LUCY: 40 YEARS OF TELEVISION

1970 Part Two ~ JULY to DECEMBER

“Here’s Lucy” begins its third season with guest stars Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton, Sammy Davis Jr., Buddy Rich, Wally Cox, and Vincent Price. On November 16, 1970, Lucille Ball appeared on four different television shows on one night!

“Lucy Meets the Burtons” (HL S3;E1) ~ September 14, 1970

Perhaps the biggest casting coup in sitcom history, “Here’s Lucy” opens its third season with Richard Burton, Elizabeth Taylor, and her 68 carat Cartier diamond ring worth over a million dollars. Of course, Lucy gets it stuck on her finger!

“The Dean Martin Show” (S6;E1) ~ September 17, 1970

Lucille Ball (and dozens of other stars) make guest appearance on Dean Martin’s sixth season opener.

“The Ed Sullivan Show” (S23;E1) ~ September 20, 1970

Ed Sullivan hosts the ‘Georgie Awards’ for Entertainer of the Year, from Caesar’s Palace, Las Vegas. Lucille Ball is on hand to present an award to Carol Burnett.

“Lucy the Skydiver” (HL S3;E2) ~ September 21, 1970

When Kim and Craig take up dangerous hobbies, Lucy decides to use reverse psychology and take up skydiving. Although she didn’t actually skydive, Lucille Ball performed her own stunts.

“Lucy and Sammy Davis, Jr.” (HL S3;E3) ~ September 28, 1970

When Sammy Davis Jr. stumbles through the door of the Unique Employment Agency and bumps his nose, Lucy and Harry are afraid of being sued. Lucy goes to his film set to make sure he is alright and ends up causing chaos.

“Lucy and the Drum Contest” (HL S3;E4) ~ October 4, 1970

When Craig enters a amateur drum contest, Lucy convinces Buddy Rich to give him lessons.

“Lucy, the Crusader” (HL S3;E5) ~ October 12, 1970

When Lucy buys Craig a stereo for his birthday, it turns out to be a lemon. Lucy goes on a crusade to have the manufacturer honor their guarantee. Guest starring Charles Nelson Reilly.

“Lucy, the Coed” (HL S3;E6) ~ October 19, 1970

A musical episode that features Robert Alda (left) and Marilyn Maxwell.

“The
Carol Burnett Show” (S4;E6) ~ October 19, 1970

Lucille Ball and Carol Burnett portray stage mothers pushing their precocious
offspring in an audition, and star in a spoof of Some Like It
Hot. Mel Torme is the musical guest. This is Lucille’s fourth and final appearance on “The Carol Burnett Show.”

“Lucy, the American Mother” (HL S3;E7) ~ October 26, 1970

For a class project, Craig is doing a documentary film about Lucy. Under her son’s probing lens, Lucy wreaks havoc at the local library searching for a book that has a $100 bill tucked inside.

“Lucy’s Wedding Party” (HL S3;E8) ~ November 2, 1970

While Harry is away at a college reunion, Lucy secretly uses his house for a Great Big Greek Wedding reception. Naturally, Harry comes home early – just in time for wedding cake!

“Lucy Cuts Vincent’s Price” (HL S3;E9) ~ November 9, 1970

Vincent Price thinks Lucy is an actress coming to audition for his new horror movie and terrorizes her in his study turned laboratory, although Lucy is only there for his artistic opinion on a painting she’s bought.

“Lucy, the Diamond Cutter” (HL S3;E10) ~ November 16, 1970

Lucy favorite Wally Cox plays a meticulous German diamond cutter. Ruth McDevitt and Mary Wickes co-star.

“Jack
Benny’s 20th Anniversary Special” ~ November 16, 1970

In a star-studded special, Lucille Ball makes a cameo appearance as Janet, Jack Benny and Mary Livingstone’s maid. Ball receives no screen, credit but gets a verbal ‘thank you’ from Benny at show’s conclusion. Lucy has three lines and 30 seconds screen time!

“The Bob Hope Show: Bringing Back Vaudeville” ~ (S2;E21) November 16, 1970

Lucille Ball and Danny Thomas play small fry actors auditioning for vaudeville.

Bob plays a hypnotist who takes Lucy out of the audience to be his stooge.

“The
Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson” ~ November 16, 1970

Johnny’s guests are Lucille Ball, Doug McClure, Alan Sues, Della Reese and Roger Miller. Earlier in the evening Ball was on “Here’s Lucy” and did cameo appearances on Bob Hope and Jack Benny’s specials, meaning that she made four appearances on TV in one night!

“Lucy and Jack Benny’s Biography” (HL S3;E11) ~ November 23, 1970

Jack Benny needs a private secretary to help him write his autobiography. Naturally, Harry volunteers Lucy. Through flashbacks we meet many of the women in Benny’s life – all played by Lucy. This episode was shot without the presence of a studio audience. George Burns does a cameo.

“Swing Out, Sweet Land” ~November 29, 1970

A star-studded patriotic special featuring John Wayne. Lucille Ball voices the Statue of Liberty.

“Lucy and Rudy Vallee” (HL S3;E12) ~ November 30, 1970

Classic crooner Rudy Vallee plays himself. Lucy convinces Kim to help update his look and sound while Harry gets him a booking at the local teen hangout.

This is the first of 68 episodes directed by Coby Ruskin.

“Lucy Loses Her Cool” (HL S3;E13) ~ December 7, 1970

Lucy goes on the Art Linkletter show and is challenged not to lose her temper for 24 hours in order to win $500. Little does she know that her friends and family are all in on the stunt and are determined to make her fulfill the episode’s title!

“Lucy, the Part-Time Wife” (HL S3;E14) ~ December 14, 1970

Harry is panicked when he thinks an old college girlfriend wants to marry him, so he recruits Lucy to pretend to be his wife – complete with two teenage kids and another one on the way!

the last time Lucille Ball was pregnant on camera was with Desi Arnaz Jr., who is coincidentally absent from this episode.

“Lucy and Ma Parker” (HL S3;E15) ~ December 21, 1970

After many years of playing supporting characters opposite Lucille Ball, Carole Cook finally guest stars in a title role. Also guest starring is Jerry Maren, one of the original Munchkins in The Wizard of Oz. Another silly plot where Lucy suddenly develops super strength to save the day.

“Lucy Stops a Marriage” (HL S3;E16) ~ December 28, 1970

This is the first of two episodes written by Frank Gill Jr. and Vincent Bogart. Gill died in July 1970, before this episode was first aired. Jayne Meadows (sister of Audrey and wife of Steve Allen) is the bride in what Lucy thinks will be a wedding to Harry.

ALSO in 1970…

“Kraft Music Hall” (S4;E10) ~ December 2, 1970

For the second time in 1970, Lucie and Desi Jr. appear on NBC’s “The Kraft Music Hall”, this time with Robert Young and Jane Wyatt hosting. Lucille Ball does not appear.