#coby ruskin

[papermoonloveslucy]

LUCY GIVES EDDIE ALBERT THE OLD SONG AND DANCE

S6;E6 ~ October 15, 1973

Directed by Coby Ruskin ~ Written by Bob Carroll Jr. and Madelyn Davis

Synopsis

When producing a charity show, Lucy asks Eddie Albert to star in it.  At the same time, a woman meeting Lucy’s description has been stalking Albert.  

Regular Cast

Lucille Ball (Lucy Carter), Gale Gordon (Harrison Otis Carter)

Lucie Arnaz (Kim Carter) does not appear in this episode, nor does she receive credit in the opening titles. Despite her absence, the final credits do state “Lucie Arnaz Wardrobe by Alroe.”

Guest Cast

Eddie Albert (Himself) began his TV career years before electronic television was introduced to the public. In June of 1936 Eddie appeared in RCA’s first private live performance for their radio licensees in New York City, a very early experimental television system. He first worked with Lucille Ball in the 1950 movie The Fuller Brush Girl. Today he is perhaps best known for playing lawyer turned farmer Oliver Douglas on CBS’s “Green Acres” (1965-71). He was nominated for two Oscars as Supporting Actor, in 1954 for Roman Holiday and 1972 for The Heartbreak Kid. He died in 2005 at age 99.  

Mary Jane Croft (Mary Jane Lewis, left) 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. 

Vanda Barra (Vanda Barra, right) makes one of over two dozen appearances on “Here’s Lucy” as well as appearing in Ball’s two 1975 TV movies “Lucy Gets Lucky” and “Three for Two”. She was seen in half a dozen episodes of “The Lucy Show.” Barra was Lucille Ball’s cousin-in-law by marriage to Sid Gould.

Doris Singleton (Patty) created the role of Caroline Appleby on “I Love Lucy,” although she was known as Lillian Appleby in the first of her ten appearances. She made two appearances on “The Lucy Show.” This is the second of her four appearances on “Here’s Lucy.”  She was originally intended to be a series regular but was written out after the first episode.

The character’s name is not used in the dialogue but is listed in the final credits.

Jerry Hausner (Jimmy) was featured as Jerry, Ricky’s agent in the pilot and first three seasons of “I Love Lucy.”  He left the show after a disagreement with Desi Arnaz. He returned to work with Lucille Ball in “Lucy is a Soda Jerk” (TLS S1;E23), shortly after Desi Arnaz resigned as Executive Producer and President of Desilu.  This is is his only “Here’s Lucy” appearance and his last time on screen with Lucille Ball.  He was seen in three episodes of “Green Acres” with Eddie Albert.

“Green Acres” is mentioned in the dialogue of the episode. Eddie Albert’s co-star on “Green Acres,” Eva Gabor, guest-starred in two episodes of “Here’s Lucy.” Many other “Lucy” actors appeared in Hooterville.  Among them, Barbara Pepper (30 episodes), Eleanor Audley (19 episodes), Robert Foulk (16 episodes), Jonathan Hole (7 episodes), Shirley Mitchell (4 episodes), Parley Baer (4 episodes), Jerry Hausner (3 episodes), Jesse White (2 episodes), John J. Fox (2 episodes), Roy Roberts (2 episodes), Maurice Marsac, Lou Krugman, Bob Jellison, Norman Leavitt, Romo Vincent, Elvia Allman, Gail Bonney, Ray Kellogg, Irwin Charone, Bernie Kopell, Charles Lane, Alan Hale Jr., Robert Carson, Jerome Cowan, William Lanteau, Paul Bradley, Leoda Richards, Hans Moebus, and Rich Little.  

An office scene between Lucy and Harry was originally written for “Lucy, the Peacemaker” (S5;E3) but deleted for time.  It was re-staged for this episode.  

Lucille begins to wear longer wigs again after having worn shorter styles earlier in the season.

Lucy, Mary Jane, and Vanda are having a lunch meeting to plan their annual “Girl Friday Follies,” a show that raises money to send underprivileged kids to camp. Taking Lucy’s suggestion to find a “big name”, Mary Jane suggests Engelbert Humperdinck – the ‘biggest’ name she’s ever heard.  The English singing sensation was previously mentioned on “Lucy and Liberace” (S2;E16) and “Lucy and Ann-Margret” (S2;E20) where Lucy mispronounced his name as 'Pumpernickel’ and 'Dumperhink.’

Looking at his desk, littered with food items from the girls’ lunch, Harry laments that he “missed the Iowa State Picnic.”  The Iowa State Picnic is an annual event that started in 1900 and was held in Long Beach, California, which was nicknamed “Iowa by the Sea.” They were attended by Iowans who had transplanted to the area in order to share their common roots. With attendance dwindling, in 2014 the picnic moved from Long Beach to San Pedro where the USS Iowa is docked.   

To find a star, Lucy looks at Joyce Haber’s column in the newspaper. Joyce Haber was the gossip columnist of the Los Angeles Times. She made an appearance (above) as a member of the Hollywood Press when “Lucy Meets the Burtons” (S3;E1) in 1970.  

Haber’s column mentions that Frank Sinatra is coming out of retirement.  In 1970, the singer went into a self-imposed retirement that lasted until 1973 with the release of the album “Ol’ Blue Eyes is Back.”  Sinatra was first mentioned on “I Love Lucy” in 1955 and his named has been dropped on both “The Lucy Show” and “Here’s Lucy.” Sinatra inadvertently appeared on “I Love Lucy” when a clip of him in the film Guys and Dolls was inserted into the MGM Executives Show in “Lucy and the Dummy” (ILL S5;E3) when it was running short.  The clip has since been removed and has never been seen in the context of the episode after its initial broadcast.

Lucy says she saw Eddie Albert in The Music Man. In 1959, Albert replaced Robert Preston in the  Broadway production of The Music Man. Coincidentally, the show’s author Meredith Willson was from Iowa, where the musical is set, and attended the 1959 Iowa State Picnic to lead the Long Beach Band playing the show’s rousing anthem “76 Trombones.”

When a preoccupied Lucy is idle at her desk, she tells Harry she’s worried about Eddie Albert. Harry tells her to get busy and let Margo worry about Eddie Albert. Margo Albert was a Mexican-American actress born as María Marguerita Guadalupe Teresa Estela Bolado Castilla y O'Donnell – so she simply went by the singular moniker Margo. Coincidentally, he was related by marriage to band leader Xavier Cugat, as niece of his first marriage to Carmen Castillo. Cugat was a mentor of Desi Arnaz’s and often mentioned as a rival of Ricky Ricardo. Margo appeared in a 1958 installment of “The Westinghouse-Desilu Playhouse” with Eddie Albert which was hosted by Desi Arnaz. The following year, she was seen in another installment with Arnaz as a co-star.  

Margo’s black and white photo is behind the sofa of Albert’s living room. Next to it is a photo of Albert’s son, Edward Laurence Heimberger (aka Eddie Albert Jr.), age 23.  In 1972, he was launched to fame from his portrayal of blind Don Baker in Butterflies are Free, for which he won a Golden Globe. He died of Alzheimer’s Disease in 2006, one year after his father’s passing.

When Lucy unexpectedly arrives on Eddie Albert’s doorstep he believes her to be his stalker, so Patty is sent to phone for the police. She rushes from the room saying “I feel like I’m on 'Mannix’!”  “Mannix” (1967-75) was a Desilu-produced TV show that was saved from cancellation after its first season by Lucille Ball. “Here’s Lucy” hosted a cross-over episode with “Mannix” in 1971 that also featured Mary Jane Croft and Gale Gordon. It, too, was written and directed by Ruskin, Davis, and Carroll.  

Trying to convince Eddie to change his conflict date and do the show, Lucy breaks into “There’s a Long, Long Trail” and then Albert joins in, harmonizing. At the end of the scene Harry, Mary Jane, and Vanda all join in.  The song was written by Stoddard King and Alonzo Elliott in 1913. In an episode of “The Lucy Show,” Lucy Carmichael and Viv sing the first two lines of the chorus in a failed attempt to entertain their kids after their TV set breaks down. The song’s title may have also influenced the title of the Lucille Ball / Desi Arnaz film The Long, Long Trailer (1953). 

“The Girl Friday Follies”

Mary Jane: “Nostalgia’s so old fashioned.”

The Girl Friday Follies opens with Mary Jane and Vanda taking their bows as the team of “Crime and Punishment”.  We never see what the act consists of, but it is likely not connected to Fyodor Dostoyevsky’s 1866 novel of the same name.  

Eddie Albert: “To know Harry is to love him!” Lucy: “I don’t think we’re talking about the same Harry.”

For the finale, Lucy and Eddie Albert perform “Makin’ Whoopee” written by Gus Kahn and Walter Donaldson.  The song was first popularized by Eddie Cantor in the 1928 musical Whoopee!  For the first time since her skiing accident, Lucy dances on television.

In her DVD introduction of the episode, Shirley Mitchell calls the show “old home week.” 

Aside from Lucy’s reunion with Eddie Albert from The Fuller Brush Girl, she also shares the sound stage with three members of the cast of “I Love Lucy”… 

Shirley Mitchell (Carolyn Appleby)… 

Mary Jane Croft (Betty Ramsey)… 

and Jerry Hausner (Jerry the Agent).  

The episode is written by the “I Love Lucy” scribes Madelyn (Pugh) Davis and Bob Carroll Jr.

Lucy says she saw Eddie Albert’s house on a tour of the movie stars homes. Mary Jane asks Lucy if that was the tour where she sneaked into Rock Hudson’s backyard to steal an orange. This is a variation on when Lucy Ricardo took a tour of the movie stars homes and sneaked over Richard Widmark’s wall to steal a grapefruit in “The Tour” (ILL S4;E30). 

Rock Hudson played himself on an episode titled “In Palm Springs” (ILL S4;E26). Rock Hudson is mentioned again later, when Patty reveals that the same woman who has been stalking Eddie Albert has also been bothering Rock Hudson.

Vanda asks if it is the same tour where she saw Dean Martin in his bathrobe dumping empty bottles in the trash?  Although this even never happened on screen, Lucy Carmichael did date Dean Martin on “The Lucy Show.”  

Where the Floor Ends!  In the office, the camera pulls back for a wide shot that exposes where the wall-to-wall carpet ends and the cement stage floor begins. 

“Lucy Gives Eddie Albert the Old Song and Dance” rates 3 Paper Hearts out of 5

This episode is enjoyable for “I Love Lucy” (or Eddie Albert) fans. It is good to see so many folks from Lucille Ball’s past in one episode!    

[papermoonloveslucy]

LUCY IS N.G. AS AN R.N.

S6;E17 ~ January 21, 1974

Directed by Coby Ruskin ~ Written by Bob Carroll Jr. and Madelyn Davis

Synopsis

Kim gets a cold, Harry hurts his knee, and Mary Jane breaks her fingers. Even the cat is having kittens!  Naturally, it falls to Lucy to nurse them all back to health.

Regular Cast

Lucille Ball (Lucy Carter), Gale Gordon (Harrison Otis Carter), Lucie Arnaz (Kim Carter)

Guest Cast

Mary Jane Croft (Mary Jane) played Betty Ramsey during season six of “I Love Lucy.” She also played Cynthia Harcourt in “Lucy is Envious” (ILL S3;E23) and Evelyn Bigsby in “Return Home from Europe” (ILL S5;E26). She played Audrey Simmons on “The Lucy Show” but when Lucy Carmichael moved to California, she played Mary Jane Lewis, the actor’s married name and the same one she uses on all 31 of her episodes of “Here’s Lucy. Her final acting credit was playing Midge Bowser on “Lucy Calls the President” (1977). She died in 1999 at the age of 83. 

Roy Roberts (Dr. Honeycutt) was born Roy Barnes Jones in Tampa, Florida in 1906. His early career was on the Broadway stage. In Hollywood, the veteran character actor accrued over 900 screen performances in his 40 year career, most of which were authority figures. He and Lucille Ball appeared together in Miss Grant Takes Richmond (1949). On “The Lucy Show” he first appeared as a Navy Admiral in “Lucy and the Submarine” (TLS S5;E2) before creating the role of Mr. Cheever, the president of Mr. Mooney’s bank, a recurring character he played through the end of the series. On “Here’s Lucy” he played the Superintendent of the Air Force Academy in season two’s two-part opener.  He also played a Doctor in “Lucy and the Astronauts” (S4;E5).  

Al Checco (Dr. Crawford) was originally the comedy partner of Don Knotts entertaining US troops stationed overseas. This is the second of his two appearances on the series, having first appeared in “The Big Game” (S6;E2).  

Dr. Crawford, a veterinarian, is substituting for Dr. Moss.  

Harry, Kim's Cat (uncredited) is the mother of 20 kittens and is pregnant for the fifth time. She was briefly named Harriet, but refused to respond to anything but Harry. Harry is a kitten from the litter of a cat owned by Lucy's friend Vanda.

The title features abbreviations that might be confusing: N.G. stands for “No Good” and “R.N.” means “Registered Nurse.”  

The same evening this episode originally aired, Roy Roberts also appeared on “Gunsmoke,” “Here's Lucy's” lead-in on CBS. Roberts played Mr. Bodkin in 19 episodes of the long-running Western. Like his character of Mr. Cheever on “The Lucy Show,” Mr. Bodkin was a banker. These two back-to-back episodes are Roberts' last television appearances before his death a year later. In that year, he also starred in two feature films: Chinatown (1974) and The Strongest Man in the World (1975).

In his DVD introduction to the episode, Al Checco says that the “Here's Lucy” company worked like “a well-greased automobile engine.” Truthfully, Checco was the only 'outsider' in this episode full of “Lucy” regulars, having only done one previous episode.   

As the episode opens, Harry is catching up with his reading with the September 1969 issue of The Ring. The boxing magazine published its first issue in 1922. On “I Love Lucy,” both Ricky and Fred were big prize fighting fans, with the last scene of the very first aired episode set ringside.

Harry says he spends dinner-time watching Walter Cronkite deliver the news. Walter Cronkite (1916-2009) was anchorman of “The CBS Evening News” for nearly 20 years. He was recently mentioned in “Lucy Plays Cops and Robbers” (S6;E14) when Harry gets a new television set.

Lucy and Mary Jane are headed to San Francisco for a convention of The Girl Fridays Association, where Lucy intends to run for vice president. The Girl Fridays were last mentioned in “Lucy Gives Eddie Albert the Old Song and Dance” (S6;E6, above). The local members of the Girl Fridays are Lucy, Mary Jane, and Vanda.  

Kim has acquired a cat to keep her company at her Marina Del Rey apartment. This is the first full-grown cat on the series, although a kitten appeared in “Lucy the Fixer” (S1;E14, above). The previous episode to be aired, “Meanwhile, Back at the Office” (S6;E16), featured an even cat – a full grown lion!  

When she hears about Kim's cat having another litter, Lucy asks the cat if she's heard of the Anti-Litter Campaign. Pun aside, the Anti-Littering Campaign, also known as the Keep America Beautiful Campaign, started in 1953 and was co-founded by original “I Love Lucy” sponsor Philip-Morris. The Campaign was mentioned in “Lucy Meets the Law” (TLS S5;E19). Lucy alumni Iron Eyes Cody, who appeared as the Medicine Man in “Lucy and the Indian Chief” (S2;E3), was seen as the Native American with the single tear running down his cheek in TV and print ads for the Campaign.

When Lucy can't cat-sit, Kim wonders if Cindy can take the cat for the weekend. Cindy (Cynthia) was Lucie Arnaz's character name on several episodes of “The Lucy Show.”  

Lucy asks Mary Jane why she's reading a 'spicy' book like “Starved Love.” She's heard it makes Jacqueline Susann look like Dr. Seuss. Susann's novel (and the subsequent film) Valley of the Dolls, was parodied as Valley of the Puppets in “Lucy and  Eva Gabor” (S1;E7). 

When she catches Harry reading it, Lucy says “It sure beats 'How the Grinch Stole Christmas', doesn't it?”  

Sitcom Logic Alert! Harry is staying in Craig's old room and Kim is back in her old room. Just where Harry and Mary Jane are sleeping is not specified. Perhaps Mary Jane is bunking in with Lucy?  In addition to mentioning the absent Craig (formerly played by Desi Arnaz Jr.), the episode also mentions Lucy's friend Vanda (Vanda Barra), who hasn't been seen in several episodes.

Lucy Carter's daughter, Kim, has named her cat after her Uncle Harry, just the same way Lucy Ricardo's son, Ricky, named his dog after his 'Uncle' Fred.

Little Ricky: “I always name my pets after people I like!”

Running up and down stairs to help a sick friend was also done by Lucy Carmichael when Viv was bed-ridden (and feeling litigious) in “Vivian Sues Lucy” (TLS S1;E10).  

“Lucy is N.G. as an R.N.” rates 4 Paper Hearts out of 5

Al Checco’s observation that the “Here’s Lucy” troupe was like a well-oiled machine is spot-on. This episode feels like another series: no bellowing from Gale, no whimpering from Lucy - the characters treat each other in a realistic manner rarely seen on the series - one that probably mirrors real life.  Add to that clever writing and you’ve go one of the best episodes of the series. The only drawback is the abrupt ending, which needed a bigger comic finish. Oh, and the title is terrible, too!  

[papermoonloveslucy]

LUCY SUBLETS THE OFFICE

S4;E21 ~ January 31, 1972

Directed by Coby Ruskin ~ Written by George Balzin and Sam Perrin

Synopsis

Harry is losing money so a loan officer instructs him to put Lucy in charge. Her first act as boss is to lease office space to an eccentric toy salesman (Wally Cox) who turns the Unique Employment Agency into a playground!

Regular Cast

Lucille Ball (Lucy Carter), Gale Gordon (Harrison Otis Carter)

Lucie Arnaz (Kim Carter) does not appear in this episode, although her name does appear in the opening credits. Lucy is on the phone with Kim as the episode opens. Despite not being in the episode, Lucie Arnaz does the introduction on the series DVD.  

Guest Cast

Wally Cox (Tommy Tucker, Toy Tycoon) was one of Lucille Ball’s favorite character actors and best remembered for being a panelist on TV’s “The Hollywood Squares” (1965-73) as well as his hit series “Mr. Peepers” (1953-55). 

Cox played a nervous musician on “Lucy Conducts the Symphony” (TLS S2;E13), a shy bachelor in “Lucy and Wally Cox” (S2;E21), a reformed safe cracker in “Lucy and the Ex-Con” (S1;E15), and an on-edge jeweler in “Lucy and the Diamond Cutter” (S3;E10). Cox and Lucille Ball both appeared in the 1967 film A Guide for the Married Man. This is his fourth and final appearance on “Here’s Lucy.” Cox died of a heart attack in 1973 at age 48.

Tommy Tucker was the name of the cue card man on “Here's Lucy.” Lucille Ball and Tucker would often play word games together.

Richard Deacon (Elmer Zellerbach, Loan Officer) is probably best remembered as Mel Cooley on “The Dick Van Dyke Show” (1961-66). He appeared as Tallulah Bankhead’s butler in “The Celebrity Next Door,” a 1957 episode of “The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour.” He was employed again by Desi Sr. as a regular on “The Mothers-in-Law” (1968). This is the second of his two appearances on "Here’s Lucy.”

Mr. Zellerbach has two college-age children. His first name is never used in the dialogue and the final credits only list him as “Loan Officer.”

The date this show was originally aired, Time Magazine published a cover story on Flip Wilson, TV's first black superstar. Wilson was a guest-star on “Here's Lucy” on September 13, 1971.  

This episode was originally sponsored by Lipton Tea, Wesson Oil, and Whirlpool. On the DVD, commercials for each are included.  

Lucy tells Mr. Zellerbach that she has two children, Kim and Craig, who are both in college. Craig has been mentioned consistently over the past four episodes after not being mentioned for more than 3 months.

LUCY (to Harry): “The reason this business is failing is because your head is full of 20 year-old, tired business techniques. While my head is new and fresh. It has nothing in it!” 

Lucy charges Tommy Tucker $75 a month to sublet a corner of the office. To come up with the cash, Tucker reaches into his pants pocket...jacket pocket...breast pocket...sock...shoe...and change purse!  The studio audience gives Cox a round of applause for the extended exchange. Harry (or, as Lucy calls him here, ‘HC’) has the miraculous ability to know how much money is in his hand without even looking! This too, garners a small round of applause from the studio spectators. 

Amidst his loose change Tommy hands Lucy, is a streetcar token, which he quickly takes back. From 1873, the streetcar served as a popular mode of transportation throughout the Los Angeles area. Widespread adoption of diesel buses ultimately led to the abandonment of streetcars on March 31, 1963, nine years before this episode first aired.

Harry slides down the sliding board into the kiddie pool, getting soaking wet. Getting Harry wet was part of most all episodes of the series. Off screen, Lucille Ball joking called Gale Gordon ‘old soggy crotch’ and here he lives up to the name!

One of the three inflatable punching bags in the office is Bozo the Clown. The character first appeared on television in 1949 starring Pinto Colvig. In 1964, Colvig did all the dog barks and howls in “Lucy is Her Own Lawyer” (TLS S2;E23). After the creative rights to Bozo were purchased by Larry Harmon in 1956, the character became a common franchise across the United States, with local television stations producing their own Bozo shows featuring the character.

The large wide-eyed rag doll under the slide was previously seen in the 1969 musical film Sweet Charity as set decoration for Charity’s apartment. It is just behind Chita Rivera in the above scene. Both “Lucy” and Charity were filmed at Universal. 

The toy-filled Unique Employment Agency looks very similar to the Ricardo living room when Lucy wanted to convince Ricky that their tiny apartment was not big enough for their growing family in “The Ricardos Change Apartments” (ILL S2;E26).  

Both featured inflatable punch toys, plush animals, and a sliding board that served as the only entrance into the room.  

When Tommy Tucker is demonstrating the remote control somersaulting dog, there is a wind-up drumming bear on the desk nearby that does not get demonstrated. This toy is very similar to the one used in “Little Ricky Gets Stage Fright” (ILL S6;E4). To help his son overcome his fear of drumming in public, Ricky wound up the drumming bear to show him he had nothing to be afraid of. Although very similar, the toys are different models.

Mr. Zellerbach says that he usually advises financially strapped companies like the Unique Employment Agency to hire an efficiency expert, which is exactly what Mr. Mooney did for the Westland Bank in “Lucy and the Efficiency Expert” (TLS S5;E13), an episode of “The Lucy Show” in which toys also play an integral part of the story. The Efficiency Expert was played by Phil Silvers who sends Lucy to work the assembly line at a toy factory. 

Lucy Carmichael and Vivian Bagley played with some super-sized toys as part of an age-regression experiment in “Lucy the Stockholder” (TLS S3;E25). 

The Ricardos sublet their New York apartment to the nervous Mr. Beecher (Jay Novello) in “The Sublease” (ILL S3;E31).

The Ricardos sublet their Connecticut home to the Williams Family in “Lucy Makes Room for Danny” (LDCH S2;E2). 

Miss-Take! Mr. Zellerbach calls Lucy “Miss Carter” despite noting that she has two dependent children.

What’s My Line? Richard Deacon often glances off at the teleprompter.

Gag Gift! This episode features a new desk for Harry in order to accomplish the novelty hand in a box gag. In order to hide the “hand” actor, this version of Harry’s desk goes all the way to the floor, where Harry's usual desk had dowel legs. The ‘hand in a box’ is reminiscent of Thing, a helpful hand in a box on TV’s “The Addams Family.”

Edit Room! Tommy Tucker is never shown re-setting the Rube Goldberg-like “Tantrum Breaker” (aka “Spanking Machine”). In order for the machine to work again with Harry at the show's finale, the entire mechanism would need to be re-set. Although the action of the scene is continuous, the re-set is never shown on screen. 

For a closer look at “Lucy’s Toy Chest” - a complete look at the toys seen on all the Lucille Ball sitcoms - click here! 

“Lucy Sublets the Office” rates 2 Paper Hearts out of 5

Two things about this episode save it from being bland: First, Lucy running the Employment Agency gives us a bit of a glimpse into the sort of no-nonsense executive Lucille Ball really was. Second, Lucy's child-like joy playing with the toys with Wally Cox. The range is worth a watch!

[papermoonloveslucy]

LUCY AND ANDY GRIFFITH

S6;E8 ~ October 29, 1973

Directed by Coby Ruskin ~ Written by Robert O'Brien

Synopsis

When Lucy meets a charismatic man (Andy Griffith) raising money for underprivileged youth in the park, Kim decides to investigate to see if he's really who he says he is.  

Regular Cast

Lucille Ball (Lucy Carter), Gale Gordon (Harrison Otis Carter), Lucie Arnaz (Kim Carter)

Guest Cast

Andy Griffith (Andy Johnson) was a former music teacher.  He began his screen career in 1948 on variety shows hosted by Ed Sullivan and Steve Allen.  In 1955 he was nominated for a Tony Award for his appearance on Broadway in No Time for Sergeants. He also appeared in the 1958 film version of the play.  In 1960 he appeared with Danny Thomas on “Make Room for Daddy” as Sheriff Andy Taylor and the character was spun-off into his own series “The Andy Griffith Show.”  He stayed with the show until 1968.  That same year he appeared on “The Tennessee Ernie Ford Special” on NBC with Lucille Ball.  He also appeared as Andy Taylor on two episodes of “Gomer Pyle: USMC.” In 1971 he starred in “The New Andy Griffith Show” which lasted only one season.  He had another hit series in 1986 with “Matlock” which ran until 1995. Griffith died in 2012 at age 86.

Sid Gould (Policeman) made more than 45 appearances on “The Lucy Show,” all as background characters. This is one of his nearly 50 episodes of “Here’s Lucy.” Gould (born Sydney Greenfader) was Lucille Ball’s cousin by marriage to Gary Morton.  

Randall Carver (Henry, left) began his career in 1969 and is best remembered as John Burns on the first season of “Taxi” (1978-79). This is his only appearance with Lucille Ball. He was 27 years old when he appeared in this episode.

Rick Kellman (Jerry, above right) played Lucille Ball and Bob Hope's son in the film Critic's Choice in 1963. He started acting at age 6 and is best remembered for playing Randy in “The Dennis O'Keefe Show” (1959-60) and Tommy in “Our Man Higgins” (1962-63).  A year after this appearance on “Here's Lucy” he left show business.  

The character's name is not spoken aloud, just listed in the final credits.

Hank Stohl (Bill Adams) began his career in 1959 and was the voice on the radio on “The Waltons” from 1977 to 1980. This is his only appearance with Lucille Ball.  

Bob Whitney (Stage Manager) appeared with Lucille Ball in The Facts of Life (1960). This is the second of his five appearances on the series.

The character has no lines. He tallies the donations on a chalk board at the end of the episode.

Marl Young (Conductor) was the musical director for “Here's Lucy” as well as making several on-camera appearances when the shows included live music.  

Vocalists: Nancy La Mar, Rosemary O'Brien, Dave Anderson Stuart, and Marvin Robinson

The musicians and others in the park and restaurant are played by uncredited background performers.

In March 1965, Lucille Ball interviewed Andy Griffith for two installments of her CBS radio show “Let's Talk To Lucy” while he was still playing Sheriff Andy Taylor on TV.  

Six Degrees of Lucy! Although none of Lucille Ball's TV incarnations ever came face to face with Sheriff Andy Taylor, they traveled in the same TV world:

In 1959, the year before Andy Taylor met Danny Williams on “Make Room for Daddy”, Danny Williams and family met Lucy Ricardo and family on a 1958 episode of “The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour.”  

Keith Thibodeaux, who played Lucy Ricardo's son, Little Ricky, played Opie's pal Johnny Paul Jason in 13 episodes of “The Andy Griffith Show” between 1962 and 1966.  

Gomer Pyle, who lived in Mayberry, joined the Marines and was spun off in his own series “Gomer Pyle USMC” when he made a brief appearance on “The Lucy Show” in 1966.  

“The Andy Griffith Show” had a sequel series titled “Mayberry RFD” starring Ken Berry, a protégé of Lucille Ball's who had appeared on “The Lucy Show” in 1968.  

All of these shows were filmed on the Desilu backlot (formerly RKO, later Paramount).  

Don Knotts, who played Andy Griffith's bumbling sidekick Deputy Barney Fife, guest starred in “Lucy Goes on Her Last Blind Date” (S5;E6). Some other “Lucy” actors who frequently showed up in Mayberry include Hal Smith, Parley Baer, Norman Leavitt, Amzie Strickland, Dub Taylor, Stanley Farrar, Will Wright, Herbie Faye, Jonathan Hole, Byron Foulger, Tol Avery, Reta Shaw, Lurene Tuttle, Ruth McDevitt, Ruta Lee, Jay Novello, Ross Elliot, Maxine Semon, Herb Vigran, and Sid Melton.

There are some very basic similarities between “The Lucy Show” and “The Andy Griffith Show.” 

Both Griffith and Ball used their own first names, which consist of four letters ending in ‘y’ and also appear in the title. 

Both characters have spouses that died before the series' begins. 

Both have children and faithful sidekicks. 

Both started filming in black and white and eventually aired in color. 

Both shows ended in early 1968 only to be re-born in the fall as newly-titled shows: “Here's Lucy” and “Mayberry RFD.”  

The Christian overtones in this episode are unusual for this series. A few weeks earlier Kim jokingly said that they missed church on Sunday!

When Lucy and Andy are in the same shot together it becomes visibly clear that Lucille Ball is being filmed by a camera with a filtered lens to soften her look, while the other camera remains unfiltered. The contrast is especially noticeable when Lucy is standing next to Andy in the motel room and goes in and out of soft focus depending on which camera angle is used.

The show opens with Andy and his back-up singers performing “I'll Fly Away” by Albert E. Brumley. First published in 1932 it has been called the most recorded Gospel song of all time. Andy passes the hat for donations for his Right Path Youth Camp in Northern California – only getting thirty eight cents.

At a local restaurant, Andy Johnson tells Lucy that after he came out of the service he became a Sheriff. Lucy responds with disbelief: “A Sheriff!” Although he had left the role of Sheriff Taylor in 1969, Griffith would play him again in the 1986 TV movie “Return to Mayberry.” He would play another Sheriff on “Adams of Eagle Lake,” a 1975 police drama that lasted just two episodes on ABC. The two episodes were later issued on DVD under the titles “Deadly Game” and “Winter Kill.”  

Andy tells Lucy his fiancee Alice ran off with his best man Charlie.

Dressed in her downmarket blue jeans, Kim says “What do I look like? Jackie Onassis.” Jacqueline Lee Bouvier Kennedy Onassis (1929-94) was first mentioned in “Lucy Visits the White House” (TLS S1;E25) in 1963, when she was First Lady of the United States. She married Greek millionaire Aristotle Onassis in 1968.  

On Bill Adams' TV show, Andy and his singers perform “I'm Gonna Write a Song” by Jerry Reed and released in 1973. They raise $464.00 for the Right Path Youth Camp – quite a step up from their initial take of thirty eight cents!

The TV camera is labeled ‘KBEX COLOR.’  KBEX were the call letters for fictional TV and radio stations. They were used in many TV shows and films, including in Desilu’s “Mannix” and “Mission: Impossible.”  They were first used on “Here’s Lucy” in “Lucy Is Really in a Pickle” (S5;E15) and most recently in "Lucy, the Wealthy Widow" (S6;E4). Starting in 2005, the FCC (Federal Communications Commission) started using KBEX for actual broadcast stations. Similarly, the 555 telephone exchange is used exclusively for fictional numbers seen in films and television.  Here, the telethon number on the chalkboard is 555-8732.  

Lucy Ricardo also meet a charity organization in a public park in “Lucy's Last Birthday” (ILL S2;E25). They were called The Friends of the Friendless.  

Recycling! The exterior plaza where Andy sings in the first scene is the same one used for the gallery courtyard in “Lucy and Danny Thomas” (S6;E1). The red booth in the restaurant also makes the rounds.  It has been seen many different restaurants throughout the series.  

Character Consistency! Lucy says that Kim works for a talent agency.  In “Kim Cuts You-Know-Whose Apron String” (S3;E24) she said she worked for a Public Relations firm.

“Lucy and Andy Griffith” rates 1 Paper Heart out of 5 

This is an unusual and awkward episode – not funny or serious. The chemistry between Andy and Lucy is given short shrift in favor of Kim's suspicions about his veracity.  When she allows Andy (an older, single man from out of town) to bring her to his run-down motel room things just get weird. Then he turns her over his knee and spanks her with his slipper, and things turn from weird to uncomfortable. This sort of thing might have passed for funny in 1953, but not in 1973. She leaves the room through a window (luckily they were on the first floor) after writing on the mirror in shaving cream “You are a nice man.”  Huh? There's also an undertone of religion (gospel songs, mentions of 'the Lord'), something that Lucy meticulously avoided throughout her television career. The only exception to this unpleasantness is the brief scene where Lucy schools Andy in how to relax on television. This must have been something that Lucille Ball did when coaching young actors as part of the Desilu Playhouse. There are so many ways Andy Griffith could have been used on “Here's Lucy,” but this seems the least satisfactory showcase for his talents.  

[papermoonloveslucy]

LUCY AND DANNY THOMAS

S6;E1 ~ September 10, 1973

Directed by Coby Ruskin ~ Written by Robert O'Brien

Synopsis

Lucy befriends a gruff painter (Danny Thomas) who says that most artists only sell their work after they die. Lucy decides to go into mourning to help his work sell – until the artist wants to paint Lucy herself – nude!

Regular Cast

Lucille Ball (Lucy Carter), Gale Gordon (Harrison Otis Carter)

Lucie Arnaz (Kim Carter) does not appear in this episode, nor does she receive screen credit. The character will not return to the series until the fourth episode of season six. Despite her absence, the final credits do state “Lucie Arnaz Wardrobe by Alroe.”

Guest Cast

Danny Thomas (Danny Gallupi) was born Amos Muzyad Yakhoob Kairouz in 1912. His screen career began in 1947 but he was most famous for appearing on television in the long-running show “Make Room for Daddy” (1953-1964), which was shot at Desilu Studios.  When the series moved from ABC to CBS in 1957, Thomas and the cast starred in a rare TV cross-over with “The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour” titled “Lucy Makes Room for Danny.”  In return, Lucy and Desi turned up on Thomas’s show.  Fifteen years later, Lucy and Danny did yet another cross-over when Lucy Carter of “Here’s Lucy” appeared on “Make Room for Granddaddy.”  In addition, Thomas also played himself on a 1965 episode of “The Lucy Show.”  Thomas is fondly remembered for founding St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. He is also father to actress Marlo Thomas. He died in 1999.

Danny Gallupi disguises himself as his brother, Giuseppe Gallupi.  

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

William Barkley owns the art studio adjacent to the plaza.

Sid Gould (1st Bidder) made more than 45 appearances on “The Lucy Show” and nearly as many on “Here’s Lucy.” Gould (born Sydney Greenfader) was Lucille Ball’s cousin by marriage to Gary Morton.   

Shirley Anthony (2nd Bidder) makes the sixth of her 13 episodes of “Here’s Lucy.”  This is one of only two times where she received screen credit.

Bob Whitney (3rd Bidder) appeared with Lucille Ball in The Facts of Life (1960). This is the first of his five appearances on the series. Like Danny Thomas, he was born in 1912.  

Bob Harks (Auction Spectator / Stand-In for Hans Conried, uncredited) was seen in the background of Mame (1974). In 1970 he popped up on his first television show and was seen in more than a dozen episodes of “Here's Lucy.” He died at age 83 in 2010.

Frieda Rentie (Auction Spectator, uncredited)  makes the second of her three uncredited appearances on the series. Rentie was in the 1958 film South Pacific and 1972’s The Poseidon Adventure.

The artists and gallery spectators are played by uncredited background performers.

“Here's Lucy” opens its 6th season with a slightly newer look. Lucille Ball has an updated, more  contemporary appearance with new make-up and wigs, and the entire show is shot in soft focus to help downplay Ball's age (62). She is no longer shot in close-up and always filmed through a filtered lens. This is generally the complaint about the film Mame, which was finished and about to be released. Although originally scheduled for release in late 1973 in time for awards season, poor early word of mouth led Warner Brothers to move the release date to Spring 1974.  

For the 1973 Fall Season, CBS moved “The New Dick Van Dyke Show” to follow “Here's Lucy.”  By the end of the season, both shows will be canceled.

Shirley Anthony (3rd Bidder) introduces the episode on the series DVD and recalls that Thomas and Ball had great affection for one another and liked to make each other laugh.  

Lucille Ball dabbled in painting during her rare free time at home.

The previous episode, at the end of season five, hinted that the series would continue but how or if Carter's Unique Employment Agency was bought back is never mentioned.  Neither Lucy's home nor the Employment Agency are seen in this episode. Scenes are set in Danny's attic studio [TV trope: all artists live in sparsely furnished attics with skylights] or in the plaza adjacent to the Barkley Art Gallery.  

Lucy says she does paint by numbers because it is for beginners. Paint by Number kits date back to 1950 and were a cultural phenomenon.  

There are two 'age' jokes in the first scene, both directed at Lucy. Danny tells her to go find a bingo parlor and Harry says she reminds him of Grandma Moses. Anna Mary Robertson Moses (1860-1961) was an American folk artist who began painting at the age of 78 and is often cited as an example of a person who successfully began a career at an advanced age. In “Nursery School” (ILL S5;E9) Lucy Ricardo is so proud of Little Ricky's first drawing, she dubs him the next “Grandpa Moses.” The Ricardos had two framed prints by Grandma Moses next to their front door: “So Long” and “The Old Snow Roller.”  

Lucy quotes lyrics from the song “People” written by Bob Merrill for the 1964 Broadway musical Funny Girl. It was introduced by Barbra Streisand, who also sang it in the 1968 film adaptation.  

Danny cites Van Gogh, Gaughin, and Modigliani as painters who only found fame and fortune only after death.  

Lucy rebuffs Danny's assertion that all great paintings of women were nudes by citing “Whistler's Mother.” The actual name of the painting is “Arrangement in Grey and Black No. 1” by American painter James McNeill Whistler. It was painted in 1871 and is housed at the Musee d'Orsay in Paris.  Danny incorrectly claims that the subject is sitting in a rocking chair.

Danny jokingly says that the reason the “Venus de Milo” didn't have any arms because the sculptor didn't want her to use them to cover nude body!  One of the most famous pieces of statuary in history, it is of Greek origin and dates back to between 130 and 100 BC.  It currently is on view at the Louvre in Paris.  

The (nearly) 'nude' painting of Lucy featured in the episode was saved and is now at the Lucille Ball-Desi Arnaz Center in Jamestown, New York.

In “Paris at Last” (ILL S5;E18) Lucy Ricardo encountered an artist (Shepard Menken) on the street passing off mass produced paintings as original works of art!  [TV Trope: All artists and Frenchmen wear berets!]

Lucy Carmichael took art class in drawing in order to get close to an eligible bachelor (Robert Alda) in “Lucy Goes to Art Class” (S2;E15).

Lucille Ball and Danny Thomas were together in “Lucy Makes Room for Danny,” a 1958 installment of “The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour” which also featured Gale Gordon as a Judge...

and “Lucy Helps Danny Thomas” (TLS S4;E7) where Mrs. Carmichael gets involved in Thomas's TV variety show.  

Character Consistency! Harry was formerly depicted as a miser, but here he is walking around with $500 cash in his pocket, and spends $5,000 on an unseen painting.  

Nautical Knowledge! Harry calls the subject of Danny's painting a ‘boat’ and Danny corrects him that it is a ‘ship.’ At the start of the series, Harry's home and office were decorated with ships and other nautical items. One of Harry's hobbies was building ships in bottles. He should know the difference.

Oops! When Lucy startles Danny while he is hiding behind the door, he jostles the shelf unit with his arm and a brown bottle falls to the floor.  Danny Thomas appears surprised, but picks it up.  It falls with a sound that betrays it is actually empty and plastic.

Wardrobe Malfunction! When Danny is disguised as his own brother, Giuseppe, his hat has trouble staying on his head due to the wig. It falls off twice, but is caught before hitting the floor.

“Lucy and Danny Thomas” rates 3 Paper Hearts out of 5

Lucille Ball and Danny Thomas have great comic chemistry but the script feels like it could be from any series.  Harry behaves uncharacteristically and there is no tie in to the the series’ premise. 

[papermoonloveslucy]

GINGER ROGERS COMES TO TEA

S4;E11 ~ November 22, 1971

Directed by Coby Ruskin ~ Written by Bob Carroll Jr. and Madelyn Davis

Synopsis

Ginger Rogers leaves her purse in a movie theatre where she's gone incognito to see one of her films for the first time. Lucy and Harry discover the purse and hope to get to meet the star in person by inviting her to tea.

Regular Cast

Lucille Ball (Lucy Carter), Gale Gordon (Harrison Otis Carter), Lucie Arnaz (Kim Carter)  

Guest Cast

Ginger Rogers (Herself) was born Virginia Katherine McMath in Independence, Missouri on July 16, 1911, just one month before Lucille Ball.  As a singing and dancing actor, Rogers was mainly know for her partnership with fellow singer / dancer Fred Astaire in ten films. It was said that “Ginger did everything that Fred did, except backwards – and in heels!” During the 1930's Lucille Ball did five films with Rogers, whom she considered a mentor.  By the 1970s Rogers had entered semi-retirement.  Lucie Arnaz has said that Rogers may have been a distant cousin of Lucille Ball's.  She won an Oscar in 1940 for Kitty Foyle, a rare dramatic role. Rogers died in 1995.  

William Lanteau (Spike, Ginger Rogers' Secretary) first appeared with Lucille Ball in The Facts of Life (1960). In addition to an episode of “The Lucy Show,” Lanteau did four episodes of “Here’s Lucy.”  He is best remembered for playing Charlie the Mailman in the play and the film On Golden Pond (1981).

Lanteau wears a toupee and eyeglasses for the role. 

Shirley Anthony (Theatre Patron, uncredited) makes her second screen appearance and the first of her 13 episodes of “Here's Lucy.”  

Anthony is sitting in the first row on the far left.  

Joan Carey (Theatre Patron, uncredited) is one of the few performers to appear on “I Love Lucy,” “The Lucy Show”, and “Here’s Lucy.” She also served as Lucille Ball’s camera and lighting stand-in. 

Carey is sitting in the first row on the left aisle. 

Bob Harks (Theatre Patron, uncredited) Extra, stand-in, and double Bob Harks was born on September 20, 1927. Harks appeared in his first film in 1968 and was seen in the background of Mame (1974). In 1970 he popped up on his first television show and was seen in more than a dozen episodes of “Here's Lucy.” He died at age 83 in 2010.

Harks is sitting in the third row on the second seat from the right aisle. 

Eugene Jackson (Theatre Patron, uncredited) gained fame as Farina’s older brother, Pineapple, in six of Hal Roach’s “Our Gang” serials (1924-25). He appeared with Lucille Ball in the 1963 film Critic’s Choice as well as an episode of “The Lucy Show.”  He was seen in a previous episode of “Here’s Lucy” guest-starring Sammy Davis Jr.

Jackson is sitting in the last row on the right, third seat from the aisle. 

Victor Romito (Theatre Patron, uncredited) was seen as the Bartender in “Lucy Meets John Wayne” (TLS S5;E10). He also appeared in four episodes of “Here’s Lucy.”  Romito was an extra in the 1960 Lucille Ball / Bob Hope film Critic’s Choice.

Romito is sitting in the third row on the left aisle. 

The other Theatre Patrons are played by uncredited background performers.

This episode was filmed without an audience due to an imminent actor strike. As a result, the canned laugh track is noticeably missing Gary Morton's usual loud guffaws. The episode was filmed in mid-July 1971 with only two days of rehearsal as Lucille Ball wanted to make sure it was completed before the strike. The strike was averted when the Actors Guild signed a three-year contract on July 14, 1971.

During the 1930s, newcomer Lucille Ball was coached by Ginger Rogers' mother, Lela, at the little theatre on the RKO lot. Inspired by this Lucy also mentored young actors at a little theatre when she bought the studio for Desilu.

At the start of the episode, Harry is looking to hire party staff for an (unseen) client named Mrs. Metcalf.  Metcalf was the surname given to the Fire Department Captain played by Patrick McVey in “Lucy and Viv are Volunteer Firemen” (TLS S1;E16), also written by Madelyn Davis and Bob Carroll Jr. 

Instead of working late, Lucy tells Harry that she wants to go to a Ginger Rogers Film Festival. They are showing Tender Comrade (1943) and Flying Down To Rio (1933), two films made at RKO, which eventually became Desilu.  

Lucy claims to be Ginger Rogers' biggest fan alive, seeing every picture she's ever made, some of them several times. This is a claim made by Lucy Carter about most celebrities, as well as by Lucy Ricardo and Lucy Carmichael.

In the office, Harry and Lucy improvise singing and dancing to “Cheek to Cheek” a song written by Irving Berlin in 1935 for the Fred Astaire / Ginger Rogers movie Top Hat.

Trying to impugn the taste in films of the mystery woman (a disguised Ginger Rogers), Lucy tells her to try back next week and they might be showing Beach Blanket Bingo.  This was the fourth of the light comic films set on the California beach starring Frankie Avalon and Annette Funicello.  It was released in 1965. Two years later, Avalon appeared (not as himself) in “Lucy and the Starmaker” (TLS S6;E4).  He will also play himself on “Here’s Lucy” in 1973.  

According to the hotel key in her purse, Ginger Rogers is staying at the Bel-Air Hotel.  This is probably meant to be the Hotel Bel-Air, located just outside Beverly Hills and Westwood. Hotel Bel-Air has regularly housed celebrities including Robert Wagner, Judy Garland, Bette Davis, Lauren Bacall, Paul Newman, Robert Redford, Jimmy Stewart, Audrey Hepburn, and Grace Kelly, who frequented the hotel so regularly she had a suite named after her. 

Rogers tells Lucy she has done 73 movies. Rattling off some of Rogers' hits, Lucy adds a sugar cube to Ginger's tea for each title: Top Hat, Roberta, Flying Down To Rio, Follow the Fleet, Shall We Dance, and The Barkleys of Broadway. When Lucy realizes she's put six lumps of sugar in Ginger's tea, Rogers says she only wanted Top Hat and Roberta (two lumps).  

Rogers mentions having a meeting with David Merrick to discuss starring in his new musical. In August 1966 Rogers had taken over the role of Dolly Levi in Hello, Dolly! on Broadway produced by David Merrick.  

When Kim returns with photos of Ginger Rogers for the star to sign, she accidentally grabbed a photo of Lassie. Canine star Lassie was the hero of both movies and television. Lassie was first mentioned by Lucy Ricardo in “The Young Fans” (ILL S1;E20) twenty years earlier.  The dog made an appearance in “The Desilu Revue” in 1959. 

Kim, Lucy and Ginger Rogers all dance the Charleston in this episode. Lucy reminds Rogers that she was the Texas State Charleston champion.  A portion of the dance routine was originally choreographed for Lucie Arnaz by Jim Bates on “The Kraft Music Hall” which aired on NBC on February 4, 1970.  It also starred Desi Sr. and Jr. (above).  Bates had taken over for choreographer Jack Baker on “Here's Lucy.”    

After dancing the Charleston with Lucy and Kim, Lucy asks Rogers to do a scene from Kitty Foyle, Ginger’s Oscar-winning role.  Rogers graciously declines, asking Lucy to become a Katherine Hepburn fan instead!

In “The Dancing Star” (ILL S4;E27) Lucy Ricardo got to dance with another one of her idols, Van Johnson.  Johnson and Ginger Rogers had starred together in 1945's Week-End at the Waldorf.  Irving Bacon (who played Ethel’s father, Will Potter) was also in the MGM film.

I Had A Dream!  The passage of time while the theatre patrons are watching Flying Down To Rio is marked by the use of a wavy screen and harp glissando, techniques that usually indicate a dream sequence, not the mere passage of time.

Where Do I Live? Lucy gives her home address as 4863 Valley Lawn Drive. Both Harry and Lucy have given this address as their own in previous episodes.

"Ginger Rogers Comes to Tea” rates 4 Paper Hearts out of 5

Ginger Rogers shows just what a good actress she was here, despite just two days rehearsal.  Not having a studio audience didn’t bother Ginger, who was at home on a closed set.  William Lanteau (Spike) creates an interesting secretary character - borderline gay but never over-the-top (except for that bad toupee).  Although many might site the dance sequence with Lucy and Lucie as the highlight, I prefer watching Ginger Rogers the actress - especially in her disguise at the film festival!  

[papermoonloveslucy]

LUCY AND HER PRINCE CHARMING

S5;E12 ~ November 27, 1972

Directed by Coby Ruskin ~ Written by Fred S. Fox and Seaman Jacobs

Synopsis

Lucy is dating a handsome man (Ricardo Montalban) who turns out to be royalty. When Harry finds out that the Prince is in love with Lucy, he'll stop at nothing to get the two married!  

Regular Cast

Lucille Ball (Lucy Carter), Lucie Arnaz (Kim Carter), Gale Gordon (Harrison Otis Carter)

Guest Cast

Ricardo Montalban (Prince Phillip Gregory Hennepin of Montalbania) was born in Mexico City in 1920.  He appeared in hundreds of TV shows and films but is probably best remembered for the mystical Mr. Roarke on “Fantasy Island” (1977-84).  He won an Emmy Award in 1977 for an episode of “How the West Was Won.”  Although he appeared with Lucille Ball on talk and variety shows, this is his only acting appearance with Lucille Ball. Montalban passed away on 2009.  

The Prince is from the Principality of Montalbania, a fictional country the writers named in honor of their guest star.

Iggie Wolfington (Mr. Winstead, a Minister) first won acclaim in the 1952 Broadway production of Mrs. McThing starring Helen Hayes. In 1958, he created the role of Marcellus Washburn in original production of The Music Man for which he was nominated for a Tony Award. In a 1980 revival he played the role of Mayor Shinn opposite Dick Van Dyke as the Music Man.  In 1984 he was awarded the Screen Actors Guild Life Award.  This is his only appearance with Lucille Ball.    

Sid Gould (Waiter) made more than 45 appearances on “The Lucy Show” and nearly as many on “Here’s Lucy.” Gould (born Sydney Greenfader) was Lucille Ball’s cousin by marriage to Gary Morton. 

Gould wears a beard and mustache and adopts an accent for this waiter character.

Gloria Wood (Dowager Soprano) makes her fourth appearance on the series. She played Doris, a member of Lucy’s Canary Club in “A Home is Not an Office” (S5;E4) and was one of Petula Clark’s back-up singers in “Lucy and Petula Clark” (S5;E8).  

Wood is credited as a ‘Dowager’ although there is no indication that she is a widow living on inheritance (the definition of the title).

Bob Harks (Decorator, uncredited) Extra, stand-in, and double Bob Harks was born on September 20, 1927. Harks appeared in his first film in 1968 and was seen in the background of Mame (1974).  In 1970 he popped up on his first television show and was seen in more than a dozen episodes of “Here's Lucy.”  He died at age 83 in 2010.

Robert Hitchcock (Decorator, uncredited) appeared on many TV series’ including on “Bewitched” and ”That Girl.”  He was seen in “Lucy and Phil Harris” (TLS S6;E20) at the piano bar. This is one of his many episodes of “Here’s Lucy.”

The string quartet at the 'mock' wedding, a young boy ring-bearer, a young flower girl are all played by uncredited background performers.

The “Lucy” character has been seen with every big Latin star of her generation; 

Desi Arnaz, 

Cesar Romero, 

Fenando Lamas, and now Ricardo Montalban. If Lucille Ball and Ricardo Montalban had been a real-life couple, they might have been known as Lucy & Ricardo, two names that sound good together!  

In 1978, Lucie Arnaz again acted opposite Montalban as a guest star on his long-running series “Fantasy Island.” She co-starred with Ronny Cox and frequent “Lucy” character actor Robert Alda.  

In exchange for convincing Lucy to marry the Prince, he will give Harry 50 thousand grivnies (Montalbanian currency), which is equal to a quarter of a million US dollars. Harry says the Prince is worth $200 million US dollars.  

Harry tells Prince Phillip: “I only regret that I have but one sister-in-law to give to your country!” This is a paraphrase of words attributed to patriotic Revolutionary war spy Nathan Hale (1755-1776): “I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country.”  

When Harry dons an ornate crown to give Lucy a clue about the Prince's occupation, Lucy at first guesses that he is a margarine salesman. This is a reference to a popular series of commercials for Imperial Margarine in which a person who ate something with Imperial on it would instantly have a crown appear on their head (accompanied by a short fanfare). The commercials were spoofed on “The Carol Burnett Show” and “Green Acres,” among others.

When the Prince rings the doorbell, Kim, in a quavering soprano voice, warbles “Someday My Prince Will Come” a song from Walt Disney's 1937 animated movie Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. It was written by Larry Morey and Frank Churchill and originally performed by Adriana Caselotti, whom Lucie Arnaz is doubtless attempting to mimic.  

While Lucy is elegantly dining at home with the Prince, Kim says she'll be splitting a veggie burger down at Grubby Bob's Health Food Center.

When Harry enters disguised as a Gypsy violinist, he plays Brahms' “Hungarian Dance No. 5.” Naturally Gale Gordon is miming to a pre-recorded track.  It is odd that he doesn't play the more romantic “Dark Eyes” which is usually associated with strolling violinists in romantic restaurants.

Lucille Ball is out of her cast from her skiing injury and wearing shoes again. The pillows on the floor in front of the restaurant table are there for Lucy to rest her foot on.

Harry (disguised as a female palm reader) tells Lucy she faces the Curse of Ali Baba:

Wild camels will trample your crab grass.

Crocodiles will consume your credit cards.

Locusts will invade your pantyhose.

When Lucy realizes that it is Harry in the harem costume, she dumps a pitcher of water on his head, fulfilling one of “Here's Lucy's” major goals – to get Harry wet!

In this episode, Lucille Ball wears the yellow dress she had made for Lucie Arnaz's 1971 wedding to Phil Vandervort.  

Lucy Ricardo made up an entirely fictional royal family of a fictional country called Franistan in “The Publicity Agent” (ILL S1;E31).  

The Carter Family impersonated the Royal Family of mythical Capazonia in “Lucy's Impossible Mission” (S1;E6). 

Lucy Ricardo had an (off-screen) encounter with another Prince Phillip (Mountbatten) in “Lucy Meets the Queen” (ILL S5;E15).  

After the 'mock' ceremony is abandoned, a soprano (Gloria Wood) enters from upstairs singing “Oh, Promise Me,” an 1887 art song by Reginald de Koven and Clement Scott.  Viv Bagley (Vivian Vance) sang it when Lucy Carmichael's sister got married in “Lucy's Sister Pays a Visit” (TLS S1;E15) in 1963.  

Petal Pushers! A few petals fall off the white roses while Harry and the Prince are doing their mock wedding in the office.  Luckily, the scene fades out shortly afterwards.

Where the Floor Ends!  When Harry enters playing the violin, the camera pulls back to a wide shot revealing where the living room carpet meets the concrete stage floor.  Also, next to the desk, one of the white flowers from the many displays has fallen on the floor.

“Lucy and Her Prince Charming” rates 4 Paper Hearts out of 5

This is an excellent episode showcasing the comic talents of Gale Gordon. While Lucy is basically sedentary due to her healing broken leg, Gordon takes center stage with a variety of comic disguises.  It’s a refreshing welcome back for Gordon, who was absent for the past two episodes.

[papermoonloveslucy]

LUCY AND THE GROUP ENCOUNTER

S5;E14 ~ December 18, 1972

Directed by Coby Ruskin ~ Written by Fred S. Fox and Seaman Jacobs

Synopsis

Lucy and Harry can't stop bickering, so Mary Jane suggests they join her at her group therapy.  The doctor in charge asks Lucy and Harry to play some games to improve their communication skills, culminating in a day of role reversal at the office.  

Regular Cast

Lucille Ball (Lucy Carter), Gale Gordon (Harrison Otis Carter)

Lucie Arnaz (Kim Carter) does not appear in this episode nor does she receive screen credit.  

Guest Cast

Kurt Kasznar (Professor Henderson) was born in Austria so it is fitting that he was nominated for a 1959 Tony Award for originating the role of Max Detweiler in The Sound of Music. It was his twelfth Broadway show.  In 1959, Kasznar did an episode of “The Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse” hosted by Desi Arnaz. 

Mary Jane Croft (Mary Jane) played Betty Ramsey during season six of “I Love Lucy. ” She also played Cynthia Harcourt in “Lucy is Envious” (ILL S3;E23) and Evelyn Bigsby in “Return Home from Europe” (ILL S5;E26). She played Audrey Simmons on “The Lucy Show” but when Lucy Carmichael moved to California, she played Mary Jane Lewis, the actor’s married name and the same one she uses on all 31 of her episodes of “Here’s Lucy. Her final acting credit was playing Midge Bowser on “Lucy Calls the President” (1977). She died in 1999 at the age of 83.  

Reta Shaw (Rita Forrester) started her career on the stage in such hits as Picnic (1953) and The Pajama Game (1954), for which she also did the film versions. She is best known for playing maids, such as in Disney’s Mary Poppins (1964) and TV’s “The Ghost and Mrs. Muir” (1968-1970), which she filmed concurrently with her first appearance on “Here’s Lucy.”  She made three appearances on “The Lucy Show” and she will make one more on “Here’s Lucy.”  

Rita Forrester runs Forrester Publications. Shaw is using a form of her married name, Reta Forester. She was married to actor William A. Forester from 1952 to 1962. 

Romo Vincent (George, the Mailman) was a Broadway performer from 1942 to 1959. He played an airline passenger in “Lucy Flies to London” (TLS S5;E6). This is his second and final episode of “Here’s Lucy.” 

Sid Gould (Hippie at Group Therapy, uncredited) made more than 45 appearances on “The Lucy Show” and nearly as many on “Here’s Lucy.” Gould (born Sydney Greenfader) was Lucille Ball’s cousin by marriage to Gary Morton.  Vanda Barra (Hippie at Group Therapy, uncredited) makes one of over two dozen appearances on “Here’s Lucy” as well as appearing in Ball’s two 1975 TV movies “Lucy Gets Lucky” and “Three for Two”. She was seen in half a dozen episodes of “The Lucy Show.” Barra was Lucille Ball’s cousin-in-law by marriage to Sid Gould.

Mary Jane's handsome Group Therapy partner is uncredited.  

This is the last new episode of calendar year 1972.  The series resumes on New Year's Day 1973.    

The original script was titled “Kim’s Singing Group Encounter.” The final episode featured no singing and no Kim!  

The night this episode first aired “Here's Lucy” had some formidable competition on NBC titled “The Snoop Sisters” starring Helen Hayes and Mildred Natwick. Hayes had guest-starred on “Here's Lucy” at the very start of 1972.  The Snoop Sisters” also starred Kurt Kaszner, who is also on this episode of “Lucy” at the very same time! Iggie Wolfington, another stage star like Hayes and Kasznar, also starred and two weeks earlier was featured as a minister in “Lucy and Her Prince Charming” (S5;E12). “The Snoop Sisters” was not a regular series and would not be seen again for a  full year.

Starting in the fall of 1972, group therapy was also explored on “The Bob Newhart Show” (1972-78) which aired on CBS on Saturday nights. In 2014, Newhart performed in Jamestown as part of the Lucy Town Half Marathon and 5K weekend.

When Lucy accidentally sews Harry's jacket to her skirt, he says “would you kindly remove the stitches or should I call in Dr. Marcus Welby.” “Marcus Welby M.D.” (1969-76) was a hour-long medical drama on ABC starring Robert Young. Both “Welby” and “Lucy” filmed their shows at Universal Studios in Hollywood.

Lucy says that if she were stranded on a desert island she would want Clint Eastwood to be there. Eastwood will be mentioned on two future “Here's Lucy” episodes. In mid-1972 Eastwood released the western film Joe Kidd.

This episode seems to incorporate some specially lit medium shots of Lucy and Harry.

In a word association game led by Professor Henderson, Lucy associates 'wolf' with 'money' because Clifford Wolf is the person at the bank who calls her every month to tell her she's over-drawn.  

As “Harry”, Lucy dictates a letter to The Jerry Clifford Company, 1831 Truxton Avenue, Bakersfield, California.  This is a real business at a real address but today is known as The Clifford Family Trust.  It was a real estate property management company.  It is possible that Lucille Ball Productions (LBP) did business with the firm and rewarded them with a mention on the show.

An Austrian therapist (Elliot Reid) also conducted an age regression experiment on Lucy Carmichael, Viv Bagley, and Mr. Mooney in “Lucy the Stockholder” (TLS S3;E25). Sid Gould was also in the episode.

Role reversal (Lucy as the Boss) was also explored in “Lucy Takes Over” (S2;E23) when Harry believes an old IOU means he owes Lucy a large sum of money and gives her control of The Unique Employment Agency.     

These Boots Were Made for Hiding! Although ambulatory, Lucille Ball's white go-go boots seem to be hiding that her leg is still wrapped from her skiing accident at the beginning of season five.  

Pencil Pushers!  As Mrs. Forrester and Lucy are leaving the office, a pencil starts to roll off the desk. Reta Shaw puts her hand out to stop it, but it falls on the floor. She leaves it there and goes off with Lucy.

“Lucy and the Group Encounter” rates 3 Paper Hearts out of 5 

This is one of those episodes that seemed timely in 1972, but the treatment by the script is a bit shallow and unfulfilling. It is however, good to see Lucy in charge - as she was in real life. Reta Shaw’s feminist publisher is sadly relegated to the episode’s last few minutes.