It didn't seem fair!!

[Frischman_Fan]

In "Redecorating The Mertzes Apartment",we notice how it was all Lucy's fault that Fred and Ethel's apartment ended up in shambles. But what I don't find fair is how Lucy gave them her old furniture. Why didn't she just buy them new furniture since it was her fault. To me, that seemed pretty selfish of Lucy and Ricky. Maybe this might be a dumb question but I'm just curious as to what you guys thought about this.

[Madame X]

Originally Posted by 3scompanyfreak

In "Redecorating The Mertzes Apartment",we notice how it was all Lucy's fault that Fred and Ethel's apartment ended up in shambles. But what I don't find fair is how Lucy gave them her old furniture. Why didn't she just buy them new furniture since it was her fault. To me, that seemd pretty selfish of Lucy and Ricky. Maybe this might be a dumb question but I'm just curious as to what you guys thought about this.

Well I see your point, but I am not really sure if Lucy is totally selfish in this case. She and Ricky paid for the paint and the upholstery material and Lucy agreed to a shorter mink stole to help fund the project and to get Fred and Ethel back together. Even though the apartment was a disaster, it turned out ok and Ethel seemed happy with the outcome. It was kind of selfish how Lucy gloated about the new furniture as if Ethel was only good enough for "hand-me-downs." Lucy always had the attitude that she was better (and more deserving?) than Ethel.

An odd note: Lucy already got new furniture about 11 episodes before in "Lucy Wants New Furniture." Apparently they all forgot about that and the end result was that the Mertzes really did get "new" furniture!

[Frischman_Fan]

Originally Posted by Madame X

It was kind of selfish how Lucy gloated about the new furniture as if Ethel was only good enough for "hand-me-downs." Lucy always had the attitude that she was better (and more deserving?) than Ethel.

That is what I actually meant! Like Lucy had gotten new furniture even from a contest and all that and Ethel never did. It would've been nice if Lucy atleast used the stole money to buy the Mertzes new furniture.

[Madame X]

Originally Posted by 3scompanyfreak

That is what I actually meant! Like Lucy had gotten new furniture even from a contest and all that and Ethel never did. It would've been nice if Lucy atleast used the stole money to buy the Mertzes new furniture.

Yes, it would have been refreshing to have Lucy perform an unselfish gesture for once, especially since Ethel stood by her for everything!

[Frischman_Fan]

Originally Posted by Madame X

Yes, it would have been refreshing to have Lucy perform an unselfish gesture for once, especially since Ethel stood by her for everything!

Ditto!

[Ireneparalegal]

Originally Posted by Madame X

Well I see your point, but I am not really sure if Lucy is totally selfish in this case. She and Ricky paid for the paint and the upholstery material and Lucy agreed to a shorter mink stole to help fund the project and to get Fred and Ethel back together. Even though the apartment was a disaster, it turned out ok and Ethel seemed happy with the outcome. It was kind of selfish how Lucy gloated about the new furniture as if Ethel was only good enough for "hand-me-downs." Lucy always had the attitude that she was better (and more deserving?) than Ethel.

An odd note: Lucy already got new furniture about 11 episodes before in "Lucy Wants New Furniture." Apparently they all forgot about that and the end result was that the Mertzes really did get "new" furniture!

Just like the washing machine episode. Lucy (against Ricky's better judgment) gave Ethel her "used" washing machine. Just one season before, Ethel had received a brand new HANDY DANDY washing machine.
BTW, According to Ricky, Lucy got a brand new refrigerator. Anyone happen to notice if there in fact was a different refrigerator shown? I don't mean in that episode, but AFTER that episode? I have the DVD's but don't feel like checking.

I never felt like Lucy was gloating to Ethel, but now that Madame X has posted that, I could see how that moment could be seen that way.

[Madame X]

Originally Posted by Ireneparalegal

BTW, According to Ricky, Lucy got a brand new refrigerator. Anyone happen to notice if there in fact was a different refrigerator shown? I don't mean in that episode, but AFTER that episode? I have the DVD's but don't feel like checking.

Hey Irene! I checked it out and Lucy has the same refrigerator (in "Sales Resistance" before Ricky supposedly bought the Handy Dandy refrigerator), as the one in the next episode, "The Inferiority Complex."

[comedyfreak]

I think it's a case of let the buyer beware, Ethel should have known all of Lucy's schemes turn out messed up therefore she should not have agreed to redecorate using Lucy.

[Frischman_Fan]

Originally Posted by comedyfreak

I think it's a case of let the buyer beware, Ethel should have known all of Lucy's schemes turn out messed up therefore she should not have agreed to redecorate using Lucy.

Now, there's a thought! But I think Ethel was so desperate to get her apartment hooked up, she didn't realize the outcome.

[Ireneparalegal]

Originally Posted by Madame X

Hey Irene! I checked it out and Lucy has the same refrigerator (in "Sales Resistance" before Ricky supposedly bought the Handy Dandy refrigerator), as the one in the next episode, "The Inferiority Complex."

OMG! Are u serious???? Ok, that is just bad writing right there. Thanx for checking that for me. I am really shocked. Back in those days though, there was no Sitcoms Online with posters named Ireneparalegal and Madame X to analyze the episodes!!!!

[Madame X]

Originally Posted by Ireneparalegal

OMG! Are u serious???? Ok, that is just bad writing right there. Thanx for checking that for me. I am really shocked. Back in those days though, there was no Sitcoms Online with posters named Ireneparalegal and Madame X to analyze the episodes!!!!

Yeah, and there weren't DVD players where someone could play everything over and over, freeze one frame and pick it apart!

[comedyfreak]

Originally Posted by Madame X

Hey Irene! I checked it out and Lucy has the same refrigerator (in "Sales Resistance" before Ricky supposedly bought the Handy Dandy refrigerator), as the one in the next episode, "The Inferiority Complex."

That says something about their prop budget, lol.

[tdr]

I'll give Lucy a little defense on this one. Everything that happened was ultimately her responsibility, because it was all her idea, which R, F, and E went along with rather reluctantly (particularly R). But Fred put that fan right in front of the pile of feathers and went into anther room to plug it in. And since the Mertzes owned the building, they could have moved to a better apartment when one was available. That's probably another thing to make us sympathize with Ethel; that Fred, as landlord, had to do certain fix-ups in their rental units if they were going to get any income at all, as well as applicable laws that had to be obeyed, and reference is made (rarely) to 'redecorating' a unit. But apparently he wouldn't do that for their own home, nor replace worn-out furniture or other things. I get the idea he insisted on living in the crummiest unit there just because it wouln't help to 'raise his own rent.' So even though I like Fred as a comic character, it's quite pathetic that he was that insensitive to Ethel and wouldn't even consider painting the place unless someone else paid for the paint.

Besides this, the Mertzes do get some pretty good deals from the Ricardos... the trips they all went on, with Fred the "band manager," which seemed to be largely just nominal (he always had time for leisure), and the California trip was really something else; no reason for them to be there but the want of their company, and they even refused to pay for any car expenses (and we're not told if they had to pay for their own hotel room, but we can conclude there's no way Fred would have done that).

Okay, so Lucy had a bad idea to try something that was over their heads in this ep. I will cut her a little slack, which I don't usually do.

[Ethelfan1993]

I think Lucy was, at times, really selfish. She thought she was better than Ethel because her husband worked at the Tropicana, but if you ask me, I think Ethel was better because she was more real.

[Hughsgirl]

Originally Posted by tdr

I'll give Lucy a little defense on this one. Everything that happened was ultimately her responsibility, because it was all her idea, which R, F, and E went along with rather reluctantly (particularly R). But Fred put that fan right in front of the pile of feathers and went into anther room to plug it in. And since the Mertzes owned the building, they could have moved to a better apartment when one was available. That's probably another thing to make us sympathize with Ethel; that Fred, as landlord, had to do certain fix-ups in their rental units if they were going to get any income at all, as well as applicable laws that had to be obeyed, and reference is made (rarely) to 'redecorating' a unit. But apparently he wouldn't do that for their own home, nor replace worn-out furniture or other things. I get the idea he insisted on living in the crummiest unit there just because it wouln't help to 'raise his own rent.' So even though I like Fred as a comic character, it's quite pathetic that he was that insensitive to Ethel and wouldn't even consider painting the place unless someone else paid for the paint.

Besides this, the Mertzes do get some pretty good deals from the Ricardos... the trips they all went on, with Fred the "band manager," which seemed to be largely just nominal (he always had time for leisure), and the California trip was really something else; no reason for them to be there but the want of their company, and they even refused to pay for any car expenses (and we're not told if they had to pay for their own hotel room, but we can conclude there's no way Fred would have done that).

Okay, so Lucy had a bad idea to try something that was over their heads in this ep. I will cut her a little slack, which I don't usually do.

I'm in total agreement here TDR and the good thing about that is that I don't have to type it all!