My Answers to The “I Love Lucy” Tag

Friends, in writing this post I have realized two things.

1. That I’m just a teensy bit obsessed with I Love Lucy.

2. That I share several similarities with Lucille Ball, and by extension, Lucy Ricardo.

We both were born and raised in the state of New York and later moved to Connecticut with our husbands of Latin American descent. Though mine doesn’t have an accent, his initials happen to be R. R. and his first name translated into Spanish is “Ricardo.”

A little uncanny, right? If you read about my trip to Jamestown, NY, and the Lucy-Desi Museum you will learn more about Lucy’s beginnings and the wonderful museum there in her and Desi’s honor.

Without further to do, let’s get into the tag!

1. When did you first start watching I Love Lucy?

I remember seeing clips when I was maybe 8 or so, but I began watching full episodes when I was in junior high. I remember picking up the DVDs after school with my mom on our regular Target trips. I got back into the show after I was married and got my hubby into it also. We have a great time laughing our heads off watching the misadventures of television’s most beloved foursome. My day feels incomplete without spending time with I Love Lucy. This show is now a treasured part of my routine.

2. What are your favorite I Love Lucy episodes? (A list of 5 -10, that kind of thing)

In no particular order…

1. The Ballet – This one has so many good moments, from the ballet with Madame LaMond (Mary Wickes), to hearing Desi’s wonderful laugh coming from the audience as Lucy rehearses with the comic. My favorite bit is when Lucy crashes Ricky’s act with the hilarious “Martha” vaudeville sketch, pie in hand.
2. The Gossip – Grace Foster is running away with the milkman…or so the story goes. The sleeptalking scene is *everything*… That is all.
3. Ricky Needs an Agent – Lucy finagles her way into Ricky’s movie career and gets him fired! How will she get out of this one? “I thought I’d dye my hair black and move to Mexico.” Lol
4. Sentimental Anniversary – Lucy wants to spend a quiet evening home with Ricky for their anniversary, but their friends have other ideas. This one is so sweet and romantic, a feel good episode through and through.
5. L. A. at Last – Lucy, spaghetti, and Bill Holden. A classic if there ever was one.
6. The Handcuffs – Fred’s trick handcuffs play a trick on the Ricardos when Lucy tries to keep Ricky home from the club. Getting ready for bed never looked more difficult.
7. Lucy and John Wayne – “This is your big chance to meet John Wayne and you have curlers in your hair. Yipe!”
8. Mr. and Mrs. TV Show – Phipps Department Store wants Ricky for a husband and wife show. Ricky reluctantly lets Lucy be his costar, falsely claiming the idea as his own. Lucy discovers the real brains behind the show and gets a little revenge on her husband.
9. Ricky’s Contract – Hollywood called and Ricky got the job…or did he?
10. Home Movies – Who thought baby pictures, cowhands, and tropical rhythms could make such beautiful music together? Only in I Love Lucy!

3. What’s your favorite Lucy disguise or costume? (Grape stomping outfit, Martian costume, Carmen Miranda, etc.)

My favorite costume is Lucy’s romantic brocaded black lace over pink satin dress designed by Elois Jenssen (pictured top right). Jenssen’s partnership with Lucille began in 1947 on Douglas Sirk’s excellent noir Lured. Her wardrobe was truly stunning, including smart and chic 1940’s daywear, a voluminous satin ballgown and this diaphanous number.

Lucille admired the Oscar winning (Samson and Delilah) designer so much she called on her to style Lucy Ricardo for the third and fourth seasons, resulting in many of her character’s iconic looks for New York and Hollywood.

But this gorgeous dress not only made its way to TV land, its also held a special place in Lucille’s heart when she made it part of her private wardrobe. Jenssen recalled, “I loved watching Lucy in this dress. When she had it on her modeling instincts took over. Her whole stature changed. She held her head up high and walked almost like royalty. You can see this when she walks into the Mocambo in that ‘Anniversary’ episode.”

Jenssen is referring to the “Hollywood Anniversary” episode when Ricky forgets the date of their wedding anniversary and Lucy walks into the club accompanied by Bobby and her mother while Ricky and the Mertzes sit awkwardly closeby. The dress can also be seen in “Lucy Goes to Monte Carlo” when she accidentally wins hordes of money at the tables.

When the United States Postal Service honored Lucille Ball with a stamp in their “Legends of Hollywood” series in 2001, they chose a photo of her in this dress. Mattel also produced a Barbie featuring Ball in the lacy ensemble.

Are you a fan of this dress? Let me know in the comments!

4. If you could own one prop from the show, what would it be?

This is a hard one! Maybe the 1955 Pontiac the Ricardo’s buy to make the trip out to Hollywood. How neat would it be to own the Lucy car, am i right? After a quick Google, here’s more information about the car and its whereabouts today.

5. Which secondary character do you enjoy the most? (Like Mrs. Trumbull, Little Ricky, etc)

I would say Mrs. McGillicuddy played impeccably by Kathryn Card. She really is a card. I love how she can never get Ricky’s name right and how every situation is ten times more complicated when she’s involved. She’s great in “California, Here We Come”, “The Hedda Hopper Story”, and so many more.

6. You’re planning a get together with Lucy, Ricky, Fred & Ethel. What is the order of the day?

Well first of all, we would be in New York. So let’s start the evening at the Tropicana. Maybe it’s Lucy and Ricky’s anniversary so we planned a party for them there. There would be a beautiful buffet spread and all the Ricardo’s friends would be invited. Ricky and his band would play a whole series of numbers. We’d do a little floor show and dance till we couldn’t feel our feet. Afterwards we’d head back to the Ricardos’ apartment and have a sing along around the piano. Because sometimes all you need in life are good friends and good music

7. Which I Love Lucy catchphrase do you find yourself using the most?

Lately I’ve been using “no, I dunt,” Ricky style, followed by Lucy’s “no Mama, he dunt,” from “Lucy Writes a Play.”

8. What’s your favorite musical moment from the show?

I really love the moment when the Ricardos and the Mertzes are having a sing along around the piano belting out “Sweet Sue.” When Lucy and Fred break out into a funny little dance it gets me every time. This moment of sweet friendship which highlights the magical connection between the cast occurs in “Breaking the Lease” (right before everything goes comically sour).

9. If I Love Lucy had a “lost episode” that you could watch, what kind of plot would you want?

Let’s go Hollywood! Another guest star…maybe Clark Gable or Ava Gardner…or both! Since there was so much talk of Clark amongst the girls and of Ava by Fred it seems fitting.

I could see Ava partnering with Lucy in a comedy routine where they played a trick on Fred. (Anybody else think Ava had untapped comedic talents?) And Fred, using Ricky’s connections, to call on Clark to play a trick on the girls. Kinda like the “Lucy Meets Charles Boyer” episode.

Note: Clark and his wife, Carole Lombard, were close friends of the Arnazes and we partly have Carole to thank for the birth of I Love Lucy. When the show was in development and minds were filled with doubts, Lucille Ball recalled having a dream of Carole telling her to go ahead with the new, risky project.

10. What’s something you’ve learned from I Love Lucy about comedy, relationships, or life?

Cheesy as it may be, Lucy reminds me to view life as a whole with lightness and a big HELP-ing of humor, something that is greatly needed for this dramatic soul. If I’m having a rough day, I’ll try to recall a situation or a line that resembles what I’m going through. This can give me something to smile about, changing my outlook, and helps to lighten even the hardest days.

11. Why do you think I Love Lucy has remained popular for so many generations?

Four reasons…

1. I think because I Love Lucy was such a personal project, born of love and a desire to bring people together, it continues doing that very thing today.

I Love Lucy came about because Lucille Ball, then a film actress, and Desi Arnaz, a traveling orchestra leader, wanted to bring their separate worlds together as a married couple and raise a family.

They formed Desilu Productions and hired others who were as enthused as they were of the new project. Desilu was like one big family, squabbles and all. Picnics and parties at the Arnazes’ sprawling ranch was not uncommon, and the cast and crew shared meals together on dress rehearsal days.

Relationships are at the core of I Love Lucy. Spouses fight, friends bicker, but the love people have for one another always wins out. Lucy and Ricky, Ethel and Lucy, Ricky and Fred, The Ricardos and the Mertzes. They each have a special dynamic between them that is both warm and heartening. A sense of friendship, family, and belonging pervades each episode that when we watch it we feel a part of them, making us want to return again and again.

2. Ball’s physical comedy is timeless and flawlessly executed.

As a physical comedienne, Lucille Ball never shined brighter than in I Love Lucy. Her gifts for mimicry, timing, voices, facial expressions, and malleability of persona are universally embraced and endlessly funny. It takes a top tier actress to convince an audience of absurdity on screen, and Ball does just that by drawing us into her madcap world through her ease and natural way with props, lines, and her fellow actors. Her style of comedy transcends generations. From the “Queen of the B’s” to the “Queen of Comedy” there will never be another Lucy.

3. The brilliance of the scripts.

The genius of the writing team of Jess Oppenheimer, Madelyn Davis, and Bob Carroll, Jr., was in taking relatable scenarios and blowing them up to ridiculous, hilarious proportions. In this way, audiences could see themselves in the Ricardos’ marriage, Lucy and Ethel’s friendship, and laugh sympathetically at the wacky predicaments they get into.

4. Lucy and Desi

We began this list with them and we’ll end with them too. So much of Lucy and Desi is wrapped up into I Love Lucy, including names of people they knew, their origins, and the birth of their son, giving the show an added layer of realism, authenticity, and intimacy.

But what makes I Love Lucy come alive all these years later is the viscerally deep connection between Lucy and Desi. In spite of the off screen turbulence, when watching their interactions there is no doubt these two had a great deal of admiration and respect for each other.

When asked about the success of I Love Lucy, Desi gave his wife 90% of the credit, and to split up the remaining 10% among the rest. While I admire his generosity and appreciation of Lucille’s talent, I think even she would agree that he underestimated himself. Not only was he a savvy business mogul and producer, he was a talented actor, multi-instrumentalist, and singer with a flair for comedy himself.

I love lucy even more when she’s bouncing off of Desi. His reactions to her schemes are priceless, whether he’s losing his temper, planting his palm to his forehead while exclaiming, “ay ay ay” or laughing hysterically in disbelief. And when he and Lucy plot together, its like watching children at play.

Lucy and Desi shared a special bond that lasted all their lives. It’s warm, welcoming, wonderfully beautiful and can be felt every time one sits down to watch I Love Lucy.

Tragically, life didn’t grant Lucy and Desi the ending they had hoped for, but they will live happily ever after as the Ricardos in TV land forever.

“P. S. I Love Lucy was never just a title.”

Desi Arnaz

And now I feel as if I could dedicate an entire blog to the show. Thanks for reading, friends! I’d love to hear your answers to these questions in the comments <3

This post is my contribution to The “I Love Lucy” Blogathon: Celebrating the Talent Behind the Laughs hosted by yours truly. Click here for more love of all things Lucy!