In honor of Lucille Ball’s birthday I figured I’d showcase my fifteen favorite episodes of I Love Lucy. I’ve tried to include clips and/or full episodes. If nothing is provided in terms of video I’ve discussed why I love the episode. Happy birthday Lucy!
Episodes in order of air date
The Diet
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4a4k6wh-UTM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1iwOFoSVfbU
Lucy Thinks Ricky is Trying to Murder Her
http://www.tv.com/shows/i-love-lucy/watch/lucy-thinks-ricky-is-trying-to-murder-her-13726/
The Freezer
Sadly I couldn’t find any significant clips or the full episode but this one is one of my favorite “Lucy and Ethel try to create a business” episodes. The girls end up with 700 pounds of beef and take it selling it at the bank. Lucy’s pitch with quick talking and rhyming “rump” and “stump” never ceases to make me chuckle. I wish I could perfect a sales pitch like that.
http://www.tv.com/shows/i-love-lucy/watch/lucy-does-a-tv-commercial-15110/
Job Switching
The Saxophone
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wdFxg_LYkXc
I do love the clip but I wish I could have actually found the clip of Lucy dressed up playing the sax. ”Be bop, be bop, be bop. Yeah man!”
The Courtroom
http://www.tv.com/shows/i-love-lucy/watch/the-courtroom-15122/
Lucy is Enciente
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6UPbOtpM5OQ
One of the most beautiful clips in film history. My mother always bawls when she sees this part. You can truly see the love between Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz in this clip.
Continuing the arc of Lucy having her baby, this is the one where she actually has the baby. There’s so many wacky hijinks in an episode where Lucy isn’t necessarily the main focus. You have Ricky dressed up as a crazy witch doctor and I love the man in the waiting room who has six girls. ”One more and you could start a softball team.”
Lucy is Envious
http://www.tv.com/shows/i-love-lucy/watch/lucy-is-envious-17126/
Hollywood At Last
http://www.tv.com/shows/i-love-lucy/watch/l-a-at-last-1592138/
Yes I had to include this as it’s the episode with William Holden.
Lucy Visits Grauman’s
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xc0WHNzsvZ0
The Passports
http://www.tv.com/shows/i-love-lucy/passports-1592164/
Lucy and the Loving Cup
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XI0OFLZza6M
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OkwGo4GLEtc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mF5iBawhji4
This one holds a personal connection for me as my grandfather was a devoted Superman fan and adored George Reeves. I think what I love about this episode as well is that Reeves wasn’t allowed to be “George Reeves as Superman” but Superman the person.
What are your favorite episodes?
Filed under: 1950s, Best Of Lists Tagged: 1950s, CBS, classic, comedy, Desi Arnaz, Hollywood, I Love Lucy, Journeys in Classic Film, Love Lucy, Lucille Ball, Lucy, Ricky, Romance, television, TV, William Holden