Lucy is in the audience at The Art Linkletter Show - seated beside Carolyn Appleby! --- I mean, Doris Singleton - well, her character's name is Ruth - but it's great to have her in this episode.
Anyway, Lucy is picked from the audience and if she stays silent for 24 hours, a $200 prize is hers. If she caves, Doris - I mean Ruth, gets double that amount.
Finally, we get a fantastic episode in the barren land of Season 4. The script hits all the right notes and it's a testament to Ball's talent that she performs about 75% of the episode without speaking a word - only using those big expressive eyes of hers and a myriad of funny expressions. Even the appearance of a goofy gorilla does not drag this one down.
The little moments where Ruth/Doris ensures Lucy behaves, and Lucy's obvious disgust and resentment of her, is sublime.
Mooney even has some great bits here, first calling Lucy "an oversized Orphan Annie" and later showing up as a fake robber to scare her. The part where he tries to "best" the doctor during the charades sequence in the office is a highlight of the episode.
There are many little fun details like a comic riff on THE FUGITIVE, Lucy being called a "husband-stealing hussy"; and Lucy's justified hesitation at accepting the makeup case from Ruth/Doris.
They work so well together, it's too bad the original concept of HERE'S LUCY fell through, with Ms. Ball and Doris Singleton cast as secretaries who were polar opposites.
The plot of this episode would be used again (slightly altered) in a Season 3 HERE'S LUCY called "Lucy Loses Her Cool" but this is the superior effort of the two.
If you only watch one episode from this Season, make it this one.
Anyway, Lucy is picked from the audience and if she stays silent for 24 hours, a $200 prize is hers. If she caves, Doris - I mean Ruth, gets double that amount.
Finally, we get a fantastic episode in the barren land of Season 4. The script hits all the right notes and it's a testament to Ball's talent that she performs about 75% of the episode without speaking a word - only using those big expressive eyes of hers and a myriad of funny expressions. Even the appearance of a goofy gorilla does not drag this one down.
The little moments where Ruth/Doris ensures Lucy behaves, and Lucy's obvious disgust and resentment of her, is sublime.
Mooney even has some great bits here, first calling Lucy "an oversized Orphan Annie" and later showing up as a fake robber to scare her. The part where he tries to "best" the doctor during the charades sequence in the office is a highlight of the episode.
There are many little fun details like a comic riff on THE FUGITIVE, Lucy being called a "husband-stealing hussy"; and Lucy's justified hesitation at accepting the makeup case from Ruth/Doris.
They work so well together, it's too bad the original concept of HERE'S LUCY fell through, with Ms. Ball and Doris Singleton cast as secretaries who were polar opposites.
The plot of this episode would be used again (slightly altered) in a Season 3 HERE'S LUCY called "Lucy Loses Her Cool" but this is the superior effort of the two.
If you only watch one episode from this Season, make it this one.
