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LUCY’S WORKING DAUGHTER

S1;E10 ~ December 2, 1968

Directed by Jack Donohue ~ Written by Robert O'Brien

Synopsis

When Kim gets a part-time job in a dress shop, Lucy becomes her biggest customer.

Regular Cast

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

Guest Cast

Barbara Morrison (Mrs. Murdock) also played an irate shopper in “Lucy Bags a Bargain” (TLS S4;E17). She also was in one other episode. Morrison was an English-born actress making the first of her three appearances on “Here's Lucy.”

Karen Norris (Miss Simpson) made half a dozen appearances on “The Lucy Show.” This is her only appearance on “Here’s Lucy.”

Miss Simpson is the manager of Lady Bow's dress shop. She has a daughter who works in a decorator's shop selling lamps.

Joan Swift (Joanie) made six appearances on “The Lucy Show.” This is the second and last episode of “Here’s Lucy.” Her final screen credit was 1975’s “Lucy Gets Lucky” with Lucille Ball and Dean Martin.

Although listed in the credits as “Joan”, on screen she is referred to as “Joanie.”

Lola Fisher (First Customer, above left) understudied and replaced Julie Andrews on Broadway in the musical My Fair Lady. It was the third and last of her Broadway shows. Fisher makes the first of her three “Here's Lucy” appearances.

Although called “First Customer” in the final credits, Vanda Barra is actually the first to speak on camera.

Vanda Barra (Second Customer, above right) was married to Sid Gould so is Lucille Ball’s cousin-in-law. She makes the second of her 23 appearances on “Here’s Lucy” as well as appearing in Ball’s two 1975 TV movies “Lucy Gets Lucky” (with Dean Martin) and “Three for Two” (with Jackie Gleason). She was seen in half a dozen episodes of “The Lucy Show.”

This is the first (but not the last) time Barra and her real-life husband Sid Gould appear in the same episode.

Joan Carey (Restaurant Patron, uncredited, above center) was born Joan Somerville Norbury in Yorkshire, UK. She carved out a brief career as an actress and dancer before moving to small roles in front of and behind the camera. In 1952, she became a regular fixture as a “Lucy” background artist through 1974. She served as Lucille Ball’s stand-in from the fourth season of “The Lucy Show” until at least the penultimate season of “Here’s Lucy.”

Carey is the woman in the brown coat seated between Fisher and Barra.

Jerry Rush (Maitre D', above right) made nine (mostly uncredited) appearances on “The Lucy Show.” This is the first of his two episodes of “Here’s Lucy.” Sid Gould (Waiter, above center) made more than 45 appearances on “The Lucy Show,” all as background characters. This is the third of his 40 episodes of “Here’s Lucy.” Between both series' he played a waiter eleven times! Gould (born Sydney Greenfader) was Lucille Ball’s cousin by marriage to Gary Morton.

Kathryn Janssen (Restaurant Patron, uncredited) began doing background work in 1966. She was often spotted on “The Lucy Show” and “Here’s Lucy.”

James Gonzales (Restaurant Patron, uncredited) was a popular Hollywood extra who first acted with Lucille Ball in the 1953 The Long, Long Trailer. He was previously seen on “The Lucy Show” as Stan Williams in “Lucy Digs Up a Date” (TLS S1;E2). He was seen in more than 20 episodes of “The Lucy Show” and 3 episodes of “Here’s Lucy.”

The other dress shop and restaurant patrons are played by uncredited background performers.

Kim’s starting wage at Lady Bow's dress shop is $18 a week plus 15% commission on sales two afternoons a week after school and Saturdays. Harry forfeits his commission for getting her the job.

Harry says that sending Lucy on an errand is like releasing a swallow from 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).

Kim Carter's Social Security number is 554-60-0676. Lucy confuses it with a Zip Code. The nation's first Social Security card was issued in 1936 with benefits first paid out in 1940. The US Post Office introduced Zip Codes on July 1, 1963.

As a Girl Scout, Lucie says she once sold 52 boxes cookies, which which her mother sold on her behalf – to Harry!

Craig: “I'll buy that!” Lucy: “I'm not trying to sell you!”

Ironically, the title of the previous episode was “Lucy Sells Craig to Wayne Newton” (S1;E9).

Lucy and Craig play RSVP, a vertical word game similar to Scrabble. RSVP was introduced by Selchow and Righter in 1958 and promoted as "3-D Scrabble." Lucille Ball loved games, and promoted Milton Bradley's Cross Up, a similar game which had her picture on the box.

The studio audience applauds Kim when showing off her new dress for work. Craig compares his sister to Audrey Hepburn. Born Audrey Kathleen Ruston (1929-1993), she was a British actress, model, dancer and humanitarian who was also recognized as a fashion icon. She won an Oscar in 1954 for Roman Holiday.

Craig says if Lucie's heels were any higher she'd be the Flying Nun. “The Flying Nun” was a sitcom about a nun (Sally Field) whose habit helped her defy the laws of gravity in her breeze-filled Puerto Rico convent. The show aired on ABC from 1967 to 1970.

Lucy mentions Craig's girlfriend Elsie. Just three weeks earlier, in “Lucy and Eva Gabor” (S1;E7), Craig was said to be dating Lori Wilson, the most popular girl in school.

Lucy meets Harry and Craig at Pierre's Restaurant for lunch.

Across the street from Lady Bow's dress shop is Modern Miss Boutique, who are sponsoring a future fashion show at Pierre's Restaurant. Lucy decides to get the jump on the competition and help Kim earn commissions.

The multi-function black and white dress that Lucy models at Pierre's was designed by Edward Stevenson (inset), the show's costume designer.

When Lucy does her impromptu fashion show, the soundtrack plays “A Pretty Girl Is Like a Melody,” written by Irving Berlin in 1919 which became the theme song of The Ziegfeld Follies. Lucille Ball was in the 1945 film Ziegfeld Follies, although the song was not!

Despite a serious sunburn, Lucy Ricardo participated in “The Fashion Show” (ILL S4;E19) promoting Don Loper's new line in 1955. Lucy Carmichael gives an impromptu fashion show in a fancy restaurant on “Lucy Meets Danny Kaye” (TLS S3;E15).

Speaking of working in a dress shop, Lucy and Ethel took over running Hansen's Dress Shop in “The Girls Go Into Business” (ILL S3;E2).

Barbara Morrison (Mrs. Murdock) also played a dissatisfied customer in “Lucy Bags a Bargain” (TLS S4;E17) at Stacey's Department Store in which Lucy Carmichael took a job as a salesgirl.

Morrison would wear the same green dress and hat when she appeared in “The Mothers-In-Law” in October 1968, a show produced by Desi Arnaz.

As Kim sorts clothes, we can see a number of garments that were previously worn by Lucille Ball on-screen in both “Here’s Lucy” and “The Lucy Show”.

The blue and white dress is from “Lucy Meets the Berles” (TLS S6;E1).

The light blue lace-trimmed garment on the table is from “LUCY VISITS JACK BENNY” (HL S1;E2).

The green and yellow polka dot pajamas was seen in a number of episodes, including Lucy’s Mystery Guest.

THANKS TO THE LUCY LOUNGE FOR THESE EAGLE-EYED FASHION TIPS!

Props! The box for the game RSVP has no cover art or even a name on it.

Editing Room! There is an obvious edit in the scene where Craig role plays to help Lucie prepare for her first day as a salesgirl. The soundtrack noticeably jumps mid-laugh.

Consistency! Lucy coaches Kim to greet her customer's with “Good Morning!” despite the fact that Kim will only be working afternoons after school.

“Lucy’s Working Daughter” rates 4 Paper Hearts out of 5

This is what “Here’s Lucy” was supposed to be about: generational comedy focusing on Lucy’s family. Shame it strayed so far off premise as time went on, but enjoy these classic early episodes!

LUCY AND CAROL BURNETT

S1;E17 ~ January 27, 1969

Directed by Jack Donohue ~ Written by Robert O'Brien

Synopsis

Lucy convinces Carol Burnett to participate in a benefit to raise money for Kim and Craig's high school gymnasium.

Regular Cast

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

Guest Cast

Carol Burnett (Herself) got her first big break on “The Paul Winchell Show” in 1955. A years later she was a regular on “The Garry Moore Show.” In 1959 she made her Broadway debut in Once Upon a Mattress, which she also appeared in on television three times. From 1960 to 1965 she did a number of TV specials, and often appeared with Julie Andrews. Her second Broadway musical was Fade Out – Fade In which ran for more than 270 performances. From 1967 to 1978 she hosted her own highly successful variety show, “The Carol Burnett Show.” Lucille Ball made several appearances on “The Carol Burnett Show.” Burnett guest starred in four episodes of “The Lucy Show” and three episodes of “Here’s Lucy,” subsequently playing a character named Carol Krausmeyer. After Lucille Ball’s passing, Burnett was hailed as the natural heir to Lucy’s title of ‘The Queen of TV Comedy.’

The Audience at “The Carol Burnett Show” (in order of appearance)

Pearl Shear (Asks Carol if she was born in Texas) is probably best remembered as Zuleika Dunbar on TV's “The Waltons” (1976-81). In reality she was the mother-in-law of Ralph Waite (Pa Walton). This is her only appearance with Lucille Ball.

John Lindesmith (Serviceman who asks Carol how far she went in school) had made several appearances in uniform on an NBC series called “The Lieutenant” (1963-64) as well as being a member of the crew of the Enterprise on “Star Trek.” This is his penultimate screen credit.

Jerry Rush (Asks Carol if she went to a drama school) made nine mostly uncredited appearances on “The Lucy Show.” This is his second and last “Here's Lucy” appearance.

Virginia Hawkins (Asks where Carol got her early training) makes her screen debut with this episode. She went on to play Nurse Canford on “Medical Center” (50 episodes) and housekeeper Jeanette on “Dynasty” (68 episodes).

Laura Gile (Asks Carol her exact age) made only seven screen appearances in her career.

Gile's back is to the camera during her question.

Sean Morgan (Asks when Carol was born) is best remembered as Sean on “The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriett” (1964-66) although he also made several appearances on the Desilu series' “Star Trek” and “Mannix.” This is his only appearance with Lucille Ball.

Carole Cook (Asks if Carol is going to make any more movies / Lucy's Singing Voice) played Thelma Green on “The Lucy Show” as well as many other characters. She was a protégé 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.” This is the second time she has dubbed Lucy's singing voice on the show.

Cook sits in the back wears a crazy hat and chews gum. In reality, Burnett had only done one feature film before this episode was filmed, Whose Been Sleeping in My Bed? in 1963.

Roy Rowan (Carol’s Announcer, uncredited) was also the announcer for “Here’s Lucy.”

The other audience members, the high school students, gymnasts, and band are played by uncredited extras – the majority of which were well beyond high school age.

This episode is also known as "Lucy and the New School Gym." Almost all of Carol Burnett’s “Lucy Show” and “Here’s Lucy” appearances were titled “Lucy and Carol Burnett” - but some have taken liberties to differentiate them.

The date this episode first aired, Charles Winninger died at age 84. He had played Fred Mertz’s old vaudeville partner, Barney Kurtz, in “Mertz and Kurtz” (ILL S4;E2). He is probably best remembered for playing Cap'n Andy Hawks in the original 1927 Show Boat on Broadway as well as in the 1936 film.

Coincidentally, in some areas, on the same day as this “Here’s Lucy” episode originally aired, the syndicated rerun of “I Love Lucy” was "Mertz and Kurtz”! A rather eerie coincidence. A half hour earlier, the syndicated “Lucy Show” (here known as “Lucille Ball”) reran the final episode of the series “Lucy and the ‘Boss of the Year’ Award” (TLS S6;E24). This means that viewers in this Canadian market (Alberta-Eastern British Columbia) could view all three of Lucille Ball’s sitcoms within two hours!

Summarizing the crazy premise on the “Here's Lucy” DVD introduction, Lucie Arnaz sarcastically (but humorously) says “Yeah. That could happen.” She adds that all the musical numbers were first rehearsed during the filming of the previous week's episode.

Everyone in the cast lip syncs to a pre-recorded music track and vocals. Lucille Ball's vocals are dubbed (once again) by Carole Cook. Cook also dubbed Ball’s singing voice on the very first episode of “Here’s Lucy.”

The episode is choreographed by Jack Baker and Anita Mann.

Special music is arranged and conducted by Marl Young.

Lucy and the kids attend a taping of “The Carol Burnett Show,” a program that Lucille Ball herself had already appeared on twice as a guest star and would return to twice more.

"The Carol Burnett Show” always opened with her taking questions from the studio audience, so this is recreated on “Here’s Lucy”. Carol’s answers confirm that she was born in San Antonio, Texas, got her degree at UCLA, did not go to drama school, got experience in high school plays, and that she has a younger sister.

A new episode of “The Carol Burnett Show” aired at 10pm on the same evening this “Here's Lucy” was first broadcast. Carol's guests that night were Martha Rae and Mel Torme, who had played Mel Tinker on several episodes of “The Lucy Show.” On NBC, frequent Lucy co-star (and neighbor) Jack Benny was appearing on “Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In”, a show whose second half hour competed with “Here's Lucy.” Also that night, “Gunsmoke” featured Eve Plumb, who would later play Patricia Carter, Lucy’s niece in a 1972 episode of “Here’s Lucy.” [Note that the grid above mistakenly calls it “The Lucy Show” instead of “Here’s Lucy”.]

“Here's Lucy” attempts to physically reproduce “The Carol Burnett Show” studio and stage, even using the CBS eye gold curtain. The audience section, however, is much smaller on “Here’s Lucy.”

Kim and Craig Carter attend (fictional) Angeles High School. In real life, Carol Burnett attended Hollywood High School in Los Angeles. Lucie Arnaz attended an all-girl Catholic High School and Desi Jr. went to University High School in West Los Angeles.

The title cards used to introduce each act where also the type used to tell the audience the names of the acts during a vaudeville show.

This old-fashioned technique of setting time and place was often used in musical episodes on “The Lucy Show” and “Here’s Lucy” like the above scene from “Lucy and Jack Benny’s Biography” (S3;E11).

Part I ~We Got No Gym

“Yes! We Have No Gymnasium” (aka “Yes! We Have No Bananas”) was written by Frank Silver and Irving Cohn from the 1922 Broadway revue Make It Snappy sung by Eddie Cantor, the song became a major hit. The song was often used by singer and comedian Jimmy Durante on “The Jimmy Durante Show” in the 1950s and 1960s.

Carol does a brief time step to the melody of “There's No Business Like Show Business,” a song written by Irving Berlin for the musical Annie Get Your Gun. It was sung (with lyrics) on both “I Love Lucy” and “The Lucy Show.”

Part II ~ We Got the Money

Lucy and Carol say that students only learn visually today, so they present a visual lesson in Geography – a musical revue.

New York, New York

“The Lullaby of Broadway” was written by Harry Warren and Al Dubin. It was introduced musical film Gold Diggers of 1935 and won the Academy Award for Best Original Song. The song is now part of the Broadway musical 42nd Street.

St. Louis, Missouri

“You Came a Long Way From St. Louis” is by John Benson Brooks and Bob Russell. Della Reese had a hit with the song in 1964.

Sheboygan, Wisconsin

“Mention My Name in Sheboygan” was written by Bob Hilliard, Dick Sanford and Sammy Mysels in 1947. On “Here's Lucy” the second verse mentions New Orleans and the third Texas. In the 1947 original, the locations following Sheboygan were Paducah, Elmira, and Tacoma, with another version adding Asuza.

Part III ~ We Got Our Gym

Part III starts out with a marching band playing “Buckle Down, Winsocki.” The tune is from the 1943 film Best Foot Forward in which Lucille Ball played herself. The film was also partly set in a high school gym! The song, by Hugh Martin and Ralph Blane, was also part of the 1941 Broadway stage musical of the same name.

Craig sings “You Gotta be a Football Hero (To Get Along with the Beautiful Girls)” written by Al Sherman, Buddy Fields and Al Lewis (not the actor) in 1933. It is one of the most widely recorded and performed football anthems of all time.

Kim sings “All American Girl” written by Al Lewis (not the actor) in 1932.

There is a display of gymnastics. As in other performance episodes, Gale Gordon take the opportunity to do a cartwheel, something he (surprisingly) excelled at.

Every year from 1964 to 1972 (except for 1971) Gordon’s character found an excuse to do a cartwheel; four times on each series!

The finale is “Fit as a Fiddle” by Arthur Freed, Al Hoffman, and Al Goodhart in 1932. In 1952 it achieved fame after being featured in the classic film Singin' in the Rain.

The production designer have meticulously designed the final act in patriotic red, white, and blue - even down to the cans holding the gymnast’s talc!

Carol Burnett had already appeared on four episodes of “The Lucy Show” - twice as Carol Bradford and twice as Carol Tilford.

In 1967, dropout Lucy Carmichael went back to high school to get her diploma at Wilshire High School.

In 1963, Lucy Carmichael and Viv Bagley reminisced about their time at Shortridge High School. Unlike Angeles and Wilshire, this was not fictional, but the high school attended by writer Madelyn Martin.

Goodnight Everybody? Carol Burnett traditionally tugs on her left ear, a signal to her grandmother, who raised her. She usually did her iconic ear tug at the end of her episodes, but here she does it at the beginning.

Peek-a-Boo Hat! When Carol and Lucy pull their ten gallon hats down over their eyes in “Mention My Name Down in Texas” Carol's hat has a mesh peek box in the front so she can see where she is going, while Lucy's does not, possibly because it is Carol who has to lead the two offstage.

Props! The white football Craig tossed away during his solo number is stranded on stage during Harry’s cartwheel. Desi Jr. must stoop down to scoop it up during his entrance for the finale.

Sitcom Logic Alert! Perhaps the reason that Angeles High School doesn’t have a gymnasium is because they spent their entire budget on outfitting their auditorium with elaborate scenery, backdrops, and curtains! Also, if the school doesn’t have a gym, where do they store all the gym equipment used in the musical’s final act?

“Lucy and Carol Burnett” rates 3 Paper Hearts out of 5

Like Lucie says in the DVD introduction, the premise stretches credulity, but that was the case for most of these musical / guest star episodes. “Here’s Lucy” is competing with the variety show format, which was quite popular at the time. The drab set-up for the episode in Harry’s Office seems hardly necessary except that the show is primarily a sitcom, not a musical comedy variety show!

Lucy and Phil Harris

S6;E20 ~ February 5, 1968

Synopsis

When Lucy and Mr. Mooney go to a piano bar for dinner, Lucy decides to bring a drunken lounge singer (Phil Harris) home and encourage him to finish a song she hopes will be a big hit.

Regular Cast

Lucille Ball (Lucy Carmichael), Gale Gordon (Theodore J. Mooney)

Roy Roberts (Harrison Winfield Cheever) and Mary Jane Croft (Mary Jane Lewis) do not appear in this episode.

Guest Cast

Phil Harris (Phil Stanley) was a bandleader who became a comic radio star as a Jack Benny sidekick in the 1930s. Although his fondness for booze was largely a creation of the Benny’s writers, Harris played the part to the hilt. Harris was mentioned in “Lucy Gets Jack Benny's Account” (S6;E6) when Benny made a reference to Harris’ persona as a lush. In “Lucy and Joan” (S4;E4) Joan (Joan Blondell) says she’s been in pictures so long she saw Phil Harris take his first drink. Harris plays himself again on a 1974 episode of “Here's Lucy.”

Phil Stanley was a celebrated song writer of the 1940s.

Lew Parker (Jack Murray) is probably best remembered as the restaurateur father of Ann Marie, Marlo Thomas’ character on TV’s “That Girl” (1966-71). This is the fourth of his five appearances on “The Lucy Show” and he will return for two episodes of “Here’s Lucy.”

Jack Murray is a music publisher.

Kasey Rogers (Miss Carroll) is best remembered for playing Louise Tate on “Bewitched” from 1966 to 1972. She previously played Miss Cavanaugh in “Lucy and Carol Burnett: Part 1 (S6;E14) and “Lucy and Carol Burnett: Part 2” (S6;E15). This is her last appearance on the series.

Miss Carroll works with Jack Murray. Phil Stanley affectionately nicknamed her ‘BB’ for blue blood because she went to a fancy finishing school.

Gerald Mohr (Ruby) has played the Psychiatrist in “The Inferiority Complex” (ILL S2;E18). This is his last appearance with Lucille Ball.

Ruby is the proprietor of Ruby's Restaurant and Piano Bar.

Tim Herbert (Mario, Headwaiter) was born Herbert Timberg in 1914. In 1944 he appeared on Broadway in the Jackie Gleason revue Follow the Girls. This is the second of his three appearances on “The Lucy Show.” He also did one episode of “Here’s Lucy” in 1968.

Vanda Barra (Agnes, Waitress) was married to Sid Gould so is Lucille Ball’s cousin-in-law. She will also make 23 appearances on “Here’s Lucy” as well as appearing in Ball’s two 1975 TV movies “Lucy Gets Lucky” (with Dean Martin) and “Three for Two” (with Jackie Gleason). This is her final appearance on the series, which she began by also playing a waitress.

Sid Gould (Piano Delivery Man, uncredited) made more than 45 appearances on “The Lucy Show,” all as background characters. He also did 40 episodes of “Here’s Lucy.” Gould (born Sydney Greenfader) was Lucille Ball’s cousin by marriage to Gary Morton. Gould and Vanda Barra were married in real life.

The Delivery Man has a partner who has no lines and leaves before Gould. He is uncredited and unidentified.

Ruby's Piano Bar Patrons (all uncredited) are played by:

Carole Cook played Thelma Green on the series when it was set in Danfield. 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 also went on to appear in five episodes of “Here’s Lucy.”

George DeNormand (with Cook above) appeared in three films with Lucille Ball from 1937 to 1963. This is the just one of his many appearances on “The Lucy Show” and “Here’s Lucy.”

Perhaps in deference to Cook's history with the show, the camera cuts to a reaction shot of Cook and DeNormand during Phil Stanley's act. Neither have any dialogue.

James Gonzales was a popular Hollywood extra who first acted with Lucille Ball in the 1953 film The Long, Long Trailer. He was previously seen on the series as Stan Williams in “Lucy Digs Up a Date” (S1;E2). He was seen in more than 20 episodes of “The Lucy Show” and 3 episodes of “Here’s Lucy.”

Robert Hitchcock appeared as a bar / club patron on many TV series' including on “Bewitched” with Kasey Rogers and ”That Girl” with Lew Parker. This is his only “Lucy Show” appearance but he will do four episodes of “Here's Lucy.”

Jerry Rush makes the last of his nine (mostly uncredited) appearances on the series. He also did two episodes of “Here’s Lucy.”

Jerry Rush’s date goes unnamed and uncredited.

Joan Carey was seen in the background of all three of Lucille Ball’s sitcoms. She also served as Ball’s camera and lighting stand-in during “The Lucy Show”. Carey can be glimpsed over Jerry Rush’s shoulder (see above) wearing a powder blue jacket, likely one belonging to Lucille Ball!

Other Piano Bar patrons and Mr. Murray's receptionist go unidentified and uncredited.

“Lucy Show” script consultant Milt Josefsberg was a writer for “The Jack Benny Program” and was probably the reason that Harris was recruited as a guest star. The series had already featured guest appearances by Benny and Dennis Day.

Lucy revives her bad singing voice shtick, although she was able to sing on key in several previous episodes.

At the piano, Phil Stanley opens with “Cabaret” written by John Kander and Fred Ebb, the title song of the 1966 Broadway musical of the same name. The show won the 1967 Tony for Best Musical and it was also honored for Best Score.

Phil Stanley next performs “But Beautiful” written by Johnny Burke and James Van Heusen for the film Road to Rio (1947).

He winds up with "Is It True What They Say About Dixie?" written by Irving Caesar, Sammy Lerner, and Gerald Marks in 1936.

Lucy tries to get Phil Stanley to perform “Night and Day” written by Cole Porter for the 1932 Broadway musical Gay Divorce. Lucy mistakenly says the song is called “You Are the One.” She then sings a bar of “In Other Words” (aka “Fly Me to the Moon”) written in 1954 by Bart Howard for Kaye Ballard.

The song that Phil Stanley is trying to write throughout the episode is called "I Loved Her," and was really written by Gordon Jenkins. After being introduced by Harris in this episode, was recorded by Jack Jones and Frank Sinatra. During the final performance of the song Phil Harris actually seems to shed a tear.

After hearing Lucy's strained sing-along, Mr. Mooney longs for Kate Smith. Kathryn Elizabeth Smith (1907–86), was a singer best known for her rendition of Irving Berlin's "God Bless America." She had a radio, television, and recording career spanning five decades, which reached its pinnacle in the 1940s.

Callbacks!

Lucy Carmichael also played talent agent for musicians like Wayne Newton (above), Tommy Cheever (Frankie Avalon), and her neighbor Mel Tinker (Mel Torme).

Blooper Alerts!

Playback Problems! When Phil Stanley finally sits down at the piano to perform “I Loved Her” for Mr. Murray and Miss Carroll, the soundtrack swells with a full orchestra and a lot of studio echo making the lip sync very unconvincing.

“Lucy and Phil Harris” rates 3 Paper Hearts out of 5

Lucy Flies to London

S5;E6 ~ October 17, 1966

Synopsis

Lucy wins a trip to London but when she misses the plane, she must sit next to Mr. Mooney on a flight to New York to make her connection. First time flier Lucy causes havoc that is then blamed on Mr. Mooney.

Regular Cast

Lucille Ball (Lucy Carmichael), Gale Gordon (Theodore J. Mooney), Mary Jane Croft (Mary Jane Lewis)

Guest Cast

Ben Wrigley (Unintelligible Ticket Agent, above right) was a British actor who appeared in My Fair Lady (1964) and Bednobs and Broomsticks (1971). He also did three episodes of “Here's Lucy.”

Walter Burke (Cedric, Cockney Ticket Agent, above left) was a highly recognizable Irish-American character actor whose small stature and wizened features frequently found him cast as a leprechaun (a role which he played on more than one occasion). This was his only appearance with Lucille Ball.

Pat Priest (Flight Attendant) is probably best remembered as the second actress to play Marilyn on “The Munsters,” taking over the role from Beverly Owen, who left after season 1. She currently lives in Idaho restoring and selling homes.

James Wellman (Airport Traveler) made just a dozen TV and film appearances between 1962 and 1975.

Joan Carey (Airport Traveler, uncredited) was a long-time background player and stand-in for Lucille Ball on “I Love Lucy” and “The Lucy Show.”

Romo Vincent (Passenger #1,aisle seat) was a Broadway performer from 1942 to 1959. He later appeared in two episodes of “Here's Lucy.”

Maury Thompson (Passenger #2, window seat) was the director of this episode (and all of seasons 4 and 5) of “The Lucy Show.” He started out as a camera coordinator on “I Love Lucy.”

Joan Swift (Passenger #3, aisle seat behind Lucy) makes the first of her six appearances on the series. Earlier in 1966, she appeared with Pat Priest on an episode of “The Munsters.” Swift also did two episodes of “Here's Lucy.” Her final screen credit was 1975's “Lucy Gets Lucky” with Lucille Ball and Dean Martin.

Jerry Rush (Captain) makes the third of his nine (mostly uncredited) appearances on the series. He also did two episodes of “Here’s Lucy.”

Other passengers, airport travelers, and crew are played by uncredited background performers.

This episode is also known as “Lucy Goes to London.” It was filmed on Thursday, September 15, 1966. It was designed as a lead-in to the following week's CBS special “Lucy in London,” which was filmed on location in England in May 1966, four months earlier.

Although officially written by Bob O'Brien, former “Lucy Show” and “I Love Lucy” writers Madelyn Davis and Bob Carroll, Jr. are credited with “special material.” This is because much of the scene on board the airplane was taken directly from an unsold pilot for an anthology series titled “The Victor Borge Comedy Theatre.”

It was filmed just before the official start of “The Lucy Show” and starred Lucille Ball, Gale Gordon, and Norman Leavitt. The characters were unnamed.

The night this episode first aired (October 17, 1966) Peter Marshall made his debut as the host of “The Hollywood Squares.” Marshall had played Lucy's brother-in-law Hughie in “Lucy's Sister Pays a Visit” (S1;E15). Many “Lucy Show” cast members appeared on the “Squares”: Wally Cox, Nancy Kulp, Ellen Corby, Jan Murray, Jack Cassidy, Harvey Korman, Milton Berle, Bob Hope, Jay North, Ethel Merman, Gale Gordon, Lucie Arnaz, Desi Arnaz, Jr., Desi Arnaz, and Vivian Vance. Everyone but Lucille Ball herself!

Also on the evening this episode first aired, Lucille Ball made her last appearance on the quiz show “I've Got a Secret.” She was there to promote her upcoming “Lucy in London” special by hosting a Carnaby Street-style fashion show of London couture.

The premise for getting Lucy to London is that she wins a contest writing a dog food jingle. Lucy does not sing, but recites it:

I feed my doggy Arf Arf I buy it by the bunch. I know it's tasty dog food I eat it myself for lunch.

It is hard to believe this would win a prize let alone a trip to London.

When an excited Lucy leaves Mr. Mooney's office headed for her trip, she slams the door and glass panel next to it shatters. Mr. Mooney sighs and say “And they think there'll always be an England.” "There'll Always Be an England" is an English patriotic song, written and distributed in the summer of 1939, which became highly popular upon the outbreak of World War II. It was composed and written by Ross Parker and Hughie Charles, and a popular version was sung by Vera Lynn.

Lucy is flying out of Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) on British Imperial Airways, a fictional carrier.

Stock footage shows the exterior of the airport. In the opening moments of “Lucy in London,” the special that this episode sets up, Lucy arrives in England on a Pan American jet. Presumably, during Lucy's transfer in New York, she switched carriers!

When the flight attendant asks if there's anything she can do for Lucy, Lucy replies that maybe later she'll have some “coffee, tea or milk.” This was an often heard phrase on airplanes as flight attendants did their beverage service. In 1967, just a few months after this episode aired, the book Coffee, Tea or Me? was published, the alleged memoirs of two 'stewardess' and their romantic and sexual escapades in the air.

When Lucy is sitting right next to Mr. Mooney on her flight (not unusual for “The Lucy Show”) she says “What a small world!” Mr. Mooney replies that with her on it [the world], no wonder they are racing for the moon. Although the US did not put an astronaut on the moon until 1969, it was the goal of NASA for much of the 1960s. In “Lucy Becomes an Astronaut” (S1;E16) Lucy and Viv were chosen for a women in space program.

Lucy confesses that she's never flown before. This must mean that her cross country move from New York to California was by car, although it is never overtly stated.

Callbacks!

Lucy Ricardo went to London (by ship) in “Lucy Meets the Queen” (ILL S5;E15) in 1956. Once there, she, too, had an interaction with an unintelligible Englishman (Robert Shafto).

Lucy Ricardo hilariously traveled by plane on her “Return Home from Europe” (ILL S5;E26) disguising a cheese as a baby.

She also flew from Miami to Havana in “The Ricardos Visit Cuba” (ILL S6;E9), a flight that was a lot less eventful. Both times, Desilu had a promotion agreement with Pan American Airlines to promote their clipper service. Stock footage of Pan Am planes were used, although naturally the cast never left the Hollywood sound stage.

Lucy Ricardo was later seen in an airport (though not in the air) in “The Ricardos Go to Japan,” a 1959 episode of “The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour.”

“Lucy Flies to London” rates 4 Paper Hearts out of 5

Lucy and John Wayne

S5;E10 ~ November 21, 1966

Synopsis

Mr. Mooney asks Lucy to deliver some important contracts to the studio, where she meets John Wayne and worms her way onto the set of his latest picture. Naturally, Lucy doesn't behave and causes more trouble than a barroom brawl!

Regular Cast

Lucille Ball (Lucy Carmichael), Gale Gordon (Theodore J. Mooney), Mary Jane Croft (Mary Jane Lewis)

Guest Cast

John Wayne (Himself / “Tall”) was born Marion Morrison in 1907. He made his film debut in 1926 and rose to become an iconic presence in the Western film genre. He was nominated for three Oscars, winning in 1969 for True Grit. He epitomized rugged masculinity and was famous for his distinctive voice and walk. His nickname ‘Duke’ came from his own pet Airedale. Wayne previously worked with Lucille Ball in a 1955 episode of “I Love Lucy,” also titled “Lucy and John Wayne” (ILL S5;E2). He died in 1979 at the age of 72.

In the film he is shooting, Wayne's character is named Tall. Wayne was 6'4” and appeared in the 1944 film Tall in the Saddle.

Joseph Ruskin (Joe, the Director) appeared in four of the “Star Trek” series, the first being shot at Desilu. This is his only appearance on “The Lucy Show,” but he also does a 1968 episode of “Here's Lucy.”

Bryan O'Byrne (Bryan, the Assistant Director) was an actor and (later) acting teacher who appeared in over 200 commercials. This is his only appearance with Lucille Ball.

Morgan Woodward (“Pierce”) was seen on many TV Westerns but is perhaps best remembered as Gibbs on “The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp” (1958-61). This is his only appearance with Lucille Ball.

Joyce Perry (Joyce, Studio Receptionist) makes the second of her two appearances on the series. She was also a screen writer, receiving Emmy nominations for “Days of Our Lives” and winning a WGA (Writers Guild of America) Award in 1975 for “Search for Tomorrow.”

Milton Berle (Himself, uncredited) was born Milton Berlinger in New York City on July 12, 1908. He started performing at the age of five. He perfected his comedy in vaudeville, early silent films, and then on radio, before taking his act to the small screen, where he would be proclaimed “Mr. Television” and later “Uncle Miltie.” He hosted “Texaco Star Theater” on NBC from 1948 to 1956. The variety show was re-titled "The Milton Berle Show” in 1954 when Texaco dropped their sponsorship. The program was briefly revived in 1958, but lasted only one season. In 1959 he played himself in “Milton Berle Hides out at the Ricardos.” This is the second of his three episodes of "The Lucy Show,” the first being “Lucy Saves Milton Berle” (S4;E13). He also did two episodes of “Here’s Lucy.” On all but one, he again played himself. He died of colon cancer in 2002.

Berle makes a walk-through cameo appearance with no dialogue.

Kay Stewart (Commissary Waitress) was the subject of a feature story in the first edition of Life Magazine, which focused on the fact that she was apparently the first female cheerleader at a major university (Northwestern). This is her only appearance with Lucille Ball.

Ed Nelson (Ed Nelson, uncredited) was seen in several episodes of Desilu’s “The Untouchables”. This is his only appearance with Ball and Wayne.

Nelson is a married actor friend of Mary Jane’s. He appears wearing a Civil War uniform with an arrow through his chest and sticking out his back.

Danny Borzage (Accordionist, uncredited) appeared in 13 films with John Wayne from 1939 to 1967. He also appeared with Wayne on a 1960 episode of “Wagon Train” directed by John Ford. Both Borzage and Wayne were favorites of Ford's. This is his only appearance with Lucille Ball.

Victor Romito (“Bartender”, uncredited) makes the first of his two appearances on “The Lucy Show.” He also appeared in four episodes of “Here's Lucy.” . He was seen as an extra in the 1960 Lucille Ball / Bob Hope film Critic's Choice. That same year he was seen with John Wayne in North to Alaska, and in 1962's How the West Was Won.

Jerry Rush (Cameraman, uncredited) makes the fifth of his nine (mostly uncredited) appearances on the series. He also did two episodes of “Here’s Lucy.”

Rush can also be seen in the background having lunch in the commissary scene. He wears a white shirt over his red shirt.

Joan Carey (Script Girl, uncredited, above, lower right corner) appeared as a background performer in many episodes of “I Love Lucy” and “The Lucy Show” also serving as stand-in for Lucy and others.

The 'Barflys' (aka Stunt Men) are played by:

Jerry Gatlin was an actor and stunt man who later turns up in the Lucille Ball film Mame (1974). He appeared with John Wayne in 13 films between 1961 and 1975.

Bill Hart was an actor and stunt man who appeared in three films with John Wayne between 1960 and 1963. This is his only appearance with Lucille Ball.

Boyd 'Red' Morgan is an actor and stunt man who will also be seen in four episodes of “Here's Lucy.” He did 11 films with John Wayne between 1956 and 1970.

Chuck Roberson was an actor and stunt man who played minor roles in many films. He was a stunt double for John Wayne in more than 35 films and television shows. He played one of the firemen who rescues Lucy and Viv from their roof when “Lucy Puts Up a TV Antenna” (S1;E9), four years earlier.

In the commissary, Mr. Simon “a director” (who Lucy mistakes for Burt Lancaster), the studio doctor (who Lucy mistakes for Richard Chamberlain), an actor named Will, and more than a dozen other background players appear – all uncredited.

The episode indulges the old trope that movie actors eat lunch at the studio commissary in full costume and make-up. The commissary is named the Studio Cafe. We are reminded that Mary Jane works at the studio, although which studio is not made clear. Could it be Desilu?

Mr. Mooney dictates a letter to John Wayne about his bank's financial participation in a “film about a war wagon.” Gale Gordon emphasizes the words “war wagon” because that is the actual title of the film, which was released in May 1967. It co-starred Kirk Douglas, who made a cameo appearance in “Lucy Goes to a Hollywood Premiere” (S4;E20). It also featured Chuck Roberson and Boyd 'Red' Morgan who appear as Barflys in this episode.

Lucy mentions to Wayne that he usually stars opposite Maureen O'Hara, who also had red hair. Ball and O'Hara were both in the 1940 film Dance, Girl, Dance. Lucy also mentions that Wayne is usually directed by John Ford. Ford and Wayne collaborated on 23 films between 1928 and 1963. Ford directed Lucille Ball in the 1935 film The Whole Town's Talking.

Fawning over John Wayne, Lucy mentions his recently released films Cast a Giant Shadow (March 1966), In Harms Way (1965), and the Oscar-nominated The Sands of Iwo Jima (1949).

Lucy says that Wayne has played characters who've served in every branch of the service and that Bob Hope should play a Christmas show just for him! Lucy's film co-star and friend Bob Hope was known for performing in USO shows overseas during the holidays to entertain the American troops. Hope had a cameo in “Lucy and the Plumber” (S3;E2).

In the saloon scene, the accordionist plays “Golden Slippers,” a song penned by James A. Bland in 1879. It was famously used in the 1948 John Ford film Fort Apache starring John Wayne.

In the Studio Cafe, Lucy mistakes a man named Mr. Simon for Burt Lancaster. They both are roughly the same build. She then mistakes the studio doctor for Richard Chamberlain, a joke referring to Chamberlain's most popular role as “Dr. Kildare” (1961-66) which ended its run on NBC a few months earlier. She then mistakes Milton Berle for the janitor. Berle is oddly dressed in an ill-fitting suit, a straw hat, and has a blacked-out tooth. He has a bewildered expression on his face, as if he's still in character for a hillbilly movie. It is unclear how Lucy might mistake him for a studio janitor.

Coincidentally, “The Lucy Show” stunt coordinator was named Jesse Wayne (no relation).

Callbacks!

John Wayne previously guest-starred as himself on "I Love Lucy" in 1955. The episode was also titled "Lucy and John Wayne” (ILL S5;E2).

Hanging on the wall in the studio commissary is a black and white headshot of Bob Crane from “Hogan's Heroes” (1964-71), a TV show filmed at Desilu. Crane played himself in a parody of “Hogan's Heroes” in “Lucy and Bob Crane” (S4;E22).

Lucy Carmichael was previously on the film set of a movie western when she assumed the identity of Iron Man Carmichael in “Lucy the Stunt Man” (S4;E5). Curiously, while Lucy Carmichael is telling the director how to shoot the picture, she doesn't mention her experience as Iron Man. In 1954, Lucy Ricardo made her own western movie in her apartment in “Home Movies” (ILL S3;E20).

Blooper Alerts!

Who Am I? Lucy reveals that her maiden name is MacGillicuddy, same as Lucy Ricardo. At “Lucy's College Reunion” (S2;E11), Lucy Carmichael said her maiden name was Taylor. This is the second week in a row that the Lucy character has “forgotten” key information about her past. In the previous week's “Lucy Gets Caught Up in the Draft” (S5;E9) she said her son's name was 'Jimmy' when in fact it was 'Jerry.' Geoffrey Mark Fidelman’s The Lucy Book, says that although the production staff told Lucille Ball of her error, she insisted that she was right and would not change the reference. Perhaps this inconsistency about her birth name is also attributable to the staff's deference to Ball's faulty memory?

Sitcom Logic Alert! When Lucy sees Milton Berle in the commissary she says “Wait'll I tell the girls I nearly saw Milton Berle!” This line sounds very much like Lucy Ricardo speaking, not Lucy Carmichael. Lucy Carmichael has already met TV star Milton Berle in “Lucy Saves Milton Berle” (S4;E13). Here, he looks directly at Lucy and Mary Jane but does not acknowledge them despite the chaos they previously brought to his life. Also, it is unclear which “girls” Lucy is talking about since Mary Jane seems to be her only female friend. Perhaps she is referring to the unseen secretarial pool at the bank? Lucy Ricardo, however, would have bragged to all the “girls” of the Wednesday Afternoon Fine Arts League!

Lucy the Director! When the Assistant Director calls the scene to be slated, he cups his hand over his mouth and purposely garbles the title of the film. This was a tactic Lucy Ricardo used many times on “I Love Lucy” when she wanted to be purposely vague about important details like her age. Later, when the Assistant Director shouts “Scene 856, Take One!” Lucy corrects him under hear breath: “Take Four!” Lucy is right, but it is hard to determine if this was Lucy Carmichael or Lucille Ball talking! This scene, with Lucy Carmichael standing behind the camera and correcting the crew, probably mirrored Ball's own interactions with her “Lucy Show” staff.

On a purely technical note, it is unlikely that any film would have 856 scenes!

“Lucy and John Wayne” rates 2 Paper Hearts out of 5

My Fair Lucy

S3;E20~ February 8, 1965

Synopsis

When the Countess can't pay her bills, Lucy suggests she open a charm school. To get the money from a wealthy couple of millionaires, Rosie pretends to transform a lowly charwoman (Lucy) into a high class lady, much in the manner of My Fair Lady.

Regular Cast

Lucille Ball (Lucy Carmichael / Liza Lumpwhomper), Gale Gordon (Theodore J. Mooney)

Vivian Vance (Vivian Bagley), Jimmy Garrett (Jerry Carmichael), Ralph Hart (Sherman Bagley), and Candy Moore (Chris Carmichael) do not appear in this episode.

Guest Cast

Ann Sothern (Rosita “Rosie” Harrigan, the Countess Framboise) makes the second of her seven appearances as a countess down on her luck. Sothern had appeared in the first “Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour” "Lucy Takes a Cruise to Havana" (1957) as Susie MacNamara, the same character she played on her show “Private Secretary” from 1953 to 1957. In return Lucille Ball played Lucy Ricardo on her show in 1959. Sothern appeared with Ball in five films between 1933 and 1943. She was nominated for an Oscar for her final screen appearance in The Whales of August in 1987. She is buried near her home in Sun Valley, Idaho, a place also dear to Lucy and Desi.

Reta Shaw (Dora Dunbar) 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” (1968-70). This is the second of her three appearances on “The Lucy Show” and she will make three more on “Here’s Lucy.” Shaw had played the recurring role of Flora on “The Ann Sothern Show” from 1958 to 1959.

Byron Foulger (Fred Dunbar) played the leader of the Friends of the Friendless in “Lucy's Last Birthday” (ILL S2;E25). This is the first of his two appearances on “The Lucy Show.” He was also seen on two episodes of “My Mother the Car” in which Ann Sothern voiced the title role!

The Dunbars live in New York City and are in Danfield to visit Mr. Dunbar's relatives. According to Mrs. Dunbar, her husband made his fortune in 'crude' oil. The character is named after Lucy’s brother, Fred Ball, who also gave his first name to the landlord on “I Love Lucy.”

Carole Cook (Mrs. Valance) makes her second appearance as Mrs. Valance after being seen as Thelma Green in four episodes. She was a protege of Lucille Ball’s during the Desilu Playhouse years. Although she was born as Mildred Cook, Ball suggested she take the name Carole, in honor of Lucy’s great friend, Carole Lombard. Cook also went on to appear in five episodes of “Here’s Lucy.”

In her first appearance as Mrs. Valance, she was the Society Editor of the Danfield Tribune, although that is not mentioned here.

John J. 'Red' Fox (Butler) was best known for playing policemen, which is what he did on five of his eight appearances on “The Lucy Show” as well as three of his five episodes of “Here’s Lucy.”

The uncredited Party Guests are played by:

Joan Carey was a frequent background performer on “I Love Lucy” and “The Lucy Show,” taking over as Ball’s stand-in from Hazel Pierce.

Monty O'Grady was first seen with Lucille Ball in The Long, Long Trailer (1953), and played a passenger on the S.S. Constitution in “Second Honeymoon” (ILL S5;E14). He was at the airport when “The Ricardos Go to Japan” (1959). He made a dozen appearances on the series and a half dozen more on “Here’s Lucy.”

Sam Harris was born in Australia in 1877 and did a dozen films with Lucille Ball before appearing in the audience of Over the Teacups in “Ethel’s Birthday” (ILL S4;E8) and playing a subway passenger in “Lucy and the Loving Cup” (ILL S6;E12). In between, he was a wedding guest in Lucy and Desi’s film Forever Darling (1956). Along with Monty O'Grady and Murray Pollack, he was in the airport when “The Ricardos Go to Japan” in 1959. This is the last of his six appearances on “The Lucy Show.” Coincidentally, Harris was also a background performer in the 1964 movie of My Fair Lady!

Murray Pollack was seen as one of the party guest in “Country Club Dance” (ILL S6;E25), the episode that introduced Barbara Eden. Coincidentally, he later appeared on half a dozen episodes of “I Dream of Jeannie.” Like Monty O'Grady, he was at the airport when “The Ricardos Go to Japan” (1959). He was seen in the 1963 movie Critic's Choice with Lucille Ball. Here he makes the first of two appearances on “The Lucy Show” and returned for three episodes of “Here's Lucy.”

Jerry Rush makes the second of his nine (mostly uncredited) appearances on the series. He also did two episodes of “Here’s Lucy.” He had been in the 1950 film Nancy Goes to Rio starring Ann Sothern.

Bert Stevens and Caryl Lincoln were a real-life husband and wife who made many appearances as background players on the series. Lincoln was one of Lucy’s friends from her Goldwyn Girl days. Stevens was the brother of actress Barbara Stanwyck, whose given name was Ruby Stevens. He was seen in the Tropicana audience for the Flapper Follies when “Ricky Loses His Voice” (ILL S2;E9) but along with Lincoln, probably appeared on other episodes as well.

Ervin Richardson makes the third of four uncredited appearances on “The Lucy Show.” He also did two episodes of “Here’s Lucy.”

Judith Woodbury makes the fourth of her eight (mostly) uncredited appearances on “The Lucy Show.” She also appeared in one episode of “Here’s Lucy.”

This episode was filmed on December 3, 1964. This is production #78, exactly halfway through the “Lucy Show” catalog of 156 episodes.

A clip of Lucy as the cleaning woman begins the season four kaleidoscope credit sequence.

In the previous episode, “Lucy and the Countess” (S3;E19), Lucy says Viv's been out of town for a week and will be gone for two more. As Vivian Vance started to phase out her involvement on “The Lucy Show” in order to spend more time with her husband on the East Coast, Lucille Ball was looking to introduce a new character to fill the 'second banana' role. The Countess will appear in seven episodes through November 1965, the start of season 4. For episodes featuring Ann Sothern, Vivian Vance’s opening title sequence credit is eliminated. Instead of the freeze frame of Viv as the flapper in the silent movie sketch (and the screen title “co-starring Vivian Vance”), the freeze frame is on Lucy as Charlie Chaplin.

The episode is inspired by My Fair Lady, a 1956 stage musical by Alan J. Lerner and Frederick Loewe that was turned into a major motion picture in 1964. The film starred Audrey Hepburn and Rex Harrison, recreating the role he played on stage. The film won eight Oscars and was phenomenally successful at the box office. It premiered in New York City on October 21, 1964, five weeks before this episode was filmed.

My Fair Lady played on Broadway at the same time in 1961 that Lucille Ball was starring in the musical Wildcat. In the above photo, Lucy goes to bat for Wildcat, while Julie Andrews catches for Camelot. The banner on the right indicates that My Fair Lady was the Broadway Show League softball champion three years running.

Among the many television shows riffing on the My Fair Lady theme and title were:

“My Fair Vocal Coach” - a 1956 episode of “The Danny Thomas Show”

“My Fair Landlord” - a 1957 episode of “The Jackie Gleason Show”

“My Fair Deadly” - a 1958 episode of “Mike Hammer”

“My Fair Olive” - a 1961 episode of “Popeye the Sailor”

“My Fair Uncle” - a 1963 episode of “The Danny Thomas Show”

“My Fair Ignatz” - a 1963 episode of “Krazy Kat”

“My Fair Munster” - a 1964 episode of “The Munsters”

“My Fair Gilligan” - a 1964 episode of “Gilligan’s Island”

“My Fair Chinese Lady” - a 1964 episode of “My Three Sons”

“My Fair Lucy” - a 1965 episode of “The Lucy Show”

“My Fair Co-Ed” - a 1965 episode of “Hank”

“My Fair Mermaid” - a 1965 episode of “Sinbad and His Magic Belt”

“My Fair Cousin Itt” - a 1965 episode of “The Addams Family”

“My Fair Andy” - a 1965 episode of “No Time For Sergeants”

“My Fair Freddy” - a 1966 episode of “The Flintstones”

“My Fair Sister” - a 1969 episode of “Gomer Pyle: USMC”

“My Fair Buzzi” - a 1973 episode of “Here’s Lucy”

In the feature film, a couple of familiar faces from Lucy sitcoms appear: Walter Bacon, George Holmes, Barbara Morrison, Jerry Rush, Bert Stevens, Ben Wrigley, and Lucille Ball’s good friend, Barbara Pepper. Although set in England, the film was shot exclusively in Hollywood.

Sothern, a well known TV star in her own right, gets a warm round of entrance applause from the studio audience. She says the postman complimented her for having “a cute zip code”. Zip Codes were initiated in in the USA in July 1963, so they were relatively new at the time of filming.

Lucy says she is allergic to caviar and breaks out in hives every time she eats it. As Lucy is a middle class struggling mother of two, this can't be very often.

Mr. Mooney claims that as an athletic young man he was supposed to go to the Olympics, but married (the perpetually unseen) Irma instead.

Rosie describes ‘Liza Lumpwhomper’ as “a wretched bit of flotsam”. Merriam Webster defines the rarely-used word as “people or things that have been rejected and are regarded as worthless.” The same writers also used the word to describe the Friends of the Friendless in “Lucy’s Last Birthday” (ILL S2;E25). Both times the word is used in the presence of actor Byron Foulger.

Rosie continues to mistakenly call Mr. Mooney 'Mr. Money,' a running gag for the Countess.

Lucy proposes that down-on-her-luck Rosie open a Charm School to pay the bills, but they have no money for the start-up costs.

LUCY: “Rosie, I have a plan. Did you see ‘My Fair Lady’?” ROSIE: “Yes.” LUCY: “Now listen...” [fade to commercial]

To con a rich couple into funding their charm school, Rosie claims that under her tutelage, she can transform an uncouth, slovenly woman into a refined lady at an elegant soiree. Lucy’s cleaning lady character is named Liza Lumpwhomper. Eliza Doolittle is the name of Audrey Hepburn's character in My Fair Lady.

Rosie tries a variation on one of Henry Higgins' diction exercise in My Fair Lady:

“The rain in Maine falls plainly on the grain.”

The actual quote is “The rain in Spain stays mainly on the plain” which is also the basis for a song in the play and film.

As Liza Lumpwhomper, Lucy continually calls Dora Dunbar “fat lady.” This is the second time Reta Shaw has been cast for her size. In “Lucy Misplaces $2,000” (S1;E4, above) she played an overweight grandma who sits on Lucy's hand while Lucy writhes in pain.

Lucy / Liza says she knows a 'loverly' poem. In My Fair Lady, cockney flower girl Eliza pronounces 'lovely' as 'loverly' which inspires a song called “Wouldn't it Be Loverly.”

Mrs. Dunbar says that the Countess would be wasting her time trying to transform 'Liza'. “You'll never be a Pygmalion to this Galatea.”

Pygmalion is the title of the 1913 George Bernard Shaw play that was the basis for My Fair Lady. The non-musical play was filmed in 1938.

Shaw, in turn, based his story on the Greek legend of a sculptor (Pygmalion) who falls in love with his beautiful statue (Galatea), which comes to life.

As a transformed 'Liza' Lucy enters in a long, flowing gown, wearing a tiara and with a whippet on a leash. The dog is the only thing not found in Eliza Doolittle's entrance to the ball in My Fair Lady. Lucille Ball, however, loved dogs.

There is a vigorous comic physicality between Ann Sothern and Lucille Ball that was never apparent in her partnership with Vivian Vance. Sothern isn't afraid to get Lucy into a neck hold or do any of the physical stunts with Lucy. This is a change for Lucy, who is used to being the one doing all the physical comedy.

When Lucy gets hives from unknowingly eating caviar, the Countess scratches her itch by drawing a map of Paris on Lucy / Liza’s back! The fingernail drawing includes the Eiffel Tower (”It’s higher!”) and the Arc de Triomphe (”You should see both of them!). Lucy Ricardo saw both landmarks in “Paris at Last” (ILL S5;E18).

Mrs. Dunbar is unveiling a new work of art by Gabonzo (fictional) but she has two Picassos in New York City. Pablo Picasso (1881-1973) is regarded as one of the greatest and most influential artists of the 20th century. He is known for co-founding the cubist movement and the invention of constructed sculpture. His name was dropped in three previous “Lucy Show” episodes. The new Gabonzo is a statue, another nod to the legend of Pygmalion and Galatea.

Callbacks!

Lucy Ricardo and Ethel Mertz attended a “Charm School” (ILL S3;E15) run by Phoebe Emerson (Natalie Schaefer).

Lucy Ricardo also disguised herself as a cleaning woman in “Cuban Pals” (ILL S1;E28).

Lucy accidntally knocks over the Gabonzo statue, which breaks into many pieces. In “The Ricardos Dedicate a Statue” (S6;E27), Lucy Ricardo backed up over the Minuteman Statue made by Mr. Silvestri causing it to break into many pieces as well.

Lucy Carmichael previously wore the pink evening gown in “Lucy Meets a Millionaire” (S2;E24). In a crazy turn of events, the pink gown is dyed green (along with Lucy herself) by episode’s end! [Thanks to Lucy fan Richard Swinburk for spotting the recycled dress!]

The ornate punch bowl was first used in “Lucy’s Sister Pays a Visit” (S1;E15) in 1963.

Fast Forward!

In 1965′s “Lucy Saves Milton Berle” (S4;E13), Lucy Carmichael disguises herself as a poor flower seller, bearing more than a passing resemblance to Eliza Doolittle. Despite that, Mr. Mooney compares her to Mary Poppins! Although Mary Poppins never dressed as a poor flower seller, Julie Andrews dressed this way on stage in My Fair Lady as Eliza Doolittle. My Fair Lady and Mary Poppins were both Oscar contenders in 1965.

In “Lucy in London” (1966), after Anthony Newley’s medley, there is a brief shot of Lucy as an Eliza Doolittle-type figure perched in the balcony. She is clutching a small bunch of violet flowers, just like Eliza in My Fair Lady.

One year later, in “Lucy and the Efficiency Expert” (S5;E13), a famous quote from My Fair Lady was uttered by Phil Silvers: “By George, I think she’s got it!”

On a 1971 episode of “Here’s Lucy”, Dan Dailey and Gale Gordon quote the lyrics (verbatim) to the song “I’ve Grown Accustomed to Her Face” from My Fair Lady. Dailey says “If Rex Harrison can talk through that song, we can too.”

In 1972, “Here’s Lucy” revived the premise with Ruth Buzzi going from frumpy to fabulous in “My Fair Buzzi” (HL S5;E13).

Lola Fisher, who played Bunny in “Lucy and the Franchise Fiasco” (HL S5;E20) in 1973 and Mrs. Pomeroy in “Lucy in the Jungle” (HL S4;E13), understudied and replaced Julie Andrews in the Broadway company of My Fair Lady.

Ann Sothern’s pink powder puff nightgown was worn by her again on a 1969 episode of “Love American Style” on ABC.

Blooper Alerts!

Fourth Wall MIA! In the opening shot from the kitchen to the living room, it is very apparent that we are looking at a set as the hatch between the two rooms is completely missing it's fourth side!

Door Is Ajar! When Rosie brings in the morning mail, she leaves the front door wide open. This is not uncommon in the Carmichael home.

Over the Line! Ann Sothern jumps Reta Shaw's line “What challenge?” but she recovers quickly.

Heel! The dog that Lucy / Liza enters with immediately starts sniffing the guests standing on the opposite side of Lucy. She must hand off the dog to the butler, but the animal is briefly reluctant to go!

Office Space! It is not mentioned how Lucy and Rosie got the use of the well-appointed office to interview to meet with the Dunbars. Perhaps Mr. Mooney at the Bank was persuaded by the Countess to loan his offices for the day?

“My Fair Lucy” rates 4 Paper Hearts out of 5