I asked my Friend Dave what his favorite Lucy episode was and without wavering he said with a fond smile, Ethel's Hometown. Traveling west the Ricardo's and the Mertz's reach Albuquerque,New Mexico which happens to be Ethel's (Vivian Vance) hometown. Ethel is greeted by her Father Will Potter (Irving Bacon)who looks like he is the same age as Ethel's Husband Fred (William Frawley). The four are also greeted by a local news reporter Bill Hackett (Chick Chandler) who greets Ethel by addressing her as Ethel Mae Potter. Here's where the continuity issue starts as in other episodes Ethel had different middle names,i.e. Roberta.Our other travelers Lucy, Ricki and Fred unsuspecting the other bit of news from the reporter Hackett,that Ethel called on ahead and told the locals that she is starring in a Hollywood motion picture. The reporter went on to say that tonight at the local Hall Ethel will put on concert and sing for the town. This infuriates Ricki, Lucy and Fred as a retaliation is in order. Sabotaging Ethel's performance is a sight to behold. As Ethel graces the stage with her vocal arrangements, the three do silly skits behind Ethel as Fred walks back and fourth carrying a small plant, then a medium sized and then a large size and finally a redwood sized tree,so large you can see the top of the plant as it reaches beyond the stage curtains. Getting back to my friend Dave's selection. Dave had chosen this Lucy episode because Lucy and Ricki plotted together for revenge when in reality, the majority of episodes and scripts Lucy is always on the opposite side of Ricki. One of the very few episodes where Husband and Wife team together for the common cause. Furthermore for those future generations who are not aware or informed about the talented Lucille Ball her strengths were mostly physical comedy and her timing was paramount or I mean Desilu. The original Queen of comedy on television sets across America in the 1950's.
Review of Ethel's Hometown
