Unaired
Episode {originally scheduled for broadcast November 29, 1986}
[Photos © Getty Images]
Directed
by Mark Daniels ~ Written
by Bob Carroll Jr. and Madelyn Davis
Synopsis
Curtis
is building a tree house for Kevin and Lucy is buying Becky fancy
clothes. Ted and Margo come to the conclusion that their parents are
spoiling the kids. When Kevin overhears his grandparents’ solution is
to move out, he removes the ladder to the tree house stranding them
in a rain storm.
Regular
Cast
Lucille
Ball (Lucy
Barker), Gale
Gordon (Curtis
McGibbon), Ann
Dusenberry
(Margo Barker McGibbon), Larry
Anderson
(Ted McGibbon), Jenny
Lewis
(Becky McGibbon), Philip
Amelio
(Kevin McGibbon)
Donovan
Scott
(Leonard Stoner) does not appear in this episode, although he does
appear in the opening titles with screen credit.
[For
biographies of the Regular Cast, see “One Good Grandparent Deserves
Another” (S1;E1)]
Guest
Cast
June
Whitley Taylor
(Ramona, Voice Over) had
appeared as Sally, one of Lucy and Ethel’s bridge-playing friends
in both “No
Children Allowed” (ILL S2;E22)
and
“The
Camping Trip” (ILL S2;E29).
Taylor also played Lucy Carter’s Nurse in “Lucy’s
Big Break” (HL S5;E1)
and “Lucy and Eva Gabor are Hospital Roomies” (HL
S5;E2).
Ramona
is a character in peril on “Mystery Matinee.”
Tom
Williams
(Announcer, Voice Over)
is
an actor and voice artists who worked extensively on “Adam-12”
(1968-71). This is one of his four voice roles on “Life With
Lucy.” He also provided a dog bark and the honk of a wounded
goose! Williams retired in 2010.
Williams
is heard as the voice of “Mystery Matinee.”
This
unaired episode was the seventh one filmed but was scheduled to air
tenth on November 29, 1986. It went before the cameras the last week
in September, shortly after the airing of “Lucy Makes a Hit With
John Ritter” (S1;E2). The ratings had dropped off dramatically from
a 14.6 to a 10.1 share, which was not good news to Ball and producer Aaron
Spelling.
Curtis: (to Lucy) “On Sunday morning, I would like a few Lucy-free minutes!”
When
the episode begins, Lucy is exercising on a stationary bike watching the TV show
“Mystery Matinee.” She turns off the TV just before the killer
is revealed saying she doesn’t want to know until the summer
re-runs.
“I Love Lucy” is credited with developing the concept of the
re-run. In order to capitalize on the show’s success, CBS
experimented with re-airing episodes during the summer months while
the production was on hiatus. It has since become the industry
standard.
Had
this episode aired as scheduled, it would have been broadcast on the
same day that Hollywood legend Cary
Grant (right) died. Although he never acted opposite Lucille Ball, his name was
dropped numerous times on all of Ball’s sitcoms. Herb
Vigran (left) also passed way on November 29, 1986. Vigran began his association
with Lucille Ball playing Jule, Ricky’s music agent and a couple of
other characters on “I Love Lucy.” He also acted in half a dozen
episodes of “The Lucy Show.”
Margo: (to Ted) “Ever since you started law school, you’ve been dying to ipso somebody’s facto!”
The
action is set in and around the McGibbon home. No scenes are set at
M&B Hardware and the character of Leonard does not appear.
For
dinner, health-conscious Lucy says she’s made tofu with cabbage loaf
supreme!
Lucy
wears the same powder blue exercise outfit she wore on the cover of
the October 4, 1986 TV Guide. The photo was likely taken from or
during this episode.
Using
walkie-talkies while helping his grandson build a tree house,
Curtis’s handle is ‘Groovy Grandpa’ and Kevin’s is ‘Little Dude’.
Lucy:
“Sniggly
sniggly snaggly snog! I’m turning you into a frog!”
Lucy tells Kevin a fairy tale for a bedtime story. She takes on the voices of a wicked witch, a British prince, and a frog!
When
Lucy tells Curtis they’ve been competing for their grandchildren’s love,
Curtis says she’s been “watching
Phil Donahue again.”
“Donahue” was
a syndicated talk show hosted by Phil Donahue from 1967 to 1995. He
is considered one of the innovators of the format. Donahue is married
to Marlo Thomas, daughter of Danny Thomas, one of Lucille Ball’s
friends and frequent co-stars. Lucille Ball appeared on “Donahue” in 1974.
Although
not seen on camera, Ted takes Margo and the kids to Griffith Park for
a ride on the merry-go-round. Everyone wants to ride the white horse! Located
near the Los Angeles Zoo, the
Griffith Park Merry-Go-Round was built in 1926 and brought to Griffith Park in 1937. Lucille Ball rode a white horse on the merry-go-round sequence of the film Ziegfeld Follies (1946).
Stuck
up in the tree house after Kevin has removed the ladder, Curtis says
to Lucy “Me
Tarzan, you Jane.” This
is one of the most famous misquotes in Hollywood history. The line is
not in any of the Tarzan movies nor
does the line appear in any of the original Tarzan stories or books
written
by Edgar
Rice Burroughs. Johnny Weissmuller, the actor who played Tarzan, did
say it in jest during an interview in 1936.
When
Lucy is sad about having to move out, her trademark “Waaaaaaa”
earns a round of applause from the studio audience.
Kevin:
“My
memory is slipping. I must be getting old.”
In
1964’s “Chris Goes Steady” (TLS S2;E16) Lucy Carmichael and Mr.
Mooney also got stranded in a tree house!
On “The Lucy Show”
(set in New York) it starts to snow. In “Life with Lucy” (set in
California) it is raining.
Speaking of rain, “The Hollywood Unemployment Follies” (HL S3;E22)
starring Carol Burnett also ends with everyone singing “Singin’
in the Rain.” Although written in 1931, the song was most famously
featured in the 1952 film Singin’
in the Rain.
Lucille
Ball previously used her wicked witch voice in “Little Ricky’s School Pageant” (ILL S6;E10) and “Lucy and the Monsters” (TLS S3;E18).
Like
Lucy Barker does for her grandson, Ricky Ricardo also acted out a
fairy tale bedtime story (in Spanish yet!) for his infant son in
“Ricky Minds the Baby” (ILL S3;E14) in 1954.
Due
to the open walkie-talkie in the tree house, Kevin overhears Curtis
and Lucy talking about moving out. Similarly, Lucy Ricardo overheard
what she thought were Ethel’s plans to throw her a surprise
housewarming party because of an open intercom in a season six
episode of “I Love Lucy” set in Connecticut.
This
Day in Lucy History {had
this episode aired as planned on November 29, 1986}
“Ethel’s
Birthday” (ILL S4;E9) – November 29, 1954
“Lucy
and the Return of Iron Man” (TLS S4;E11) – November 29, 1965
“Lucy
Helps David Frost Go Night-Night” (HL S4;E12) – November 29,
1971
Papermoon Loves Lucy 
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