A clerical error has Lucy receiving a draft letter for Lou C. Carmichael and when she tries to correct it, she ends up in basic training instead.
I remember this as being one of the worst episodes of the series, but after watching it again it's not as bad as I remembered. Yes, it's a very stupid premise, and I always disliked the Lucy-in-drag episodes but this time the situation allows for a different dynamic - she's in men's clothes in a man's environment bur she's NOT in disguise.
Since Lucy's not trying to pass as male, her performance in the military fatigues is easier to take. She knows she's a woman and wants everyone else to know it too, and it's refreshing to see her be defiant and antagonistic to the Drill Sergeant - because she knows she's right and not trying to pull off a scheme.
The funniest parts are when the officer thinks Mooney is her father, when the Drill Sergeant hands Mooney the medal for bravery and the surprise cameo by Jim Nabors.
BTW, the biggest blooper of the series happens here. Lucy makes rare mention of her two kids, but she refers to Jerry as "Jimmy Carmichael". Lucille Ball was corrected on the set but insisted she was right and the mistake lives on in rerun perpetuity.
I remember this as being one of the worst episodes of the series, but after watching it again it's not as bad as I remembered. Yes, it's a very stupid premise, and I always disliked the Lucy-in-drag episodes but this time the situation allows for a different dynamic - she's in men's clothes in a man's environment bur she's NOT in disguise.
Since Lucy's not trying to pass as male, her performance in the military fatigues is easier to take. She knows she's a woman and wants everyone else to know it too, and it's refreshing to see her be defiant and antagonistic to the Drill Sergeant - because she knows she's right and not trying to pull off a scheme.
The funniest parts are when the officer thinks Mooney is her father, when the Drill Sergeant hands Mooney the medal for bravery and the surprise cameo by Jim Nabors.
BTW, the biggest blooper of the series happens here. Lucy makes rare mention of her two kids, but she refers to Jerry as "Jimmy Carmichael". Lucille Ball was corrected on the set but insisted she was right and the mistake lives on in rerun perpetuity.