Ep 12. Lucy and Rudy Vallee

Lucy and Rudy Vallee is the twelfth episode of the third season of Here's Lucy, a sitcom that stars Lucille Ball as Lucy Carter, a widow who works at Carter's Unique Employment Agency alongside her two children, Kim and Craig. In this episode, Lucy's boss Harry (Gale Gordon) tasks her with finding a singer for an upcoming charity benefit, and Lucy immediately sets her sights on her childhood idol Rudy Vallee (playing himself).

Lucy and her friend Mary Jane (Mary Jane Croft) concoct a plan to get Rudy's attention by pretending that Lucy is gravely ill and that her dying wish is to meet him. Despite Harry's objections, Lucy manages to lure Rudy to the agency by posing as a nurse and faking a fainting spell. Once Rudy arrives, Lucy goes to great lengths to keep up the ruse, including staging a fake funeral complete with a cardboard coffin and a eulogy by Harry.

As the day of the benefit approaches, Lucy grows increasingly nervous about her plan to get Rudy to perform. She's also thrown for a loop when she discovers that Rudy has taken a shine to Mary Jane and wants to take her out on a date. Lucy tries to intervene by warning Mary Jane about Rudy's notorious womanizing ways, but Mary Jane insists on going out with him anyway.

On the night of the benefit, everything seems to be going smoothly until Rudy starts making moves on Mary Jane during their duet. In a fit of jealousy, Lucy storms the stage and interrupts the performance to confront Rudy. But instead of being angry, Rudy is delighted by Lucy's enthusiasm and offers to help her by auctioning off a date with himself to the highest bidder. In the end, Lucy manages to raise enough money to save the charity and get her dream date with Rudy.

Overall, Lucy and Rudy Vallee is a classic episode of Here's Lucy that showcases Lucille Ball's comedic chops and her talent for physical comedy. It also features a memorable guest appearance by Rudy Vallee, who was a popular crooner and actor during the early 20th century. Fans of classic television and vintage Hollywood will appreciate the nostalgic charm of this episode, which is sure to leave viewers humming along to Rudy's catchy tunes and laughing at Lucy's wacky hijinks.