Barbara Eden Reveals Opposition to Tony, Jeannie Wedding in Final Season

Barbara Eden, best known for her role as Jeannie in the 1960s sitcom I Dream of Jeannie, has expressed regret over the show's decision to marry her character to astronaut Tony Nelson in its fifth season, a plot development she felt was unnecessary and detrimental to the series' dynamic. Despite being upset about the marriage storyline, Eden did not strongly oppose it to the producers at the time, admitting she did not assert herself though she voiced her concerns privately. The show's creator, Sidney Sheldon, also agreed that the network's insistence on the wedding marked the beginning of the show's decline. Eden reflected on Jeannie's role as a strong, independent figure who empowered many women, contrasting with the later marriage plot that some fans and critics viewed as a misstep. With the show having ended in 1970 and no current plans for a reboot, Eden expressed doubt anyone would want to remake I Dream of Jeannie in 2025. She also shared that the show's blend of fantasy and space-age themes, combined with her and Larry Hagman's chemistry, contributed to its lasting appeal despite ratings never reaching the top tier.