#billy benedict

S3;E14 ~ December 14, 1970

Directed by Ross Martin ~ Written by Larry Rhine and Lou Derman

Synopsis

Harry is panicked when he thinks an old college girlfriend wants to marry him, so he recruits Lucy to pretend to be his wife – complete with two teenage kids and another one on the way!

Regular Cast

Lucille Ball (Lucy Carter), Gale Gordon (Harrison Otis Carter), Lucie Arnaz (Kim Carter)

Desi Arnaz Jr. (Craig Carter) does not appear in this episode. He is, however, mentioned in the dialogue and his name appears in the opening credits.  Harry claims Craig is “on vacation.”

Guest Cast

Jean Willes (Gertrude Krebs) appeared in The Fuller Brush Girl (1950) and A Woman of Distinction (1950) with Lucille Ball.  This is her only series appearance.  

Gertrude is a college friend of Harry’s.  

Carole Cook (Lillian Rylander) played Thelma Green on “The Lucy Show” as well as a host of other characters. She was a protege of Lucille Ball’s during the Desilu Playhouse years. Although born as Mildred Cook, Ball suggested she take the name Carole, in honor of Lucy’s great friend, Carole Lombard. Cook appeared in five episodes of “Here’s Lucy.”   

Lillian is a member of Lucy’s bridge club.  The surname Rylander has been used many times by Gale Gordon when dictating letters to Lucy in both “Here’s Lucy” and “The Lucy Show.”  

Eddie Quillan (Cab Driver) appeared in the Lucille Ball film A Guide for the Married Man (1967) and in two episodes of “The Lucy Show.”  This is the first of his two “Here’s Lucy” installments.

Billy Benedict (Delivery Man) played Whitey in the original Bowery Boys / East Side Kids film serials.  He married for the first time at age 52 while working as an extra on Hello, Dolly (1969) – coincidentally to a girl named Dolly! This is his only time (in more than 300 films and television shows) working with Lucille Ball.

Gary Morton (Airport Announcer Voice, uncredited) was a comedian who worked the famed ‘Borscht Belt’ in the Catskills Mountains. He met Lucille Ball shortly after her divorce from Desi Arnaz and they married in November 1961. At her request, Morton gave up his nightclub career and became a producer of “The Lucy Show.” Morton also served as a warm-up comic for the show’s studio audience. He appeared in “Lucy and the Andrews Sisters” (S2;E6) and “Lucy and Sammy Davis Jr.” (S3;E3). Morton passed away in 1999.

The voice delivers the news that Gertrude’s flight has been delayed five hours.

Lee Bergere (Doctor Brogan, uncredited) worked at Desilu in "Star Trek", "Mission: Impossible," and "Mannix". He is probably best remembered for playing Joseph on “Dynasty” (1981-83). 

Unusually, Bergere, who has dialogue in the episode’s final scene, is not identified in the end credits. It may be the result of ‘artistic differences’ with Lucille Ball a LBP, or it may just have been an oversight. 

Joan Carey (Airport Traveler, uncredited) was one of the few performers to be seen on “I Love Lucy,” “The Lucy Show” and “Here’s Lucy.” She was also one of Lucille Ball’s camera and lighting stand-ins. [Thanks to The Lucy Lounge for spotting her!]

Other airport travelers are played by uncredited background performers. 

This is the first episode to be directed by actor Ross Martin, who was a good friend of Lucille Ball’s. In a 1970 TV special (two weeks before this episode first aired) titled “Swing Out, Sweet Land” - a history of America hosted by John Wayne - Lucille Ball did the voice of the Statue of Liberty and Martin played Alexander Hamilton. He will direct one more episode of “Here’s Lucy.”  

The title of this episode is often listed without the article: “Lucy, Part-Time Wife.”  

Gary Morton’s loud laughter from the studio audience is particularly noticeable in this episode. Perhaps, as her husband, he was wildly amused at the idea of Lucille being pregnant?

When Harry pleads with Lucy saying “it’s a matter of life or death” Lucy immediately assumes he’s been drafted. From 1940 until 1973 men were drafted to fill vacancies in the United States Armed Forces that could not be filled through voluntary means. The draft came to an end when the United States Armed Forces moved to an all-volunteer military force. In 1970, the Vietnam War made the draft a hot button issue on TV and politics.

To get Lucy to play along as his expectant wife, Harry bribes Lucy with a steam cabinet and an all-expenses paid trip to the Grand Canyon.   

Gertrude is in Los Angeles on a layover on her way to Honolulu.  At the end of season three, Lucy and Vivian will go to Hawaii, but by cruise ship, not plane.

Gertrude’s college nicknamed was ‘Blood and Guts’, the nickname of General Patton. General George Smith Patton Jr. (1885-1945) was a senior officer of the United States Army who commanded in the Mediterranean and European theaters of World War II, but is best known for his leadership in France and Germany following the Allied invasion of Normandy in June 1944. A biopic of his life starring George C. Scott (inset) opened in spring 1970 making this reference topical.  

Lillian Rylander says she’s at the airport on her way to Chicago with Hilda and Jane for a bridge tournament. When Lucy’s Bridge Club was introduced in “Lucy and Eva Gabor” (S1;E7) it consisted of Dolores, Maude and Nelly. Hilda was mentioned as a Bridge Club member in “Lucy the Helpful Mother” (S2;E15). This is the first mention of a member named Jane.  

Lucy tells Gertrude that she’s had cravings for pickles and ice cream, the usual TV trope craving for expectant mothers.

When Lucy is reading baby names from a book, she stops on the name 'Anabell.’  Lucille Ball starred as Annabel Allison in the films The Affairs of Annabel (1938) and Annabel Takes a Tour (1938).

Lucie breaks out the doll she had as a child, which was named Clarabelle.

At the end of the episode, Lucy kisses Harry, her brother-in-law, on the lips!  

Interestingly, the last time Lucille Ball was pregnant on camera was with Desi Arnaz Jr., who is coincidentally absent from this episode of “Here’s Lucy.” 

In 1952, when Lucy Ricardo was expecting, CBS censors forbade the writers from using the word ‘pregnant.’  Throughout this episode – eighteen years later – the word is still not used!  

When Lucy Ricardo was pregnant she craved pistachio ice cream and sardines.

Lucy Ricardo also worried about picking a name for the baby, wanting names that were “unique and euphonious.”  

Lucy Ricardo spends some time in a steam cabinet in “The Diet” (ILL S3;E1).

Sitcom Logic Gap Chasm!  Lucille Ball was 59 years old when she filmed this episode!

Also, Harry tells Gertrude that Lucy is having a baby “any day now.” Could they not simply tell Gertrude that the baby came early and disguise a doll (or a cheese!) as the baby?  

“Lucy, the Part-Time Wife” rates 3 Paper Hearts out of 5

"Hey, what's going on?" "I think the walls are wet."

Spook Busters (1946)

"Slip, the guy in the picture just moved!"