Discover Top Posts Tagged with #herbert kenwith

LUCY AND JACK BENNY’S BIOGRAPHY

S3;E11 ~ November 23, 1970

Directed by Herbert Kenwith ~ Written by Milt Josefsberg and Ray Singer

Synopsis

Jack Benny needs a private secretary to help him write his autobiography. Naturally, Harry volunteers Lucy. Through a series of flashbacks we meet many of the women in Benny's life – all played by Lucy.

Regular Cast

Lucille Ball (Lucy Carter / 'Mother' / 'Zelda' / 'Debbie' / 'Mary' / 'Lola'), Gale Gordon (Harrison Otis Carter)

Desi Arnaz Jr. (Craig Carter) and Lucie Arnaz (Kim Carter) do not appear in this episode, although they do receive opening title credit.

Guest Cast

Jack Benny (Himself) was born on Valentine’s day 1894. He had a successful vaudeville career, and an even greater career on radio with “The Jack Benny Program” which also became a successful television show. His screen persona was known for being a penny-pincher and playing the violin. Benny was a Beverly Hills neighbor of Lucille Ball’s and the two were off-screen friends. Benny previously appeared on “The Lucy Show” as Harry Tuttle (a Jack Benny doppelganger) in “Lucy and the Plumber” (TLS S3;E2), did a voice over cameo as himself in “Lucy With George Burns” (TLS S5;E1), and played himself in “Lucy Gets Jack Benny’s Account” (TLS S6;E6). This is the second of his three episodes of “Here’s Lucy,” all playing himself. Benny and Ball appeared on many TV variety and award shows together. He died in 1974.

George Burns (Himself) was born Nathan Birnbaum in New York City in January 1896. He married Gracie Allen in 1926 and the two formed an act (Burns and Allen) that toured in vaudeville. They had their own hit show “The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show” first on radio then on CBS TV from 1950 to 1958, airing concurrently with “I Love Lucy.” After Allen’s death in 1964, Burns reinvented himself as a solo act. Burns played himself on a 1966 episode of “The Lucy Show” (TLS S5;E1). In 1976 he won an Oscar for playing one of The Sunshine Boys. He was also known for playing the title role in Oh, God! (1978) and its 1984 sequel Oh, God! You Devil. He died at the age of 100.

Mary Livingstone (Herself, uncredited voice) married Jack Benny in 1927 and the pair remained together until his death in 1974. Initially an actor who appeared on Benny's radio and television programs, she retired from show business in 1958, at the same time as Gracie Allen, wife of George Burns. She died in 1983.

Michael Barbera (Jack Benny as a Boy) was a child actor who was 12 years old at the time of filming. He accrued 18 screen credits before leaving the industry.

Ben Wrigley (Lola's Butler) played Liberace’s Butler in “Lucy and Liberace” (S2;E16). He was a British actor who appeared in My Fair Lady (1964) and Bednobs and Broomsticks (1971). Wrigley previously appeared as a ticket agent in “Lucy Flies to London” (TLS S5;E6). This is the second of his three episodes of “Here’s Lucy.”

Florence Lake (Trixie, right) did four films with Lucille Ball between 1936 and 1938. She will do one more episode of the series as well as the 1974 TV movie “Happy Anniversary and Goodbye” starring Lucille Ball.

Ginger (left), Trixie's friend, goes uncredited and has no dialogue.

Louis Quinn (Sailor) started out as a comedy writer for Milton Berle on radio and moved to acting in 1954. He is best remembered as Roscoe in “77 Sunset Strip” (1958-63).

It is possible that this character is based on Pat O'Brien, who was also a sailor and friends with Jack Benny.

Sig Frohlich (Sailor, uncredited) makes the second of his uncredited background appearances on the series.

Walter Smith (Sailor, uncredited) made a total of 13 mostly uncredited appearances on the series. He also did one episode of “The Lucy Show.”

The other sailors and patrons of the café are played by uncredited background performers.

Writer and Script Supervisor Milt Josefsberg was a writer on Jack Benny's television program for a decade. Josefsberg wrote all three of the “Here's Lucy” scripts that featured Benny.

This episode was shot without the presence of a studio audience. In her DVD introduction to the episode, Lucie Arnaz says that this episode didn't 'wrap' until the early hours of the morning.

The evening this episode first aired (November 23, 1970) Desi Arnaz Sr. (above with Ann Elder) guest-starred on “Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In,” the second half hour of which aired opposite “Here's Lucy.”

At the start of the episode, Harry is on the telephone with Jack Benny's manager Irving Fein (inset). In real life, Fein was Benny's manager and publicity director from 1947 to 1975. Fein also managed George Burns later in his career.

Jack Benny's present-day living room is a re-dressed version of Lucy Carter's living room. The front door, fireplace, and kitchen door are all in the same location in both sets.

The title of Jack Benny's autobiography is...

“The Women in My Life or I am Curious Jell-O”

Jell-O was a long-time sponsor of Jack Benny's radio and television programs. I Am Curious (Yellow) is a 1967 Swedish art film that was controversial and censored in many US cities due to sexual content.

Chapter 1 ~ MOTHER

The first flashback is set in Jack Benny's childhood home in Waukegan, Illinois where Lucy plays his mother. In reality, Benny’s mother was named Emma Sachs Kubelsky, although it is not mentioned here.

Little Jackie practices “Love in Bloom” on the violin. “Love in Bloom” by Ralph Rainger and Leo Robin was published in 1934 and became the signature song of Jack Benny.

When Mother (Lucy) says Jackie walks like her, he shouts “Now cut that out” which was one of Jack Benny's common replies in his comedy routines. He says it later on in this episode.

Mother gets a telephone call from next door neighbor Mrs. Heifetz to complain about Jackie's violin playing. Mother claims that Jackie plays much better than her son Jascha. Jascha Heifetz (1901-87, inset photo) is considered to be the greatest violinist of all time. Coincidentally, Lucille Ball was neighbors with Jack Benny and often could hear his violin practicing from her yard!

Chapter 2 ~ ZELDA

In the second flashback, Jack is in the navy and meets a waitress named Zelda. Benny really did serve in the US Navy during World War I. The name Zelda was also used as a former girlfriend on a 1957 episode of “The Jack Benny Program.” The character was played by Sandra Gould, who had appeared on two episodes of “I Love Lucy” and one “The Lucy Show” but is probably best remembered as the second actor to play Mrs. Kravitz on “Bewitched.”

Jack's sailor friend wants to go to Roseland and dance instead of visiting another museum. Roseland was a popular New York City dance hall that opened in 1922 and closed in 2014. It was briefly glimpsed as part of a city street backdrop in “Lucy’s Club Dance”, a 1954 episode of “I Love Lucy.”

Chapter 3 ~ DEBBIE

The third flashback is set during Jack Benny's vaudeville days. Lucy plays Debbie Fink, his comedy partner. Fink was a surname Benny used in a 1961 episode of “The Jack Benny Show.”

On stage, Benny plays “Sweet Georgia Brown” on the violin while Debbie dances the Charleston. The song was first written in 1925 by Ben Bernie and Maceo Pinkard.

Chapter 4 ~ MARY

In the fourth flashback, Jack Benny is a radio star broadcasting with Mary Livingstone. In this sequence, Lucille Ball lip synchs to the voice of the real Mary Livingstone, who became Mrs. Jack Benny in 1927. She frequently performed with her husband on radio and television.

As part of the 'radio show' Mary (Lucy) reads a letter from her mother who lives in Plainfield, New Jersey. Jack calls her “the midnight cowboy of New Jersey.” Benny is probably referencing the 1969 Oscar-winning film Midnight Cowboy. In reality, Mary Livingstone was born Sylvia Marcowitz in Seattle, Washington.

Chapter 5 ~ LOLA

In the fifth flashback, film star Jack Benny breaks up with blonde bombshell Lola Lavere (Lucy).

In retaliation, Lola threatens to get the studio to re-issue The Horn Blows at Midnight. The 1943 film was a financial failure at the box office and Benny would often make fun of the fact on his TV and radio shows.

The striped wallpaper in the first flashback is the same as was seen in the first sequence in “Lucy and the Generation Gap” (S2;E12).

Continuity! Lucy says she never thought she'd meet a big star like Jack Benny when in fact the two met in the second episode of the series when the Carters stayed at his Palm Springs home – for a fee!

Reel Life! The episode ignores the fact that Benny and Livingstone were married in order to play up the women in his life. The final scene has Benny double dating with George Burns and calling themselves swingers!

“Lucy and Jack Benny’s Biography” rates 4 Paper Hearts out of 5

This is more of a Jack Benny Program than a Lucille Ball show, but it is enjoyable none-the-less. There is a silly running gag that concerns Benny splitting his trousers and connected to the lyric “can it be the breeze” from his signature song, “Love in Bloom.” There is a surprising joke at the end of the show that implies that the elderly ladies are taking birth control pills. Not the usual kind of humor for Lucille Ball, but she was trying to keep pace with the times. Silly, but enjoyable – and Lucy never looked better in her various wigs and costumes.

LUCY, THE SKYDIVER

S3;E2 ~ September 21, 1970

Directed by Herbert Kenwith ~ Written by Larry Rhine and Lou Derman

Synopsis

When Kim and Craig take up dangerous hobbies, Lucy decides to use reverse psychology and take up skydiving. But when Harry sees an opportunity to get publicity for the Unique Employment Agency, Lucy has no choice but to go through with her flight!

Regular Cast

Lucille Ball (Lucy Carter), Gale Gordon (Harrison Otis Carter), Desi Arnaz Jr. (Craig Carter), Lucie Arnaz (Kim Carter)

Guest Cast

Rhodes Reason (Sam Tolliver) here marks the third of his five episodes of “Here’s Lucy” having previously appeared in “Lucy, the Matchmaker” (S1;E12) and “Lucy and the Gold Rush” (S1;E13). He also appeared with Lucille Ball in the 1974 TV movie Happy Anniversary and Goodbye.

Bill Baldwin (Steve Campbell, Reporter for the Valley Gazette) was a voice on the radio in the Lucille Ball film Critic's Choice (1963).

The voices on the TV soap opera (Cynthia and Herbie) as well as the two photographers are played by uncredited background performers.

The date this episode first aired, ABC TV debuted “NFL Monday Night Football,” formidable competition for “Here's Lucy.” The show is still on the air today, although it moved to ESPN in 2006.

To simulate Lucy actually skydiving, an apparatus was built outside the sound stage. Lucille was strapped by her feet onto a high platform, her lower body in a brace. The apparatus could move in any direction, making it appear as though Lucy is moving through the air. A large fan blows air at her while she moves about as if she is free falling. The camera films her from beneath, keeping just her upper body in the frame.

The theme of this episode is 'do your own thing.' The phrase is used repeatedly in the dialogue. In the 1960s, 'do your own thing' became a common expression used by and about young people. It meant to do whatever you wanted, without feeling guilty and free of the conformity of previous generations. There was even a 1968 off-Broadway rock musical (based on Shakespeare's Twelfth Night) titled Your Own Thing. This school of thought led to what is now known as the “Me Generation.”

Doing their own thing, Craig takes up spear fishing while Kim joins a motorcycle club. When Lucy sees her daughter in a motorcycle helmet she asks if she's playing for the Rams, Los Angeles' hometown football team. Later, when she has the parachute pack strapped to her back, Lucy says she feels like she's carrying the Green Bay Packers, yet another football reference in a sports-themed episode that aired (coincidentally) the same day as the premiere of Monday Night Football.

About motorcycling, Lucy says she doesn't want Kim to be another Steve McQueen. Actor Steve McQueen’s favorite things were racing and motorcycles. He famously rode a motorcycle in 1963’s The Great Escape. He was mentioned in this context by Lucy Carmichael in “Lucy Goes to a Hollywood Premiere” (TLS S4;E20).

Before arriving at the idea of skydiving, Lucy borrows a book about wrestling alligators and even thinks about being a bull fighter. Lucy Ricardo fought a bull in a Tijuana bullring in “Lucy Goes to Mexico” a 1958 episode of “The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour.”

When Harry jokes about committing suicide by jumping out of the window due he says, “One giant step for mankind, one small step for Harry.” This is a paraphrase of the famous words spoken by astronaut Neil Armstrong when he first stepped foot on the surface of the moon on July 20, 1969.

When Harry hears Lucy has changed her mind about skydiving he quips, “Good. You'd only confuse the swallows on their way to Capistrano.” This is a reference to San Juan Mission in Capistrano, southern California. It is there that the American cliff swallow migrates every year from its winters in Argentina, making the 6,000-mile trek in springtime. The expression “when the swallows return to Capistrano” has entered common usage. Capistrano was previously mentioned in “Lucy Gets the Bird” (TLS S3;E12) and “Lucy's Working Daughter” (S1;E10).

Kim is going motorcycling with Tommy Murphy, who Craig says must weigh 400 pounds, a funny visual image.

Lucy comes home singing “Off We Go, Into the Wild Blue Yonder” aka “The U.S. Air Force Song” written in 1938 by Robert MacArthur Crawford. It was previously heard over the helicopter shot that ends “Lucy Goes to the Air Force Academy: Part 2” (S2;E2).

To encourage her to make the leap, Harry invokes the names of Joan of Arc and Florence Nightingale as inspiration. Harry later says that they may even put her footprints in front of Grauman's Chinese Theatre. Lucille Ball and Joan of Arc are two of the many powerful women mentioned in the lyrics to the song “I Want it All” by David Shire and Richard Matlby Jr. written for the 1983 Broadway musical Baby. In “Lucy Plays Florence Nightingale” (TLS S2;E14), Lucy Carmichael becomes a candystriper just as Mr. Mooney enters the hospital. Ironically, Lucille Ball is one of the few Hollywood stars not to have ever had their footprints in the forecourt of Grauman's Chinese Theatre. She did, however, create a classic half hour of television in which Lucy Ricardo and Ethel Mertz steal John Wayne's footprints from iconic movie palace in “Lucy Visits Grauman's (ILL S5;E1).

Lucy compares herself soaring through the blue sky to Columbus sailing the blue sea. Lucy Carter spoke a great deal about Christopher Columbus during her recitation portion of the Secretary Beautiful pageant in “Lucy Competes with Carol Burnett” (S2;E24).

A worried Kim says that her mother's rendezvous with destiny may well be more like a rendezvous with Medicare! In 1970 Medicare was barely five years old and was still frequently making newspaper headlines. It was also used as the source of humor on the last two seasons of “The Lucy Show.”

Just before making up her mind whether to jump, Lucy hears Harry's encouraging words in her head. This surreal technique was previously used in “Lucy Competes With Carol Burnett” (S2;E24) when Carol derides Lucy for not wanting to compete in the Secretary Beautiful pageant.

When Lucy's parachute is revealed to have 'Carter's Unique Employment Agency' written on it, Harry remarks “Goodyear Blimp eat your heart out.” The Goodyear Blimp is a dirigible airship owned and operated by the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company which has the name of the company written across it and is used mainly for advertising purposes. It was first flown in 1925 and still can be seen hovering over televised sports games and highly attended events.

After crashing through the ceiling, Lucy remarks “I don't know how the Flying Nun did it everyday.” “The Flying Nun” was a sitcom about a nun (Sally Field) whose habit and pelican-like cornet helped her defy the laws of gravity. The show aired on ABC from 1967 to 1970. The show was previously mentioned in “Lucy's Working Daughter” (S1;E10).

Lucille Ball did a similar stunt of crashing through the ceiling after a parachute jump in “Lucy and Bob Crane” (TLS S4;E22) when she acted in a World War One movie with the “Hogan's Heros” star.

Lucille Ball was previously dropped from the ceiling on a harness (without the crash) when Lucy Ricardo missed the boat in “Bon Voyage” (ILL S5;E13) and was lowered to the deck via helicopter. Like this episode of “Here's Lucy,” a double was filmed in long shots and Lucy did the on-set scenes.

Reverse Psychology was a common plot point on “Lucy” sitcoms. It was first used in “The Inferiority Complex” (ILL S2;18, above) to coax Lucy Ricardo out of a funk. They later use it when “Little Ricky Gets Stage Fright” (S6;E4) to get him to play his drums. Later that same season, the girls use it on the boys to make them think they would be better at “Building a Bar-B-Q” (S6;E24).

Props! Although the reporter says he's from The Valley Gazette, the morning paper held by Craig has a masthead that reads The Daily Chronicle, the show's usual prop newspaper.

“Lucy, the Skydiver” rates 3 Paper Hearts out of 5

This episode tries to maintain the generation gap themes of the series without adding music or celebrities. Of course, its main draw is Lucy's stunt work at the end of the episode.

LUCY AND MA PARKER

S3;E15 ~ December 21, 1970

Directed by Herbert Kenwith ~ Written by Larry Rhine and Lou Derman

Synopsis

When a woman and two children mysteriously move in next door, Lucy discovers that they're a band of criminals led by Ma Parker. Reporting it to the police, Lucy is recruited to impersonate Ma Parker and help nab a dangerous mob leader.

Regular Cast

Lucille Ball (Lucy Carter), Gale Gordon (Harrison Otis Carter), Lucie Arnaz (Kim Carter), Desi Arnaz Jr. (Craig Carter)

Guest Cast

Carole Cook (Ma Parker) played Thelma Green on “The Lucy Show” as well as a host of other characters. She was a protege of Lucille Ball’s during the Desilu Playhouse years. Although born as Mildred Cook, Ball suggested she take the name Carole, in honor of Lucy’s great friend, Carole Lombard. Cook appeared in five episodes of “Here’s Lucy.”

After many years of playing supporting characters opposite Lucille Ball, Carole Cook finally guest stars in a title role.

Billy Curtis (Herman Golab) was born Luigi Curto in 1909. He appeared as one of the Munchkins in The Wizard of Oz (1939). Although Curtis was a singer, his munchkin singing voice was dubbed by Pinto Colvig, who voiced all the dogs in 1964's “Lucy is Her Own Lawyer” (TLS S2;E23). He famously played McDonald's Mayor McCheese from its creation until his death. The character was retired when Curtis died in 1988.

Curtis's first job was as a shoe salesman, so it is coincidental that his costume resembles Buster Brown. Ironically, cast mate Jerry Maren played Buster Brown on television and radio during the 1950s and 1960s.

Jerry Maren (Milton aka 'Little Mildred') played the Munchkin who hands Dorothy a welcome lollipop in The Wizard of Oz (1939). Like Curtis, he also did commercials for McDonald's, mostly as the Hamburglar.

Mildred is Carole Cook's birth name. The character is costumed in the style of Shirley Temple.

Harry Hickox (Lieutenant L. Hickox, below left) was best known for playing anvil salesman Charlie Cowell in the 1962 film The Music Man. He played a drill sergeant in “Lucy Gets Caught Up in the Draft” (TLS S5;E9). This is the second of his three episodes of “Here’s Lucy,” all as policemen.

The character was named after Lucy and Desi’s real-life business manager and Desilu vice-president Andrew Hickox. It was also given to a character played by Charles Lane in “The Business Manager” (ILL S4;E1).

Stafford Repp (Police Detective Halloran, above right) made a career of playing policemen even before he became famous as Chief O'Hara on TV’s “Batman” (1966-68). He played two different officers of the law on “Dennis the Menace” in 1962 and 1963, alongside Gale Gordon. Repp made two appearances on “The Lucy Show,” but this is his only “Here's Lucy” episode.

The character is never addressed by name in the dialogue.

Emile Autuori (Waiter at the Red Devil) makes the first of his six appearances on “Here's Lucy.” He passed away in early 2017. He was the uncle of writer / director P.J. Castalleneta.

Marc Lawrence (Joe Grapefruit) appeared on Broadway in three plays with the Group Theatre. On screen, Lawrence specialized in playing gangster roles. He will also appear in “Lucy and Mannix Are Held Hostage” (S4;E4). Coincidentally, Lawrence appeared in three episodes of “Mannix,” which was a Desilu show.

Joe Grapefruit is a mobster from Chicago.

Boyd 'Red' Morgan (Muggsy, above center) was an actor and stunt man who was seen in “Lucy and John Wayne” (TLS S5;E10), with whom he did eleven films. This is the third of his four episodes of “Here’s Lucy.”

Morgan was cast because the character takes a hit to the face and falls off a chair just as he did in “Lucy, the American Mother” (S3;E7).

Mickey Martin (Customer #1 at the Red Devil, uncredited, below center) appeared with Lucille Ball in the 1934 film Kid Millions starring Eddie Cantor. He was also an uncredited extra in the 1947 Elizabeth Taylor film Cynthia. This is the last of his three episodes of “Here’s Lucy.”

Orwin Harvey (Customer #2 at the Red Devil, above left) was an actor and stuntman who played one of the singing and dancing teamsters in “Lucy Helps Ken Berry” (TLS S6;E21). This is one of his six appearances on “Here’s Lucy.”

Harvey plays the burly man at the bar that Lucy lifts over her head. Both Customer #1 and #2 do not have any dialogue but were cast for their size.

Tony Dante (Customer of the Red Devil, uncredited) made more than 20 uncredited appearances on Desilu's “The Untouchables.” He also did two episodes of “The Lucy Show.” Walter Smith (Customer of the Red Devil, uncredited) made 13 mostly uncredited appearances on the series. He also did one episode of “The Lucy Show.”

Joan Carey (Customer of the Red Devil, uncredited) was one of the only background performers to appear on “I Love Lucy,” “The Lucy Show,” and “Here’s Lucy.” She was also one of Lucille Ball’s camera and lighting stand-ins.

Other customers and staff of the Red Devil are played by uncredited background performers.

On the series DVD, the episode is introduced by Carole Cook and Jerry Maren, who says that the next day on the golf course he was ribbed for playing 'Little Mildred'!

The title character is a parody of Kate 'Ma' Barker (inset), the mother of several criminals who ran the Barker gang in the 1930s. She traveled with her sons during their criminal careers. She was previously mentioned in “Lucy and the Great Bank Robbery” (TLS S3;E5).

In 2007, Jerry Maren (Milton) appeared at Jamestown's annual Lucille Ball Festival to discuss filming this episode. While being interviewed, he received a surprise phone call from Desi Arnaz Jr.

Ma Parker was also the name of one of TV’s “Batman” villains. She was played by Shelley Winters (inset), who guest starred on a 1968 episode of “Here's Lucy.” Winters is just one of many actors who performed on both “Batman” and “Lucy”.

When Lucy gets her head stuck in the hedge while spying on the neighbors, Kim calls her mother “Snoopy Sales.” Milton Supman (aka Soupy Sales, 1926-2009) was best known for his local and network children's television show, “Lunch with Soupy Sales” (1953-66), a series of comedy sketches frequently ending with Sales receiving a pie in the face, which became his trademark. From 1968 to 1975, he was a regular panelist on the syndicated revival of “What's My Line?”

When Lucy picks up the garden hose, a napping Harry is awakened by a shower. The well-known “Here's Lucy” formula: Harry + Garden Hose = Wet!

Typical of Lucille Ball's sitcom style (and the overall tone of this episode), the 'children' are dressed in outfits that are vaudeville stereotypes of children, not as children would be in 1970.

Lucy gives the 'children' lollipops; appropriate since Jerry Maren played one of the Lollipop Guild in The Wizard of Oz (1939). Additionally, Lucy carries a basket similar to Dorothy Gale's.

Lucy Ricardo was suspicious of her “New Neighbors” (ILL S1;E21) who were also suspected criminals (suspected by Lucy, that is). Lucy disguised herself as an armchair and hid in their closet to spy on them!

Lucy Carmichael developed super-human strength in “Lucy, the Super Woman” (TLS S4;E26).

Skill Set! Lucy sits down at Ma Parker's piano to sing the neighborhood welcome song, but Lucy Carter has never been able to play the piano, just the saxophone and the ukulele.

Props! The stein on Ma Parker's end table is the same one seen in in Rudy Vallee's living room table in “Lucy and Rudy Vallee” (S3;E12).

Foy Flaw! In the medium shots of Customer #2 at the bar, the wires that will help Lucy lift him in the air can be seen.

When Lieutenant Hickox (disguised as waiter) handcuffs Joe Grapefruit, he also must rip off his false beard with the other hand. Unfortunately, half his mustache stays glued to his face. He quickly does a second motion and rips it off, too!

“Lucy and Ma Parker” rates 1 Paper Heart out of 5

The scene where Lucy visits Ma Parker as part of the neighborhood welcome wagon feels like a satire or a sketch show – something Lucy and company might act out in one of their musical episodes, but lacks any sense of reality. Lucy behaves in a presentational manner as if she's putting on an act. I suppose that is what she felt necessary to pull off the premise of not recognizing adult little people in costumes. But when she mistakes actual machine gun fire for cork bullets and lifts a big man over her head, well... so much for Lucille Ball's credo of sticking close to the truth. The final scene is missing one key element – the 'real' Ma Parker! Additionally, some of the comedy in this episode is derived from insulting remarks and jokes about little people. In 1970 the term 'midget' was still socially acceptable.

LUCY THE HELPFUL MOTHER

S2;E15 ~ December 29, 1969

Directed by Herbert Kenwith ~ Written by Milt Josefsberg and Al Schwartz

Synopsis

Kim and Craig want their own phones, so they take on part-time jobs to pay for them. Kim’s job has her animal-sitting for the local pet shop, turning Lucy's living room into a zoo!

Regular Cast

Lucille Ball (Lucy Carter), Gale Gordon (Harrison Otis Carter), Lucie Arnaz (Kim Carter), Desi Arnaz Jr. (Craig Carter)

Guest Cast

Irving, a baby chimpanzee.

Radish, a talking parrot who says “You did it again, stupid!”

Breath-of-Spring, a deodorized skunk.

Bruce, a sarcastic mynah bird who says “Get away, kid, you bother me.” This quote from W.C. Fields was previously spoken in “Lucy and the Used Car Dealer” (S2;E9).

The cast also includes baby leopards, a ring-tailed cat, bunnies, hamsters, canaries, doves, and a tank full of piranha (the only 'prop' [fake] animals in the episode).

This is the only episode to only feature the Carter Family: Lucy, Harry, Craig and Kim. A season five show will only feature Lucy and Harry, with archival clips of Kim and Craig. This episode is also the only episode to have an ‘all-animal’ supporting cast!

This is the final episode of calendar year 1969 and the final episode of the turbulent 1960s. For Lucille Ball, the decade began with saying farewell to Lucy Ricardo with the last “Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour” airing in April 1960. “The Lucy Show” was born in 1962 and ran through 1968. The decade also began with Ball's divorce from Desi Arnaz. In 1961 she married Gary Morton. The upcoming decade would be quieter for Ball, but not for Lucie and Desi Jr., who would each face failed relationships that dominated the headlines.

For some unknown reason, assistant choreographer Anita Mann was asked to introduce this dance-less and creature-filled episode on the series DVD. Mann fondly remembers that Lucille Ball was a virtual 'Dr. Doolittle' when working with animals.

Lucy's phone number is KL5-8231. On rotary telephones the alpha characters K and L corresponded to the number 5 making Lucy's number 555-8321. A 555 exchange is the accepted screen format to include a telephone number as it will never correspond with a real telephone number.

The episode includes multiple rotary telephones at Lucy's home and work, including Kim's Princess model. Rotary (dial) telephones were first introduced around 1904. In 1962, the touch tone button phone was introduced. These gradually supplanted dial telephones throughout the decade. The Princess telephone, a compact rotary phone with an illuminated dial, was first introduced by Bell Telephone in 1959.

Teenagers and telephones was a familiar TV and movie trope of the 1960s. It most famously is celebrated in the 1960 stage musical and 1963 film Bye Bye Birdie, which features a song called “Telephone Hour.” Interestingly, Bye Bye Birdie played on Broadway at the same time, just two blocks away, from Lucille Ball in Wildcat.

During the episode, Lucy and Harry are working on contracts for the Kasten account. The name was previously given to a character played by Phil Silvers in “Lucy and the Efficiency Expert” (TLS S5;E13, above).

Craig plays a drum solo over the phone for his friend Steve. Steve has been mentioned on several previous episode, but never seen. Later, Craig talks on the phone with Tina, a new name in the long list of Craig's girlfriends.

To get Craig's attention over the din of his drumming, Kim calls out: “Hey, Buddy Rich!” Buddy Rich (1917-1987) was a world-famous drummer. He appeared with Lucille Ball in the film Du Barry Was a Lady (1943) and will guest star as himself on a 1970 episode of “Here's Lucy” (above).

While Kim takes care of the animals for the local pet shop, Craig is earning extra money gluing wings on toy airplanes for Herbie's Hobby Shop and blowing up 500 balloons for the school dance.

Lucy gets a call from Mary Jane about Bridge Club and the Bowling League. She mentions Hilda, who is the only one who knows how to keep score. When Lucy's Bridge Club was introduced in “Lucy and Eva Gabor” (S1;E7, above) it consisted of Dolores, Maude and Nelly, but no Hilda. Mary Jane is played by Mary Jane Croft, but she does not appear in this episode.

With his bandaged dialing finger, Harry invokes the name of the inventor of the telephone Alexander Graham Bell (1847-1922). Bell is considered the father of the modern telephone and founded AT&T in 1885.

Lucy compares her house full of animals to the San Diego Zoo. Located in Balboa Park, San Diego, California, it is one of the most famous zoos in the world. It first opened in 1916 and is still in operation today.

Lucy sings a lullaby to the chimp:

“Rock-a-bye Irving Hark to my chant. You're kinda cute But you're no Cary Grant.”

Here is yet another mention of Hollywood heartthrob, actor Cary Grant, who was mentioned in the previous episode “Lucy Protects Her Job” (S2;E14) as well as many episode of “I Love Lucy.”

When Lucy gets a call from a kindly Officer O'Reilly that Kim is in jail for setting off the Pet Shop burglar alarm, she calls him “a nice Fuzz.” It was a common TV trope to portray policeman with Irish accents and surnames. “Fuzz” was a slang word for policemen (or, in Lucy's generation, 'cops') that was coined due to the fact that so many serviceman coming home with short military haircuts became policeman. Their buzz cuts resembled peach fuzz. The expression sounds particularly odd spoken by Lucille Ball.

From 1951 to 1969 Lucille Ball worked on television with:

chickens

cows

a calf

dogs of every breed

elephants (2 babies and one Jumbo)

many horses

a pony

a lion

chimpanzees

pigeons

sheep

dolphins

seals

bears

birds of all sorts

an antelope

rabbits

donkeys

deer

geese

turkeys

goats

an adorable kitten

a scent-free skunk

a baby leopard

and a ring-tailed cat

All of these were LIVE animals! The list does not include prop animals (like the piranha), imaginary animals, offstage creatures, or actors in animal suits!

Lucille Ball got a lot of experience working with three trained chimpanzees in “Lucy the Babysitter” (TLS S5;E16, above) which not only starred three rambunctious chimps, but a baby elephant as well!

A tank full of piranha were also featured in the pet shop in “Lucy Gets the Bird” (TLS S3;E12). The comic payoff of retrieving a devoured item from the tank is repeated here. TV’s “Addams Family” (1964-66) kept piranha as pets the way other families kept goldfish.

Little Ricky had a mini-menagerie on “I Love Lucy” that included Fred the dog, a frog named Hopalong, Tommy and Jimmy the turtles, parakeets Alice and Phil, goldfish named Mildred and Charles, and a lizard (who fell – or jumped - out the window).

FISH ON A WIRE! When the piranha fish jumps out of the tank, the wire can be seen attached to the end of the fish. [Unfortunately, the wire can barely be seen in the still photo above.]

DIETARY RESTRICTIONS! Piranha fish are carnivorous and would not eat a leather pouch and paper.

“Lucy the Helpful Mother” rates 4 Paper Hearts out of 5

The fun of this episode is seeing Lucy working with Irving the chimp. Lucy loved animals and incorporated them in scripts whenever she could. The finale with her glued to three phones is particularly funny.

LUCY AND THE BOGIE AFFAIR

S2;E13 ~ December 15, 1969

Directed by Herbert Kenwith ~ Written by Pat McCormick and Jim McGinn

Synopsis

When Kim and Craig find a stray dog in the rain, they take it home and name it Bogie. Next morning, it gives birth to a litter of puppies! Just as they've managed to give away all the puppies to good homes, Harry hears that there's a reward and they have to retrieve them again!

Regular Cast

Lucille Ball (Lucy Carter), Gale Gordon (Harrison Otis Carter), Lucie Arnaz (Kim Carter), Desi Arnaz Jr. (Craig Carter)

Guest Cast

Lord Nelson (Bogie) makes his fourth appearance with Lucille Ball after playing Nelson, Mr. Mooney's dog in three episodes of “The Lucy Show.”

Jack LaLanne (Himself) was a nationally known exercise guru who owned a chain of health clubs and hosted a long-running television show from 1952 to 1983.

Happy (Himself) is Jack LaLanne's dog. He appeared with LaLanne on many of his television shows.

Eugene Molnar (Jack's Cameraman) appeared on four episodes of the series. These are his only screen credits.

Sherry Alberoni (Candy) was a second-season replacement Mousketeer on “The Mickey Mouse Club” (1955). She also dubbed Patty Duke's vocals in the film Valley of the Dolls (1967). This is her only appearance with Lucille Ball.

Steve March (Steve) is the son of Mel Torme and the adopted son of the Arnaz family's friend, Hal March. Mel Torme appeared several times on “The Lucy Show.” Hal March appeared on “I Love Lucy.” Steve March will appear in one more episode starring Sammy Davis Jr. and will write a song for an episode starring Ann-Margret.

Debbie Westcott (Debbie Westcott) was the daughter of Desilu Prop Master Kenneth Westcott. This is her only screen credit.

Irwin Charone (Mr. Farnsworth) made five appearances on “The Lucy Show.” The expressive character actor also did an equal number of “Here’s Lucy” episodes. He died in January 2016 in Maplewood, New Jersey, at the age of 93.

This is the first of 14 episodes directed by Herbert Kenwith. Born in New Jersey, Kenwith started out as an actor on Broadway, and then produced 65 productions at Princeton's McCarter Theatre. One of these starred a young Lucille Ball, in a show headed to Broadway but never made it due to the serious illness of its leading man. He died in 2008 at the age of 90.

This is the first and only episode of the series written by comedian turned writer Pat McCormick. McCormick previously wrote “Lucy in London” in 1966. This is the only episode written by Jim McGinn as well as his only collaboration with McCormick.

Lucille Ball was a dog lover and owned many dogs during her life.

Kim and Craig name the dog they find Bogie because it had the same sad look standing in the rain as Humphrey Bogart does at the end of 1942's Casablanca.

When Kim effusively hugs her mother when she comes home, Lucy reminds her she was “just at work, not walking on the moon!” The moon walk of John Glenn and Buzz Aldrin occurred on July 20, 1969 just after this episode went before the cameras.

Coming home in a thunderstorm, Lucy unwittingly says “It's not a fit night out for man, nor beast!” not knowing the kids have hidden Bogie in the kitchen. Lucy initially attributes the quote to Shakespeare (wrong!) and then to W.C. Fields (right!). The line was spoken by Fields in the 1933 film The Fatal Glass of Beer. The quote was also spoken by Gale Gordon in “Lucy and the Monsters” (TLS S3;E18).

When Lucy sees Bogie in the kitchen, she jokes that he's a shaggy horse and calls him “Matt Dillon's last mount!” Matt Dillon was a character played by James Arness (above) on “Gunsmoke,” the long-running western that was “Here's Lucy's” lead-in on CBS.

After Lucy agrees to let Bogie stay, she says “If you want anything, just whistle” paraphrasing Lauren Bacall's famous line to Humphrey Bogart in the film To Have and Have Not (1944).

The nine puppies go to:

Stevie – Craig's girl crazy classmate

Blanche – Lucy's lonely friend from New Orleans

Candy – Kim's friend looking for the latest trend

Pauline Lopus – Lucy's friend looking for a watchdog

Debbie Westcott – Craig's classmate who takes a puppy in exchange for going steady with Craig

Natalie Schwartz (unseen) – a friend of Craig's

Freddy Dawson (unseen) – a friend of Kim's

Lucy tries to give one to Jack LaLanne but he ends up giving her one of his dog Happy's pups instead. Including the one she was intending to give LaLanne, this still leaves one puppy unaccounted for by the script.

Lucy's telephone call with an unseen Blanche from New Orleans is likely a nod to Tennessee Williams' 1947 play and 1951 film A Streetcar Named Desire, whose principal character Blanche Dubois lives in New Orleans.

To convince Candy that owning old English Sheepdog puppies is the newest fad, Kim crops photos of the pups with music celebrities Barbra Streisand and Herb Alpert and tapes the photos to the inside of her locker. In 1969 singer Streisand won an Oscar for her performance in the film Funny Girl. Herb Albert was a trumpeter who performed with his group the Tijuana Brass. In 1969 they released the album Warm.

Lucy's telephone call with the unseen Pauline Lopus is a tribute to her childhood friend Flo Pauline Lopus, whose name used on many Lucille Ball sitcoms.

Harry has been diagnosed with an allergy to dog fur. In “Lucy and Harry's Tonsils” (S2;E5) we learn that Harry is also allergic to flowers.

Harry dictates a letter to Rylander, Mosier and Tebbit. These names are Gale Gordon's go-to addressees for dictation, having been used on both “Here's Lucy” and on “The Lucy Show.”

Craig says he is now going steady with both Debbie Westcott and Natalie Schwartz. Kim has to go the prom and the spring formal with Freddy Dawson (who she calls “The Creature from the Black Lagoon”). Both Natalie and Freddy don't appear on camera. In real life, Natalie Schwartz was a wealthy friend of Lucille Ball's from Rancho Mirage. Her husband Danny was the owner of Elmhurst Dairies in Queens, NY.

Trying to get the reward for Bogie and the nine pups, Harry appoints himself banker of the group. This is ironic since Gale Gordon's previous character with Lucille Ball was banker Theodore J. Mooney.

In the high school scenes, Craig wears his letter sweater with the large “A” on the chest. It was mentioned in “Lucy and Carol Burnett” (S1;E17, above) that Kim and Craig attend Angeles High School. In that episode, many of these sweaters were worn by the boys in the chorus of the musical fundraiser.

Humphrey Bogart never appeared on screen with Lucille Ball. However, in “Ricky's Movie Offer” (ILL S4;E5) Desi Arnaz does an impression of Bogart.

In “Lucy and the Andrews Sisters” (S2;E6) Lucy blows a kiss to a large poster of Bogart from the movie Casablanca. Coincidentally, a poster of W.C. Fields - who Lucy quotes in the episode - is hung next to Bogart!

Lucy's children bring home a dog against their mother's wishes, just like Little Ricky did in “Little Ricky Gets a Dog” (ILL S6;E14).

The only other “Lucy” show to feature more dogs was “Lucy and Viv Learn Judo” (TLS S1;E22) in 1963.

Shut the Door! When Harry comes in to share the news about the reward, he leaves the front door open – in a house with unleashed dogs!

Where the Floor Ends! In Jack LaLanne's studio and in the Carter home, the camera pulls back too far and reveals the cement stage floor. This is a weekly occurrence.

“Lucy and the Bogie Affair” rates 3 Paper Hearts out of 5

This episode is for dog lovers! The cute puppies and shaggy Bogie are the best parts. There is some attempt at a funny montage of getting rid of the dogs to various owners, but it lacks comic rhythm. Jack LaLanne was a better fitness coach than an actor! Unusually, the comic finale of the episode happens off-screen!

LUCY AND ANN-MARGRET

S2;E20 ~ February 2, 1970

Directed by Herbert Kenwith ~ Choreography by Jack Baker ~ Written by Milt Josefsberg and Ray Singer

Synopsis

A chance meeting with Ann-Margret leads to songwriter Craig performing with her on television.

Regular Cast

Lucille Ball (Lucy Carter), Lucie Arnaz (Kim Carter), Desi Arnaz Jr. (Craig Carter), Gale Gordon (Harrison Otis Carter)

Guest Cast

Ann-Margret (Herself) is one of Hollywood's most enduring sex symbols, singers, and actors. She made her screen debut in 1961's A Pocketful of Miracles and followed up with the critically acclaimed film musicals State Fair and Bye Bye Birdie. After this episode of “Here's Lucy” she was nominated for Oscars for Carnal Knowledge (1971) and Tommy (1975). In February 1969, she appeared on “The Jack Benny Birthday Special”, which also featured Lucille Ball, although the two did not share screen time. At the end of 1969, Lucille Ball guested on her special “From Hollywood With Love.” In 2010, Ann-Margret won her first Emmy Award for her guest appearance on “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.”

John O'Neill (Walter, Ann-Margret's Pianist)

Although billed as ‘Walter’ in the final credits, Ann-Margret calls him ‘Wally’ in the dialogue.

Gary Morton (Voice Introducing Ann-Margret) was a comedian who worked the famed ‘Borscht Belt’ in the Catskills Mountains. He met Lucille Ball shortly after her divorce from Desi Arnaz and they married in November 1961. At her request, Morton gave up his nightclub career and became a producer of “The Lucy Show.” Morton also served as a warm-up comic for the show’s studio audience. He played the Emcee in “Lucy and the Andrews Sisters” (S2;E6) and will make two more on-camera appearances on “Here’s Lucy.” Morton passed away in 1999.

Throughout the episode, Morton’s loud guffaw can be heard on the soundtrack.

Ann-Margret's back-up dancers (3 men and 3 women) perform uncredited.

The much anticipated episode was the subject of a TV Guide "Close Up”. It mentions that the singer was repaying Ball for appearing on her earlier special...

“Ann-Margret: From Hollywood With Love” in December 1969. In it, Ball played herself and an autograph hound named ‘Celebrity Lu’ (above).

The date this episode first aired (February 2, 1970) the 27th Annual Golden Globe Awards was held. Lucille Ball was nominated for Best Actress in a Musical or Comedy Series, but lost to a tie between Carol Burnett and Julie Sommars in “The Governor and J.J.” John Wayne also won for True Grit. Both Burnett and Wayne were guest stars of Lucille Ball’s on her sitcoms. Joan Crawford (who guest-starred on “The Lucy Show”) received a life-time achievement award.

Two days later, on February 4, 1970, Lucie and Desi Jr. appeared with their father on NBC’s “Kraft Music Hall”. Vivian Vance and Bernadette Peters were also part of the cast. Desi Sr. performed "Babalu" and "Cuban Pete" and teamed with his children on "The Straw Hat Song”. Lucille Ball does not appear.

In the DVD introduction to the episode, Desi Arnaz Jr. says that he had a crush on Ann-Margret since he was ten years old. At the beginning of the episode, Kim says her brother is “barely seventeen.” This was true for Desi Jr. when the show was being filmed, but he celebrated his 17th birthday two weeks before the show first aired.

Lucy Carter describes her aspirations for her children:

KIM: “Mom wants me to be a wife and a mother.” LUCY: “Yes. And in that order.”

Lucy wants Craig to be a doctor, while he wants to be a songwriter.

LUCY: “We’ll compromise. You’ll be the only songwriter in the world to make house calls.”

In the early part of the 20th century, physicians often visited the home to treat patients, a practice that is virtually unheard of in most parts of the country today.

The ad soliciting new songs Craig finds in the newspaper gives an address of 718 North Gower. In reality, this is the address of Paramount Studios (formerly Desilu) where the show was filmed.

Lucy hopes Craig becomes as famous as Simon & Carbunkle. Kim corrects her: Simon & Garfunkle. In 1970 Paul Simon and Art Garfunkle released the album “Bridge Over Troubled Water.” Lucy later says Craig sings as well as Engelbert Pumpernickle. Craig corrects her: Engelbert Humperdinck. In a previous episode, Lucy pronounced the English pop singer's name “Englebert Dumperhinck.” Lucy is turning into a regular Mrs. Malaprop!

Craig calls himself “this generation's Cole Porter.” Cole Porter (1891-1964) was a songwriter who wrote both lyrics and music. He was responsible for the score of DuBarry Was A Lady, a Broadway musical that was filmed in 1943 with Lucille Ball. The show included the Cole Porter song “Friendship,” which Lucy Ricardo later sang with Ethel Mertz in “Lucy and Ethel Buy the Same Dress” (ILL S3;E3, above).

When Craig needs $100 for his song to be published, he wants to ask his Uncle Harry.

LUCY: “Uncle Harry wouldn't have given Francis Scott Key $100 for 'The Star Spangled Banner.'”

“The Star Spangled Banner” is the national anthem of the United States. On September 14, 1814, Francis Scott Key (1779-1843) wrote a poem which was eventually set to music by John Stafford Smith. It was adopted as the anthem in 1931.

Wally, Ann-Margret’s arranger, suggest she sing Craig’s song as a duet - perhaps with Frank Sinatra or Dean Martin. Frank Sinatra’s hit single from 1969 called “My Way” re-entered the charts in 1970, spending nearly a hundred weeks in the top forty. In 1970 singer Dean Martin, who was one of Lucille Ball’s favorite performers, was still producing new episodes of “The Dean Martin Show” (above) as well as starring in the feature film Airport.

On her coffee table is a copy of the December 1966 issue of House & Garden Magazine. Ann-Margret obviously doesn’t have much time for reading!

Lucy Carter seems to have no qualms about leaving her 16 year-old son alone in the apartment of a 28 year-old woman known to the world as a ‘the original sex kitten’! Offstage, however, Lucille Ball was not quite as understanding when Desi Jr. took up with 23 year-old divorcee Patti Duke, whose onscreen reputation was considerably more wholesome. In tabloid press, Lucille Ball was quoted as saying “Leave My Son Alone...He’s Only 17″ and “Patti Duke Used My Son and Victimized Us”.

When Ann-Margret is slipping into “something more comfortable” (an age old film and TV trope intimating seduction), Craig practices his dancing alone to the strains of “I'm in the Mood for Love” written by Jimmy McHugh in 1935. Ann-Margret covered the song in 1962 on her album “On the Way Up.” While Ann-Margret’s version of the song was on RCA Records and had lyrics, the LP Craig selects has the Capital Records label (the rainbow ring) and is instrumental only. Coincidentally, Guy Lombardo included the song on his 1958 release on Capitol Records, although the version heard is not that cover.

While Ann-Margret is off changing, Craig has three wordless minutes on screen alone to imagine his evening with the noted sex symbol. Here, Desi Jr. does some very funny and charming silent acting depicting the nerves of a first romantic encounter. Until she breaks the spell by appearing in a chenille robe, fuzzy slippers, and curlers!

Craig and Ann-Margret perform the song "Country Magic" which in reality was not by Craig or Desi Arnaz Jr. but by Steve March, the son of Mel Torme and adopted son of Arnaz family friend, Hal March.

Steve March appeared onscreen as one of Craig's high school friends in “Lucy and the Bogie Affair” (S2;E13) and will appear in a future episode guest starring Sammy Davis Jr. When Craig referred to his friend Steve in past episodes, this is likely who he has in mind.

The pink paisley Fender telecaster guitar Craig plays during his number with Ann-Margret belonged to Jimmy Burton (below), Elvis Presley's number one guitar player.

Burton actually played the guitar solo on the soundtrack.

Unusually, after leaving Craig with Ann-Margret, the Lucy character is not seen again until the final fade-out. Lucille Ball is off-screen for 10 minutes of her own 24-minute show!

In December 1968, just as “Here’s Lucy” was starting, Lucille Ball and Ann-Margret shared the cover of Coronet Magazine. Lucy wrote about her teenagers while Ann-Margret modeled see-through fashions.

Lucy Carter wants Craig to be a doctor, not a musician. On “I Love Lucy” Lucy Ricardo wanted Little Ricky (Keith Thibodeaux, above) to be a doctor, not a musician!

When Ann-Margret changes into “something more comfortable” she comes out wearing the same blue chenille bathrobe that Lucy wore in “Lucy and Tennessee Ernie's Fun Farm” (S1;E23, left). It looks very similar to the one that Vivian Vance wore in 1952’s “Breaking the Lease” (ILL S1;E18, center) and other episodes. It is likely that it is the same robe from the Desilu wardrobe racks!

FAST FORWARD!

A year later, Ann-Margret is mentioned as one of the wishes Craig would ask of a magic lamp in “Lucy and Aladdin’s Lamp” (S3;E21). Craig must have forgotten this lengthy encounter when he mentioned his wish.

Both Lucille Ball and Ann-Margret were on hand for “America’s Tribute to Bob Hope” on January 2, 1988.

In 2000, Lucie Arnaz and Steve March-Torme (author of “Country Magic”), both children of megastars, did a cabaret act together. This was March’s cabaret debut. As of this writing, two decades later, they are both still performing in cabaret - just not together.

Memory Lapse! Lucy tells Ann-Margret that the last time Craig sang in public it was “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star.” Actually, Craig sang in his school musical in “Lucy and Carol Burnett” (S1;E17, above), in “Lucy and Tennessee Ernie's Fun Farm” (S1;E23), as Bing Crosby in “Lucy and the Andrews Sisters” (S2;E6), and in “Lucy and the Generation Gap” (S2;E12) – all in front of audiences!

Hey Lady! At the end of “Country Magic,” Lucy bursts from the wings and shouts to the studio audience “My son the songwriter!” If this was one of Ann-Margret’s television specials (as was earlier mentioned), a random mother bragging about her son is not something you’d expect to see!

Can I Have a Drum Roll... Please? Oddly, there is absolutely no mention of Craig’s former musical obsession - the drums! A skilled percussionist in real life, there were many episodes in which played drums and even a couple that revolved around it.

This episode is a terrific showcase for Desi Arnaz Jr. He does his best with the comedy, but really shines in the musical number, where his dancing is as his sharp as his musicianship. Ann-Margret seems to be enjoying herself and the episode is fun to watch, although not particularly funny.

LUCY THE LAUNDRESS

S2;E17 ~ January 12, 1970

Directed by Herbert Kenwith ~ Written by Larry Rhine and Lou Derman

Synopsis

After bragging to Craig about her perfect driving record, Lucy smashes into a laundry truck. In order to pay for the repairs, she has to go to work at the laundry and keep her identity a secret when Kim and Craig are suddenly plagued with clothing stains.

Regular Cast

Lucille Ball (Lucy Carter), Gale Gordon (Harrison Otis Carter), Lucie Arnaz (Kim Carter), Desi Arnaz Jr. (Craig Carter)

Guest Cast

James Hong (Lee Wong) was born in 1929 and began his screen career in 1954. He has lately been acclaimed as the voice of Mr. Ping in the Kung-Fu Panda franchise. Aside from his nearly 500 screen credits, Hong is one of the founders of the East-West Players, the oldest Asian American theater in Los Angeles. At Desilu, he unsuccessfully auditioned for the role of Sulu in “Star Trek.” This is his only appearance with Lucille Ball.

Mr. Wong is a widower with two young girls. He operates Lee Wong's Hand Laundry on Pine and Hurst.

Lauren Gilbert (Mr. Michaels, Insurance Adjuster) played recurring characters on “Edge of Night” and “Hazel” - both named Harry. This is his only appearance with Lucille Ball.

Bee Thompkins (Secretary) had only a handful of other screen credits between 1969 and 1972. Also in 1970, she was one of the passengers in the blockbuster film Airport. She was variously credited as ‘Bea Tompkins’ during her career.

Rosalind Chao (Linda Chang Wong, right) made her screen debut with this episode. She created the role of Soon-Ye Klinger on “M*A*S*H” and “After M*A*S*H” but is perhaps best known for playing Keiko O'Brien on “Star Trek: The Next Generation” and “Deep Space Nine.” During that series she also filmed The Joy Luck Club. She recently guest-starred on TV's “Blackish,” “This is Us,” and “The Catch.”

Heather Lee (Sue Chin Wong, left) makes her only screen appearance in this episode.

Linda Chang and Sue Chin are sisters and the daughters of Lee Wong.

Romo Vincent (Laundry Customer) was a Broadway performer from 1942 to 1959. He played an airline passenger in “Lucy Flies to London” (TLS S5;E6). This is the first of his two episodes of “Here’s Lucy.”

Vincent was cast for his size. He claims his shorts are size 52.

This is the first of nine episodes written by Larry Rhine and Lou Derman. Rhine had been nominated for an Emmy Award in 1963 for writing for “The Red Skelton Show.” He was nominated again in 1978 for an episode of “All in the Family.” Derman was also an Emmy nominee for “All in the Family.” Together they also wrote many episodes of “Mr. Ed.”

In his DVD introduction to the episode, James Hong tries to diffuse any misinterpretation of Lucy's disguising herself as an Asian character.

“Sometimes it's very offensive for the Asians to see that kind of image. But she was in essence playing that character pointing out how society had this cliched image of the Asians. So she was laughing at herself and and laughing at the society's concept of Asians. To contrast that they had me dress up in this wonderful suit – very elegant!”

In the opening scene, Lucy comes home with a bag of groceries containing Cheerios. On the bottom right corner of the box it states that a free Super-Ball is inside. [In the inset photo it is for Wacky Racers as a Super-Ball box was not available.] During the summer of 1969, scores of American kids begged their parents to buy the General Mills cereal to get the amazing Super-Ball inside.

Next to that is a box of Nabisco Rice Honeys, also a breakfast cereal. The cereal was first marketed under another name in 1939 and, after several more name changes, was discontinued in 1975. What is unique about this particular box is that it includes free Beatles’ Rub-Ons promoting their movie Yellow Submarine. The film was released in November 1968, about a year before filming. If you saved one of those boxes, they're currently going for over $1,000. In 2014, someone sold one for $1,430.50 at auction!

At the office, Lucy gets a call from Mary Jane. The character does not appear in this episode, but is played by Mary Jane Croft.

Harry is looking for the Treshkin contract.

The car accident costs Lucy $97.50. When Lucy doesn't have money to pay for the damages to Wong's van, he suggests she should “Sell car. Take bus. Leave driving to us.” This was a paraphrasing of the advertising slogan of the Greyhound Bus Company. It was previously quoted in “Lucy Helps Craig Get a Driver’s License” (S1;E24) and “Lucy and the Used Car Dealer” (S2;E9).

When Sue Chin Wong learns that Lucy will be working for her father, she exclaims: “Well, there goes the neighborhood!” This was a common expression used to grouse about integration, which was a hot topic in the late 1960s. To further reinforce the role reversal comedy, the writers give the line to an Asian character.

When Lucy meets Wong's daughters, she greets them in an exaggerated and condescending Chinese accent. The girls look horrified and answer back in voices totally devoid of any Asian influence. To further the humor of Lucy's backward thinking, the girls are eating hamburgers with ketchup, a typical American-style meal.

Mr. Wong's daughters inform Lucy that their father only pays sixty five cents an hour. In late 1969 the minimum wage was $1.30 per hour, but rose to $1.45 per hour in February 1970. The girls explain that their dad thinks that because he's Chinese he can pay “coolie” wages. The word “coolie” refers to an unskilled native laborer generally from India, China, or some other Asian country. Depending on the context, this word can be considered offensive or pejorative.

When Kim enters the shop to get a stain out of her new dress, Lucy disguises herself with a bright kimono, thick eyeglasses, and a fringed red lampshade on her head. She disguises her voice to a stereotypical Asian accent by changing her Rs to Ls (ie: “tellycroth lobe”).

After Lucy's true identity has been revealed, Harry says “Well, if it isn't Madam Butterfly.” He is referring to the title character in Madam Butterfly, an Italian opera by Giacomo Puccini that premiered in 1904 and is still in the classical repertory today. In the opera, a 15 year-old Japanese girl falls in love with an American sailor with tragic consequences. The story was also the inspiration for the Broadway musical Miss Saigon (1989) and the play M. Butterfly (1989).

Lucy Ricardo also caused havoc at a laundry in “Bonus Bucks” (ILL S3;E21).

Lucy tells Craig that Mr. Wong is a decorator who is there because she is considering doing the house over in Chinese Modern. Chinese Modern was the style that Carolyn Appleby redecorated her apartment in “Lucy Tells the Truth (ILL S3;E6). Sworn to be truthful, Lucy says it looks like “a bad dream you'd have after eating too much Chinese food.”

Lucy fibs to Craig that Mr. Wong decorated Grauman's Chinese Theatre (everything but the footprints). The iconic Hollywood movie palace was the setting of “Lucy Visits Grauman's” (ILL S5;E1) and the footprints were integral to that episode and the following one, “Lucy and John Wayne” (ILL S5;E2).

Lucy Carmichael also disguised herself as an Asian character in “Lucy and the Soap Opera” (TLS S4;E19).

Lucy Carter's ironing skills seem no better than that of Ricky Ricardo and Fred Mertz, who both left their ‘marks’ on the laundry during “Job Switching” (ILL S2;E1).

In season one, Lucy Carter celebrated her birthday at a Chinese restaurant.

Ouch! Lucille Ball accidentally scalded her hand during the filming when using the steam press. This is ironic, since the dialogue has Mr. Wong warn Lucy to be “careful with the steam iron” when he first agrees to let her work off her debt.

The Shadow Knows! There is a moving shadow across the side of the desk when Harry bends down to get a key from the drawer. The next shot is a close-up (below), which necessitated the camera move that caused the shadow.

Props! Harry offers Lucy a mini-bottle of booze that he got on a flight to Hawaii. It is hidden inside the jade green desk ornament that coincidentally makes its debut with this episode – and disappears thereafter. In the above photo, the bottle is difficult to see. Only the neck of the tiny bottle with its white seal can be seen.

Where the Floor Ends! This time the floor ends in the Chinese Hand Laundry.

Sitcom Logic Alert(s)!

From the time Harry hears Lucy's collision outside his window to Lucy's entrance into the office is a mere 8 seconds! Take into account that she says she left a note for the owner on his windshield – and put the windshield in the front seat!

Mr. Wong arrives with an estimate of the damages on the very same day as the accident.

At the laundry, Lucy immediately knows how to work a commercial laundry press with no instruction.

Even with the accent and disguise, Kim should probably recognize her own mother's voice.

Oops! When Lucy trips and her hat and wig fall off, the black masking placed next to her right ear to hide her red hair stays on. Lucille Ball has to duck down quickly and rip it off.

“Lucy the Laundress” rates 4 Paper Hearts out of 5

This episode feels the most like an episode of “I Love Lucy.” Lucy is caught in a fib, so instead of telling the truth, she goes to elaborate lengths to conceal her lie. The thorny issue of racial sensitivity rears its head when viewed by a modern audience. But it is clear that Lucille Ball was trying to portray Mr. Wong and his family as average Americans, and Lucy's view of Asian culture as backward. It is worth noting that all the Asian characters are actually played by Asian actors. When the young girls call Lucy out for her patronizing attitude, Lucy immediately acknowledges that she's been wrong and the scene (and the comedy) continues without any rancor. The hard-fought Civil Rights battles of the 1960s are slowly having an effect on television.