Ep 12. The Million Dollar Idea

Lucy and Ethel embark on a new business venture in season 3 episode 12 of I Love Lucy titled "The Million Dollar Idea." The episode begins with the two friends longing for a way to make some extra money. After brainstorming various ideas, they come up with the concept of marketing Lucy's homemade salad dressing.

Excited about their newfound idea, Lucy and Ethel set out to create a commercial for the product, featuring Lucy as the main spokesperson. However, things quickly go awry when Lucy realizes she's terrible at delivering lines on camera. Her nervousness leads to a series of comical mishaps, including a disastrous run-in with a ladder and a messy encounter with a bag of flour.

Despite the setbacks, Lucy and Ethel manage to complete the commercial and submit it to a television company for consideration. They eagerly await a response, but when weeks go by without any news, they start to worry.

Just when they're ready to give up hope, a representative from the television company contacts them. To their surprise, the commercial has been accepted and they've been offered a contract worth one million dollars. Overjoyed, Lucy and Ethel begin planning their newfound business empire, only to discover they've made a critical mistake.

In their excitement, they failed to calculate the actual cost of producing the salad dressing. When they realize they'll be forced to sell 5,000 bottles just to break even, they start to panic. In an effort to save their fledgling business, they begin coming up with creative ways to boost sales. This leads to a series of hilariously disastrous attempts to market the product, including an ill-fated attempt to sell it from a hot air balloon.

Despite their best efforts, however, they still struggle to make any real headway in the market. That is, until they stumble onto a clever idea that involves Lucy dressing up in a gorilla costume and performing a series of stunts around town. The plan works better than they could have ever imagined, and they soon find themselves flooded with orders for the salad dressing.

The episode ends with Lucy and Ethel celebrating their success and looking forward to what the future may hold for their business. As always, their adventures are marked by hilarious mishaps, misunderstandings, and comedic genius. With its adorable cast and heartwarming storyline, "The Million Dollar Idea" is another charming addition to the beloved series I Love Lucy.