Barbara Eden Was No Dumb Blonde on 'I Dream Of Jeannie' - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Brian Damage · 12-16-2010, 10:32 PM

Being an iconic lady of TV has never been easy. Just ask Barbara Eden, whose breakout midriff-bearing role on NBC’s I Dream of Jeannie (1965-70) could have been just another exercise in dumb-blonde subjugation. “But I never considered myself beautiful, so I actually played her like a tomboy,” Eden says. “When you think about it, she was always in charge.”

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/new...m-queens-60254

TV Knowledge Fan · 12-20-2010, 03:45 AM

It's hard to believe today, but Barbara Eden actually never considered herself "beautiful"- or that talented- until "I DREAM OF JEANNIE". The transformation during the course of the first season was nothing short of miraculous: she began appearing on several popular variety shows towards the end of 1966, demonstrating a previously little-known singing talent she had kept "under wraps" since the early '50s, often appearing as "glamorous" as possible. When she appeared as "Lalume" in the 1967 ABC-TV adaptation of "Kismet", the transformation was complete.

I believe she used her own instincts about being "Jeannie", just as she claimed she modeled her character of "Loco" on 'HOW TO MARRY A MILLIONAIRE" (her first series) by observing how her pet poodle acted.
She knew Jeannie wasn't going to be a outright "sexpot", or a "slave" [that would have spoiled Sidney Sheldon's intention of how the series was going to play itself out]. I believe she saw her own "insecurities", and decided Jeannie was going to be as "innocent" as posssible {while still projecting an air of S-E-X appeal}. Remember that Jeannie was supposedly trapped in her bottle for 2,000 years while at a very young age. She "matured" without realizing she had become a "woman", and still thought of herself as a "girl"- a "tomboy", as Barbara put it- who could become very eager about love, and everyday things, and her ancient heritage as a genie {"I'm part child myself", Barbara once admitted}. But Jeannie wasn't "dumb". She could be naive about certain 20th Century customs and other issues, but she wasn't "dumb". And she had a temper, and could be very objective and jealous over "Master's" intentions. As for Jeannie being a "slave", Barbara has said more than once, "She was saying 'Yes, Master', but she was doing her own thing".

I understand what Barbara was doing- but unfortunately, most people who've barely seen the series don't.

OH Nuts! · 12-20-2010, 03:55 PM

I always thought Barbara Eden was underated and unappreciated. Wished she had done more acting. And of course, she's a ravishing beauty.

catlover79 · 12-20-2010, 10:23 PM

GO BARBARA!!!!!

tv star collector · 12-21-2010, 11:04 AM

She was much smarter than many give her credit for being. If not, the show
would have barely lasted a season.

12-16-2010, 10:32 PM	#1
Brian Damage I'm Rich Bitch Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 03, 2002 Location: What Ain't No Country I Ever Heard Of...They Speak English in What? Posts: 63,107	Barbara Eden Was No Dumb Blonde on 'I Dream Of Jeannie' Being an iconic lady of TV has never been easy. Just ask Barbara Eden, whose breakout midriff-bearing role on NBC’s I Dream of Jeannie (1965-70) could have been just another exercise in dumb-blonde subjugation. “But I never considered myself beautiful, so I actually played her like a tomboy,” Eden says. “When you think about it, she was always in charge.” http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/new...m-queens-60254
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12-20-2010, 03:45 AM	#2
TV Knowledge Fan Member Senior Member Join Date: Mar 29, 2006 Location: Long Branch, N.J. Posts: 2,577	I suppose it's my turn to weigh in on this.... It's hard to believe today, but Barbara Eden actually never considered herself "beautiful"- or that talented- until "I DREAM OF JEANNIE". The transformation during the course of the first season was nothing short of miraculous: she began appearing on several popular variety shows towards the end of 1966, demonstrating a previously little-known singing talent she had kept "under wraps" since the early '50s, often appearing as "glamorous" as possible. When she appeared as "Lalume" in the 1967 ABC-TV adaptation of "Kismet", the transformation was complete. I believe she used her own instincts about being "Jeannie", just as she claimed she modeled her character of "Loco" on 'HOW TO MARRY A MILLIONAIRE" (her first series) by observing how her pet poodle acted. She knew Jeannie wasn't going to be a outright "sexpot", or a "slave" [that would have spoiled Sidney Sheldon's intention of how the series was going to play itself out]. I believe she saw her own "insecurities", and decided Jeannie was going to be as "innocent" as posssible {while still projecting an air of S-E-X appeal}. Remember that Jeannie was supposedly trapped in her bottle for 2,000 years while at a very young age. She "matured" without realizing she had become a "woman", and still thought of herself as a "girl"- a "tomboy", as Barbara put it- who could become very eager about love, and everyday things, and her ancient heritage as a genie {"I'm part child myself", Barbara once admitted}. But Jeannie wasn't "dumb". She could be naive about certain 20th Century customs and other issues, but she wasn't "dumb". And she had a temper, and could be very objective and jealous over "Master's" intentions. As for Jeannie being a "slave", Barbara has said more than once, "She was saying 'Yes, Master', but she was doing her own thing". I understand what Barbara was doing- but unfortunately, most people who've barely seen the series don't.

12-20-2010, 10:23 PM	#4
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,382	GO BARBARA!!!!!
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12-21-2010, 11:04 AM	#5
tv star collector I Love Susie Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Oct 18, 2005 Location: South Carolina Posts: 4,486	She was much smarter than many give her credit for being. If not, the show would have barely lasted a season.
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12-20-2010, 03:55 PM	#3
OH Nuts! Member Forum King Join Date: Feb 15, 2005 Posts: 133,383	I always thought Barbara Eden was underated and unappreciated. Wished she had done more acting. And of course, she's a ravishing beauty.