Was Ricky Ricardo Selfish? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Timoth26 · 10-28-2009, 09:17 AM

Hey, I just got to wondering. This is also, based on another thread I once read on here awhile ago called "Was Lucy Ricardo Selfish". I just got to wondering about Ricky.

Do you think Ricky was sometimes selfish to? Because he never wanted Lucy to be in any of his acts and he would find some kind of an excuss to keep her out of it. Like his favorite one is telling her that she had no talent.

I know that this was part of the shows plot and they did it for comedic reasons. But, I often wondered if Ricky was often selfish to like Lucy was sometimes.

While he always told Lucy that she had no talent he did teach Little Ricky in a much later episode "Ragtime Band" in Season 6 that is isn't nice to be unkind to people when they some kids wouldn't let him play baseball with them because he wasn't good enough. Should'nt Ricky have thought of this before when he wouldn't let Lucy be in any of his shows?

Sure Lucy can go over board sometimes which is often funny but, Ricky sometimes did to. There is one example in a first season episode "The Benefit" towards the begining when Ricky and the Mertz's started singing "Shine on harvest moon" Lucy started charmin in. Then then quit singing because they didn't want to sing with her because she didn't have a very good voice. She did say "We either all sing or nobody sings" then they just walked away from the piano. Lucy then said "Alright, if nobody wants to sing I'll just sing by myself" then they all yell NO!! Do you that was a little mean and selfish of them to blow her off like that?

Also, there where a few episodes where Ricky didn't want her on any trips with him and his band. So, do you think Ricky was sometimes selfish and mean to Lucy? Also, he did seem to favore the Mertz's because they let them in his acts and not Lucy. I know this all was just for comedy and I really critisizing the show I was just wondering what other people thought. Please let me know. Thanks.

ThomasE · 10-28-2009, 10:48 AM

I guess so to a degree. Maybe Lucy should have changed her approach and should have invested in singing lessons. Now when everyone was around the piano and just singing for kicks, the gang should have let her sing at least one song and put up with the lousy vocals from Lucy.

MickeyMac · 10-28-2009, 11:37 AM

I dont think Ricky was selfish, he knew that Lucy had limited talent, and didnt want to be embarrased, which happend anyways.

FanofRetroTV · 10-28-2009, 12:05 PM

yes

gidgetgrape · 10-28-2009, 02:32 PM

Yes. I think he was just a sterotypical, 1950s guy who wanted his wife to only be a housewife and mother. I often wondered though if he subconsciously held Lucy back because he knew she was more talented than him.

celtickitty60 · 10-28-2009, 06:18 PM

I think it was just the 50's mentality and a male ego thing. Wives just stayed home and kept the house then. Men expected to be taken care of. If they worked outside the home, men thought it would look to others like their husbands weren't able to take care of them. Ricky was very proud.

Hughsgirl · 11-02-2009, 12:28 PM

I agree, it was a 50's thing. Ricky could also be a very understanding husband if you think about it....LOL! When my husband watches the show with me and Lucy acts up (I know...when doesn't she?) he will laugh his butt off and then say, things like "I'd kill her!" When Ricky spanked her those few times, he would say, "She had that coming." LOL! All in fun though because as I said he laughs pretty hard too.

McGillicuddy · 11-02-2009, 08:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hughsgirl

I agree, it was a 50's thing. Ricky could also be a very understanding husband if you think about it....LOL! When my husband watches the show with me and Lucy acts up (I know...when doesn't she?) he will laugh his butt off and then say, things like "I'd kill her!" When Ricky spanked her those few times, he would say, "She had that coming." LOL! All in fun though because as I said he laughs pretty hard too.

Thats one thing I"ve never been able to believe! That it was acceptable in the '50's, to spank your wife, on a family sit-com.

Hughsgirl · 11-03-2009, 03:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by markway895

Thats one thing I"ve never been able to believe! That it was acceptable in the '50's, to spank your wife, on a family sit-com.

That's where the era's differ. In the 50's and of course earlier, a man had every right to spank his wife and it wasn't for sexual purposes as it is preceived by the modern generation. Yes, some people are that kinky, I'm sure, but back then it was simply to keep their wives in line. I guess my point is that when people saw a man spank his wife on a family sit-com, they didn't find it out of the ordinary, at least from what I understand. I Love Lucy was the only show that I saw that on too. Another point I would like to make is that it was done in comedic way so I really don't see how anyone could make it out to be anything that it wasn't....not back then anyway.

10-28-2009, 09:17 AM	#1
Timoth26 Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Sep 08, 2009 Posts: 185	Was Ricky Ricardo Selfish? Hey, I just got to wondering. This is also, based on another thread I once read on here awhile ago called "Was Lucy Ricardo Selfish". I just got to wondering about Ricky. Do you think Ricky was sometimes selfish to? Because he never wanted Lucy to be in any of his acts and he would find some kind of an excuss to keep her out of it. Like his favorite one is telling her that she had no talent. I know that this was part of the shows plot and they did it for comedic reasons. But, I often wondered if Ricky was often selfish to like Lucy was sometimes. While he always told Lucy that she had no talent he did teach Little Ricky in a much later episode "Ragtime Band" in Season 6 that is isn't nice to be unkind to people when they some kids wouldn't let him play baseball with them because he wasn't good enough. Should'nt Ricky have thought of this before when he wouldn't let Lucy be in any of his shows? Sure Lucy can go over board sometimes which is often funny but, Ricky sometimes did to. There is one example in a first season episode "The Benefit" towards the begining when Ricky and the Mertz's started singing "Shine on harvest moon" Lucy started charmin in. Then then quit singing because they didn't want to sing with her because she didn't have a very good voice. She did say "We either all sing or nobody sings" then they just walked away from the piano. Lucy then said "Alright, if nobody wants to sing I'll just sing by myself" then they all yell NO!! Do you that was a little mean and selfish of them to blow her off like that? Also, there where a few episodes where Ricky didn't want her on any trips with him and his band. So, do you think Ricky was sometimes selfish and mean to Lucy? Also, he did seem to favore the Mertz's because they let them in his acts and not Lucy. I know this all was just for comedy and I really critisizing the show I was just wondering what other people thought. Please let me know. Thanks.

10-28-2009, 10:48 AM	#2
ThomasE Member Moderator Forum Fanatic Join Date: Apr 04, 2000 Location: New York, New York, U.S.A. Posts: 10,857	I guess so to a degree. Maybe Lucy should have changed her approach and should have invested in singing lessons. Now when everyone was around the piano and just singing for kicks, the gang should have let her sing at least one song and put up with the lousy vocals from Lucy.
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10-28-2009, 06:18 PM	#6
celtickitty60 Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Aug 16, 2009 Posts: 24	I think it was just the 50's mentality and a male ego thing. Wives just stayed home and kept the house then. Men expected to be taken care of. If they worked outside the home, men thought it would look to others like their husbands weren't able to take care of them. Ricky was very proud.
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10-28-2009, 11:37 AM	#3
MickeyMac Member Forum Star Join Date: Jun 18, 2008 Location: Kalamazoo, Michigan Posts: 19,006	I dont think Ricky was selfish, he knew that Lucy had limited talent, and didnt want to be embarrased, which happend anyways.

10-28-2009, 12:05 PM	#4
FanofRetroTV Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Oct 15, 2008 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 292	yes

10-28-2009, 02:32 PM	#5
gidgetgrape Forever Gidget Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Sep 20, 2003 Location: Texas Posts: 3,504	Yes. I think he was just a sterotypical, 1950s guy who wanted his wife to only be a housewife and mother. I often wondered though if he subconsciously held Lucy back because he knew she was more talented than him.

11-02-2009, 12:28 PM	#7
Hughsgirl Member Forum Regular Join Date: Sep 22, 2008 Location: Michigan Posts: 804	I agree, it was a 50's thing. Ricky could also be a very understanding husband if you think about it....LOL! When my husband watches the show with me and Lucy acts up (I know...when doesn't she?) he will laugh his butt off and then say, things like "I'd kill her!" When Ricky spanked her those few times, he would say, "She had that coming." LOL! All in fun though because as I said he laughs pretty hard too.