"The Lucy Show" Lucy Meets the Berles (1967)

User Rating:

8.1/10   

Director:

Maury Thompson

Writers:

Irene Kampton (book)
Robert O'Brien (executive writer)

TV Series:

"The Lucy Show" (1962)

Original Air Date:

11 September 1967 (Season 6, Episode 1)

Genre:

Comedy

Plot:

Lucy moonlights as Milton Berle's secretary. She overhears Milton rehearsing a torrid love scene, thinks that the comedian is cheating on his wife and plots a suitable comeuppance. |

Plot Keywords:

Secretary | Misunderstanding | Weekend | Rehearsal | Moonlighting

Cast

Lucille Ball	...	Lucy Carmichael
Milton Berle	...	Himself (as Mr. and Mrs. Milton Berle)
Ruth Berle	...	Ruth Berle (as Mr. and Mrs. Milton Berle)
Mary Jane Croft	...	Mary Jane Lewis
Ruta Lee	...	Herself

Runtime:

USA:30 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Australia:G

Filming Locations:

Desilu Studios - 9336 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, California, USA

Company:

Desilu Productions

Quotes:

Milton Berle: Now, Ruth, when a man matures he wants the kind of success that brings respect. I mean, when you meet people today and you talk about Berle, what's the best thing they can say about him? 'He's funny, he's funny, he's funny.' Well, I'm out to prove that Berle is not funny... That's not a nice thing to say.
Ruth Berle: I didn't say anything.
Milton Berle: That's what hurts. You love me too much to say it.

Very Spontanious and Funny

The show reminds me of some of the spontaneous episodes on Carol Burnett and the Dean Martin Show where the cast can't help but crack. Though the episode gets off to a pedestrian start with Lucy taking the lead, Berles comedic genius takes off mid-way and he shows why he was such a legendary comic in earlier years. He is just plain funny being himself in awkward situations. Much like comic Jack Benny, Berle's deadpan approach is priceless and should be studied by comedians today. The show also features beautiful Ruta Lee, who was a household name during the 1960s, when this was filmed. Ruta was in dozens of television show episodes, including "Gunsmoke", "Twilight Zone", "Wild Wild West", "Mannix" and countless more. Her role as "The Other Woman" is not meant to be convincing, but rather overly-dramatic and provides the perfect "straight role" to Berles talents. Mrs. Berle is just having a great time in this romp and it's clear she is just along for the ride. The laughs are real on this one and I was cracking up myself. A real slice of what television comedy was like in 1967 and the genius of Berle! Highly recommended.