#cuica

S5;E8 ~ November 7, 1966

Synopsis

Lucy's new roommate Carol gets a gig singing in Palm Springs with The Vagabonds and wants Lucy to come along.  Lucy has to fake illness to get off work and then perform with the group to earn her stay.  Carol Burnett and Dan Rowan guest star.

Regular Cast

Lucille Ball (Lucy Carmichael), Gale Gordon (Theodore J. Mooney)

Mary Jane Croft (Mary Jane Lewis) does not appear in this episode.

Guest Cast

Carol Burnett (Carol Bradford) got her first big break on “The Paul Winchell Show” in 1955. Winchell guest starred with Lucy in “Lucy and Paul Winchell” (S5;E4). A years later she was a regular on “The Garry Moore Show.”  In 1959 she made her Broadway debut in Once Upon a Mattress, which she also appeared in on television three times. From 1960 to 1965 she did a number of TV specials, and often appeared with Julie Andrews.  Her second Broadway musical was Fade Out – Fade In which ran for more than 270 performances.  From 1967 to 1978 she hosted her own highly successful variety show, “The Carol Burnett Show.”  This episode is the second of her five appearances with Lucy as Carol Bradford.  In return, Lucille Ball made five appearances on “The Carol Burnett Show.”  Burnett also returned to star in three episodes of “Here's Lucy,” once playing herself.  After Lucille Ball's passing, Burnett was hailed as the natural heir to Lucy's title of 'The Queen of TV Comedy.'  

Carol Bradford is a librarian who likes to sing.

Dan Rowan (Colin Grant) was the comedy partner of Dick Martin, who played Lucy's boyfriend Harry  on season 1 of “The Lucy Show.”  He is best known as the co-host of “Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In” which aired from 1968 to 1973 and earned him a 1972 Emmy Award.  Earlier in 1966 he had appeared with Lucille Ball on “The Dean Martin Show.”  He will guest star on “The Carol Burnett Show” in 1969 and in return she appeared on “Laugh-In” in 1972.  This is the first of his two appearances on “The Lucy Show.”  He died in 1987 at age 65.

Grant is described as a millionaire sportsman, “celebrated big game hunter, deep sea fisherman, and a fine golfer.” He is single, but considering marriage.   

Jonathan Hole (Mr. Haskell, Hotel Manager) previously played Mr. Collins, Manager of Stacey’s Department Store, in “Lucy Bags a Bargain” (S4;E17). He was in eight Broadway plays between 1924 and 1934.  Hole's  screen career began in 1951. This is the second of his three appearances on the series. He also did two episodes of “Here’s Lucy.”

William Woodson (Radio Reporter) previously played Danfield TV reporter Larry McAdoo on “Lucy and the Safe Cracker” (S2;E5).  TV viewers might recognize his voice as the narrator on the opening credits of “The Odd Couple” (1970-72): “Can two divorced men share an apartment without driving each other crazy?”  This is his final appearance on “The Lucy Show.”

Sid Gould (Tournament Committee Man) made more than 45 appearances on “The Lucy Show,” all as background characters. He also did 40 episodes of “Here’s Lucy.” Gould (born Sydney Greenfader) was Lucille Ball’s cousin by marriage to Gary Morton.

Dino Natali (Musician, Bass), Dom Germano (Musician, Guitar), Al Torrieri (Musician, Guitar), Attilio Rizzo (Musician, Accordion) were all seen in the previous episode “Lucy Gets a Roomate” (S5;E7).

Although not billed as such in the final credits, their group was known as The Vagabonds.  Unlike the previous episode, “Lucy Gets a Roommate” (S5;E7), they are called by that name many times in this script. Contrary to popular belief, Joe Pesci was not part of the group. They all live across the hall from Lucy and have taken on Carol as their girl singer. As in the previous episode, in the final credits, Torrieri is listed as 'Torre' and Attilio Rizzo is listed as 'Atillo Risso.' The electric guitar player and a  drummer (probably Roger Pearsall) are uncredited.

Two dozen uncredited male and female background players play the hotel and golf tournament guests.  Among them is Bennett Green, who served as Desi Arnaz’s stand-in during “I Love Lucy” and had bit roles in many episodes.  He does frequent background work on “The Lucy Show.”

This is a stand-alone episode that directly follows-up on “Lucy Gets a Roommate” (S5;E7) wherein  librarian and amateur singer Carol Bradford moves in to share Lucy's apartment.

Although he is not specifically mentioned by name, the script was designed as a plug for Lucy’s good friend Bob Hope, who had recently taken over hosting the The Palm Springs Golf Classic and renamed it The Bob Hope Desert Classic. The tournament retained this name until 2012. In February 1966 Doug Sanders finished first with Arnold Palmer the runner-up.  Desi Arnaz, who co-founded Palm Springs' Indian Welles Golf Course and Country Club, frequently played in the classic.  

Palm Springs, California, was a favorite get-away destination of Lucille Ball and Desi Anaz (as well as Gary Morton) who had a home there and built a golf course and resort there.  Their daughter Lucie Arnaz recently relocated to the desert town where her parents were celebrated residents.

Carol and The Vagabonds sing “The Hukilau Song” written by Jack Owens in 1948.  This turns into “The Hawaiian War Chant” written by Johnny Noble, a composer who was a native Hawaiian. In order to show Mr. Haskell that she's a member of the band, Lucy plays the cuica, a friction drum of Brazilian origin that makes a low groaning sound.

Lucy and Carol later sing “Lazy River,” which was written by Hoagy Carmichael and Sidney Arodin in 1930.  

The golf tournament player board has the names of several important members of “The Lucy Show” family. One of them is Lucy's husband (and newly-named “Lucy Show” Executive Producer) Gary Morton. Morton played Lucy's boyfriend in the golf-themed episode “Lucy Takes Up Golf” (S2;E17).  In “Lucy and Paul Winchell” (S5;E4), Winchell gets a telephone call from someone named Gary asking him to play golf.  Another name on the board is Dick Martin, Rowan's real-life stand-up comedy partner and Lucy Carmichael's boyfriend during season 1. Ken Westcott was “The Lucy Show” props master.  Howie McClay was the name of Lucille Ball's long-time publicist.  His name was used back in Danfield as the owner of the hardware story. Ron Knox is “The Lucy Show” gaffer. Bob O'Brien was the episode's writer.

Carol Burnett uses her trademark Tarzan yell in both this and the previous episode, “Lucy Gets a Roommate” (S5;E7). In that episode it was explained that Carol gets the hiccups whenever she is nervous, which she does thinking about performing in Palm Springs.

Searching for an excuse to join The Vagabonds and get a free trip to Palm Springs, Lucy offers that she can play “Glow Worm” on the saxophone. This was something that Lucy Ricardo regularly did on “I Love Lucy,” although often the song was “Sweet Sue.”  

Callbacks!

In 1942, Lucy and Desi were seen in an episode of RKO’s ‘Picture People’ titled “Palm Springs Week End”. The couple were seen biking in the desert and taking snapshots of Lucy and the scenery. 

Lucy Ricardo was “In Palm Springs” (ILL S4;E26) where she also sat out in the sun, but because of a severe sunburn before her appearance in “The Fashion Show” (ILL S4;E19), Lucy kept covered up!

“Lazy River” was previously sung on the series by Roberta Sherwood in “Viv Moves Out” (S2;E22). This was Sherwood’s only charting hit, landing at #57 in 1956.

Lucy Ricardo also played the cuica when the gang sang the calypso tune “Man Smart (Woman Smarter)” in “Ragtime Band” (ILL S6;E20) in 1957, one year after it was a hit for Harry Belafonte.  It was also a staple song for The Grateful Dead!

Lucy Ricardo performed “The Hawaiian War Chant” in “Ricky's Hawaiian Vacation” (ILL S3;E22).  Lucy would again perform the song in a two-part 1971 episode of “Here's Lucy” on a cruise to Hawaii with Vivian Vance.

Goofs!

Hole in the Wall! Just two months later Jonathan Hole will be back to play Mr. Winslow in “Lucy the Babysitter” (S5;E16) where he stands in front of the same stone wall backdrop he does in this episode. The only difference is the tropical foliage. 

Sitcom Logic Alert!

As usual, Mr. Mooney turns up wherever Lucy is – or, in this case - isn't supposed to be!  He is partnered with heartthrob Colin Grant in the golf tournament.  Only in TV Land!