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The Lucy Show season 1 discussion


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I just watched Kangaroo and I thought it was really wonderful. 

 

I'm ashamed to say but I'm never FULLY paying attention to the plots in most of the shows in season one lol. 

The close up shots kind of throw  off the flow of the show, at least for me it does, and I always watch in anticipation of what they are going to do differently from what I've seen on I Love Lucy. I guess that's because it's in BW and basically the same show as ILL in regards to sets, furniture, props, plot, writers, studio,  etc,-so I always watch for some kind of  action or prop or line of dialogue thats close to that of ILL to compare the two lol 

 

After that, Im looking at how Lucy's face changes through out the episodes, along with her hair. In some episodes she looks like an aged Lucy Ricardo, and then in the others, she looks like the ever glamorous "Lucille Ball" with a tight, tight, TIGHT face (looking gorgeous!)I dunno why but I always look at other factors when watching this first season.

I pay attention to Viv and Lucy and their interaction or chemistry with each other, and how THEY interact rather than follow the story. . How they are getting use to rhythm's and lighting and technique again. For instance, in the scene where Lucy and Viv try to get some money from under an elephant, I see the huge elephant, and the cute thing is just brilliant to have as the comedy schtick but after 10 seconds, I could only imagine them in their old costumes from I Love Lucy, (maybe with the same hair styles, maybe with the old) and think how it would be done as those characters, in that ILL world.

 

To me, by the second season- The Lucy Show is out of the BW shadow of the great I Love Lucy and  THE LUCY SHOW emerges in brilliant beautiful color and has a flow and functionality thats all it's own, soaring and flying high lol. It has an image and look, all it's own -There's one kiddy party and that's it I think!  No sleep overs, no beach scenes, no soda jerk fountains or anything like that. To me, season two grows up a bit in so many ways giving the show it's official look for the remainder of the run.

 

But season one has some classic gems in it of course! My favorite is probably when she mixes the beauty serum and thinks she's gorgeous! lol She doesn't have a clue until she walks in the bathroom that she looks hideous lol and her reaction!! OMG priceless!! lol The way she throws her voice! lol What a skill to learn! screaming comedically lolol Just look at the contrast between Desi and Mr Mooney as appose to Mr Barnsdale (sp?)and Dick Martin's role. Each actor is great, but you had to have a WAY of being surprised or angry just like Lucy did it brilliantly when she walked out to the professor and Viv lol. Grabbing that nest of hair lolol and looking so ashamed and startled, she's just charming and funny!! lol 

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I love the Chemistry episode. "Yeah and I know what to call it, Instant Ugly!" I can't believe they were able to get Lou Krugman into the tattered clothes and made up to look like he was really in a chemistry explosion in only a few seconds. They didn't even cut to a shot of Lucy and Viv reacting so there would be more time. 

 

Regarding the Electric Mattress episode, I can't imagine how much time Ball spent in rehearsal walking on those stilts to perfect the routine! 

 

Or practicing playing the violin off key (and making us believe that music was really making her fall asleep!) in the Music Lover episode.

 

In the Rumpus Room episode I always get a kick out of Lucy pulling all the ingredients of her homemade Trout Almondine out of hidden places like the trout in the baguette, and the bottle of wine hidden in the lamp and the ice in the boot! And she even sprays pine scented aerosol to get the fishy smell out of the living room for when Viv unexpectedly returns. That bit reminded me of when Lucy Ricardo went on a "hunger strike" and had all her food discreetly hidden around the hotel room in Paris. "oooooh, 23 bologna!" The ending line with Lucy stuck to the wall up to her neck in coal is just priceless, the way she delivers it to Dick Martin. 

 

Kind of sad how Viv wanted out by the 3rd season and you could see she was phoning it in most of the time. 

I wonder why most of you don't like the White House episode. 

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Watched Vivian Sues Lucy a few nights ago. Lol Viv is such a biotch in this one. I would never do that to get back at my roommate. I mean yes I'd be a bit hurt that she thought I was going to sue, but not enough to make it seem like I still can't walk even after my ankle healed! Also did anybody notice that when she and Viv run out of the bedroom after seeing the mouse, the phone rings for no reason? I also think the mouse was a toy when it "runs" onto Viv's bed, as it looks like somebody pulled it up there with a string. lol 

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  • 2 weeks later...

OH.... that "mouse" bit is freakin' HILARIOUS...  those things really scurry like that... THAT's why people freak out.. because the mouse "startles" them.   I do like The Lucy Show and many episodes are very enjoyable.  I could do without some though.. (the Indian one comes to mind).  I like seeing her classy 60's look and how leggy and glamorous she is.  She really had few times on ILL to be full out glamorous.  On TLS she seems (from season 2 on) to be very "glam" even when lounging around the house or backing through a wall.  It really isn't fair to compare this show with ILL.  It is like apples and oranges...  ILL is just a perfect fun little show.  TLS is GOOD entertainment but not the solid gold of ILL.  But on it's own TLS really is outstanding, especially compared to other sitcoms of the day.. or even TODAY.  THAT is something I just can't get over... there are some funny shows on today but I doubt if we will give a fig about them 60 plus years from now... TLS is still funny and a pleasure to watch.. of course ILL will probably NEVER retire from tv... THIS woman not only was good when she was around but she is sooooo damn good we still watch her...!!! 

 

The Electric Mattress is classic.. when she "rows" that bed... you NEVER see it coming.. she is so in the moment.  Man I love this woman.. what an athlete...

 

That scream she lets out when she sees how her youth formula misfired!!!!   THAT scream says it all... "Instant Ugly" by Lucy Carmiachael

 

Her believable and innocent looks under the table while Viv and Eddie are dining.. how she catches the salt ... 

 

I love how she raises herself up and lifts her legs as the "yarn" from her dress unravels

 

I also like at the beginning of season 1 discs we are treated to a story about "Never in our History.. have we received so much requests to put a show on dvd"... THAT warms my heart.. because for years I thought i was the only one who liked her so much.. so good to know I'm not alone!!

 

The bouncing up and down on the trampoline.. and when she goes higher than the window and you see her shoes and how she is kicking in the air.. HAAA

 

I like when she tells the dog Tiger (btw.. didn't the Brady's have a dog named Tiger too who looked alot like this one?) "It's me the HORN OF PLENTY"

 

Another moment I like is when she wants to impress the music lover guy.. and finds a violin and tells Viv that its a Tommy Gun from her days in the MOB!!!

 

Yes TLS is alot of fun.. so GLAD I have it and SO glad we can talk about it... I'm BARRED from the LUCY topics with my friends lol!

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  • 1 month later...

Timely thread!

 

I have been watching all of TLS in order without skipping an episode over the past few weeks (now midway through Season 2) and have been banking some thoughts. Will post some on my quasi-day off on Wednesday. :)

Good luck when you reach season 4, if you haven't yet already. Gosh, doing that season in order, without skipping anything, should merit some kind of award.
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This is by far my favorite season.

 

Just recently watched 

 

Lucy the Music Lover 

Lucy Puts Up a TV Antenna

Lucy Builds a Rumpus Room

Lucy And the Electric Mattress

Lucy's Sister Pays a Visit

 

 

I'd like to have a discussion about these episodes! I can't choose a favorite out of those 5 

My pick of these: "Electric Mattress" by a nose (over "Music Lover").   "EM" is great from start to finish and we're treated to TWO hilarious scenes and a lot of laughs in between.  For instance, Viv sitting on her mattress-less bed and the visual of her legs sticking straight up in the air.   The whole upper bunk/hammock/stilt scene is so hilarious we can overlook the plot incongruity.   If the initial reason Viv gets into the upper bunk is her claustrophobia, wouldn't it be WORSE on the inside of the bed with the slanted ceiling right above her?  To friends unfamiliar with TLS, "EM" is the episode I show them first.

But "Music Lover" is also great.  First off, in the scene where "Dr. Eastman" comes over, Lucy looks so beautiful dressed in her sleek black (at least we think it's black) dress.  As I recall the Lucy vs. Viv over the same man theme was only used one other time--in season 2's "Art Class"--and it's hilarious culminating in Lucy's answer to Viv saying that what she perceives as the mutual attraction between her and the doctor is "just chemistry": "Well, you didn't waste any time turning on your Bunson Burner, Bagley!"  (Which after season 3 should be "You didn't waste any time turning on your Bagley Burner, Bunson!").

A mention about "No More Double Dates" (not on this list): On the dance floor, Lucy's on the look-out for Viv and Eddie while an extra (Bess Flowers?) is checking out her make up in a compact mirror.  Lucy deftly turns her mirror to get a look behind her before apologizing to Bess.  It's a little moment but hilarious...and seemingly effortless on Lucy's part. 

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  • 4 months later...

I've just begun an in-order marathon of "The Lucy Show". This is something I've never done before with any of Lucy's programs, and I'm determined to see it through. I'm currently up through "Chris's New Years Eve Party".

 

It's been years since I've seen some of these episodes and the first time I've ever watched many of them in broadcast order (I skipped the episodes I'd seen before when I first got the set in 2009). I'd forgotten many plot details, such as the fencing scene from Date and the violin arm playing from Music Lover. The plethora of unmatched close-ups in the earliest episodes was far more prevalent and distracting than I remembered.

 

For me, the first few episodes were certainly good, but not great. They introduced the cast successfully enough but weren't exactly uproarious. Kangaroo was arguably the first truly stellar installment, and easily features some of Lucy's best solo work this season, but I find the series doesn't really kick into top-notch gear until TV Antenna. That's when Lucy and Viv really seemed to start finding their groove with these new characters.

 

I'll post more observations as I progress.

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I'm now up through "Soda Jerk". The last time I watched that one was back in 2009 when I first bought the DVD. Why I've not paid attention to that one more I'll never know, it's a great outing. I especially love how excited Lucy obviously is to be working with Lucie.

 

Looking at these shows now, I'm sorry it didn't work out for Dick Martin to have a more prominent role. He helped give the show its own flavor and his different style of comedy was a nice contrast to Lucy and Viv's approach to things. "No More Double Dates" was a surprisingly mature episode; I wish more were like it. I also wish we'd gotten to see more of Don Briggs as Eddie. Pity they couldn't have groomed him to be Viv's new husband rather than the phantom entity that is Vern Bunson.

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I know many consider "Lucy Becomes a Reporter" the weakest first season entry. I personally like it, even though Lucy's annoying behavior is somewhat more like the later Lucy Carmichael rather than the one introduced this year. I love the hairdo she wears when impersonating Vivian, however. Much more flattering than her artichoke cut, plus it makes her look so much younger.

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I haven't seen Reporter since 2009. I just remember when she was at the office and had the tray of reels (?) and got startled and dropped them all.

 

That was largely what I remembered of it too, though I had vague recollections of her meeting with Argyle Nelson at the end.

 

I just finished Chaperone and Little League, two episodes I'd seen only once before. Chaperone was okay, but I loved Little League. Had me smiling the entire time. Lucy and Viv worked so well together doing their mutual baseball enthusiasm.

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How can you not love Chaperone, with Lucy and Viv trying to learn teen lingo? 

 

"Oh that is groovy fink, ah I mean, diddly diddly diddly!"

"Chop on that Mrs. Bagley!" 

 

And of course Lucy and Viv singing Big Girls Don't Cry.

 

Oh I didn't dislike it, not at all. I enjoyed it, especially for the points you mentioned, but I can't call it a personal favorite. That's all.

 

I finished season 1 and have started 2. Seeing them all brought back many fond memories and made some new ones, as I overlooked many that deserved more attention. Buys a Boat floored me yet again. What a tour de force of physical comedy on behalf of them both.

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  • 1 month later...

MeTV ran "Lucy Drives a Dump Truck" this morning and I'd forgotten how enjoyable this episode is from start to finish. 

Added bonus is the always delightful group of women including Mary Jane Croft as Audrey, Carole Cook as Thelma or Dorothy Konrad as Dorothy.   Missing is Mary Wickes whose "Frannie" would join the group in season 2.   Maybe all these actresses in one episode made it more expensive.  That could be the reason they weren't used as a group more often. 

The whole scene with the wet newspapers stacked in the living room is expertly directed.....culminating in Lucy's head popping up between Viv and Audrey when they mention a court martial. 

Dick Reeves (Bill Foster) pops up as the exacerbated motorcycle traffic cop and is great as always.  In this edited version, the short scene where Lucy attempts to take a shortcut through the alley only to be caught by Office Reeves, is cut. 

Also love the first scene where Lucy is using every trick she can think of to get out of telling the women they are out $25 each ($196 in today's dollars).  When she's forced to read her report, she speeds it up inaudibly as the women lean in.

Yes, the Emmy winner that year, Shirley Booth, was a wonderful actress, but was her TV role that much of an acting stretch?  How much of a challenge was Hazel Burke-ing around?  No television comedy actress was required to do more than Lucille Ball. 

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MeTV ran "Lucy Drives a Dump Truck" this morning and I'd forgotten how enjoyable this episode is from start to finish. 

Added bonus is the always delightful group of women including Mary Jane Croft as Audrey, Carole Cook as Thelma or Dorothy Konrad as Dorothy.   Missing is Mary Wickes whose "Frannie" would join the group in season 2.   Maybe all these actresses in one episode made it more expensive.  That could be the reason they weren't used as a group more often. 

The whole scene with the wet newspapers stacked in the living room is expertly directed.....culminating in Lucy's head popping up between Viv and Audrey when they mention a court martial. 

Dick Reeves (Bill Foster) pops up as the exacerbated motorcycle traffic cop and is great as always.  In this edited version, the short scene where Lucy attempts to take a shortcut through the alley only to be caught by Office Reeves, is cut. 

Also love the first scene where Lucy is using every trick she can think of to get out of telling the women they are out $25 each ($196 in today's dollars).  When she's forced to read her report, she speeds it up inaudibly as the women lean in.

Yes, the Emmy winner that year, Shirley Booth, was a wonderful actress, but was her TV role that much of an acting stretch?  How much of a challenge was Hazel Burke-ing around?  No television comedy actress was required to do more than Lucille Ball.

 

The points you mention do make it worthwhile, but this is probably my least favorite season 1 episode simply because I find the Court Marshall scene excruciating. Viv is so nasty in this one, as are the other women, that it leaves a bad taste in my mouth.

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(Dump Truck): this is probably my least favorite season 1 episode 

 

????  Worse than "Runaway Butterfly" ?? which IMO is the only 1st season episode that falls flat

 

"Lucy Becomes a Reporter" was much better than I remember.  I like the supporting cast. John Viviyn does a great job and I like the grumbly underplayed performance of Roscoe Karns.   The casting of supporting players is a key factor in making these comedies work, something cost-conscious LBP didn't worry about in HL. 

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  • 2 weeks later...

"Becomes a Reporter" is a curious one. John Vivyan was great. I loved his enthusiasm in the role. He would have made a wonderful Season 3/4 suitor for Trucky. Viv deserved to hit the big time after Ralph.

 

The scene with Lucy and the copyboy wielding the typeset trays, however, comes close to ruining the episode. It is so silly and unnecessary.

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"Becomes a Reporter" is a curious one. John Vivyan was great. I loved his enthusiasm in the role. He would have made a wonderful Season 3/4 suitor for Trucky. Viv deserved to hit the big time after Ralph.

 

The scene with Lucy and the copyboy wielding the typeset trays, however, comes close to ruining the episode. It is so silly and unnecessary.

Trucky??? :vanda:

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"Becomes a Reporter" is a curious one. John Vivyan was great. I loved his enthusiasm in the role. He would have made a wonderful Season 3/4 suitor for Trucky. Viv deserved to hit the big time after Ralph.

 

The scene with Lucy and the copyboy wielding the typeset trays, however, comes close to ruining the episode. It is so silly and unnecessary.

Yeah, that scene is out of place for season 1 Lucy Carmichael. Season 5 Lucy Carmichael, however...

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  • 3 months later...

I was looking for a clip in Lucy’s Barber Shop Quartet last night and was reminded I had not seen this in a very long time. When Lucy sings a portion of the song Oh Johnny, she has such a sweet, light tone to her voice and she was able to push it higher. I’ve never heard the song in reference but I found Lucy’s rendition adorable. Then she finishes it with a little smile.

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