Ethel's hometown episode...aka Ethel being a B**ch!

[Ireneparalegal]

Wasn't it so out of character to see Ethel behave the way she did towards her good friends? I can see her treating Fred like crap, but overall, the way she acted seemed way out there. She was a b*tch! I loved how the three of them seeked revenge on her in the show.

BTW, anyone else ever notice the outfit Lucy wears in that show is the same one she wore when she did the performance for the Queen when the Ricardos and Mertzes were in London.

[Madame X]

Yeah, Ethel was a B. She was in her hometown and knew everybody and she should have been a better hostess to her husband and best friends. After all, she wouldn't even have gone to Albuquerque if it wasn't for Ricky. When it came to the foursome, Ethel got the least amount of showbiz attention, so maybe she thought that finally here was her chance. Anyway, is was out of character for her.

I always notice how the audience is laughing while Lucy, Ricky and Fred are doing antics behind Ethel, and Ethel doesn't realize it. I would think she would know that something was up.

Irene- good eye on Lucy's outfit. It was accessorized a bit differently, but it surely is the same outfit she wore in the horse number entertaining the Queen.

BTW, I think Fred is a crack-up in this episode, especially on stage!

[*ClassicPinUp*]

Originally Posted by Madame X

I always notice how the audience is laughing while Lucy, Ricky and Fred are doing antics behind Ethel, and Ethel doesn't realize it. I would think she would know that something was up.

I always thought that too! Especially with them running back and forth. I guess Ethel didn't have very good peripheral vision.

[Ireneparalegal]

Fred was indeed the funny man in this episode. You know, for the first several times I had seen that episode (mind you at the age of 6-7) I was not sure why the audience laughed when Fred walked across the stage with the tree. I was like "What is so funny abt carrying a tree?" Later, I asked my brother why was the audience laughing. He proceeded to tell me, "Notice how the tree gets bigger and bigger and bigger." Fred's serious look on his face makes it that much funnier.

I don't understand why Ethel found it so "easy" to lie when certainly she would be found out. Her lie of going to Hollywood to be in a movie wouldn't hold up. Surely the folks of her hometown would expect to see her "new movie".

[Madame X]

Originally Posted by Ireneparalegal

I don't understand why Ethel found it so "easy" to lie when certainly she would be found out. Her lie of going to Hollywood to be in a movie wouldn't hold up. Surely the folks of her hometown would expect to see her "new movie".

[OH Nuts!]

Not so much that she was a b*tch but that she got A REALLY SWELLED HEAD. She was lucky they didn't just leave her in Alburquerque. Lucy's idea for exacting revenge with the show was ingenuous. It was a HOOT watching Ethel sing while Ricky, Lucy and Fred clowned around behind her. My God, this show was so original and FUNNY. I'd like to see someone else find a show that's still so fresh and vibrant 55 years later. And of course you can recognize this take off being used in shows well down the road (e.g. the Weekend Update skit on Saturday Night Life with Chevy Chase making funny faces alongside a serious commentator, for one). Yes, Ethel was quite overbearing and a little too taken with herself, but the gang got even

And of course, I can't forget THE VERY CHARMING sequence in the beginning of the ep where everyone says hello to little Ricky and gets so excited to hear him say "hello".

I was thrilled I had this ep and could chime in. Ladies, watching how incisively you discuss the show is a heady experience indeed. Also this is one of the eps I have on VHS. About 6 yrs back I got a 2 cassette set in Virgin Records in NYC that touted the 10 best episodes of I.L.L. and this was one of the eps they picked. I must say they did pick the creme de la creme ("Lucy Does A Commercial", "Lucy Is Enciente" "Switching Jobs" Lucy Goes To LA" etc.) I just wish they had included "Return Home From Europe" on it. But I was lucky to find it on another VHS. Smuggling a 25 lb cheese on a plane and then trying to eat and hide it when they realized there would be a fare. Only Lucy would think of something so harebrained. But then, THERE ARE SO MANY EXTREMELY FUNNY eps that is hard to pick the very best, as so many are delightful.

(Lucy Freak In Training...and proud of it!)

[coffield3]

I dont know you see because yeah she was being a bloat head but when i watch the episode i kinda feel sorry for her when the others are making fun, it wouldnt of hurt to let her have a tad of lucys spotlight for an episode.

[AB]

If you think about it, she just wanted to appear important and successful to her family and old friends, but it kind of got out of hand. She definitely went overboard. lol!

[Ireneparalegal]

^^^ yeah it went overboard most definitely. I love that pic they show of Ethel and her "trained hands". Is that a weird picture of her or what? She seems so BRIGHT! and I don't mean abt her intelligience. Help me here someone.

[Madame X]

Originally Posted by Ireneparalegal

^^^ yeah it went overboard most definitely. I love that pic they show of Ethel and her "trained hands". Is that a weird picture of her or what? She seems so BRIGHT! and I don't mean abt her intelligience. Help me here someone.

I know what you mean. That photo has always seemed surreal, as if we can see Ethel's aura! They even put some weird lighting on the newspaper itself.

Notice how different the photos are. Ethel's hair is way different, as well as the position of her hands. Actually, check out everyone's hands!

[Ireneparalegal]

OMG that is so friggin' interesting. Only would a screen cap show what we can't see on tv.

Look at the newspaper pic. Ok, now look on Ethel's right, you can clearly see what appears to be Fred wearing khaki pants and his black belt with a light colored shirt. That is NOT what he is wearing in the scene that you posted on the left. He is wearing a dark suit. Also, in the newspaper pic you can see a hand on Ethel's left hip area. In the scene at the left that you provided, Lucy is too close to Ethel for a hand to even be seen there.
In the newspaper clip pic Ethel seems to have really dark lipstick on. It could be the photo of course, but still, it is waay to dark compared to the scene on the left.

[Katya]

This is another favorite episode of mine .I agree Ethel is more big headed then really mean but I like how Fred,Ricky and Lucy play off of that and Fred is the real gem of this episode I like how he gives Ethel no cover ,her dad is really something else to but he's her dad what was Billy Hackett's excuse

[NOVARick]

Originally Posted by Ireneparalegal

Wasn't it so out of character to see Ethel behave the way she did towards her good friends? I can see her treating Fred like crap, but overall, the way she acted seemed way out there. She was a b*tch! I loved how the three of them seeked revenge on her in the show.

I'm not so sure this was really out of character for her. It seems that when situations arose where she was able to get attention was focused on her, she could become a bit obnoxious. Remember how big-headed and annoying she got in "No Children Allowed"?

[Lodee]

Originally Posted by Madame X

I know what you mean. That photo has always seemed surreal, as if we can see Ethel's aura! They even put some weird lighting on the newspaper itself.

Notice how different the photos are. Ethel's hair is way different, as well as the position of her hands. Actually, check out everyone's hands!


Attachment 129552Attachment 129551

That's funny! I would have never noticed that either. You'd think they would have tried to get it somewhat the same.

[Katya]

I think in No Children Allowed Lucy was more in the wrong then Ethel was .Both were wrong but I felt Lucy was more so even early on she seemed something of and ingreate when Ethel stood up for her and could have lost tenets.