In the episode where Ricky and Lucy are planning on going to California and they invite Fred and Ethel to join them by sitting in their back seat, then Ricky expects Fred to pay for half the gas, but Fred says "Where the front half of the car goes, the back has to follow."

Who do you agree with?

Ricky, expecting Fred to pay for half the gas since he's going on the trip with them.

Fred, who feels the Ricardos are going anyways, and the back seat has to go with the car whether he's in it or not.

I just posted on the other thread how I feel that Fred being an invited guest on this trip (as was Ethel) how he should have helped to pay for the gas. Yes, technically the backseat goes wherever the front part of the car goes :rofl: but still, it would have been nice for Fred to help pay for something since his hotel room in California was being paid for.

BTW, who paid for the hotel room, Ricky or MGM? I assume Ricky because I cannot imagine MGM paying for anyone else other than Ricky. And I sure as hell know Fred wasn't paying for it. :lol:

lol. i just posted something about this in irene's thread.
i think fred was definitely in the wrong with this situation. he was way too greedy and i don't think i would want to go with someone like him on a trip. yes, the backseat was going with the car even if they didn't go. but that doesn't mean he can't give a little gas money. or offered to pay.
he didn't pay for the tickets on the train on the way back to ny either. he wanted the ricardos to pay for the bike that was ruined.
and when they had that wrap up party for ricky towards the end of the hollywood stay, he complained how expensive the caviar was that ethel got.
another thing, when they got to that restaurant that only had cheese sandwiches, ricky ended up paying the entire bill himself and fred didn't chip in.
after all of the freebies the ricardos gave him, he couldn't keep quiet and not complain for one second? or maybe take everyone out to eat one night? it was very greedy and very rude. when someone invites you on a trip and pays for you and your wife, it's a little rude to keep making demands and saying things like "you need to pay for me..."

I just posted on the other thread how I feel that Fred being an invited guest on this trip (as was Ethel) how he should have helped to pay for the gas. Yes, technically the backseat goes wherever the front part of the car goes :rofl: but still, it would have been nice for Fred to help pay for something since his hotel room in California was being paid for.

BTW, who paid for the hotel room, Ricky or MGM? I assume Ricky because I cannot imagine MGM paying for anyone else other than Ricky. And I sure as hell know Fred wasn't paying for it. :lol:

i was wondering the same thing in your thread! i think ricky paid for the fred's hotel. i can't imagine mgm paying anyone else other than ricky either. and fred certainly did not pay for the hotel, because if he had...he and ethel would be staying at a motel or on the street. lol.

^^^Thank you. You said it. So many instances where the Ricardos paid and Fred got away with it. How many times did the Ricardos treat them out to dinner? What abt the first day in Hollywood and Lucy paid for the meal at the Brown Derby? Fred was happy abt that because he was able to look at the more expensive meals offered on the menu. The trip to Europe? How much did Fred pay to go there? NOTHING. NADA. ZILCH!

^^^Thank you. You said it. So many instances where the Ricardos paid and Fred got away with it. How many times did the Ricardos treat them out to dinner? What abt the first day in Hollywood and Lucy paid for the meal at the Brown Derby? Fred was happy abt that because he was able to look at the more expensive meals offered on the menu. The trip to Europe? How much did Fred pay to go there? NOTHING. NADA. ZILCH!

yep!! there were tons and tons of instances where fred got freebies in hollywood alone. and then a free trip to europe and hotels and all of that. ay ay ay ay ay. lol. fred's character and his greedy/cheap attitude always annoyed me. i understand complaining about prices once in a while, but come on...the man wasn't broke. he never used any of his money, so he was practically loaded! lol.

Who do you agree with?

Ricky, expecting Fred to pay for half the gas since he's going on the trip with them.


I think Ricky was so right....he's more than generous with the Mertz's.

The trip to Europe was a different scenario, since Fred was the band manager-- but he seems to never lack for time to just be a tourist; a sightseeing trip the first day they're in Paris, the climbing a mountain and bicycling from Italy back into France, et al. And when he is doing the work of a manager, it's usually making things uncomfortable with his "cheaper" ideas, or even lousing things up to where there could conceivably be a breach of contract (i.e., sending the band to the wrong city hours away). But there has to be some excuse to have Fred and Ethel every place Ricky and Lucy go, so being the manager-- more nominally than of necessity-- was the one for that trip (and maybe it was for Florida too?).

As for the Mertzes hotel room in Hollywood, the show tries to cleverly slip that one by the viewers by just not mentioning the arrangements. All we know for sure is that the Mertzes' room was not a suite, therefore was much cheaper, but still way too expensive for somebody for them to stay the entire time (several months) that Ricky was doing a picture that got shelved, then publicity stunts to keep him under contract, then finally doing another movie we do not get the benefit of knowing anything about. Is it possible, though, that Ricky could have asked for an additional hotel room because he expected guests from New York, and perhaps said there was another family member who would stay a while [Lucy's mother]?... it still seems the studio would turn a deaf ear to some 'newfound' talent coming in with requests like that. But Fred and Ethel simply had to be there for the makeup of the show, so if it didn't make sense for them to be there all that time... just slip them in anyway ;) .

As a related subtopic, Lucille Ball once remarked that "Bill Frawley was Fred Mertz;" meaning he was actually like the character he played-- cheap, cynical, often surly and rude. I remember from the book, Meet the Mertzes,, one incident it tells about is when Frawley was working My Three Sons, he 'drank his lunch' at this same place every day-- until they raised the price on his favorite drink by 10 cents, and then he angrily told them off and vowed never to go there again, and he didn't. So yes, Fred Mertz-- who William Frawley "was"-- paying for his own hotel room just to be close to his friends across the country-- no way. And those chiseling Mertzes were lovable enough for Ricky to pay for their room? That's hard to see, unless something was connived some way. So the writers probably just couldn't come up with a believable excuse, and therefore nothing was mentioned about that aspect.

As the Ricardos climbed the economic ladder, so were "the tag along Mertzes"
:lol:

El Fredo was El Cheapo! :lol:

Fred should of helped with the gas. What was it back then, like 5 cents a gallon.:lol: Fred was cheap!

The trip to Europe was a different scenario, since Fred was the band manager-- but he seems to never lack for time to just be a tourist; a sightseeing trip the first day they're in Paris, the climbing a mountain and bicycling from Italy back into France, et al. And when he is doing the work of a manager, it's usually making things uncomfortable with his "cheaper" ideas, or even lousing things up to where there could conceivably be a breach of contract (i.e., sending the band to the wrong city hours away). But there has to be some excuse to have Fred and Ethel every place Ricky and Lucy go, so being the manager-- more nominally than of necessity-- was the one for that trip (and maybe it was for Florida too?).

As for the Mertzes hotel room in Hollywood, the show tries to cleverly slip that one by the viewers by just not mentioning the arrangements. All we know for sure is that the Mertzes' room was not a suite, therefore was much cheaper, but still way too expensive for somebody for them to stay the entire time (several months) that Ricky was doing a picture that got shelved, then publicity stunts to keep him under contract, then finally doing another movie we do not get the benefit of knowing anything about. Is it possible, though, that Ricky could have asked for an additional hotel room because he expected guests from New York, and perhaps said there was another family member who would stay a while [Lucy's mother]?... it still seems the studio would turn a deaf ear to some 'newfound' talent coming in with requests like that. But Fred and Ethel simply had to be there for the makeup of the show, so if it didn't make sense for them to be there all that time... just slip them in anyway ;) .

As a related subtopic, Lucille Ball once remarked that "Bill Frawley was Fred Mertz;" meaning he was actually like the character he played-- cheap, cynical, often surly and rude. I remember from the book, Meet the Mertzes,, one incident it tells about is when Frawley was working My Three Sons, he 'drank his lunch' at this same place every day-- until they raised the price on his favorite drink by 10 cents, and then he angrily told them off and vowed never to go there again, and he didn't. So yes, Fred Mertz-- who William Frawley "was"-- paying for his own hotel room just to be close to his friends across the country-- no way. And those chiseling Mertzes were lovable enough for Ricky to pay for their room? That's hard to see, unless something was connived some way. So the writers probably just couldn't come up with a believable excuse, and therefore nothing was mentioned about that aspect.

Jude...:rofl: you kill me. :lol:

As for the European trip, the Mertzes were already invited to go BEFORE Fred was made a band manager. It was the cost of going that kept them from saying, "yes" to the offer. It wasn't until after that bogus raffle concocted by Lucy and Ethel, that Ricky was informed he wasn't going to have to pay for him and Lucy's boarding on the ship, therefore, the money he would save by not paying for Ricky and Lucy, he would use to pay for Ethel and Fred. So, yes, the European trip was again, paid for by Ricky so that the Mertzes could tag along.

LOL. I didn't realize it was discussed. I had this thread idea for a few months now, but I finally remembered to post it today. I looked down the list of thread titles and I didn't see anything like it, so I went for it.

I'm surprised. I figured everyone would be on Fred's side, lol.

I'm surprised. I figured everyone would be on Fred's side, lol.
:lol: Why???

Fred was a cheapskate. Ricky was too kind.

:lol: Why???

Fred was a cheapskate. Ricky was too kind.

LOL, I don't know. I just pictured people quoting Fred, "Where the front of the car goes, the back end has to follow."

I, too, wondered about who paid for the Mertz's hotel room. They would make it seem like it was the studio, which is what I'll assume happened. But it seems really strange that that would happen.

And for the record, the Hollywood trip was the only one I really enjoyed. The others had their classic moments, definately, but beyond Hollywood, I just want to see the four in their apartment or home in the country. They spend a great deal of season five on different vacations.

I loved all the episodes leading up to them leaving for Hollywood, them actually leaving for Hollywood with the episodes on the road. Then their stay in Hollywood and finally their homecoming. I loved all of it.

I guess I can understand what you mean Adam. I mean, technically, the whole car will go as long as it has gas regardless of the amount of people in it. Unlike a plane or train where you must pay for each person. I think morally though, Fred owed at least 1/2 the gas. To offer to pay for oil was ridiculous. I imagine one can of oil would have been sufficient for that trip. :crazy:

I know when we go on vacation and my boyfriend OFFERS people a chance to vacation with us, he merely means "we will provide the transportation only" the lodging and the meals are on you or we go dutch, unless he offers to pay for everyone's meal.

I guess I can understand what you mean Adam. I mean, technically, the whole car will go as long as it has gas regardless of the amount of people in it. Unlike a plane or train where you must pay for each person. I think morally though, Fred owed at least 1/2 the gas. To offer to pay for oil was ridiculous. I imagine one can of oil would have been sufficient for that trip. :crazy:

I know when we go on vacation and my boyfriend OFFERS people a chance to vacation with us, he merely means "we will provide the transportation only" the lodging and the meals are on you or we go dutch, unless he offers to pay for everyone's meal.

You don't have to hit me over the head. I got your "hint." Yes, I would LOVE to go on vacation with you and your boyfriend. Just come here to Ohio and get me. I'll be the guy at Kroger with the name badge "Adam."

As far as the topic goes, I understand what you're saying. Fred should have paid for half the gas. But the show made it seem like Ricky was wrong, since he gave in and admitted to being a tighter wad than Fred, or something like that, lol.

You don't have to hit me over the head. I got your "hint." Yes, I would LOVE to go on vacation with you and your boyfriend. Just come here to Ohio and get me. I'll be the guy at Kroger with the name badge "Adam."
:rofl:

I'm surprised. I figured everyone would be on Fred's side, lol.

Maybe some are "on Fred's side," at least as far as 'the backseat has to follow the front seat' concept; that it's better to have your friends with you than to have an empty backseat, considering the extra weight or drag doens't amount to much; just pennies back then. That is IF we know they pay their own way as far as food and lodging go; and for that we just have the hints that Ricky paid the $4.80 for the stale cheese sandwiches they didn't eat (plus the entertainment tax :lol: ), and it's ambiguous whether they were going to split the cost of that cabin. Maybe Fred refused to pay his $8 because Ricky actually bought a steering wheel for $16 instead :lol: (I rather wish we could see the 'missing moment' to how they actually resolved that situation with "Mr. Skinner"). But ILL eps do that alot-- they conclude right when there is a new set of complications. Oh yeah, and Fred was rather excited when Ethel reminded him that by staying at her father's house in Albuquerque, the food and lodging would be free; he shouldn't have cared if he wasn't paying for it elsewhere.

For the European trip, Ricky had not invited anybody-- including Lucy-- until he got the notion to ask Fred to come as his band manager. And then Lucy and Ethel, with their husbands having said they could come if they could pay for it, get the raffle idea. After that busts, Ethel just borrows the money on their building-- that was at least one instance in which a Mertz pays for a Ricardo, though with compensation expected, we presume. But then, wonder of wonders, Ricky finds out he and the band can have free passage by being the featured musicians on the trip-- what a pity if Lucy and Ethel had been prosecuted for fraud in their raffle because Ricky had not known the cruise was to be a working cruise for him and his band. I suppose Ricky is self-employed, so if he draws expense money to pay for wife and friend, it's literally his business.

^^^You said it better than I did, but you did point out what I had said previously, that in the end, because of Ricky and the band, the money he saved, he could NOW AFFORD TO PAY FOR THE PASSAGE OF ETHEL AND LUCY. Fred should have paid for his wife's fare bottom line. In the end after finding out he didn't need to pay for his band's fare, if Ricky wanted to pay for Ethel's fare, then he could have.