Satirical commentary of I Love Lucy every Friday! Here’s the info to watch ahead, plus all the WTFacts for this week. 

This Week’s Episode:

“The Benefit”

Original Air Date:

January 7, 1952

This Week’s WTFacts:

Here’s a behind-the-scenes anecdote from this week’s episode (taken from Ball on Fire by Stefan Kanfer):

Upon presentation of the script, (William) Frawley would take home only the pages marked FRED, in order to memorize his lines. “So sometimes,” Desi recollected, “we would get to a joke and he would say to me, ‘This is not funny.'”

“”It’s not funny? You haven’t read the five other pages where we have been building up to your entrance.'”

“‘What are you talking about?'”

“‘You’re just reading what you’re supposed to say and we’ve been building up for you to come in and say, “Hello, Ethel,” and get a big laugh.'”

“‘You think “Hello, Ethel” is funny?'”

“‘No, “Hello, Ethel” is not funny, but we’ve been building up this situation in which Ethel is inside a costume, representing the last half of a horse, and as you come in the door, she is bending down and facing away from you. All you can see is the last half of this horse–the horse’s ass is all you can see–and you say, “Hello, Ethel,” and that is funny.'”

“‘Oh, yes, that is funny!'”

–
See you Friday!

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