S1;E11 ~ December 9, 1968

Directed by Jack Donohue ~ Written by Fred S. Fox and Seaman Jacobs

Synopsis

Lucy loans Van Johnson money to fix his car – but the man turns out to be an impostor. In return, Lucy wants the real Van Johnson to fly to Dallas to sing “Happy Birthday” to a cow named Ethel.  

Regular Cast

Lucille Ball (Lucy Carter), Gale Gordon (Harrison Otis Carter), Lucie Arnaz (Kim Carter), Desi Arnaz Jr. (Craig Carter)

Guest Cast

Van Johnson (Impostor / Himself) co-starred in Too Many Girls (1940), the film that introduced Lucille Ball to Desi Arnaz. He was also seen with Lucy in the films Easy to Wed (1946) and Yours, Mine and Ours (1968).  He played himself on one of the most popular episodes of “I Love Lucy,” “The Dancing Star” (ILL S4;E27), a show originally intended for Ray Bolger. He starred in The Romance of Rosy Ridge (1947) and The Caine Mutiny (1954), both mentioned in the dialogue of this episode. He died in 2008 at age 92. 

Jeff DeBenning (Douglas Alamo Davidson, a Dallas Oil Tycoon) was seen on many early TV westerns. This is his only appearance opposite Lucille Ball.

Tommy Farrell (Morgan, Van Johnson's Manager) was on Broadway in three plays between 1942 and 1947. He was seen on “The Lucy Show” twice.  Farrell will appear in five more episodes of “Here’s Lucy.”  He was also in the 1950 film The Duchess of Idaho with Van Johnson.

Farrell is never addressed as “Morgan” on screen.

Nancy Howard (Van Johnson's Secretary) appeared with Lucille Ball in Yours, Mine and Ours (1968), which is mentioned in this episode. This is the second of her four appearances on “Here’s Lucy.” 

Orwin C. Harvey (Security Guard, right) was an actor and stuntman who played one of the singing and dancing teamsters in “Lucy Helps Ken Berry” (TLS S6;E21).  This is the first of his six appearances on “Here's Lucy.”

Harvey has one line, spoken off screen. A second Security Guard goes uncredited and has no lines.

Ray Kellogg (Party Guest, left) played the barking Assistant Director (“Roll ‘em!”) in “Ricky’s Screen Test” (ILL S4;E6) and later appeared in “Bullfight Dance” (ILL S4;E22). He was seen on 7 episodes of “The Lucy Show.” This is the first of his two episodes of “Here’s Lucy.” Kellogg appeared on a 1972 episode of “Maude” with Van Johnson.  

Although unnamed, Kellogg is the only party guest with dialogue. Alamo calls him “Old Rattlesnake.”

Clark Ross (Party Guest, uncredited) makes the second of his three appearances on “Here’s Lucy.” He is also in the 1974 Lucille Ball film Mame.

Joan Carey (Party Guest, uncredited) appeared in the background of many episodes of “I Love Lucy,” “The Lucy Show,” and “Here’s Lucy,” even serving as Ball’s camera and lighting stand-in for a time. 

Norman Stevans (Party Guest, uncredited) was in the audience of “Over The Teacups” during “Ethel's Birthday” (ILL S4;E8) and at the airport when “The Ricardo's Go To Japan,” a 1959 episode of “The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour.”  He will appear in one more episode of “Here's Lucy” and in the 1974 Lucille Ball film Mame. 

Uncredited extras play the other party guests.

This episode was written by Fred S. Fox and Seaman Jacobs, who began writing together during the final season of “The Lucy Show.”  The team will write 25 more episodes of “Here's Lucy.”  The pair were nominated for an Emmy in 1978 writing for George Burns.  

This episode is written for Van Johnson to work in a not-so-subtle plug for Lucille Ball's latest film Yours, Mine and Ours, in which he is a featured player.

Van Impostor: “I loved working with that kooky redhead.” Lucy: “Personally, I thought she was much too young for Henry Fonda.”  

Lucy says she remembers Johnson from his appearance in The Romance of Rosy Ridge (1947).  She later tells him she saw the film 17 times!  The film was Janet Leigh's screen debut.  

Lucy tells Van Johnson that she has a friend who also sings to animals. She says it is a bird and she sings "When the Red, Red Robin (Comes Bob, Bob, Bobbin' Along)" a 1926 popular song written by Harry Woods.  It was sung by Fred Mertz (William Frawley) in “Lucy and Ethel Buy the Same Dress” (ILL S3;E3).  

Alamo's cow Ethel was undoubtedly named after Ethel Mertz, Lucy Ricardo's friend and landlady played by Vivian Vance on “I Love Lucy.”  This episode might have been more creatively titled “Ethel's Birthday”, to reinforce the tribute to Vivian Vance. 

Craig and Kim don't go to the movies because the tickets are too expensive: $3! The average movie ticket today is between $15 and $20.

Kim suggests that she and Craig go over to the Hinsche's to visit because “Annie's got a real cute girl visiting from San Francisco.” This is a reference to Desi Jr.'s band mate Billy Hinsche (left), part of Dino Desi & Billy. Billy's sister Annie Hinsche was married to Beach Boys guitarist Carl Wilson.  

Lucy says she'd get more rest with the LA Rams than in her own home.  The day before this episode first aired, the team lost a home game to the Chicago Bears.

Craig says Van Johnson is the biggest star he's met outside of Annette Funicello (1942-2013).  Funicello who was famous for being one of the Mouseketeers on the original “Mickey Mouse Club” (1955-58). She later teamed with Frankie Avalon for a series of beach party movies.  Although Funicello never guest starred with Lucille Ball, she is mentioned by Avalon on “Lucy and the Starmaker” (TLS S6;E4).  Two weeks before this episode originally aired, Funicello starred with the Monkees in the movie Head.

Thinking that the more the merrier, Lucy suggests getting the Mormon Tabernacle Choir to sing to Ethel.  The Mormon Tabernacle Choir is a 360 voice choir named after the Salt Lake Tabernacle. It was founded in 1847 and still performs worldwide today.

Harry facetiously suggests another Johnson – Lyndon, who is also from Texas and could use the work!  Lyndon Baines Johnson aka LBJ (1908-73) was born near Stonewall, Texas, and was the 37th President of the United States. He assumed office in 1963 after the assassination of John F. Kennedy and handily won re-election in 1964. He withdrew his bid for a second full term and was succeeded by Richard Nixon, who became President Elect a month before this episode was first aired. This would mean the episode was filmed sometime after August 29, 1968, the end of the Democratic National Convention.

Harry says if Lucy can get Van Johnson, he'll carry her piggyback to Catalina Island. Catalina Island has been the punchline of much humor on “The Lucy Show.”  It was also mentioned in “Lucy and Miss Shelley Winters” (S1;E4).  

About Harry's promised piggyback to Catalina, Lucy says “It's the only way to fly.” This was the advertising slogan for Western Airlines, a US carrier that was in operation from 1926 to 1987, before merging with Delta Airlines. It was used as a punch line in several episodes of “The Lucy Show.”  

When Lucy is escorted out by the studio guards at Van's direction, Lucy says that now she's glad he got court martialed in The Caine Mutiny. This is the second mention of  The Caine Mutiny on the series.  The previous one referred to the book by Herman Woulk that served as the basis for the screenplay.  A stage play adaptation was mentioned on “Lucy Meets Orson Welles” (ILL S6;E3).  

Lucy impersonates a made-up Italian screen star named Gina Linguini.  Van Johnson compares her to Sofia Loren. Loren was born in Rome and in 1962 became the first actor to win an Academy Award for a foreign language film.

As Gina Linguini, Lucy sings a bit of "Luna mezz'o mare" (aka “Cella Luna”), a comic Neapolitan song with worldwide popularity.   

Van Johnson sings “Happy Birthday to You” to Ethel.  This is the second time the traditional birthday song has been heard on “Here's Lucy.”  Although the copyright has since been lifted, in 1968 Lucille Ball Productions (LBP) had to pay a royalty to perform the song.  

Lucy has a long history of impersonating Italians: “The Black Wig” (ILL S3;E26), “Lucy's Italian Movie” (ILL S5;E23), and as 'Lucrecia Carmucci' in “Lucy and the Plumber” (TLS S3;E2).

This is the first (but not the last) episode of “Here's Lucy” to feature live animals. Live cows were seen in “Lucy's Bicycle Trip” (ILL 5;E24), “Lucy and the Countess Lose Weight” (TLS S3;E21)...

...and “Lucy Discovers Wayne Newton” (TLS S4;E14).

An eccentric Texas oil tycoon named Sam Johnson was played by Harry Cheshire in “Oil Wells” (ILL S3;E18).  

Another big shot Texan (played by Robert S. Carson, right) appeared in “Lucy Goes to Vegas” (TLS S3;E17).  

Other celebrities that have played their own doppelgangers on “Lucy” shows include Jack Benny, Dean Martin, Robert Goulet (above, who had two), and Lucille Ball herself will play her double (Lucy Carter) on “Here’s Lucy”!  

FAST FORWARD!

The abstract metal statue in Van’s office will appear again in “Lucy Takes Over” (S2;E23). 

Booking Agent! This is one of the many times the Unique Employment Agency serves as more of a talent agency, booking unusual performers for unusual shows.

Where The Floor Ends! The edge of stage is visible when Craig walks to his drum set at the start of the episode.

Star Status? If Van Johnson is the biggest star he's met outside of Annette Funicello, Craig must not think very highly of Wayne Newton or Jack Benny (above), celebrities who played themselves on previous episodes.  

Out of Order! Both Van Johnson and Lucille Ball get entrance applause from the studio audience in the second scene, indicating the show may have been shot out of sequence.

“Guess Who Owes Lucy $23.50″ rates 3 Paper Hearts out of 5

Having a great time on set of YOU FOR ME (1952) are Jane Greer, Gig Young, Charlie the monkey, and Tommy Farrell. Director: Don Weis

S4;E21 ~ February 14, 1966

Synopsis

Dean Martin's stunt double Eddie makes a date with Lucy to take her to a charity ball, but when he is suddenly called to the set, Dean takes Lucy to the event instead, pretending he is Eddie.

Regular Cast

Lucille Ball (Lucy Carmichael), Gale Gordon (Theodore J. Mooney), Mary Jane Croft (Mary Jane Lewis)

Guest Cast

Dean Martin (Himself / Eddie Feldman) was born Dino Paul Crocetti in Steubenville, Ohio, in 1917. He made his screen debut in a short playing a singer in Art Mooney's band, but his first big screen role was 1949's My Friend Irma with Jerry Lewis. This began a partnership that would be one of the most successful screen pairings in cinema history. Later, he also worked frequently members of “the Rat Pack”: Frank Sinatra, Joey Bishop, Peter Lawford, and Sammy Davis Jr. His persona was that of a playboy, usually seen with a glass of booze and a cigarette. Martin and Lucille Ball appeared on many TV variety and award shows together and made the TV movie “Lucy Gets Lucky” in 1975. He died on Christmas Day in 1995 at age 78.     

Stunt man Eddie Feldman supposedly acted on the Broadway stage. 

Tommy Farrell (Harry) appeared in “Lucy and the Beauty Doctor” (S3;E24). He was on Broadway in three plays between 1942 and 1947. Farrell will appear in six episodes of “Here’s Lucy.” 

Sid Gould (Bandleader) 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.

Roy Rowan (Radio Announcer, uncredited) was the off-camera announcer for every episode of “I Love Lucy” as well as “The Lucy Show” and “Here’s Lucy.” He was also the voice heard when TV or radio programs were featured on the plot of all three shows. He made a couple of on screen appearances as well.  

Leon Alton (Charity Ball Attendee, uncredited, below left) appeared with Lucille Ball in The Facts of Life (1960) and Critics Choice (1963). He also was seen in three episodes of “Here’s Lucy.” 

Leoda Richards (Charity Ball Attendee, red dress, uncreidted) made at least three background appearances on “I Love Lucy.” In 1934, she appeared on Broadway in Anything Goes, which also starred a young Vivian Vance. This is the second of her four episodes of “The Lucy Show.” She was also in the Lucille Ball film Yours, Mine and Ours (1968).

Richards is the woman in the red dress who says “I’ve always been a fan of yours, Dean.”  The blonde in blue, who also has a line, has not been identified.

Joan Carey (Charity Ball Attendee, blue dress, uncredited) was a frequent background player on “I Love Lucy” and “The Lucy Show,” during which she became Ball’s camera and lighting stand-in. 

Paul Power (Charity Ball Attendee, uncredited) was seen in two films with Lucille Ball, two episodes of “I Love Lucy,” and three episodes of “The Lucy Show.”

Rudy Germane (Charity Ball Attendee, uncredited) did three films with Lucille Ball as well as a "Sunday Showcase: The Lucy-Desi Milton Berle Special” in 1959.

Uncredited background performers play the waitstaff, musicians, and other guests attending the Charity Ball.

Appropriately for a ‘dating’ episode, this episode was first aired on Valentine’s Day 1966.

This episode was filmed January 6, 1966, the first one of the new year.  Coincidentally, that same night “The Dean Martin Show” aired its first episode of the new year on NBC TV.

Immediately following the initial broadcast of this episode on February 14, 1966, “The Andy Griffith Show” featured Keith Thibodeaux (aka Richard Keith aka Little Ricky) in his last of 13 appearances in Mayberry. 

Lucille Ball cited this episode as her personal favorite of the entire series. She also said that outside of Vivian Vance, Dean Martin was one of the few people who always made her laugh. 

Lucille Ball's first appearance with Dean Martin was on his radio show with Jerry Lewis in December 1948. Lucy was then the star of her own radio show, “My Favorite Husband.”

This episode continues the depiction of Lucy as a maven of Hollywood collectibles and trivia which originated with the previous week's episode “Lucy Attends a Hollywood Premiere” (S4;E19, above).

Lucille Ball tries out a new hairstyle in this episode.

During their cocktail conversation, Lucy mentions to Eddie that the first time she saw Dean Martin was he working with Jerry. ‘Eddie’ replies “Jerry who?”  Lucy mentions their ‘split up’ - a time when Martin and Jerry Lewis went their separate ways after two decades of performing together. Lewis later said he initiated the split in order to allow Dean to shine in his own right.  In talking about their break-up, Lucille Ball might very well be speaking about her own high-profile split with Desi Arnaz, also a pairing of a musician and comic actor that also made the public worry about their subsequent careers and personal lives. 

For his part, Lewis never appeared on a Lucy sitcom, but did act opposite Ball in “Danny Thomas’s Wonderful World of Burlesque” in 1965 and “The Jack Benny Birthday Special” in 1969.  

During the 1960s, Martin's son Dino joined with Lucy's son Desi Jr. and Billy Hinsche to form the teen boy band Dino, Desi and Billy. 

In return for Martin appearing on this episode of “The Lucy Show,” Lucille Ball appeared on “The Dean Martin Show” (above, with Kate Smith) which aired four days earlier on February 10, 1966.

EDDIE: “Dean’s drinking is all exaggerated... Actually, he doesn’t care for the stuff. LUCY: “He doesn’t?” EDDIE: “No, but I like a little sauce, if you’ve go something.”

Martin's legendary propensity for drinking was used for humor in this and several previous episodes. Much to his dismay, Lucy Carmichael makes martinis with lemon juice in place of vermouth and white cooking wine for gin.  

Dean Martin gets entrance applause from the studio audience as Eddie Feldman AND as then again as himself.

Eddie Feldman says that while Lucy is attractive, she is no Liz Taylor. Or Gina Lollobrigida. Or Brigitte Bardot. Elizabeth Taylor has been mentioned several times since Lucy arrived in Hollywood. She was also mentioned on “I Love Lucy” and made a guest appearance on “Here's Lucy” as herself. Gina Lollobrigida was twice mentioned on “I Love Lucy” and appeared on “The Dean Martin Show” twice in 1969. Brigitte Bardot is constantly voted one of the sexiest film stars in history.

Tickets to the Charity Ball cost $100 each. The starting bid for the memorabilia is $1,000. For the fundraising auction, Hollywood studios and celebrities donated:

Cary Grant's pipe – Grant was an avid pipe smoker on screen and off, although he became a militant anti-smoker later in life. He was mentioned five times on “I Love Lucy.”

John Wayne's saddle – Wayne was known for his roles as cowboys on horseback. He played himself on a season 5 episode of “I Love Lucy” and will do so again on a season 5 episode of “The Lucy Show.” Mr. Mooney dictates a letter to Wayne, thanking him for donating the saddle. The opening bid will be $1,000. Lucy is clearly enamored of Wayne, just as Lucy Ricardo was in 1955.

Elvis Presley's guitar – early in his career, the rock and roll icon generally played guitar when he sang. Presley was was mentioned by Ethel as “that Elvis What’s-His-Name” in “Lucy Misses the Mertzes” (ILL S6;E17) as well as three previous mentions on “The Lucy Show.”

Kirk Douglas's bow – this is probably the golden bow Douglas used in Ulysses (1954). Douglas made a cameo appearance in the previous episode, “Lucy Goes to a Hollywood Premiere” (S4;E20).

Brigitte Bardot's bikini – the voluptuous French film star was often scantily dressed in her films.  

Marlon Brando's t-shirt – from A Streetcar Named Desire (1951) sent over by Warner Brothers. Brando was mentioned on “I Love Lucy” the day after he won the Oscar for On the Waterfront as well as in “Lucy Visits Grauman’s” (ILL S5;E1). He appeared with Dean Martin in the 1958 film The Young Lions. 

Audrey Hepburn’s red beaded jacket - From Danger in Paris.  [See Blooper Alert at the end of this blog for more about this item.]

About Audrey Hepburn's red beaded jacket, Martin says “The last time I saw anything that fancy was on Liberace.”  Piano player and entertainer Liberace was known for his flamboyant costumes. He was mentioned on “I Love Lucy” and played himself on an episode of “Here's Lucy.”

The band at the Charity Ball plays a medley: 

"(I'd Like to Get You on a) Slow Boat to China" - by Frank Loesser, published in 1948. 

"On the Sunny Side of the Street" - a 1930 song composed by Jimmy McHugh and lyrics by Dorothy Fields introduced in the Broadway musical Lew Leslie's International Revue. 

"This Can't Be Love" - from the 1938 Rodgers and Hart musical The Boys from Syracuse. It was also included in the 1962 musical film, Billy Rose's Jumbo.

Lucy says her favorite albums are Frank Sinatra, Jack Jones, and Andy Williams – leaving out Dean Martin, much to Martin's chagrin. The singers Lucy mentions are all contemporaries of Martin's:  

Jack Jones - appeared on four episodes of “The Dean Martin Show” between 1965 and 1967.  

Frank Sinatra - was part of the 'Rat Pack' with Dean Martin and the two did ten films together. Sinatra was roasted on “The Dean Martin Celebrity Roast” in 1978. 

Andy Williams - hosted the 23rd Annual Golden Globe Awards on February 28, 1966 (just two weeks after this episode of “The Lucy Show”) in which Dean Martin presented the Cecil B. DeMille Award to John Wayne.

Instead of records, Lucy turns on the radio, which is playing an instrumental version of "Everybody Loves Somebody Sometimes” and naturally ‘Eddie / Dean’ sings along. The song was written in 1947 by Sam Coslow, Irving Taylor, and pianist Ken Lane. Although it had been recorded by others, it was Dean Martin's 1964 recording that was  #1 on the Billboard Pop Charts.  

A radio bulletin (the voice of Roy Rowan) about Eddie Feldman saving Dean Martin’s leading lady from a runaway horse gives away the masquerade. 

LUCY: “Why didn’t you tell me you were Dean Martin right off the bat?  I’d have gone out with you anyway!”

Callbacks!

Dean Martin never appeared on “I Love Lucy,” but his wife did! Jeanne Biegger (billed only as Mrs. Dean Martin) appeared as herself wearing a Don Loper dress in 1955's “The Fashion Show” (ILL S4;E19). The couple divorced in 1973 and she died in August 2016.  In this episode of “The Lucy Show” the fact that Dean is married is mentioned, although once again, her name is not specified. 

Much of the humor of the show is derived from the audience knowing that Dean Martin is playing both parts, while the characters do not. This concept was similar to what was supposed to be the source of humor in “Don Juan is Shelved” (ILL S4;E21) with producer Dore Schary playing himself as well as an actor Lucy hires to be Dore Schary. The concept was thwarted, however, when Schary withdrew from the episode just before filming, and the role of Dore Schary was assumed by Phil Ober, Vivian Vance's (then) husband.  

Fast Forward!

Dean Martin appeared as himself on “Ann-Margret: From Hollywood With Love”, a 1969 TV special that also starred Lucille Ball as herself and Celebrity Lu. 

Although Dean Martin did not appear, his name was seen on the marquee of the Riviera Hotel when Lucy Carter went to Las Vegas in 1970’s “Lucy and Wayne Newton” (HL S2;E22). Martin was a Las Vegas mainstay at the Riviera. 

Also in 1970, Lucille Ball (and dozens of other stars) make guest appearance on “The Dean Martin Show” season six opener.

Again in 1970, Lucy and Martin both did cameos on “Jack Benny’s 20th Anniversary Special” although the two did not share any scenes together. 

This was also true of “Jack Benny’s Carnival Nights” in 1968, with both stars involved in separate scenes. 

In 1975, Lucy Collins took a bus all the way to Las Vegas just to meet her idol, Dean Martin in “Lucy Gets Lucky”.  Naturally, Lucy and Martin end up walking into the sunset together happily ever after. Like this “Lucy Show” episode, Dean again sings “Everybody Loves Somebody Sometime.”

That same year (1975), Martin hosted and roasted Lucille Ball on his “Dean Martin Celebrity Roast”, a series from Las Vegas.

A year later (1976), Martin also paid tribute to Lucille Ball on the TV special “CBS Salutes Lucy: The First 25 Years”.   

In 1984, Martin again paid tribute to Lucy on an “All Star Party for Lucille Ball”, singing a specially written song about her. 

Seeing Double!

Other episodes about celebrity doppelgangers like Eddie and Dean (different characters who look alike played by the same actor) include:  

Plumber Harry Tuttle is a dead-ringer for comedian Jack Benny (and everyone tells him so) on a 1964 episode of “The Lucy Show.”  In this case, the ‘real’ Benny never shows up. 

Robert Goulet actually had two doppelgangers on a 1967 episode of “The Lucy Show”: Chuck Willis (left) and Arthur Finster (right).  

“Lucy and Candid Camera” (HL S4;E14) starred host Allen Funt as himself and a criminal imposter who goes unnamed. 

Lucille Ball’s old friend and film co-star Van Johnson also played his unnamed criminal imposter on a season one episode of “Here’s Lucy.” 

And perhaps the best known example of the genre, Lucille Ball as herself and as Lucy Carter on a 1974 “Here’s Lucy.”  This is the only time both characters occupy the same screen at the same time! 

Blooper Alerts

Fictional Film! Lucy admires (and later wears) a red beaded jacket she recognizes as one worn by Audrey Hepburn in 1937's Danger in Paris (aka Cafe Colette aka K-33). She says it was sent over by Paramount. Danger in Paris did not star Hepburn and was not released by Paramount. It had previously been worn by Lucy when she spoofed Judy Garland on Danny Kaye’s 1962 special.

Mary Jane Cut?  When Eddie goes inside to get Lucy a wrap, the scene transitions with a flip wipe to his immediate return with the Hepburn jacket. As he comes in, we see Mary Jane leaving the terrace. It is unlikely that Mary Jane Croft would be an ‘extra’ in a scene - let alone be in wardrobe - just for this glimpse of her back! 

Ladylike Behavior?  Lucy invites ‘Eddie’ up to her apartment for a drink, something a single woman would likely not do in 1966 without connotations of ‘staying the night’.  Of course, on a television show, the action needs a convenient place to be set, hence the apartment rather than a front porch or restaurant.  

“Lucy Dates Dean Martin” rates 4 Paper Hearts out of 5