Ep 5. The Saxophone

The second season of the classic 1950s sitcom, I Love Lucy, followed the wacky adventures of Lucy Ricardo (Lucille Ball) and her husband Ricky Ricardo (Desi Arnaz) as they navigated through their daily lives. One particular episode in the second season, titled "The Saxophone," focused on Lucy's attempts to learn how to play the saxophone.

The episode starts with Lucy being inspired by a street musician playing the saxophone outside her apartment building. She expresses a desire to learn how to play the instrument, but Ricky is hesitant about the idea, knowing her history with learning instruments. However, Lucy is determined to prove him wrong and hires a saxophone teacher named Mr. Copeland.

As soon as Mr. Copeland enters the apartment, it becomes clear that Lucy has no natural musical talent. She can't even get a single note out of the saxophone, much to the dismay of Mr. Copeland. He tries to teach her the basics, but every time he demonstrates how a certain note should sound, Lucy ends up blowing a completely different one.

Despite her lack of progress, Lucy refuses to give up and practices every day, even at the expense of spending time with her friend and neighbor Ethel (Vivian Vance). Things get even more complicated when Ricky's boss, Mr. Littlefield, invites them to a party where a professional saxophonist is scheduled to perform. Ricky declares that he won't let Lucy anywhere near a saxophone during the party, worrying that she might embarrass him in front of his boss.

However, Lucy is not one to be deterred so easily. She decides to practice alone at night, leading to a hilarious scene where she accidentally wakes up the entire neighborhood with her screeching saxophone playing. The next day, she invites Mr. Copeland over for another lesson, determined to finally get the hang of it. Alas, things don't go according to plan, and she ends up getting tangled in the instrument during one of her attempts.

As the day of the party approaches, tensions rise between Lucy and Ricky, with Lucy feeling frustrated at Ricky's lack of support and understanding. Ethel, ever the peacemaker, suggests that she and Lucy trade places for the night, with Ethel pretending to be Lucy and Lucy pretending to be Ethel. The plan seems to work, with Ethel (as "Lucy") carrying a saxophone case around the party and Lucy (as "Ethel") flirting with all the men.

However, things quickly spiral out of control when Lucy accidentally spills a drink on Mr. Littlefield, causing him to demand that Ricky play a song on the saxophone. With no other choice, Ricky reluctantly agrees, only to discover that Lucy has stashed her own saxophone inside his, leading to a hilarious scene where both of them end up playing the instrument at the same time.

Overall, "The Saxophone" is a classic episode of I Love Lucy that showcases the show's signature blend of physical comedy, witty banter, and heartwarming moments. It's a perfect example of why the show remains such a beloved and iconic part of television history.