I just finished watching "The Star Upstairs" and watching the part where Lucy is dangling from the balcony above while Ethel is trying to distract Ricky from seeing Lucy, I realized that I laugh the hardest no matter how many times I see this scene. IMO, Vivian did her funniest scene in I Love Lucy in this particular scene because I don't recall laughing so hard at her as I do in this episode.:lol:

Amy, I agree. I think this is her funniest moment too.

I just finished watching "The Star Upstairs" and watching the part where Lucy is dangling from the balcony above while Ethel is trying to distract Ricky from seeing Lucy, I realized that I laugh the hardest no matter how many times I see this scene. IMO, Vivian did her funniest scene in I Love Lucy in this particular scene because I don't recall laughing so hard at her as I do in this episode.:lol:


I love Viv in this episode, also. I also love her in the freezer episode, where
she's flattering Ricky by telling him he's got the best voice in the world! Of
course, this was just a stall for Lucy to hide all that beef.

I agree with you. Acting-within-acting is usually only funny because the character doing the acting is such a ham, like when Ricky is on the phone with Grace Foster and Lucy walks in and then he keeps saying "Yes, Sam; that's right, Sam; okay, Sam; goodbye, Sam...." But Ethel is very distressed at the time she's hamming it up, and all the confusion, inflections, and nonsense phrases roll together to split your sides. And Desi continuing to play it straight-though-shocked helps keep it funny.

Another "Acting within acting" comes with Viv on the phone to Lucy in the Van Johnson ep. She's trying to pretend it's Fred on the other end and when she goofs up "That's right Fred Old GIRL----err----OLD BOY!" it's too funny!!

I love Vivian in the housewarming episode :) Great actress

i just watched "the star upstairs" this week & i agree. that scene with vivian is HILARIOUS! i always laugh so much when i see it.

you all are gonna think im crazy but i laugh harder in the LDCH Lucy wins a race horse when ethel and lucy are trying to hide the horse before ricky walks in and shes (ethel) like....."eh,, e, um, eh ,o, " then suggesting the horse is the neighbors goiing to a masqurade ball lol

you all are gonna think im crazy but i laugh harder in the LDCH Lucy wins a race horse when ethel and lucy are trying to hide the horse before ricky walks in and shes (ethel) like....."eh,, e, um, eh ,o, " then suggesting the horse is the neighbors goiing to a masqurade ball lol

I don't think you are crazy at all. The LDCH with the horse is hilarious too. There is nothing wrong with you finding that funnier. ;)

The Kleptomaniac -- Ethel was really funny in that. Underrated.

The One about the Charm school when Lucy's front door opens and we see Ethel wearing the leopard skin. I think the laughter from the audience is one of the loudest.

Ethel has her moments --sometimes the moments are funnier than the entire episode.

I just finished watching "The Star Upstairs" and watching the part where Lucy is dangling from the balcony above while Ethel is trying to distract Ricky from seeing Lucy, I realized that I laugh the hardest no matter how many times I see this scene. IMO, Vivian did her funniest scene in I Love Lucy in this particular scene because I don't recall laughing so hard at her as I do in this episode.:lol:
I was thinking of the very ep. when you posted this thread.

Ethel's funniest moments for me:

The Star Upstairs-talking to Ricky after Lucy falls from the balcony
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The Kleptomaniac-as Baby Face
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The Operetta-when she sings "Lily of the Valley"
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Charm School-her pose in the doorway in her leopard-skin dress
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Never Do Business with Friends-watch her sarcasm and shoulder movements when she explains the story to Mrs. Trumbull on the balcony
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I just love where she's defending the Ricardo's new baby and she keeps making all those speeches about how the Ricardos mean more to her than all the money on earth! :lol: