Lucy and Carol become rivals in the Secretary Beautiful Contest.
This is a VERY solid episode -- one of the best of the entire series. Burnett gets all the best lines, but this outshines all her other appearances because this time there is a rivalry between her and Lucy which allows for a LOT of delicious cattiness and snide remarks. Also, Carol is not the "nervous Nelly" she played in all her other appearances. She's a steamroller in this one. She rips poor Vanda Barra's head off in the opening cafeteria scene "Ya wanna MAKE somethin' of it?".
Later, she catches Harry teaching Lucy how to "walk like a lady" and makes a veiled gay joke that brings lots of laughs.
Things get even better when both ladies try to influence the contest judge Robert Alda. Carol is disguised as a hippie-dippy reporter chick and Lucy tops her by showing up dressed like Carol's scrubwoman character from her variety show. There is a great meta-moment when Lucy says she got the idea from "some goofy dame on TV".
During the contest, Carol tries to sabotage Lucy, Carol's sash falls off and Lucy breaks a heel. Who will win? The contest ends up being a tie, but I won't totally spoil the whole episode. It IS a must-see though, for all the gut-busting insults and zingers volleyed back and forth. THIS is the example of what every script should have been like when Carol guested.
Near-perfect episode and a series best!
This is a VERY solid episode -- one of the best of the entire series. Burnett gets all the best lines, but this outshines all her other appearances because this time there is a rivalry between her and Lucy which allows for a LOT of delicious cattiness and snide remarks. Also, Carol is not the "nervous Nelly" she played in all her other appearances. She's a steamroller in this one. She rips poor Vanda Barra's head off in the opening cafeteria scene "Ya wanna MAKE somethin' of it?".
Later, she catches Harry teaching Lucy how to "walk like a lady" and makes a veiled gay joke that brings lots of laughs.
Things get even better when both ladies try to influence the contest judge Robert Alda. Carol is disguised as a hippie-dippy reporter chick and Lucy tops her by showing up dressed like Carol's scrubwoman character from her variety show. There is a great meta-moment when Lucy says she got the idea from "some goofy dame on TV".
During the contest, Carol tries to sabotage Lucy, Carol's sash falls off and Lucy breaks a heel. Who will win? The contest ends up being a tie, but I won't totally spoil the whole episode. It IS a must-see though, for all the gut-busting insults and zingers volleyed back and forth. THIS is the example of what every script should have been like when Carol guested.
Near-perfect episode and a series best!