A Guide To I Love Lucy
Airs on Monday nights at 9:00-9:30 on CBS
Overview:
I Love Lucy finished its first season
as the third-highest rated show on television. Needless to say, it was guaranteed to be
renewed for a second season. You would think that the producers would have
nothing to worry about. But they did.
As the last
episodes of the first season were being filmed, Lucille Ball told everyone that
she was pregnant. In the 1950s, pregnancy was a taboo subject. The producers
felt that they would have to take the show off the air until Ball had her baby.
But Jess Oppenheimer had another idea: Lucy Ricardo would have a baby on the
show too. This was a risky thing. Never before had a pregnant woman actually played
a pregnant woman on television. But Desi said "Having a baby is a natural
thing."
CBS and Phillip Morris didn't like the idea. But on the
other hand, they didn't want to lose such a high-rated show. So they finally
agreed. The producers planned to have Lucy Ricardo give
birth in the second season. But now they had a problem. They had to film enough episodes,
and still leave Lucy with enough time to rest before her baby was due in
January. So they had to start filming the second season episodes immediately.
Everyone's vacation was cut short.
On July 18, they started filming the first six episodes of the second season:
"Job Switching", "The Saxophone", "Vacation From
Marriage", "The Courtroom", "Redecorating", and
"Ricky Loses His Voice". During all six episodes, Lucille Ball was
pregnant. But none of these episodes gave any indication that Lucy Ricardo was
pregnant.
Then, since Lucille Ball wasn't starting to "show" yet, they
filmed five more episodes to serve as "post-birth" shows. These were
"Sales Resistance", "Inferiority Complex", "The Club
Election", "The Black Eye", and "Lucy Changes Her
Mind".
During all this time, the writers were
preparing the "pregnancy" storyline. They decided that it would last seven episodes.
They wrote the scripts, and had them looked over by a priest, a minister, and a
rabbi to ensure that no one would be offended.
As the real-life delivery approached, Oppenheimer and
writers Madelyn Pugh and Bob Carroll Jr. faced another challenge: What sex
should baby Ricardo be? One suggestion was to film two endings to the birth
episode - one with a baby boy, one with a girl - and at the last minute, insert
the ending that matched Ball's real baby.
But ultimately, Desi Arnaz decided that the TV baby
would be a boy, whether it matched the real one or not. "Lucy gave me one
girl (Lucy Arnaz), she might give me another," Desi Arnaz reasoned.
"This is my only chance to get a son. You give me a boy on TV."
Finally the pregnancy episodes were filmed, and then Lucille Ball went on
maternity leave. On the morning of January 19, 1953, she gave birth to a son, Desi Arnaz Jr.
That night on I Love Lucy, Lucy Ricardo gave birth to a son, Ricky
Ricardo Jr. The episode where Lucy has her baby, "Lucy Goes To The Hospital"
broke the record for the highest-rated program in TV history, and it kept that
record for a decade afterwards. The show's gamble had paid off.
At this point, I Love Lucy was more than just a
TV show, or even a highly rated TV show. It was a phenomenon. When Ricky
Jr. was born, it was felt that he was "America's baby".
The next day after the episode aired, Dwight D.
Eisenhower was inaugurated for his first term as President. More TV viewers
tuned in to see Lucy give birth than did to see "Ike" sworn in.
Ironically, Eisenhower's campaign slogan had been "I Like Ike". Well,
America liked Ike, but they loved Lucy.
After
the episode aired, Lucille Ball stayed at home to rest for a while. Finally in March of 1953, the cast resumed filming. They filmed the remaining
episodes of the second season at a breakneck pace. During these remaining
episodes, Richard and Ronald Simmons played Little Ricky as a baby. Also, a new
character was added: Mrs. Trumbull, Little Ricky's babysitter. Also there was a
change this season: the Ricardos moved to a new apartment.
The show still made episodes rewritten from old scripts from the "My
Favorite Husband" radio series. Almost half of the second-season episodes
were based on "My Favorite Husband" scripts.
Also at the beginning of the second season, the Arnazes' production company,
Desilu, debuted
a second TV series. It was a sitcom called Our Miss Brooks, based on a
radio show. It was a sitcom about an English teacher in a high school, and her
adventures at home and at work. It starred most of the cast from the radio show,
including Eve Arden as Miss Brooks and Gale Gordon as the school principal. The
show was a hit, and lasted until 1956 on CBS.
Later in the spring of the same season, Desilu debuted
a third TV series. It was a sitcom called Private Secretary. It was about
a secretary and her life, at work and at home. The title role was played by Ann
Sothern. The show was a hit, and lasted until 1957.
As the 1952-53 season ended, I Love Lucy finished as the number one show
of the season.
When the cast and crew finished
filming the second season, everyone took a much-needed rest. Except for
Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz. Thanks to their top-rated show, they signed to do a
movie. While I Love Lucy was taking a break from filming, Lucy and Desi
were making a movie, The Long, Long Trailer, which would be released
during the third season.
36. Job Switching
First aired: September 15, 1952
Guests: Alvin Hurwitz (Mr. Snodgrass), Elvira
Allman (factory foreman), Amanda Milligan (chocolate dipper)
Ricky complains that Lucy is spending too much, and
that she has no regard for money. "You don't understand how hard I work to
make money, and then you just throw it away." To make some money, Lucy and
Ethel go out and get jobs, while the husbands stay home to do the household
chores.
Notes: This episode was partially based on an old
"My Favorite Husband" radio episode, "Women's Rights, Part
Two". This episode contains one of the most famous sequences of the series:
the scene where Lucy and Ethel make candy off a conveyor belt that moves too
fast. A picture from this scene is in the above photo. Guest Elvira Allman later
played Selma Plout on the 1963-70 TV series Petticoat Junction. This is one
of Lucille Ball's favorite episodes.
37. The Saxophone
First aired: September 22, 1952
Guests: Herb Vigran (Jule), Charles Victor (man in
closet)
Ricky and his band are going on tour, and Lucy
wants to come too. Ricky says that only band members can go on the tour. So Lucy
pulls out her old saxophone, and tries to join up.
Real-life connections: Lucy says that she attended
Celoron High School. This was a real-life high school near where Lucille Ball
grew up. Some sources say that Lucille Ball attended Celoron High School, while
other sources say that she attended Jamestown High School. Also, Lucille Ball
played the saxophone briefly as a child.
38. The Anniversary Present
First aired: September 29, 1952
Guest: Gloria Blondell (Mrs. Grace Foster)
It's the Ricardos' 11th anniversary. Lucy thinks
that Ricky has forgotten it, and that he is losing interest in her. Secretly,
Ricky has not forgotten it. He arranges to buy a string of real pearls for
Lucy's present. He makes the arrangements with a neighbor's wife, Mrs. Grace
Foster. He does this secretly, so that the gift will be a surprise. Naturally,
Lucy sees Ricky sneaking around with Mrs. Foster, and thinks that they are
having an affair!
Songs sung: "Down Argentine Way" (sung by Desi
Arnaz)
Notes: Guest Gloria Blondell was the real-life
sister of movie actress Joan Blondell.
39. The Handcuffs
First aired: October 6, 1952
Guests: Paul Dubov (Jerry the agent), Will Wright (Mr.
Walters), Veola Vonn (TV show emcee)
Lucy complains that Ricky isn't spending enough
time at home. To keep him with her, she borrows a pair of trick handcuffs from
Fred, and handcuffs her wrist to Ricky's. It isn't until then that they realize
that she has borrowed the wrong handcuffs. It turns out that they are not
trick handcuffs from a magician's props. They are real handcuffs from the Civil
War, and Fred doesn't have a key to unlock them. To make matters worse, Ricky is
slated to sing on live TV, and he has to get the handcuffs off before he goes
on.
Songs sung: "In Santiago, Chile" (sung by Desi
Arnaz)
Notes: This episode was partially based on an old
"My Favorite Husband" radio episode, "George And Liz
Handcuffed". For some reason, Jerry the agent is played by Paul Dubov
instead of Jerry Hausner.
40. The Operetta
First aired: October 13, 1952
Guest: Myra Marsh (club president), (no word on who
played any of the singers in the operetta)
Lucy writes an original opera for the Wednesday
Afternoon Fine Arts League to present as a fundraiser. The whole gang gets
involved. But secretly, there is a problem: Lucy is the treasurer of the League,
and there is no money to buy the scenery and costumes. So she uses post-dated
checks to get the equipment.
Songs sung: "We're The Pleasant Peasant Girls"
(sung
by a ladies chorus); "The Inn On The River Out" (sung by William Frawley
and the ladies chorus); "Lily Of The Valley" (sung by Vivian Vance and
the ladies chorus); "I Am The Queen Of The Gypsies" (sung by Lucille
Ball and the ladies chorus); "We Like To Drink" (sung by the cast); and
"I'll Be True To You, Lily" (sung by Desi Arnaz)
Notes: This is one of the few episodes where Ethel
gets a chance to sing solo. Vivian Vance has a great singing voice.
41. Vacation From Marriage
First aired: October 27, 1952
Guests: none
Lucy and Ethel think that their marriages are in a
rut. They are getting too predictable and stale. They decide that what they need
is a week's vacation from their marriage. So Lucy moves in with Ethel, and Fred
moves in with Ricky.
Notes: This episode was partially based on an old
"My Favorite Husband" radio episode, "Vacation From
Marriage". This is the only episode where we see the Mertzes' bedroom. And
we get a rare glimpse of the roof of the Mertzes' building.
42. The Courtroom
First aired: November 10, 1952
Guests: Moroni Olsen (judge), Harry Bartell
(process server) Robert B. Williams (bailiff)
It's the Mertzes' 25th anniversary. The Ricardos
buy a present for them: a TV set. But it doesn't seem to work. Ricky tries to
fix it, and ends up ruining it. Angry, Fred deliberately breaks the Ricardos' TV
set. The couples fight, and decide to sue each other in court.
Notes: This episode was partially based on an old
"My Favorite Husband" radio episode, "Television".
43. Redecorating
First aired: November 17, 1952
Guests: Hans Conried (Dan Jenkins), Margie Liszt
(woman on phone), Florence Halop (woman on phone)
Lucy and Ethel enter a contest where the winner
gets five rooms of new furniture. They have made 100 entries, and they are sure
that they are going to win. They are expecting a phone call that will tell them
that they've won, and they don't want to miss it. They won't even leave their
apartments. So Ricky and Fred decide to fool them. Fred makes a phone call to
Lucy, and tells her that she's won so that they won't have to sit by the phone anymore.
But now Lucy decides to sell all their old furniture!
Real-life connections: The character of Dan Jenkins was
named after the Arnazes' favorite TV Guide writer.
Notes: Guest Hans Conried (Dan Jenkins) would later play Uncle Tonoose on the
1957-64 TV series The Danny Thomas Show.
44. Ricky Loses His Voice
First aired: November 24, 1952
Guests: Arthur Q. Bryan (Mr. Chambers), Gertrude
Astor, Hazel Pierce, Helen Williams, and Barbara Pepper (chorus girls in show)
Ricky is staging a show at the club that
commemorates the 1920s. But
Ricky gets laryngitis, and can't sing. The doctor says that if Ricky stays in
bed until opening night, his voice will be back to normal by then. Ricky
complies, but what about setting up the show? Lucy decides to set up the show
herself, and let Ricky rest.
Songs sung: "Sweet And Lovely" (sung by Desi
Arnaz); "Nothing Could Be Finer Than To Be In Carolina In The
Morning" (sung by Vivian Vance and William Frawley); "Has Anybody Seen
My Gal?" (sung by Lucille Ball and chorus); and
"Charleston" (instrumental performed by Desi Arnaz's band)
Notes: Guest Arthur Q. Bryan provided the voice of
Elmer Fudd in the old Bugs Bunny cartoons. (No, Mel Blanc didn't play that
role.)
45. Lucy Is Enciente
First aired: December 8, 1952
Guests: William Hamel (maitre d' at the Tropicana
Club), Richard J.
Reeves (stagehand)
Lucy gets unbelievable news: she's going to have a
baby! She must tell Ricky! But there is a problem: all her life Lucy has been
dreaming of the moment when she will tell her husband that they are going to
have a baby, and now it's finally here. She is waiting for just the right moment
to tell him, and she wants everything to be perfect. Unfortunately, she just
can't seem to get the right moment. Ricky is too involved with preparing for his
show, and nothing is going right. Whenever she gets Ricky alone and tries to
tell him, there are constant interruptions.
Songs sung: "Rock-A-Bye Baby" and "We're
Having A Baby" (both sung by Desi Arnaz)
46. Pregnant Women Are Unpredictable
First aired: December 15, 1952
Guest: Bennett Green (delivery man)
Lucy's pregnancy is making her emotional and moody.
The episode is about Ricky's trying to please her, but she seems to be
impossible to please.
Songs sung: "Cheek To Cheek" from the
1935 movie Top Hat (sung by Desi Arnaz). (Coincidentally, Lucille Ball
had a small uncredited role in that movie as a flower sales girl.)
Real-life connections: At one point, Lucy say that she might
name her baby Robert or Madelyn. Those names came from I Love Lucy
writers Bob Carroll Jr. and Madelyn Pugh.
47. Lucy's Show Biz Swan Song
First aired: December 22, 1952
Guests: Jerry Hausner (Jerry the agent), Pepito Perez
(Pepito the
clown)
Ricky is staging a show at the club that
commemorates the Gay Nineties (the 1890s, not the 1990s). Despite her pregnancy,
Lucy wants to be in the show. She tries various ways.
Songs sung: "Nothing Could Be Finer Than To Be In
Carolina In The Morning" (sung by Vivian Vance and William Frawley);
"The Merry Merry Month Of May" (sung by Lucille Ball); "By
The Light Of The Silvery Moon" (sung by Lucille Ball and Vivian Vance);
"Goodnight Ladies" (sung by Vivian Vance and William Frawley); and
"Sweet Adeline" (sung by Lucille Ball, Desi Arnaz, Vivian Vance, and
William Frawley)
Real-life connections: Guest Pepito Perez was an old
friend of the Arnazes. He appeared in the original pilot for I Love Lucy,
and he does the same comedy routine here that he did in the pilot.
48. Lucy Hires An English Tutor
First aired: December 29, 1952
Guest: Hans Conried (Percy Livermore)
Lucy is concerned that when the baby is born, it
will be born into a house where no one is speaking properly. So she decides to
have everyone in the apartment speak proper English. She hires an English tutor
to teach them.
Songs sung: "Havana University Victory Song"
(actually the "Notre Dame Victory Song" with different lyrics; sung
by Desi Arnaz in Spanish); and "Tippy Tippy Toe" (sung by guest Hans
Conreid; aided by Lucille Ball, Desi Arnaz, Vivian Vance, and William Frawley)
Notes: Fred Mertz really shows off his sense of humor in
this episode. Usually, Fred is a crusty man. But in this episode, he shows that
he doesn't have to be serious all the time. He can be intentionally funny
when he wants to be.
49. Ricky Has Labor Pains
First aired: January 5, 1953
Guests: Jerry Hausner (Jerry the agent), Louis D.
Merrill (Dr. Rabwin), Hazel Pierce (clubwoman)
Lucy is getting a lot of attention because of her
pregnancy, and Ricky feels neglected. The doctor suggests that Ricky's friends
throw him a "daddy shower". But Fred turns it into a stag party. Lucy
hears about this, and decides to crash it.
Notes: This episode was partially based on an old
"My Favorite Husband" radio episode, "The Christmas Stag".
50. Lucy Becomes A Sculptress
First aired: January 12, 1953
Guests: Shepard Menken (William Abbott), Leon
Belasco (clerk at art supply store), Paul Harvey (Mr. Harvey)
The baby is due in only three weeks. Lucy feels
that her baby should grow up cultured. So she decides to become a good cultural
influence. She will do this by taking up sculpture. Ricky thinks that this is
not a good idea because it will cost too much money, and they will need it for
the baby.
Notes: This episode was partially based on an old
"My Favorite Husband" radio episode, "Liz Becomes A
Sculptress".
51. Lucy Goes To The Hospital
First aired: January 19, 1953
Guests: Charles Lane (Mr. Stanley), William Hamel
(maitre d' at the Tropicana Club), Ralph Montgomery (policeman), Bennett Green (orderly), Adele
Longmire (nurse in hospital lobby), Peggy Rea (nurse with wheelchair), Barbara Pepper, Ruth
Perrott, and Hazel Pierce (nurses),
James John Ganzer (Little Ricky), Marty Real (undetermined role)
The big day comes! Lucy should be having the baby
any time now. Ricky has to perform a voodoo number at the club, but he is afraid
to leave Lucy. Lucy might go into labor and have to be taken to the hospital any
minute now. When the moment comes, bedlam breaks loose.
Real-life connections: The "Dr. Joseph Harris" mentioned was
named after Lucille Ball's real-life doctor.
Notes: When this episode aired for the first time,
on January 19, 1953, it broke the record for the highest-rated program in TV
history. This episode takes place all in one evening. Plus, this episode is a
real switch. For once, Ricky, Ethel, and Fred act crazy, and Lucy
is the one who is sane! This is Desi Arnaz's favorite
episode.
When the Arnazes were casting the roles for I Love
Lucy in 1951, guest Charles Lane (Mr. Stanley) was one of the actors they
considered for the role of Fred Mertz. Lane is best remembered for
playing Homer Bedloe on the 1963-70 TV series Petticoat Junction. He also
played the IRS agent in the Oscar-winning movie You Can't Take It With You
(1938).
52. Sales Resistance
First aired: January 26, 1953
Guests: Sheldon Leonard (Harry Martin, the
salesman), Verna
Felton (Mrs. Simpson)
A flashback episode to before the baby came. Ricky
complains that every time a salesman comes by selling something, Lucy is always
a sucker and buys the product. "You have no sales resistance." Lucy
tries to prove him wrong.
Notes: Guest Verna Felton (Mrs. Simpson) played Hilda
Crocker on the 1954-59 TV series December Bride. She also provided voices
for several
classic Disney animated movies, including Dumbo, (1941), Cinderella
(1950), Alice In Wonderland (1951), Lady And The Tramp (1955), The
Sleeping Beauty (1959), and The Jungle Book (1967). She also provided the
voice of Wilma's mother on the classic 1960-66 cartoon series The
Flintstones.
53. Inferiority Complex
First aired: February 2, 1953
Guest: Gerald Mohr (Dr. Henry Molin)
A flashback episode to before the baby came. Ricky
and the Mertzes put down everything Lucy does, and Lucy gets an inferiority
complex. Then Ricky and the Mertzes have to lift her out of it.
Songs sung: "Who?" from the Broadway musical
"Sunny" (sung by Lucille Ball)
Real-life connections: The character of Dr. Henry Molin
was named after Henry Molin, an assistant film editor on the show.
Notes: This episode was partially based on an old
"My Favorite Husband" radio episode, "Liz's Inferiority
Complex".
54. The Club Election
First aired: February 16, 1953
Guests: Doris Singleton (Lillian Appleby), Ida
Moore (Mrs. Knickerbocker), Margie Liszt (Marion Strong), Hazel Pierce (Grace
Munson), Lurene Tuttle (club president), Jerry Hausner (Jerry the agent), Peggy
Rea (clubwoman)
A flashback episode to before the baby came. The
Wednesday Afternoon Fine Arts League is holding club elections. Lucy and Ethel
both end up running for president against each other! They each try devious means to win.
Songs sung: "Cuban Cabbie" (sung by Desi
Arnaz)
Real-life connections: The character of Caroline
Appleby was named after a teacher whom Lucille Ball had known as a child. The character of Marion
Strong was named after a childhood friend of Lucille Ball's.
Notes: This episode was partially based on an old
"My Favorite Husband" radio episode, "Women's Club
Election". This episode marks the first appearance of the recurring
characters of Caroline Appleby and Marion Strong, two of Lucy's friends.
However, Caroline's first name is Lillian in this episode. After it was filmed,
Lucille Ball decided that she didn't like the name. So she changed it to
Caroline, after a teacher she had known as a child. Guest Lurene Tuttle (the
club president) played the sheriff's wife in the classic movie Psycho
(1960).
55. The Black Eye
First aired: March 9, 1953
Guests: Bennett Green (florist)
A flashback episode to before the baby came. Ricky
throws a book to Lucy, and it accidentally hits her in the eye. As a result,
Lucy gets a black eye. Later, the Mertzes ask Lucy how she got the black eye.
Kidding, she says that Ricky got angry and hit her. This starts a rumor that the
Ricardos' marriage is on the rocks. Fred and Ethel try to help.
Notes: This episode was partially based on an old
"My Favorite Husband" radio episode, "The Misunderstanding Of The
Black Eye".
56. Lucy Changes Her Mind
First aired: March 30, 1953
Guests: Frank Nelson (waiter), Phil Arnold (Harry
Henderson), John Hart (Tom Henderson), Sally Corner (woman in fur salon)
A flashback episode to before the baby came. Ricky
complains that Lucy is always changing her mind, and never makes a decision
about anything. So Lucy decides to finalize something. She decides to complete a old romance by finishing a love
letter that she had started in high school, a letter to her old boyfriend Tom
Henderson.
Then Ricky finds the letter. But rather than being jealous,
he mails it for her. Mails it? Lucy never intended to mail the
letter! Now she has to get the letter back, or her ex-boyfriend will
think she's out of her mind!
Notes: This episode was partially based on an old
"My Favorite Husband" radio episode, "Liz Changes Her Mind".
The scene in the restaurant is said exactly the same as it was in the radio
episode. Nothing was changed, other than the names of the characters. Also, in
that radio episode, Frank Nelson guest starred as the waiter in the restaurant
scene. Now here in this "remake", he plays the same role, saying the
same lines. Guest John Hart (who plays Tom Henderson) was one of two actors who played the
famous "masked man" in the 1949-57 TV series The Lone Ranger.
(The other was Clayton Moore.)
57. No Children Allowed
First aired: April 20, 1953
Guests: Richard and Ronald Simmons (Little
Ricky), Elizabeth Patterson (Mrs. Trumbull), June Whitney, Charlotte Lawrence,
Vivi Janiss, Peggy Rea, Margie Liszt, and Kay Wiley (clubwomen), Jerry Hausner
(voice of Little Ricky)
Little Ricky cries a lot, and an upstairs neighbor
named Mrs. Trumbull is complaining. She points out that the Mertzes have leases
with their tenants, and one of the clauses in the lease says "no
children". Now the Mertzes have to decide whether to uphold the clause or stand
by their friends.
Notes: This episode marks the first appearance of
the recurring character of Mrs. Trumbull, the Ricardos' neighbor and Little
Ricky's babysitter.
58. Lucy Hires A Maid
First aired: April 27, 1953
Guest: Verna Felton (Mrs. Porter), Jerry Hausner
(voice of Little Ricky)
Lucy is exhausted from taking care of Little Ricky.
So Ricky hires a maid to help her. The maid, Mrs. Porter, is a tough,
overpowering woman who walks all over Lucy.
59. The Indian Show
First aired: May 4, 1953
Guests: Carol Richards (Juanita), Frank Gerstle
(Indian), Richard J. Reeves (Indian), Jerry Hausner (Jerry the agent), Richard
and Ronald Simmons (Little Ricky)
Ricky is staging a show at the club that
commemorates Indians. Lucy wants a part in it, put Ricky says no. He puts Fred
and Ethel in the show, but not Lucy. He tries to discourage her.
Songs sung: "Pass That Peace Pipe" from the
1947 movie Good News (sung
by Desi Arnaz, Vivian Vance, and William Frawley), and "By The Waters Of The Minnetonka"
(sung
twice: The first time is by Desi Arnaz and guest Carol Richards. The second time
is by Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz.).
60. Lucy's Last Birthday
First aired: May 11, 1953
Guests: Jerry Hausner (Jerry the agent), Elizabeth
Patterson (Mrs. Trumbull), William Hamel (maitre d' at the Tropicana Club), Byron Foulger (leader of
the Friends Of The Friendless), Ransom Sherman (Friend Of The Friendless who
makes speech in the park), Barbara Pepper (one of the Friends Of The Friendless),
Richard and Ronald Simmons (Little Ricky)
It's Lucy's birthday. Lucy thinks that everyone has
forgotten it. But the truth is, everyone is secretly planning a surprise party
for her.
Songs sung: "Happy Birthday To You" (sung by
guests); "We Are Friends Of The Friendless" (sung by Lucille Ball and
guests); and "I Love Lucy" (sung by Desi Arnaz and company)
Real-life connections: At one point, Ricky introduces
Pugh and Carroll, contortionists. Pugh and Carroll are the names of Bob Carroll
Jr. and Madelyn Pugh, the writers of the show.
Notes: This episode marks the only time that the
theme song of the show was sung with lyrics.
61. The Ricardos Change Apartments
First aired: May 18, 1953
Guest: Norma Varden (Mrs. Benson), Richard and
Ronald Simmons (Little Ricky)
Now that the Ricardos have a baby, Lucy thinks that
they need a larger apartment. Ethel tells her that there are tenants in the
building called the Bensons. Their daughter has just moved out to get married,
and now they have more space than they need. Lucy suggests to the Bensons that
they switch apartments. That way, the Bensons can get rid of the extra space
that they don't need, and can take care of a smaller apartment. And the Ricardos
will have a larger apartment with extra space that they need for the baby. It
all sounds great. But there's only one problem: since the Ricardos will be moving to
a larger apartment, that means that they will be moving to an apartment
with a higher rent. The rent for the larger apartment is $20 more per
month. Ricky doesn't want to spend an extra $20 per month, so he says no. Lucy schemes
to get the apartment anyway.
62. Lucy Is A Matchmaker
First aired: May 25, 1953
Guests: Hal March (Eddie Grant), Phil Arnold (man
in hotel corridor), Richard and Ronald Simmons (Little Ricky), William Hamel
(maitre d'), Doris Singleton (clubwoman), Peggy Rea (clubwoman)
Lucy and her friends are playing bridge. They talk
about Sylvia Collins, an unmarried woman who flirts with all their husbands.
They decide to find Sylvia a man. When Eddie Grant, an old friend of Fred's
drops by, Lucy tries to fix Sylvia up with him. Ricky has forbidden Lucy to get
involved, so she does this secretly.
Notes: Interestingly, we never actually see the
character of Sylvia Collins, even though she is such a pivotal character in this
episode. This episode was partially based on an old
"My Favorite Husband" radio episode, "Trying To Marry Off Peggy
Martin".
63. Lucy Wants New Furniture
First aired: June 1, 1953
Guests: Richard and Ronald Simmons (Little Ricky)
Lucy wants new furniture, but Ricky says no. Lucy
disobeys him, and buys furniture on sale without his permission. When Ricky
finds out, he tells Lucy that she must pay for it out of her own allowance. In
the meantime, he confiscates the furniture, and stores it in the club until it's
paid for. Now Lucy has to cut back on her luxuries. And she needs a new dress
and hairstyle for a party at the club.
Notes: The day after this episode first aired, Queen
Elizabeth II was officially crowned queen of England.
64. The Camping Trip
First aired: June 8, 1953
Guests: Jerry Hausner (Jerry the agent), Doris
Singleton (clubwoman), June Whitney (clubwoman)
Lucy tells her friends that her marriage to Ricky
is strong because they have mutual interests. This makes her want to cling to
Ricky more. Ricky and Fred are going on a camping trip, and Lucy wants to come
along. Ricky doesn't want Lucy or Ethel to come. But he agrees. He figures that
they will hear a coyote howl, get scared, and come home.
65. Ricky And Fred Are TV Fans
First aired: June 22, 1953
Guests: Lawrence Dobkin (cashier at cafe), Allen
Jenkins (policeman), Frank Nelson (police sergeant), Roy Rowan (undetermined
role)
This episode takes place all in one evening. Ricky
and Fred are watching a boxing match on TV. They are paying so much attention to
it, that they are neglecting their wives. So Lucy and Ethel decide to go out for
an evening on their own. They have adventures, including getting arrested!
Real-life connections: In real life, Desi Arnaz and
William Frawley were loyal boxing fans.
66. Never Do Business With Friends
First aired: June 29, 1953
Guests: Elizabeth Patterson (Mrs. Trumbull), Herb
Vigran (Joe)
The Ricardos buy a new washer-dryer. Lucy decides
to sell their old one to the Mertzes. Ricky doesn't like this. He says that it
will harm their friendship. But he reluctantly agrees. They sell the old
washer-dryer to the Mertzes for $35. But the Mertzes don't give them the money
yet, The next day, the washer-dryer breaks down. The Mertzes call the machine a
"lemon". They claim that since they haven't actually given the
Ricardos the money yet, that the deal is invalid. This causes a tremendous fight
between the couples.
Notes: This episode gives us a rare glimpse of the
back of the Mertzes' apartment building.
After the last episode of the season aired, I Love Lucy stopped airing for the summer. Like the first season, it didn't air reruns or anything during the summer. It just stopped airing completely, and a summer series aired in its place. (This was a common practice in 1950s television.) This time, the summer series was a police series called The Racket Squad. It starred B-movie actor Reed Hadley as police Captain Braddock. He solved crimes involving con men.
Season One (1951-52) Season Two (1952-53) Season Three (1953-54)
Season Four (1954-55) Season Five (1955-56) Season Six (1956-57)