MovieChat Forums > I Love Lucy (1951) Discussion > Rediscovered Gems

Rediscovered Gems

posted 6 years ago by [email protected] (1732)
19 replies | jump to latest

We all have episodes that we let go of for years, and kind of forget the qualities of such
offerings. Sometimes, I remind another poster (PJ) of such an episode ("The Young
Fans"), and another poster (PJ) reminds ME of such a show ("Little Ricky Gets Stage
Fright"). I also think there are episodes everyone forgets about, despite how good they
are.

One such offering I rediscovered this week is "Ricky Has Labor Pains." I'm not big
on the pregnancy shows (with the exception of "Lucy Hires an English Tutor"), but
this one is side-splitting. Ricky, of course, feels (understandably) left out with all the
"baby" attention given Lucy (in fact, Ricky sort of resorts to Lucy's childishness after
her shower - which is very cute). But the finale is brilliant. Lucille Ball is so GREAT
at making Lucy Ricardo POOR at imitating a MAN. Again, it's how convincing she is
at making something unconvincing. She has enough of the MAN-erisms (sorry,
couldn't resist) to make us howl at male sluggishness, but also the clumsiness to
make it obvious that Ricky would fall for it. Vance is also great. I also love that
voice that Lucy uses ("Weeeell, it's not generally known..." lol!). I also love the
final scene with the sardines and the hot fudge (Lucy makes it look delicious!!).

And how times have changed! I love the OVERWEIGHT doctor, making a HOUSE
CALL, and SMOKING A CIGARETTE in front of PREGNANT Lucy!!

A near classic episode.

Any other forgotten gems?

[–] [email protected] (5501) 6 years ago

I just love Fred's answer when Ethel asks him "How did you see through my disguise?" and he answers "What disguise?" lol

But sardines and hot fudge. Blech! I think I read in one of my Lucy books that the hot fudge was actually gravy. Also whenever "ice cream" is served, it is actually mashed potatoes since the ice cream would melt under the hot studio lights.

Times HAVE changed, although Lucille Ball herself did not smoke in any of the pregnancy episodes. However on Bewitched when Louise Tate was nervous about telling Larry that they were expecting, she downed two martinis to steady her nerves.

Another episode I love, not sure if it's a "gem", but it doesn't get talked about a lot is "Men are Messy". Ricky comes home and gets comfortable and trashes the living room in the process!

I can sort of relate to that on a personal level because my mom would have the house all spic and span and when my dad got home from work...a mess ensued. He would empty his pockets on the clean kitchen counter. He'd throw his clothes around. He'd make a cup of coffee and spill some all over the clean table cloth.

I can still hear my mom yelling, "Come on, put an saucer under your cup!!"

The ending always makes me laugh. Lucy is getting even with Ricky because he is bringing home a photographer from a magazine. Lucy trashes the apartment and goes "bear hunting" in the bedroom. She thinks the magazine reporter is from some obscure musician's magazine. But he's from LIFE and Lucy makes the cover. Could only happen to Lucy!

[–] [email protected] (1732) 6 years ago

First, I MEANT to say "it's obvious why Ricky DOESN'T fall for it" (Lucy's "man" thing).

Yes, "Men are Messy" is one of the very first gems of the series. One could argue that we only see Ricky THIS sloppy
in this episode, but again, how do WE know?? The writers must've loved this one, as season three's "Changing the Boys'
Wardrobe" is clearly "inspired" from this. Technically, "Messy" is the superior offering (and one that is really growing on
me again), but I have a weakness for "Wardrobe" because it's season THREE, my fave time period. I also think Desi
FILLS OUT those jeans quite nicely (there have always been rumors about Desi being nicely packed, and this ep kind
of reveals it...especially in the scene when Ricky and Fred come in from the movies).

Another gem, although hardly forgotten: "The Diner." A serious laugh-fest from start to finish. I love this episode
as it crams in everything: Lucy's insecurity at not offering anything to the diner; Ricky's ego; Fred's dry stubbornness;
Ethel's bitchiness ("When it's REDDER than the hamburger, it's DONE!").

[–] [email protected] (5501) 6 years ago

'The Diner' IS another gem! It shows Lucy at her haughty best! She thinks that "running" a diner is standing by the door in your fanciest dress and handing out menus! LOL

I worked in a diner (and a few restaurants) while in college and the work is hard, especially when you are standing over a hot griddle in the summer.

Lucy's problem with Ricky's "diner speak" is funny.

"If you want hamburgers with no onions, then say it! Don't say ,Bring the bull in the ring and laugh in its face ".

It's hard to believe that Lucy had such a difficult time with a basic diner menu though. It's hardly fancy French cuisine. Who can't make a hamburger? lol Of course I just think that Lucy did not feel that she should be doing that job. She was meant for finer things, like standing by the door all dressed up.

[–] [email protected] (1732) 6 years ago

I've never understood the line, "Bring the bull in the ring and laugh in his face" as a substitute for "a hamburger
without onions." I get Fred's substitute: "Walk a cow past the stove, and don't cry over it!"

This ep is clearly "inspired" by "Lucy and Ethel Buy a Dress Shop." In fact, when I was a kid, and didn't know
the exact running order, I used to think Ricky's complaining about show business were interchangeable. (they
always cut the opening scene of Lucy and Ethel discussing how much they saved on their dresses). Sometimes,
I'd get confused as to which episode was which.

Both are great, but I slightly prefer "The Diner." Still, Mrs. Hansen's B.S. IS hilarious ("Gramma had a wreck
while driving mother to the hospital", lol).

[–] [email protected] (5501) 6 years ago

Diner talk? Who knows? Scrambled eggs and toast was (I think), "Adam and Eve on a raft, wreck 'em!" lol

We never used that sort of slang at the lunch counter where I worked. But we had a lot of regular customers and the waitresses would call out their order by name because they had specific requests. It was things like "Anna's pizza burger". She liked hers with ketchup and raw onions. Or someone would yell, "Mr. Bradley's bacon!" He always got a double order, extra crispy. "Barney's quarter pounder!" He liked his with cooked onions.

Gee, the things I Love Lucy can remind me of!

And Mrs. Hansen, the owner of the dress shop was funny. Really, HER grandmother was still alive?

It's one of my favorite episodes, but there is one scene that, if you think about it, makes NO sense! Lucy intercepts Mrs. Hansen's phone call to Ricky. Lucy, pretending to be the Ricardo maid says that Mr. Ricardo only speaks Spanish.

Lucy tells Ricky that a friend needs help with a phrase for her daughter's Spanish homework. The check is good.

Ricky gets on the phone and says, "El cheques esta bueno."

But Mrs. Hansen NEVER speaks to Ricky or asks him about the check which had bounced. Wouldn't she wonder HOW Ricky knows the answer to her question??

[–] [email protected] (1732) 6 years ago

You're right, I never thought about how it doesn't make sense that Ricky would know about the bounced
check. One can't even argue that Lucy would've called Ricky to tell him it bounced when she had just
told Mrs. Hansen the phone was out of order in the dress shop.

Did Lucy call Ricky on her cell?? Lol!

The writers did their best to cover plot holes, but they weren't always successful.

In my opinion, the all-time worst "plot-hole" ep is "The Ricardos Change Apartments." While I enjoy it,
it is utterly ridiculous to buy those three switching TWO apartments in THREE HOURS! Also, it's silly
that Mrs. Benson would agree and give Lucy the key without checking with her husband! Just to save
$20 a month??? Worst of all, as if the movers would put the Benson's furniture back EXACTLY the
way it was. Did the movers have ESP or a floor plan??

Lastly, as you pointed out, why are the pictures in the hallway changed from one scene to the next???

[–] [email protected] (5501) 6 years ago

I could drive a truck through the plot holes in "The Ricardos Change Apartments"! lol Funny episode but filled with more holes than Swiss cheese. I know from personal experience that it takes a lot longer than a few hours to switch everything.

Years ago I had a roommate and we changed apartments with a woman upstairs from us. She bought a new piano and never checked the dimensions! It wouldn't fit up the stairs, but it fit into our apartment. So we switched with her. Her apartment was smaller (and cheaper!), so it worked out for us.

It's not just a matter of switching furniture. It's also a matter of emptying closets, kitchen drawers, cupboards, the medicine cabinet, etc. and taking down pictures and curtains. It takes a while. And furniture movers aren't inclined to switch the clothes in your closet!

Also, another blooper, Mrs. Benson gives Lucy the key to her apartment. Well... Ethel Mertz was the landlady. Wouldn't SHE have a key to every apartment in the building? Why did she need Mrs. Benson's key?

[–] [email protected] (1732) 6 years ago

Oh, trust me, I'm not just thinking "furniture" in the plot holes. I, too, am thinking of the drawers,
cabinets, and also the switching of refrigerators. Of course, it's possible - but highly unlikely - that
the Bensons and the Ricardos agreed to keep each OTHER's fridges.

Side note: It's a different fridge, anyway. In the first apartment, the fridge handle is on the left; in
the second apartment, the handle is on the RIGHT.

[–] [email protected] (1732) 6 years ago

Two other episodes I've come to love: "Fred and Ethel Fight", and "The Gossip." The latter, like "The Quiz Show", is silly in that Lucy and Ethel could freely gossip when Ricky and Fred weren't around. Same with Ricky and Fred. But they way Lucy and Ethel get caught is very funny. Love Lucy's physical energy when she pumps all that soot into Ricky and Fred's lungs!

[–] [email protected] (5501) 6 years ago

"The Gossip" is funny and I know by experience, men gossip too! True, the women could have gossiped all day when the guys weren't around. I don't think Lucy and Ethel ever stopped anyway. There was always gossip floating around during the Wednesday Afternoon Fine Arts League meetings.

[–] [email protected] (1732) 6 years ago

Years ago, I used to frequent an Italian restaurant where one of the waitresses (we called them waitresses then,
not servers) had "Oh, Miss..." on her name tag, instead of her name. I thought that was really cute.

[–] [email protected] (5501) 6 years ago

I never noticed that about the fridge handles! I figured you were also thinking about other things besides moving the furniture. And i never knew furniture movers to hang your draperies for you!

Getting back to the dress shop episode...although it's one of my favorites it IS so full of holes.

If a company was going to build a skyscraper and Mrs. Hansen was selling her shop, then how was the dress shop "the only thing holding up the deal?"

A big construction company would likely have had plans in the works for a long time and would have already contacted Mrs. Hansen with an offer to buy her shop. Also, there were a lot of other stores and shops on that block (presumably). Wouldn't it be common knowledge on that street that everyone was selling out to a big construction company?

Another thing about the bounced check. If Lucy's check HAD bounced, how were Lucy and Ethel the legal owners of the dress shop? I think Mrs Hansen, who seemed pretty crafty, would have argued that it still belonged to her and she should get the money.

Of course maybe Ethel's check hadn't bounced. But there's no mention that she ever wrote one. Fred seemed to control the family finances pretty tightly. How could Ethel have written a check for her share without Fred noticing? LOL
It would also have been difficult for the two women to keep hiding the fact that they owned a dress store. Wouldn't their husbands notice that they were gone for a long time every day? Fred especially, since he was usually home and expected Ethel to make his lunch every day.

The episode is hilarious but if you have watched it as many times as I have, the plot holes are so glaring.

[–] [email protected] (1732) 6 years ago

I never thought of all that, but you are right. The writing seemed to get more "sensible" and tighter as
the series progressed.

I've always felt the moving of Fred and Ethel to the country was handled very well. There had to be a REASON
for them to move. And starting a business was a good idea. So was having Mrs. Trumbull's sister moving
into the building to manage.

Only thought: How could the four make such a strong profit on selling chicken eggs when they were so
new to the country?? Surely, others would've cornered that (common) market years before them!

[–] [email protected] (5501) 6 years ago

I suppose there was room for another chicken seller in the country. It was the late fifties and people were moving to the suburbs. There probably was a growing market and a lot of "city folk" like to drive out to the country to buy fresh produce on the weekends too.

In the towns around here there is a farmer's market in town on some week days and Saturdays. The farmers come into town to sell their produce and eggs.

I decided to try and work out the math. Lucy said that they exchanged the baby chicks for 200 full grown hens who would start laying eggs right away..

If every chicken laid an egg every day it would be about sixteen dozen a day. They were going to sell the eggs for 75 cents a carton. That would come out to $12.00 a day. Unless they expanded their business, it was hardly enough to get rich on!

I suppose the Mertzes were mostly depending on the rent from their brownstone.

The "egg business" though brings up a question about the later Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour. In some of the episodes they travelled, like when they went to Japan. Who was collecting and selling the eggs then? Or did they give the chickens a vacation? lol

[–] [email protected] (1732) 6 years ago

Yeah, maybe the egg business wasn't such a brilliant conception. But the writers did the best they
could to move the four to the country (and I far prefer most of the end of season six than to
the beginning).

The changing apartments ep, though, is just plain LAZINESS. They could've at least done the
following:

It's the NEXT day, and Mrs. Benson tells Lucy they're on for the switch, but stick to the furniture,
and both couples can focus on the PRIVATE things (underwear drawers!), and such later that
night. Secondly, WHY did it have to be THREE hours later??? It could've been SEVEN hours
later. Even that would've made it more believable.

Strange. As weak as it is (the most unbelievable episode, really), it's still a fairly favorite ep of
mine. I like the time period, and I like the fact that BOTH apartments are shown in the same
episode (another reason why I like "Lucy Wants to Move to the Country." Also, the latter features
the VERY LAST ep where Lucy gets Fred and Ethel into one of her schemes, then it all backfires
when Ricky finds out what they've ALL been up to: "If my hands weren't up HERE, they'd be
right around your NECK!").

[–] [email protected] (5501) 6 years ago

I agree that there was a lot of lazy writing in the switching apartments episode. But back then the writers did have the luxury of a quick thirty minutes...no time for the audience to think about the episode over and over and watch it on DVD! lol

I don't think that the "egg business" was a totally terrible idea. I just think that the writers were searching for some plausible reason to get the Mertzes to move to the country.

And if you think about the price of groceries back then, $12.00 would probably have purchased a week of food for one couple.

The thing that gets me about the earlier episode where Ricky is fretting over the bills is- didn't the Ricardos have ANY money saved? They were married fifteen years before they bought a house. They only had one child after ten years of marriage. Aside from Lucy's clothes, I don't see how they had such major expenses. They never even had a car except when they went to Hollywood.

In the very earliest ILL episode Ricky says that he wants Lucy to "be the mama for my children." Did he think it cost nothing to raise a family?

And there was Ricky fretting over bills when he had a lucrative job as a nightclub performer. People who made WAY less than Ricky managed to raise families on factory salaries.

[–] [email protected] (1732) 6 years ago

You've pointed this out numerous times, and you are right, of course.

My mom, who has never cared for the series (my dad HATES it, and always has), never understood
why Ricky, being a popular bandleader and a singer of records lived in such a small apartment
in a brownstone. She thought they would've had a house by then.

There were many holes here and there, but for the most part, the series was fairly consistent
and sharply written.

[–] [email protected] (5501) 6 years ago

Yes I recall that you said that your dad HATES it. My dad disliked most of the sitcoms that we were fond of watching (over and over). He disliked The Dick van Dyke Show.

I remember him commenting while we were watching yet another re-run, "This guy gets a LOT of air time!"
He could not stand Rose Marie. Something about the actress drove him up the wall. Of course he also detested Bea Arthur as Maude.

Seems like a lot of men dislike sitcoms. My dad favored dramas like The F.B.I and the only sitcom I remember him really liking was Taxi.

As far as finances, ILL went from one extreme to the other. On the one hand, Ricky usually paid for Lucy's $50 hats (a month's rent back then for a lot of people). Yet he almost went into heart failure at the thought of some of their bills in their Connecticut house.

The Ricardos must have had a lot of those same bills in the brownstone such as phone, electric, water, etc. It's just so funny, in a rather grim way, when Ricky announces the dollar amount of all their bills for one month (in the country). They don't all add up to my Verizon bill!

[–] [email protected] (1732) 6 years ago

Very true (check out my NEW post). Curious to get your thoughts.