Lucy Hires an English Tutor – I Love Lucy episode 53, season 2, originally aired 12/29/1952
In Lucy Hires an English Tutor – With the baby’ impending arrival, Lucy is concerned about her English (as well as Ricky’s!) and hires an English tutor to tutor them both.
The free lessons have a catch, however. Lucy has agreed to let him sing at Ricky’s club, which Ricky knows nothing about. However, Ricky hates the lessons, and makes his own secret deal with the tutor …
Hans Conried, who plays the part of the English tutor Mr. Livermore, appeared with Lucille Ball on several episodes of her radio series, My Favorite Husband; his performance of Tippy Tippy Toe is one of the comedic highlights of the episode, as is his adopting of Ricky’s Cuban accent. A very good episode, character-centered, with Lucy’s insecurities at the forefront. Very funny, recommended.
Lucy Hires an English Tutor is available on DVD as part of the I Love Lucy season 2 DVD collection.
Quotes from I Love Lucy – The English Tutor
Mr. Livermore: I tippy-tippy-toe through my garden, where all the pretty flowers dwell. There’s a rare perfume in my garden, and I just love to stand there and smell. And as I tippy-tippy-toe along, all the pretty flowers seem to sing this song …
Ricky Ricardo (Desi Arnaz): Derry down pip pip
Lucy Ricardo (Lucille Ball): Dilly dilly day
Ethel Mertz (Vivian Vance): Hey nonne nonne
Fred Mertz (William Frawley): Rippity pippity ay. Derry down ding dong
Ethel Mertz (Vivian Vance): Dilly dilly doo
Lucy Ricardo (Lucille Ball): Hey nonne nonne
Ricky Ricardo (Desi Arnaz): Rippity pippity poo.
Lucy Ricardo (Lucille Ball): What if our child asks us simple questions? Like [in child’s voice] “Where does rain come from?” [in her normal voice] “Where does rain come from? I don’t know dear, your mommy’s a dumbbell.”
Lucy Ricardo (Lucille Ball): I would say okay, that’s a swell way to get off to a lousy start!