Q & A

GEORGE WAYNE

Rubbed the Right Way

"I Dream of Jeannie originally ran for only five years—yet it’s still on the air, delighting viewers on five continents! It’s astounding!'’

“She even wore her iconic pink chiffon genie harem-pants costume to a Halloween ball hosted by her HollywoodB.F.F., Loni Anderson, a few years ago. Her daily workout keeps that booty as taut as ever! ”

“Clearly the Zeitgeist is having a Jeannie moment, too! Note Lady Gaga’s new Jeannie-style whip of a ponytail that will become even more ubiquitous as Gaga ramps up her new concert domination!’’

“The beginning of her book tour brings mixed emotions—it coincides with the anniversary of the death of her only son, Matthew, who succumbed to a heroin overdose 10 years ago. ”

Barbara Eden ON SPURNING HOLLYWOOD HEARTTHROBS AND MEETING MARILYN MONROE

For five seasons in the 1960s, Barbara Eden, 76, I starred as the titular heroine on the sitcom I Dream of Jeannie. Four decades and countless TV and him roles later, the Hollywood stalwart is still beloved for her magical, iconic role.

With this month’s release of her memoir, Jeannie out of the Bottle (Crown), our correspondent checks in.

George Wayne:How are you,

Jeannie?

Barbara Eden: I am very well.

Thank you.

G.W.By the way, I hope you don’t mind my calling you Jeannie,

B.E. I prefer Barbara Jean.

G.W.Barbara Jean, darling, let’s just get the most pertinent question out of the way: did you and Larry Hagman ever indulge in an off-set love affair?

B.E. No, we did not. Although I must say that Larry and I do have a connection. I have never worked with anyone else ever whose rhythm was the same as mine.

We had something that was intangible.

G.W.Rumor has it that there is a revival of Dallas in the works. I think you should get a gig as Sue Ellen’s wicked stepmother.

B.E. I did appear on five episodes of the original Dallas. I played J.R.’s nemesis Lee Ann. And I got him good, honey. J.R. did me wrong.

G.W.Ooh! Ilove that southern twang. So why write the book at this point?

B.E. Good question. For about the past six years, people have been coming to me, asking, Why not write a book? I decided that since so much has been written about me, I would really like to write it myself. It was quite painful to be so revealing.

G.W.Revealing? I think this book is rather chaste. In your day, you turned down way too much A-list wood in Hollywood. You spurned Jack Kennedy, Johnny Carson, Elvis Presley—even Tom Jones! It’s clear that Jeannie wasn ’t there for the weenie, B.E. Well, for some of those people that was their life. I never felt that they looked at me as a person. Plus, I was married.

G.W.You were a girl born during the Great Depression, How did that affect your growth and shape your womanhood? B.E. I was quite fortunate, because even though we had no money I had a great family, especially with my grandparents, whom I lived with at the beginning. And then I moved to San Francisco with my mom and dad.

G.W.And then you grew up to be Miss California? B.E. No, I was Miss San Francisco in the Miss California Pageant that year, and was voted Miss Congeniality.

G.W.You are still Miss Congeniality! Talk about when Barbara Jean met Norma Jean for the first time,

B.E. I only met Marilyn Monroe that one time, on the Columbia lot. We shared the same stand-in, Evelyn Moriarty, because I played the part in the TV series of How to Marry a Millionaire that Marilyn played in the movie.

G.W.When I Dream of Jeannie was on NBC, your costume was designed not to show your belly button. So are you an innie or an outie?

B.E. If you really want to know, I’m an innie.

G.W.Did you ever have your breasts augmented?

B.E. Rude you are, George! Rude! That’s so rude!

G.W.I don’t want Jeannie to think I am rude, lam so sorry. Do you have your hair colored?

B.E. Oh, my goodness. Yes, for sure.

G.W.I have to bring this up again, Jeannie, You say in the book that if you hadn’t been married at the time maybe you would have given in to Tom Jones. You do know he supposedly has a Welsh trouser snake to rival the Loch Ness Monster, don’t you?

B.E. Oh, my—really? How do you know? I will tell you he was lots of fun, and with a wonderful personality.

G.W.Who is one famous person in Hollywood that you are very good friends with?

B.E. Loni Anderson is a great friend. We worked together on a Bob Hope special many years ago, and we liked each other very much. We’ve been close friends for more than 20 years.

G.W.And I will always dream of Jeannie, Thank you.

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