Lucy and Ethel NOT wanting to wear the same formal dress

[Ireneparalegal]

Ok, who is with me that I felt there was absolutely nothing wrong with doing that routine in the same formal dress? I don't get what was the big deal. They each were not going to wear that dress again, you couldn't. Where else would you wear that dress? It was so cheap looking (for obvious reasons) and it had that horrendous flowery thingy going up the chest to the shoulder. I thought it was perfect since they were going to do a "funny" number like "Friendship". Especially with some of the faces and moves that Lucy was going to do. Maybe they should have worn something else.


Did anyone else catch how the piano just happens to be where the desk is always situated? Convenience, not to mention so that Ricky's hands could be hidden since he didn't actually play the piano.

There were several times the piano was situated in that spot when the piano was going to be used.

[Madame X]

Originally Posted by Ireneparalegal

Ok, who is with me that I felt there was absolutely nothing wrong with doing that routine in the same formal dress? I don't get what was the big deal. They each were not going to wear that dress again, you couldn't. Where else would you wear that dress? It was so cheap looking (for obvious reasons) and it had that horrendous flowery thingy going up the chest to the shoulder. I thought it was perfect since they were going to do a "funny" number like "Friendship". Especially with some of the faces and moves that Lucy was going to do. Maybe they should have worn something else.


Did anyone else catch how the piano just happens to be where the desk is always situated? Convenience, not to mention so that Ricky's hands could be hidden since he didn't actually play the piano.

There were several times the piano was situated in that spot when the piano was going to be used.

I agree. Wearing the same dress would have added to the theme of friendship. Also, wearing a formal for that type of number seemed kind of out of place anyway.

The piano was in that same location in "Breaking the Lease" also. When they did "Sweet Sue" with the Mertzes, Ethel played. But when Ricky played later, you can tell it's phony. He just bounced in his seat and moved his elbows in and out. On the last beat he clapped but the piano sounded a chord.

BTW, I guess the Mertzes were as stumped about their building as we are. When they left, Ethel went left and Fred went right!

[Ireneparalegal]

Oh yeah, I forgot abt that part. I was going to mention the Mertzes' going in different directions. Thanx for reminding me.

I guess that is how much they hated each other (in real life)...Vivian went her way and William went his way...IN OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS to avoid each other off the set.


Glad you agree abt the dresses. It was weird to wear something so formal for some song/routine that was funny. But if they did not fight abt the dress, it would have most definitely fit the theme of friendship.

[Katya]

I agree it was one of the thinnest plots ILL ever had and one that didn't make much sense becuase the dress was classic bridesmaid ugly who would even want to wear it again
It's funny though because I think Lucy fanicied herself haivng better taste in clothes then Ethel(although Lucy did often compliment Ethel on what she was wearing)

[NOVARick]

Originally Posted by Madame X

BTW, I guess the Mertzes were as stumped about their building as we are. When they left, Ethel went left and Fred went right!

I never noticed that! Maybe there are two different stairways at each end of the hall.

[NOVARick]

Originally Posted by Katya

It's funny though because I think Lucy fanicied herself haivng better taste in clothes then Ethel(although Lucy did often compliment Ethel on what she was wearing)

And Ethel would rather have a toaster anyway.

[Lodee]

This episode ranks up in my top 20. I just saw it last week and it cracks me up every single time. I think wearing the same dress must have been a big taboo back in the 50's because Ethel and Lucy were appalled that Ricky and Fred would even suggest it.

The only part I think was a bit weird is that neither of them asked to see the new dress the onter one bought before that night.

But hey, I still love that episode. I like how Ethel kind of starts the fight too by grabbing a flower off Lucy's dress first.

[NOVARick]

Originally Posted by Lodee

This episode ranks up in my top 20. I just saw it last week and it cracks me up every single time. I think wearing the same dress must have been a big taboo back in the 50's because Ethel and Lucy were appalled that Ricky and Fred would even suggest it.

That could be. A couple years later, there was an episode of THE HONEYMOONERS with the very same theme, with Alice and Trixie wearing the same dress. Actually, there were LOTS of episodes of THE HONEYMOONERS that picked up on themes and plots done earlier on I LOVE LUCY, but that should be a different thread.

[Ireneparalegal]

Originally Posted by Lodee

This episode ranks up in my top 20. I just saw it last week and it cracks me up every single time. I think wearing the same dress must have been a big taboo back in the 50's because Ethel and Lucy were appalled that Ricky and Fred would even suggest it.

The only part I think was a bit weird is that neither of them asked to see the new dress the onter one bought before that night.

But hey, I still love that episode. I like how Ethel kind of starts the fight too by grabbing a flower off Lucy's dress first.

This too is one of my fave episodes. It has laughs through and through. You have the two ladies singing that song, you have Lucy trying to get Ricky to "ask" to be the host of the show, you have the beginning where Lucy tells Marion Strong, "the show would be over by the time you say Mistress of Ceremonies at the Senior Shenanigans at the Rappahanock School for Girls."

[mrs.gingerhinkley]

Yeah, I think they both over reacted (Lucy and Ethel I mean)
But I really love seeing them perform "Friendship" it's a really classic moment.

[AB]

I love that episode too, especially when they're yanking on each other's dresses. Even best friends have their bad moments.

[coffield3]

I agree to, there was no harm in them both wearing the same dress! i didnt know that about ricky and the piano.

[Ireneparalegal]

Originally Posted by mrs.gingerhinkley

Yeah, I think they both over reacted (Lucy and Ethel I mean)
But I really love seeing them perform "Friendship" it's a really classic moment.

Yep, that is a classic moment for us Lucy Fanatics. See, a so-called Lucy fan wouldn't know that moment. That is what separates us ILL fans from those who occasionally watch the show or call themselves fans. Those fans pick VITAMEATAVEGAMIN or the grape stomping episodes as classics, when we know there is so much more classic scenes and episodes.

[tdr]

Originally Posted by Lodee

... I think wearing the same dress must have been a big taboo back in the 50's ...

It seems like it was within the past year there was a news story about some function in which Pres. and Mrs. Bush attended, and Laura saw another woman wearing the same dress she was wearing, so she went and changed before going on with ...[whatever it was]. I remember there was a topic on another message board where the subject was what tends to peeve women, and I had just read that story, so I posted it then. A female poster, who I thought was always practical and down-to-earth, replied that if she were 'First Lady,' and another woman wore the same dress she had on, it would be her (the other woman) who went to change. On one hand, maybe this shows that idea is not so outdated, but on the other, if it's the President and his family... [my own position is that doesn't matter, and a woman having such a prominent position just because of her husband-- that should be outdated... I wonder what it will be like if Slick Willie becomes 'First Lady] ]

[Madame X]

Originally Posted by Ireneparalegal

Yep, that is a classic moment for us Lucy Fanatics. See, a so-called Lucy fan wouldn't know that moment. That is what separates us ILL fans from those who occasionally watch the show or call themselves fans. Those fans pick VITAMEATAVEGAMIN or the grape stomping episodes as classics, when we know there is so much more classic scenes and episodes.

It is interesting that the Friendship scene at the end is actually pretty brief. They don't make it very far into the song before Ricky and Fred take them away. Most of the episode is the buildup for the final scene. We actually see the routine during their rehearsal. Hep, Hep, Hep!