MovieChat Forums > I Love Lucy (1951) Discussion > Top Five All-Time Worst

Top Five All-Time Worst

posted 7 years ago by [email protected] (1732)
9 replies | jump to latest

This is very subjective, but I was thinking of eps that I simply cannot watch because I
loathe them too much. To my great pleasure, while I could probably get 9 or 10, I
don't think there'd be anymore than that. So I limited my list to 5.

Here are mine (in broadcast order):

Drafted.
The Black Eye
The Courtroom
Lucy Meets Orson Welles
Lucy Visits Cuba

These are five I absolutely detest for various reasons. "Drafted" is sooooo corny, and
even poorly acted (Vance was not good at the "Lucy cry", which they attempted to
give her in the beginning). "The Black Eye" is beyond contrived, and worse, makes
light of domestic violence, and I simply cannot watch this dud. "The Courtroom" is
waaaaaaay too nasty, silly, and even boasts some terrible "special effects" "Lucy
Meets Orson Welles" is also awful, with the "guest-star" stuff growing incredibly
stale. That Lucy would stoop so low as to louse up both Ricky AND a major legendary
star to recite some Shakespeare is just terrible. Finally, I feel that "Lucy Goes to Cuba"
is just flat-out unfunny. While it's nice to see Mary Emory again as Ricky's mother, all
her presence does is remind us of how much greater her first appearance is.

[–] [email protected] (6233) 7 years ago

' Drafted' was based on a premise that I like, namely a silly misunderstanding. But in this case, the misunderstandings were ridiculous. Why would the guys think their wives were HIDING something like expecting a baby? It's beyond ridiculous to think that Fred, at his age, could enlist in the Army. There's a cut-off age for enlistees and I don't think it's 65!

I like the early scenes in 'The Black Eye' when Lucy and Ricky attempt to read the novel. First Ricky reads it in Spanish, then Lucy acts it out in the most melodramatic way.

But, yes, TV took a lighthearted approach to domestic violence. I think it was 'the Gossip' when Lucy pantomimed to Ethel a big fight that a couple they knew had in a restaurant. There was one episode when The Wed. Afternoon Fine Arts League was gossiping and Lucy asked something like, "Did he REALLY give her a black eye?"

The Dick van Dyke Show also did an episode with a new neighbor, a divorced man who hit his former wives. (not funny)

The one funny moment in 'The Courtroom' was Ricky sitting on the steps attempting to lower the TV on his back. He hit every step and yelled, "AYE!". That had to hurt. lol I laugh at that scene.

Surprising, the Ricardo/ Mertz friendship survived such mean spiritedness and lying.

I DO enjoy the Orson Welles one, just for MR Welles! He was my mom's ALL TIME #1 favorite. I grew up watching his old movies. His voice is just stellar. I loved his Shakespeare soliloquy. And his deadpan question in the store about Lucy going to Florida "under water' cracks me up.

Nice to see Mary Emory in the Cuba episode. But she is wasted. The script is not that funny.

I would add 'The Audition' (Buffo the Clown) and "Lucy Plays Cupid' for reasons I cited in other posts.

I usually skip 'The Seance'. I know things like numerology, horoscopes and séances are popular with some people. But it's a religious thing for me. I try to avoid the occult, even in fun.

[–] [email protected] (1732) 7 years ago

I actually enjoy the Séance, as I think it's cute ("Sick?? I'm DEAD."). I also love the sex joke the producers squeezed
by the network ("Lucy, are you saying you don't like the way I VIBRATE?"). I also love the obvious gay joke by
Mr, Merriweather ("Oh...I see you're ODD, too"). I don't crave or love this one, but I do enjoy it when I see it.

I'm no fan of "Lucy Plays Cupid" or "The Audition" either (we recently discussed this latter one)....but I COULD sit
through them again. I flatly refuse "The Black Eye" and the Orson Welles one. (Even Ball herself disliked that one).

[–] [email protected] (6233) 7 years ago

Haven't seen The Séance in a long time. Yes, there was some funny dialogue. Ricky asking about the way he vibrates and Mr. Merriweather's, " We're all odd."
I just never counted it among my favorites. I liked Jay Novello better in his outing as the nervous Mr. Beecher who sublets the Ricardo apartment or "The Visitor from Italy', Mario.

I remember reading that Lucille Ball didn't like the Orson Welles episode, but that hasn't prevented me from liking it!

It was never a favorite of mine until I was a lot older and could appreciate Shakespeare.

It doesn't seem strange to me that Lucy would "louse up" both Ricky and Orson Welles. Although at that point there really wasn't anything that Lucy could do to "louse up" the career of a major star like Orson Welles.

And she was ALWAYS messing things up for Ricky! In the H'wood episode when Lucy pretends to be Ricky's manager and gets him fired, she recites a litany of all the terrible things that she has done to Ricky's career.

"This is worse than the time I loused up your screen test. This is worse than...etc"

Ricky was partly to blame this time. Lucy didn't try to " get into the act". Orson Welles asked Ricky if Lucy would be his assistant in his magic show. Instead Ricky decided to send Lucy to Florida to get her out of the way.

If he had been honest about Orson Welles' request, Lucy would not have misunderstood and thought she was doing Shakespeare with him. She would not have called her old drama teacher Miss Hannah and invited her to the Tropicana.

Actually if I had been in the audience, I would have thought Lucy's Shakespeare recital while supposedly in a "trance" was part of the act. I find a lot of magic acts to be stale and I would've thought it was a comedy act.

It reminds me of the film that Ricky was going to show the talent scout. Lucy edited in scenes from her "western" with the Mertzes. The scout thought it was better than a dry music film. Ricky added "all those delightful bits of comedy."

I guess it's just another one of those "you either like it or you don't" episodes.

[–] [email protected] (1732) 7 years ago

When Lucy is trying to be Ricky's agent, she is attempting HELP him. Big difference. But you are right that she
is really unspeakably rotten to keep ruining his screen test (so ridiculous anyway that Ricky, or even MGM
would use a non-professional for this very, VERY important test). So, yes, you have a point - Lucy has done
worse than what she pulls in Orson Welles' act. I just can't explain why, I guess, I just don't like this episode.
And while I respect Welles, his ego was unbearable.

Not too long ago, I finished a book called "MY Lunches with Orson", in which a filmmaker, who spent years,
lunching, and tape-recording (with Welles' OK), their conversations. They were made into this book. Welles
was awful - so JEALOUS of other filmmakers. He actually stated that HITCHCOCK, HOWARD HAWKS, and
many, many other incredible people were no-talents. He spoke horribly about Joan Fontaine, Olivia
DeHaviland, all these people he felt were beneath him. I lost so much respect for this bitter, fat old drunk,
brilliant though he was. Let's just say this book doesn't make me want to watch this episode either.

[–] [email protected] (6233) 7 years ago

I heard about that book, never read it though. But I am familiar with the Welles ego!

Orson Welles doesn't fair much better in a book I have entitled, 'Desilu'. And he's only mentioned in two pages. ha!

"....Desi seemed to court disaster when he announced a partnership with the brilliant but often erratic Orson Welles."

Orson Welles stayed in the Arnaz guesthouse. It was a three week visit which stretched into three months and he left behind telephone and grocery bills.

Nothing came of the business partnership except for Orson Welles appearance on ILL.

It always makes me sad when I read about such big talents who have such big egos.

I still enjoy the Orson Welles episode. But I know how the enjoyment of an episode (or movie) can be ruined when you know how insufferable the actor can be.

As for Lucy posing as Ricky's agent, yes she was trying to help him. I used that episode as an example because it's the one time where Lucy gives a list of all the times she really made a mess of things for Ricky.

[–] [email protected] (6233) 7 years ago

Another "not so good" first season episode, in my opinion, The Fur Coat. How could Lucy and Ricky be married all those years and he can't just come out with the truth?...

i.e. ... "It's not your coat Lucy. It's just rented for an act at the Tropicana."

Lucy wears the coat to bed, wears it while washing dishes, etc. In the first season the show went overboard to make Lucy appear not just "daffy" but a case of arrested development.

What normal grown woman would have such a tantrum over a coat? sheesh!

[–] Megan254 (380) 18 days ago

I know this thread is 7-years-old, but I'm going to reply anyway. I'm going through the whole series from beginning to end, and I'm still on season 1. I used to watch this show religiously in the 90's as a kid when it was on Nick at Nite. These are the 5 episodes O don't really care for. In no order, by the way.

1. Lucy Plays Cupid

2. The Young Fans

3. The Ballet

4. The Publicity Agent

5. Cuban Pals

Those are just season 1, I know, but maybe I'll do more as I continue through the seasons.

[–] [email protected] (6233) 16 days ago

Nothing wrong with responding to an old thread. ILL never gets old😀

As far as your list, I never cared for The Young Fans. But gbennett who now goes by Garyandfilm convinced me otherwise. The Publicity Agent is really corny, but I can take it once in a while.

Lucy Plays Cupid? Well it is missing the Mertzes. But otherwise, I don’t think it is too bad.

The Ballet is only good for the scene where Lucy shows up in a tutu and tries to dance.

I sort of like Cuban Pals. Lucy has some funny moments in that one.

[–] Megan254 (380) 16 days ago

You're right, it doesn't :) What I didn't like about The Publicity Agent is the way Ricky got back at Lucy and Ethel. That was just mean spirited. Lucy Plays Cupid, Ricky had no right to tell Lucy she couldn't give the letter to that guy, and then he spanked her! The other two, just didn't really tickle the funny bone.