Be a Pal

Be a Pal - Lucy imitates Carmen Miranda

Be a Pal – I Love Lucy episode 03, originally aired 10/22/1951

In Be a Pal, Lucy Ricardo (Lucille Ball) fears that her husband Ricky Ricardo (Desi Arnaz) is losing interest in her. Ethel Mertz (Vivian Vance) recommends the book How to Keep Your Honeymoon from Ending. Chapter 1 suggests that the wife dress up for breakfast – which results in a very funny scene with Ricky not even looking up from his newspaper to see the lovely Lucy.

Chapter 2 suggests that she ‘be a pal’€, resulting in Lucy joining Ricky, Fred Mertz (William Frawley) and two friends for a game of poker – €”and beating them all.

Be a Pal - Lucy imitates Carmen Miranda

Chapter 3 suggests surrounding her spouse with things that remind him of his childhood, so Lucy redecorates the apartment with a Cuban theme including sombreros, palm trees, a flock of chickens and a mule. Lucy even lip-syncs to Carmen Miranda.  This is a highlight of the episode, with Lucy showcasing her physical comedy skills, bopping Ricky with her hips, etc. until the record starts skipping, which Ethel (also having fun in disguise as a Cuban peasant in sombrero, mustache and poncho) tries to fix – giving Lucy more comedy material as she starts singing at twice the normal speed, and then slowing down.

Ricky has no idea what insanity is going on until Lucy explains her fear of Ricky losing interest in her.  Ricky reassures Lucy, telling her that he fell in love with her because she’s so different from anyone he ever knew in Cuba – before Ricky convinces Lucy of his love with a kiss.

Be a Pal is available as part of the season 1 I Love Lucy DVD collection.

I Love Lucy Quotes

Lucy (Lucille Ball): [to Ethel]: As a dancer I got two left feet, and as a singer I sound like a bull moose pulling his foot out of the mud.


Ricky Ricardo (Desi Arnaz): That’s the reason I married you – because you’re so different than anyone I’ve known in Cuba.
Lucy Ricardo (Lucille Ball): Who’d you know in Cuba?


[Lucy offers cards around the table.]
Fred Mertz (William Frawley): I’m fine.
Lucy Ricardo (Lucille Ball): You look tired.


[Lucy is at Ricky’s poker game.]
Lucy Ricardo (Lucille Ball): My this is a problem. [looks at cards]
Ricky Ricardo (Desi Arnaz): Honey, please, you’re holding up the game.
Lucy Ricardo (Lucille Ball): Well, I can’t decide whether to throw away my two queens or my three kings.


[Ethel describes poker to Lucy.]
Ethel Mertz (Vivian Vance): It’s a lot like hearts, only you bet, and there isn’t any old maid.


[Ethel reads from the book by Dr. Humphries.]
Ethel Mertz (Vivian Vance): If he hunts, take up hunting. If he fishes, take up fishing. If he golfs, take up golfing.
Lucy Ricardo (Lucille Ball): Ricky plays poker. I’ll have to take up poking.


Ricky Ricardo (Desi Arnaz): What’s the matter with you, you crazy or something?


Ethel Mertz (Vivian Vance): Is everything okey-dokey?
Lucy Ricardo (Lucille Ball): No, everything is inky-stinky.

I Love Lucy Trivia

  • For her parody of Carmen Miranda, Lucy purportedly received permission from Carmen Miranda first, to avoid hurt feelings
  • Richard J. Reeves appears in a cameo appearance. He reappears in later episodes as a neighbor, an electrician and as an actor auditioning for Ricky’s “Indian Show
About tom.raymond 1562 Articles
Professional clown for over 25 years - happily married, with 5 children and 1 grandson