1969 Part Two ~ JULY to DECEMBER

As the tumultuous decade comes to a close launching  nationwide social changes, Lucille Ball forges ahead with season two of “Here’s Lucy” by going on location! 

“The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson” ~ August 20, 1969

From Hollywood, Johnny Carson welcomes Lucille Ball,

Flip Wilson, Ricardo Montalban, and Friends of Distinction (musical guest).  Montalban and Wilson will be featured on “Here’s Lucy” in upcoming episodes. 

“Lucy Goes to the Air Force Academy: Part 1” (HL S2;E1) ~ September 22, 1969

Lucille Ball hires director George Marshall due to his experience with location shooting. The Carter Family rents a (not so long, long) trailer to travel to Colorado.  Practically the entire Air Force Academy appears as extras.

“Lucy Goes to the Air Force Academy: Part 2” (HL S2;E2) ~ September 29, 1969

The adventure continues. Lucy takes a tour and mistakes the General (Roy Roberts) for a janitor. A stunt has Lucy dragged by a run-away floor polisher! 

“Lucy and the Indian Chief” (HL S2;E3) ~ October 6, 1969

This episode was created with the cooperation of the Navajo Nation Council and the state of Arizona. It was the first and only situation comedy filmed on Navajo land using actual tribe members.

As was usual with films and TV shows of the time, the principal Native American characters were played by Caucasians.

“Lucy Runs the Rapids” (HL S2;E4) ~ October 13, 1969

Looking for a pleasant place for a picnic during their roadtrip, Lucy and the Carters camp out on the banks of the Colorado River. Borrowing a raft to do some sightseeing, they are soon being swept down the rapids. Director George Marshall plays the Sheriff. 

“Lucy and Harry’s Tonsils” (HL S2;E5) ~ October 20, 1969

Back in the studio for the first non-location episode of season two. Gale Gordon is the focus of the episode. Mary Wickes is his nurse. 

“Lucy and the Andrews Sisters” (HL S2;E6) ~ October 27, 1969

Patty Andrews comes to the Unique Employment Agency to find two performers to play her sisters in a musical revue. Naturally Lucy volunteers herself and Kim.  In a meta moment, Lucy Carter comments on a poster of movie star Lucille Ball!    

“Lucy’s Burglar Alarm” (HL S2;E7) ~ November 3, 1969

When Lucy and the kids are robbed and Harry refuses to fund a $500 burglar alarm, Craig comes up with an elaborate home alarm system. The date this episode originally aired, President Nixon gave a speech about the Vietnam War known as “The Silent Majority Speech.” “Here’s Lucy” was pre-empted in some time zones.

“Lucy at the Drive-In Movie” (HL S2;E8) ~ November 10, 1969

The final draft of this script was submitted on April 28, 1969. This would be an expensive shoot for Lucille Ball Productions due to the many vehicles needed for the drive-in scene.  

“Lucy and the Used Car Dealer” (HL S2;E9) ~ November 17, 1969

Milton Berle plays Cheerful Charlie, purveyor of vintage vehicles. This is the first time that Berle has not played himself on a Lucille Ball sitcom. Another episode with a lot of cars! 

“The
Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson” ~ November 18, 1969

From Los Angeles, Johnny Carson welcomes Lucille Ball, Red Buttons, Louie Nye (sketch cameo), Ozzie and Harriet Nelson, Della Reese and Trini Lopez (musical guests).  

“Lucy, the Cement Worker” (HL S2;E10) ~ November 24, 1969

In callbacks to two “I Love Lucy” episodes, Lucy loses a ring in cement (she thinks) and is the target of a knife thrower (Paul Winchell). This is the first episode written by Sam Perrin, winner of two Emmy Awards for writing for Jack Benny.  

“The Carol Burnett Show” (S3;E9) ~ November 24, 1969

Lucille Ball is featured in an sketch where she and Carol play airline hostesses, a parody of the film Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice, and a sketch about two sister vaudeville performers. This is Lucille’s second of four appearances on Burnett’s show, and anticipates Burnett’s March 1970 appearance on “Here’s Lucy.”

“Lucy and Johnny Carson” (HL S2;E11) ~ December 2, 1969

Johnny Carson and Ed McMahon play themselves when Lucy plays ‘Stump the Band’ on “The Tonight Show.” Lucille’s mother, Dede Ball, is on camera as an audience member. In a nod to “I Love Lucy,” a scene takes place at the Brown Derby. 

“Jack Benny’s New Look” ~ December 3, 1969

As the show is nearly over, Lucille Ball walks by and says “How dare you do a show without me?” slaps Benny and exits! 

“Ann-Margret:
From Hollywood with Love” ~ December 6, 1969 

This CBS Special was a reciprocal appearance in return for Ann-Margret’s guest-starring on “Here’s Lucy.” Lucy was also doing a favor for David Winters, who co-produced and choreographed “Lucy in London” (1966).  Lucille plays herself and Celebrity Lu, an autograph hound, in a musical number with Ann-Margret.

“Lucy and the Generation Gap” (HL S2;E12) ~ December 8, 1969

A musical revue tracking the generation gap through history. This is the first of two episodes directed by Jack Baker, who was the choreographer for all of the Desilu series’ since the last season of “I Love Lucy.”  The final draft of this script was submitted on May 14, 1969.

“Lucy and the Bogie Affair” (HL S2;E13) ~ December 15, 1969

Not Humphrey, but a shaggy dog named Bogie played by Nelson, who previously played Mr. Mooney’s dog on “The Lucy Show.”  There’s also a playpen full of puppies. Exercise guru Jack LaLanne guest stars.

This is the first of 14 episodes directed by Herbert Kenwith.

“Will The Real Mr. Sellers…?” ~ December 18, 1969

An oddity, this BBC TV pseudo-documentary was created in 1969 as a promotional movie for Peter Sellers’ 1969 British film The Magic Christian. He captures Lucille Ball in an airport VIP lounge with only street make-up. There is no sound and her appearance lasts only 15 seconds! 

“Lucy Protects Her Job” (HL S2;E14) ~ December 22, 1969

Lucie Arnaz takes center stage in this episode. Lucille Ball’s own private secretary Wanda Clark makes a cameo appearance. This is the first of four episodes written by Ralph Goodman.

“Lucy the Helpful Mother” (HL S2;E15) ~ December 29, 1969

The local pet shop temporarily relocates to the Carter home. The final new episode of the season – and the decade. 

ALSO IN 1969…

“The Zsa Zsa Gabor Show” (Pilot) ~ 1969

This unsold talk show pilot features host Zsa Zsa Gabor. The program begins as Gabor takes the stage and chats with announcer Bob Warren about her two Hungarian dogs and their expensive eating habits, and then welcomes “Batman” actor Adam West to the stage. Gabor and West discuss his “woman-chasing” habits; his interest in sports; and a funny sailing incident in Bora-Bora. Lucille Ball then joins the conversation, and she and Gabor discuss “fascinating men,” including Bernard Baruch, Frank Sinatra and Gabor’s ex-husband George Sanders; Ball’s disinterest in romantic roles; why she prefers comedic parts despite being “quite serious” in real life; her trip to Switzerland with husband Gary Morton and their encounter with avalanches; her encounter with the “adorable” Princess Grace of Monaco; and Gabor’s potential engagement to a European duke. Gabor’s daughter Francesca Hilton telephones from London and briefly chats with Gabor, West and Ball.