MovieChat Forums > I Love Lucy (1951) Discussion > Crazy hypothetical question...

Crazy hypothetical question...


If Ricky ever by some chance seriously came on to Ethel how would she handle it? Being married to the sexless old goat must gave gotten stale after awhile. Ricky must have had moments where Lucy just became too much to deal with and wanted somebody less meshugah and more down to earth.

Would she at least be flattered if not downright tempted?

Her loyalty to Lucy would be too great to ever do anything about it, right?

Right? πŸ˜‚

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Lucy and Ethel were like sisters, so I'm sure she would slap Ricky across the face. Then tell Lucy all about it and Lucy would have dumped his ass.

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I think you are right about what her response would be but surely she would prefer Ricky to Fred under the right circumstances. I mean what does Fred bring to the table but highwaisted pants and grouchiness? LOL.

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I'm sure she could find someone good looking and single ahha.

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Some old hometown beau back from Albuquerque who never forgot her. πŸ˜‹

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Yep ahah. Well William Frawley in real life died in 1966, so if Fred Mertz died the same year she probably got re-married.

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Hopefully to somebody who appreciated her.

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Oh definitely to some guy who appreciated her! Were you thinking about her old hometown beau Billy? He seemed so pleased to see her again.

When he said to Fred, "So you're the winner!", Fred's sarcastic response was, "Yeah, I'm the winner."

Just WHO did Fred think he deserved? Ethel may not have been a great beauty, but she was attractive and had a nice figure. Fred was always calling her fat. He had a lot of nerve. I'd really like to think that Ethel eventually found a nice guy who appreciated her.

But getting back to the original question, I don't think Ricky would have EVER come on to Ethel. The foursome were good friends. Lucy and Ethel were inseparable. Ricky may have had a fling with a show girl at the Tropicana. But he wouldn't have done that with his neighbor. And Ethel, even though she was married to a dud like Fred, would have been appalled at the idea.
Like that old expression, "don't sh## where you eat!"

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Also, deep down, Ethel and Fred loved each other. Too many episodes point out how they
miss each other ("Vacation From Marriage", "In Palm Springs").

As for Ricky, no, one NEVER gets the idea he'd ever feel that way towards her. She was like
a sister to him, really.

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I was thinking that "deep down", way deep down (lol) Fred and Ethel loved each other. I don't think they had a really passionate relationship at that point, but Fred DID think he was about to become a father in that first season episode when he and Ricky were going off to perform at Fort Dix.

Even though Fred constantly made nasty cracks at Ethel, he came to her defense quickly in "No Children Allowed". He got angry with Ricky for saying that Ethel stayed on a topic so long that it got sickening. He was agreeing with Fred.

Fred said, "Well I'm supposed to get sick of her. She's MY wife!"

Fred didn't know how to show his appreciation though. Ethel was probably just used to him and his insults.

For her part, Ethel referred to him as, "MY old goat!"

They probably did love each other. But I'd still like to think if Ethel was widowed she would have found a man who was kinder to her and appreciated her more.

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And someone who was a better lay. (Sorry, couldn't resist).

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I was thinking the same thing. After all, remember what Ethel said in the episode when Ricky and Fred were watching the fights on TV?

Fred ran through the Ricardo kitchen to go to the store for more refreshments. Lucy said that he wouldn't have time because there was only three minutes between rounds.

Ethel said that Fred had trained himself to do anything in less than three minutes. Not exactly a trait a woman looks for in a lover!!

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Always loved that they got that past the censors! And the studio audience laughs for
quite while on THAT one!

In "The SΓ©ance" Ricky says, "Why Lucy, don't you like the way I vibrate?" (!)

And when he leaves, Lucy says she should say "Yes" to ANYTHING. Ricky lights up
and says, "Boy, WILL I!" That line certainly makes the mind reel!

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The writers had to use a lot of creativity to get past the censors! Remember Lucy's, "Since we said 'I do', there are so many things we don't."

In " The Italian Wig" when Lucy thought Ricky was flirting with a stranger, "He LEERED at me and called me honey in a tone that I haven't heard since the day before we got married."

Still, I could never believe that Ricky would flirt with Ethel, or any of Lucy's girlfriends for that matter.

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She dreamt nightly about being one of Ricky's Congas.

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