Milton Berle is producing a movie and Lucy becomes his temporary secretary. When she overhears Berle rehearsing a scene with Ruta Lee, she assumes he's cheating on his wife, Ruth.
This is a wonderful opener for the Sixth and final season. The opening credits feature a new closing shot of Ms. Ball in the heart-shaped frame, wearing a feather boa and looking her most glamorous yet. Also, the mini-credit with the famous Lucille Ball caricature is backed by an updated arrangement that sounds positively regal - befitting the Queen of Comedy.
After the atrocity of Season 4's "Lucy Helps Milton Berle", Mister Television and the Queen redeem themselves wonderfully in this farcical episode based on a misunderstanding that plays like a 1960s version of THREE'S COMPANY.
Ruta Lee unwittingly plays "the other woman" in this episode and she is fortunate to have guest-starred in two superior LUCY SHOW episodes (see also "Lucy's Substitute Secretary") that both aired in 1967.
The first scene at Berle's is not really that funny except when Lucy mistakes Ruth for the maid. Things pick up after Lucy listens on the intercom. Her disgust with Berle and Lee are hilarious, as is her later line to Ruth about the golf bag.
Mrs. Ruth Berle was not an actress or comedienne - and it shows. It's too bad they didn't coach her on her line readings or timing. You'd think with two old pros in her corner, they could have gotten a livelier performance out of her. But everything else here is so good, it's a minor quibble.
The last half of the episode is chock full of great jokes and it looks like the cast were breaking character during the climax because they were trying not to laugh a la THE CAROL BURNETT SHOW.
This is one of the best episodes of the California era.
This is a wonderful opener for the Sixth and final season. The opening credits feature a new closing shot of Ms. Ball in the heart-shaped frame, wearing a feather boa and looking her most glamorous yet. Also, the mini-credit with the famous Lucille Ball caricature is backed by an updated arrangement that sounds positively regal - befitting the Queen of Comedy.
After the atrocity of Season 4's "Lucy Helps Milton Berle", Mister Television and the Queen redeem themselves wonderfully in this farcical episode based on a misunderstanding that plays like a 1960s version of THREE'S COMPANY.
Ruta Lee unwittingly plays "the other woman" in this episode and she is fortunate to have guest-starred in two superior LUCY SHOW episodes (see also "Lucy's Substitute Secretary") that both aired in 1967.
The first scene at Berle's is not really that funny except when Lucy mistakes Ruth for the maid. Things pick up after Lucy listens on the intercom. Her disgust with Berle and Lee are hilarious, as is her later line to Ruth about the golf bag.
Mrs. Ruth Berle was not an actress or comedienne - and it shows. It's too bad they didn't coach her on her line readings or timing. You'd think with two old pros in her corner, they could have gotten a livelier performance out of her. But everything else here is so good, it's a minor quibble.
The last half of the episode is chock full of great jokes and it looks like the cast were breaking character during the climax because they were trying not to laugh a la THE CAROL BURNETT SHOW.
This is one of the best episodes of the California era.