Ep 19. Lucy Gets In Pictures

Lucy Gets In Pictures is the nineteenth episode of the fourth season of the popular American sitcom, I Love Lucy. The show premiered on CBS on February 23, 1955, and was directed by James V. Kern. The episode follows the hilarious misadventures of Lucy Ricardo, played by Lucille Ball, as she tries to land a role in a movie.

The episode begins with Lucy's desire to become a movie star like her friend, Carolyn Appleby. So, when she hears about a movie that is being filmed in Hollywood, she decides to audition for it. However, she is disappointed to learn that the audition for the lead role is only for a chorus girl. Undeterred, Lucy decides to audition anyway, hoping to impress the director with her talents.

To her surprise, Lucy gets the job and becomes a member of the chorus line of the movie. She is thrilled to be part of a big movie production and dreams of becoming a big star like her idol, Betty Grable. However, things start to go wrong when Lucy gets hit in the face by a prop during rehearsals and develops a swollen nose. Her swollen nose is in the way of her eye, which causes sad and comic moments.

To make matters worse, the director of the movie, Mr. Pim, is a tough, no-nonsense person who does not tolerate any delays or disruptions in the production. He grills the chorus girls with tough dance routines and even fires one of them for not being able to keep up. When Lucille becomes unable to keep up with the sequence, Lucy convinces her to help smuggle her out so that she can see a doctor.

This is where the antics of Lucy really begin. When she goes to see the doctor, he gives her a prescription for a painkiller which she cannot fill as it requires a Mexican prescription. Lucy then decides to take the medication by sewing it into a doll and pretending that she is carrying the doll across a border into Mexico. Along with Ethel, Lucy tries to cross the border with the doll but gets caught by the border patrol, leading to some hilarious moments.

As if things were not bad enough already, Lucy's nose starts to get worse, and she ends up looking like a clown. In desperation, she decides to escape from the hospital and appears on the movie set with her nose looking even more ridiculous than before. This leads to some great comedic moments as she tries to convince the director that she can still dance with her swollen nose.

In the end, Lucy's performance keeps Mr. Pim impressed, and she is finally given a chance at the lead role. However, she soon discovers that it is a role that requires her to get wet and muddy, something that Lucy struggles with as she tries her best to stay clean and presentable.

The episode is famous for the comic moments, highlighted by Lucille Ball's comedic timing and facial expressions that leave the audience in splits. It is a testament to the writing and acting of the lead artist and the entire I Love Lucy team that the show remains a timeless classic that continues to entertain audiences even today nearly 70 years later.

In conclusion, Lucy Gets In Pictures is an exciting episode of I Love Lucy that delivers great entertainment value. The episode is a must-watch for any fan of the show or anyone looking for some quality comedy.