OVERWEIGHT

May 6, 1949

“Overweight” (aka “The Five-Dollar-A-Pound Diet”) is episode #42 of the radio series MY FAVORITE HUSBAND broadcast on May 6, 1949 on the CBS radio network.

Synopsis ~ After viewing some old home movies, Liz and Iris decide to go on a diet.

Although far from a direct transcription, some elements of this radio script were used to create the “I Love Lucy” episode “The Diet” (ILL S1;E3) first aired on October 29, 1951.

“My Favorite Husband” was based on the novels Mr. and Mrs. Cugat, the Record of a Happy Marriage (1940) and Outside Eden (1945) by Isabel Scott Rorick, which had previously been adapted into the film Are Husbands Necessary? (1942). “My Favorite Husband” was first broadcast as a one-time special on July 5, 1948. Lucille Ball and Lee Bowman played the characters of Liz and George Cugat, and a positive response to this broadcast convinced CBS to launch “My Favorite Husband” as a series. Bowman was not available Richard Denning was cast as George. On January 7, 1949, confusion with bandleader Xavier Cugat prompted a name change to Cooper. On this same episode Jell-O became its sponsor. A total of 124 episodes of the program aired from July 23, 1948 through March 31, 1951. After about ten episodes had been written, writers Fox and Davenport departed and three new writers took over – Bob Carroll, Jr., Madelyn Pugh, and head writer/producer Jess Oppenheimer. In March 1949 Gale Gordon took over the existing role of George’s boss, Rudolph Atterbury, and Bea Benaderet was added as his wife, Iris. CBS brought “My Favorite Husband” to television in 1953, starring Joan Caulfield and Barry Nelson as Liz and George Cooper. The television version ran two-and-a-half seasons, from September 1953 through December 1955, running concurrently with “I Love Lucy.” It was produced live at CBS Television City for most of its run, until switching to film for a truncated third season filmed (ironically) at Desilu and recasting Liz Cooper with Vanessa Brown.

MAIN CAST

Lucille Ball (Liz Cooper) was born on August 6, 1911 in Jamestown, New York. She began her screen career in 1933 and was known in Hollywood as ‘Queen of the B’s’ due to her many appearances in ‘B’ movies. With Richard Denning, she starred in a radio program titled “My Favorite Husband” which eventually led to the creation of “I Love Lucy,” a television situation comedy in which she co-starred with her real-life husband, Latin bandleader Desi Arnaz. The program was phenomenally successful, allowing the couple to purchase what was once RKO Studios, re-naming it Desilu. When the show ended in 1960 (in an hour-long format known as “The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour”) so did Lucy and Desi’s marriage. In 1962, hoping to keep Desilu financially solvent, Lucy returned to the sitcom format with “The Lucy Show,” which lasted six seasons. She followed that with a similar sitcom “Here’s Lucy” co-starring with her real-life children, Lucie and Desi Jr., as well as Gale Gordon, who had joined the cast of “The Lucy Show” during season two. Before her death in 1989, Lucy made one more attempt at a sitcom with “Life With Lucy,” also with Gordon.

Richard Denning (George Cooper) was born Louis Albert Heindrich Denninger Jr., in Poughkeepsie, New York. When he was 18 months old, his family moved to Los Angeles. Plans called for him to take over his father’s garment manufacturing business, but he developed an interest in acting. Denning enlisted in the US Navy during World War II. He is best known for his  roles in various science fiction and horror films of the 1950s. Although he teamed with Lucille Ball on radio in “My Favorite Husband,” the two never acted together on screen. While “I Love Lucy” was on the air, he was seen on another CBS TV series, “Mr. & Mrs. North.” From 1968 to 1980 he played the Governor on “Hawaii 5-0″, his final role. He died in 1998 at age 84.

Gale Gordon (Rudolph Atterbury) had worked with Lucille Ball on “The Wonder Show” on radio in 1938. One of the front-runners to play Fred Mertz on “I Love Lucy,” he eventually played Alvin Littlefield, owner of the Tropicana, during two episodes in 1952. After playing a Judge in an episode of “The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour” in 1958, he would re-team with Lucy for all of her subsequent series’: as Theodore J. Mooney in ”The Lucy Show”; as Harrison Otis Carter in “Here’s Lucy”; and as Curtis McGibbon on “Life with Lucy.” Gordon died in 1995 at the age of 89.

Bea Benadaret (Iris Atterbury) was considered the front-runner to be cast as Ethel Mertz but when “I Love Lucy” was ready to start production she was already playing a similar role on TV’s “The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show” so Vivian Vance was cast instead. On “I Love Lucy” she was cast as Lucy Ricardo’s spinster neighbor, Miss Lewis, in “Lucy Plays Cupid” (ILL S1;E15) in early 1952. Later, she was a success in her own show, “Petticoat Junction” as Shady Rest Hotel proprietress Kate Bradley. She starred in the series until her death in 1968.

Ruth Perrott (Katie, the Maid) was also later seen on “I Love Lucy.” She first played Mrs. Pomerantz (above right), a member of the surprise investigating committee for the Society Matrons League in “Pioneer Women” (ILL S1;E25), as one of the member of the Wednesday Afternoon Fine Arts League in “Lucy and Ethel Buy the Same Dress” (ILL S3;E3), and also played a nurse when “Lucy Goes to the Hospital” (ILL S2;E16). She died in 1996 at the age of 96.

Bob LeMond (Announcer) also served as the announcer for the pilot episode of “I Love Lucy”. When the long-lost pilot was finally discovered in 1990, a few moments of the opening narration were damaged and lost, so LeMond – fifty years later – recreated the narration for the CBS special and subsequent DVD release.

GUEST CAST

Hans Conried (Mr. Dabney, the Butcher) first co-starred with Lucille Ball in The Big Street (1942). He then appeared on “I Love Lucy” as used furniture man Dan Jenkins in “Redecorating” (ILL S2;E8) and later that same season as Percy Livermore in “Lucy Hires an English Tutor” (ILL S2;E13) – both in 1952. The following year he began an association with Disney by voicing Captain Hook in Peter Pan. On “The Lucy Show” he played Professor Gitterman in “Lucy’s Barbershop Quartet” (TLS S1;E19) and in “Lucy Plays Cleopatra” (TLS S2;E1). He was probably best known as Uncle Tonoose on “Make Room for Daddy” starring Danny Thomas, which was filmed on the Desilu lot. He joined Thomas on a season 6 episode of “Here’s Lucy” in 1973. He died in 1982 at age 64.

Conried also played Mr. Dabney in “Valentine’s Day” (February 11, 1949) and will play him again in “Reminiscing” (July 1, 1949).

Peter Leeds (Man at the ‘Battle of the Bulge’) was born in Bayonne, NJ, and was seen as the Reporter questioning the Maharincess of Franistan in “The Publicity Agent” (ILL S1;E31). He starred with Lucy in the films The Long, Long Trailer (1953) and The Facts of Life (1960) with Bob Hope. Coincidentally, he also appeared in “Lucy and Bob Hope” (ILL S6;E1) as well as an episode of “Here’s Lucy” in 1971.

EPISODE

ANNOUNCER: “As we look in on the Coopers tonight, a familiar scene is taking place. Company is coming to dinner, and Liz is cautioning George about the evening’s entertainment.”

Liz makes George take a vow that he will not show his home movies when the Atterbury’s come over to dinner. George thinks his movies could win a contest, but Liz says he cuts off heads, and shoots feet.  She reminds him of his footage of the Grand Canyon. 

LIZ: “Pictures of the Grand Canyon in beautiful black and black!” 
GEORGE: “Well, they were a little under-exposed. I forgot what film I had in the camera.” 

After dinner, the Atterbury’s and the Coopers are wondering what to do to entertain themselves. Naturally, George wants to show his movies, but Liz suggests playing bridge. It isn’t long before George has broken out the projector and dimmed the lights. 

LIZ: “George, try not to get the picture upside down.” (George turns on the projector) “I knew it!  There I go! Walking across the ceiling. Liz Cooper: The Human Fly!” 

George adjusts the  orientation, and the Grand Canyon is finally right-side up.  The husbands begin to notice that their wives were a lot slimmer six or seven years ago. Liz and Iris vow that first thing tomorrow morning they will go on a diet and get rid of their extra weight: no starches, no sweets, nothing fattening of any kind.  But tonight, they are headed to the drugstore for a double hot fudge sundae!

Next day at the bank, Rudolph is sharing with George the secret of getting a Coke out of the machine without putting in a Nickle!  They start to talk about their wives’ diets and become defensive of their spouses.  They decide to make a bet. They husband whose wife loses the most weight will pay the loser five dollars a pound!  

At home, George gets busy trying to get his wife in shape by becoming her weight loss supervisor.  He finds her munching on a candy bar – to keep up her energy.  He has brought home a variety of exercise equipment to get her in shape.

LIZ: “Who will I fight? Joe Lewis retired.” 

Prizefighter Joe Louis retired from boxing on March 1, 1949, with a record of 68 wins and one loss. He came out of retirement in 1950, needing to earn money, but he could not recapture his previous winning streak; he lost his last major bout on October 26, 1951, against future champion Rocky Marciano.

George tells Liz that he made a bet with Mr. Atterbury that she’d loose the most weight.  

LIZ: “If it’s money your after, why bother with exercise? Just don’t feed me. I’ll bet you could get me down to fifty pounds, coffin and all!” 

Liz is about to quit reducing – until he hears that Mr. Atterbury thinks Iris has a better figure than hers!  George agrees to split the winnings with Liz and the battle of the bulge is on!  

A week later, Liz is exhausted but George is still urging her on. For lunch, Liz is ravenous – but George has prepared her a nice, juicy radish!  What’s to drink?

LIZ: “How about a nice glass of skim water?”

George reminds her that they need to go down to Dabney’s Meat Market and weigh in.  Liz finds it embarrassing to be weighed at a meat market. 

During the first half of the 20th century, public scales (called lollipop scales because of their distinctive shape) were common sights in shops and bus and train stations.  The cost was a penny to get your weight – and sometimes a fortune, too!  Now that bathroom scales have become common, these lollipop scales have become vintage collectibles. 

The butcher Mr. Dabney (Hans Conried) has started a pool betting on Liz’s weight loss!  Iris arrives for her weigh-in, similarly exhausted. Banker Atterbury suggests that Iris gets on the scale before Liz gets off so that they save a penny. Iris weights 123 – same as Liz.  But Iris started two pounds heavier so she’s ahead.  George is more determined than ever! 

At home, Liz is dreaming of food: fried chicken and mashed potatoes.  To make sure he wins, George has put a padlock on the icebox!  

In “Goodbye, Mrs. Hips” (HL S5;E23) in 1973, Lucy Carter padlocks the refrigerator so that her slimming sisters Mary Jane and Vanda don’t nibble at night!  

At the Atterbury’s, Rudolph tells Iris that Liz is a pound ahead of them. Iris is barely able to keep her head up.  He has bought a new exercise book and is determined to put her through the paces. She falls asleep with her leg in the air. 

MR. ATTERBURY: “If that isn’t the silliest sight I ever saw. She looks like a submarine.” 

At the Coopers, Katie the Maid calls Liz into the kitchen, where there’s a tempting cake.  Katie tells Liz that Mr. Dabney (a sweetheart of hers) has told her how to rig the scale!  Katie will hide behind a large display of canned goods and make sure Liz wins!   In the meantime, Liz starts in on that cake – and everything else in the kitchen!  

At Dabney’s Meat Market, a crowd has gathered for the final weigh-in.  There’s a sign in the window:

TODAY!  2 O’CLOCK!  THE BATTLE OF THE BULGE! 

This is a common pun on what was historically known as the Ardennes Counteroffensive during World War II, which took place from December 16, 1944 to January 25, 1945.  The “bulge” in Battle of the Bulge refers to the shape, as depicted on maps, created by German troops that had wedged westward in the Ardennes through the Allies’ front line. The term was coined by Larry Newman, an American war correspondent.

Mr. Dabney becomes ring announcer for the ‘battle of the bulge’!  He introduces the two dieters.  Mr. Atterbury suddenly excuses himself to make a phone call.  Liz steps on the scale and Mr. Dabney announces her at 118!  Mr. Dabney is the winner!  There’s some sort of fracas from behind the scales and Katie reveals herself. She says there was someone behind the scale with her – determined to make Liz weigh more.  Mr. Atterbury!  

End of Episode

Bob LeMond reminds listeners that Lucille Ball will soon be seen in the motion picture Sorrowful Jones.