The Lucy Show (TV Series) Lucy and the Old Mansion (1965) User Reviews

Trio of Strong Ladies, But Underwhelming Episode

[kgraovac · 6/10 · 4 November 2023]

Viv returns home from some sort of trip - from where we're not told. I guess the writers just glossed over these things as Viv's character was being phased out.

Viv is introduced to Rosie (aka the Countess) who is expecting a visit from Lord and Lady Van Cleve. To keep up appearances, Rosie sweet talks Mooney into giving her the keys to an old estate -- he is unaware of her true intentions and assumes she wants to buy it. The place turns out to be a dilapidated eyesore, so Lucy, Viv and Rosie must whip the place into shape themselves to pull off the charade.

Aside from the appearance of Rosie, this one plays like another routine home improvement episode. Of course, all their handiwork comes undone at an opportune moment. The whole "sinking" gag has been done before and will be done again in this series.

The script offers another dig at Vivian's weight in the opening scene. There is a funny exchange between Mooney and Lucy when he says he's "quite a catch" and she shoots back "Most foul balls are!".

It's too bad that the one time that Vivian and Ann Sothern shared screen time, the writers didn't come up with a more original premise.

Last Episode with Original Family, Cast

[ideabook · 3/10 · 3 October 2013]

This episode is a good example of the changing focus of the program, from Lucy and Vivian and their kids to pretty much a show of antics from the two stars. Lucy's two children both appear in their final episode together, and Viv's son his last. Only Lucy's son will make it to Season 4, then only in a few episodes. Candy Moore, Lucy's daughter on the show, was completely written out and never appeared again.

Tracing the trajectory of The Lucy Show isn't hard. The first three seasons featured Ball, Vance and the three kids. After season one Gale Gordon joined the cast. Also dropped for good was any plan for Ball's character to have a serious love life, pretty much the same for Vance. Neither had many dates, neither had even a remote love interest. Ironically, even Desi Arnaz noted the poor scripts as far back as season two. Arnaz had been executive producer for the first 15 or so episodes of season one, the episodes which have received critical acclaim over the years. Arnaz was forced out of his ownership stake in Desilu Productions late in 1962 and left the show.

Without Ricky Ricardo (Arnaz) to play against, Ball had to go for 100% physical, or slapstick, comedy. The family concept, used a great deal in season one, some in season two, is virtually gone in season three. That alone makes this episode stand out. You can also note the beginning of 'gag' comedy, mostly due to Ball changing writers often.

Candy Moore commented in a book on Ball that season three wasn't good in comparison, and that the original theme had been dropped. In season one Moore's character figured in many episode plots, and featured Ball's reactions to them. However, she correctly stated that by her last season on the show she was only a minor character and that her lines had been greatly reduced. Too bad, Ball missed the start of the 60's and its youth culture. That could have led to many episodes dealing with it and featuring Moore or the boys. It didn't seem to matter as the program somehow went onto become the top rated show in its last 3 seasons. Even Vance leaving as a full time character didn't phase the ratings. Vance did appear in the last three seasons but only as a guest star vie regular cast.

This episode stands as the last featuring all of the original families. For that, it does deserve some note. However, other than that the episode is not really up to the standards set in the first two seasons.