I Love Lucy: The Diet

I Love Lucy: The Diet

Originally Broadcast on CBS on Monday, October 29, 1951 at 9 PM ET.

Plot: Lucy wants to be in Ricky’s show when his regular dancer quits, but has to lose 20 pounds to fit the costume.

Analysis: This is great fun to watch as Lucy’s physical comedy is on full display here, between trying to fit the costume and trying to lose the weight, her timing is just fantastic to watch. One does wonder whatever happened to Butch given I do not think we ever saw the Ricardos' dog after this episode. Must have joined Chuck from Happy Days in “college.”

A brief look at Desi Arnaz now, if I may. Something that needs to be noted up front is, as funny as Lucy is, I am not certain it would have worked nearly as well if she did not have as good a straight man as Desi was. We will see some examples of Desi and his brand of comedy in later seasons. It is enough to note that, like his character on I Love Lucy, he emigrated from Cuba to the United States in 1933. Picking up English along the way, he found work in show business where he met Lucy on the set of Too Many Girls in 1940, marrying shortly thereafter. He was drafted for US Army service in World War II, but suffered a knee injury prior to enlistment. He did complete his training, but due to the injury was stationed mainly working for the United Service Organization until the end of the war. After the war, he would tour with his orchestra while Lucy worked on radio and pictures until the opportunity to work with Lucy on television came along and the rest we all know by now.

As is part of the notes by now, if you want to have an idea how the show originally looked as originally broadcast, the original opening is included as an extra on the DVD, so simply watch that first, then jump to the beginning of the episode after the opening.

The Bottom Line: Funny, but not hysterical. The Diet is an entertaining half hour between Lucy’s antics and Ricky’s reactions. If you are interested in checking out the show, you have two choices: either I Love Lucy: The Complete First Season (http://www.amazon.com/Love-Lucy-Complete....97198253&sr=1-4) or if you want it all, I Love Lucy: The Complete Series (http://www.amazon.com/I-Love-Lucy-Comple....97198253&sr=1-1). The Complete Series may be more expensive, but it is a more efficient way to get the show if you are planning on doing the whole show.

Next time, a radio institution comes to television.