Lucille Ball was truly the queen of comedy. I Love Lucy was groundbreaking television. From the three camera method of producing a television series and using a live audience, I Love Lucy forever affected television producing and people’s hearts. Since her passing on April 26, 1989, the world has been a little less humorous. Thankfully, her legend is preserved by the following classic episodes that will still make you laugh out loud. The following is my list of the top ten I Love Lucy episodes.
10. The Freezer. Lucy and Ethel decide it will be economical to purchase a walk in freezer so they can buy large quantities of meat at a discount. After a miscommunication placing the order with the butcher, they wind up with seven hundred pounds of meat to hide from Ricky and Fred. In true Lucy fashion, she gets locked inside the freezer while Ethel tries to distract Ricky from the goings on in the basement. The way Lucille Ball looks with icicles coming from her nose is priceless.
9. Lucy And The Loving Cup. Ricky is awarded the honor of presenting a loving cup to a jockey at a banquet. The hat that Lucy plans to wear to the shindig looks ridiculous to Ricky and an argument ensues. To prove how truly silly she could look, Lucy puts the loving cup on her head and you can guess what the end result is.
8. Lucy Wants to Move to the Country. In one of her million schemes, Lucy tries every which way to convince Ricky to move out of the city and into the country. After a series of misunderstandings with the sellers of the house she wants to buy, Lucy, Ethel, and Fred dress up as gangsters to intimidate the couple into giving the Ricardos their deposit money back. The episode ends happy with Lucy and Ricky on their way to moving to the country.
7. I Love Lucy Christmas Special. The most heartwarming as well as funny of the I Love Lucy Episodes. This show recaps some wonderful episodes regarding Lucy’s pregnancy. A little bit of trivia now. Sponsors would not allow any character on the I Love Lucy show to use the word pregnant. They felt it was too racy for the public. They had to use the word “expecting” instead.
6 . Lucy And Superman. Lucy promises Little Ricky that Superman will make an appearance at his birthday party. When she can’t deliver, she decides to dress up as Superman himself rather than disappointing the kids. Trying to hide from Ricky, (who manages to get the real Superman to attend the party), Lucy needs to hide on the ledge outside the building.
5. Lucy Misses the Mertzes. After finally moving into the country, Lucy promptly decides she wants to go back to the city to visit Fred and Ethel. This episode is hilarious slapstick comedy when the two couples keep missing each other and all four wind up in the closet together.
4. The Hedda Hopper Story. This I Love Lucy episode is one of several that were based on the two couples moving to California temporarily after Ricky gets a part in a movie. As a publicity stunt, Ricky is supposed to save a woman drowning in the pool. The woman turns out to be Lucy and takes several unplanned dips in the pool while they are waiting for Hedda Hopper to arrive.
3 Lucy Raises Chickens. In a money making scheme, Ethel and Lucy buy five hundred baby chicks before the incubator is ready for them. They were being safely kept in the den until Little Ricky leaves the door open. With Lucy, Ricky, Fred, and Ethel all stripped down to shorts and calling for the chicks, this episode is I Love Lucy at it’s very best.
2. Lucy Hates to Leave. Before moving to Connecticut, the Ricardos must stay with the Mertzes temporarily. Lucy is supposed to sell all their furniture to the new tenants. After learning how they are going to change it all, she can’t bear to part with it. The Mertzes’ apartment winds up an obstacle course with all of Lucy’s furniture.
1. Lucy Does A Commercial. Lucy finally gets her chance to be on television. She is chosen to be the spokesperson for “Vitameatavegamin” health tonic that unbeknown to her, has an extremely high alcohol content. Lucy gets tipsier and tipsier, and funnier and funnier.
I Love Lucy was just good, clean fun. Never offensive. A family show that is entertaining for eight year olds to eighty year olds. Revisit this classic television show that is just as good now, as it was fifty years ago.
