1968 Part Two ~ JULY to DECEMBER
During the summer of 1968, Lucille Ball re-invents “The Lucy Show” as “Here’s Lucy,” a new sitcom co-starring Gale Gordon and her real-life children, Lucie and Desi Arnaz Jr.
“Mod, Mod Lucy”
(HL S1;E1) ~ September 23, 1968
This is the first and only appearance of Doris Singleton as Harry’s secretary. Originally intended to be a regular, the character was dropped to show more of Lucy’s family life rather than her job. Lucille Ball’s singing voice is dubbed by Carole Cook.
“Lucy Visits Jack Benny”
(HL S1;E2) ~ September 30, 1968
Lucy Carter takes her kids on vacation to Jack Benny’s Palm Springs home, which the miser rents out! Jackie Gleason makes a cameo appearances as his “Honeymooners” character Ralph Kramden.
“The
Carol Burnett Show” (S2;E6) ~ October 4, 1968
Lucille Ball’s second appearance on “The Carol Burnett Show.” She takes part in the sketch “As the Stomach Turns” (above) with Eddie Albert, as well as Catherine the Great in a musical number, glamorously attired in a white fur costume by Bob Mackie.
“Lucy the Process Server”
(HL S1;E3) ~ October 7, 1968
Harry (Gale Gordon) asks Lucy to deliver a summons and make a bank deposit. Lucy gets the two mixed-up and loses the envelope of cash in a department store trash bin. Reta Shaw guest stars.
“Lucy and Miss Shelley Winters”
(HL S1;E4) ~ October 14, 1968
This was the first time Shelley Winters guest starred on a sitcom. Although she essentially played herself, her character name was Shelley Summers. Lucy is employed to keep the movie star on her diet.
“Lucy, the Conclusion Jumper”
(HL S1;E5) ~ October 21, 1968
Lucy jumps to the conclusion that her daughter Kim (Lucie Arnaz) and her boyfriend (Don Chrichton) are going to get married. She goes to great lengths to stop them.
“Lucy’s Impossible Mission”
(HL S1;E6) ~ October 28, 1968
This episode is a spoof of the TV series “Mission: Impossible” (1966-73) which was a Desilu / Paramount series. Lucy’s impersonation of a Middle Eastern Maharani is a direct homage to when Lucy Ricardo impersonated the Maharinsess of Franistan.
“Lucy and Eva Gabor”
(HL S1;E7) ~ November 11, 1968
Eva Gabor (”Green Acres”) plays writer Eva Von Graunitz who hides out at the Carter home to finish her latest tawdry novel. There was no new “Here’s Lucy” episode on Monday, November 6, 1968, the eve of a U.S. Presidential election.
“The Tennessee Ernie Ford Special” ~ November 16, 1968
A nearly wordless sketch starring Lucille and Andy Griffith depicts them as a married couple living in a tiny camper.
Ball’s appearance was her was her way of repaying Ford for appearing on “The Lucy Show” in February 1967.
“Lucy’s Birthday” (HL S1;E8) ~ November 18, 1968
Lucille Ball’s actual birthday was in August, when her shows were on summer break. Lucy Carter celebrates with her children at a Chinese Restaurant.
“The
Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson” ~ November 20, 1968
Lucille Ball is guest of Steve Allen, who substitutes for Johnny Carson as host.
“Lucy Sells Craig to Wayne Newton”
(HL S1;E9) ~ November 25, 1968
Lucy gets Craig a gig filling in for Wayne Newton’s drummer. Naturally, Lucy and Kim also manage to get into the act. Newton sings
“Danke Schoen” and
“You’re Nobody till Somebody Loves You.”
“Lucy’s Working Daughter”
(HL S1;E10) ~ December 2, 1968
Kim gets a job at a dress boutique. Lucy does everything she can to help her make sales. Barbara Morrison also played a dissatisfied customer in “Lucy Bags a Bargain” (TLS S4;E17) in which Lucy Carmichael took a job as a salesgirl.
“Guess Who Owes Lucy $23.50”
(HL S1;E11) ~ December 9, 1968
It is Van Johnson (or his criminal doppelganger). This episode allows Van Johnson to work in a plug for Lucille Ball’s latest film Yours, Mine and Ours, in which he is a featured player. The show also features a cow named Ethel!
“Lucy the Matchmaker”
(HL S1;E12) ~ December 16, 1968
Vivian Vance guest stars as Lucy’s old school friend, Vivian Jones (Vance’s real name). Lucy uses a computer to find her a match! The match turns out to be Harry (Gale Gordon).
“The Dean Martin Christmas Show” (S4;E14) ~ December 19, 1968
Lucille Ball (and other stars) makes a cameo appearance. Lucy promises that the kids at the City of Hope Medical Center in Duarte, California, will have a Merry Christmas.
“Lucy and the Gold Rush” (HL S1;E13) ~ December 30, 1968
There was no new episode on Monday, December 23rd. This is the final episode of 1968; a year that saw the end of “The Lucy Show,” the birth of “Here’s Lucy,” and the first full year of Paramount owning Desilu Studios.
Papermoon Loves Lucy 
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