Does anyone notice that - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Betsy · 05-29-2001, 09:59 PM

even the decent, but not necessarily memorable, I Love Lucy episodes are still enjoyable to watch? I just got through watching Sales Resistance, Inferiority Complex and Club Election, and even though I don't think that these rank as among the best episodes, I still reveled in the watching of them. I think it's because of the wonderful character development that the writers created, and that the actors brought to life. We care about the Ricardos and the Mertzes and we want to see what happens to them, and how they get out of the messes, no matter if we laugh till we cry or we merely chuckle.

For some reason, I have this little ritual that I prefer when I watch ILL. I love to watch it at night, with the blinds closed and my lights off...I don't know why...maybe it is the black and white of the show. In any case, I do NOT like being disturbed when I am watching ILL. It brings me back to reality.....

betsy

dawsongirl · 05-29-2001, 11:13 PM

Hey, some of my favorite episodes are, shall we say, the not as memorable ones. Lucy Writes a Play, The Black Eye, The Adagio, The Young Fans, Building a BBQ, Don Juan and the Starlets.... Okay, I could go on forever.

No episodes of this show suck, unlike many other shows on the air. Even the ones I don't like (the grape stomping episode being one; don't ask me why, I just don't like it) aren't bad.

And watching TV in the dark is fun! It's like watching in a theatre!

[This message has been edited by dawsongirl (edited 05-29-2001).]

Betsy · 05-30-2001, 08:00 AM

I totally agree with you on Young Fans and Building a BBQ; I loved those episodes. The scene where Lucy and Ricky get "old" to push two lovestruck teens away is classic; I really did laugh till I cried on that one (or close to it), and the BBQ episode was just as wonderful, more so I think. Not only was it funny, but it was very sweet as well, and I loved the last scene where Ricky puts the ring back on Lucy's finger, and they kiss. I don't know how the Connecticut episodes are ranked in the "pantheon" of ILL, but I love those episodes. When I saw them for the first time (thank goodness I started taping then), I laughed until my stomach hurt!

TV Guy · 05-30-2001, 01:04 PM

I think the reason that even the relatively "mediocre" (and I do mean relatively) episodes are still enjoyable is because of the chemistry of the cast. Lucy and Desi had a lot of chemistry onscreen, as did Lucy and Ethel. And William Frawley is a riot.

I know a lot of people don't consider the Connecticut episodes to be as good as the others, but I like them. I think it gave them some fresh things to do, rather than do any more stories in that cramped apartment.

One of my favorite episodes is from right before they move to Connecticut -- "Lucy and the Loving Cup". The site of Lucy with that cup stuck on her head completely cracks me up.

dawsongirl · 05-30-2001, 04:06 PM

The Conn. episodes certainly aren't the most classic, but they aren't terrible. Some people on www.jumpedtheshark.com claim that ILL went downhill when they moved to Conn. Some were better than others (Building a BBQ and Lucy's Night in Town were better than Lucy Raises Tulips), but they didn't bring the show to its knees. If Lucy and Desi hadn't decided to quit the half-hour ILL's, they could have gone on with the Conn. episodes just fine.

This is gonna sound real dumb, but one of the reasons that the Conn. episodes aren't my favorite is because all of a sudden, Lucy lost some of that feminine quality she had in earlier seasons. She baecame this farm wife instead of the semi-glamourous bandleader's wife.

But like you guys said, no episode was bad. Too bad there aren't more!

Betsy · 05-30-2001, 05:49 PM

TV Guy, you are so right about the chemistry..and William Frawley is a riot. He has this look on his face that is sort of a a half crying,half moaning look (his "oh no" look), that is just hysterical! His "oh, for corn's sake" is classic as well....

Those are interesting comments re: the Connecticut episodes. Not that I have watched enough episodes to make this comment, but I think Lucy had already changed somewhat after the birth of Little Ricky. I know the writers wanted to bring a fresh approach to the series, and I think they were probably right. I mean, what else could they have done in the apartment? They didn't want to rest on their laurels.

I didn't love Lucy Raises Tulips, but I did love Lucy wants to move to the Country (the gangster scene is a riot), Lucy raises Chickens, Lucy does the Tango, Lucy's Night in Town...

We all have different standards as to what makes a show funny or memorable, and that's why it's so interesting to read what peoples' favorite shows are

Betsy · 05-30-2001, 05:57 PM

Just a comment on that Jump the Shark website...yech!

You got a few who hate the show, a few who thought the show went downhill when Little Ricky was born (I thought the baby shows very warm and sweet, and it showed wonderful sides to the characters.....)....

This maybe a foolish question, but I'll ask it anyway. We all know that "Job Switching" "Lucy does a TV commercial" and "Lucy's Italian Movie" are considered the all time classics. Amongst Lucy and tv historians (and fans), what other shows are considered to be either classics or particularly funny or memorable?

dawsongirl · 05-30-2001, 10:35 PM

The episode where Lucy tells Ricky she's pregnant. You can't buy that kind of realism! And I'm not even going to attempt to spell the French word for pregnant they use in the title!

I'd include the first episode. Well, not #1, but #2, the first episode they aired.

"L.A. at Last" with Bill Holden. #114

The episode with John Wayne and his footprints. #128-129

"Lucy goes to the Hospital" #56

"Lucy's Last Birthday" #60

"Lucy Tells the Truth" #72

Just to name a few!!!

dawsongirl · 05-30-2001, 10:39 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Betsy:
Just a comment on that Jump the Shark website...yech! You got a few who hate the show, a few who thought the show went downhill when Little Ricky was born (I thought the baby shows very warm and sweet, and it showed wonderful sides to the characters.....)....

Isn't that sick? It jumped after Little Rick was born? That's nuts. And then there are those idiots who seem to confuse Lucy and Ricky with Lucy and Desi. Geez, they're dumb!

Betsy · 05-31-2001, 07:59 AM

I love all of the episodes you listed there, well....I haven't seen Lucy's Last Birthday yet, but I taped it and glanced through it as I fast forwarded through it. Any show that ends the way that show does has to be special.

Re: Jump the Shark. Did you read the comment that someone said about the show not being any good in Connecticut because Lucy and Desi were not getting along? LOL....They were fighting off and on through the whole series, which is why ILL was made in the first place! Besides, most actors/actresses who play husbands and wives on tv or in the movies are not married to each other, so there goes THAT guys argument! I always thought that all the actors did an incredibly professional job hiding whatever was going on in their personal lives...

dawsongirl · 05-31-2001, 03:04 PM

You know, I think some of those people got on there and typed up something without actually having seen these episodes. I've never gotten any indication of unrest simply by watching those last few episodes and I've seen them all at least 3 times. The last few Lucy-Desi Comedy Hours yes, but ILL no.

And talk about covering up hatred. Look at Viv and Bill. They acted perfectly civil on ILL when they really hated each other so much! These people were professionals and knew they couldn't let down an audience.

TV Guy · 06-01-2001, 01:27 PM

I think you're right, dawsongirl -- I don't get any sense of unhappiness between Lucille and Desi at the end of the ILL episodes. From what I've read, they were having their problems at that point, but still got along well on the set. It was during the last one or two Lucy-Desi hours where things had deterioriated so much that they didn't speak to each other when not in character.

It's too bad that such a great couple couldn't make their marriage work, but it's nice to know that they got along well after the divorce.

Terry Ross · 06-02-2001, 07:56 PM

I read that their problems were starting to escalate at the end of ILL. They took a trip to Europe with their kids and Desi spent most of it drunk. No way was that ever evident on the show. The first indication that there was any trouble was on the hour-long Lucy-Desi Comedy Hours. For example, Desi did not want the Milton Berle episode was filmed in front of a studio audience {problems on the set} and Lucy and Desi weren't even speaking during the very last show with Edie Adams and Ernie Kovacs (who died right after in a car crash). Notice that Lucy and Desi NEVER have a scene together; they were speaking to each other through others. This was the only show where they didn't look natural and at ease together; they couldn't hide it, especially Lucy. The last scene where he kisses her was apparently very hard for them because Lucy was filing for divorce the next day. They both sobbed at the end of the scene. Watch Lucy's face as Desi kisses her; she's heart-broken (so is he).

Regarding favorite episodes that aren't classics: I was not a fan of the first two seasons. I didn't think there was enough character development and it was often too silly. The shows became more sophisticated later on and my favorite shows are the LA and Europe trips and Connecticut. I loved every show in the last three seasons but those were my favorites. I also enjoyed the Florida trip and Cuba visit and the Orson Welles and Bob Hope episodes. Not exactly anyone's top favorites.

dawsongirl · 06-04-2001, 01:08 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Terry Ross:
I read that their problems were starting to escalate at the end of ILL. They took a trip to Europe with their kids and Desi spent most of it drunk. No way was that ever evident on the show. The first indication that there was any trouble was on the hour-long Lucy-Desi Comedy Hours. For example, Desi did not want the Milton Berle episode was filmed in front of a studio audience {problems on the set} and Lucy and Desi weren't even speaking during the very last show with Edie Adams and Ernie Kovacs (who died right after in a car crash). Notice that Lucy and Desi NEVER have a scene together; they were speaking to each other through others. This was the only show where they didn't look natural and at ease together; they couldn't hide it, especially Lucy. The last scene where he kisses her was apparently very hard for them because Lucy was filing for divorce the next day. They both sobbed at the end of the scene. Watch Lucy's face as Desi kisses her; she's heart-broken (so is he).

I think that trip was in 1959, the year before they divorced. And that last episode was so sad and so hard to watch. Edie Adams even said it was awful to be on the set.

05-29-2001, 09:59 PM	#1
Betsy Member Occasional Poster Join Date: May 15, 2001 Posts: 48	Does anyone notice that even the decent, but not necessarily memorable, I Love Lucy episodes are still enjoyable to watch? I just got through watching Sales Resistance, Inferiority Complex and Club Election, and even though I don't think that these rank as among the best episodes, I still reveled in the watching of them. I think it's because of the wonderful character development that the writers created, and that the actors brought to life. We care about the Ricardos and the Mertzes and we want to see what happens to them, and how they get out of the messes, no matter if we laugh till we cry or we merely chuckle. For some reason, I have this little ritual that I prefer when I watch ILL. I love to watch it at night, with the blinds closed and my lights off...I don't know why...maybe it is the black and white of the show. In any case, I do NOT like being disturbed when I am watching ILL. It brings me back to reality..... betsy

05-29-2001, 11:13 PM	#2
dawsongirl Member Forum Icon Join Date: Jan 04, 2001 Posts: 53,128	Hey, some of my favorite episodes are, shall we say, the not as memorable ones. Lucy Writes a Play, The Black Eye, The Adagio, The Young Fans, Building a BBQ, Don Juan and the Starlets.... Okay, I could go on forever. No episodes of this show suck, unlike many other shows on the air. Even the ones I don't like (the grape stomping episode being one; don't ask me why, I just don't like it) aren't bad. And watching TV in the dark is fun! It's like watching in a theatre! [This message has been edited by dawsongirl (edited 05-29-2001).]

05-30-2001, 08:00 AM	#3
Betsy Member Occasional Poster Join Date: May 15, 2001 Posts: 48	I totally agree with you on Young Fans and Building a BBQ; I loved those episodes. The scene where Lucy and Ricky get "old" to push two lovestruck teens away is classic; I really did laugh till I cried on that one (or close to it), and the BBQ episode was just as wonderful, more so I think. Not only was it funny, but it was very sweet as well, and I loved the last scene where Ricky puts the ring back on Lucy's finger, and they kiss. I don't know how the Connecticut episodes are ranked in the "pantheon" of ILL, but I love those episodes. When I saw them for the first time (thank goodness I started taping then), I laughed until my stomach hurt!

05-30-2001, 01:04 PM	#4
TV Guy Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Jun 25, 2001 Location: Boston, MA, USA Posts: 3,419	I think the reason that even the relatively "mediocre" (and I do mean relatively) episodes are still enjoyable is because of the chemistry of the cast. Lucy and Desi had a lot of chemistry onscreen, as did Lucy and Ethel. And William Frawley is a riot. I know a lot of people don't consider the Connecticut episodes to be as good as the others, but I like them. I think it gave them some fresh things to do, rather than do any more stories in that cramped apartment. One of my favorite episodes is from right before they move to Connecticut -- "Lucy and the Loving Cup". The site of Lucy with that cup stuck on her head completely cracks me up.

05-30-2001, 04:06 PM	#5
dawsongirl Member Forum Icon Join Date: Jan 04, 2001 Posts: 53,128	The Conn. episodes certainly aren't the most classic, but they aren't terrible. Some people on www.jumpedtheshark.com claim that ILL went downhill when they moved to Conn. Some were better than others (Building a BBQ and Lucy's Night in Town were better than Lucy Raises Tulips), but they didn't bring the show to its knees. If Lucy and Desi hadn't decided to quit the half-hour ILL's, they could have gone on with the Conn. episodes just fine. This is gonna sound real dumb, but one of the reasons that the Conn. episodes aren't my favorite is because all of a sudden, Lucy lost some of that feminine quality she had in earlier seasons. She baecame this farm wife instead of the semi-glamourous bandleader's wife. But like you guys said, no episode was bad. Too bad there aren't more!

05-30-2001, 05:49 PM	#6
Betsy Member Occasional Poster Join Date: May 15, 2001 Posts: 48	TV Guy, you are so right about the chemistry..and William Frawley is a riot. He has this look on his face that is sort of a a half crying,half moaning look (his "oh no" look), that is just hysterical! His "oh, for corn's sake" is classic as well.... Those are interesting comments re: the Connecticut episodes. Not that I have watched enough episodes to make this comment, but I think Lucy had already changed somewhat after the birth of Little Ricky. I know the writers wanted to bring a fresh approach to the series, and I think they were probably right. I mean, what else could they have done in the apartment? They didn't want to rest on their laurels. I didn't love Lucy Raises Tulips, but I did love Lucy wants to move to the Country (the gangster scene is a riot), Lucy raises Chickens, Lucy does the Tango, Lucy's Night in Town... We all have different standards as to what makes a show funny or memorable, and that's why it's so interesting to read what peoples' favorite shows are

05-30-2001, 05:57 PM	#7
Betsy Member Occasional Poster Join Date: May 15, 2001 Posts: 48	Just a comment on that Jump the Shark website...yech! You got a few who hate the show, a few who thought the show went downhill when Little Ricky was born (I thought the baby shows very warm and sweet, and it showed wonderful sides to the characters.....).... This maybe a foolish question, but I'll ask it anyway. We all know that "Job Switching" "Lucy does a TV commercial" and "Lucy's Italian Movie" are considered the all time classics. Amongst Lucy and tv historians (and fans), what other shows are considered to be either classics or particularly funny or memorable?

05-30-2001, 10:35 PM	#8
dawsongirl Member Forum Icon Join Date: Jan 04, 2001 Posts: 53,128	The episode where Lucy tells Ricky she's pregnant. You can't buy that kind of realism! And I'm not even going to attempt to spell the French word for pregnant they use in the title! I'd include the first episode. Well, not #1, but #2, the first episode they aired. "L.A. at Last" with Bill Holden. #114 The episode with John Wayne and his footprints. #128-129 "Lucy goes to the Hospital" #56 "Lucy's Last Birthday" #60 "Lucy Tells the Truth" #72 Just to name a few!!!

05-31-2001, 07:59 AM	#10
Betsy Member Occasional Poster Join Date: May 15, 2001 Posts: 48	I love all of the episodes you listed there, well....I haven't seen Lucy's Last Birthday yet, but I taped it and glanced through it as I fast forwarded through it. Any show that ends the way that show does has to be special. Re: Jump the Shark. Did you read the comment that someone said about the show not being any good in Connecticut because Lucy and Desi were not getting along? LOL....They were fighting off and on through the whole series, which is why ILL was made in the first place! Besides, most actors/actresses who play husbands and wives on tv or in the movies are not married to each other, so there goes THAT guys argument! I always thought that all the actors did an incredibly professional job hiding whatever was going on in their personal lives...

05-31-2001, 03:04 PM	#11
dawsongirl Member Forum Icon Join Date: Jan 04, 2001 Posts: 53,128	You know, I think some of those people got on there and typed up something without actually having seen these episodes. I've never gotten any indication of unrest simply by watching those last few episodes and I've seen them all at least 3 times. The last few Lucy-Desi Comedy Hours yes, but ILL no. And talk about covering up hatred. Look at Viv and Bill. They acted perfectly civil on ILL when they really hated each other so much! These people were professionals and knew they couldn't let down an audience.

06-01-2001, 01:27 PM	#12
TV Guy Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Jun 25, 2001 Location: Boston, MA, USA Posts: 3,419	I think you're right, dawsongirl -- I don't get any sense of unhappiness between Lucille and Desi at the end of the ILL episodes. From what I've read, they were having their problems at that point, but still got along well on the set. It was during the last one or two Lucy-Desi hours where things had deterioriated so much that they didn't speak to each other when not in character. It's too bad that such a great couple couldn't make their marriage work, but it's nice to know that they got along well after the divorce.

06-02-2001, 07:56 PM	#13
Terry Ross Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Nov 20, 2000 Location: New Jersey Posts: 196	I read that their problems were starting to escalate at the end of ILL. They took a trip to Europe with their kids and Desi spent most of it drunk. No way was that ever evident on the show. The first indication that there was any trouble was on the hour-long Lucy-Desi Comedy Hours. For example, Desi did not want the Milton Berle episode was filmed in front of a studio audience {problems on the set} and Lucy and Desi weren't even speaking during the very last show with Edie Adams and Ernie Kovacs (who died right after in a car crash). Notice that Lucy and Desi NEVER have a scene together; they were speaking to each other through others. This was the only show where they didn't look natural and at ease together; they couldn't hide it, especially Lucy. The last scene where he kisses her was apparently very hard for them because Lucy was filing for divorce the next day. They both sobbed at the end of the scene. Watch Lucy's face as Desi kisses her; she's heart-broken (so is he). Regarding favorite episodes that aren't classics: I was not a fan of the first two seasons. I didn't think there was enough character development and it was often too silly. The shows became more sophisticated later on and my favorite shows are the LA and Europe trips and Connecticut. I loved every show in the last three seasons but those were my favorites. I also enjoyed the Florida trip and Cuba visit and the Orson Welles and Bob Hope episodes. Not exactly anyone's top favorites.