LUCY, THE SHOPPING EXPERT

S1;E20
~ February 17, 1969

Directed
by Jack Donohue ~ Written by Milt Josefsberg and Al Schwartz

Synopsis

Craig
gets a part-time job in a supermarket to earn money to buy a
surfboard. At the same time, Lucy is giving Kim some valuable
lessons in smart shopping. When the two accidentally converge, chaos ensues – naturally!

Regular
Cast

Lucille
Ball (Lucy
Carter), Gale
Gordon (Harrison
Otis Carter), Lucie
Arnaz (Kim
Carter), Desi
Arnaz Jr. (Craig
Carter)

Guest
Cast

William
Lanteau
(Mr. Sherwood, Supermarket Manager) first appeared with Lucille Ball
in The
Facts of Life (1960).
In addition to an episode of “The Lucy Show,” Lanteau did four
episodes of “Here’s Lucy.” He is best remembered for playing
Charlie the Mailman in the play and the film On
Golden Pond (1981).

Mr.
Sherwood is the winner of the Golden Can Award for his shelf
arrangements.

Ernest
Sarracino
(Mr. Nicoletti, Produce Manager) played the Judge in “Lucy and the
Runaway Butterfly” (TLS S1;E29), also directed by Jack Donohue.
This is the first of his two episodes of “Here’s Lucy.” His
screen acting credits span from 1939 to 1994.

Although
never actually referred to as Mr. Nicoletti, the character is
credited in honor of Louis Nicoletti, a long-time member of the
Desilu family who was the assistant director of “Here’s Lucy”
from 1968 to 1969, including this episode. In addition to making on
camera appearances on “I Love Lucy” and “The Lucy Show,”
there were two characters named after him on “I Love Lucy.” Here
the character is played as a stereotypical Italian fruit vendor and speaks in Italian to Lucy: “You
make-a da dent? Dat’s-a 39 cents!”

Irwin
Charone
(Mr. Garfield, of the Nippy Whippy Whipped Cream Company) made five
appearances on “The Lucy Show.” The expressive character actor
also did an equal number of “Here’s Lucy” episodes. He died in
January 2016 in Maplewood, New Jersey, at the age of 93.

The
restaurant patrons and supermarket shoppers are played by uncredited
background players.

At
the start of the episode Kim brings home ethnic foods because the
grocer Mr. Goldapper recommended them. This is an inside joke as
Goldapper is Gary Morton’s real last name. Gary
Morton’s loud guffaw can be distinctly heard on the soundtrack
throughout the episode.

Craig
says he knows all about the facts of life since he was seven because
he watched “Peyton Place.” Based on a 1956 novel, “Peyton
Place” was
a primetime soap opera that aired on ABC from 1964 to 1969. The title
has become synonymous with the personal problems and scandals of
small-town life. It was mentioned several times on “The Lucy Show”
including in “Lucy and Joan” (TLS S4;E4) which also took place in
a supermarket.

Instead
of “Peyton Place,” Harry says he regrets wasting his time
watching “Captain Kangaroo.” “Captain
Kangaroo” was
a children’s television series that aired weekday mornings on CBS
from October 1955 to December 1984. The Captain (Bob Keeshan, above right) would
tell stories, meet guests, and indulge in silly stunts with regular
characters, both humans and puppets. Captain Kangaroo was previously
mentioned on several episodes of “The Lucy Show.”

Gale
Gordon’s monologue about the birds and the bees is nearly four
minutes long and gets a round of applause from the studio audience.
It is highly unlikely that teenage Craig would let him go on so long
when all he wants is $100!

There
is a poster in the supermarket featuring pumpkins and pilgrims so
this episode was likely filmed in November 1968.

While
most of the prop canned goods look like actual products, the cans of
Chef
Claudio’s Ravioli Dinner
look like something contrived by the Desilu prop department. It is
likely a tribute to director Claudio Guzman, who started with the
company in 1958 and directed 15 episodes of “The Lucy Show.” He
was best known for his association with “I Dream of Jeannie”
(1966-70). Curiously, although they are visible on camera, they are
never referred to in the dialogue – or at least it didn’t make the
final cut.

Some
sample 1969 supermarket prices:

Cantaloupe Melons are 39 cents
each.
Strawberries
are 50 cents a pint basket.
Medium
Eggs are 53 cents a dozen.

Lucy
says the store puts the nicest looking strawberries on top of the
basket, but underneath “things
can be as rotten as the Harper Valley PTA”! “Harper
Valley PTA“
is a country
song written
by Tom
T. Hall that
was a hit single for
Jeannie
C. Riley in
1968. Riley’s record sold over six million copies. The song lyrics
tell the story of a woman who is accused of immorality by her
daughter’s junior high PTA and how she gets her revenge on her
hypocritical accusers. The song later gave life to a film (starring
Barbara Eden) and a failed television series.

When
Lucy is sloshing the cans to hear how full they are, the clerk asks
if she expects to hear Lawrence Welk. Lawrence
Welk (1903-92, above)
was a musician, accordionist, bandleader, and television impresario,
who hosted TV’s “The Lawrence Welk Show” from
1951 to 1982. Welk was mentioned several times on “The Lucy Show”
and also on “Lucy’s Birthday” (S1;E8). Welk will play himself on
a 1970 episode of “Here’s Lucy” (above, with Vivian Vance).

Later,
when Lucy is holding up the eggs to the light, he tells her they are
eggs, “not
the Hope Diamond.”
The Hope
Diamond is
one of the most famous jewels in the world, dating back almost four
centuries. It is housed in the Smithsonian Institute.

Lucy
is never able to control nozzles and hoses – even on the tip of a
can of whipped cream. The end of the episode is actually a good
excuse for a cream pie fight – without the pies!

A banner in the supermarket advertises a “Storyland Sale” – whatever that may be! The same banner was used in a supermarket in “Lucy and Joan” (TLS S4;E4).

Lucy
Carmichael also hangs around several different
supermarkets to buy a lot of cans of Bailey’s Beans for her
get-rich-quick scheme in “Lucy the Bean Queen” (TLS S5;E3).

In this episode, Kim says about her Uncle Harry: “Compared
to him, Jack Benny is a regular Diamond Jim Brady.”

On
“The Lucy Show,” Lucy Carmichael says to Mr. Mooney: “Compared
to you, Jack Benny is Diamond Jim Brady.”

Comedian
Jack Benny (1894-1974, inset right) was a frequent guest star on both shows. His
comic persona was that of a skinflint who had every penny he ever
made. The same evening this episode first aired, Lucille Ball appeared on Benny’s birthday special on NBC. James
Buchanan Brady (1856-1917, inset left)
was a real-life millionaire and philanthropist who was fond of jewels
(hence the nickname). Brady was first mentioned in “The
Business Manager” (ILL S4;E1).

Craig
says he learned the facts of life at age seven while watching “Petyon
Place.” If Desi Arnaz Jr. and Craig are the same age (15 or 16),
he would have to have turned 7 in 1960. “Peyton Place” didn’t
start airing until 1964. If this were true, the character of Craig
Carter would be just 11 or 12 years old!

Craig
asks his mother for $100 for a surfboard which Lucy decides against
as an unnecessary luxury. However, in “Lucy Visits Jack Benny”
(S1;E2), Craig packs his surfboard (much to Lucy’s dismay)
for his weekend in Palm Springs.

The
precariously stacked display of oranges is built on a slanted surface
to allow the oranges to more easily tumble to the floor. The gag
works by the collapsing the structure on which the oranges are
arranged on cue – probably a by a stagehand hidden under the table.

Most
of the items in the dairy case have their brand name labels
conspicuously taped over. Conveniently, the brand name labels on the canned
goods are too small for the camera to pick up, so they aren’t obscured.

When
the whipped cream spray lands on the end of Mr. Sherwood’s nose,
Craig takes a cloth and wipes it off. Irwin Charone ad libs the line
“Never
mind my nose.”