Barbara Eden Slams Her Reported 'Feud' with “Bewitched” Star Elizabeth Montgomery as 'Producers' Invention'
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The two female leads of mid-'60s hits actually had more in common than anyone knew, Eden says in a new documentary
Silver Screen Collection/Getty; ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty 'I Dream of Jeannie' star Barbara Eden (left) in 1967; 'Bewitched' star Elizabeth Montgomery in 1970' title='Barbara Eden, US actress, in costume in a publicity portrait for the US television series, 'I Dream of Jeannie', circa 1967, A suspicious Samantha (Elizabeth Montgomery) forced a leprechaun to take back a pair of shoes that made Darrin lazy'>
Silver Screen Collection/Getty; ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty 'I Dream of Jeannie' star Barbara Eden (left) in 1967; 'Bewitched' star Elizabeth Montgomery in 1970
Bewitched and I Dream of Jeannie were two of the biggest TV shows of the 1960s. In fact, they even filmed on the same lot.The Columbia lot was bustling during the mid 1960s. Not only did those two series film in the same "neighborhood," but more notable titles of the day including The Flying Nun, The Monkees and The Partridge Family did as well.Despite rumors of a feud between Bewitched's Elizabeth Montgomery and I Dream of Jeannie's Barbara Eden — the two female leads on shows about "magical" women — Eden shut the idea down in a 2013 interview featured in the Bewitched 60th anniversary special, an independent documentary."I’d see her every morning. We were both pregnant together, we both had our babies around the same time," Eden said.Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
Walt Disney Television via Getty Elizabeth Montgomery and Dick York on 'Bewitched' in 1967
Related: Barbara Eden, 88, Says She Supports an' I Dream of Jeannie' Reboot: 'It's a Good Idea'
Despite popular belief, Eden said the two women "chatted a lot," adding, "If there was any perceived rivalry, it was the producers' invention."The Bewitched special also included a clip from The Flying Nun star Sally Field's 1996 appearance on The Rosie O'Donnell Show, in which she recalled the dynamic in hair and makeup on the lot in the early mornings."It was a big room where everyone came every morning at their call, which was usually 6 in the morning, and you got made up with everybody. Barbara Eden was endlessly singing and I remember Elizabeth Montgomery ..."Imitating the actress grimacing, Field said Montgomery grumbled, "She doesn't shut up!"
Related: Barbara Eden's Life in Pictures
Everett Collection Larry Hagman and Barbara Eden on a 1969 episode of 'I Dream of Jeannie'' title='I DREAM OF JEANNIE, Larry Hagman, Barbara Eden, in Season 4 episode'>
Everett Collection Larry Hagman and Barbara Eden on a 1969 episode of 'I Dream of Jeannie'
The special noted that while Montgomery did have some frustrations with I Dream of Jeannie's writers over similarities in storylines also seen on Bewitched, her issues never extended to the cast of the show.I Dream of Jeannie ran from 1965 to 1970 on NBC and followed the wish-granting genie (Eden) after she's discovered by an astronaut (Larry Hagman).Bewitched aired for eight seasons on ABC from 1964 to 1972. Montgomery starred as Samantha, a witch who marries Darrin (first Dick York, then Dick Sargent), a mortal man, and tries to acclimate to life as a suburban housewife. For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People.
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