Welcome to Handy Dandy Vacuum Cleaner headquarters where Lucy's being a sniveling wimp, certain the boss is about to fire her for not meeting quota. Viv, looking more fashionable and fabulous than ever (eat your heart out, Jacqueline Kennedy), is there to offer moral support.
Lucy is given a reprieve but must make a sale. Instead of going door to door, she heads for the one person who cannot STAND her - Mooney himself. Makes sense right? Well, if she didn't go, we wouldn't have this episode, which is actually one of the better ones of Season 3.
Mooney is basking in the fact he's just acquired the Holy Grail for his stamp collection, an acquisition that set him back three-thousand dollars. When the Widow Carmichael shows up to annoy him and try and make a sale, she ends up getting his necktie caught in the vacuum hose and almost chokes him to death in the process. This scene has a great moment, when Lucy's about to use a faulty electrical outlet and Mooney gets a glint in his eye.
Next, Vivian offers to show Lucy how its done and they enter the home of housewife Mabel Albertson (TV mom to BEWITCHED's Darrin Stephens and also THAT GIRL's boyfriend Don Hollinger). Vivian's smooth approach seems to work beautifully and just as Lucy's about to write up the order, Mabel says "Thanks, but I can get it WHOLESALE!". One of the appealing aspects of this episode is the way Vivian takes charge - even if it's slightly out of character to have Lucy be bossed around, it does give the episode a stand-out quality.
Unbeknownst to our comedic duo, Mooney's stamp has been in the vacuum bag all this time. When Mabel finds it, she uses it to mail a letter and beckons "Junior" to take it to the mailbox. Flip Mark, the curiously-named actor playing Junior, gives some rather "unique" line readings, but they are quite refreshing opposed to the usual shouting method Lucille Ball demanded of her cast and guest actors (he actually had quite an impressive acting resume too!).
The final act has everyone gathered at the Post Office. Lucy's explanation to the Postmaster is poorly written and not funny, but things pick up when she keeps hiding in mail bins and under tables to grab the elusive letter. The best bit is her jumping over mail bags on the conveyor belt as though on a treadmill. This gets spontaneous applause from the audience.
I am subtracting a couple of stars because Lucy crashing through a brick wall with her upper body is not believable, nor is the way she ends up housed in a canvas mail bag as if it's a straight-jacket. Otherwise, this is a fun episode, Viv's savviness makes it original and one of the best of the season.
Lucy is given a reprieve but must make a sale. Instead of going door to door, she heads for the one person who cannot STAND her - Mooney himself. Makes sense right? Well, if she didn't go, we wouldn't have this episode, which is actually one of the better ones of Season 3.
Mooney is basking in the fact he's just acquired the Holy Grail for his stamp collection, an acquisition that set him back three-thousand dollars. When the Widow Carmichael shows up to annoy him and try and make a sale, she ends up getting his necktie caught in the vacuum hose and almost chokes him to death in the process. This scene has a great moment, when Lucy's about to use a faulty electrical outlet and Mooney gets a glint in his eye.
Next, Vivian offers to show Lucy how its done and they enter the home of housewife Mabel Albertson (TV mom to BEWITCHED's Darrin Stephens and also THAT GIRL's boyfriend Don Hollinger). Vivian's smooth approach seems to work beautifully and just as Lucy's about to write up the order, Mabel says "Thanks, but I can get it WHOLESALE!". One of the appealing aspects of this episode is the way Vivian takes charge - even if it's slightly out of character to have Lucy be bossed around, it does give the episode a stand-out quality.
Unbeknownst to our comedic duo, Mooney's stamp has been in the vacuum bag all this time. When Mabel finds it, she uses it to mail a letter and beckons "Junior" to take it to the mailbox. Flip Mark, the curiously-named actor playing Junior, gives some rather "unique" line readings, but they are quite refreshing opposed to the usual shouting method Lucille Ball demanded of her cast and guest actors (he actually had quite an impressive acting resume too!).
The final act has everyone gathered at the Post Office. Lucy's explanation to the Postmaster is poorly written and not funny, but things pick up when she keeps hiding in mail bins and under tables to grab the elusive letter. The best bit is her jumping over mail bags on the conveyor belt as though on a treadmill. This gets spontaneous applause from the audience.
I am subtracting a couple of stars because Lucy crashing through a brick wall with her upper body is not believable, nor is the way she ends up housed in a canvas mail bag as if it's a straight-jacket. Otherwise, this is a fun episode, Viv's savviness makes it original and one of the best of the season.
