I Love Lucy

Highlights

Jess Oppenheimer, Bob Carroll, and Madelyn Pugh, writers of Ball's radio show, scripted the series. One of the most memorable episodes was titled "Lucy Does a Commercial", filmed during the first season (episode 30 of 35) on March 28, 1952, and first aired on May 5 of that year. In this episode Lucy manages to get a role as the "Vitameatavegamin girl" and is tasked with trying to sell the public a tonic that has healthy amounts of vitamins, meat, vegetables, minerals - and the less than healthy dose of 23% alcohol. During a number of rehearsals, Lucy has to drink some of the dreadful-tasting tonic and makes grimacing facial expressions while saying, "It's so tasty, too. Just like candy!". But due to the high alcoholic content Lucy begins to get drunk and slur her lines (especially the pronunciation of "Vitameatavegamin"), but also begins to find the taste more palatable. By the time she goes live with the commercial, her lines "Do you poop out at parties? Are you unpopular?" become "Do you pop out at parties? Are you un-poopular?" and then she chugs the Vitameatavegamin bottle to the roaring laughter of the studio audience.

Related Topics:
Jess Oppenheimer - Bob Carroll - Madelyn Pugh - March 28 - 1952 - May 5 - Vitamin - Meat - Vegetable - Mineral - Alcohol

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In November of 2001, fans voted this episode as their all-time favorite during a 50th anniversary I Love Lucy television special. Other memorable Lucy moments mentioned in the vote were: Lucy and Ethel working in a chocolate factory, the birth of Little Ricky (see below), Lucy stomping grapes in Italy and Lucy making an extremely long loaf of bread.

Related Topics:
2001 - Chocolate - Grape - Italy - Bread

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On January 19, 1953 68% of all United States television sets were tuned in to I Love Lucy to watch Lucy give birth. The next month on February 18 Ball and Arnaz signed an $8,000,000 contract to continue I Love Lucy through 1955. After the end of the weekly series, the actors reunited for monthly one-hour specials under the title The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour.

Related Topics:
January 19 - 1953 - United States - Television - February 18

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