Ep 1. The Lady in the Bottle

Jeannie, a beautiful, mischievous genie, has been trapped in a bottle for 2,000 years. When astronaut Captain Tony Nelson discovers the bottle on a deserted island and opens it, he unknowingly releases Jeannie. She becomes instantly grateful to him for freeing her and declares herself Tony's servant. However, Tony is initially skeptical and confused by Jeannie's existence, believing they must be hallucinations brought on by his isolation in space. After some initial struggles to understand Jeannie's powers, which include the ability to grant wishes and teleport, Tony eventually comes to realize that Jeannie is indeed real. Although Tony's best friend Roger is initially skeptical about Jeannie, he quickly becomes convinced of her existence and joins Tony in trying to keep her hidden from the outside world.

In "The Lady in the Bottle," the first episode of I Dream of Jeannie, Jeannie works to win Tony's heart while causing chaos along the way. When Tony goes out on a date with his secretary, Jeannie interferes by appearing in disguise as a beautiful, exotic woman. Tony is immediately drawn to her, but he is unaware that she is actually Jeannie in disguise. The date ends in disaster when Tony accidentally causes a fire while trying to impress his date with his cooking skills.

Jeannie is delighted by the chaos and uses it as an opportunity to reveal her powers to Tony. She fixes the fire and magically cleans up the mess, revealing to Tony that she is a genie and that she wants to be his servant. Tony is skeptical at first, but he is gradually won over by Jeannie's charm and her eagerness to please him.

As the episode progresses, Jeannie continues to cause problems for Tony while trying to win his heart. She casts a spell on his car, which causes it to float in the air, and she teleports into his apartment uninvited. Despite these antics, Tony begins to develop feelings for Jeannie and tries to convince her to use her powers for good rather than mischief.

The conflict between Tony and Jeannie comes to a head when Jeannie uses her powers to help Tony win a prestigious space award. Although Tony is initially thrilled by the honor, he realizes that Jeannie's interference has robbed him of his chance to win the award on his own merits. He confronts Jeannie and tells her that he wants her help to be earned, not given.

In the end, Tony and Jeannie make up, and he accepts her as his personal genie. The episode ends with Tony and Jeannie sitting on the couch together, watching TV and enjoying each other's company. The Lady in the Bottle sets the stage for the rest of the series, establishing the playful and mischievous dynamic between Tony and Jeannie that would go on to capture audiences for five seasons.