I Love Lucy (TV Series) Ethel's Birthday (1954) User Reviews

Fred should have bought Ethel's present

[kellielulu · 10/10 · 11 July 2022]

Of course then we wouldn't have an episode. Trouble starts when Lucy disregards Fred's suggestion on what to get Ethel for her birthday. It's his present actually but no longer knows what he should be getting.

Lucy's choice of pants is actually something women do wear a lot now. The style and print are a little out there for Ethel. Lucy to Ethel " you wear them when you give smart dinner parties " Ethel " oh I was wondering what to wear at all those smart dinner parties I give! "

Lucy and Ricky's gift to Ethel are for dinner and the theater . The scene at the theater is also very funny. The man sitting behind them almost steals the show!

Another great bit is Ricky's emergency present scheme.

I wanted a toaster

[angelahptrio · 8/10 · 18 February 2021]

I love this one. Lucy and Ethel have a fit and make up. I have to agree with Ethel on the jeans, it looks ridiculous. Lucy picked a weird item of clothing. But it is mean for Ethel to laugh at it in front of Lucy. The theater scene is really good.

Actually, Ethel could have used a new coat...

[bernadettedens-23561 · 10/10 · 15 August 2023]

This is my all time favorite "I Love Lucy" episode. Ethel enlists Lucy's help in reminding Fred that her birthday is coming up. Ethel tells Lucy that she'd rather have an awful present than no present at all and they both laugh at the gift Fred gave Ethel the previous year. It was "too long to be a stole and too short to be a volleyball net."

To Fred's credit, this year he asks Lucy to purchase Ethel's gift for him as Ethel never seems to like the presents he gives her. After laughing with Ethel earlier about Fred's lousy taste in gifts, Lucy ends up buying Ethel a garish pair of hostess pants, a completely useless gift for practically minded Ethel. She wanted a toaster. Now Lucy and Ethel have been good friends for over a decade. Shouldn't Lucy also have known by now what kind of present Ethel would appreciate?

The girls get into an argument after Ethel laughs about the pants and "the idiot" who talked Fred into buying them. But all is well as they make up with each other during the play they all attend that evening.

Just as an aside, earlier in the episode we learn that Ethel is always borrowing Lucy's coat to wear when she goes out on special occasions, as her own coat is "so tacky." Wouldn't a perfect gift for Ethel have been a new coat? I think so! 😊

Checkerboard britches!

[rgxdzrybr · 9/10 · 12 March 2024]

Ethel has a birthday coming up and she fears Fred has forgotten. Ethel recruits Lucy to help her. During dinner Lucy starts dropping hints prompting Ricky into thinking he forgot Lucy's birthday and whips out his emergency present! We also learn it has a card for every occasion!

The Ricardo's gift Ethel with dinner and the theater on her birthday.

The real trouble starts when Fred asks Lucy to select his gift for Ethel and Lucy fails to follow his advice. For once he actually was on his right track.

Lucy makes the mistake many do and shops for what she would like but apparently doesn't get for herself. This is another very funny scene when Ethel finds the present! One of my best scenes ever and Ethel gets some laughs the best lines.

There is also some good laughs when they are all at the theater. It does feel like the fight between Lucy and Ethel goes on too long for an otherwise funny episode. They got over it easier when they both suspected one another of burglary !