It's the little things - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Mysty Eyes · 03-24-2002, 02:20 AM

First let me say: I love "I Love Lucy" and I have watched it over and over for years. I never grow tired of this show.

But there are a few things in various episodes that always bug me. Now, I know that these things are in the scripts to garner laughs, and that it's comedy and doesn't have to be reasonable, but...

One is the way barely disguised Lucy and Ethel manage to fool their husbands into not recognizing them. This happened on several episodes, but I think that the most blatant example was in the first episode aired (not filmed) "The Girls Want To Go To A Nightclub." Lucy and Ethel are dressed as "country bumpkins" but, in my opinion, are quite recognizable. For husbands of many years, Ricky and Fred aren't very observant.

Another thing that has always bothered me is in the episode "Lucy Tells The Truth." In this one Lucy is at a bridge game and all the women there start asking her questions about her weight, age, etc. Since Ricky, Fred and Ethel have a bet with Lucy to tell the truth, well.... What bugs me: Lucy answers all of these personal questions, truthfully. But, there was nothing in the bet that said that she had to answer all questions put to her. Why didn't she just say "no comment?"

And a third that comes to mind is in "Lucy In The Swiss Alps." It always makes me a little bit angry that Ricky, Fred and Ethel play the "guilt" game on Lucy when they discover that she still has part of her lunch while they are trapped in the avalanche. They coerce Lucy into sharing her food with them. But, they all have already eaten their food, while Lucy has not eaten nearly as much as they have. Grrrrrrr!

Anyway, anyone else out there have little niggling peeves they'd like to make a light-hearted gripe about?

melluvslucy · 03-24-2002, 12:59 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Mysty Eyes
What bugs me: Lucy answers all of these personal questions, truthfully. But, there was nothing in the bet that said that she had to answer all questions put to her. Why didn't she just say "no comment?"

I think it would've been hilarious if Lucy had admitted her real age on the show.....she said "33", and we all know darn well that she was 42 at the time. And I have to say, that woman did NOT look her age.....I think the whole time ILL ran, she looked 10-15 years younger than she actually was.

~LadyJess~ · 03-24-2002, 01:09 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Mysty Eyes
Lucy answers all of these personal questions, truthfully. But, there was nothing in the bet that said that she had to answer all questions put to her. Why didn't she just say "no comment?"

I never really thought about that but it makes good sense. And you would think Lucy, of all people, would have figured that out since even in that same episode she managed to pull off that she appeared in "3-D."

dawsongirl · 03-25-2002, 05:01 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Mysty Eyes
One is the way barely disguised Lucy and Ethel manage to fool their husbands into not recognizing them. This happened on several episodes, but I think that the most blatant example was in the first episode aired (not filmed) "The Girls Want To Go To A Nightclub." Lucy and Ethel are dressed as "country bumpkins" but, in my opinion, are quite recognizable. For husbands of many years, Ricky and Fred aren't very observant.

LOL!

That's always annoyed me too. I mean really, were those guys THAT dumb?

What gets me is where her and Ethel manage to get all their costumes and props for their schemes. For a couple of ladies with little money, how on Earth did they get ahold of an elephant, some chickens, a burro, 25 children, etc...

Beruche · 03-25-2002, 08:12 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Mysty Eyes

Another thing that has always bothered me is in the episode "Lucy Tells The Truth." In this one Lucy is at a bridge game and all the women there start asking her questions about her weight, age, etc. Since Ricky, Fred and Ethel have a bet with Lucy to tell the truth, well.... What bugs me: Lucy answers all of these personal questions, truthfully. But, there was nothing in the bet that said that she had to answer all questions put to her. Why didn't she just say "no comment?"

LOL I always wondered the same thing!

tdr · 03-25-2002, 09:43 PM

< Lucy answers all of these personal questions, truthfully. But, there was nothing in the bet that said that she had to answer all questions put to her. Why didn't she just say "no comment?" >

I'm trying to go by memory only here, but to be really technical, I think the bet was that Lucy must tell the absolute truth for 24 hours. The rules were not layed out specifically enough, but from an objective point of view, they seem to have been in agreement that Lucy did have to answer questions put to her, since not even she seemed to think otherwise. But in actuality, if her friends wanted to embarass her by asking personal questions she must answer truthfully, they would have thought of better ones than about her age, hair, and weight

I agree entirely about the disguise fallacies. The only time Ricky and Fred apparently 'saw through' their disguises right away was at the "Daddly Shower," where if anything they were better disguised than in the "Girls Want to Go to a Nightclub" ep or when they continually fool 'Mr. Littlefield' walking out of the Tropicana, et al.

< What gets me is where her and Ethel manage to get all their costumes and props for their schemes. For a couple of ladies with little money, how on Earth did they get ahold of an elephant, some chickens, a burro, 25 children, etc... >

That is my main complaint about the 1st season eps; they just went too outlandishly wild in these ways. They appeared to realize before long, though, that they had great character comedy which did not have to be so unbelievable and unexplainable for their situations.

tdr · 03-25-2002, 09:48 PM

Another "little thing" I notice just yesterday... In the Hollywood ep where Hedda Hopper appears, the backdrop used in the scene by the swimming pool is the same as used in the hotel suite on the 3rd floor. It makes it look like the pool is on about the 3rd floor, or at least that the street runs under the pool.

chicosladyfair · 04-04-2002, 03:03 AM

I always wondered about their props and costumes too. They always seemed to have a trunk full of costumes left over from Ricky's shows. Would any of you keep a horse costume in your closet? Me neither. LOLOL
But I love the show...idiosyncracies and all.

dawsongirl · 04-04-2002, 05:12 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by chicosladyfair
Would any of you keep a horse costume in your closet?

Oh I would. You just never know when it might come in handy.

03-24-2002, 02:20 AM	#1
Mysty Eyes Dreaming... Senior Member Join Date: Feb 04, 2002 Location: Los Angeles area Posts: 1,144	It's the little things First let me say: I love "I Love Lucy" and I have watched it over and over for years. I never grow tired of this show. But there are a few things in various episodes that always bug me. Now, I know that these things are in the scripts to garner laughs, and that it's comedy and doesn't have to be reasonable, but... One is the way barely disguised Lucy and Ethel manage to fool their husbands into not recognizing them. This happened on several episodes, but I think that the most blatant example was in the first episode aired (not filmed) "The Girls Want To Go To A Nightclub." Lucy and Ethel are dressed as "country bumpkins" but, in my opinion, are quite recognizable. For husbands of many years, Ricky and Fred aren't very observant. Another thing that has always bothered me is in the episode "Lucy Tells The Truth." In this one Lucy is at a bridge game and all the women there start asking her questions about her weight, age, etc. Since Ricky, Fred and Ethel have a bet with Lucy to tell the truth, well.... What bugs me: Lucy answers all of these personal questions, truthfully. But, there was nothing in the bet that said that she had to answer all questions put to her. Why didn't she just say "no comment?" And a third that comes to mind is in "Lucy In The Swiss Alps." It always makes me a little bit angry that Ricky, Fred and Ethel play the "guilt" game on Lucy when they discover that she still has part of her lunch while they are trapped in the avalanche. They coerce Lucy into sharing her food with them. But, they all have already eaten their food, while Lucy has not eaten nearly as much as they have. Grrrrrrr! Anyway, anyone else out there have little niggling peeves they'd like to make a light-hearted gripe about?

03-25-2002, 09:43 PM	#6
tdr Member Senior Member Join Date: Mar 23, 2001 Posts: 1,454	< Lucy answers all of these personal questions, truthfully. But, there was nothing in the bet that said that she had to answer all questions put to her. Why didn't she just say "no comment?" > I'm trying to go by memory only here, but to be really technical, I think the bet was that Lucy must tell the absolute truth for 24 hours. The rules were not layed out specifically enough, but from an objective point of view, they seem to have been in agreement that Lucy did have to answer questions put to her, since not even she seemed to think otherwise. But in actuality, if her friends wanted to embarass her by asking personal questions she must answer truthfully, they would have thought of better ones than about her age, hair, and weight I agree entirely about the disguise fallacies. The only time Ricky and Fred apparently 'saw through' their disguises right away was at the "Daddly Shower," where if anything they were better disguised than in the "Girls Want to Go to a Nightclub" ep or when they continually fool 'Mr. Littlefield' walking out of the Tropicana, et al. < What gets me is where her and Ethel manage to get all their costumes and props for their schemes. For a couple of ladies with little money, how on Earth did they get ahold of an elephant, some chickens, a burro, 25 children, etc... > That is my main complaint about the 1st season eps; they just went too outlandishly wild in these ways. They appeared to realize before long, though, that they had great character comedy which did not have to be so unbelievable and unexplainable for their situations.

03-25-2002, 09:48 PM	#7
tdr Member Senior Member Join Date: Mar 23, 2001 Posts: 1,454	Another "little thing" I notice just yesterday... In the Hollywood ep where Hedda Hopper appears, the backdrop used in the scene by the swimming pool is the same as used in the hotel suite on the 3rd floor. It makes it look like the pool is on about the 3rd floor, or at least that the street runs under the pool.

04-04-2002, 03:03 AM	#8
chicosladyfair Member Forum Regular Join Date: Apr 10, 2001 Location: Sunny California Posts: 770	I always wondered about their props and costumes too. They always seemed to have a trunk full of costumes left over from Ricky's shows. Would any of you keep a horse costume in your closet? Me neither. LOLOL But I love the show...idiosyncracies and all.