A Guide To I Love Lucy
Airs on Monday nights at 9:00-9:30 on CBS
(Beginning in April, 1955, reruns air on Sunday evenings at 6:00-6:30 on CBS
under the title The Sunday Lucy Show.)
Overview:
The fourth season began with the five
episodes that had been filmed earlier at the end of the third season and held
over. After those "held over" episodes were aired, I Love Lucy
finally started airing the new episodes for the fourth season, beginning with
"Ricky's Movie Offer".
For the fourth season,
a big change was made. As "Ricky's Movie Offer" began the new episodes, Ricky was offered a role in a
major motion picture. This started a new storyline that would last throughout
the rest of the season, a storyline that would have the whole gang visiting
Hollywood. There they would mingle with famous celebrities. And many famous movie
stars made guest appearances on the show.
The fourth
season would also feature two new recurring characters. One was Bobby the
bellboy, who would pop up sometimes throughout the Hollywood storyline. And the
other was Lucy's mother, Mrs. McGillicuddy. She would appear off and on
throughout this season, and the next season.
By now,
there were many more people with TV sets in their homes. During the show's first
season, only one third of U.S. households had a TV set. But now by the show's
fourth season, the amount of households in America with a TV set had doubled. As a result,
there were many fans of I Love Lucy who had never seen the episodes of
the early seasons. Many viewers requested to see the early episodes. So on April
24, 1955, CBS started broadcasting reruns of the show on a regular basis. They
broadcasted reruns at 6:00-6:30 on Sunday evenings. These aired under the title The
Sunday Lucy Show.
As the
1954-55 season ended, I Love Lucy finished as the number one show of the
season.
Also as the fourth season ended, Lucy and
Desi signed to do another movie. While I Love Lucy was taking a break
from filming, Lucy and Desi were making a movie, Forever, Darling, which
would be released during the fifth season.
98. The Business Manager
First aired: October 4, 1954
Guests: Charles Lane (Andrew Hickox, the business
manager) Elizabeth
Patterson (Mrs. Trumbull)
Ricky complains that Lucy is spending too much
money. So he hires a business manager to put Lucy on a budget. Lucy hates this,
and rebels.
Real-life connections: The character of Andrew Hickox
was named after the Arnazes' real life business manager.
99. Mertz And Kurtz
First aired: October 11, 1954
Guests: Charles Winniger (Barney Kurtz), Stephen
Wooten (Little Barney)
Fred's old vaudeville partner Barney Kurtz comes to
town. He is broke, but he has told his grandson, Little Barney, that he is successful. So he and
the Ricardos and Mertzes put on a show at the club.
Songs sung: "By Jingo" (sung by William
Frawley and guest Charles Winniger); "I Want A Girl Just Like The Girl
That Married Dear Old Dad" (sung by William Frawley and guest Charles
Winniger); "On The Boardwalk In Atlantic City" (sung by Lucille Ball,
Vivian Vance, William Frawley, and guest Charles Winniger); "I Found A Peach
On The Beach" (sung by Lucille Ball, Vivian Vance, William Frawley, and
guest Charles Winniger); and "They Go Wild Over Me" (sung by Desi Arnaz)
Notes: When the Arnazes were casting the roles for I
Love Lucy in 1951, Charles Winniger was one of the actors they considered
for the role of Fred Mertz. In this guest role, he gets to perform with William
Frawley, the actor who actually got the part that Winniger was considered
for. While watching Winniger perform, you get a hint of what might have been if
Winniger had been cast as Fred.
100. Lucy Cries Wolf
First aired: October 18, 1954
Guests: Beppy DeVries (Mrs. DeVries), Fred Aldrich
(crook), Louis A. Nicoletti (crook)
Lucy reads a newspaper article about a robbery:
"A wife had called her husband, claiming that she thought there was a
robber outside. She asked the husband to come home. The husband thought she was
was imagining things, and refused. But it turned out that the wife was right.
There was a robber outside. He broke in, tied up the wife, and stole
things." Lucy wonders how Ricky would react to such circumstances. She
decides to test Ricky's love for her. While Ricky is at work, she calls him, and
tells him that she thinks there is a robber outside.
Notes: We get a rare glimpse of the ledge outside
the Ricardos' apartment, and also of the hallway outside their apartment.
101. The Matchmaker
First aired: October 25, 1954
Guests: Sarah Selby (Dorothy Cooke), Milton Frome
(Sam Carter),
Bennett Green (messenger), Joseph and Michael Mayer (Little Ricky)
Lucy sees two single people, Sam and Dorothy, and
tries to fix them up.
102. Mr. And Mrs. TV Show
First aired: November 1, 1954
Guests: John Litel (Harry Cromwell), Lee Millar
(Mr. Taylor)
Ricky is offered to host a regular TV show. It
would be a live show broadcasted mornings, and sponsored by Phipps Department
Store. Ricky says yes. But then he learns that the sponsor prefers a
husband-and-wife format. The show would be called Breakfast With Lucy And
Ricky, and center around both of the Ricardos. Ricky doesn't want
to share the spotlight with Lucy. But he reluctantly agrees. He tells Lucy about
it, and naturally Lucy is happy to do it. But Ricky lies to Lucy "It was my
idea to have you in the show. I want both of us to star." Lucy later learns
the truth, that Ricky didn't want Lucy involved in the show.
Songs sung: "Phipps Department Store Jingle"
(sung
by Lucille Ball, Desi Arnaz, Vivian Vance, and William Frawley)
Notes:
103. Ricky's Movie Offer
First aired: November 8, 1954
Guests: Frank Nelson (Ben Benjamin), James Dobson
(Pete), Elizabeth Patterson (Mrs. Trumbull), Joseph and Michael Mayer (Little
Ricky)
Ricky hears that a Hollywood talent scout is coming
to discuss a possible picture deal with him. He tells Lucy, and now everybody schemes
to get an audition.
104. Ricky's Screen Test
First aired: November 15, 1954
Guests: Clinton Sundberg (director), Ray Kellogg (assistant
director), Louis A. Nicoletti (boom man), Alan Ray (clapstick man), Joseph and
Michael Mayer (Little Ricky)
Ricky is given a screen test. The movie he is
auditioning for is Don Juan, and Ricky will be playing the lead.
Since Lucy has been helping him with his lines, she is asked to participate in
the screen test as well. But Lucy plans to hog the screen test, and get
discovered herself.
Songs sung: "Canta Guitarra" (sung by Desi
Arnaz)
105. Lucy's Mother-In-Law
First aired: November 22, 1954
Guests: Mary Emery (Ricky's mother), Fortunia
Bonanova (Professor Bonanova), Virginia Barbour (Professor Bonanova's
assistant), Pilar Arcos (party guest),
Rodolfo Hoyos (party guest), Joseph and Michael Mayer (Little Ricky), Bennett
Green (messenger)
Ricky is waiting to hear about the screen test.
While he is waiting, his mother visits from Cuba. Lucy has never met Ricky's
mother before. Now Ricky's mother is finally coming to meet her and Little
Ricky. Lucy wants to make a good impression on her. But there's a problem:
Ricky's mother doesn't know English, and Lucy doesn't know Spanish. How will
they communicate?
Notes: Fred doesn't appear in this episode.
106. Ethel's Birthday
First aired: November 29, 1954
Guests: Richard D. Kean (voice of John in the play), Mary
Lansing (voice of Cynthia in the play)
Ethel's birthday is coming up, and Fred has a
problem. Every year, he buys Ethel a present, and every year Ethel hates his
gift. He
asks Lucy for help in getting a gift that Ethel would like. Lucy suggests that
she could buy a present for her, and Fred could pay her for it. Fred agrees.
Ricky doesn't like this idea. Lucy buys Ethel a gift, a pair of toreador pants. Ethel sees
the gift under
the belief that Fred picked it out for her. She hates it anyway. This causes an
argument between Lucy and Ethel.
Notes: This episode has some sharp writing,
and it's pretty funny!
107. Ricky's Contract
First aired: December 6, 1954
Guests: none mentioned
Ricky is still waiting to hear about the results of
his screen test, and the waiting is driving him crazy. Fred hopes to make Ricky
feel better. He writes a phony letter to Ricky, saying that he got the part. He
intends to mail it to Ricky. Ethel tells Fred that this is a mistake, and Fred decides not to mail
the letter after
all. But then Lucy finds the letter, and thinks that Ricky got the part. In the
end, it turns out that Ricky did get the part after all. He will be playing the
lead in Don Juan!
Songs sung: "When Your Smiling" (sung by
Lucille Ball, Vivian Vance, and William Frawley); and "I'll See You In
C-U-B-A" (sung by Desi Arnaz)
108. Getting Ready
First aired: December 13, 1954
Guests: none
The Ricardos prepare to go to Hollywood. They will
bring the Mertzes with them, and they will go by car.
109. Lucy Learns To Drive
First aired: January 3, 1955
Guests: none
Still preparing for their trip to Hollywood, the
Ricardos buy a new car for the trip. Lucy wants to learn to drive. Ricky says no
because the car is not insured yet. But Lucy tries to learn anyway.
Notes: In this episode, we get a rare glimpse of the front of the
Mertzes' building.
110. California, Here We Come
First aired: January 10, 1955
Guests: Elizabeth Patterson (Mrs. Trumbull),
Kathryn Card (Mrs. McGillicuddy), Joseph and Michael Mayer (Little Ricky)
It's almost time to leave for Hollywood. The
Ricardos get a visit from Lucy's mother. She wants to go to Hollywood too, and
she wants to join them on the car trip out west. Ricky is mad that everybody is
horning in on the trip. In the end, Lucy's mother agrees to fly out later, after
everyone is settled. And finally, the Ricardos and Mertzes leave on the trip to
Hollywood. California, here they come!
Songs sung: "California, Here I Come" (sung by
Lucille Ball, Desi Arnaz, Vivian Vance, and William Frawley)
Notes: We get a rare glimpse of the front of the
Mertzes' building. Also, this episode marks the first appearance of
the recurring character of Mrs. McGillicuddy, Lucy's mother. Lucy's mother is
quite a character. She's even crazier
than Lucy is! You know, somehow that explains a lot about Lucy's personality.
After meeting the woman who raised Lucy, you begin to understand Lucy a little
more, and why she is the way she is.
111. First Stop
First aired: January 17, 1955
Guests: Olin Howlin (George Skinner, the motel
owner)
On the way to Hollywood, the gang stops off in Ohio
in a
broken-down diner and motel. The motel owner tries to swindle them.
Notes: The episode is called "First
Stop", and they are in Ohio! They made it almost halfway across the country
in only one day! Plus, I'm not sure about this, but I think that at
one point, Ricky says "damn" in this episode. That's pretty daring for
1950s television. Guest Olin Howard played a Yankee businessman in the classic
movie Gone With The Wind (1939). He also appeared in the classic horror
film The Blob (1958). He played the old man who finds the blob at the
beginning of the movie.
112. Tennessee Bound
First aired: January 24, 1955
Guests: Tennessee Ernie Ford (Ernie Ford), Will
Wright (sheriff of Bent Fork), Rosalyn and Marilyn Borden (Teensy and Weensy), Aaron Spelling
(Zeke, the gas station attendant)
Still on the way to Hollywood, the gang takes a
detour through Bent Fork, Tennessee. This is the home of Ernie Ford, the
hillbilly who had visited them last season. In Bent Fork, they are caught in a
small-town speed trap, and the sheriff charges them with speeding. Ricky wants to just pay the fine and leave, but Lucy
rebels against the sheriff. As a result, the whole gang is thrown in jail, and
they need Ernie to help them.
Songs sung: "Old MacDonald Had A Farm" (sung
by Lucille Ball, Desi Arnaz, Vivian Vance, William Frawley, and guest Tennessee
Ernie Ford)
Notes: Guest Aaron Spelling (Zeke) later became one of the
most successful TV producers in history. He produced a slew of hit TV series.
113. Ethel's Hometown
First aired: January 31, 1955
Guests: Irving Bacon (Will Potter, Ethel's father), Kathryn Card
(Mrs. McGillicuddy), Joseph and Michael Mayer (Little Ricky), Chick Chandler
(Billy Hackett)
The gang is still on their way to Hollywood. They
stop in Ethel's hometown of Albuquerque, New Mexico, to visit Ethel's family and
old friends. When they arrive, they discover something: the town believes that Ethel,
not Ricky, is going to Hollywood to make a movie. The town gives Ethel a great
homecoming celebration, and Ethel gets a swelled head.
Songs sung: "Shortnin' Bread" and "My Hero"
(both sung by Vivian Vance)
Real-life connections: Albuquerque, New Mexico was
Vivian Vance's hometown in real life.
Notes: This is an unusual episode. For once, an
episode is centered on Ethel! It's one of the few times where we learn anything
about Ethel's background. It also marks the only time that Lucy, Ricky, and
Fred all team up against her. Finally, this is one of the few episodes where Ethel gets a
chance to sing solo. Despite the others wanting to upstage her, it is good to
see Ethel in the spotlight for once. She has always been a supporting character
on this show, and she rarely gets a chance to sing. Even on those rare occasions
when she does sing, it is usually either a song with Lucy, Ricky, and Fred
("The Indian Show",
"Tennessee Ernie Hangs On", "Mertz And Kurtz"), or it is a
duet with another character ("Ricky Loses His Voice", "Lucy And
Ethel Buy The Same Dress", "Lucy Has Her Eyes Examined"). But for once, she finally gets a chance to shine.
Granted, she is rude to Lucy, Ethel, and Fred in this episode. But considering
how long she has been a supporting character on this show, you can almost
forgive her. No matter how conceited she gets in this episode, it is good to see
her finally have her moment in the spotlight.
114. L.A. At Last
First aired: February 7, 1955
Guests: William Holden (himself), Eve Arden
(herself), Robert Jellison (Bobby), Harry Bartell (headwaiter at the Brown
Derby), Dayton Lummis (Bill
Sherman), Dani Sue Solan (Bill Sherman's secretary), Alan Ray (waiter at the
Brown Derby)
The gang finally arrives in Hollywood, and checks
into the Beverly Palms Hotel. Immediately Ricky heads for the movie studio
without Lucy. So Lucy and the Mertzes have lunch at the Brown Derby, a famous
restaurant where celebrities eat. There they meet William Holden, and Lucy
embarrasses herself in front of him.
Real-life connections: Guest Dani Sue Solan (the
secretary) was the real-life wife of I Love Lucy director Bill Asher.
Notes: This episode marks the first appearance of
Bobby the bellboy. He will appear on and off during the Hollywood storyline.
This episode also features Lucille Ball's favorite comedy bit: the putty nose.
115. Don Juan And The Starlets
First aired: February 14, 1955
Guests: Ross Elliott (himself), Iva Shepard (maid),
Dolores Donlon, Beverly E. Thompson, Shirlee Tigge, and Maggie Magennis
(starlets)
Because Ricky's movie role casts him as Don Juan,
the studio's publicity department portrays him as a suave Latin lover surrounded
by beautiful girls. They ignore the fact that Ricky is married. Ricky poses for
pictures with starlets, and Lucy gets jealous. Then when Ricky stays out all night,
she accuses him of cheating on her!
Notes: One of the starlets is played by Dolores Donlon,
who was a Playboy centerfold. She was Miss August, 1957.
116. Lucy Gets In Pictures
First aired: February 21, 1955
Guests: Robert Jellison (Bobby), Lou Krugman (Frank
Williams), Louis A. Nicoletti (stagehand), Onna Conners (showgirl)
Ricky is busy at the studio, filming the movie Don
Juan.
Ethel, Fred, and even Bobby the bellboy are getting small roles in other movies.
Lucy is desperate to get a role in a movie so that she can tell her friends at
home.
117. The Fashion Show
First aired: February 28, 1955
Guests: Don Loper (himself), Amzie Strickland (Amzie,
the sales clerk), movie stars' wives: Sheila MacRae, Brenda Marshall Holden,
Jeanne Martin, Frances Heflin, Marilyn Tucker, Sue Carol Ladd, and Mona Carlson (themselves)
Lucy sees the Hollywood ladies wearing expensive
dresses designed by Don Loper. She wants one too. Ricky says no because they are
too expensive. Lucy tries to buy an inexpensive Don Loper dress, but she ends up
spending $500! Now what will she do?
Notes: This episode features cameo appearances by the
real-life wives of several famous movie stars.
118. The Hedda Hopper Story
First aired: March 14, 1955
Guests: Hedda Hopper (herself), Hy Averback
(Charlie Pomerantz), Robert Jellison (Bobby), Kathryn Card (Mrs. McGillicuddy),
John Hart (lifeguard), Joseph and Michael Mayer (Little Ricky)
Lucy's mother finally arrives in Hollywood with
Little Ricky. Meanwhile, a publicity agent cooks up a publicity stunt. In the
stunt, Ricky will save
Lucy from drowning in the hotel pool while the famous gossip
columnist Hedda Hopper is there. Hopefully Hopper will see it and write about it.
Songs sung: "Cuban Pete" (sung by Desi Arnaz)
Real-life connections: The character of Charlie
Pomerantz was named after a publicity agent for the show.
Notes: Guest Hedda Hopper was a real-life newspaper gossip columnist from the
1940s to the 60s.
119. Don Juan Is Shelved
First aired: March 21, 1955
Guests: Kathryn Card (Mrs. McGillicuddy), Robert
Jellison (Bobby), Philip Ober (Dore Schary/"George Spelvin"), Jody Drew (Mrs. Ballantine), John
Hart (Jim Stevens)
MGM decides to cancel Ricky's movie, Don
Juan. Lucy tries to convince the head of MGM, Dore Schary, to change
his mind. In the end, the picture is still shelved.
Real-life connections: Guest Philip Ober (Dore Schary)
was Vivian Vance's husband in real life. He also played the supporting role of
Captain Holmes in the Oscar-winning movie From Here To Eternity (1953).
Notes: At the time, the head of MGM really was
named Dore Schary. The real Schary had been slated to play himself on the show.
But then he backed out. So Philip Ober was cast to play him.
120. Bullfight Dance
First aired: March 28, 1955
Guests: Ross Elliott (himself), Ray Kellogg (prop man)
Ricky is slated to do a TV show benefit for the
Heart Fund. Lucy wants to get into the show, but Ricky says no. Meanwhile, Lucy
is asked by Photoplay magazine to write an article called "What It's Really
Like To Married To Ricky Ricardo". Lucy tells Ricky that if he doesn't put
her in the show, she'll write an insulting article.
Songs sung: "Fernando The Matador" (sung by
Desi Arnaz)
Real-life connections: In real life, the Arnazes were
spokespeople for the Heart Fund.
Notes: Lucy has pulled a lot of schemes to get into
Ricky's shows before. But this is the first time she has ever used blackmail!
It's also the only time.
121. Hollywood Anniversary
First aired: April 4, 1955
Guests: Kathryn Card (Mrs. McGillicuddy), Ross
Elliott (himself), Robert Jellison (Bobby), Joseph and Michael Mayer (Little Ricky)
It's the Ricardos' 15th anniversary, and they will
be spending it in Hollywood. But Ricky forgets their anniversary. Lucy is mad.
Frantic, Ricky plans a big party for them at the famous Mocambo nightclub.
Songs sung: "The Anniversary Waltz" (sung by
Desi Arnaz)
Real-life connections: This episode was inspired by an
actual anniversary party that Desi threw for Lucy one time.
122. The Star Upstairs
First aired: April 18, 1955
Guests: Cornell Wilde (himself), Robert Jellison
(Bobby)
Lucy reads that Cornell Wilde is hiding out in
Beverly Hills to get a rest. She guesses that Mr. Wilde is here in the hotel,
and she tricks Bobby the bellboy into admitting it. Mr. Wilde is staying in the
suite right above the Ricardos'. Lucy wants to meet Mr. Wilde. She gets Bobby to
sneak her into the suite.
Notes: Today, Cornell Wilde is probably better
remembered for this guest appearance than he is for his movie career.
(On Sunday, April 24, CBS started broadcasting reruns of I Love Lucy on Sundays at 6:00-6:30. These reruns aired under the title The Sunday Lucy Show.)
123. In Palm Springs
First aired: April 25, 1955
Guests: Rock Hudson (himself), Kathryn Card (Mrs.
McGillicuddy)
Both the Ricardos and the Mertzes are having
marital arguments. The husbands are getting on the wives' nerves, and vice
versa. Lucy and Ethel decide to take another vacation from marriage. They go to
Palm Springs for a week.
Notes: Although this episode is part of the
Hollywood storyline, it feels like an episode from the earlier seasons. And it
feels like it should have taken place back in New York. The girls are taking a
vacation while they are already on a visit to Hollywood? It feels like they are
taking a vacation while they are already on vacation.
124. The Dancing Star
First aired: May 2, 1955
Guests: Van Johnson (himself), Doris Singleton
(Carolyn Appleby), Marco Rizo (undetermined role)
Lucy has been writing letters to her friends back
home, boasting of friendships with movie stars. Then she gets word that Caroline
Appleby is going to Hawaii, and is stopping off in Hollywood to see Lucy. Now
Lucy must back up her claim. She hears that Van Johnson is appearing in the
hotel nightclub, so she tries to meet him.
Songs sung: "How About You?" from the 1941
movie Babes On Broadway (sung twice,
both times by Lucille Ball and guest Van Johnson)
125. Harpo Marx
First aired: May 9, 1955
Guests: Harpo Marx (himself), Doris Singleton
(Carolyn Appleby)
This episode ignores what happened in the last
episode. Lucy hears that her friend from New York, Caroline Appleby, will be
visiting Hollywood. Lucy has bragged to her that she knows famous movie stars,
which isn't true. Caroline wants to meet them. Lucy and Ethel know that Caroline
can't see a thing without her glasses, so they take her glasses and
"lose" them. Then they dress up as famous movie stars, and try to fool
her.
Songs sung: "Take Me Out To The Ball Game"
(instrumental performed by guest Harpo Marx)
Real-life connections: This isn't the first time that
Lucy and Harpo had worked together. Seventeen years earlier, Lucille Ball had
played a leading role in the Marx Brothers movie Room Service
(1938).
Notes: For some reason, this episode completely
ignores what just happened in "The Dancing Star". In this episode, Harpo
Marx upstages everyone, even Lucy! Also in this episode, Lucy and Harpo recreate
a comedy sketch from one of the Marx Brothers' movies: the
"mirror" sequence from Duck
Soup (1933).
126. Ricky Needs An Agent
First aired: May 16, 1955
Guests: Parley Baer (Walter Reilly), Helen Kleeb
(Miss Klein)
Ever since Don Juan was shelved, Ricky
has been waiting for MGM to assign him to another movie. In the meantime, he has
been doing publicity appearances while the studio decides what to do with him.
But it's been a while now, and Ricky is getting despondent. Lucy decides to help
out. She goes to the studio, pretending to be Ricky's agent. Hopefully she can
persuade the studio to use Ricky. But the plan backfires. The studio ends up canceling
Ricky's contract!
Real-life connections: In the early 1940s, Desi Arnaz
was under contract to MGM, and he had similar problems.
Notes: In the scene where Ricky has a temper tantrum, this
is the maddest he has ever been in the show. Ricky has gotten mad
before, but this was it. He has never been more angry than in this episode. Guest Parley Baer would later play the recurring role of
Mayor Stoner on the 1960-68 TV series The Andy Griffith Show.
127. The Tour
First aired: May 30, 1955
Guests: Richard Widmark (himself), Benny Rubin
(tour bus driver), Juney Ellis (maid), Barbara Pepper (woman on tour bus),
Audrey Betz (woman on tour bus)
Ricky is having lunch with Richard Widmark. Lucy
wants to go too, but Ricky says no. So Lucy and Ethel take a bus tour of movie
stars' homes. One of the homes is Richard Widmark's. Lucy and Ethel try to get a
grapefruit from his backyard, and get trapped inside his house.
Real-life connections: In the scene where Lucy and Ethel get off the
tour bus, they are seen walking towards a house. This house was actually the Arnazes'
home in real-life. And the wall that the girls climb over was actually the wall at the edge
of the Arnazes' estate.
After the last episode of the season aired, I Love Lucy stopped airing for the summer. Like previous summers, it didn't air reruns or anything. It just stopped airing completely, and a summer series aired in its place. This time, the series was a sitcom called Those Whiting Girls. It starred Margaret and Barbara Whiting as themselves. They lived with their mother in Hollywood. The show was about their romantic adventures.
Season One (1951-52) Season Two (1952-53) Season Three (1953-54)
Season Four (1954-55) Season Five (1955-56) Season Six (1956-57)