Was It True That Larry Hagman Was Almost Replaced on 'I Dream Of Jeannie???' - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Brian Damage · 02-13-2011, 12:22 AM

Was this true or a sitcom folklore? Why was it even considered? Would it have been a case of two Darrin's like in 'Bewitched?'

TV Knowledge Fan · 02-13-2011, 04:35 AM

...when Larry was threatened with termination. Gene Nelson, the first director, was the first to suggest to Sidney Sheldon, early in the production cycle, that Jeannie's bottle be "found" by another character, and have Larry's role recast, to which Sidney refused {Gene Nelson, who was often in conflict with Hagman, didn't return to the series after Barbara Eden's "pregnancy break" following the first eleven episodes}. In the second season, Larry was called on the carpet by Screen Gems brass because of his "unpredictablity" during production {he once relieved himself on the walls of the set following a nasty confrontation with someone on the production crew}, warning him the show wasn't called "I DREAM OF LARRY". Barbara often spoke up on his behalf, sometimes "saving his job".

Sidney himself confronted Larry about his problems, and recalled this conversation in his autobiography, "The Other Side Of Me":

"Larry, do you like doing this show?"
"Sure."
"But you're not happy doing it?"
"No."
"Why?"
"I don't know."
"Sure you do. You want to be in a show where you're the star."
"I guess so."
"You're a very important part of this show, Larry. But if you want to stay in it, you have to take the presssure off yourself. I think you should see a psychiatrist. And I wouldn't wait."
"You're right. I will."

And he did. But as Sidney noted, "the tension was still there". He tried to give Larry prominence in more scenes, and three chances to direct. But in the middle of season three, Hagman suddenly went "bonkers" one day on the set, yelling at Barbara (as he later recalled, "I had wax coming out of my ears"), and was rushed to the hospital. He recovered, and continued to see his psychiatrist, while limiting his scenes with Barbara to one "key" scene per episode, with both working separately in the majority of season three and four episodes. But he managed to "survive" for the remainder of the series- yet, he wouldn't discuss "I DREAM OF JEANNIE" for a long time....especially when he finally got his "own series"- "DALLAS".

Brian Damage · 02-13-2011, 11:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TV Knowledge Fan

...when Larry was threatened with termination. Gene Nelson, the first director, was the first to suggest to Sidney Sheldon, early in the production cycle, that Jeannie's bottle be "found" by another character, and have Larry's role recast, to which Sidney refused {Gene Nelson, who was often in conflict with Hagman, didn't return to the series after Barbara Eden's "pregnancy break" following the first eleven episodes}. In the second season, Larry was called on the carpet by Screen Gems brass because of his "unpredictablity" during production {he once relieved himself on the walls of the set following a nasty confrontation with someone on the production crew}, warning him the show wasn't called "I DREAM OF LARRY". Barbara often spoke up on his behalf, sometimes "saving his job".

Sidney himself confronted Larry about his problems, and recalled this conversation in his autobiography, "The Other Side Of Me":

"Larry, do you like doing this show?"
"Sure."
"But you're not happy doing it?"
"No."
"Why?"
"I don't know."
"Sure you do. You want to be in a show where you're the star."
"I guess so."
"You're a very important part of this show, Larry. But if you want to stay in it, you have to take the presssure off yourself. I think you should see a psychiatrist. And I wouldn't wait."
"You're right. I will."

And he did. But as Sidney noted, "the tension was still there". He tried to give Larry prominence in more scenes, and three chances to direct. But in the middle of season three, Hagman suddenly went "bonkers" one day on the set, yelling at Barbara (as he later recalled, "I had wax coming out of my ears"), and was rushed to the hospital. He recovered, and continued to see his psychiatrist, while limiting his scenes with Barbara to one "key" scene per episode, with both working separately in the majority of season three and four episodes. But he managed to "survive" for the remainder of the series- yet, he wouldn't discuss "I DREAM OF JEANNIE" for a long time....especially when he finally got his "own series"- "DALLAS".

Wow! That is fascinating stuff! I had no idea about all that. I guess that put a strain on his relationship with Ms. Eden?

1960'sTVfan · 02-13-2011, 05:14 PM

That's interesting information, when watching I Dream Of Jeannie you'd never suspect that Larry Hagman was having these problems. I guess it goes to show, unless you're there to witness things for yourself one never knows what goes on sometimes behind the scenes.

TV Knowledge Fan · 02-14-2011, 12:53 AM

...Sidney also revealed that, "I was not aware of it then, but every morning Larry opened a bottle of champagne and started drinking. It never affected his work on the set. He always knew his lines and was never less than adroit".
Hagman recalled some of his personal conflicts about the show in his own autobiography, "Hello, Darlin'".

Marvo301 · 02-14-2011, 01:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TV Knowledge Fan

...Sidney also revealed that, "I was not aware of it then, but every morning Larry opened a bottle of champagne and started drinking. It never affected his work on the set. He always knew his lines and was never less than adroit".
Hagman recalled some of his personal conflicts about the show in his own autobiography, "Hello, Darlin'".

Wow! It's no wonder he would eventually require a liver transplant to save his life!

Rezny@gmail.com · 02-14-2011, 01:29 AM

And he must have gotten along with Barbara Eden and made peace with her and "I Dream of Jeannie",because she played a guest starring role on "Dallas",and in addition was a guest with Barbara Eden and Bill Daily on CNN's now-defunct "Larry King Live"a few years ago.

ansara1 · 02-14-2011, 04:01 PM

Where is this stated? Is it in Sidney Sheldon's autobiography or Larry Hagman's? ...and why was he yelling at Barbara Eden? I know he was frustrated about not being 'the star' of the show but I have NEVER heard him say anything but complimentary things about Barbara Eden - even in the time when he wasn't talking about "I Dream of Jeannie." I always heard the reasons he was unhappy were because of (in his opinion) repetative scripts, not being the star, and not getting his due in pay, etc. from Screen Gems. Though I have NEVER heard him say one unflattering statement about Barbara Eden. ...and if it was her that saved his job on numerous occasions then why would he not want to be in scenes with her during seasons 3 and 4? Also, again - does it say what he was yelling at her about and where did you read this? ...and does it actually state that they were only in one or two 'key' scenes together as I've never heard this either. Just very curious

!!!!

Thanks

[QUOTE=TV Knowledge Fan]... But in the middle of season three, Hagman suddenly went "bonkers" one day on the set, yelling at Barbara (as he later recalled, "I had wax coming out of my ears"), and was rushed to the hospital. He recovered, and continued to see his psychiatrist, while limiting his scenes with Barbara to one "key" scene per episode, with both working separately in the majority of season three and four episodes.

TV Knowledge Fan · 02-20-2011, 05:09 AM

...about Larry's "breakdown" on the set in the middle of season three. Even though he and Barbara are still good friends, when I met both of them at the Chiller Theater convention in Parsippany, N.J. last October, they were seated on opposite sides of the room they were signing autographs in...and she had more people at her table than his!

Just take a look at most of the season three and four episodes, and count how many scenes he and Barbara are actually together, in each...

DemandYourPickle · 03-25-2011, 04:22 PM

I stumbled across this and found it interesting: http://www.maps.org/news-letters/v13n1/13125hag.html

This must explain why Larry "went bonkers" on the set of I Dream of Jeannie. And this time it's from his point of view!

comedyfreak · 03-27-2011, 09:56 PM

WOW what a read, lol. He should have explained it to Barbara. He's so lucky he didn't get fired.

TV Knowledge Fan · 03-27-2011, 10:22 PM

...and she put up with it. She was also the one who insisted to Screen Gems executives that he stay with the series, despite their threats to fire him.

I recall reading a newspaper article about several Screen Gems TV stars, including Larry, appearing at Montreal's "Expo 67" in the summer of 1967. When Larry was asked by a reporter if he was on "I DREAM OF JEANNIE", he said, "Yeah, I'm the guy with the broad in the bottle". That's how frustrated and stressed-out he was at the time.

DemandYourPickle · 03-28-2011, 09:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TV Knowledge Fan

...and she put up with it. She was also the one who insisted to Screen Gems executives that he stay with the series, despite their threats to fire him.

I recall reading a newspaper article about several Screen Gems TV stars, including Larry, appearing at Montreal's "Expo 67" in the summer of 1967. When Larry was asked by a reporter if he was on "I DREAM OF JEANNIE", he said, "Yeah, I'm the guy with the broad in the bottle". That's how frustrated and stressed-out he was at the time.

I feel sorry for the guy. It's good that he's gone back into acting.

MickeyMac · 03-29-2011, 06:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DemandYourPickle

I stumbled across this and found it interesting: http://www.maps.org/news-letters/v13n1/13125hag.html

This must explain why Larry "went bonkers" on the set of I Dream of Jeannie. And this time it's from his point of view!

That link didnt work.

DemandYourPickle · 03-29-2011, 09:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MickeyMac

That link didnt work.

Keep trying.

02-13-2011, 12:22 AM	#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	Was It True That Larry Hagman Was Almost Replaced on 'I Dream Of Jeannie???' Was this true or a sitcom folklore? Why was it even considered? Would it have been a case of two Darrin's like in 'Bewitched?'
	__________________ The Key to the Kingdom of Heaven: John 3:3 *Money Doesn't Buy Happiness...But I'd Rather Cry in My Private Jet*

02-13-2011, 04:35 AM	#2
TV Knowledge Fan Member Senior Member Join Date: Mar 29, 2006 Location: Long Branch, N.J. Posts: 2,577	Well, there were several times... ...when Larry was threatened with termination. Gene Nelson, the first director, was the first to suggest to Sidney Sheldon, early in the production cycle, that Jeannie's bottle be "found" by another character, and have Larry's role recast, to which Sidney refused {Gene Nelson, who was often in conflict with Hagman, didn't return to the series after Barbara Eden's "pregnancy break" following the first eleven episodes}. In the second season, Larry was called on the carpet by Screen Gems brass because of his "unpredictablity" during production {he once relieved himself on the walls of the set following a nasty confrontation with someone on the production crew}, warning him the show wasn't called "I DREAM OF LARRY". Barbara often spoke up on his behalf, sometimes "saving his job". Sidney himself confronted Larry about his problems, and recalled this conversation in his autobiography, "The Other Side Of Me": "Larry, do you like doing this show?" "Sure." "But you're not happy doing it?" "No." "Why?" "I don't know." "Sure you do. You want to be in a show where you're the star." "I guess so." "You're a very important part of this show, Larry. But if you want to stay in it, you have to take the presssure off yourself. I think you should see a psychiatrist. And I wouldn't wait." "You're right. I will." And he did. But as Sidney noted, "the tension was still there". He tried to give Larry prominence in more scenes, and three chances to direct. But in the middle of season three, Hagman suddenly went "bonkers" one day on the set, yelling at Barbara (as he later recalled, "I had wax coming out of my ears"), and was rushed to the hospital. He recovered, and continued to see his psychiatrist, while limiting his scenes with Barbara to one "key" scene per episode, with both working separately in the majority of season three and four episodes. But he managed to "survive" for the remainder of the series- yet, he wouldn't discuss "I DREAM OF JEANNIE" for a long time....especially when he finally got his "own series"- "DALLAS".

02-14-2011, 12:53 AM	#5
TV Knowledge Fan Member Senior Member Join Date: Mar 29, 2006 Location: Long Branch, N.J. Posts: 2,577	Not only that... ...Sidney also revealed that, "I was not aware of it then, but every morning Larry opened a bottle of champagne and started drinking. It never affected his work on the set. He always knew his lines and was never less than adroit". Hagman recalled some of his personal conflicts about the show in his own autobiography, "Hello, Darlin'".

02-14-2011, 04:01 PM	#8
ansara1 Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Apr 17, 2008 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 184	...a few questions Where is this stated? Is it in Sidney Sheldon's autobiography or Larry Hagman's? ...and why was he yelling at Barbara Eden? I know he was frustrated about not being 'the star' of the show but I have NEVER heard him say anything but complimentary things about Barbara Eden - even in the time when he wasn't talking about "I Dream of Jeannie." I always heard the reasons he was unhappy were because of (in his opinion) repetative scripts, not being the star, and not getting his due in pay, etc. from Screen Gems. Though I have NEVER heard him say one unflattering statement about Barbara Eden. ...and if it was her that saved his job on numerous occasions then why would he not want to be in scenes with her during seasons 3 and 4? Also, again - does it say what he was yelling at her about and where did you read this? ...and does it actually state that they were only in one or two 'key' scenes together as I've never heard this either. Just very curious!!!! Thanks [QUOTE=TV Knowledge Fan]... But in the middle of season three, Hagman suddenly went "bonkers" one day on the set, yelling at Barbara (as he later recalled, "I had wax coming out of my ears"), and was rushed to the hospital. He recovered, and continued to see his psychiatrist, while limiting his scenes with Barbara to one "key" scene per episode, with both working separately in the majority of season three and four episodes.

02-20-2011, 05:09 AM	#9
TV Knowledge Fan Member Senior Member Join Date: Mar 29, 2006 Location: Long Branch, N.J. Posts: 2,577	I've read several sources... ...about Larry's "breakdown" on the set in the middle of season three. Even though he and Barbara are still good friends, when I met both of them at the Chiller Theater convention in Parsippany, N.J. last October, they were seated on opposite sides of the room they were signing autographs in...and she had more people at her table than his! Just take a look at most of the season three and four episodes, and count how many scenes he and Barbara are actually together, in each...

02-13-2011, 05:14 PM	#4
1960'sTVfan Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Sep 30, 2009 Posts: 6,105	That's interesting information, when watching I Dream Of Jeannie you'd never suspect that Larry Hagman was having these problems. I guess it goes to show, unless you're there to witness things for yourself one never knows what goes on sometimes behind the scenes.

02-14-2011, 01:29 AM	#7
Rezny@gmail.com Member Senior Member Join Date: Jul 20, 2007 Location: Nebraska Posts: 2,675	And he must have gotten along with Barbara Eden and made peace with her and "I Dream of Jeannie",because she played a guest starring role on "Dallas",and in addition was a guest with Barbara Eden and Bill Daily on CNN's now-defunct "Larry King Live"a few years ago.

03-25-2011, 04:22 PM	#10
DemandYourPickle Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jul 08, 2010 Location: Canton, Ohio Posts: 184	I stumbled across this and found it interesting: http://www.maps.org/news-letters/v13n1/13125hag.html This must explain why Larry "went bonkers" on the set of I Dream of Jeannie. And this time it's from his point of view!

03-27-2011, 09:56 PM	#11
comedyfreak Cheers! Forum Fanatic Join Date: Dec 14, 2005 Location: Sunny California Posts: 11,060	WOW what a read, lol. He should have explained it to Barbara. He's so lucky he didn't get fired.
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03-27-2011, 10:22 PM	#12
TV Knowledge Fan Member Senior Member Join Date: Mar 29, 2006 Location: Long Branch, N.J. Posts: 2,577	Barbara KNEW what Larry was going through.... ...and she put up with it. She was also the one who insisted to Screen Gems executives that he stay with the series, despite their threats to fire him. I recall reading a newspaper article about several Screen Gems TV stars, including Larry, appearing at Montreal's "Expo 67" in the summer of 1967. When Larry was asked by a reporter if he was on "I DREAM OF JEANNIE", he said, "Yeah, I'm the guy with the broad in the bottle". That's how frustrated and stressed-out he was at the time.