Intriguing Behind-the-Scenes Facts About I Dream of Jeannie

I Dream of Jeannie premiered on NBC in 1965, starring Barbara Eden as the bottle-dwelling genie and Larry Hagman as a crash-landed astronaut Tony Nelson. The show was indeed a hit, so let’s delve into some behind-the-scenes moments from one of our favorite 1960s sitcoms.

Season 1 Didn’t Have a Theme Song

The I Dream of Jeannie theme song didn’t exist until Season 2 of the show. There were a few opening options for the first season. First, there was the that showed how Jeannie and Tony met; then, the background story became a shorter black-and-white animated sequence. Finally, they added colors and the jingle we all love.

Getting Into the Bottle Wasn’t Easy

Although fitting into the bottle looked easy for Jeannie, it actually required a bit of strength. The bottle set was built on a sound stage, and Barbara had to climb an eight-foot ladder to reach the top.

Barbara’s Belly Button

Barbara Eden shares that she still gets questions about her signature belly button–bearing outfit. The 91-year-old actress explained that a reporter wrote about it, and looking for Jeannie’s belly button became a whole thing. Although she wasn’t allowed to keep the original costume, she had a replica made for herself.

Eden Was Pregnant During I Dream of Jeannie

Apart from The Lady in the Bottle, Jeannie was covered up for the first 10 episodes as Eden was pregnant in real life. The producers decided to keep her on the show and used technology to hide her pregnancy. The actress joked that she looked like a walking tent and had her son during a hiatus of the show.