MovieChat Forums > I Love Lucy (1951) Discussion > Recent New "Faves"

Recent New "Faves"

posted 7 years ago by [email protected] (1732)
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I've had favorite episodes of ILL for years, but occasionally, there will be "new faves." In
other words, eps I never thought much of particularly in the past, I have come to adore
over the past few years. Here are a few:

Ricky Loses His Voice: No classic, perhaps, and I'm certainly no fan of the "pregnancy"
stuff, but this one is cute, and has grown on me. I'm also a sucker for Lucy getting
Fred and Ethel into the "act." This one has some adorable numbers, and I like the
way the "new furniture" gets put into place into the beginning (even though it has
no point to the story itself). Kudos to Desi, who realistically plays someone sick (MY
throat gets sore just watching him! And he appears to have learned a lot from
Lucy's facial expressions when he takes that cough syrup).

Face-to-Face: I have come to LOVE this otherwise routine offering, which examines
the Ricardos' being tempted by moving to a nicer apartment after the Hollywood
arc. A misunderstanding ensues and the two couples get into a fight - first a "fake"
one, orchestrated by Fred and Ethel, who are really trying to advance their friends'
lives, then a REAL one. I love the performances here, the sharp insults, and the heavy
usage of BOTH apartments (actually, pretty rare). Both couples gets lots of screen
time alone, and that final scene has yet ANOTHER hilarious moment with Lucy
and CHOCOLATES!!

[–] [email protected] (5497) 7 years ago

Ricky Loses his Voice- Yes, one of the funniest of the early episodes. Desi does seem sick, "I haf to statche the cho." He does seem to have a sore throat.

This episode has one of those rare bloopers. I never noticed it until it was pointed out on the dvd. Ricky is rehearsing with Marco, his pianist (Desi's friend from Cuba, but I'm sure you knew that!). He tells Marco that he is not feeling well and he is going home.

Marco replies, "Okay Desi." Force of habit I guess. ha I have always liked this episode. Lucy is in charge and gets the Mertzes into the act.

Face to Face- always liked this one. A lot of funny stuff. Will Uncle Elmo fit into the Ricardo's bathtub? LOL
Both couples were at their usual craziness. First they pledge undying loyalty, then they are angry with each other over nonsense, then they kiss and make up on national TV.

Lucy with her mouth full of chocolates-LOL

For me, I never was a huge fan of 'Lucy's Club Dance' until a few years ago. I was watching it one time and it struck me as SO funny! First, Ricky bringing his band into the Mertzes apartment.

He wanted the girls to play ;Twelfth Street Rag; like his "boys". So funny! As if that was all it took to play like a professional musician. Just listen to them and imitate them. lol NO way for Lucy's band could do that!

I love the ending. Ricky's band sure were good sports to do that for him. It was hilarious. They wore wigs and gowns. They were dressed as women, but men still walk like men. I laugh when I see them loping across the stage and sitting on the stage like men. But at least they sounded good.

[–] [email protected] (1732) 7 years ago

I wasn't a huge fan of "Lucy's Club Dance" until a few years ago either. I think it was due to Ethel's (uncharacteristic)
meanness, and also because the first half of the ep plays slowly. But the childishness of these women in even
REMOTELY believing they sound good (right after Caroline BANGS the drum) is hilarious. I also love the expression
on Lucy's face when she first enters Ethel's apartment...and that delicious line: "Well, if it isn't Ethel Mertz and her
makes-you-want-to-stick-your-fingers-in-your-ears-music."

And we've recently discussed Lucy's odd dress in the opening scene. Yikes!

Side note: My father HATED ILL (and still does), but I remember watching the closing scene of this episode when I
was a small child. My dad was lying on the den floor, as always, reading the paper. I remember him howling
when "the boys in the band" came out dressed as women, especially the embarrassed expression on Ricky's face.
He NEVER laughed at Ball, but occasionally he would chuckle at William Frawley. Today, he just dismisses the
series, but he dismisses anything over ten years old!! Even HIS favorite shows or movies. Once they're "old",
they're "useless." Bizarre way of thinking.

I thought it was wise of director William Asher to not do a cutaway to Lucy, Fred and Ethel, and allow this final
minute or so to go to Ricky and the guys. Or WAS it Asher??? He directed, but Desi and producer Jess O
had executive control. Maybe THEY influenced editor Dan Cahn!! In any case, whoever made that editing
decision was smart.

[–] [email protected] (5497) 7 years ago

Interesting that your dad never laughed at Lucy. Mine didn't either. My dad was never a big sitcom fan. He preferred the hour long dramas like 'The FBI' or 'Mission: Impossible'. The only sitcoms I remember him laughing at were 'Good Times' and 'Taxi'.

Never thought about it, but yes, the final scene belonged to Ricky and his "All Girl Band". We can imagine how Lucy, Fred and Ethel were reacting. But we didn't need to see it.

Another episode which wasn't a favorite but I have come to see its merits is "Little Ricky Gets Stage Fright." I think you mentioned it in another post a while ago and I decided to watch it again. I really was impressed with the fast pace of it. Both couples were so concerned about little Ricky's upcoming performance.

For once they weren't concerned about their own problems. It was all about little Ricky. They were so nervous. Lucy and Ricky put on each other's coats! ha Everyone grabbed a piece of Ricky's drum set and left. But they forgot little Ricky! It seemed like a mature development for the Ricardos and Mertzes. They focused on the child and not themselves.

The recital had its funny moments too. They were SO bored watching the other children perform. And then little Ricky comes out with stage fright. Funnier than I remembered.

[–] [email protected] (1732) 7 years ago

Oh, dear, this ep is one of my least faves, as I just don't find it interesting in story or very funny. I also don't
care for eps so devoted to Little Ricky. Keith T was cute, but only when he walked in and out and didn't
CARRY the storyline.

That said, one I've come to love is "Little Ricky Learns to Play the Drums." I find the fight between the
Ricardos and Mertz's to be very funny (and childish, as usual). But Little Ricky only has the opening
breakfast scene, and a few lines where he's dressed as the doctor. Otherwise, it's the adults who run the
episode.

[–] [email protected] (5497) 7 years ago

Oh, the stage fright episode has not become a favorite of mine, just parts of it. I decided to give it another chance. I just came to appreciate the way the two couples acted so mature and gave the childish lines to little Ricky.

The episode when he learns to play the drums has its good moments too. Keith T was a cute kid, but like you, I prefer him in small doses. The big fight between Lucy and Ricky over whether their child will be a doctor or a musician is ILL inspired silliness. The kid couldn't even read yet!

One episode I did come to appreciate was the "Young Fans" episode. Never cared for it, but you said how much you enjoyed Richard Crenna as young Walter, so shy, awkward and scared. When I gave that another viewing, I started to like it a lot more.

[–] [email protected] (1732) 7 years ago

Actually, his name is "Arthur." And I truly cannot take my eyes off of Crenna, from the moment he enters
until he leaves. Even his throw-away lines are a hoot! (after Lucy convinces him to just try the steps,
he mumbles, "Weelll...alllright."). He is perfection. He's also very, very sexy (I say this knowing
Crenna was FULLY an adult in real life).

Janet Waldo IS problematic, and it takes me a while to get into her. First, she does NOT look like anyone
under 27, and her attire makes her look like she stepped out of an episode of "Wagon Train"! But Waldo
gives it her all ("JIGGLE 'EM!!"), and she wins me over.

In the final scene when Arthur rejoins them, it's very cute. You just somehow know (or hope) that
they will end up together (or marry).

Still think it would've been cute to have them be the young married couple who move into the
second apartment when the Ricardos are moving to Connecticut. What a darling circle-of-life that
would've been. I can just see Lucy saying, "ARTHUR, tell you WIFE, PEGGY, that's she's NOT
going to change that lamp shade or cut off that coffee table LEG!!"

[–] [email protected] (5497) 7 years ago

Arthur, yes! Can't believe I called him Walter. My brain goes out to lunch sometimes, lol I think I was thinking of his character, Walter Denton, from Our Miss Brooks.

Janet Waldo's costumes, especially that huge coat, are a bit odd. But they were trying to hide her "baby bump."

Just recently I saw her in an episode of The Lucy Show. For some reason I decided to watch a few episodes on youtube. (there WERE a few funny ones) In this one she played Lucy Carmichael's sister who had eloped. Lucy wanted to arrange a proper wedding for her.

I thought she was just overacting on ILL, but after watching the Lucy Show episode, I came to realize that she was not a very good actress! She did a good job voicing Judy Jetson, but otherwise she really overacted.

Still it would've been fun to see Arthur and Peggy as the newlyweds who rented the Ricardo apartment.

[–] [email protected] (1732) 7 years ago

Crenna was the more serious actor of the two. But Waldo also played a giggling teenager on "Ozzie
and Harriet." I can't recall the character's name. But her catch-phrase is an excited "Oooooooooh!",
while jiggling her shoulders (usually discussing a boy she likes). Both she and Crenna had
long, successful careers.

On Youtube, there's an interview with Waldo at a convention not long before she died. She said
that over the decades, fans would approach her and ask her to say, "Jiggle em???". She
appeared quite amused by that.

Back to "The Young Fans:" There's an adorable moment at the end: When Arthur comes
rushing in and Peggy pulls him over to surmise "old" Ricky, Lucy calls him over. Crenna is
brilliant as he quickly loses his shock of focus on "old" Ricky and eagerly sprints over to Lucy.
That sudden, "eager" walk over to her is very funny, but you have to watch carefully for it.

[–] [email protected] (5497) 7 years ago

Yes, Richard Crenna was a gem in this episode, his shyness, his body language, all perfect.

"Oil Wells" has become a new fave of mine. I never listed it as one of my faves before, but recently I have come to appreciate the performances of the guest stars.

It was typical Lucy. She had dreams of making a fortune. But on the flimsiest evidence she convinced Ricky and the Mertzes that they were being swindled. A lot of funny physical comedy ensued.

"Reel me in Ethel!" lol

[–] [email protected] (1732) 7 years ago

"Oil Wells" has always been a fave.

"If you're the kind of people we would have to associate with if we
were rich, I'm glad we were WIPED OUT."