The Amateur Hour – I Love Lucy episode 14, originally aired 1/14/1952
In The Amateur Hour, Lucy Ricardo (Lucille Ball) needs money to pay for a new dress, but she doesn’t have much in the way of marketable skills – so she answered an advertisement looking for a babysitter. The mother seemingly drops off one terrible tot, but she has actually left two. Twins Timmy and Jimmy, who spend time making Lucy think that she’s losing her mind, as she goes from the living room to the kitchen, only to find “the child” having already beaten her there…
After straightening out the confusion, the mother of the terrible twins calls, and lets Lucy know that she’ll be later than she thought – could Lucy take the twins to their talent contest that evening? If they win, she can have the prize money. Enticed by the money for her new dress, Lucy agrees and accompanies the twins to their talent contest, where the three of them are dressed in cowboy outfits. To her surprise, her husband Ricky Ricardo (Desi Arnaz) is the master of ceremonies for the contest! But, with the help of a frog put down her pants, she does an impromptu dance and wins the contest.
The Amateur Hour is available as part of the season 2 I Love Lucy DVD collection.
I Love Lucy quotes
[Ricky is dressed only in his top hat, undershirt, underwear, shoes and socks and is about to head out the door]
Lucy Ricardo (Lucille Ball): Ricky! Where are you going?
Ricky Ricardo (Desi Arnaz): Going down to the club.
Lucy Ricardo (Lucille Ball): Well, put some clothes on!
Ricky Ricardo (Desi Arnaz): Well, I’d love to honey, but I haven’t a thing to wear!
Lucy Ricardo (Lucille Ball): Isn’t this the cutest thing you’ve ever seen?
Ricky Ricardo (Desi Arnaz): How much?
Lucy Ricardo (Lucille Ball): And notice the full skirt and the sensational neckline?
Ricky Ricardo (Desi Arnaz): How much?
Lucy Ricardo (Lucille Ball): Isn’t it a divine color, Ricky?
Ricky Ricardo (Desi Arnaz): How much?
Lucy Ricardo (Lucille Ball): Of course, I have to shorten it a little.
Ricky Ricardo (Desi Arnaz): How much?
Lucy Ricardo (Lucille Ball): Oh, about two and a half inches.
Babysitting
Mrs. Hudson: Is Mrs. Ricardo on fire?
Timmy: Not yet.
Timmy: [talking about Lucy’s hair] Is all this red stuff real?
Lucy Ricardo (Lucille Ball): It should be. I paid enough for it.
Lucy Ricardo (Lucille Ball): What kind of nitwit do you think I am?
Timmy: I don’t know. What kind are you?
Lucy Ricardo (Lucille Ball): What do you think I should have ready for him when he gets here?
Ethel Mertz (Vivian Vance): A little girl.
Lucy Ricardo (Lucille Ball): [on the phone] What kind of baby is it?…A little boy….A little boy what?…I mean is it human?
Lucy Ricardo (Lucille Ball): Apparently you can’t get a job in this town unless you can do something.
Ricky Ricardo (Desi Arnaz): Honey, you have a closet full of clothes.
Lucy Ricardo (Lucille Ball): Well, all my friends have seen me in them.
Ricky Ricardo (Desi Arnaz): Well, then get yourself a new set of friends.
I Love Lucy Trivia
- This is one of the few episodes that has no appearance by Fred Mertz/William Frawley
- This is the first time that the Ricardo’s address is mentioned – 623 East 68th Street. Most maps place this mythical address somewhere in the East River.
- The terrible twins, Timmy and Jimmy, kick Lucy in the shins 3 times.
- Whether on purpose or not, on Disney’s Kim Possible cartoon, the title character’s twin younger brothers, who are constantly irritating and annoying her, are also named Timmy and Jimmy.
- Songs performed in this episode include: “Ragtime Cowboy Joe,” “I’m Breaking My Back Putting Up a Front For You”