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LUCY PROTECTS HER JOB
S2;E14
~ December 22, 1969
Directed
by Danny Dayton ~ Written by Sam Perrin and Ralph GoodmanSynopsis
When
Lucy fears her job is in danger, Kim pretends to be an bumbling
secretary to make Harry appreciate Lucy even more!Regular
CastLucille
Ball (Lucy
Carter), Gale
Gordon (Harrison
Otis Carter), Lucie
Arnaz (Kim
Carter)Desi
Arnaz Jr. (Craig
Carter) does not appear in this episode.Guest
Cast
Mary
Jane Croft
(Mary Jane) makes
her third series appearance as Mary Jane. Croft 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.
Robert
Carson
(Mr. Morgan, Harry’s Golf Partner) was
a busy Canadian-born character actor who appeared on six episodes of
“The Lucy Show.” This is the second of his five appearances on
“Here’s Lucy.”Although
Carson is credited as Mr. Morgan, his name is never spoken in the
dialogue.
Wanda
Clark
(Secretary) was Lucille Ball’s real-life secretary for 27 years.
She was also maid of honor at Lucie Arnaz’s wedding to Phil
Vandervort in 1971. This is Clark’s only screen appearance.
This
is the first of four episodes written by Ralph
Goodman,
two of which were with Sam
Perrin,
who previously wrote “Lucy, the Cement Worker” (S2;E10) with
George Balzer. This is the first of two episodes directed by Danny Dayton. Born in Jersey City, New Jersey, Dayton was primarily an actor who had appeared on Broadway in Guys and Dolls and was also in the 1955 film version.
Wanda
Clark
introduces this episode on the series DVD. She says that she got the
role because Lucy admired how fast she could type, something Lucy
thought was important to the character. But the typewriter on the set
was a manual and Clark had been using an electric for many
years – so she had to fake it.This
is the final episode before Christmas 1969. Fans have noted that
“Here’s Lucy” is the only “Lucy” sitcom not to feature a
holiday-themed episode.
When
Mary Jane tells Lucy her nail polish color is Abalone
Pink,
Lucy replies “Good!
Then I can bite my nails on Friday.”
This may be a reference to the fact that Catholics were not supposed
to eat meat on Fridays, abalone being shellfish popular in the waters
off Southern California. Although this rule was relaxed and limited
to Lent in 1966, many Catholics hung on to the practice for many
years. While Lucy was not a Catholic by birth, she converted for her
marriage to Desi Arnaz. Her husband at the time, Gary Morton, was
Jewish.Harry
asks for the file on the Dawson
account. The surname was used in the previous episode to refer to
one of Kim’s dates.Harry
gives Lucy roses, despite saying he was allergic to them in “Lucy
and Harry’s Tonsils” (S2;E5). He says they cost $12.50 a dozen.
Today the cost of roses varies widely; anything
from $10 or under for a dozen red roses at the local corner store, to
$20
at
the supermarket, to more than $90 at a high-end florist.In
her second scene Mary Jane wears the same black dress with white
collar and cuffs that she has worn on two of her previous
appearances. On this series, her wardrobe choices seem to be
limited.
Harry
Gives Lucy a framed photograph of himself as a gift. This is the
same photo that hangs over Harry’s mantle at home. It is actually a
colorized black and white photo of Gale
Gordon
as Mr. Mooney that was seen several times on “The Lucy Show.”
At
first glance, the photo is curiously cropped, with lots of ‘head
room’. This is to later facilitate Lucy impaling it on the ram’s
horns on the wall.
This
is the episode where Lucie Arnaz appears to want to follow in her
mother’s footsteps and is given the material to shine as a comic
actress. The script has Kim cast in a theatre production where she
plays an incompetent secretary who messes everything up (not unlike
Lucys Carter and Carmichael). Kim even imitates Lucy Ricardo’s
famously inflected “Well…”
when thing don’t go her way.
As
Shirley Shoppenhauer, the new secretary, Kim says Harry is
“so
Cary
Grant-ish”! Harry says people compare him more with Jack
Lemmon.
Later, Kim/Shirley calls him “a regular Milton
Boil.”Harry
dictates a letter to Robert Carlton Enterprises.
With
her broad New York accent, Kim/Shirley answers the phone “Carter’s
Eunuch Employment Agency.”
Whenever
viewers see a fan next to a stack of papers, they can be assured
those papers are headed for the floor!
Similarly, at the end of the
episode, Harry notices that the water cooler jug is empty. Any
regular viewer knows that where there’s water, Harry will end up wet!
Sharp eyes may notice both the fan and the water cooler before they
have even been used for their comic purposes.
This
episode is thematically similar to “Lucy’s Substitute Secretary”
(TLS S5;E14) where Lucy Carmichael fears for her job and dons a variety of outrageous disguises.
Sitcom
Logic Alert!
Harry does not recognize his own niece even face to face!
Props! When
Harry opens the file cabinet drawer to show Kim/Shirley the “old
accounts” the drawer is completely empty! In an earlier scene,
Lucy opened the drawer above it to find the Dawson file and the file
drawer was clearly labeled “new accounts.” Amazingly, Harry
opens the same drawer to show Kim/Shirley the “new accounts.”
The acute attention to detail here is probably just happenstance.Let It Fall! When
Kim/Shirley purposely opens the file cabinet drawer so that Harry
will bump his head, a metal vase atop the filing cabinet falls to the
floor. Lucie notices it but, like the stamps that litter the office
floor, no one picks it up.
“Lucy Protects Her Job” rates 4 Paper Hearts out of 5
The
highlight of this episode is clearly Lucie Arnaz’s bravura
performance as Shirley Shoppenhauer. For the first time in her
career, it is apparent that Lucie Arnaz shares her mother’s sense of
comedy and ability to create characters. It is delightful to watch
Lucille Ball/Lucy Carter react on screen to her daughter’s amazingly
funny performance. For die-hard Lucy fans, the cameo by Lucille
Ball’s real-life secretary Wanda Clark is a treat.
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LUCY AND THE BOGIE AFFAIR
S2;E13
~ December 15, 1969
Directed
by Herbert Kenwith ~ Written by Pat McCormick and Jim McGinnSynopsis
When
Kim and Craig find a stray dog in the rain, they take it home and
name it Bogie. Next morning, it gives birth to a litter of puppies! Just as they’ve managed to give away all the puppies to
good homes, Harry hears that there’s a reward and they have to
retrieve them again!Regular
CastLucille
Ball (Lucy
Carter), Gale
Gordon (Harrison
Otis Carter), Lucie
Arnaz (Kim
Carter), Desi
Arnaz Jr. (Craig
Carter)Guest
Cast
Lord
Nelson
(Bogie) makes his fourth appearance with Lucille Ball after playing
Nelson, Mr. Mooney’s dog in three episodes of “The Lucy Show.”
Jack
LaLanne
(Himself) was a nationally known exercise guru who owned a chain of
health clubs and hosted a long-running television show from 1952 to
1983.
Happy
(Himself)
is Jack LaLanne’s dog. He appeared with LaLanne on many of his
television shows.Eugene
Molnar
(Jack’s Cameraman) appeared on four episodes of the series. These
are his only screen credits.
Sherry
Alberoni
(Candy) was a second-season replacement Mousketeer on “The Mickey
Mouse Club” (1955). She also dubbed Patty Duke’s vocals in the
film
Valley of the Dolls
(1967). This is her only appearance with Lucille Ball.
Steve
March
(Steve) is
the son of Mel Torme and the adopted son of the Arnaz family’s
friend, Hal March.
Mel Torme appeared several times on “The Lucy Show.” Hal March
appeared on “I Love Lucy.” Steve March will appear in one more
episode starring Sammy Davis Jr. and will write a song for an episode
starring Ann-Margret.
Debbie
Westcott
(Debbie Westcott) was the daughter of Desilu Prop Master Kenneth
Westcott. This is her only screen credit.
Irwin
Charone (Mr.
Farnsworth) made five appearances on “The Lucy Show.” The
expressive character actor also did an equal number of “Here’s
Lucy” episodes. He died in January 2016 in Maplewood, New Jersey,
at the age of 93.
This
is the first of 14 episodes directed by Herbert
Kenwith.
Born in New Jersey, Kenwith started out as an actor on Broadway, and
then produced 65 productions at Princeton’s McCarter Theatre. One of
these starred a young Lucille Ball, in a show headed to Broadway but
never made it due to the serious illness of its leading man. He died
in 2008 at the age of 90.This
is the first and only episode of the series written by comedian
turned writer Pat
McCormick.
McCormick previously wrote “Lucy in London” in 1966. This is
the only episode written by Jim
McGinn
as well as his only collaboration with McCormick.
Lucille
Ball was a dog lover and owned many dogs during her life.Kim
and Craig name the dog they find Bogie because it had the same sad
look standing in the rain as Humphrey
Bogart does
at the end of 1942’s Casablanca.When
Kim effusively hugs her mother when she comes home, Lucy reminds her
she was “just
at work, not walking on the moon!”
The moon
walk
of John Glenn and Buzz Aldrin occurred on July 20, 1969 just after
this episode went before the cameras.
Coming home in a
thunderstorm, Lucy unwittingly says “It’s
not a fit night out for man, nor beast!”
not knowing the kids have hidden Bogie in the kitchen. Lucy
initially attributes the quote to Shakespeare (wrong!) and then to
W.C.
Fields
(right!). The line was spoken by Fields in the 1933 film The
Fatal Glass of Beer. The quote was also spoken by Gale Gordon in “Lucy and the Monsters” (TLS S3;E18).
When
Lucy sees Bogie in the kitchen, she jokes that he’s a shaggy horse
and calls him “Matt
Dillon’s last mount!”
Matt Dillon was a character played by James Arness (above) on “Gunsmoke,”
the long-running western that was “Here’s Lucy’s” lead-in on CBS.
After
Lucy agrees to let Bogie stay, she says “If
you want anything, just whistle”
paraphrasing Lauren Bacall’s famous line to Humphrey Bogart in the
film To
Have and Have Not (1944).The
nine puppies go to:- Stevie – Craig’s girl crazy classmate
- Blanche
– Lucy’s lonely friend from New Orleans - Candy
– Kim’s friend looking for the latest trend - Pauline
Lopus – Lucy’s friend looking for a watchdog - Debbie
Westcott – Craig’s classmate who takes a puppy in exchange for
going steady with Craig - Natalie
Schwartz (unseen) – a friend of Craig’s - Freddy
Dawson (unseen) – a friend of Kim’s
Lucy tries to give one
to Jack LaLanne but he ends up giving her one of his dog Happy’s pups
instead. Including the one she was intending to give LaLanne, this
still leaves one puppy unaccounted for by the script.Lucy’s
telephone call with an unseen Blanche
from New Orleans is likely a nod to Tennessee Williams’ 1947 play and
1951 film A
Streetcar Named Desire,
whose principal character Blanche Dubois lives in New Orleans.
To
convince Candy that owning old English Sheepdog puppies is the newest
fad, Kim crops photos of the pups with music celebrities Barbra
Streisand and
Herb
Alpert and
tapes the photos to the inside of her locker. In 1969 singer
Streisand won an Oscar for her performance in the film Funny
Girl.
Herb Albert was a trumpeter who performed with his group the Tijuana
Brass. In 1969 they released the album
Warm.Lucy’s
telephone call with the unseen Pauline
Lopus
is a tribute to her childhood friend Flo Pauline Lopus, whose name
used on many Lucille Ball sitcoms.
Harry
has been diagnosed with an allergy to dog fur. In “Lucy and
Harry’s Tonsils” (S2;E5) we learn that Harry is also allergic to
flowers.
Harry
dictates a letter to Rylander,
Mosier and Tebbit.
These names are Gale Gordon’s go-to addressees for dictation, having
been used on both “Here’s Lucy” and on “The Lucy Show.”Craig
says he is now going steady with both Debbie Westcott and Natalie
Schwartz. Kim has to go the prom and the spring formal with Freddy
Dawson (who she calls “The Creature from the Black Lagoon”).
Both Natalie and Freddy don’t appear on camera. In real life, Natalie
Schwartz
was a wealthy friend of Lucille Ball’s from Rancho Mirage. Her
husband Danny was the owner of Elmhurst Dairies in Queens, NY.Trying
to get the reward for Bogie and the nine pups, Harry appoints himself
banker
of
the group. This is ironic since Gale Gordon’s previous character
with Lucille Ball was banker Theodore J. Mooney.
In
the high school scenes, Craig wears his letter sweater with the large
“A” on the chest. It was mentioned in “Lucy and Carol Burnett”
(S1;E17, above) that Kim and Craig attend Angeles High School. In that
episode, many of these sweaters were worn by the boys in the chorus
of the musical fundraiser.
Humphrey
Bogart never appeared on screen with Lucille Ball. However, in
“Ricky’s Movie Offer” (ILL S4;E5) Desi Arnaz does an impression
of Bogart.
In
“Lucy and the Andrews Sisters” (S2;E6) Lucy blows a kiss to a
large poster of Bogart from the movie Casablanca. Coincidentally, a poster of W.C. Fields – who Lucy quotes in the episode – is hung next to Bogart!
Lucy’s
children bring home a dog against their mother’s wishes, just like
Little Ricky did in “Little Ricky Gets a Dog” (ILL S6;E14).
The only other “Lucy” show to feature more dogs was “Lucy and Viv Learn Judo” (TLS S1;E22) in 1963.
Shut the Door! When Harry comes in to share the news about the reward, he leaves the front door open – in a house with unleashed dogs!
Where the Floor Ends! In
Jack LaLanne’s studio and in the Carter home, the camera pulls back
too far and reveals the cement stage floor. This is a weekly
occurrence.
“Lucy and the Bogie Affair” rates 3 Paper Hearts out of 5
This
episode is for dog lovers! The cute puppies and shaggy Bogie are the
best parts. There is some attempt at a funny montage of getting rid
of the dogs to various owners, but it lacks comic rhythm. Jack
LaLanne was a better fitness coach than an actor! Unusually, the
comic finale of the episode happens off-screen!1969, A Fatal Glass of Beer, Barbra Streisand, Bogie, CBS, Debbie Westcott, Desi Arnaz Jr., Eugene Molnar, Gale Gordon, Gunsmoke, Herb Alpert, Herbert Kenwith, Here’s Lucy, Humphrey Bogart, Irwin Charrone, Jack LaLanne, Jim McGinn, Lucie Arnaz, Lucille Ball, Moon Walk, Natalie Schwartz, Pat McCormick, Pauline Lopus, puppies, Sheepdog, Sherry Alberoni, Steve Marsh, To Have and Have Not, tv, w.c. fields -
LUCY AND THE GENERATION GAP
S2;E12
~ December 8, 1969
Directed
by Jack Baker ~ Written by Fred S. Fox and Seaman JacobsSynopsis
Kim
and Craig are in charge of producing the school play. At a loss for
ideas, they recruit Lucy and Harry to be in a musical about the
generation gap.Regular
CastLucille
Ball (Lucy
Carter), Gale
Gordon (Harrison
Otis Carter), Lucie
Arnaz (Kim
Carter), Desi
Arnaz Jr. (Craig
Carter)Guest
Cast
Cecil
Gold
(Fred) danced in one more episode of the series; the same episode
directed by Jack Baker. Lesley Evans (Janet) was a dancer on the Dick Clark series “Where the Action Is” and also played nurses on several episodes of “M*A*S*H.”
Victor
Sen Yung
(Murphy Irving Fong) was best known for playing the cook Hop Sing on
“Bonanza.” He was previously seen as the Waiter in “Lucy’s
Birthday” (S1;E8).
The
‘Slave Girls’ are played by:- Sheila
Denher
was also glimpsed in the background of the film musicals Bye
Bye Birdie (1963)
and Hello,
Dolly
(1969). - Fran
Lee
was the sister-in-law of Jack Gilford, who appeared in “Lucy Helps
Craig Get a Driver’s License” (S1;E24). She appeared
on radio and television under the names Mrs. Fix-It, Mrs. Consumer,
and Granny Franny, to give advice on consumer issues and public
health and safety.
Lee led
a successful consumer campaign that helped passed the “Pooper
Scooper Law” in New York City, which made residents responsible
for cleaning up after their pets.
This is her only appearance with Lucille Ball. - Leslie
McRae
was Miss
Hawaii in 1968. She was also second runner up to Miss World in 1968.
This led to a film career that included producing a documentary film
about the events of 9/11. - Tara
Glynn, Joanie Webster
and Martiz
Ko
all make their only screen appearances with this episode.
The
“Card Girl” and the diners at Murphy’s Pizza Parlor are all
uncredited background performers.
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. Cate
Blanchett was born on this date in Australia and is currently slated
to play Lucille Ball in an upcoming biopic.
“Here’s
Lucy” musical director Marl Young introduces the episode on the
DVD.It
is rumored that Lucille Ball’s voice was dubbed in the songs, which
were all pre-recorded and mouthed by the cast for the filming. Since
Lucy has no solo singing, it is difficult to tell if it is actually
her voice or not on the soundtrack.Craig
jokes that he knows a Mormon, so he might be able to get the Mormon
Tabernacle Choir
for their school show. The choir was previously mentioned in “Guess Who Owes Lucy $23.50” (S1;E11).When
Lucy avoids eating pizza to preserve her figure, Craig says “Look
what it did for Sofia Loren.” Lucy
digs in. Sofia
Loren
is an Italian-born film actress of great beauty who won an Oscar for
Best Actress in 1960.Putting
a quarter in the juke box, the music immediately plays the
instrumental version of “I
Know A Place”
by Tony Hatch. The song was made popular in 1965 by Petula Clark.
This is the fourth time the song has been heard on “Here’s Lucy.”
Craig
uses the expression “Chinaman’s Chance” in front of Murphy
(Victor Sen Yung), who says “Don’t
apologize to me! I’m Irish!”
In reality, Victor Sen Yung was born in San Francisco but to Chinese
immigrants.Craig
says that Harry is their only uncle, a fact that will be challenged when Lucy’s brother Herb is introduced in February 1972.
Harry
says that he was in Romeo
and Juliet in
college. Because it was an all-men’s college, he played Juliet. He
stands up in the middle of Murphy’s and delivers Juliet’s monologue.
This is the same part that Lucy Ricardo played in high school. Like
Harry, she delivered the monologue at the drop of a hat in “Lucy
Meets Orson Welles” (ILL S6;E3).
At
the start of the first segment of the musical, Gale Gordon (and later
Lucille Ball) is reading a magazine called ‘Roman Scandals.’ Roman
Scandals is
also the title of Lucille Ball’s uncredited film debut in 1933.
In
the Greek section of the school play, Lucy plays Calpurnia and Harry
is Caesar. Holding a bowl of fruit, she asks “Would
you care for an orange, Julius?” Orange
Julius
is a chain of fruit drink stores that grew out of a single orange
juice stand operated by Julius Freed in Los Angeles in 1926. The
Orange Julius was named the official drink of
the 1964
New York World’s Fair.
The business is currently owned by Dairy Queen.
Kim
is named Kimea and she wears a mini-toga. Craig is called Craigius
and has long hair (thanks to his barber Delilah).When Caesar
(Harry) asks the weather, Calpurnia (Lucy) replies, “Hail,
Caesar!”
“Kids
Are Bugged About Parents” is the first song of the play sung to the
tune of “I’m
Just Wild About Harry, ”
a song written
in 1921 by Eubie
Blake
for
the Broadway
show
Shuffle
Along.
Like all the songs in the episode, it has special lyrics suited to
the theme.
In
the Gay 90s segment, Harry plays Ambrose, the father. Lucy and the
kids don’t get different names in this segment.Craig
wants to date Mary Lou. Kim wants to date Georgie Marshall.
George
Marshall was
the name of the director who staged the first eleven episodes of
season two of “Here’s Lucy.”
The
foursome sing “We’ll Just Cut the Old House in Two” which is sung
to the tune of “Bicycle
Built for Two” aka
“Daisy Bell” written
in 1892 by Harry
Dacre.
In
a nod to Desilu’s series “Star
Trek”,
at the opening of the space age segment, Craig (with the help of the
Desilu special effects department) materializes in a transporter
tube.
Kim
wants to go to Jupiter with Spencer. When Lucy refuses because it is
an overnight trip, Lucie reasons that Helen’s mother lets her go.
Harry points out that Helen’s mother is a robot – and always
“well-oiled.” They sing “Kids”
a song written by Lee Adams and Charles Strouse for the 1960 Broadway
musical Bye
Bye Birdie.
The musical was filmed in 1963. This song is originally about the
generation gap, so it requires the least lyrical changes.
A
pink phonograph used as a prop in the Gay ’90s segment was previously
seen (somewhat incongruously) in the Navajo hogan in “Lucy and the
Indian Chief” (S2;E3).
Gay
’90’s musical segments were seen on “I Love Lucy” in “Lucy’s
Show Biz Swan Song” (ILL S2;E12) and “Mertz and Kurtz”
(ILL S4;E2).
Shut
the Front Door! The front door of Murphy’s Pizzeria is wide open in the second
scene. This was common on “Lucy” sitcoms. When the camera pans
out to show the juke box, the cement stage floor is visible.
Wardrobe
Malfunction! During the dance break in “Kids Are Bugged About Parents” Lucy’s
long hair momentarily gets snagged on Gale Gordon’s gold
metal laurel. Ouch!Lip
Synch for Your Life! When the stage separates at the end of the Gay 90s segment, Lucie
Arnaz stops mouthing the words to the song when others are holding
out the last note.
Sitcom
Logic Alert! A
few months earlier, Kim and Craig’s school had to raise money just to
afford a gymnasium. The costumes and scenery here are far too lavish
for any high school to afford.
“Lucy and the Generation Gap” rates 4 Paper Hearts out of 5
This
is by far one of the best of the musical episodes. Desilu must have
broke the bank on costumes and scenery for this episode. The theme
of ‘generation gap’ is truly what the show was supposed to be about
so it is nice to see it played out again in a musical theatre format.
For all its lavish production values, the show has a neat symmetry:
three segments from history, each one with one song, sung by all four
cast members. There is also far more clever ‘scene work’ here than
in most musical episodes.
1969, Bicycle Built for Two, CBS, Cecil Gold, Desi Arnaz Jr., Fran Lee, Gale Gordon, Gay 90s, George Marshall, Here’s Lucy, high school musical, I Know A Place, I’m Just Wild About Harry, Jack Baker, Joanie Webster, Julius Caesar, Kids, Leslie Evans, Leslie McRae, Lucie Arnaz, Lucille Ball, Martiz Ko, Mormon Tabernacle Choir, Orange Julius, Roman Scandals, Rome and Juliet, Sheila Denher, Tara Glynn, tv, Victor Sen Yung - Sheila
-
LUCY AND JOHNNY CARSON
S2;E11
~ December 1, 1969
Directed
by George Marshall ~ Written by Milt Josefsberg and Ray SingerSynopsis
When
Harry takes Lucy and the kids to the filming of an educational TV
show, Lucy wangles their way into “The Tonight Show” instead.
Playing ‘Stump the Band’, Lucy and Harry win dinner at the Brown
Derby. Unfortunately for Johnny Carson and Ed McMahon, Lucy seats
herself at their table.Regular
CastLucille
Ball (Lucy
Carter), Gale
Gordon (Harrison
Otis Carter), Lucie
Arnaz (Kim
Carter), Desi
Arnaz Jr. (Craig
Carter)Guest
Cast
Johnny
Carson
(Himself) was born in 1925
in Corning, Iowa. He was a talk show host and comedian, best known
for his 30 years as host of “The
Tonight Show”
(1962–92)
for which he received six
Emmy
Awards. Johnny Carson
and Lucille Ball appeared together many times on TV specials and
award shows. Carson played himself on “Lucy Moves to NBC” in
1980. He died in 2005 as an icon of late night television.
Ed
McMahon (Himself)
was born in 1923
in Detroit, Michigan. He was a comedian, actor, singer, game show
host, and announcer. He is most famous for his thirty year run as
Johnny
Carson’s
sidekick,
announcer,
and
second
banana
on
“The
Tonight Show.”
He acted with Lucille Ball on “Lucy Calls the President” (1977)
as well as one more episode of “Here’s Lucy” where he does not
play himself. He
died in 2009.
Sid
Gould
(Maitre D’) made more than 45 appearances on “The Lucy Show,” all
as background characters. This is one of his 40 episodes of “Here’s
Lucy.” Gould (born Sydney Greenfader) was Lucille Ball’s cousin
by marriage to Gary Morton.Sid
Kane
(Waiter) was born in New York in 1911, just like Lucille Ball. In
1971 he was a guest on “The Tonight Show.”
This is his only appearance on a “Lucy” sitcom.
Jim
Henaghan
(First Usher) was born in 1943 and is the son of performer Gwen Verdon (inset). This is his only
appearance with Lucille Ball.
Michael
McClay (Second
Usher) was born in 1949. e was the son of Lucille Ball’s publicity
director Howard McClay. In 1995 he wrote the book I
Love Lucy: The Complete Picture History of the Most Popular TV Show
Ever.
This is his only screen appearance.
Laurence
Temple
(Third Usher) was also born in 1949. According to IMDB, he has two
other screen credits.
Mike
Nicoletti (Fourth
Usher) was born in 1949. He is likely a relative of “Here’s Lucy”
assistant director Louis Nicoletti (inset).
Dede
Ball
(Woman in Audience, second row right on the aisle) was Lucille Ball’s mother. She was said to be in the audience of all her daughter’s TV
shows. She died in 1977 at the age of 84.
Jack
Berle (Audience
Member in first row left on the aisle, uncredited) was
the older brother of Milton Berle. This is the third of his eleven
uncredited appearances on the series. He also did two episodes of
“The Lucy Show.”Edward
C. Short
(Audience Member in last row left third seat in, uncredited) made his
screen debut as a solo singer in the 1943 film musical Cabin
in the Sky.
This is his penultimate screen credit.Paul King (Audience Member, uncredited) makes the first of his five background appearances on “Here’s Lucy.”
Charles
Cirillo
(Restaurant Patron, uncredited) played a singing and dancing truck
driver in “Lucy Helps Ken Berry” (TLS S6;E21). This is the first
of his two “Here’s Lucy” appearances.Chester
Jones
(Restaurant Patron, uncredited) makes the first of his four
background appearances on “Here’s Lucy.”
The
final version of the script for this episode was dated August 6,
1969, Lucille Ball’s 58th birthday.This is the last of eleven episodes directed by film director George Marshall, originally hired for his experience with location shooting, something much needed for the first four episodes of season two.
From
1968 to 1980 Lucille Ball made 16 appearances on “The Tonight
Show” with Johnny Carson and Ed McMahon. One appearance was just
two weeks before this episode initially aired. Desi Jr. made four
“Tonight Show” appearances with Carson, while Lucie made only one.
At
the time, “The Tonight Show” was done live in New York City.
Occasionally, the show would be done from Los Angeles. In 1972 the
show moved to Los Angeles permanently.
After
Craig jokes that Kim should wear three earrings, she quips
“Very funny. Which one are you today? Rowan or Martin?”
This is yet another of almost bi-weekly references to “Rowan
and Martin’s Laugh-In,” “Here’s Lucy’s” phenomenally successful competition on ABC.Lucy
doesn’t want to say the word “bra” aloud with Craig in the room
so she spells it out. Mentioning undergarments would have been
unheard of on “I Love Lucy” or “The Lucy Show.”
Occasionally, men’s boxer shorts were used for comic effect, but
women’s ‘unmentionables’ were never mentioned or shown on air!
Harry
plans to take Lucy and the kids to the taping of an educational TV
panel show titled “The Origin of Money,” which Lucy says he
drools over saying like he’s watching Raquel
Welch take a bubble
bath. The sexy movie star was first mentioned as Jack Benny’s Palm
Spring neighbor in the second episode of the series. She was featured on the cover of Time Magazine (above) a few days before this episode first aired.
Johnny
makes his entrance on the episode smoking a cigarette. Carson
was a heavy smoker for decades and in his early days on “The
Tonight
Show” he often
smoked on-camera. As early as the mid-1970s, he would repeatedly say,
“These
things are killing me.” His
younger brother recalled that during their last conversation, Carson
kept saying, “Those
damn cigarettes.”
He died of emphysema at age 79.
Ed
McMahon uses his now classic intro of Carson: “Heeeeeeeere’s
Johnny!” when handing Johnny the telephone. It is a call from Joey
Heatherton, a singer/dancer who appeared on “The Tonight Show”
six times. When McMahon hears ‘Joey,’ he thinks Carson is referring
to Joey Bishop, who sat in for Carson as regular guest hos of “The
Tonight Show” from 1965 to 1988 for nearly 200 episodes.
Ed
McMahon jokingly tells Johnny he went down to Hollywood Boulevard to
see the stars in the sidewalk: Greer Garson, Debbie Reynolds, Douglas
Fairbanks Jr., Dean Martin (no star, just lying there in person).
Dean Martin’s persona of being a heavy drinker is contrasted with Ed
McMahon’s. Martin was a guest star on an episode of “The Lucy Show” (above).
Ed
leaves Johnny a box containing a small tape recorder that leaves a
message from Ed vowing to go on the wagon. During the playback, the
“Mission: Impossible” music plays on the soundtrack. The message
concludes with “This
tape will self-destruct in five seconds.”
This
is a spoof of the TV series “Mission:
Impossible”(1966-73),
which was a Desilu / Paramount series. The instantly recognizable
music is by Lalo Shiffrin.
The
“Tonight Show’s” iconic multi-colored stage curtain is reproduced
and the show’s theme music is used. “Johnny’s Theme” (aka
“It’s Really Love” and “Toot Sweet”) was composed
by Paul Anka.Johnny
Carson’s monologue jokes about homes being carried away in landslides
in Benedict Canyon, outside Hollywood. Just a few weeks after this
script was finalized, Benedict Canyon was in the news regarding
Charles Manson’s murder of Sharon Tate, who lived in the Canyon. He
then jokes about Los Angeles traffic and the hippies on Sunset Strip,
common fodder for comedians of the time.
Lucy
plays ‘Stump the Band,’ a staple audience participation game on “The
Tonight Show.” Lucy stumps the band by singing “Snoops,
the Lawyer” a song
by Burt Kalmar and Harry Ruby made famous by Nora Bayes in 1920.
Lucy says it is a novelty song that her father used to sing. Because
Lucille Ball’s father died when she was young, she rarely mentioned a
father figure on her television shows. It is ironic that she does so
here, in the presence of her real-life mother, Dede.
For
winning ‘Stump the Band,’ Kim and Craig will be Carson’s guests at
the Factory Discotheque (which will account for the characters’
absence in the Brown Derby scene). The
Factory (named for the
furniture business on the first floor) opened in 1968. Only a few
years later, it transformed into Studio One, which was strongly
associated with the LGBT community. Lucie Arnaz was one of the many
celebrities who performed there during its heyday.
While
the kids are at the Factory (which is not shown), Lucy and Harry are
Carson’s guests at the Brown
Derby for dinner. The
real-life Hollywood
Brown Derby restaurant
was built by Wilson Mizner in 1929, the second of three Derby restaurants. Due to its proximity to movie studios, it became the place
to do deals and be seen. Clark Gable is said to have proposed to
Lucy’s friend Carole Lombard there and rival gossip columnists
Louella Parsons and Hedda Hopper (who twice guest starred for Lucy)
are recorded as regular patrons. Its walls were decorated with
hundreds of framed celebrity caricatures. They, along with the
semi-circular booths, are reproduced on the “Here’s Lucy”
soundstage. The Hollywood Brown Derby closed in 1987 after a fire.
At
dinner, Lucy confuses a report by Walter Cronkite (left) on campus unrest
with Johnny Carson’s “Tonight Show.” Lucy then confuses an Ed
Sullivan (center) routine about a boxing kangaroo with Johnny Carson’s
monologue. Unlike Carson and McMahon, Cronkite and Sullivan were CBS
employees! As the final insult, Lucy confuses Carson’s sign off
with that of the Reverend Billy Graham (right).
Lucy
mentions that she can’t wait to tell her Bridge Club that she dined
with Johnny Carson. We met club members Maude, Nelly, and Delores (above) in
“Lucy and Eva Gabor” (S1;E7).
Johnny
jokes that Ed’s sending money to a Clydesdale each month. This is a
reference to Ed McMahon’s association with Budweiser beer, a company
whose advertising featured a beer wagon pulled by Clydesdale horses.
Oblivious, Lucy says “Does
Alyce know?” This
is a reference to McMahon’s first wife, Alyce Ferrill.
Harry
distracts star-struck Lucy so that Carson and McMahon can escape the
restaurant by saying he sees Cary Grant. Although he never appeared
on any “Lucy” sitcom, Cary Grant is the first celebrity that Lucy
Ricardo saw at the Brown Derby when she arrived in Hollywood.Incredibly,
although everyone at the table gets drenched at the end, Harry stays
dry! Still, wet = funny on “Here’s Lucy”!
The
Brown Derby scene is very similar to the Brown Derby scene in
“Hollywood at Last!” (ILL S4;E16) aka “L.A. at Last!”.- In “Lucy and Johnny
Carson,” Lucy jumps up when she sees Gregory Peck and causes the
waiter to spill a tray of drinks on Carson. - In
“Hollywood at Last!” Lucy jumps up when she sees Gregory Peck and
causes the waiter to spill a tray of cream pies on William Holden.
Technically,
the Brown Derby is featured in many of the “I Love Lucy” episodes
set in Hollywood, since its distinctive street sign can be glimpsed
from the Ricardo’s balcony!
Even
before “Hollywood at Last!” first aired in February 1955, Lucy
and Desi scheduled a special press screening of the show at the Brown
Derby itself. Brown Derby Owners Bob and Sally Cobb (for whom the
famous salad is named) co-hosted the event.
“Here’s
Lucy” also replicated the stage and studio audience of “The Carol
Burnett Show” in “Lucy and Carol Burnett” (S1;E17). Like that
show, the audience section of “The Tonight Show” is drastically
smaller than it was in reality. This “Tonight Show” studio
audience holds a mere 36 people! Like “The Carol Burnett Show”
they also replicated the show’s recognizable stage curtain.
“Lucy’s
Impossible Mission” (S1;E6) also satirized “Mission: Impossible”
and their famous self-destructing tape.
Insignificant Insignia! Since
“Here’s Lucy” was a CBS show filmed at Paramount and NBC owned
“The Tonight Show,” the ushers’ blazers have an non-specific red
shield crest on the pocket instead of the NBC logo or peacock.
Never Look at the Camera! The Second Usher (Michael McClay) briefly looks directly into the camera when he is supposed to be looking into Lucy’s handbag. Naughty!
“Lucy and Johnny Carson” rates 4 Paper Hearts out of 5
The
first episode is funny, but uneven. The opening scene of Lucy and
the kids getting ready to go out is a bit tedious. Lucy’s clever
scheme to get into the “Tonight Show” studio without tickets is a
lot of fun. The off-stage banter between Johnny and Ed (not to
mention the “Mission: Impossible” bit) feels forced and
unnecessary. Naturally, any Lucy fan that sees a scene set a the
Brown Derby knows exactly what to expect. Unfortunately, instead of
star-struck Lucy, the writers give us snarky Lucy, and it drains a lot
of the fun out of what should have been an easy home-run for the
show.Charles Cirillo, Chester Jones, Dede Ball, Desi Arnaz Jr., Ed McMahon, Edward C. Short, Gale Gordon, Gwen Verdon, Here’s Lucy, Howard McClay, Jack Berle, Jim Henaghan, Joey Bishop, Joey Heatherton, Johnny Carson, Laurence Temple, Louis Nicoletti, Lucie Arnaz, Lucille Ball, Michael McClay, Mike Nicoletti, Mission Impossible, Paul King, Raquel Welch, Rowan and Martin’s Laugh-In, Sid Gould, Sid Kane, The Brown Derby, The Factor Discoteque, The Tonight Show - In “Lucy and Johnny
-
LUCY, THE CEMENT WORKER
S2;E10
~ November 24, 1969
Directed
by George Marshall ~ Written by George Balzin and Sam PerrinSynopsis
While
trying to earn some extra money, Lucy is asked by Harry to have a
valuable ring engraved. When Lucy trips into a troth of cement she realizes the ring is missing!Regular
CastLucille
Ball (Lucy
Carter), Gale
Gordon (Harrison
Otis Carter), Lucie
Arnaz (Kim
Carter), Desi
Arnaz Jr. (Craig
Carter)Guest
Cast
Mary
Jane Croft (Mary
Jane) makes her second series appearance as Mary Jane. Croft 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.
Paul
Winchell
(Little Old Jeweler /The Great Pierre Barmarche) previously
played himself in “Lucy
and Paul Winchell” (TLS S5;E4).
He
was born Paul Wilchinsky in 1922. Coming into the public eye in 1948,
he became one of the most famous ventriloquists since Edgar Bergen.
He hosted the enormously popular children’s television show
“Winchell-Mahoney Time” (1964-68) in which he shared the
spotlight with Jerry Mahoney, one of his most popular characters.
Winchell is fondly remembered as the voice of Winnie the Pooh’s pal
Tigger and (later) Papa Smurf. He played Doc Putnam in “Main
Street U.S.A.” (TLS S5;17)
and
“Lucy Puts Main Street on the Map” (TLS S5;E18).
This is the first of his two episodes of “Here’s Lucy.”
Surprisingly, Winchell was also an inventor who is credited with the
artificial heart, among other innovations. He died in 2005.This
is the first time an actor has played two distinct charactersthat weren’t twins or doppelgangers
in one “Lucy” episode. Winchell
innovated an animation process called Aprilmation (named after his
daughter) which Lucille Ball financed.
Harry
Hickox
(Police Officer) was
best known for playing anvil salesman Charlie Cowell in the 1962 film
The
Music Man.
He played a drill sergeant in “Lucy Gets Caught Up in the Draft”
(TLS S5;E9). This is the first of his three
episodes of “Here’s Lucy.”
Sid
Gould
(First Workman, right) made more than 45 appearances on “The Lucy Show,”
all as background characters. This is one of his 40 episodes of
“Here’s Lucy,” his first in season two. Gould (born Sydney
Greenfader) was Lucille Ball’s cousin by marriage to Gary Morton.William
Tannen
(Second Workman, left) appeared in four films with Lucille Ball between
1943 and 1946. This is his only series appearance. He was born in
New York in 1911, just like Lucille Ball.
This
is the first episode written by Sam
Perrin, winner of two
Emmy Awards for writing for Jack Benny. This is his first of five
“Here’s Lucy” scripts, three of which were written with Ralph
Goodman.The
final draft of the script was submitted June 25, 1969.
The
date this episode first aired (November 24, 1969) Lucille Ball made
her third appearance on “The Carol Burnett Show” on CBS at 10pm.
In return, Burnett will guest star on the final episode of season two
of “Here’s Lucy.”Kim
says she was born in the kitchen. They joke that the refrigerator is
her godmother! In real life, Lucie Arnaz was born in a hospital as
Lucille Ball delivered her by Cesarean.
In
the office Lucy and Harry are looking for the Morton
contract. Morton is Lucy’s married name, having wed comedian Gary
Morton in 1961.
Harry has stapled the contract to his necktie! With a snip of her
scissors, Lucy handily converts the necktie to a bow tie.
Harry
says that as a young man he was often mistaken for one of the
Barrymores.
Lucy reminds him that one of them was Ethel! The Barrymore acting
family began with the marriage of Maurice
Barrymore (1849–1905)
to Georgiana
Drew (1856-1893).
They had three
children: Lionel, Ethel, and John – all of whom also were actors.
Harry is probably referring to John Barrymore (1882-1942, inset photo) who was
known for his classic profile. The dynasty is today represented by
Drew Barrymore (born 1975) who carries on both family names.
Easter
Egg: In
Pierre’s studio, there is a handbill on the bulletin board for Cherokee
Jim’s Rodeo and Wild West Show,
which is a direct reference from the 1945 film Incendiary
Blonde starring Betty Hutton as Texas Guinan. The film was directed by
George Marshall for Paramount, the same director and studio producing
this episode of “Here’s Lucy” 25 years later!When
Lucy knocks over a vase on Harry’s desk, he gets wet, of course, one
of the running gags on “Here’s Lucy.” Harry once again calls her
‘Calamity Jane’, something he previously did in “The Great Airport
Chase” (S1;E18).
Martha
Jane Canary
(1852-1903),
better known as Calamity
Jane,
was an American frontierswoman and professional scout known for her
claims of being an acquaintance of Wild Bill Hickok and fighting
against Indians.
What’s more, according to “Lucy and Harry’s Tonsils” (S2;E5),
Harry is allergic to roses!
When
Harry is frustrated by Lucy he says “I
wonder if I could send her to the moon?” Just
prior to this episode being shot, the US landed Buzz Aldrin and Neil
Armstrong on the moon, the culmination of many years of work by NASA.
The line also is reminiscent of Ralph Kramden (Jackie Gleason)
threatening his wife Alice: “Bang!
Zoom! Straight to the moon, Alice!”
on TV’s “The Honeymooners.” Lucille Ball (as Mame Dennis)
played the Lady in the Moon in Mame
(1974).
Role
reversal!
When the kids are asking Lucy for some extra money, the dialogue is
very similar to when Lucy Ricardo used to ask Ricky for money – and
his inevitable answer would be “no”! Later on, the roles are
reversed again when Lucy asks Harry for a raise – and his
inevitable answer is also “no”!
The
second act of the episode is similar to “Building a Bar-B-Q”
(ILL S6;E24) where Lucy Ricardo thinks
she has lost her wedding ring in the wet cement used to build the
backyard barbecue grill.
The
knife throwing routine is borrowed directly from “Lucy Tells the
Truth” (ILL S3;E6). In that episode the knife thrower was an
Italian named Professor Falconi (Mario Siletti) instead of a Frenchman named the Great Pierre.
Lucy
disguises herself as a male construction worker to escape the eye of
the cop on the beat. Lucille Ball went in male drag in “Ricky Has Labor Pains” (ILL S2;E14), “Lucy and the Little League” (TLS
S1;E28), and “Lucy the Coin Collector” (TLS S3;E13).
The
episode revolves around a slap of cement just like “Lucy Visits
Grauman’s” (ILL S5;E1). In that episode, Lucy Ricardo was also
eyeballed by a policemen on the beat and threatened with a fine for
her vandalism.
In
“Lucy and John Wayne” (ILL S5;E2) Little Ricky got his hands in
wet cement just like Lucy Carter does here. The same thing happened
to Mr. Mooney (Gale Gordon) in “Lucy Goes to a Hollywood Premiere”
(TLS S4;E20).
Mary
Jane wears the exact same dress she wore on her first appearance on
the series in “A Date for Lucy” (S1;E19).
Family Faux Pas! Harry
has a female cousin in New York getting married. Harry wants a family
ring engraved with ‘WAML from UH’ (‘With all my love from Uncle
Harry’). Why would a cousin call him Uncle?Overheard? Lucy
tells the Jeweler that if she doesn’t find the ring she’ll be taking
a “one-way
trip to the moon”
quoting Harry’s threat at the end of the previous scene. This
despite the fact that Lucy was not in the room when he said it. She
had gone off to wash her hands (an integral plot point for the
outcome of the episode)!
Butter Fingers! When
applying the grease mustache Lucille Ball tries to pocket her compact
mirror but it slips to the ground. The hose to the jack hammer then
gets momentarily snagged on the yellow ‘caution’ saw horses.
“Lucy, the Cement Worker” rates 4 Paper Hearts out of 5
Although
there is a lot going on in this episode, all the callbacks make it a
must for Lucy lovers!
1969, Calamity Jane, Carol Burnett Show, CBS, cement, Desi Arnaz Jr., Ethel Barrymore, Gale Gordon, Gary Morton, George Balzin, George Marshall, Harry Hickox, Here’s Lucy, Incendiary Blonde, jeweler, John Barrymore, knife throwing, Lucie Arnarz, Lucille Ball, Lucy the Cement Worker, Mary Jane Croft, Moon, Paul Winchell, Sam Perrin, Sid Gould, tv, William Tannen -
LUCY AND THE USED CAR DEALER
S2;E9
~ November 17, 1969
Directed
by George Marshall ~ Written by David Ketchum and Bruce ShelleySynopsis
When
the Carters want to become a two-car family, Kim and Craig visit a
used car dealer named Cheerful Charlie (Milton Berle). When the car
turns out to be a lemon, Lucy and Harry turn the tables on the
huckster.Regular
CastLucille
Ball (Lucy
Carter), Gale
Gordon (Harrison
Otis Carter), Lucie
Arnaz (Kim
Carter), Desi
Arnaz Jr. (Craig
Carter)Guest
Cast
Milton
Berle
(Cheerful Charlie) this is the first time that Milton Berle has not
played Milton Berle on a Lucille Ball sitcom. He was
born Milton Berlinger in New York City on July 12, 1908. He started
performing at the age of five. Berle perfected his comedy in
vaudeville, early silent films, and then on radio, before taking his
act to the small screen, where he would be proclaimed “Mr.
Television” and later “Uncle Miltie.” He hosted “Texaco Star
Theater” on NBC from 1948 to 1956. The variety show was re-titled
“The Milton Berle Show” in 1954 when Texaco dropped their
sponsorship. The program was briefly revived in 1958, but lasted only
one season. In 1959 he played himself in “Milton
Berle Hides out at the Ricardos.” In return, Lucy and Desi appeared on his Sunday Showcase special that same year. Berle
continued to perform live, in films, and on television specials for
the remainder of his career. Berle previously appeared on “The
Lucy Show” in “Lucy
Saves Milton Berle” (TLS S4;E13)
and
did a cameo in “Lucy
Meets John Wayne” (TLS S5;E10).
He will also do one more episode of the series:
“Milton
Berle Is the Life of the Party” (S6;E19). Berle died
of cancer in 2002.
Jack
Berle
(Jack, uncredited) was the older brother of Milton Berle. This is
the second of his eleven uncredited appearances on the series. He
also did two episodes of “The Lucy Show.”The
character has no dialogue.
The
cameraman and cue card holder are played by uncredited performers.
This
is the first episode written by David
Ketchum and Bruce Shelley.
The pair will also return to write “Lucy and Rudy Vallee”
(S3;E12). Ketchum and Shelley began writing together in 1967 and
their partnership ended in 1984. The pair were nominated for a
Writer’s Guild of American (WGA) Award for a 1973 episode of
“M*A*S*H”. Ketchum was also an actor. He played Agent 13 on
“Get Smart” (1965-70).Milton
Berle had a previous professional engagement he canceled in order to
star in this episode.
This
is the second episode in a row to be set among parked cars. The
previous episode took place at a drive-in movie theatre, which is
really just a used car lot with entertainment. In fact, seven of the
last ten episodes have featured automobiles. Interestingly, none of
the vehicles seen previously are used here.Kim’s
new boyfriend is named Herbie Hofferman (“Hoffy”). In the
previous episode she was dating a college graduate named Alan.
Craig
is now dating Susan. In the previous episode he was dating Patty. He
is planning to use the car to double date with Steve & Peggy, and
Billy & Debbie. They are all going to a drive-in movie – just
as Craig & Patty and Kim & Alan all did the previous week!
Susan
(or Susie, as Lucy calls her) may be a reference to Susan
Callahan-Howe, a model that Desi Arnaz Jr. had a relationship with
(and had a child with) the previous year. The name Patty
may refer to Patty Duke, another of Desi Jr.’s romances, but it is
generally thought the two didn’t meet until 1970, a year after this
episode was shot. The name Billy
is probably a reference to Desi’s good friend and band-mate Billy
Hinsche of Dino Desi & Billy. The names Susie and Steve
were mentioned as friends of Craig’s in “Lucy the Fixer”
(S1;E14).
Craig
tells Kim that it is his night to use the car, so she should “take
the bus and leave the driving to us!”
This was the advertising slogan of the Greyhound Bus Company. It was
previously quoted in “Lucy Helps Craig Get a Driver’s License”
(S1;E24).Lucy
says they have $147 in IOU’s in their Emergency Fund but only $75 in
cash. Pooling their resources, they find they have $97 to spend on a
second car.
Searching
between the sofa cushions for coins, Kim finds a ‘Win With Willkie’
button. Wendell
Lewis Willkie (1892–1944)
was the 1940 Republican nominee
for President.
His Democratic opponent,
incumbent President Franklin D. Roosevelt, handily won a third
term (pre-term limits). Lucy calls him Mendell Willkie. Later in
the episode, Harry asks if anyone’s found his Willkie button.
Cheerful
Charlie’s lot is located on the corner of Cherokee and Chatsworth.
In the 1940’s Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz had a ranch in Chatsworth,
California.
The
brightly painted lemon that is the subject of the transactions is
actually a 1940 Packard One-Twenty [1397]. Harry calls the paint job
“sick-o-delic.”
Cheerful
Charlie’s lot also offers:- A
1966 tan Volkswagen Beetle - A
light blue 1961 Ford Falcon - A
blue 1964 Chevrolet Biscayne
Upon
seeing the car Cheerful Charlie has sold the kids Harry says “Well,
Chitty
Chitty Bang Bang!”
That was the title of a 1968 musical fantasy film (based on a novel
by Ian Fleming) about a colorful flying car. Harry then refers to it
as “a purple people eater.” “Purple
People Eater” was
the title of a hit kids novelty song written by Sheb Wooley in 1958.
When
Craig tries to start the car by kicking the floorboard, Harry asks
him “What
in the name of Kaiser-Frazer are you doing?”
The
Kaiser-Frazer Corporation
was a car company that briefly thrived after World War II. When the
car finally starts and fills the garage with smoke, Harry says it is
“a
one-car smog alert.”
References to Los Angeles’ smog
problem were topical and frequent in this time period.
Posing
as a British dandy, Harry calls the car a Pierce-Ruxton with
a sundial in place of a clock.
Pierce-Ruxton is a combination of two
automakers names. Pierce-Arrow
Motor Car Company
was an manufacturer
based
in Buffalo,
New York,
active from 1901 to 1938.
The
Ruxton
was a front-wheel drive automobile
produced
by New Era Motors Company during 1929 and 1930.
Posing
as Texan ‘Laredo Lucy,’ Lucy calls the car a combination Hudson
Edsel Tucker Reo and Packard – all defunct automobile companies. Laredo Lucy sings a bit of “Deep
in the Heart of Texas,”
a 1941
song
by June Hershey and Don Swander.
When
Craig and Kim return to claim their car, Cheerful Charlie says “Go
away kid, you bother me.”
This is a quote attributed to W.C.
Fields,
talking to his nemesis Baby Leroy.
Lucy
Carmichael drove a Packard in “Lucy Buys a Sheep” (TLS S1;E5).
Looking
for loose change in the sofa cushions was something Lucy Ricardo and
Ethel Mertz did in “Ricky’s European Booking” (ILL S5;E10).
While
Kim finds a ‘Win With Willkie’ button in the sofa, Lucy Carmichael
found a ‘Vote for Dewey’ button under the sofa in “Lucy Gets the
Bird” (TLS S3;E12).
Lucy
Ricardo also had trouble with an antique lemon when Fred Mertz bought
a 1929 Cadillac for their trip across the country in “Getting
Ready” (ILL S4;E11).
Over The Line! When
returning the car for a refund, Desi jumps one of Milton Berle’s
lines and has to repeat himself.
“Lucy and the Used Car Dealer” rates 5 Paper Hearts out of 5
This
is a memorable episode. Lucy, Milton Berle and Gale Gordon all get
to play dress-up and take on funny and unusual characters. The
writers’ dedication to Cheerful Charlie using as many ‘CH’ words as
possible is silly but a lot of fun.1969, Bruce Shelley, Chevrolet Biscayne, chitty chitty bang bang, David Ketchum, Deep in the Heart of Texas, Desi Arnaz Jr., Edsel, Ford Falcon, Gale Gordon, George Marshall, Greyhound Bus, Here’s Lucy, Hudson, Jack Berle, Kaiser-Frazer, Lucie Arnaz, Lucille Ball, Milton Berle, Packard, Pierce Arrow, Purple People Eater, Reo, Ruxton, Smog, Tucker, tv, VW, w.c. fields, Wendell Willikie - A
-
LUCY AT THE DRIVE-IN MOVIE
S2;E8
~ November 10, 1969
Directed
by George Marshall ~ Written by Milt Josefsberg and Ray SingerSynopsis
When
Kim goes to a drive-in movie with her boyfriend Alan, Lucy and Harry
spy on them dressed in hippie clothes to blend in.Regular
CastLucille
Ball (Lucy
Carter), Gale
Gordon (Harrison
Otis Carter), Lucie
Arnaz (Kim
Carter), Desi
Arnaz Jr. (Craig
Carter)Guest
Cast
Robert
L. Hughes
(Alan Stevens) was
mainly a theatre artist with only a dozen screen appearances,
including playing the Colorado River Guide in “Lucy Runs the
Rapids” (S2;E4). Hughes left show business in the 1980s to pursue
a business career.Interestingly,
in his previous appearance as the Colorado River Guide, Kim flirted with him, which Lucy disapproved of. Alan’s mother is
in the social register and his father is a millionaire. He
is 21 and taking post-graduate courses. Lucy still disapproves of
him!
Larry
J. Blake (Manager
of the Drive-In) appeared
as a Native American Medicine Man in “Lucy
the Rain Goddess” (TLS S4;E15).
He was an ex-vaudevillian making the second of his eight “Here’s
Lucy” appearances.
Jackie
Joseph
(Jackie Berry) is perhaps best known as Audrey in the 1960
(non-musical) horror/comedy film The
Little Shop of Horrors.
From 1960-76 Jackie Joseph was married to performer, Ken Berry, one
of Lucille Ball’s protege’s who was shooting “Mayberry R.F.D.” on
the Desilu Paramount lot and followed “Here’s Lucy” on the CBS
Monday night line-up. Joseph and Lucille Ball appeared together in
the film A
Guide for the Married Man
(1967).Jackie
Joseph is using her married name for the character. Jackie Berry is
a married friend of Kim’s who has a newborn named Wendy. Her husband
is in the service.
Orwin
C. Harvey
(Drive-In Patron with dog, uncredited) was
an actor and stuntman who played one of the singing and dancing
teamsters in “Lucy
Helps Ken Berry” (TLS S6;E21).
This is one of his six appearances on “Here’s Lucy.”Harvey was featured on the same “Lucy Show” episode that also starred Jackie Joseph’s husband, Ken Berry.
Robert Buckingham (Drive-In Patron, uncredited) had been seen with Lucille Ball in Critic’s Choice (1963). This is his third and last uncredited appearance on the series.
Other
men and women (and one dog) at the drive-in go uncredited.
The
final draft of this script was submitted on April 28, 1969.
On
the date this episode was originally aired (November 10, 1969)
“Sesame Street” debuted on PBS, changing the landscape of
children’s television. In 1970, production memos for the show
indicate that Lucille Ball and Gale Gordon were to be guest stars,
with their segments taped at the Paramount stage where they were
shooting “Here’s Lucy.” The appearances, however, were postponed
and never came to be. In 2007 “Sesame Street” mentioned “I
Love Lucy,” although they were referring to Lucy the Lazy Lizard.
During the reference, the background music was similar to the “I
Love Lucy” theme. In
the book Sesame
Street Unpaved
it
is pointed out that Snuffy
shares
his astrological sign, Leo, with Lucille Ball.“Vitameatavegemin is almost as hard to say as Snuffleupagus”.
In
the DVD introduction to the episode, Jackie Joseph reinforces that
Lucille Ball was all business on the set, but a dear friend when not
working.
The
episode opens with Craig alone in the living room singing along to a
record. “It
Was a Very Good Year”
is a song Ervin
Drake
composed
in 1961 for and originally recorded by Bob
Shane
with
The
Kingston Trio.
It
was subsequently made famous by Frank
Sinatra
and
won him a Grammy
Award
in
1966.
Craig imitates Sinatra’s performance style, but Lucy jokingly says
she thought he was imitating Lawrence
Welk.
Lucy admits that Sinatra was her idol when she was a bobby-soxer.
Lawrence Welk will make an appearance as himself on a future “Here’s
Lucy” episode. Although Lucille Ball knew Sinatra socially, the two
never acted together on screen.
When
Lucy hears that Kim’s boyfriend Alan graduated from Berkeley, she is
visibly upset. Craig jokes that Alan got two degrees and three
arrests for picketing. During the 1960s the University of California
Berkeley was the site of several riots and protest marches that
received national attention.When
Lucy is concerned about Kim being too young for Alan, Craig reminds
Lucy that she was 17 when she married his father. This is one of the
few mentions of Lucy’s late husband.
Kim
and Alan are going to the drive-in to see a (fictional) Italian film
titled La
Notte Del Bacio Dolce,
which translates to Sweet
Night Kiss.
Craig also goes on a date to another drive-in with his girlfriend
Patty. This may be seen as a coy reference to Desi Jr.’s dating Patty Duke,
although most sources agree that the two did not meet until 1970, a
year after this episode was filmed.
Lucy
does a long comic take when she realizes Kim and Alan are going to a
drive-in. In the 1950s and 60s drive-in movies were dubbed “passion
pits” because they were a popular place for teenagers to be alone
together for making out on a date. Although drive-in
theatres
were very popular in the 1960s there are hardly any remaining today.
The first one opened in Camden, New Jersey in 1933. The fourth in the nation was in Los Angeles (above) in 1934. Although Lucy is
a self-confessed movie fan, she acts as though she has never been to
a drive-in before, not knowing how to activate the sound or where to
hang the speaker.
Meanwhile, bachelor Harry is home alone looking at the centerfold of a magazine that has
a scantily clad woman on the cover! Although the magazine’s name has
been taped over, it is likely supposed to be Playboy magazine. In the
image of Playboy’s founder, Hugh Hefner, Harry wears a red silk smoking
jacket and is drinking a cocktail. While ogling the centerfold from
every angle he sighs and sings “To
dream the impossible dream.”
“The
Impossible Dream”
was written by Joe Darion and Mitch Leigh for the 1964 Broadway
musical Man
of La Mancha.
Harry also looked at a magazine with a centerfold in “Lucy’s
Birthday” (S1;E8).
This
is an expensive shoot for “Here’s Lucy” because of the many cars
needed for the drive-in scene:- 1969
Red Plymouth Barracuda convertible (Alan’s car) - 1965
Yellow Dodge Dart convertible (Lucy’s car) - 1969
Blue Plymouth Valiant (Younger necking couple’s car)
- 1969
Blue Plymouth Barracuda (Older necking couple’s car) - 1969
Blue Simca 1204 [928] (Man with dog’s car) - 1964
Red Plymouth Valiant Signet - 1969
Beige Simca 1118 [950] - 1969
Yellow Triumph TR6
When
“Viv Visits Lucy” (TLS S5;E15) they both dress as beatniks to spy
on a friend’s son who is hanging out with the hippies on the Sunset Strip.
Lucy
and Harry’s 1965 Dodge Dart is the same car used in “Lucy Helps
Craig Get a Driver’s License” (S1;E24)…
…
except that the license plate was California
WMO-526 and it is now UTM-541. Also, the dialogue infers that it is
Harry’s car, not Lucy’s.
The
hood of Alan’s car has collected a great deal of dust. Apparently
the vehicle was in studio storage for quite some time and not wiped
down prior to shooting.
“Lucy at the Drive-In Movie” rates 4 Paper Hearts out of 5
Besides
the crazy get-ups worn by Lucille and Gale , this episode is very
funny, with a great twist ending.1969, CBS, Desi Arnaz Jr., Dodge Dart, Drive-In Movie, Frank Sinatra, Gale Gordon, George Marshall, Here’s Lucy, hippies, Hugh Hefner, It Was A Very Good Year, Jackie Joseph, Larry J. Blake, Lawrence Welk, Lucie Arnaz, Lucille Ball, Milt Josefsberg, Orwin C. Harvey, Playboy Magazine, Plymouth Barracuda, Plymouth Valiant, Ray Singer, Robert Buckingham, Robert L. Hughes, Sesame Street, Simca, The Impossible Dream, tv, USC Berkeley - 1969
-
LUCY’S BURGLAR ALARM
S2;E7
~ November 3, 1969
Directed
by George Marshall ~ Written by Milt Josefsberg and Ray SingerSynopsis
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.Regular
CastLucille
Ball (Lucy
Carter), Gale
Gordon (Harrison
Otis Carter), Lucie
Arnaz (Kim
Carter), Desi
Arnaz Jr. (Craig
Carter)Guest
Cast
Guy
Marks
(Crook) was born Mario Scarpa in Philadelphia in 1923. He is
probably best remembered as Freddy on 18 episodes of “The Joey
Bishop Show” (1962-63). This is his only appearance with Lucille
Ball. He died in Brigantine, New Jersey in 1987.The
crook says he has eight kids, including one 18 years old who wants to
be a hippie.
Elliott
Reid
(Detective Harvey Gaynes) played Edward Warren, a parody of Edward R.
Murrow, in “The Ricardos Are Interviewed” (ILL S5;E7) and
appeared in two episodes of “The Lucy Show.” This is the first
of his two appearances on “Here’s Lucy.”
The
date this episode originally aired, November 3, 1969 President
Richard Nixon gave a televised speech about the war in Vietnam in
what would become known as “The Silent Majority Speech.” “Here’s
Lucy” was pre-empted in some time zones.
The
“Here’s Lucy” DVD introduction of this episode is by Elliott
Reid (Detective Gaynes), who died shortly after it was filmed.
At
the start of the episode, Craig is practicing guitar and Lucie is
listening to a transistor radio playing an instrumental version of “I
Know a Place”
by
Tony Hatch. The song was made
popular in 1965 by Petula Clark. This is the third time the song has
been heard on “Here’s Lucy.”At
the office, Harry dictates a letter to Goldapper and Russ. This is
an inside joke. Lucy’s husband Gary Morton’s birth name is Goldapper.
The name was previously used as a reference in “Lucy, the Shopping
Expert” (S1;E20).
When
Lucy surrenders a measly $1.19 to the crook, he remarks “For
this I had to miss ‘Laugh-In’?”
The second half of the tremendously popular ABC topical comedy /
variety show was up against “Here’s Lucy” on CBS. This is just
one of many references to the competition.
Lucy
reveals her address to be 5780 Cherry Blossom Lane. Her telephone
number is 865-8321.
Lucy
describes the crook as “a
tired Humphrey Bogart.” In the previous episode, Lucy blew a kiss to a poster of actor
Humphrey
Bogart.
Craig’s homemade alarm starts with explosions from the fireplace after a fake safe dial is touched.
Harry learns the hard way where NOT to stand once the alarm has been activated.
The finale step in Craig’s alarm system drops a net down over the crook! Or the detective, and whoever happens to be standing beside him!
These intricate special effects make the cast nervous! One mistake will cost thousands of dollars in retakes, which will not
make Lucille Ball happy. Thankfully, all the stunts go perfectly in
one take.
Gale
Gordon also went down a trap door as Mr. Mooney in “Lucy Takes a
Job at the Bank” (TLS S2;E21).
Lucy
Ricardo encountered burglars in “Lucy Cries Wolf” (ILL S4;E3)…
…and in “Too Many Crooks” (ILL S3;E9).
Where The Floor Ends! Once
again, a long shot reveals the concrete stage floor of the studio.
“Lucy’s Burglar Alarms” rates 3 Paper Hearts out of 5
Lucy’s
nonchalant attitude at being robbed at gunpoint (by a man in a jacket
and tie) is a bit odd. Craig’s homemade burglar alarm gags are a
funny payoff. -
LUCY AND THE ANDREWS SISTERS
S2;E6
~ October 27, 1969
Directed
by George Marshall ~ Written by Milt Josefsberg and Ray SingerSynopsis
Patty
Andrews of the Andrews Sisters comes to the Unique Employment Agency
to find two performers to play her sisters in a musical revue.
Naturally Lucy volunteers herself and Kim.Regular
CastLucille
Ball (Lucy
Carter), Gale
Gordon (Harrison
Otis Carter), Lucie
Arnaz (Kim
Carter), Desi
Arnaz Jr. (Craig
Carter)Guest
Cast
Patty
Andrews
(Herself) and
her sisters, Maxene and LaVerne, were one of the most successful
women’s singing groups, with 19 gold records and sales of nearly 100
million copies. The sisters began performing in the early 1930s when
the Depression wiped out their father’s business. In 1937, the
sisters scored their first big hit with “Bei Mir Bist Du Schoen.” In addition to “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy,” their best-known songs
included “Don’t Sit Under the Apple Tree” and “Rum and Coca
Cola.” The trio officially broke up after the death of LaVerne in
1967, when a suitable replacement could not be found.
Patty did 19 films, always as herself. She even starred in a Broadway musical called Over Here! (1974). This is her only appearance
with Lucille Ball. Patty Andrews died in 2013 at the age of 94.
John
McLaren
(Elroy Sherwood) was born in Alberta Canada in 1911, the same year as
Lucille Ball. He started his screen career in 1944. This is his
only time appearing with Lucille Ball.Sherwood
is Harry’s biggest client from Atlanta, Georgia. Patty calls him
“Ham hock”.
Gary
Morton
(Emcee) was married to Lucille Ball and was the Executive Producer of
“Here’s Lucy.” This is his first of three on camera appearances
on the series. He also made four appearances on “The Lucy Show.”
Joseph
La Cava
(Registrar, uncredited, background right) was
born in 1908 in Paterson, New Jersey. He played a Bartender on the
S.S. Constitution in “Second Honeymoon” (ILL S5;E14). He was
also seen in the Lucille Ball films Yours, Mine and Ours
(1968) and Mame
(1974).
LaVerne
Andrews has passed away by this point and Maxene Andrews has a
love/hate relationship with her remaining sister that will last until
her death many years later. Although there are photos of the sisters on Patty’s piano, their first names are never spoken in the episode!
All the singing is prerecorded and
lip-synched by the trio. Ironically, the point of the show is that
(due to the broken records), they are all singing live!
On
the DVD extras for this episode, Lucie Arnaz notes that the studio
audience’s reaction was so overwhelming that it had to be edited down
to keep the show within its broadcast time limits. Lucy herself gets
entrance applause from the studio audience.
This episode was filmed on July 17, 1969, which was Lucie Arnaz’s 18th birthday.
Lucy
says she was the biggest movie fan in her town, which is something
she has in common with Lucy Carmichael and Lucy Ricardo, who were
also movie mad. Lucy says she had a crush on William Powell, Clark
Gable, Jimmy Stewart, and Melvin Krantz (her old boyfriend who took
her to the movies).
This
is the first time we have seen Kim’s bedroom. Kim has redecorated
with black and white movie posters of Hollywood stars such as W.C.
Fields, Clark Gable, Valentino, Oliver Hardy, Betty Grable, James
Dean, and the film Under
Two Flags
(1936).Lucy notes that it just cost her $90 for new wallpaper for Kim’s room.
When the kids go to the car to get posters of Tom Mix,
Buster Keaton, and Valentino, Lucy finds a poster of Lucille Ball!
She looks at it thoughtfully and then says “Meh” and puts it
down. As she leaves the room Lucy blows a kiss to Humphrey Bogart as
the soundtrack plays “As Time Goes By” a song featured in
Casablanca,
one of Bogart’s biggest hit films.Lucy
also claims to be a fan of singing groups like the Mills Brothers,
the Boswell Sisters, and the Andrews Sisters.Given
the clue that Patty’s last name is Andrews, Lucy guesses that she is
Julie Andrews. Patty says “I
wish!”,
a joke about Julie’s phenomenal success and Patty’s waning
popularity.Patty
says that on a clear day she can see Paul Newman, who lives next door
to her. Unfortunately, she says she can also see his wife! Newman’s
wife in 1969 was actress Joanne Woodward.
Framed gold records of Andrews Sisters hits are framed on Patty’s wall: “Bei
Mir Bist Du Schoen” (their first big hit), “South America Take it
Away,” “Apple Blossom Time,” “Three Little Fishies,” and
“Mairzy Doats”
The Fan Club show consists of Lucy, Patty, and Lucie singing a medley of Andrews
Sisters hits:- “Bei
Mir Bist Du Schoen”
by
Jacob
Jacobs
and
Sholom
Secunda, originally written
for a 1932 Yiddish language
musical,
I
Would If I Could.
It was a number one hit for the Andrews Sisters in 1938. - “South
America, Take it Away” was written by
Harold Rome for the 1946 Broadway musical Call
Me Mister. - Craig
(as Bing Crosby) sings
“Don’t Fence Me In”
by Cole Porter and Robert Fletcher, originally written for the
unproduced musical film Adios,
Argentina. - Craig
and the trio sing “"Pistol
Packin’ Mama,“ a 1943 song with words written by Al
Dexter to an American folk tune. - ”Don’t
Sit Under the Apple Tree (With Anyone Else but Me)“
by Sam H. Stept, Lew Brown, and Charles Tobias. The song was sung by
the Andrews Sisters in the 1942 film Private
Buckaroo. - “Boogie
Woogie Bugle Boy”
by
Don
Raye
and
Hughie Prince. The song was sung by the Andrews Sisters in the 1941
film Buck
Privates. - “Three
Little Fishies” was written by
Josephine Carringer, Bernice Idins, and Saxie
Dowell. - “Pennsylvania
Polka” by
Zeke
Manners
was introduced
by the
Andrews Sisters in
their 1942 film Give
Out, Sisters.
It was a number 4 hit on the charts for the group in 1939. - ”(I’ll
Be With You) In Apple Blossom Time"
is by Albert
Von Tilzer
and
Neville Fleeson in 1920. It was introduced by the Andrews Sisters in
their 1941 film
Buck Privates. - “Roll
Out the Barrel” (also
known as “The
Barrel Polka”
and “Beer
Barrel Polka“)
is a song by the Czech musician Jaromír
Vejvoda
in
1927.
During
the poker game in “Be a Pal” (ILL S1;E2), Lucy calls her two
queens ‘sisters.’ When Fred looks at his newly-dealt hand he
quips “You
can tell your two Andrews Sisters not to wait up for LaVerne.”
Sound Check! If the plan was to lip sync to the Andrews Sisters old records, why is there a band on hand to play the music at the last minute?
Where The Floor Ends! As with many episodes, several times the camera pulls back and the concrete stage floor can be seen. This also happens in Kim’s bedroom.
“Lucy and the Andrews Sisters” rates 3 Paper Moons out of 5
Although not really an actress, Patty Andrews has a relaxed presence and good comic sense. The role of Mr. Sherwood is overplayed as a blustery ‘Colonel Sanders type’ which feels incongruous with the rest of the episode. The musical portion is saved for the last five minutes.
- “Bei
-
LUCY AND HARRY’S TONSILS
S2;E5
~ October 20, 1969
Directed
by George Marshall ~ Written by Milt Josefsberg and Ray SingerSynopsis
When
Harry gets tonsillitis, he dreads going into the hospital and wants
to recuperate at home. – until a sexy night nurse (Paula Stewart)
comes on duty.Regular
CastLucille
Ball (Lucy
Carter), Gale
Gordon (Harrison
Otis Carter), Lucie
Arnaz (Kim
Carter), Desi
Arnaz Jr. (Craig
Carter)Guest
Cast
Mary
Wickes
(Nurse Hurlow) 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 the third of her 9 appearances on
“Here’s Lucy.” Their final collaboration on screen was “Lucy
Calls the President” in 1977.
A wisecracking nurse is a familiar role to Wickes, who created the
role of Nurse Preen on Broadway in 1939’s The
Man Who Came to Dinner
and also did the 1942 film version (inset photo) and a 1972 TV
adaptation.The
surname Hurlow was recently used as the name of the driving
instructor (Jack Gilford) in “Lucy Helps Craig Get a Driver’s
License” (S1;E24), also written by Josefsberg and Singer.
Jack
Collins
(Mr. Phillips) previously appeared in “Lucy’s Impossible Mission”
(S1;E6) as well as the
final two episodes of “The Lucy Show.” He played Russel Slater
on “Dallas” from 1982 to 1987. This is the second of his six
appearances on “Here’s Lucy.”
Adele
Claire
(Nurse Whitton) makes the first of her two appearances on the series.
She will also be seen in “Lucy and Jim Bailey” (S5;E9).The
character is never referred to by name in the dialogue.
Paula
Stewart (Nurse Dean) appeared as Janie, Lucille Ball’s sister, in the
Broadway musical Wildcat (1960). It was the fourth of her six Broadway musicals between 1951
and 1965. This is her only series television appearance opposite
Lucille Ball. In 2017, she published a memoir titled Lucy Loved Me, about her friendship with Lucille Ball.
This
is the first multi-camera show with a studio audience of season 2,
after the series’ 4-part road trip shot on location.This
is the only time on “Here’s
Lucy” where
Harry reveals his age, 51, although because Lucy and Nurse Hurlow
both roll their eyes, he is probably lying. In reality, Gale Gordon
was 63.
The
“Here’s Lucy” crew played a prank on Gale Gordon. He expected
the legs on the hospital bed to break, but instead the special
effects crew rigged the bed to snap shut, forcing him to be folded in
half. Although he masks his laughter, Gordon continued with the
scene. Lucy and
the kids look mildly amused for a moment.Both
Kim and Craig mention that they have had their tonsils out.
Tonsillitis can be more serious in adults than young people, so Harry
is not completely off-base to be worried.Craig
jokes that Uncle Harry is covered under Medicare. Medicare insurance
was only a few years old at the time, having been signed into law by
President Johnson in 1965. Benefits were not available until a
person was 65.Dr.
Kurtzman is Harry’s surgeon; Dr. Bodner is a psychiatrist Lucy
telephones on his behalf. In real life, Dr. Sam Kurtzman
was a comedy writer who worked with writer Milt Josefsberg for Bob
Hope. Dr. Henry Bodner
was the name of Josefsberg’s urologist.
Mr.
Phillips is smoking
a cigar in the hospital waiting room. Cigars were traditionally given
to and smoked by new fathers. In
1991 the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare
Organizations (JCAHO) announced tobacco control standards for
accredited American hospitals which mandated that they go smoke-free
by the end of 1993.In
a brilliant scene of comic writing, Mr. Phillips thinks Harry is an
expectant father and Harry thinks Mr. Phillips is there for a
tonsillectomy. They talk at cross purposes and confusion abounds!Lucille
Ball loved charades and pantomime, so it makes sense that when Harry
can’t speak, he resorts to a bedside game of charades. Every “Lucy”
sitcom has included this bit of comic fun – some more than once.
In
“Lucy Plays Florence Nightingale”
(TLS S2;E14) Mr. Mooney (Gale Gordon) was also the victim of Lucy and
a tricky hospital bed.
Lucy
also triggers a hospital bed to fold up with a patient (Jan Murray)
inside it in “Lucy and the Soap Opera” (TLS S4;E19).
Harry
acts like a bigger baby than Little Ricky when had his tonsils out in
“Nursery School” (ILL S5;E9).
Harry
is practically incoherent when giving the admitting nurse his
information, just as Ricky Ricardo was in “Lucy Goes to the
Hospital” (ILL S2;E16). Coincidentally, that episode aired the
same day Desi Jr. was born!
Expectant
father Mr. Phillips (having his third child) is similar to the
character of Mr. Stanley (who is having his ninth – all girls!), also seen in “Lucy Goes to the Hospital” (ILL S2;E16). Mr. Stanley was played by Charles Lane. The scenes were inspired by one of Lucille Ball’s early films, Carnival (1935) starring Jimmy Durante.
GPS! Harry
tells Nurse Hurlow his address as 4863 Valley Lawn Drive, which in
future episodes Lucy will claim as her own address.Allergy Season? Harry
is supposedly allergic to flowers, but in a season one episode, Lucy
brings flowers to the office to butter up Harry for a raise.
Where The Floor Ends! When
the camera pulls back in Harry’s living room, viewers see where the
wall to wall carpeting meets the concrete stage floor. This is a
common era on all “Lucy” sitcoms.Resume Trouble! Harry’s
will leaves Lucy 5,000 aspirin bottles she’s caused him to empty over
the past two years. At the start of the series, it was established
that Lucy’s worked for Harry for two years, then a few months later,
it was said to be three, now it is back to two!
Capper! Nurse
Dean wears a different style cap than the other two nurses, probably
in order to appear more feminine and show off more of her sexy
hairstyle.Title Trouble! The
title follows the usual “Lucy and ____” format, but in this case
it sounds like both Lucy and
Harry have tonsillitis.
“Lucy and Harry’s Tonsils” rates 3 Paper Hearts out of 5This
episode gives Gale Gordon a lot to do, with very little of it
bluster. Some of it, however, is uncharacteristic of Harry Carter.
Faced with having to have his tonsils out, he behaves as if it is a
death sentence, complete with the reading of his will. Later, he
appears to be sexually aroused by the night nurse, in a comic way, of
course. The broad comedy here takes the sting out of the usually
forbidden subject matter.
-
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