What are the BEST I Love Lucy episodes?

None.

Hiss hisssss!

When Lucy tells Ricky she’s pregnant. I cry every time.

MARY!!!!! r3

R4. Yeah, I deserved that but it’s a legit MARY moment :)

"The Audition," "Young Fans," "Lucy Plays Cupid," "Lucy Does a TV Commercial," and my personal favorite, "The Black Eye."

“First Stop” and “Equal Rights” are my favorites. Perfect blend of wit and believable slapstick.

My favorite line from Equal Rights comes from Fred: “What more you do want? You wear pants. You drive buses. You go anywhere you please except the steam room at the YMCA.” I always felt he wasn’t acting there.

Yes, "Fist Stop" is my favorite as well.

L.A. at Last, with William Holden, is probably the greatest sitcom episode of all time. It is never not hilarious. Perfect acting, writing and spot-on comedic timing.

Never Do Business with Friends is perhaps the best written episode all the way through.

I love Ethel's Hometown.

"Lucy Wants New Furniture" ("That's all right, I always wanted to look like a chrysanthemum...")

"Mr. and Mrs. TV Show" ('No, honey: you mean a Phipps mattress rocks you to sleep!")

"Lucy Gets a Paris Gown"

"The Operetta"

The ones that don't feature Tennessee Ernie Ford.

When Lucy has the baby, and the other three have practiced their roles oh so calmly. And then chaos ensues. I laugh every single time.

And Lucy on a hunger strike in Paris…. I need a bologna sandwich every time I watch it.

Lucy and Van Johnson showed why Lucy was so great. She was so elegant and charming but she was still Lucy Ricardo. Lovable. We were with her all the way during the act and then when she delivers, we're almost proud of her.

This is actually the second instance of the telling of lies in a letter. Lucy lies to Caroline Appleby and Ethel lies to her hometown, both saying they're going to be movie stars.

I have always loved the episode with Van Johnson. Lucy was brilliant doing the bit on the lounge by the pool - Van was asleep and Carolyn has bad eyesight - Lucy mimed a cozy conversation with sleeping Van until he woke up. …. What was the fumble that Desi made on the phone when Van called for Lucy to go to rehearsal? I can’t think of it off of the top of my head. …it was like “Vancing with Jan” …. And of course Lucy in that beautiful costume performing “How about you?” With Van -

#15 - how funny we posted at the same time!!!!

#16

I love the episode when Lucy and Ethel make a commercial to promote Aunt Martha's Old Fashioned Salad Dressing.

R16, I also love that she does the patter twice and we see a difference. During the rehearsal, she says "Greta Garbo" in almost a conversational way but in the act, she turns into a young girl saying it. And then when Van Johnson takes her hands, she looks over her shoulder, shyly but very much in anticipation.

You can't beat Vita Meata Vegamin. Possibly the greatest female comedic performance of all time.

I also love the one where Ricky and Lucy fight with Ethel and Fred andthey try to get themselves evicted. And the one where Ethelu go look for jobs and Fred and Rick try to cook.

Also, this one is more sweet but when Lucy thinks they forgot her birthday so she creates a group pf friendless people in the park and storms into Ricky's club with them and turns out it was a surprise party for her. Ends with Ricky singing the I love Lucy song to Lucy. You can genuinely feel the love those 2 had for each other here.

One of my favorites is when she loses her ring in the barb b que and Lucy and Ethel stay up all night rebuilding it. …… Also “The Diet” Lucy is fantastic going to that audition with the sexy girls and rolls up her pant legs and does the routine out of sync. Plus - Cuban Pete is the best. My mom has Alzheimer’s and lives with me and is ALWAYS here - the line that runs through my head sometimes is - “Why don’t you run out and see if Little Freddie Mertz can come out and play.”

"The Quiz Show" and "Don Juan Are Shelved" are the only two worth watching.

[quote]This is actually the second instance of the telling of lies in a letter. Lucy lies to Caroline Appleby and Ethel lies to her hometown, both saying they're going to be movie stars.

I know some ways to deal with a lying wife.

Seasons 1-3 were more consistent than 4-6. The show lost some of its charm in later seasons.

I love “Lucy is Envious,” aka Women from Mars, the “Ethel to Tillie” seance one, and the country club one with Barbara Eden. Oh, and the one with Elsa Lanchester driving them to Florida while “axe murderess Evelyn Holmby” is on the loose.

[quote]Oh, and the one with Elsa Lanchester driving them to Florida while “axe murderess Evelyn Holmby” is on the loose.

Her character was an implied lesbian, right?

Elsa Lancaster's character was Mrs. Grundy so she did sort of remind me of one of those stern New England health food nuts.

The scene where they change the tire was hilarious because you know the writers did it themselves and some of it was observational humor. Ethel: I think you put the jack in the wrong place. Lucy: (dripping with sarcasm) No kidding. Ethel: It's not flat anymore.

In general the Hollywood episodes are the best of the series, almost all of them are watchable. There are 25 in total if you include the 6 eps leading up to their arrival in Hollywood and the one on the train going back home.

The Harpo Marx episode is a work of art and one of the few times Lucy did a retake of a scene after the studio audience had gone home.

The Don Loper ( or Lopper as Ricky would say!) was wonderful. They were brilliant in the way Lucy and Ethel although respectable, look a little run down in the shiny rich Don Loper Salon. I love the way when Ethel meets Don Loper she does that funny greeting.

The Superman episode- because it has Superman in it.

R30 and remember that the fashion show has DL legend, Mrs. Richard (bow wow) Carlson. Loper introduces her as "the very lovely Mrs. Richard Carlson." I also like that Loper was unafraid to show his bitchy side when he was told Mrs. Joel McRae can't come and he snaps, "fine time to tell me".

Loper's basic dress is never seen on Lucy in any episode, although it does resemble a dress she wears that has a lace collar. Loper tells Lucy that Mrs. Alan Ladd wants to wear the dress in the show but we never see her. Also, when Mrs. Dean Martin makes her entrance, she begins fidgeting with her pearl bracelet, perhaps because it's loose. But the obvious mistake is that Lucy never tells Ricky that the dress will be for a fashion show, which would have made him understand the expense, especially since he relents at the end.

In the Lucy buys a Paris Gown, Ricky produces a letter that Lucy wrote that says she would never ask for another expensive dress again if Ricky buys the Loper dress. Also, when Ricky tells Lucy that he just bought her a Loper dress, she says "that old thing?"

Mary Wickes flicking Lucy's clit in the ballet episode.

#32 - it’s the middle of the night and my Lucy knowledge is floating in a drowsy haze - but wasn’t there some trivia out there that one of the Hollywood wife’s was drinking heavily and was either replaced and/or endured. I THINK air was in the Jim Brochu book “Lucy In the Afternoon” - I remember the tidbit was a “tease” the wife wasn’t named . Has it ever revealed which wife it was?

Mrs. Alfred Steele, r35?

r12 isn't wrong

This one:

Did Bettie Page guest star in r38?

R38 fucking hot.

Seconds after this photo was taken, Viv wrapped her hand the rest of the way around Frawley's neck and began to squeeze.

r40 = the Marquis de Sade

Viv and Bill are supposed to have loathed each other but they always seem pretty chummy in pics. Some would say it was to keep up appearances. I say they were having an illicit love affair and THAT was the front.

I thought Frawley was gay r43?

Not gay, r44. Just a confirmed bachelor!

Gay face for days

R35, I think it was Sheila MacRae who said that a few of the wives were drunk. If one was so drunk on the day of the taping, it had to have been Mrs. Alan Ladd since she was to wear the Loper Basic Dress and that element is totally out of the story when the fashion show starts. The fact that they'd mention her by name as well as include a very important plot point only to have her no show does suggest something went wrong behind the scenes and just excluding her from the fashion show was the best thing to do.

Also, remember when they're on the bus trip and they pass Alan Ladd's house and Lucy says that it would be nice to see Sue Carroll walking around. I guess they were neighbors and friends but Lucy had no patience with someone who wasn't professional.

I'm gonna rewatch the episode now r47

[quote]Viv and Bill are supposed to have loathed each other but they always seem pretty chummy in pics. Some would say it was to keep up appearances. I say they were having an illicit love affair and THAT was the front.

Vivian thought better of it, r43.

"The Fashion Show" was filmed two days before Christmas.

Good catch r48

[quote]What are the BEST I Love Lucy episodes?

Phil, Viv, and One Fist

This one!

I just watched The Fashion Show. Frances Neal (Mrs. Van Heflin) nearly trips, and then catches herself by throwing her arms out, at the second set of stairs.

R55 insert the appropriate penis joke.

[quote]insert the appropriate penis

Done!

[quote]insert the appropriate penis

Pics please!

Did Bill Frawley have some kind of neurological disorder that gave him the shakes, or was it really just withdrawals?

Another fave. Viv deserved another Emmy for this scene alone

R55 that's not a trip up. She stopped on the second flight of stairs and put her arms out as if to say "wait..." to which Loper said she had her jacket lined in fuchsia and purple so she reveals the hideous Chitty Chitty Bang Bang lining.

I love Ricky and Lucky and thought they had a great chemistry and think you could truly see how much they loved each other, but I feel Lucy and Ethel's friendship made the show. I love this video depicting it, Too bad they left out them both dressed up as aliens for a publicity stunt, but you can't be perfect.*

r62 one of the ILL writers (Madelyn Pugh I think) said as much: the show isn't about Lucy and Ricky so much as it's about the friendship of Lucy and Ethel.

You know - the above posts that you guys wrote above about Ricky and Ethel gave me a thought. In “The Lucy Show” - the early black and white episodes with Lucy and Viv - Desi was part of the team and the director. By that point in time - IF a they had allowed themselves ( TOO early in years) Lucy and Viv the actresses could have easily gone the “Golden Girls” route. Add neighbors Eve Arden and Kaye Ballard it could have been a great group. It seems to me that Lucy was like one of those balloon floats in the Thanksgiving parade. When she worked with Desi and Viv they kept her “grounded.” She completely trusted them as director and or scene partners - without them - her balloon floated away and her performances went over the top. ….. I really liked Dick Martin on the Lucy Show but he was just too light weight for her. aside from Desi, I enjoyed Lucy with Bob Hope and Henry Fonda. She was very feminine with both of them.

Lucy Tells the Truth

Vivian knew she could never get away with lying to me.

I knew the proper way to treat a wife!

I never knew that Lucille taped the final episode of Life with Lucy without knowing it would never be aired:

[quote]Fourteen episodes were written, thirteen filmed, but only eight aired. On the day of the last filmed (but unaired) episode, producer Aaron Spelling learned of the show's cancellation by ABC; he decided to tell Ball's husband Gary Morton, who decided not to reveal the news to her until after taping ended.

Also, this clip makes me sad:

It's a shame Vivian died when she did. She her a comic style well-suited to the 1980s sitcom.

R67 oy my heart. The heartbreak in Lucy's eyes. She was so beautiful.

It's definitely a MARY!!! moment r68. Vivian had her faults, but she provided Lucy with a lot of stability. As did Gale Gordon, but he didn't complement her nearly as well.

R69, Gordon actually didn't do too badly on Lucy Calls The President because Lucy herself wasn't as irritating as she was as Lucy Carmichael or Lucy Carter. Gordon had to be totally upset all the time because that's what the character warranted. However, even as Mr. Littlefield, he was not able to generate any type of warmth. BTW, he had a long running feud with Mel Blanc. He told a story in his autobiography that Gordon essentially laughed at Blanc when he said he was going to be a father only to become one a short time afterwards. He said that what you saw of him as Mr Mooney was exactly who he was.

Gale Gordon was such a poor replacement for Joseph Kearns on Dennis the Menace

[quote]BTW, he had a long running feud with Mel Blanc. He told a story in his autobiography that Gordon essentially laughed at Blanc when he said he was going to be a father only to become one a short time afterwards. He said that what you saw of him as Mr Mooney was exactly who he was.

Interesting r70

Candy Moore who played Chris on The Lucy Show said Gordon was very professional but very much stayed away from any interaction from the kids on the show. It's weird but that really comes across on screen as he seemed a man who really didn't like kids at all. Incidentally, the child he had was adopted, which Mel Blanc said was interesting since he laughed when Blanc told him he and his wife were having a child. It's hard to understand why, but they are two men who are said to get along with all people, except each other. Blanc even did some sound effects for Lucy's shows. He apparently loved Lucy and had no qualms about working for her.

[quote]It's weird but that really comes across on screen as he seemed a man who really didn't like kids at all.

This is why he doesn't work on Dennis the Menace for me. (Well, that, and the show had kind of jumped the shark by the time Joseph Kearns died.) The way Kearns played Mr. Wilson showed he had an affinity for Dennis hidden underneath his rough exterior. Gordon, conversely, just oozed animosity without warmth.

RE the perennial Lucy/Viv lesbian rumors, I think Vivian was probably bi. It also kind of explains her last marriage. I'd be shocked if she didn't partake in some girl-on-girl action, especially earlier in life.

Interestingly, the writers had four or five core plots that kept getting recycled over the course of the series.

Phil Ober appeared in the Pre-Code film Chloe, Love is Calling You.

The plot ...

[quote]A low-budget Southern drama about a light skinned woman who was raised in the swamps who wishes to avenge her black father's lynching. She falls in love with Wade Carson, a white man who works for Col. Gordon, who orchestrated the lynching. Later she discovers that Col. Gordon is actually her father.

Yikes!

^^^ *Chloe, Love is Calling

As an aside, Olive Borden had a rather tragic life.

[quote]Borden died on October 1, 1947, from complications of pneumonia at the age of 41. The only possession she had when she died was a signed photo of herself

The Staten Island Ferry - "I've been on the other side of that green face"

Vacation from Marriage - when Lucy and Ethel get locked out on the roof and are freezing together and Ricky and Fred spray them with the hose

Lucy and Ethel Dress Up as Martians: "GREEEEEEP!" "GRIBBITCH!"

I'm watching r77 ...

WOW ... beyond offensive! As one online reviewer states, "This film is so poorly done and so offensive by modern standards that there is really nothing to say about it."

But I have to admit, young Phil Ober was pretty hot.

r77 is my favorite movie!!

R76, I just read the Jess Oppenheimer memoir and he said he realized they were starting to recycle plots and themes, which is why he got out at the end of season five, when his contract was up.

I've been wanting to read that, r83. Would you recommend it?

I'm rewatching the Hollywood episodes. Interestingly, Phil Ober could have reprised his role as Dore Schary in "Ricky Needs an Agent." (Lucy would have just had to wear some kind of disguise, as she did in other episodes, eg, Bill Holden.) They even mention Schary in the episode. I wonder if Vivian was hurt that they didn't extend him the favor.

r84, yes, I recommend "Laughs, Love... and Lucy." It's an easy-breezy read with some funny anecdotes not only about his time creating and producing IlL but also his early days in radio, his family background, etc. The memoir essentially ends when he leaves ILL at the end of its fifth season.

I borrowed it from the library, and there was a bonus included: a CD with a couple of episodes and excerpts from My Favorite Husband, and a comparison sampling of scenes from Husband that were adapted to ILL, such as Lucy changing her order (and tables) at a restaurant. Plus, a couple of surprises I'll let you discover on your own.

Thanks r86! I'll check it out

[quote]I wonder if Vivian was hurt that they didn't extend him the favor.

Vivian was too busy shoving eclairs into her mouth, wasting money on shrinks, fantasizing about Lucille, and disobeying her husband to notice.

I never saw a troll get so overexposed and trite in such a hurry. PO? PU…!

There once lived an actor named Phil O.

Who sought for a part in a big show

Outshone by his wife

He bumbled through life

But trolling DL is a new low

Ober was actually kicked out of Princeton.

To be a fly on the wall when Caser Romero guest starred.

To be the fly on his pants.

What evidence is there that Desi was hung? Other than being Cuban, of course.

Lucy Calls the President

I was watching the gross Lucy Show on Decades today and in one episode, the lazy writers decide to have Lucy break Mr. Mooney's TV, so she has to moonlight as a waitress in order to pay him back. Poor Jackie Coogan played her boss whose restaurant she essentially destroys. At any rate, the subplot has a young guy helping Lucy out. He really stood out because he was so handsome and had a really natural presence. I looked him up and he's Phil Vandervort. But get this. Lucie was also on the show as a teenager hanging out at the drive in and she was so smitten with Vandervort that she eventually married him. She definitely got the better end of the deal.

I never noticed this before, but at several points in "Shortin' Bread", Viv can barely contain her laughter.

Listen, I did my best to help Viv's career. For example, at one point a good friend of mine who was a writer was shopping around a hot script for a horror picture. Every studio big shot in town was trying to get his hands on that fucker. Warner Bros. wound up outbidding the other studios and won the rights. Well, I marched right into that asshole Jack Warner's office and demanded he star Viv in the picture. I told him that no one would be more appropriate than Viv to headline "House of Whacks."

"Lucy Does A TV Commercial" and "Job Switching"(chocolate factory).

MeTV is doing a mini-marathon of "I Love Lucy" episodes tomorrow.

Ethel was in r99's script, but Vivian missed filming and her lines were given to Bill.

Part of Lucy's problem in subsequent shows was that she was cheap AF- and yes, Gary talked her into it (or went along with it). She wouldn't pay for decent scripts or writers. Some of those other shows were embarrassing.

That mini marathon on MeTV are the probably the best six episodes of the series

Which episodes were they r103?

Job Switching, LA at Last, Italian Movie, for sure.

I can’t remember the rest for certain, but it’s among Housewarming, Ethel’s Hometown, Lucy is Enceinte, and/or Lucy Goes to the Hospital.

Here’s the exact list of 10 episodes:

Be a Pal S1, Ep2

The Ballet S1, Ep19

Lucy does a TV commercial S1Ep30

Job Switching S2, Ep 4

Lucy is Enceinte S2, Ep 15

Lucy goes to the hospital S2, Ep 21

Lucy and Harpo Marx S4, Ep 27

Lucy and John Wayne S5, Ep 2

Lucy‘s Italian movie S5, Ep23

Lucy and Bob Hope S6, Ep1

Thanks r106

Is Cesar Romero the only source for the "Cesar Romero sucked Desi's huge Cuban cock" story?

I'm watching the John Wayne episode, holy shit is it great. I'd forgotten. FOUR TIMES the Duke has generously re-done his feet and signature in cement for stupid Lucy after she broke the original Grauman's one, only for her to keep fucking it up every time. Now Lucy's pretending to be a guy giving the unsuspecting Wayne a massage. Very funny, imaginative plot, lots of good twists.

....and now, having watched the John Wayne episode, I looked on Hulu for the preceding episode – where Lucy and Ethel actually make off with the slab from Grauman's – and it's not available! Wtf! Why are some episodes missing?

"Ethel's Hometown" is pretty hilarious.

Agreed, the Hollywood John Wayne episode is surprisingly funny.

Ethel Mae Potter, We Never Forgot Her

It's not one of the best episodes per se, but in "Ricky Sells the Car," I find the "Ethel-thinks-Lucy-wants-to-fuck-Fred" plot hilarious. Both Lucille and Vivian are brilliant in it. Ethel walking in and saying calmly, but with rage festering just below the surface, "What are you doing?", and the look of panic on Lucy's face, crack me up every time.

After watching John Wayne, I watched the William Holden episode, another gem, complete with Eve Arden cameo. It's fun to watch Lucy pretend to be a starstruck yokel when she was a huge star herself. The nose-lighting scene never gets old, Holden's reaction is priceless. And I always loved their modernist suite at the fictional Beverly Palms Hotel.

I agree, r115. Some of the Hollywood episodes were real gems

Little Ricky arrived this morning.

No children allowed, r117!

I’ve always enjoyed, in the previous episode or two, “Lucy’s Swan Song” the quick sight gag of her raising her arms in the barber chair and giving the other three a mouthful of shaving cream at the same time. Not sophisticated lol, but excellent timing and a well-earned laugh.

Did Ethel give it to Lucy with a strap-on?

Now I'm watching the Dore Schary episode. The actor playing him is much more attractive than the real guy. I remember seeing this episode as a kid and thinking Dore Schary was such a glamorous-sounding Hollywood name.

That's Mr. Vance to you, r121.

That's Vivian's husband.

I did not know that!

Next episode, I don't remember this one. Lucy reads a newspaper item that Rock Hudson is "resting in Palm Springs." Mmm-hmmm.

Philip Ober, r124...

Handsome fella.

As good as the Wayne and Holden episodes are, this Rock Hudson one seems thrown together, the script is all over the place, as if the writers had run out of ideas or they had to accommodate Rock's availability at the last minute. Rock looks stunning though, and you can see him ogling a guy in a scene at the swimming pool in Palm Springs.

And he had a huge dick, r127

r127 he was kind of an awful person. He mistreated Vivian terribly, in part because he was extremely jealous of her professional success. At one point, she feared continuing to do the show would drive her to another nervous breakdown and asked him if she could quit. He told her no (because he rather enjoyed the financial windfall). He also refused to let her display her Emmy award in their home.

R128- That reminds me of Captain 👨‍✈️ Steubing SNIFFING that male stripper’s JOCK STRAP.

I’ve been on a roll, watching the Hollywood episodes. Last night was Richard Widmark. What’s always funny is trying to understand Ricky Ricardo‘s level of fame. On one hand he’s a moderately well known band leader who lives modestly. On the other he’s lunching and on a first name basis with the biggest stars in town.

Oh and I was reading up on Richard Widmark, apparently he was a big gun control guy. Which is funny because in his Lucy episode he has a whole scene in the trophy room of his Beverly Hills mansion, with all these big game heads mounted on the wall. He even does a thing with an elephant gun where he threatens Lucy.

It wasn't a jock, r131, it was his pants.

The outside of Richard Widmark's was Lucy's real house.

[quote]Now I'm watching the Dore Schary episode. The actor playing him is much more attractive than the real guy.

Apparently Dore Schary had agreed to play himself, but then chickened out.

He didn't chicken out, he was head of MGM with an incredibly busy schedule and at the last minute something came up he couldn't ignore and had to drop out.

Dore was short for Isodore, his real name, but didn't he pronounce it Dorry?

^ Isadore, not Isodore. Sorry.

Just as well. Phil Ober fit a smoother, more glamorous image of a studio head. Here’s the real Dore:

Was he the one who died when his scarf got caught in the Bugatti spokes, r138?

r137 = the ghost of Dore Schary

Schary's cancellation worked out for Ober, who probably wouldn't have been invited back under normal circumstances. They actively avoided giving him parts

And I had a bigger dick too.

I'd forgotten that Joseph Kearns appeared on ILL

"Lucy Does a TV Commercial" can never be in my top five solely because Vivian Vance wasn't in it

First Stop isn't the best (it's one of the better ones, though); however, I love it because it's fascinating to see what interstate travel was like before the construction of the Interstate Highway System

On Decades today is one of my favorites, “Ricky‘s movie offer”, the one where Lucy and Ethel hit a talent scout over the head and knock him out, and then set him up on the couch and pretend nothing happened. Well written and well-timed, always makes me laugh. One of Frank Nelson’s funniest ILL appearances.

"Country Club Dance". with Barbara Eden as Diana

r148 = the ghost of Desi Arnaz

R148 My Mother Told Me To Pick Youuuuu

"I Love Lucy" wins 2022 TCA Heritage Award:

[quote]The TCA was proud to recognize the legendary CBS sitcom I Love Lucy with the Heritage Award. Airing from 1951 to 1957, the landmark series starred comedy powerhouse Lucille Ball alongside fellow legends Desi Arnaz, Vivian Vance, and William Frawley. I Love Lucy is frequently heralded as one of the greatest television shows of all time, and its tremendous influence continues to impact generations of viewers, entertainers, and creators to this day. I Love Lucy boasted guest appearances from Hollywood icons such as Rock Hudson, John Wayne, Orson Welles, and Bob Hope, to name only a few. During its tenure, the series produced 180 episodes, several hour-long specials, and even a comic book—racking up five EMMY wins in the process.

[quote]I Love Lucy boasted guest appearances from Hollywood icons such as Rock Hudson, John Wayne, Orson Welles, and Bob Hope, to name only a few.

They forgot someone.

I just watched the episode where Lucy switches apartments with the neighbor so that they are now in the second, larger unit. One thing I never noticed before is that there appears to be a little hallway leading into the living room from the front door. It’s got pictures hung on the wall and everything. I always thought the doors to both apartments opened right onto the landing. Definitely a nice feature of the new place.

Wasn’t there one where Lucy and Ethel wore white hoods?

I take it back, it looks like the set designer did away with the entry hallway in later episodes.

Another thing I’ve noticed is almost every episode involves moving heavy furniture or props around.

William Frawley often shit his pants on the set

The most popular (and arguably the best) episodes are the ones that have been colorized for showing every December on CBS.