I Love Lucy – Little Ricky’s School Pageant – season 6, originally aired December 17, 1956
Little Ricky’s School Pageant is a very entertaining episode of I Love Lucy. The basic plot is that Little Ricky’s school is putting on a fairy tale pageant, where everyone is asked to participate, both children and adult. Little Ricky is given a small part, and momma Lucy is upset for her child. She is shaken when Little Ricky tells her that he doesn’t want a “stale, little part” – he wants a great big part! And where did Little Ricky learn to behave like that? “From you, Mommy!” Ricky is the voice of reason, explaining to Little Ricky that every part is important, and everyone must work together to make the show a success. A very good lesson, that the prideful Ricky must take to heart a little later when he’s also given a “stale little part” of an enchanted tree.
The star of the show is unable to memorize his lines, and Lucy jumps at the chance to make Little Ricky the star of the show. Ricky’s warning that Little Ricky won’t have enough time to memorize the part falls on deaf ears, and the night of the show Little Ricky needs prompting from his friends and family — Ricky as the tree, Fred as ‘Hippy Hop’ the frog, Ethel as the fairy queen, and Lucy as the evil witch – flying through the air on her broom! A cute, funny episode — one that parents who have had to ‘participate’ in a school pageant will especially appreciate.
Little Ricky’s School Pageant is available as part of the I Love Lucy season 6 DVD collection.
Funny quotes from I Love Lucy – Little Ricky’s School Pageant
Lucy Ricardo (Lucille Ball): Honey, hurry back, I want to tell you all about the school meeting.
Ricky Ricardo (Desi Arnaz): No, absolutely not.
Lucy Ricardo (Lucille Ball): You know, you’re a regular Cuban Dr. Spock!
Little Ricky (Keith Thibodeaux): I don’t want a stale little part. I’ve got talent! I want a big part!
Lucy Ricardo (Lucille Ball): Whoever told you that?
Little Ricky (Keith Thibodeaux): You did!
Lucy Ricardo (Lucille Ball): The last time we played bridge, you said you’d never play with me again. What happened?
Ethel Mertz (Vivian Vance): Our TV’s busted.
Lucy Ricardo (Lucille Ball): Say, how about playing some three-handed bridge?
Ethel Mertz (Vivian Vance): Okay, I’ll go get the dummy [leaves to get Fred]
Lucy Ricardo (Lucille Ball): Nothing personal, Ethel, but anyone can see that you look more like a witch than I do.
Ethel Mertz (Vivian Vance): I’m glad it’s nothing personal.