MovieChat Forums > I Love Lucy (1951) Discussion > Tennessee Bound

Tennessee Bound

posted 5 years ago by [email protected] (1732)
3 replies | jump to latest

What with all this "Cousin Ernie" chat recently, I watched "Tennessee Bound" over the
weekend. This isn't one I watch often, as I never "crave" it, but when I do, I always
enjoy it. First of all, the Borden Twins alone are hilarious. Their goofy expressions and
mannerisms are really off the wall (especially when they walk in sync). I also enjoy
watching a super young Aaron Spelling, who is terrific as one of the town's nitwits.

However, this latest viewing (after decades of watching) left me with an interesting
observation. I feel that "Cousin Ernie" seems much smarter in this episode. He was so
dumb in the season three two-parter, he actually believed the "wicked city woman" was
a different person, and not Lucy! In "Tennessee Bound" he's bright enough to fool the
sheriff a few times, and BOTH his "escape" ideas are bright ones! Had the sheriff not
come out when he did - after the sawing to "Old MacDonald Had a Farm" - Lucy would've
easily gotten away! And the square dancing thing with the rope is also his idea.

I wouldn't call Ernie a rocket scientist by the third appearance, but he doesn't seem
quite as stupid.

Sad side note: Ironically, Spelling was a young unknown actor working for the powerful
Desilu on ILL. In 1986, HE would be the powerful head of Spelling Productions who
would fire Ball from her last, pathetic series (and who can blame him, frankly).

[–] [email protected] (5495) 5 years ago

It's not my favorite of the episodes when they are on the road, but it does have some funny moments.

Interesting observation about Cousin Ernie. He does seem smarter in this episode. I attribute that to the fact that he is home and in "his own element". In New York he was the wide eyed country boy who was totally confounded by big city life, e.g. the streetcar "in a ditch", whispering a question to Ricky and finding out "it's in the HOUSE?",etc.

It reminds me of the Clampetts who were woefully out of their element in Beverly Hills. Big city life was foreign to them. But they weren't dumb. Back home they hunted and fished, grew their own food and lived off the land. They were able to survive in that environment and the "city folk" who looked down on them would find it very hard to live that way.

One problem I have with "Tennessee Bound" is that the foursome are desperate to avoid Ernie so they speed through the town. Surely they could have found a way to avoid a town like Bent Fork with its population of 54 people! It seems illogical that they would go right through the tiny village that they were trying to avoid.

It would've made more sense if they headed for Bent Fork hoping to make a brief stop to see Ernie. After all they did like him and I don't think Ernie would have tried to force them to stay the way they imagined. he'd know they were passing through.
But if their car broke down and they had to spend the night at his home with Ernie and his Ma it would've made more sense (at least to me). It would've been an ironic twist if his Ma had said something like, "You expect me to FEED all these people and put them up overnight?"

Of course she probably would have shown them good old southern hospitality. I was always curious about Ernie's Ma.

[–] [email protected] (1732) 5 years ago

While I guess they could've avoided Bent Fork, I don't agree that Lucy and Ricky (OR Fred and Ethel) were in any
mood to stop and visit Ernie. He was a pain in the neck, and it took them two weeks to get rid of him! They
were amused by some of his antics, but overall, I don't see the four wanting to stop and visit him, especially
when they had all those other sights they wanted to see via Hollywood.

[–] [email protected] (5495) 5 years ago

I didn't mean a looong visit, like Erie's was. LOL But they seemed to have some affection for him. I don't think the Mertzes had any reason to dislike him. Ethel even said that she loved the way he talked (all his colorful phrases). Ricky said that he couldn't "stay mad at that guy."

And in this case, they'd be the visitors and not the hosts. I think they could have spared an hour or two to visit an old pest, er, friend.

They ended up having a bit of a reunion anyway while in jail.

edit...
Another thing...I watched this episode last night (Thursday). I had forgotten that Lucy was at the wheel (with Ethel as her navigator) when they ended up in Tennessee! Talk about scatterbrained. How could she not know what STATE she was in? LOL
Aaron Spelling did have a funny cameo role. But it was still hard to believe that the only road led them right through Bent Fork. Tiny hamlets like that are usually off the beaten track.