The Hedda Hopper Show – I Love Lucy episode 118, originally aired 3/14/1955
The Hedda Hopper Show begins with a telegram arriving from Lucy’s mother, telling them that she will be arriving at 9:30. However, in typical Mrs. McGillicuddy style, she doesn’t say what airplane she will be arriving on! Ricky calls the airport, only to find out that there are no flights arriving at that time. Just to be safe, Ricky, Lucy, Fred, and Ethel drive out to the airport to welcome Mrs. McGillicuddy and Little Ricky – but return without them, having been unable to find them. Mrs. McGillicuddy then calls, telling them that she’s arrived.
They drive back out to the airport, only to not find them again. Returning to their hotel room, out pops Mrs. McGillicuddy and Little Ricky! After warm greetings, and Mrs. McGillicuddy characteristically getting Ricky’s name wrong, she explains that she called from the hotel lobby. Ricky asks why she didn’t tell Lucy, Mrs. McGillicuddy replies that she wasn’t asked!
Mrs. McGillicuddy’s friend … or Hedda Hopper?
rescuing his own wife – nobody would believe it!
Mrs. McGillicuddy then tells ‘Mickey’ that she met the nicest lady on her flight, who is a newspaper reporter, who will interview him for some publicity. Ricky’s Hollywood agent has a different idea, however. Hedda Hopper, the famous gossip columnist who is well-known for the crazy hats that she wears, will be at the hotel later. He plans to stage Ricky ‘rescuing’ a beautiful young starlet just as Hedda Hopper walks by, as a publicity stunt. After some arguing back and forth, Lucy is chosen as the women for Ricky to rescue.
Publicity stunt?
The best-laid plans of mice and men go astray, however, and there is some comic confusion as various potted plants, etc. are mistaken for Ms. Hopper’s crazy hats, the wrong person tries to rescue Lucy, etc. – resulting in Lucy being dunked multiple times, and Ricky diving in for nothing. The angry Ricardos eventually retaliate by pushing Ricky’s Hollywood agent into the pool! On their return to the hotel room they find Mrs. McGillicuddy chatting with her friend from the airplane – Hedda Hopper.
The Hedda Hopper Story is available on the I Love Lucy season 4 DVD collection.
funny quotes from The Hedda Hopper Show – I Love Lucy
Hedda Hopper: Is it raining outside? No, and I thought I wore crazy hats!
Lucy Ricardo (Lucille Ball): You don’t think something could have happened?
Ricky Ricardo (Desi Arnaz): Well, I don’t know. Your mother in the park, with all those squirrels running around …
Lucy Ricardo (Lucille Ball): You know how Mother is.
Ricky Ricardo (Desi Arnaz): Yeah.
Lucy Ricardo (Lucille Ball): You take that back!
Mrs. McGillicuddy: I wasn’t at the airport.
Ricky Ricardo (Desi Arnaz): Well, where were you?
Mrs. McGillicuddy: Down in the lobby.
Ricky Ricardo (Desi Arnaz): Down in the lobby! Why didn’t you tell Lucy?
Mrs. McGillicuddy: She didn’t ask me.
Ricky Ricardo (Desi Arnaz): The sun opens in the east and closes in the west.
Mr. Pomerantz: Is that accent for real?
Ricky Ricardo (Desi Arnaz): What accent?
Ricky Ricardo (Desi Arnaz): I’ve been happily married for 14 years.
Mr. Pomerantz [trying to think of a publicity angle]: Say, that might be an angle in itself. [pause] Nah, nobody would believe it!
Lucy Ricardo (Lucille Ball): You said you were looking for a pretty young girl with talent who would like some publicity?
Mr. Pomerantz: Yes.
Lucy Ricardo (Lucille Ball): Well, I … [looks at Ricky] I’m … [pause] … I’d like some publicity!
Mr. Pomerantz: No, you can’t save your own wife, nobody would believe it.
Mrs. McGillicuddy [angry at Ricky, as he walks by]: Well, if it isn’t Mr. Ingrate!
Ricky Ricardo (Desi Arnaz): [to Lucy] Just once, I’d like your mother to get my name right.