Miscellanea

END OF THE "REGULAR" SEASONS. 

Things I have learned from Lucy: 

-Her hijinks are palatable in weekly 30-minute doses, or even a few reruns in a row... but watching hours of her torturing Ricky and the Mertzes can be extremely taxing. I recently heard a radio show with my sister that called Lucy's character a "ball of need," and that is incredibly true.

-Lucy really did defeat every single stereotype about women in the 50s. She didn't stay at home, she was an atypical mother, she had (successful) professional aspirations, she defeated her husband at almost every turn, she was in charge in almost every way, even when she was (nominally) kowtowing to Ricky.

-This show really has three distinct periods: Early (episodes in the NY, centered around the apartment and the night club, up to Tennessee Ernie), Middle (trips to Hollywood, Europe), Late (return to NYC, Trip to Florida, and move out to CT). All three had "famous" episodes that are well known.

-If I had to list the pantheon of "great" I Love Lucy episodes, I would list a total of 15, presented here in chronological order:

+The Seance (Season 1, Episode7) - The first hysterical payoff, where Lucy and Fred each are convinced of ghosts. 

+Lucy Does a Commercial (Season 1, Episode 30) - "Vitameatavegamin" ... 'nuff said

+Job Switching (Season 2, Episode 1) - Lucy and Ethel in the chocolate factory, while the husbands mess up the house.

+Ricky and Fred are TV Fans (Season 2, Episode 30) - The boxing fight that hypnotizes everyone.

+The Diner (Season 3, Episode 27) - Where the Ricardos and Mertzes open a diner that quickly gets competitive.

+The Golf Game (Season 4, Episode 30) - The famous golf lesson episode, with "masheys" and whatnot.

+L.A. At Last (Season 5, Episode 17) - The famous Brown Derby/light nose on fire episode.

+Harpo Marx (Season 5, Episode 28) - Lucy masquerades as celebrities, only for the REAL Harpo to show up. 

+Lucy and John Wayne (Season 6, Episode 2) - Lucy ruins John Wayne's attempts to replace his cement slab, repeatedly.

+Lucy Gets a Paris Gown (Season 6, Episode 20) - Ricky and Fred craft some hilarious haute couture. 

+Lucy's Italian Movie (Season 6, Episode 23) - Lucy stomps grapes and gets into a fight with her opposite number.

+Off to Florida (Season 7, Episode 6) - Lucy and Ethel hitchhile to Florida, get mistaken for axe-murderers. 

+Lucy the Loving Cup (Season 7, Episode 12) - Lucy gets the trophy stuck on her head, must take subway blind.

+Lucy and Superman (Season 7, Episode 13) - Lucy has to dress as Superman for Little Ricky, real Superman shows up.

+Lucy Raises Chicken (Season 7, Episode 19) - Lucy and 500 baby chicks in her country house... total insanity.

This is of course highly debatable, and there are at least 5 more I think might be included, but those are the most famous, I think, and are most representative of the best the show had to offer. 

::DRUM ROLL::

There were three additional seasons, in hour-long format, for a total of 13 additional episodes. 

I'm going to watch and review those too, here in 2016, but on a longer schedule because I'm also juggling a Murder, She Wrote blog. Stay tuned!