MovieChat Forums > I Love Lucy (1951) Discussion > The Girls Want to Go to a Nightclub

The Girls Want to Go to a Nightclub

posted 6 years ago by [email protected] (1732)
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Caught this very first broadcast last night, and I was reminded of just how strong a debut
it was.

Despite a spotty first season (like "All in the Family's" first 12 or 13 offerings, it took ILL a
while to develop), this first ep plays fresh and funny, 60-plus years later. Yes, while it's absurd
that we're expected to buy that Ricky and Fred wouldn't recognize their wives as strange
"dates", it simply doesn't matter. All four leads play to perfection, and the episode is just
so well-executed and funny.

This wasn't the first episode filmed, of course. The rather anemic and overly broad "Lucy
Thinks Ricky is Trying to Murder Her" was the very first filmed, but Desi and JO wisely
shelved this for the show's debut.

What's curious is how spotless the print of this is on the DVD. Subsequent eps in the
first season look fairly blemished with fuzzy sound. But this one is crisp and super clean.

Fun watching this again after several years.

Side note: This has zero to do with the topic, but I thought I'd share this ultra weird
piece of trivia: I just read today that Judy Garland (one of Lucy's friends) had a personal
secretary in the late 50's named Ricky Ricardi (!). I have no idea of the gender of this
secretary, but the coincidence in relation to friend Ball and the era is bizarre.

[–] [email protected] (5534) 6 years ago

All four actors are spot on with their characters in this very funny first season offering.

Lucy as a hillbilly gal grabbing Ricky, "Let's neck!"

Ricky asking Fred, "Do you know who those two creeps are?" lol

It wasn't too hard to believe that Ricky wouldn't want to spend his one night off from the Tropicana in another nightclub! But did the fellas really think their wives would want to go to the fights?

This situation called for a compromise, one night at a fancy club and the next night at the fights.

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

When I watched this as a kid, they always cut the very final scene (obviously shot in the studio audience seats) with
Lucy and Ethel seated at the fights in their fancy attire.

I don't know if this was the second ep filmed or not, but I do recall they shot the very first one, "Murder", on September
8, 1951, only about five weeks before the October 15th debut of "Nightclub." This means the latter was rehearsed,
shot, cut, and scored in about three weeks! Pretty astonishing. If memory serves, ILL was usually six to eight weeks
ahead of airdate.