LUCY: 40 YEARS OF TELEVISION

1972 Part One ~ JANUARY to JULY 

For the first six months of 1972, Lucille Ball concentrates solely on season 4 of “Here’s Lucy,” ending in a possible spin-off for her daughter Lucie.  In the meantime, she welcomes Helen Hayes, Keye Luke, Tim Matheson, Wally Cox, Bob Cummings, and for the final time on a series, Vivian Vance. 

“Lucy and the Little Old Lady” (HL S4;E17) ~ January 3, 1972

The little old lady of the title is none other than the First Lady of the American Theatre, Helen Hayes. She conducts a seance that conjures up Napoleon (Harry) and Josephine (Lucy)!

“Lucy and the Chinese Curse” (HL S4;E18) ~ January 10, 1972

Lucy has saved laundry owner Mr. Fong (Keye Luke) from being crushed by the falling safe, so she is obliged to take care of him for the rest of his life or face the curse of 4,000 ancestors.

“Lucy’s Replacement” (HL S4;E19) ~ January 17, 1972

Harry replaces Lucy with a computer forcing her to seek secretarial work elsewhere. The coordinated typing sequence was choreographed by Jim Bates. 

“Kim Moves Out” (HL S4;E20) ~ January 24, 1972

Kim moves into an apartment above a garage. Her boyfriend is played by Tim Matheson, who had also played Lucille Ball’s stepson in the film Yours, Mine and Ours. Naturally, Lucy can’t help snooping around her daughter’s new digs.

“Lucy Sublets the Office” (HL S4;E21) ~ January 31, 1972

… to a toy tycoon (Wally Cox).  Also featuring Richard Deacon as a loan officer. 

“Lucy’s Punctured Romance” (HL S4;E22) ~ February 7, 1972

Lucy takes an interest in a new man (Robert Cummings), but fearing he’s a a drunken womanizer, Kim and Harry scheme to make him think the family is crazy, hoping he’ll run for the hills.

“With Viv As a Friend, Who Needs an Enemy?” (HL S4;E23) ~ February 21, 1972

Vivian Vance (as Vivian Jones) returns for her sixth and final appearance on “Here’s Lucy.” 

There was no new episode the previous week, so that CBS could air the new animated special “The Lorax” based on the story by Dr. Seuss.

The cast and crew of this episode epitomized the “Lucy” family.  

“Kim Finally Cuts You-Know-Whose Apron String" 

(HL S4;E24) ~ February 28, 1972

This was a pilot episode for a spin-off of Lucie Arnaz’s character Kim Carter.  The series was not sold and Arnaz returned to “Here’s Lucy” in the fall. Season 4 of “Here’s Lucy” placed 10th in the Nielsen ratings with a 23.7 share. This is the lowest rating of the series so far.