“The Hedda Hopper Story”

(S4;E21 ~ March 14, 1955) Directed by William Asher. Written by Jess Oppenheimer, Madelyn Pugh, and Bob Carroll, Jr. Filmed February 3, 1955 at Ren-Mar Studios. Rating: 50.3/69

Synopsis ~ Ricky is looking for some publicity in Hollywood so he hires a publicist who concocts a stunt to get the attention of journalist Hedda Hopper.

Despite the fact that she only appears in the show’s final moments, this episode is centered around one of Hollywood’s most powerful and colorful gossip columnists, Hedda Hopper. Born Elda Furry in Pennsylvania, Hopper she was originally an actress in silent pictures. She later starred with Lucille Ball in Bunker Bean (1936) and That’s Right-You’re Wrong (1939). During the 1950s she reinvented herself as a reporter and became famous for her outrageous hats as well as her long-standing rivalry with fellow gossip columnist Louella Parsons. 

Hopper played herself in the film Sunset Boulevard (1950) and made one more appearance with Lucy and Desi on the very first “The Lucy–Desi Comedy Hour” in 1957. She appeared on “The Desilu Revue” (1959) in return for Lucy appearing on her special “Hedda Hopper’s Hollywood” a few weeks later. She died in 1966 at age 80. She bequeathed her black-and-blue Rolls-Royce to Lucille Ball. 

In films and television, Hopper has been portrayed by such actors as (clockwise from top left): Helen Mirren (Trumbo),

Tilda Swinton (Hail, Caesar!),
Jane Alexander (Malice in Wonderland), Judy Davis (“Feud”),

Fiona Shaw (RKO 281),

and Katherine Helmond (Liz: The Elizabeth Taylor Story).   

In “The Gossip” (S1;E24) Ricky and Fred indulge in idle chatter about the goings on at the Tropicana and Lucy refers to them as “Hedda and Lolly” – the first of many references to Hopper and Parsons that would populate the series.

Coincidentally, Hedda Hopper, who is to interview Ricky about his role in Don Juan, actually appeared in a silent version of Don Juan (1926) as the Marchesia Rinaldo. The title role was played by matinee idol John Barrymore. 

The Ricardo’s New York City home phone number is Murray-Hill 5-9505

(695-9099).
This is the third and final phone number heard on the air. The first was Murray-Hill 5-9975 (695-9975) and the second was Circle-7-2099 (247-2099). 

Bobby the bellboy delivers a telegram from Mrs. McGillicuddy addressed to ‘Mickey Mikado,’ which Bobby jests might have had to be forwarded to Japan. The scrambled surname is a nod to Gilbert and Sullivan’s 1885 operetta The Mikado, which is set in a fictional Japanese village. About the telegram Fred says, “Just be thankful you didn’t have to wait till it came back from Japan marked ‘not known at this pagoda.’”  “The Ricardos Go To Japan” in a 1959 episode of “The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour.”  Coincidentally, Ricky also sings “Cuban Pete” in Japan, but as “Tokyo Pete” (above). 

Ricky really has no right to complain about his mother-in-law’s mangling of his name as he calls Hedda Hopper ‘Hedda HOOPER’ throughout the episode as well as when she comes to Westport in 1957! 

When it comes to celebrities Lucy’s mother is a fan of silent film stars Ramon Navarro, Francis X. Bushman, and Rudolph Valentino, who she adored in The Sheik (1921). She even sings a few bars of "The Sheik of Araby,” a song written as a response to the film’s popularity. While in Hollywood Mrs. McGillicuddy wants to see the house where Valentino lived. Coincidentally, the homes of Navarro, Bushman, and Lucille Ball, would all be featured on the 1960 NBC special “Hedda Hopper’s Hollywood.” 

MRS. MCGILLICUDDY (To Ricky, about Valentino): “You’re not fit to touch the hem of his burnouse!”

RICKY (about gossip columnists): “All they talk about is Marilyn Monroe, Marilyn Monroe, Marilyn Monroe.” 

This quote might well apply to “I Love Lucy” itself, since the star is very frequently mentioned on the series. In “Ricky’s Movie Offer” (S4;E5) Lucy even dresses up like Marilyn Monroe. Monroe’s 1953 film Gentlemen Prefer Blondes later inspired some of the plot of “Second Honeymoon” (S5;E14) aboard the S.S. Constitution.

Hedda Hopper is at the fictional Beverly Palms Hotel to attend the annual Motion Picture Mothers Club tea. This real-life organization was formed in 1939 as a small social group of ladies whose children were involved in film and (later) television business. It still exists today.

The dress Lucy wears for her dive into the pool is the same one she wore in the 1953 color film The Long, Long Trailer. The dress must have been sturdily built, as it takes quite a beating both times!  [Notice the Tropicana set behind Lucy and Desi in the photo on the left. While the gang was in Hollywood, this set was not used.]

“Cuban Pete” is heard again for the first time since “The Diet” (S1;E3), where it was teamed with Lucy’s version, “Sally Sweet.” Yet another variation of the song, “Texas Pete,” will be sung by Ricky in “Lucy Goes to the Rodeo” (S5;E8) as well as “Tokyo Pete” in “The Ricardos Go To Japan” in 1959. In 1946, Desi Arnaz played himself in a film called Cuban Pete where he sang the title song. The song was composed by Joseph Norman under the name José Norman in 1936, and recorded by Louis Armstrong in 1937. It was later famously sung by Jim Carrey in the film The Mask (1994).

Ricky’s new press agent Charlie Pomerantz (Hy Averback) tells Ricky “Dad, I’m going to make you the Cuban Liberace.” Ricky glares at him (with hidden subtext) and says “I don’t know about that.”  Liberace’s flamboyant personality and style are not something that macho Latin Ricky (or Desi Arnaz) wanted to emulate. Liberace would guest star as himself on a 1970 episode of "Here’s Lucy.” He was mentioned in the dialogue of two previous “I Love Lucy” episodes due to his having a hit television series. 

Hy Averback (Charlie Pomerantz) had already played another Charlie on “I Love Lucy” – Charlie Appleby in “Baby Pictures” (S3;E5), although the character would be re-cast with George O’Hanlon in season six. Averback transitioned from acting to directing, becoming Emmy nominated for “M*A*S*H.” The character of Charlie Pomerantz was named after the West Coast Publicity Agent for Philip Morris, the show’s main sponsor.

Pomerantz later flatters the handsome lifeguard (John Hart) by pretending to mistake him for Burt Lancaster. The topical reference capitalizes on Lancaster wet and in a swimsuit in 1953’s On the Waterfront. He then tells the lifeguard he’d be perfect for the lead in the new Esther Williams picture. Esther Williams was famous for her MGM ‘aqua musicals’ but she and Lucille Ball had also appeared together in the 1946 films Easy to Wed and Ziegfeld Follies. She would soon be among the stars listed as attending Lucy’s anniversary party at the Macombo in “Hollywood Anniversary” (S4;E23). But, as Ricky later confessed to Lucy, “None of those peoples are coming.”

John Hart (Handsome Lifeguard) had already appeared on the series as handsome furrier Tom Henderson in “Lucy Changes Her Mind” (S2;E21). Hart had replaced Clayton Moore in the title role on "The Lone Ranger.” His last TV appearance was also as The Lone Ranger, on a 1981 episode of "Happy Days.”

Renita Reachi (Poolside Guest) was Vivian Vance’s camera and lighting stand-in for “I Love Lucy” and “The Lucy Show” as well as a costumer for “The Lucy Show” from 1966 to 1968. She was a costumer and/or made crowd appearances on “Here’s Lucy” and the Lucille Ball films Yours, Mine and Ours (1968) and Mame (1974).  

Hazel Pierce (Poolside Guest) was Lucille Ball’s camera and lighting stand-in throughout “I Love Lucy.” She also made frequent appearances on the show. Of her many on-camera appearances on “The Lucy Show” only once was she given a character name and credited, in “Lucy Plays Cleopatra” (S1;E1). She was also an uncredited extra in the film Forever Darling (1956).

Recurring performers Kathryn Card (Mrs. McGillicuddy), Bob Jellison (Bobby the bellboy), and the Mayer Twins (Little Ricky) also appear in the episode. The ‘baby’ actually earns a round of applause from the studio audience when carried in by Lucy. Mrs. Trumbull (played by Elizabeth Patterson) is mentioned, but not seen on screen.

After this episode, Lucy and Desi did a public service announcement for the U.S. Olympic team, which was in need of funds for the 1956 summer games in Australia. 

LUCY: Hi. We came back to tell you something. Something that’s important to all of us. 
DESI: It’s about the Olympic Games.
They’re going to be held next year in Melbourne, Australia, and our team must be there to win.
It’s up to us, to every American, who wants to see the Stars and Stripes flying above the victor stands, to see the funds available. 
LUCY: You see, the teams behind the iron and bamboo curtains are government-subsidized, but our team is really our team, yours and mine.
It’s only gonna be there if we prove that we want it there with our contributions. 
DESI:

You want to know something?

The Pan-American games in Mexico City are on right now, and because we didn’t raise enough money, we couldn’t send the succer team. 
LUCY: Honey, not ‘sucker,’ soccer. 
DESI: All right, all right.
But our team isn’t there, and we can’t let this happen in the Olympics. 
LUCY: Let’s show our Olympic team how we feel about them and show the world how we feel about our country. 
DESI: Send your contributions to U.S.
Olympic Fund, care of your local postmaster. 
LUCY: That’s U.S.
Olympic Fund, care of your local postmaster.

Commercials during the original broadcast introduced Marlboro Cigarettes. Although the brand had been around since 1924, it was previously marketed to women. These commercials were the first to re-brand the product as a cigarette for men.

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FAST FORWARD

Hopper returned to interview Lucy and Ricky at their Westport home in the very first episode of “The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour” in 1957. Unfortunately, this was a rare 75-minute “Comedy Hour” and Hopper’s opening and closing scenes are usually cut to fit the program into an hour-long format.

In a reciprocal appearance, Lucille Ball appeared as herself on “Hedda Hopper’s Hollywood” (January 10, 1960) promoting The Desilu Workshop.

In return, Hopper made an appearance on “The Desilu Revue” (December 1959), a Christmas show-within-a-show performed by members of the Desilu Workshop and including guest-appearances by celebrities in the Desilu TV family. 

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