The Charm School, I Love Lucy season 3, originally aired January 25, 1954
The Charm School begins at a dinner party at the Ricardos’ apartment. First, Lucy gets upset that the men are gathered in the kitchen, while the women are talking in the living room. Then, Lucy tries to get them all together… But in a funny moment, they quickly separate back into separate groups. Until a latecomer arrives with his beautiful girlfriend, a model. Naturally enough, the wives are soon jealous.
Off to the Charm School
The following morning, Lucy and Ethel are letting their jealousy run wild, reminiscing about how their husbands spent all of their time fawning over the young model. Lucy talks them into going to the charm school that the model graduated from, and after a funny evaluation by Mrs. Emerson (Natalie Schaefer of Gilligan’s Island), they begin their training …. In a funny routine where Lucy relaxes … too much … and tries to learn how to walk elegantly.
The ladies show off
Later that week, Lucy and Ethel have Ricky and Fred waiting for a “surprise” — which the ladies use to show off their new, elegant looks – a very funny visual moment. Lucy suggests that the boys take them out for dinner — and Ricky, having hatched a plan of his own, agrees.
Ricky comes out dressed in a costume from colonial days, and Fred comes in dressed in a tuxedo — complete with walking stick, top hat, and monocle. After the girls react, and explain that they went through all this work so their husbands would pay attention to them, Ricky explains that the love them as they are — and The Charm School ends on a happy note.
The Charm School is available on DVD as part of the I Love Lucy season 3 DVD.
Funny quotes from The Charm School
Lucy Ricardo (Lucille Ball): Are we going to continue to be sheep?
Ethel Mertz (Vivian Vance): Baaaah!
Lucy Ricardo (Lucille Ball): We don’t want you in there, we want you in here.
Ricky Ricardo (Desi Arnaz): Why?
Lucy Ricardo (Lucille Ball): I’ll explain it to you — we’re married.
Fred Mertz (William Frawley): What’re you trying to do, rub it in?
Ethel Mertz (Vivian Vance): Well, I’ll hand it to her — she got them out of the kitchen.
Lucy Ricardo (Lucille Ball): Yeah, apparently all the old goats needed was a young kid.
Lucy Ricardo (Lucille Ball): Good morning.
Ethel Mertz (Vivian Vance): What’s good about it?
Lucy Ricardo (Lucille Ball): You’re right; bad morning.
Lucy Ricardo (Lucille Ball): Did you ever notice, when he’s around a pretty girl, he gets more Cuban?
Lucy Ricardo (Lucille Ball): Lucy: We’ve got everything she’s got, only more.
Ethel Mertz (Vivian Vance): Yeah, but the everything more’s in the wrong places.
Mrs. Emerson (Natalie Schaefer): Your skin’s not bad, not bad at all.
Ethel Mertz (Vivian Vance): Thank you.
Mrs. Emerson (Natalie Schaefer): You’re very well preserved.
Mrs. Emerson (Natalie Schaefer): Powder gives you a very weird, unnatural look.
Lucy Ricardo (Lucille Ball): I’m not wearing powder.
Ricky Ricardo (Desi Arnaz): Now what do you think this pleasant surprise could be?
Fred Mertz (William Frawley): Maybe they’re leaving us?
Ricky Ricardo (Desi Arnaz): Lucy’s been acting strange all week.
Fred Mertz (William Frawley): How can you tell?
Lucy Ricardo (Lucille Ball): [Lucy, dressed in a stunning, skin-tight evening gown prances into the room, showing off her new glamorous look] May I have a light, please? Thanks awfully, darling.
Ricky Ricardo (Desi Arnaz): Who is that?
Fred Mertz (William Frawley): It looks like Lucy.
Ricky Ricardo (Desi Arnaz): Lucy?
Lucy Ricardo (Lucille Ball): Yes, dah-ling?
Ricky Ricardo (Desi Arnaz): It is Lucy.
Fred Mertz (William Frawley): Well, what do you know.
Lucy Ricardo (Lucille Ball): [Door buzzer sounds] That must be my dear friend, Ethel. Please, Fred, I’ll open the door.
Fred Mertz (William Frawley): Open it? I was going to lock it!
Lucy Ricardo (Lucille Ball): Oh my dear fellow. You have such a refreshing wit.
[Opens door]
Ethel Mertz (Vivian Vance): [Ethel strolls in, dressed in a tight leopard skin evening gown] I hope I didn’t hold up the party.
Lucy Ricardo (Lucille Ball): Not at all, darling. Do come in.
Ricky Ricardo (Desi Arnaz): [Can’t believe his eyes regarding Ethel’s transformation] Who’s that?
Fred Mertz (William Frawley): Who’s that? What’s that?
Ricky Ricardo (Desi Arnaz): I don’t want you well-groomed, charming and attractive — I want you the way you were.