could tell that he was a wonderful father."

Eden also has quite a few projects in the pipeline keeping her busy. In October, she will be the guest of honor at the 14th Annual NBC Reunion Dinner at the Lakeside Golf Club in Toluca Lake, Calif. She has also been on the road hosting the production of "Ballroom With a Twist," a new show that stars a rotating roster of celebrities and dancers from "Dancing With The Stars." Whether she would consider dancing herself on the hit ABC reality show, Eden laughs at the prospect saying no, but adds, "I love to watch the show. It's my favorite program to watch right now, and I never miss it. I think it's just so beautiful to watch the dancing and see the younger girls performing."

Her involvements do not end there. Additionally, Sony Studios is currently preparing for a big screen remake of "Jeannie," which Eden will have an important role in. "I think doing a remake is a great idea as long as it's done the right way," she says of the project. "Jeannie was very confident with a lot of sprite. What made her standout from the crowd was that she wasn't human. That's what made her special."

"Always and Forever" airs on the Hallmark Movie channel Saturday, October 24, 9p/8c.



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[MickeyMac]

Cant say that I agree with Eden about the remake.

[CAJeannieFan57]

You know, everybody says that about remakes. Yet sometimes they DO turn out to be fine. I'm old enough to remember how much flack there was when Neil Diamond was going to remake "The Jazz Singer", which had been a 20's film with Al Jolson. All the oldsters said, "it's not going to be the same!" No, of course it wasn't. It was quite different - but it was excellent (my opinion) nonetheless. Did I refuse to go see it because Jolson wasn't in it? No. Both films can stand on their own merit.

Jeannie may be the same issue. I just hope they give it a little more budget than was given to the two IDOJ reunion movies. Those were done "on the cheap" and the one place they attempted to save was on screenwriters...who didn't know the original show at ALL!! That would be my only real fears, budget and storyline.

[Robert 13]

Maybe they will finally release the tv-movies on dvd when this remake comes out.

[TV Knowledge Fan]

..., adapted from Samson Raphaelson's stage play, was filmed three times- first, with Jolson in 1927; then with Danny Thomas in 1953 (who remembers THAT one?); and finally, with Neil Diamond in 1980. They brought their own special talents to the story, which was "updated" and changed a bit for each version. But Neil's remake was a dud at the box office, and no one at Warner Bros. is making any plans to revive it with another star any time soon.

Trying to create an "updated" version of a classic situation comedy for theatrical release, however, has been somewhat disappointing in most cases; Sony/Columbia's attempt at reviving "BEWITCHED" several years ago tried to do it as a "story within a story" [did writers Nora and Delia Ephron actually believe, even within a fictional context, that the show could be filmed before a live audience, with special effects??], and it just didn't work. It was obvious, from the brief clips of Elizabeth Montgomery seen in the movie, that Nicole Kidman was never going to equal her as a "Samantha surrogate". And, I fear, the same fate is in store for "Jeannie". There's not ONE known actress who can portray her with the "innocence" and "sensuality" that Barbara Eden could. And she knows it....


And who knew the basic premise better than Sidney Sheldon did? Barbara certainly knows it- "She was always saying, 'Yes, Master', but she did her own thing".