-
LUCY IS A BIRD-SITTER
S6;E15
~ January 7, 1974
Directed
by Coby Ruskin ~ Written by Bob Carroll Jr. and Madelyn DavisSynopsis
Lucy
is volunteered to babysit a rare bird while its owner (Arte Johnson)
gets an award. Lucy accidentally leaves the front door open and the
bird escapes. Now Lucy can’t tell the rare bird from the pigeons in
the park.Regular
CastLucille
Ball (Lucy
Carter), Gale
Gordon (Harrison
Otis Carter), Lucie
Arnaz (Kim
Carter)Guest
Cast
Mary
Jane Croft (Mary
Jane) played Betty Ramsey during season six of “I Love Lucy. ”
She also played Cynthia Harcourt in “Lucy
is Envious” (ILL S3;E23) and
Evelyn Bigsby in “Return
Home from Europe” (ILL S5;E26).
She played Audrey Simmons on “The Lucy Show” but when Lucy
Carmichael moved to California, she played Mary Jane Lewis, the
actor’s married name and the same one she uses on all 31 of her
episodes of “Here’s Lucy.” Her final acting credit was playing
Midge Bowser on “Lucy Calls the President” (1977). She died in
1999 at the age of 83.
Arte
Johnson
(Sir Osbert Beechman Place) made his screen debut in a 1954
television remake of Lucille Ball’s 1943 film musical Best
Foot Forward. He
first teamed with Ball in a 1964 episode of “The Jack Benny Show”
where Lucy and Jack played Mr. and Mrs. Paul Revere. He was a
regular performer on “Rowan and Martin’s Laugh-In” from 1967 to
1971, which, in some seasons, competed with “Here’s Lucy” on NBC. He died in 2019 at the age of 90.Johnson’s
character name is a nod to Lucy’s soon-to-be-released film Mame.
Mame Dennis (Lucille
Ball) lives in a townhouse on Beekman Place, New York City. Sir
Osbert has traveled from Neiafu Vava’u, Tonga, a real place in the South
Pacific islands.
Sir Osbert is an ornithologist and conservationist who has come to
Los Angeles to donate a rare Weewawk bird to the Los Angeles Zoo. He is the recipient of the Conservationist of the Year Award. Arte Johnson uses a Scottish
accent for the character.
Floyd
(uncredited) the Tongan Ruby Throated Weewawk. There are only three like it in
the world and only one is female.More
than a dozen white pigeons appear (uncredited) in the park scene.
This
is the first new episode of calendar year 1974. This will be Lucille
Ball’s final year on weekly television until the short-lived “Life
with Lucy” in 1986.
In
his DVD introduction to the episode, Arte Johnson jokingly says he
hated holding the bird because it bit him and caused him to go to the
hospital. In the finished episode, his character never actually touches the bird.
On
“Rowan and Martin’s Laugh-In” (1967-73) Johnson is best remembered as the naughty old man who
sat next to Ruth Buzzi on the park bench, and as the German soldier who
peered through the bushes and said “Very
interesting!”
In “Lucy Meets the Burtons” (S3;E1) Elizabeth Taylor imitated
Johnson’s catch phrase and accent, but the line was edited out of the
final cut. Other “Laugh-In” catch phrases heard on “Here’s
Lucy” include “Here come da judge!,” “Sock it to me” and
multiple references to “Tip Toe Through the Tulips” and its eccentric singer Tiny Tim.
Johnson
is one of many actors who appeared on “Rowan
and Martin’s Laugh-In”
that have also appeared on “The Lucy Show” and “Here’s Lucy,” including Lucie Arnaz.
Others include:Ruth Buzzi, Flip Wilson, Johnny Carson, Ed McMahon,
Jack Benny, Sammy Davis Jr., Rich Little, Charles Nelson Reilly, Paul
Winchell, Robert Goulet, Ricardo Montalban, Joe Namath, Jack Carter,
Van Johnson, Tennessee Ernie Ford, David Frost, Burt Mustin, Totie
Fields, Janos Prohaska, Petula Clark, Andy Griffith, Jack LaLanne,
Carol Burnett, Mike Connors, Steve Lawrence, Shelley Winters, and
Wally Cox.Dan Rowan and Dick Martin both appeared several times on
“The Lucy Show.”
Much has been written about Lucille Ball’s fear of birds – called ornithophobia. The story goes that the day Lucille’s father died, a bird was trapped inside the house. From then on she connected birds with death. If this is true, Ball is the consummate professional as she has acted with live birds many times.
As
the episode opens, Lucy is sitting at Harry’s desk, feet up, talking
to Vanda on the telephone. The character (played by Vanda Barra) is
not in the episode and hasn’t been seen since the sixth episode of
season six, several months earlier. Lucy also mentions Sam, the waiter in the
coffee shop downstairs, a character played by Sid Gould that hasn’t been seen
since the end of season five. Sam
and Vanda
will return, however, before the series wraps up.
Harry
is out of the office at a luncheon meeting for the Friends
of the Los Angeles Zoo.
The real LA Zoo opened in 1966. Prior to that there was a zoo in
Griffith Park that opened in 1912. In “Lucy and the Franchise
Fiasco” (S5;E20), Lucy, Harry, and Mary Jane open a frozen custard
stand across the street from the zoo.
Mary Jane offers Lucy
a ticket to see Charlton
Heston in
play at the Los Angeles Music Center. Lucy and Harry have some dialogue about Heston that plays on his role as Moses in The
Ten Commandments (1956). Mary Jane never tells Lucy the title of the play.
Sir
Osbert says that Floyd liked the movie they showed on the plane –
Jonathan Livingston Seagull.
The 1973 film, based on the book of the same name by Richard D.
Bach, was nominated for two 1974 Oscars. It features the voice of
Richard Crenna, who played Arthur, the young man who has a crush on
Lucy Ricardo in “The Young Fans” (ILL S1;E20). The Grammy-winning film score was by Neil Diamond, who would act opposite Lucie Arnaz in 1980′s The Jazz Singer.
Before
leaving him with Lucy, Sir Osbert says to Floyd: “Bye
Bye Birdie”
and throws his head back in a squawk-like laugh. This was also the
title of a popular Broadway musical and 1963 film starring Ann-Margret. Ann-Margret guest starred on “Here’s Lucy” in 1970.
Kim
rushes in to announce that she’s bought a new car from Vivian Bowman… who bought it from her sister… who bought it from her boss… who got
it from his brother-in-law… who has an agency. So a new / used car. Vivian Bowman was the name of a production coordinator on “Here’s Lucy.”
Harry:
Where? Where is that Weewawk?
Lucy: Maybe he went for a wee walk?
This
episode is based in part on 1964′s “Lucy Gets the Bird” (TLS S3;E12) in which Lucy
Carmichael bird-sits Mr. Mooney’s prize cockatiel Greenback. When
Greenback flies away, Lucy and Viv must track it down. When they are unsuccessful, they try to replace it
with a similar looking bird.
The
Weewawk has to be kept warm, just like the baby chicks
prematurely bought by Lucy Ricardo in “Lucy Raises Chickens” (ILL
S6;E19).
In that same episode, Lucy does her chicken walk just as
she does here with the pigeons in the park.
Lucy Ricardo also got up close and personal with pigeons while on the ledge of her apartment building in “Lucy and Superman” (ILL S6;E13), an episode that has been since colorized.
Name
Game!
The names used in this episode are pronounced differently than they
are spelled.- The
rare bird in question is pronounced “Wee-Wok” but is generally
spelled as “Weewawk” or “Weewalk” or “Weewark” –
depending on the source. The first spelling seems preferable since it
is meant to rhyme with “squawk.” - Harry
and Lucy pronounce Sir Osbert’s surname as “Beecham” (Beech-um)
although it is spelled as “Beechman” in the DVD English subtitles
and elsewhere. The homage to Mame would indicate that it should be pronounced “BeachMAN” to rhyme
with “BeakMAN”. - The name “Osbert” is meant to sound like “Oz-bird”. Thankfully, Arte Johnson is not credited using his character name –
just as “Guest Star Arte Johnson.” - As
usual, Harry has his particular way of pronouncing “Los Angeles”
with a hard ‘g’. Harry does, however, pronounce “Neiafu
Vava’u” perfectly!
MapQuest
SOS! Harry (and later Sir Osbert) says that the Weewawk has flown 7,000
miles from Tonga. In reality, a direct air flight from Tonga to Los
Angeles (there is literally nowhere to stop) is 5,324 miles (8,596 km).
Props! Lucy
adjusts the temperature in her home to mimic the warmer climate of
Tonga. She adjusts the thermostat on the landing next to the mirror.
There has never been a thermostat there before – it is a prop of
convenience.
Schtick! Sir
Osbird has a habit for examining pieces of porcelain and ceramics he
sees in Lucy’s home, but the character trait is not developed into
anything of importance to the plot. It seems just an quirky trait
that perhaps Johnson thought would be funny. Also probably for a
joke, Johnson’s vest is incorrectly buttoned.
You
Break Me Up! When Arte Johnson does his bird-like shriek Lucille Ball
can’t help but smile.Hats Off! When Sir Osbert imitates the Weewawk’s mating dance, his hat falls off the sofa arm onto the floor. He picks it up during the audience’s applause for his exotic imitation.
Sitcom Logic Alert! When Lucy goes off joyriding with Kim in her new / old car, she leaves the front door wide open and Floyd’s cage open. The plot often depends on Lucy doing such illogical and careless things!
Pack Lightly! When Sir Osbert comes to pick up Floyd the next morning, he is wearing exactly the same clothes he wore the day before – sweater still incorrectly buttoned!
Oops! When Harry rushes in to the park having found Floyd, Lucille Ball trips (and nearly falls) on the low wire fencing designed to corral the pigeons.
“Lucy is a Bird-Sitter” rates 1 Paper Heart out of 5
I imagine the concept was to get Lucy to imitate a pigeon just as she imitated a chicken on “I Love Lucy.” She does. Gale Gordon does. Arte Johnson does (and does it best). Only Lucie and Mary Jane escape the indignity. A truly badly written episode that has Johnson trying too hard, Lucy and Harry at each other’s throats (literally, see below) and pigeons… lots and lots of pigeons. Fictional animals haven’t been this problematic since the dreaded Gorboona in “Lucy’s Safari”… an equally awful episode.
- The
-
LUCY PLAYS COPS AND ROBBERS
S6;E14
~ December 31, 1973
Directed
by Coby Ruskin ~ Written by Bob Carroll Jr. and Madelyn DavisSynopsis
Lucy
forms a neighborhood watch group and starts seeing criminals where
there are none. After several false alarms to the local police, a
real burglar actually shows up!
Regular
CastLucille
Ball (Lucy
Carter), Gale
Gordon (Harrison
Otis Carter), Lucie
Arnaz (Kim
Carter)Guest
Cast
Mary
Jane Croft (Mary
Jane) played Betty Ramsey during season six of “I Love Lucy. ”
She also played Cynthia Harcourt in “Lucy
is Envious” (ILL S3;E23) and
Evelyn Bigsby in “Return
Home from Europe” (ILL S5;E26).
She played Audrey Simmons on “The Lucy Show” but when Lucy
Carmichael moved to California, she played Mary Jane Lewis, the
actor’s married name and the same one she uses on all 31 of her
episodes of “Here’s Lucy. Her final acting credit was playing
Midge Bowser on “Lucy Calls the President” (1977). She died in
1999 at the age of 83.
Mary
Wickes (Violet
Barker) was one of Lucille Ball’s closest friends and at one time,
a neighbor. She made a memorable appearances on “I Love Lucy” as
ballet mistress Madame Lamond in “The
Ballet” (ILL S1;E19). In
her initial “Lucy Show” appearances her characters name was
Frances, but she then made four more as a variety of characters for a
total of 8 episodes. This is one of her 9 appearances on “Here’s
Lucy.” Their final collaboration on screen was “Lucy Calls the
President” in 1977.Al
Lewis (Lionel
Barker) is remembered to this day as Grandpa (aka Count Dracula) on
TV’s “The Munsters” (1964-66), a show that aired concurrently
with “The Lucy Show.” Prior to that he played Officer Schnauzer
(also opposite Fred Gwynn) in “Car 54, Where Are You?”The
Barker’s daughter Carolyn and son-in-law Fred live in San Francisco
and are expecting a baby.
Dick
Sargent
(Officer Spencer, left) had just finished up playing Darrin Stephens on
“Bewitched” when he filmed this episode. Sargent was the second
actor to play the role, replacing Dick York in 1969. Sargent
continued to act on television until his death in 1994 at age 64.Sargent’s
“Bewitched” clout earns him “Guest Star” status in the final
credits.Gary
Crosby
(Officer Riggs, right) was the son of crooner Bing Crosby. Like his father
he was both an actor and a singer. This is his only appearance with
Lucille Ball. He died in 1995 at age 62.
Gino
Conforti
(Burglar) began his TV acting career in 1968 and has been continually
working since, although mostly as one-off characters. He had a
recurring role as Felipe on “Three’s Company” from 1980 to 1982,
a series Lucille Ball admired. This is his first time acting with
Ball, but he will also be seen in Lucy’s two teleplays “Lucy Gets
Lucky” and “Three for Two” both in 1975.
Shirley
Anthony
(Mrs. Shackleford, behind sofa, uncredited) makes
the ninth of her 13 appearances of “Here’s Lucy.”Mrs.
Shackleford has a brother who lives in Berkeley.Eddie
Garrett
(Mr. Shackleford, standing, uncredited) is
probably best remembered for playing Ed, the crime photographer on
“Quincy M.E.” from 1976 to 1983. This is his final episode of
“Here’s Lucy.”Anthony
and Garrett are the only cast members not involved in the chaotic
ending of the episode.
Although
season 6 is now more than a dozen episodes old, this installment was
meant to be aired first. Instead, it originally aired on New
Year’s Eve 1973
and (naturally) was the last new episode of the calendar year. The
show’s only competition that night was the annual Sugar Bowl Game on
ABC. Some sources, including the series DVD, incorrectly list the
original air date of this episode as November 26, 1973.
Although
airing on New Year’s Eve, the show wasn’t about the holiday. Because
using actual dates or years was generally discouraged on TV (to keep
episodes current in future syndication) there was only one “Lucy”
show themed around the turning of the calendar: “Chris’s New Year’s
Eve Party” (TLS S1;E14), first broadcast on December 31, 1962.
Lucille
Ball wears a fuller, more mature wig that she never wears again. This
episode also does not yet incorporate Ball’s soft-focus lens.
Rumor
has it that the police officers were supposed to be played by
“Adam-12” (1968-75) co-stars Martin Milner and Kent McCord.
Like “Here’s Lucy,” the NBC police drama was filmed on the
Universal lot. Gary Crosby played a recurring role on “Adam-12.” In the script, one officer says to the other “I
think we’ve been riding together too long”
which would have been even funnier had it been an already famous pair of
policemen like Milner and McCord.
Al
Lewis was also part of a famous cop show, the comedy “Car
54, Where Are You?” (1961-63) where Joe E. Ross partnered with Fred Gwynn, a year before Lewis and Gwynn teamed for “The Munsters” (1964-66).
In
his DVD introduction to the episode, Gino
Conforti
(Burglar) says that Lucille Ball thought he was a very athletic
person because he was able to jump over the banister!
Harry
announces that he’s just gotten his first color TV set – a 23”
screen with remote control. He plans to watch Elizabeth Taylor in
Cleopatra
(“She
can ride on my barge anytime!”).
Lucy informs him that Walter Cronkite has baby blue eyes. Taylor
guest starred as herself in the season three opener “Lucy Meets the
Burtons” (S3;E1). On “The Lucy Show” Lucy
Carmichael
played Cleopatra in
a community theatre production of Anthony
and Cleopatra
in an episode aired the same year Taylor’s film premiered.
Coincidentally, that was the first episode of “The Lucy Show” to
be filmed in color, although CBS did not air the series in color
until fall of 1965.
Remembering
that Lucy had just completed filming on the motion picture musical
Mame
before season six started, there are detectable traces of Auntie
Mame’s theatricality and upper class diction in Lucille Ball’s
performance here.
Neighborhood
watches
began developing in the late 1960s as a response to
the rape and murder of Kitty Genovese in Queens,
New York.
People became outraged after reports that a dozen witnesses did
nothing to save Genovese or to apprehend her killer.
Officer Riggs says that in the US, a burglary is committed every 15
seconds. Depending on the source, current statistics say between 13
and 18 seconds.
The
surname Barker
will
be used by Lucille Ball for the last of her television characters in
“Life With Lucy” (1986-87). The name continues her habit of
using the letter combination AR (for Arnaz) in all her character
names: RicARdo, CARmichael, CARter, and BARker. Lucille Ball’s friend
Carole Lombard’s mother told Lucille it would be good luck when Lucy
first married Desi in the 1940s.
Seeing
Harry’s cathedral style radio, she asks him if he listens to “Amos
‘n’ Andy.”
The
original radio show, which was popular from 1928 until 1960, was
created, written and voiced by two white actors.
When the radio show moved to television in 1951 (the same year that
Lucille Ball’s radio show “My Favorite Husband” turned into TV’s
“I Love Lucy”), black actors were hired. Sam McDaniel, the first
black actor to speak lines on “I Love Lucy” in 1955, was seen on
four episodes of “Amos ‘n’ Andy.” Despite
decent ratings, CBS pulled the show when the NAACP complained of how
they believed blacks were being depicted on this show. The syndicated
reruns were pulled from circulation in 1966 after similar protests.
When
Lucy comes tearing in from buying some ice cream, she carries a red
and white striped paper sack. Although the company name has been
removed, this is undoubtedly a bag from Wil
Wright’s Ice Cream,
a California business that Lucille Ball adored. Virtually unknown on
the East Coast, Wil Wright’s was a chain of old time ice cream
parlors that dotted the West Coast until going out of business in the
mid-1970s. Their rich recipe and variety of flavors made them a
favorite of stars like Lucy and Marilyn Monroe.
Wil Wright’s was mentioned by Ethel Mertz in “Bullfight Dance”
(ILL S4;E22) while the Ricardo’s and Mertzes were living in
Hollywood. Like Lucille Ball, Lucy Carter also adores ice cream.
Harry calls her an “ice cream freak.”
Lucy
repeats her address on the telephone: 4863 Valley Long Drive.
Earlier in the series, Harry also gave this as his address.
Unbeknownst
to Lucy, Harry is adjusting Lucy’s rooftop TV antenna. Lucy thinks
he’s a burglar and calls the cops. When Lucy asks if that was him up
there, her bellows “Well,
it wasn’t the ‘Fiddler on the Roof’!” Fiddler
on the Roof was
a 1964 stage musical that was made into an Oscar-winning film in
1971. Coincidentally, Gino Conforti, who plays the Burglar in this
episode, was the original Fiddler on Broadway. The stage production
also starred Bea Arthur, Lucille Ball’s Mame
co-star.
Viewers
have not seen the second living room closet since Harry and Craig hid
their documentary camera in it in “Lucy, The American Mother”
(S3;E7). In this episode the closet is in a slightly different place than it was
in 1970.
When
Harry panics after being locked in the closet by the Burglar, Lucy
slaps him and he says “Thanks.
I needed that.” This is a reference to a ubiquitous TV commercial for Mennen Skin Bracer men’s cologne. The TV ads originally starred John Goodman
(“Roseann”).
This
episode is a loose remake of “Lucy Cries Wolf” (ILL S4;E3) in
which Lucy Ricardo keeps claiming that criminals are up to no good in
the neighborhood – until they finally are! The storyline was
inspired by the real-life theft of Lucille Ball’s jewelry from a
Chicago hotel in 1950.
There
were also six people tightly crammed into the Ricardo’s living room
closet in “Drafted” (ILL S1;E11) in 1951, also written by Davis (then Pugh) and Carroll.
Scheduling
SNAFU! Kim
wonders why she’s been asked to attend a neighborhood watch meeting
when she’s moved to her own apartment a year and a half ago! The
episode where Kim moved out was aired February 28, 1972. Had “Lucy Plays Cops and Robbers” aired as the season 6 opener, Kim’s dates would work out
perfectly, but due to the delay, she is three months off.Hello
Dolly? There
is quite a bit of camera shake as the officer’s enter the living
room, something rarely seen on the series.
Memory Lapse! Harry is visibly smitten with Elizabeth Taylor in Cleopatra, but neither Harry nor Lucy mention having met her when Lucy got Taylor’s million-dollar diamond ring stuck on her finger in “Lucy Meets the Burtons” (S3;E1).
Wardrobe
Malfunction! While
listening to the officers, Lucille Ball notices something on the left
leg of her black trousers, so while looking at her wristwatch, she
tries to rub it off with her other hand.
Props!
Throughout the episode, even though they’ve never been seen before,
Lucy’s “good candlesticks” that have “been in the family for generations” (they are actually silver candelabras) are sitting out
on the kitchen hatch ledge – talk about burglar bait!Name Game! Lucy calls the Barkers’ daughter ‘Carolyn’ (rhymes with ‘fin’) and the Police Officers call her ‘Caroline’ (rhymes with ‘fine’). Earlier in the episode, Violet Barker (the mother) called her daughter ‘Carolyn’ which is what Lucy said. Mother knows best!
Research!
The
Burglar calls Harry’s antique radio a 1927 Atwater Kent, but he is a
few years off. The 1927 models were rectangular and did not have
cathedral-style cabinetry.
“Lucy Plays Cops and Robbers” rates 4 Paper Hearts out of 5
This episode combines lots of reliable Lucy plotting (crying wolf) with some of TV’s greatest actors!
1973, Al Lewis, antique radio, Atwater Kent, Bob Carroll Jr., Burglar, candleabra, Cleopatra, Closet, Coby Ruskin, Color TV, crying wolf, Dick Sargent, Eddie Garrett, Elizabeth Taylor, Gale Gordon, Gary Crosby, Gino Conforti, Here’s Lucy, Kitty Genovese, Lucie Arnaz, Lucille Ball, Lucy Plays Cops and Robbers, Madelyn Davis, Mary Jane Croft, Mary Wickes, Neighborhood Watch, New Year’s Eve, Shirley Anthony, Skin Bracer -
LUCY AND CHUCK CONNORS HAVE A SURPRISE SLUMBER PARTY
S6;E13
~ December 17, 1973
Directed
by Coby Ruskin ~ Story by Bob Carroll Jr. and Madelyn DavisSynopsis
Harry
rents out Lucy’s home for a movie shoot. After causing several
re-takes, Lucy is banished from her own home. When she returns
early, she doesn’t know that Chuck Connors is staying overnight –
in her bed!Regular
CastLucille
Ball (Lucy
Carter), Gale
Gordon (Harrison
Otis Carter)Lucie
Arnaz (Kim
Carter) does not appear in this episode, nor is she mentioned in the
dialogue. The final credits do state, however, “Lucie Arnaz
wardrobe by Alroe.”Guest
Cast
Chuck
Connors (Himself)
was a professional baseball player before his career led him to show
business, where he is best known as “The Rifleman” (1958-63). In
May 1973, he was seen in the sci-fi thriller Soylent
Green
as well as two TV movies. Although this is his only appearance with
Lucille Ball, he returned to playing comedy in 1982’s Airplane II:
The Sequel. Connors died in 1992 at age 71.Chuck
Connors is the star of the film being shot in Lucy’s living room.
Mary
Jane Croft (Mary
Jane) played Betty Ramsey during season six of “I Love Lucy. ”
She also played Cynthia Harcourt in “Lucy
is Envious” (ILL S3;E23) and
Evelyn Bigsby in “Return
Home from Europe” (ILL S5;E26).
She played Audrey Simmons on “The Lucy Show” but when Lucy
Carmichael moved to California, she played Mary Jane Lewis, the
actor’s married name and the same one she uses on all 31 of her
episodes of “Here’s Lucy. Her final acting credit was playing
Midge Bowser on “Lucy Calls the President” (1977). She died in
1999 at the age of 83.
Ryan
MacDonald (Jerry
Thompson) played Roy, one of the poker players, in seven episodes of
“The Odd Couple” in 1970. Of his more than 75 screen credits,
this is his only appearance with Lucille Ball.Jerry
Thompson is the Director of the film being shot in the episode. He
and Harry are old friends.
Sidney
Clute
(“Lieutenant Turner, Detective”) is probably best remembered as
Paul La Guardia on “Cagney and Lacey” (1982-88) in which he was
credited even after his passing in 1985. This is his only appearance
with Lucille Ball.Lieutenant
Turner is the name of the character in the movie being shot in Lucy’s
living room.
Buddy
Lewis
(Greg) was previously seen in “Lucy Competes with Carol Burnett”
(S2;E24). He will do one more episode of the series.Greg
is the Assistant Director (AD) of the film within the episode. The AD
traditionally calls “Roll it” or “Roll ‘em” to start filming
while the director calls “Action” and “Cut”.
Sid
Gould (Sticks,
red sweater) made more than 45 appearances on “The Lucy Show,”
all as background characters. This is one of his nearly 50 episodes
of “Here’s Lucy.” Gould (born Sydney Greenfader) was Lucille
Ball’s cousin by marriage to Gary Morton.“Sticks”
is the nickname for the clapper board (or clapboard) used to track
scenes and shots on a film production.Bob
Whitney
(Cameraman, gold sweater) appeared
with Lucille Ball in The
Facts of Life (1960).
This is the fifth and final appearance on the series.Although
billed as Cameraman in the final credits, Whitney uses a light meter
during filming which is something used by the Key Grip. Another actor
(uncredited) actor is actually behind the camera.Walter
Smith
(Propman, blue shirt) made
14 mostly uncredited appearances on the series. He also did one
episode of “The
Lucy Show.”There are no ‘props’ in the movie being shot. The character just holds a rag.
The
script girl, boom microphone operator, cameraman, and lighting
technician on the ladder, are played by uncredited background
artists.
In
his DVD introduction to the episode Ryan
MacDonald (Jerry
Thompson) remembers discovering that some of the stories he’d heard
about Lucille Ball were true, but that she was a hard worker and gave
her all at the very first read-through, something uncommon on most
sets. MacDonald is visibly moved when recalling how Ball sought him
out after filming to compliment him on his performance.
The
movie studio will pay Lucy $200 a day for the use of her living room
– less Harry’s ten percent fee as her house’s agent.Trying
to get Lucy to guess who is starring in the movie, Harry says “Who
picked up Secretary Brezhnev
of the Soviet Union?” Lucy incorrectly guesses the CIA.
In
June 1973 Chuck Connors met Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev at a party
at President Richard Nixon’s California home, San Clemente (aka The
Western White House). Mr. Brezhnev had seen four or five episodes of
“The Rifleman” and liked it. Brezhnev enthusiastically shook
Connors’ hand and Connors presented him with a pair of matching Colt
.45 revolvers used in a show called “Branded.” Connors even
showed him how to twirl the guns. Brezhnev later invited Connors to
come to Russia to make a movie. Upon his departure, Brezhnev
saw Connors on the tarmac, went over to him and vigorously shook. In
return, Connors embraced him in a bear hug which lifted Brezhnev off
the ground for several seconds and made the front pages of newspapers
across the globe the next day. In late 1973, Connors was a guest of
Brezhnev in Moscow and there filmed a 90-minute documentary entitled
“Peace and Friendship.”
Harry’s
second hint is the word “ThrillSeekers.” Lucy guesses “people
who drive the freeway at rush hour.” Nope. “ThrillSeekers”
was
a syndicated
television
series
that was produced in 1973 and 1974. Hosted by Chuck
Connors, it
featured people who did dangerous stunts. In
Lucy’s kitchen, Connors wears his orange “Thrill Seekers” jacket.
The name of the show is stitched on the sleeve.
Lucy
tells Connors that she has seen “The
Rifleman”
reruns three or four times. “The Rifleman” was a Western television program starring Chuck Connors as rancher Lucas McCain. It was set in the 1880s in the fictional town of North Fork, New Mexico Territory. The show was filmed in black and white, in half-hour episodes and aired on ABC from September 30, 1958, to April 8, 1963.
Jerry
tells Chuck that his film Good
Morning, Miss Dove
starring Jennifer Jones is on television that night. Connors says the
film was one of the few times he got to nuzzle something besides a
horse. Released in 1955 by 20th Century Fox, the film co-stars Mary Wickes, a frequent guest star on
all of Lucille Ball’s sitcoms. It also features Jerry Paris, who
directed two episodes of “Here’s Lucy” before being fired, and
Robert Stack of Desilu’s “The Untouchables.” Other “Lucy”
alumni in the film include Herb Vigran, Hal Taggart, and Arthur Tovey
– all appearing uncredited.
The
Lucy character has messed up film shoots many times before, albeit
not in her own home. Lucy Ricardo’s antics interrupted filming in
“Lucy Gets Into Pictures” (ILL S4;E18).
Lucy Carmichael caused chaos for John
Wayne on the set of his latest Western in “Lucy and John Wayne”
(TLS S5;E2).
Props!
When Chuck Connors is filming in Lucy’s living room, a lighting
technician sits on a step ladder stenciled LBP – Lucille Ball
Productions. A ladder with the same stencil was also caught on
camera in “Lucy is Really in a Pickle” (S5;E15).
Tighten
Frame, Please!
As Lucy comes through the kitchen door with the apple pie, the camera
catches where the set’s left wall ends!Channel
Surfing! When
Chuck Connors turns on the TV to watch Good
Morning, Miss Dove,
the soundtrack blares Western chase music and gunfire. Problem is, the film is
not a Western!
Cut!
Although
the director is supposed to be the only one to call “cut”,
Lucille Ball was famous for doing so on her sets. Here, Chuck Connors
also calls “cut” when Lucy and Mary Jane are in his eye line, spying from the kitchen door.
Wardrobe
Malfunction!
It is typical for Lucy to go to bed in full make-up, but when she
kneels down to help the unconscious Connors, we can see that she also
keeps on her pantyhose!
Scenic
Consistency!
This is not the same set used for Lucy’s bedroom in “Lucy’s
Birthday” (S1;E18, above).
It is also completely different from the
bedroom seen in “Goodbye, Mrs. Hips” (S5;E23). Perhaps with Kim
and Craig out of the house, Lucy has had time to redecorate or move
to another bedroom?
“Lucy and Chuck Connors Have a Surprise Slumber Party” rates 4 Paper Hearts out of 5
This is one of the best episodes of season 6. It combines Lucy and Gale’s physical comedy skills with a good basic premise and sharp plotting. The pairing of Ball and Connors is just as unlikely as Connors and Brezhnev – but surprisingly it works!
1973, Bedroom, Bob Carroll Jr., Bob Whitney, Buddy Lewis, CBS, Chuck Connors, Coby Ruskin, film, Gale Gordon, Good Morning Miss Dove, Here’s Lucy, leonid brezhnev, location shooting, Lucille Ball, Madelyn Davis, Mary Jane Croft, movie, movie camera, Ryan MacDonald, Sid Gould, Sidney Clute, The Rifleman, Thrillseekers, tv, Walter Smith -
HARRY CATCHES GOLD FEVER
S6;E12
~ December 3, 1973
Directed
by Coby Ruskin ~ Story by Fred S. Fox and Seaman JacobsSynopsis
Harry
figures out that a stream is littered with gold so he and Lucy set
out to find it and then dupes the owner into selling it to him.Regular
CastLucille
Ball (Lucy
Carter), Gale
Gordon (Harrison
Otis Carter)Lucie
Arnaz (Kim
Carter) does not appear in this episode, nor is she mentioned in the
dialogue. The final credits do state, however, “Lucie Arnaz
wardrobe by Alroe.”Guest
Cast
J.
Pat O’Malley
(Jed Tankerly) was
born in England, despite his Irish name. He played the music hall
circuit there before moving to the United States after World War II.
From 1944 to 1954 he appeared in half a dozen Broadway shows. He was
a Disney voice artist who worked on such animated classics as Peter Pan (1951), One
Hundred and One Dalmatians (1961)
and The
Jungle Book (1967).
To this day, he can be heard as several voices on the Disney parks
attraction The Pirates of the Caribbean. O’Malley was a regular on TV
“My Favorite Martian” and “Maude,” as Mrs. Naugatuck’s
fiance Bert. This
is his second and last appearance with Lucille Ball after having
played Scotsman Major McFarland in “Lucy Goes Into Politics” (TLS
S2’;E25).Mr.
Tankerly calls himself “an ecology nut.”
Janos
Prohaska (Black
Bear) was an actor, stunt man, and animal imitator who is probably
best remembered as the talking cookie-mad bear on “The Andy
Williams Show” (1969) although due to his thick Hungarian accent,
his voice was dubbed. He first played a simian on “Lucy
and the Monkey” (TLS S5;E12).
This is third appearance on “Here’s Lucy” having played the
wild Gorboona in “Lucy’s
Safari” (S1;E22)
and a black bear in “Lucy and the Mountain Climber”
(S4;E2). Prohaska
died in a plane crash in 1974.
There
was no new episode the previous week, Monday, November 26, 1973.
There will also be no new episode next week, Monday, December 10,
1973. There are just a dozen episodes left of the series and only two more in calendar year 1973.
When
Harry finds the point on the map he believes there to be gold, he
sings “We’re
in the Money” (aka
“The Gold Diggers’ Song”). It is from the 1933 film Gold
Diggers of 1933
and
was written by Al Dubin and Harry Warren. It is now part of
the stage musical 42nd Street.
The song was also sung in “Lucy and the Gold Rush” (S1;E13).
When
Harry expects Lucy to charm Mr. Tankerly into giving them access to
his stream, she snips “It
isn’t easy jumping from pack mule to Playboy bunny!”
Playboy Magazine brought their bunny logo to life by dressing
cocktail waitresses with ears and fluffy tails.There have been several references (visual and verbal) to Playboy
Magazine in previous episodes, including their centerfold and the
iconic Playboy
bunny.
As
a way of telegraphing his imminent entrance, Mr. Tankerly sings a few
bars of “Oh
My Darling, Clementine.”
The song is usually
credited to Percy Montrose (1884), although it is sometimes credited
to Barker Bradford.
It has been heard in numerous film and television productions.
When
Harry demonstrates his panning technique (“Dip
/ Swish / Swirl / Tilt / Flip”),
complete with gyrating hips, Lucy says he looks like “a
fat Elvis Presley.”
Known as “the King of Rock and Roll,” singer Elvis
Presley (1935-77)
was known for his wild pelvic movements while singing, something that
got him in trouble on “The Ed Sullivan Show.” They only shot him
from the waist up to avoid being censored. Sadly, later in his life,
Elvis would gain weight, causing many to refer to later-life Presley
as “fat Elvis.” The singer was first mentioned on “I Love
Lucy” in 1957 by Ethel Mertz, who called him “that Elvis
whats-his-name.”
True
to form, where there is water, Harry ends up soaking wet!
In
the office, Harry dances in with the deed to Tankerly’s land, singing
“Oh,
Dem Golden Slippers,” a
minstrel song commonly performed by blackface performers in the 19th century.
Harry
paid $5,000 for the land and gives Lucy a single gold nugget worth $32 for her efforts. Turns out that Tankerly turned the tables
by “salting the stream” with gold nuggets to bilk devious buyers
who didn’t reveal their true intentions. On their way out to lunch,
Lucy says to Harry “So long, Goldfinger.” Goldfinger was
a James Bond film released in 1965. The title character was a wealthy
psychopath (played by Gert Fröbe) obsessed with gold. The
film was first mentioned in “Lucy and the Starmaker” (TLS S6;E4).
This
episode is nearly identical in plot to “Lucy and the Gold Rush”
(S1;E13) in which Harry also gets obsessed with finding “gold in
them thar hills” and the tables are turned by a folksy old
character. The only difference is that here both Kim and Craig are
not involved.
Lucy
fishing (and her revulsion by having to touch worms) is very
reminiscent of “The Camping Trip” (ILL S2;E29) in 1953.
Janos Prohaska previously played a Black Bear on “Here’s Lucy” in “Lucy and the Mountain Climber” (S4;E2).
Language!
Harry
calls his gear “mining equipment” when he is simply “panning
for gold” not “mining for gold.”
Oops!
It looks as if a roll of gray duct tape has been left on one of the
rocking chairs on the cabin porch set. Lucille Ball’s soft-focus lens
makes it difficult to positively identify the gray object.
Reel
Time!
When Harry offers Lucy the tub of worms to bait her hook, she says
“No
thanks, Harry. I’m not hungry.”
Four and a half minutes later, she suddenly wants lunch.
“Harry Catches Gold Fever” rates 2 Paper Hearts out of 5
The best thing about this episode is that it gives Gale Gordon something to do. In recent episodes, Harry had become shoehorned into the plot or (in one rare instance) edited out totally! This could have been a better episode had Lucy and Harry not already done this before in Season 1.
1973, Bear, Black Bear, CBS, Coby Ruskin, Dem Golden Slippers, Elvis Presley, Fat Elvis, fishing, Fred S. Fox, Gale Gordon, Gold, Gold Nuggets, Gold Rush, Goldfinger, Grizzly Bear, Here’s Lucy, J. Pat O’Malley, Janos Prohaska, Lucille Ball, Oh My Darling Clementine, Panning for Gold, Playboy, Seaman Jacobs, tv, We’re in the Money -
THE CARTERS MEET FRANKIE AVALON
S6;E11
~ November 19, 1973
Directed
by Coby Ruskin ~ Story by Fred S. Fox and Seaman Jacobs, Teleplay by
Bob O’BrienSynopsis
Lucy,
Harry and Kim go to see Frankie Avalon perform and Kim is chosen from
the audience to sing with him on stage. This leads to her performing
in the nightclub’s talent competition as Cher, with Avalon as her
Sonny.Regular
CastLucille
Ball (Lucy
Carter), Gale
Gordon (Harrison
Otis Carter), Lucie
Arnaz (Kim
Carter)Guest
Cast
Frankie
Avalon (Himself)
was born in Philadelphia in 1939 as Francis Thomas Avallone. A
recording star and musician, Avalon’s movie career took off when
paired with Annette Funicello in Beach
Party (1963)
and its string of sequels. He played Teen Angel in Grease (1978) and
considers “Beauty School Dropout” to be his most popular song.
He
previously played Tommy Cheever (Bank president Mr. Cheever’s son) in
“Lucy and the Starmaker” (TLS S6;E4) on “The Lucy Show” in
1967.Vic
Glazer (Vic,
Conductor / Pianist) enjoyed
a long career as an accomplished arranger, composer, pianist and
Music Director for many well-known entertainers, which included long
stints as Musical Director for Debbie Reynolds and Frankie Avalon. He
traveled the world for his work, and made two appearances at The
White House during the 1960s.Sid
Gould (Maitre
D’) made more than 45 appearances on “The Lucy Show,” all as
background characters. This is one of his nearly 50 episodes of
“Here’s Lucy.” Gould (born Sydney Greenfader) was Lucille
Ball’s cousin by marriage to Gary Morton.
Jerry
Fogel (Mr.
Collins, Wilshire Room Entertainment Director and Emcee) is perhaps
best remembered as Jerry Buell on “The Mothers-in-Law” (1967-69),
produced by Desi Arnaz. He was also a semi-regular on “The White
Shadow” (1977-78) as Bill Donahue. This is his only appearance
with Lucille Ball.Lucy
says his name aloud in the dialogue, although he is listed simply as
“M.C.” in the final credits.
Robert
Hogan (Jack
Lucas) played the Reverend Tom Winter on TV’s “Peyton Place”
(1968-69) and was
the inspiration for the naming of the title character on “Hogan’s
Heroes” (1965-71). His screen career began in 1961 and he
previously appeared as Captain Perry in “Lucy and the Astronauts”
(S4;E5).Jack
is Avalon’s agent. Although his surname is never spoken in the
dialogue, it is listed in the final credits.
Bob
Whitney (Call
Boy) appeared with Lucille Ball in The
Facts of Life (1960).
This is the fourth of his five appearances on the series.In
this context, a “Call Boy” is a person who gives the star his
“calls” (“10 minutes,” “5 minutes,” “You’re On.”)
while they are in their dressing room.
Bill
Lee
(Talent
Competition Singer) frequently
dubbed the singing voices of non-singing film actors such as John
Kerr in South
Pacific
(1958), Matt Mattox in Seven
Brides for Seven Brothers
(1954), and Christopher Plummer in The
Sound of Music
(1964). This is his last screen credit and one of his few on-camera
roles.Marl
Young
(Talent Competition Conductor / Pianist, uncredited, above left) was the “Here’s
Lucy” musical director and often appeared on camera when episodes
included music.Avalon brings his own musical director, Vic Glazer, for the first part of the show, his nightclub act, but “Here’s Lucy” musical director Marl Young takes over for the Talent Competition at the end.
Shirley
Anthony (Audience
Member, uncredited) makes the eighth of her 13 appearances of “Here’s
Lucy.”As
the episodes opens (and the blue curtain in the title parts) Anthony is the very
first person on camera, sitting in profile.George
Holmes (Audience
Member, uncredited) was previously glimpsed in the studio audience in
“Lucy and Art Linkletter” (TLS S6;E4). He also did three films
with Lucille Ball: The
Facts of Life
(1960), Critic’s
Choice
(1963) and Mame
(1974).Other
audience members and the onstage musicians are played by uncredited
background performers.
This
is one of a very few episodes to have both a “story by” and
“written by” credit for the writers.
The
episode opens at the Wilshire Room nightclub where Avalon starts his
show with “It’s
Good to be Here”
written by Harold Karr and Matt Dubey for the 1956 Broadway musical
Happy
Hunting
starring Ethel Merman.
Bringing
Kim on stage, they sing “Can’t
Take My Eyes Off You”
to each other, a 1967 song
by Frankie
Valli and Bob Gaudio of The Four Seasons. The song earned a gold
record and
reached #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 for
a week. It is now part of the juke box musical Jersey
Boys (2005).
Avalon
says he has seven children (with another on the way) and is married.
He later says his wife’s name is Kay. Mrs. Avalon was born Kathryn
‘Kay’ Diebel. A former beauty contest winner, they were married in 1963.
The
band plays a brief fanfare based on “Hooray
for Hollywood,”
a song by
Richard A. Whiting first
featured in the 1937 film Hollywood
Hotel. It
launches the portion of Avalon’s show where he does impressions of
famous actors auditioning for the role of George
M. Cohan
in the film Yankee
Doodle Dandy.
Naturally, the audition song is “Yankee
Doodle Dandy,”
from
Cohan’s hit Broadway musical Little
Johnny Jones (1904).
Avalon
first does an impression of John
Wayne (1907-79),
who was a guest star on both “I Love Lucy” and “The Lucy Show.”
He then does his impression of Bela
Lugosi
(1882-1956) in which his idea of dancing is flapping his arms like
bat wings. Lugosi’s iconic character, Dracula, was humorously
presented on “The Lucy Show.” Finally, Avalon imitates
James
Cagney (1899-1986),
who actually played the role and earned an Academy Award for the
film. Kim did her own quick impression of Cagney during “The
Hollywood Unemployment Follies” (S3;E22).
When
Lucy says she has a son, Avalon wonders why he can’t play Sonny to
Kim’s Cher. Lucy explains that he is too tall. Ironically, Harry called Kim and Craig ‘Sonny and Cher’ in “Lucy Stops a Marriage” (S3;E16) three years earlier. Lucy never uses
Craig’s name, however, or mentions where he is.
Before
Avalon and Kim take the stage as Sonny and Cher in the talent
competition, an unnamed singer (Bill Lee) finishes up the last few
bars of “The
Impossible Dream,” a
song written by Mitch Leigh and Joe Darion for the 1965 Broadway
musical Man
of La Mancha,
which was filmed in 1972. The singer makes the applause meter hit
89.
Sonny
and Cher
were a pop
music duo,
actors, singers and entertainers made up of
husband-and-wife Sonny and Cher Bono
in the 1960s and 1970s. They also had two top ten TV
shows, “The
Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour” (1971-74) and The
Sonny & Cher Show (1976-77).
The couple’s career as a duo ended in 1975 following their divorce.
In the decade they spent together, Sonny and Cher sold over 40
million records worldwide. They had one child together, Chaz Bono,
who was born Chastity Sun Bono in 1969. Sonny Bono left show business
for politics and died after a skiing accident in 1989. Cher,
who has won an Oscar, Emmy, and Grammy, has continued her career as a
superstar solo act.
Cher and Lucille Ball appeared on an
Emmy-nominated special together in 1979.
Frankie
Avalon and Lucie Arnaz actually went to see a taping of “The Sonny
and Cher Comedy Hour” the week before they shot this episode in
order to get some pointers. Cher loaned Lucie the wig, the earrings, and a pair of her eyelashes for the episode.
Frankie
and Kim sing “I’ve
Got You Babe” written
by Sonny Bono in July 1965. The song became their signature song as a
duo. The original version spent
three weeks at #1 on the Billboard Hot
100 selling more
than 1 million copies and certified Gold. Avalon
and Arnaz sang to a prerecorded track.
Mid-song, ‘Sonny and Cher’ (aka Avalon and Arnaz) break into comic banter
just as they often did on their TV show. One joke references
“Gunsmoke,”
a TV western that aired just before “Here’s Lucy” on CBS. The
show was on television for two decades (1955-75), after two years on
radio. After two years on radio, Lucille Ball also moved to
television for a career that spanned from 1951 to 1986.
When
Kim and Avalon win the talent competition with a record-high score of
97, Avalon launches into a chorus of “Beach
Blanket Bingo” by
Guy Hemrik and Jerry Styner, written for the 1967 film of the same
name. Coincidentally, the film was written and directed by William
Asher, who also directed 102 episodes of “I Love Lucy.”
Frankie
Avalon played a young man who was torn between banking and singing in
“Lucy and the Starmaker” (TLS S6;E4) until Lucy Carmichael comes
to his rescue.
Cher’s
mother, model and actress Georgia Holt, was one of the two models
wearing the Jacques Marcel “potato sack” dresses in “Lucy Gets
a Paris Gown” (ILL S5;E20, inset). Ten years later, she modeled fur coats
for Lucy Carmichael in “Lucy and Pat Collins” (TLS S5;E11).
Distraction
Action!
Lucy keeps absentmindedly fiddling with the table card in the
Wilshire Room. She even starts gesturing with it in her hand.
Eye Catching! Not exactly a goof or a blooper, but sometimes production design can upstage the action, which is the case with this woman’s HUGE grey wig and this equally HUGE ceramic cat!
The crazy cat was first glimpsed in Flip Wilson’s office in “Lucy and Flip Go Legit” (HL S4;E1) and also (bottom photo) in Shirley MacLaine’s apartment in the Universal film Sweet Charity (1969).
“The Carters Meet Frankie Avalon” rates 3 Paper Hearts out of 5
Who knew that Frankie Avalon was such a talented impressionist? This episode showcases his talents well. Avalon and Lucie Arnaz do a spot-on impression of Sonny and Cher, the main attraction of this episode where Lucy is more background than star.
Bela Lugosi, Bill Lee, Bob O’Brien, Bob Whitney, Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You, Coby Ruskin, Frankie Avalon, Fred S. Fox, Gale Gordon, George Holmes, Get It’s Great To Be Here, Gunsmoke, Here’s Lucy, Horray for Hollywood, I’ve Got You Babe, James Cagney, Jerry Fogel, John Wayne, kathryn diebel, Lucie Arnaz, Lucille Ball, Marl Young, Robert Hogan, Seaman Jacobs, Shirley Anthony, Sid Gould, Sonny and Cher, The Impossible Dream, Vic Glazer, Yankee Doodle Dandy -
TIPSY THROUGH THE TULIPS
S6;E10
~ November 12, 1973
Directed
by Coby Ruskin ~ Written by Bob Carroll Jr. and Madelyn DavisSynopsis
Lucy
is in charge of keeping a mystery novelist (Foster Brooks) sober long
enough to finish his next book.Regular
Cast
Lucille
Ball (Lucy
Carter), Gale
Gordon (Harrison
Otis Carter)Lucie
Arnaz (Kim
Carter) does not appear in this episode, nor is she mentioned in the
dialogue. The final credits do state, however, “Lucie Arnaz
wardrobe by Alroe.”Guest
Cast
Foster
Brooks
(David Benton Miller) was
a newscaster and disc jockey before switching to television
newscasting. His drunk act went over well with crowds at Las Vegas
nightclubs and on television. Brooks was a frequent guest on talk and
variety shows and several Dean
Martin celebrity roasts.
He actually quit drinking in the early 1960s (on a bet) and remained ‘on the wagon’
for the rest of his life.
He was nominated for an Emmy a year after this episode was filmed for his work with Dean Martin. He
died in 2001 at age 89.
Jack
Collins
(Arthur Collins) appeared
on the final two episodes of “The Lucy Show.” He played Russel
Slater on “Dallas” from 1982 to 1987. This is the fifth of his
six appearances on “Here’s Lucy.”Arthur
Collins is Harry’s accountant.
The
title is a reference to the song “Tip-Toe
Through the Tulips”
originally published in 1926 written by Joe Burke and Al Dubin and
introduced in the 1929 film The
Gold Diggers of Broadway.
The song had a revival in the 1960s and 1970s by falsetto singer Tiny
Tim of “Rowan and Martin’s Laugh-In.”
The song was referenced in “Lucy’s Wedding Party” (S3;E8) and Gale
Gordon and Vivian Vance sang the song in “Ethel Merman and the Boy
Scout Show” (TLS S2;E19). In this episode, the detective novel
written by Miller takes place in Holland and contains the line “he
was tiptoeing through the tulip beds” which
cues an intoxicated Lucy and Miller to sing the song.This episode was shot on September 27, 1973. After the episode was finished filming, the studio audience was sent home and Lucille, Lucie, and Gale stayed behind to film the US Savings Bond / US Treasury promo on the Unique Employment Agency set. Like this episode, it was directed by Coby Ruskin, but was written by Bob O’Brien. Although the actors play their “Here’s Lucy” characters, the 12-minute film does not have a laugh track. It can be seen on the bonus features of the “Here’s Lucy” Season Six DVDs.
Foster
Brooks was on the dais for the “Dean
Martin Celebrity Roast” of
Lucille Ball in February 1975. Other than Brooks and host Dean
Martin, others paying homage to Ball that night were Gale Gordon,
Vivian Vance, Jack Benny, Dan Rowan, Dick Martin, Don Rickles, Ginger
Rogers, Totie Fields, Milton Berle, Henry Fonda, Ruth Buzzi, Rich
Little, and Phyllis Diller.
When
Harry is told by his accountant (Jack Collins) to cut office expense,
he retorts, “This
isn’t exactly Hugh Hefner’s office at the Playboy Club.” Hugh
Hefner
(1926-2016) was a millionaire publishing magnate who created the
magazine and brand Playboy, a publication that showed nude or nearly
nude women alongside journalistic essays. The Playboy Clubs were an
offshoot of the magazine.
This
is the first episode to mention the word “inflation”
regarding
the cost of living. From 1973 to 1975 was a period of economic
stagnation in the US, ending the Post–World War II economic boon.
It differed from many previous recessions in that
high unemployment and high inflation existed
simultaneously.
The book Lucy is trying to help Miller finish is titled The Killer Wore Wooden Shoes and is set in Holland. Lucy
and Harry have both read Miller’s previous mystery novel, Murder
at the Masked Ball,
one of the Detective
Tuttle Mysteries.
On “The Lucy Show,” Tuttle was Vivian Bagley’s maiden name!
As the story unfolds, Miller goes from sober to sloppy. While
Lucy is taking dictation, Miller has booze hidden all around the
room.
In the mantle clock…
In a golf club…
In a golf ball…
In his binoculars…
In his boutonniere…
In a painting of a wine cask!
Lucy moves the work to her own home, where she figures she’ll have more control of Miller’s sobriety. Naturally, she’s wrong!
Mr.
Miller hides booze the same way Shelley Summers hid food in “Lucy
and Miss Shelley Winters” (S1;E4) during her crash diet.
Spike
fruit punch was also Lucy Carmichael’s undoing in “Lucy’s Sister
Pays a Visit” (TLS S1;E15).
Mystery
novels were Lucy and Ricky Ricardo’s obsession in “The Black Eye”
(ILL S2;E20).
Other famous Hollywood elbow benders that have guest-starred with Lucille Ball include Dean Martin…
and Phil Harris, who will play himself again in “Lucy and Phil Harris Strike Up the Band” (S6;E21).
Sitcom
Logic Alert!
Lucy becomes noticeably drunk after one glass of spiked punch. Her
taste buds fail to notice a whole bottle of spirits in her punch.
“Tipsy Through the Tulips” rates 4 Paper Hearts out of 5
Foster Brooks made alcoholism funny. This episode allows him to do what he does best – expertly backed by LBP’s production designers and writers.
-
HAPPY BIRTHDAY DESI ARNAZ JR. ~ born January 19, 1953
-
LUCY AND JOAN RIVERS DO JURY DUTY
S6;E9
~ November 5, 1973
Directed
by Coby Ruskin ~ Written by Bob Carroll Jr. and Madelyn DavisSynopsis
Lucy
is called to jury duty and clashes with one of her fellow jurors
(Joan Rivers). After Lucy is the sole dissenter toward a unanimous
verdict, the unlikely pair must room together for the night.Regular
Cast
Lucille
Ball (Lucy
Carter), Gale
Gordon (Harrison
Otis Carter)Lucie
Arnaz (Kim
Carter) does not appear in this episode, nor is she mentioned in the
dialogue. The final credits do state, however, “Lucie Arnaz
wardrobe by Alroe.”Guest Cast ~The Jury
1)
Joan Rivers
(Joan Reynolds, Juror) was born in 1933 as Joan Alexandra Molinksy.
She became stand-up
comedian, actress, writer, producer, and television host. She was
noted for her often controversial comedic persona – heavily
self-deprecating or sharply acerbic – especially toward celebrities
and politicians.
Rivers
gained prominence in 1965 as a guest on “The
Tonight Show.”
Hosted by her mentor, Johnny
Carson,
the show established Rivers’ comedic style. She also was the first
female guest-host of the show interviewing Lucille Ball three times.
She was nominated for a Tony on Broadway and co-wrote two plays.
There seemed like nothing Rivers could not (or would not) do. She died in 2014.Joan
Reynolds’ boyfriend is named Marvin Winterbottom III. Joan thinks he
is about to ‘pop the question.’
2)
James E. Brodhead (Mr.
Miller, Jury Foreman ) previously played Tilford in “The Big Game”
(S6;E2). He makes his fourth screen appearance in a career that
lasted until 1995.3)
Burt Mustin (Mr.
Robertson, elderly juror) was born in 1884! He didn’t do his first
film until age 67, although his stage and radio career started
earlier. He was generally cast as the stereotypical little old
man. He is probably best remembered as Mr. Quigley on “All in the
Family” and Mr. Lanson on “Phyllis.” He played Old Uncle
Joe in two 1973 episodes of “The Lucy Show.” Mustin also
played Uncle Jeff in Mame (1974). He died at age 92.Mr.
Robertson has a date with a ‘heavy date with a swinging chick’ after
the deliberations.4)
Judd Laurance
(Mr. Stalkup, Football Fan Juror) started his screen career in 1969
doing mostly crime dramas. This is his only appearance with Lucille
Ball.Mr.
Stalkup has tickets for a Rams game after the deliberations. His
surname is never spoken aloud, only listed in the final credits.5)
Savannah Bentley
(Miss Holmes, Juror) makes her only appearance with Lucille Ball.Her surname is never spoken aloud, only listed in the final credits.
6)
Alice Backes (Mrs.
Barnes, Juror) made her first TV appearance as a contestant
on Groucho Marx’s “You Bet Your Life” in 1950, billed
as a ‘future actress.’ She previously appeared on the series
in “Lucy, the Matchmaker” (S1;E12). By her death she accumulated
nearly 100 screen credits, so her game show ambitions were more than
realized.Mrs.
Barnes is celebrating her wedding anniversary.7)
Lew Palter
(Mr. Patrick, Juror) holds
a PhD in Theatre and has been a well respected acting instructor for
decades. This
is his only appearance with Lucille Ball.Mr.
Patrick’s name is never spoken in the dialogue, it is just listed in
the final credits.8)
Shirley Anthony
(Juror) makes
the seventh of her 13 episodes of “Here’s Lucy.” This
is one of only two times where she received screen credit.9)
Bob Whitney
(Juror) appeared
with Lucille Ball in The
Facts of Life (1960).
This is the third of his five appearances on the series.10)
Sid Gould
(Juror) made
more than 45 appearances on “The Lucy Show,” all as background
characters. This is one of his nearly 50 episodes of “Here’s
Lucy.” Gould (born Sydney Greenfader) was Lucille Ball’s cousin
by marriage to Gary Morton.11)
Walter Smith (Juror)
made 14 mostly uncredited appearances on the series. He also did one
episode of “The
Lucy Show.”
Hank
Brandt (Bailiff)
was born in 1934 in New Jersey. He began his screen acting
career in 1961. He previously played one of the astronauts
in “Lucy
and the Astronauts” (S4;E5)
and Johnny Muldoon in “Lucy and the Little Old Lady”
(S4;E17). This is his final episode
of the series.
When
Lucille Ball died in 1989, Joan Rivers wrote:“She
was tough, smart, a brilliant comedian and a walking master class in
comedy.”
When Joan Rivers died in 2014, The Lucille Ball / Desi Arnaz Museum and Center for Comedy wrote a tribute to her on their website, remembering her visit in 2012:
“In
an effort to showcase the very best in American comedy in Jamestown,
Joan Rivers joined us to celebrate the 100th anniversary of
Lucille Ball’s birth date in the most fitting way possible;
laughter. Her presence has been a key factor in the realization of
Lucille Ball’s wish for her hometown: to celebrate and honor the
best in comedy. Like Lucy, Joan changed the face of comedy for women
on TV. We will continue to celebrate Joan’s unique talents so that
her legacy lives on for generations to come.”~ Journey Gunderson, Executive Director
In
his DVD introduction, James E. Brodhead (Jury Foreman) recalls that
the episode was filmed in fall of 1973.
Brodhead also remembers that Lucy
and Joan enjoyed making each other laugh.
As Johnny Carson’s substitute host on “The Tonight Show,” Joan Rivers interviewed Lucille Ball several times.
This
episode is a loose satire of 12
Angry Men (1957),
a film starring Henry Fonda about a lone juror standing up for his
principles.
The movie is mentioned by Joan Rivers in the dialogue. It was based
on the CBS 1954 teleplay “Twelve Angry Men” which inspired a 1955
stage play. On television, the lone hold out was played by “Lucy”
alumni Bob Cummings. Henry Fonda co-starred with Ball in the 1968
film Yours,
Mine and Ours.
The
case is about the last will and testament of one Everett Covington,
who has left his million dollar fortune to his nurse, Susan Bartlett.
The will is contested by Covington’s grandson, George, on the basis
that his grandfather was coerced by the much-younger Bartlett to
change his will.
Lucy
calls elderly juror Mr. Robertson “the
Burt Reynolds of Sun City.”
The actor (and Playgirl centerfold) Burt
Reynolds
was one of the hottest male sex symbols of the 1970s. He released
three films in 1973 alone. Sun
City
is a gated, age-restricted community outside of Palm Springs,
California. In 2008 it was renamed Desert Springs.
Harry
picks up Lucy a couple of magazines to read in her hotel room
confinement: Fisherman’s Quarterly and The TV Log, two fictional
publications.
This
is the third celebrity named Joan that has guest-starred with Lucille Ball.
The other two are Joan Blondell…
and
Joan Crawford.
Although
they can’t talk about the case, Lucy reasons they can act it out through charades.
This gives Lucille Ball a chance to do pantomime, something she loved
and was quite good at.
Lucy first played charades on TV in “The Gossip” (ILL
S1;E24) in 1952.
The
argument between Lucy and Joan about whether to sleep with the window
open or closed was also a point of contention between Lucy and Ricky
Ricardo in “Breaking the Lease” (ILL S1;E18).
Sitcom
Logic Alert! A
contested will would certainly not call for a jury trial lasting two
weeks.
“Lucy and Joan Rivers Do Jury Duty” rates 3 Paper Hearts out of 5
It is good to see Rivers in an acting role and riffing with the great Lucille Ball. Lucy was very supportive of women in comedy, although she and Rivers were very different. For all its silly improbability, it is a watchable episode.
12 Angry Men, 1973, Alice Backes, Bob Carroll Jr., Bob Whitney, Burt Mustin, Burt Reynolds, CBS, charades, Coby Ruskin, Gale Gordon, Hank Brandt, Henry Fonda, Here’s Lucy, James E. Brodhead, Joan Rivers, Judd Laurance, jury, Lew Palter, Lucille Ball, Madelyn Davis, Savannah Bentley, Shirley Anthony, Sid Gould, Sun City, The Tonight Show, trial, tv, Twelve Angry Men, Walter Smith -
RIP Peter Wyngarde – British stage and screen actor who was born in France to an English father and French mother. Lucille Ball personally asked Wyngarde to appear in the her TV special “Lucy in London” (1966) having seen him on Broadway in “Duel of Angels” starring Vivien Leigh in 1960 (while she was rehearsing “Wildcat”). She was said to have been smitten by him, and was determined to find a way for the two of them to act together. Later in life, Wyngarde battled alcoholism and personal problems. He died at age 90.
-
LUCY AND ANDY GRIFFITH
S6;E8
~ October 29, 1973
Directed
by Coby Ruskin ~ Written by Robert O’BrienSynopsis
When
Lucy meets a charismatic man (Andy Griffith) raising money for
underprivileged youth in the park, Kim decides to investigate to see
if he’s really who he says he is.Regular
CastLucille
Ball (Lucy
Carter), Gale
Gordon (Harrison
Otis Carter), Lucie
Arnaz (Kim
Carter)Guest
Cast
Andy
Griffith
(Andy Johnson) was a former music teacher. He began his screen
career in 1948 on variety shows hosted by Ed Sullivan and Steve
Allen. In 1955 he was nominated for a Tony Award for his appearance
on Broadway in No
Time for Sergeants.
He also appeared in the 1958 film version of the play. In 1960 he
appeared with Danny Thomas on “Make Room for Daddy” as Sheriff
Andy Taylor and the character was spun-off into his own series “The
Andy Griffith Show.” He stayed with the show until 1968. That
same year he appeared on “The Tennessee Ernie Ford Special” on
NBC with Lucille Ball. He also appeared as Andy Taylor on two
episodes of “Gomer Pyle: USMC.” In 1971 he starred in “The New
Andy Griffith Show” which lasted only one season. He had another
hit series in 1986 with “Matlock” which ran until 1995. Griffith
died in 2012 at age 86.
Sid
Gould
(Policeman) made
more than 45 appearances on “The Lucy Show,” all as background
characters. This is one of his nearly 50 episodes of “Here’s
Lucy.” Gould (born Sydney Greenfader) was Lucille Ball’s cousin
by marriage to Gary Morton.
Randall
Carver
(Henry, left) began his career in 1969 and is best remembered as John Burns
on the first season of “Taxi” (1978-79). This is his only
appearance with Lucille Ball. He was 27 years old when he appeared
in this episode.Rick
Kellman
(Jerry, above right) played Lucille Ball and Bob Hope’s son in the film Critic’s
Choice
in 1963. He started acting at age 6 and is best remembered for
playing Randy in “The Dennis O’Keefe Show” (1959-60) and Tommy in
“Our Man Higgins” (1962-63). A year after this appearance on
“Here’s Lucy” he left show business.The
character’s name is not spoken aloud, just listed in the final
credits.
Hank
Stohl
(Bill Adams) began his career in 1959 and was the voice on the radio
on “The Waltons” from 1977 to 1980. This is his only appearance
with Lucille Ball.Bob
Whitney
(Stage Manager) appeared
with Lucille Ball in The
Facts of Life (1960).
This is the second of his five appearances on the series.The
character has no lines. He tallies the donations on a chalk board at
the end of the episode.Marl
Young
(Conductor) was the musical director for “Here’s Lucy” as well as
making several on-camera appearances when the shows included live
music.Vocalists:
Nancy
La Mar, Rosemary O’Brien, Dave Anderson Stuart, and
Marvin
RobinsonThe
musicians and others in the park and restaurant are played by
uncredited background performers.
In
March 1965, Lucille Ball interviewed Andy Griffith for two
installments of her CBS radio show “Let’s Talk To Lucy” while he
was still playing Sheriff Andy Taylor on TV.
Six
Degrees of Lucy!
Although none of Lucille Ball’s TV incarnations ever came face to
face with Sheriff Andy Taylor, they traveled in the same TV world:- In
1959, the year before Andy Taylor met Danny Williams on “Make Room
for Daddy”, Danny Williams and family met Lucy Ricardo and family
on a 1958 episode of “The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour.” - Keith
Thibodeaux, who played Lucy Ricardo’s son, Little Ricky, played
Opie’s pal Johnny Paul Jason in 13 episodes of “The Andy Griffith
Show” between 1962 and 1966. - Gomer
Pyle, who lived in Mayberry, joined the Marines and was spun off in
his own series “Gomer Pyle USMC” when he made a brief appearance
on “The Lucy Show” in 1966. - “The
Andy Griffith Show” had a sequel series titled “Mayberry RFD”
starring Ken Berry, a protégé of Lucille Ball’s who had appeared on
“The Lucy Show” in 1968.
All
of these shows were filmed on the Desilu backlot (formerly RKO, later
Paramount).
Don
Knotts, who played Andy Griffith’s bumbling sidekick Deputy Barney
Fife, guest starred in “Lucy Goes on Her Last Blind Date”
(S5;E6). Some other “Lucy” actors who frequently showed up in
Mayberry include Hal Smith, Parley Baer, Norman Leavitt, Amzie
Strickland, Dub Taylor, Stanley Farrar, Will Wright, Herbie Faye,
Jonathan Hole, Byron Foulger, Tol Avery, Reta Shaw, Lurene Tuttle,
Ruth McDevitt, Ruta Lee, Jay Novello, Ross Elliot, Maxine Semon, Herb
Vigran, and Sid Melton.
There
are some very basic similarities between “The Lucy Show” and “The
Andy Griffith Show.”- Both Griffith and Ball used their own first
names, which consist of four letters ending in ‘y’ and also
appear in the title. - Both characters have spouses that died before
the series’ begins. - Both have children and faithful sidekicks.
- Both
started filming in black and white and eventually aired in color. - Both shows ended in early 1968 only to be re-born in the fall as
newly-titled shows: “Here’s Lucy” and “Mayberry RFD.”
The
Christian overtones in this episode are unusual for this series. A
few weeks earlier Kim jokingly said that they missed church on
Sunday!
When
Lucy and Andy are in the same shot together it becomes visibly clear
that Lucille Ball is being filmed by a camera with a filtered lens to
soften her look, while the other camera remains unfiltered. The
contrast is especially noticeable when Lucy is standing next to Andy
in the motel room and goes in and out of soft focus depending on
which camera angle is used.
The
show opens with Andy and his back-up singers performing “I’ll
Fly Away”
by Albert E. Brumley. First published in 1932 it has been called the
most recorded Gospel song of all time.
Andy passes the hat for donations for his Right Path Youth Camp in
Northern California – only getting thirty eight cents.
At
a local restaurant, Andy Johnson tells Lucy that after he came out of
the service he became a Sheriff. Lucy responds with disbelief: “A
Sheriff!”
Although he had left the role of Sheriff Taylor in 1969,
Griffith would play him again in the 1986 TV movie “Return to
Mayberry.” He would play another Sheriff on “Adams of Eagle
Lake,” a 1975 police drama that lasted just two episodes on ABC. The two episodes were later issued on DVD under the titles “Deadly Game” and “Winter Kill.”Andy
tells Lucy his fiancee Alice ran off with his best man Charlie.
Dressed
in her downmarket blue jeans, Kim says “What
do I look like? Jackie Onassis.” Jacqueline
Lee Bouvier Kennedy Onassis (1929-94)
was first mentioned in “Lucy Visits the White House” (TLS S1;E25)
in 1963, when she was First Lady of the United States. She married
Greek millionaire Aristotle Onassis in 1968.
On
Bill Adams’ TV show, Andy and his singers perform “I’m
Gonna Write a Song”
by Jerry Reed and released in 1973. They raise $464.00 for the Right
Path Youth Camp – quite a step up from their initial take of thirty
eight cents!
The
TV camera is labeled ‘KBEX COLOR.’ KBEX were
the call letters for fictional TV and radio stations. They were used
in many TV shows and films, including in Desilu’s “Mannix” and
“Mission: Impossible.” They were first used on “Here’s Lucy”
in “Lucy
Is Really in a Pickle” (S5;E15) and most recently in “Lucy,
the Wealthy Widow” (S6;E4). Starting
in 2005, the FCC (Federal Communications Commission) started using
KBEX for actual broadcast stations.
Similarly, the 555
telephone exchange is used exclusively for fictional numbers seen in
films and television. Here, the telethon number on the chalkboard is
555-8732.
Lucy
Ricardo also meet a charity organization in a public park in “Lucy’s
Last Birthday” (ILL S2;E25). They were called The Friends of the
Friendless.
Recycling!
The exterior plaza where Andy sings in the first scene is the same
one used for the gallery courtyard in “Lucy and Danny Thomas”
(S6;E1). The red booth in the restaurant also makes the rounds. It
has been seen many different restaurants throughout the series.Character
Consistency!
Lucy says that Kim works for a talent agency. In “Kim Cuts
You-Know-Whose Apron String” (S3;E24) she said she worked for a
Public Relations firm.
“Lucy and Andy Griffith” rates 1 Paper Heart out of 5
This
is an unusual and awkward episode – not funny or serious. The
chemistry between Andy and Lucy is given short shrift in favor of
Kim’s suspicions about his veracity. When she allows Andy (an older,
single man from out of town) to bring her to his run-down motel room
things just get weird. Then he turns her over his knee and spanks
her with his slipper, and things turn from weird to uncomfortable. This sort of thing might have passed for funny in 1953, but not in
1973. She leaves the room through a window (luckily they were on the
first floor) after writing on the mirror in shaving cream “You are
a nice man.” Huh? There’s also an undertone of religion (gospel
songs, mentions of ‘the Lord’), something that Lucy meticulously
avoided throughout her television career. The only exception to this
unpleasantness is the brief scene where Lucy schools Andy in how to
relax on television. This must have been something that Lucille Ball
did when coaching young actors as part of the Desilu Playhouse. There
are so many ways Andy Griffith could have been used on “Here’s
Lucy,” but this seems the least satisfactory showcase for his
talents.
1973, Andy Griffith, Bob O’Brien, Bob Whitney, CBS, Coby Ruskin, Dave Anderson Stuart, Gale Gordon, Gospel Songs, Hank Stohl, Here’s Lucy, I’ll Fly Away, I’m Gonna Write a Song, Jackie Onassis, KBEX, Lucie Arnaz, Lucille Ball, Marl Young, Marvin Robinson, Mayberry RFD, Nancy La Mar, Randall Carver, Rick Kellman, Rosemary O’Brien, Sid Gould, The Andy Griffith Show, tv - In
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