The Ricardos Dedicate a Statue – I Love Lucy Season 6, Episode 27, originally aired May 6, 1957
The Ricardos Dedicate a Statue is the final episode of I Love Lucy before it changed into the hour-long Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour – and a fitting farewell it was. Ricky and Lucy are preparing to do their parts to dedicate a statue to a Revolutionary War hero, with Ricky giving the speech at the community event. Everyone is getting involved, with Fred (reluctantly) getting dressed as the town crier.
A very cute moment happens when Little Ricky comes downstairs with clown makeup on his face. Ricky, apparently, has brought his makeup kit home. In something seemingly unrelated, Little Ricky’s dog, Freddy, has been chewing Ricky’s slippers among other offenses, and has been going through obedience school, and is almost ready to graduate. A very funny bit happens when Lucy tries to demonstrate how much Freddy has learned … or not. Later, Freddy runs away, with comic interactions as Lucy and Ethel call for “Freddy” only to have Fred Mertz answer.
When Lucy goes to the car to look for the dog, she forgets that the statue is on a trailer attached to the back of the car, backs into a tree and ruins the statue. What to do? Lucy decides to use Ricky’s makeup kit to make herself up as the statue until another statue can be made. Unfortunately for Lucy’s plan, the lost dog is found by his namesake, Fred, and he runs up to “the statue” and begins licking Lucy’s face during Ricky’s speech, blowing her cover.
The Ricardos Dedicate a Statue is available on DVD part of the I Love Lucy: The Complete Sixth Season.
Funny quotes from The Ricardos Dedicate a Statue – I Love Lucy season 6
Lucy Ricardo (Lucille Ball): [to Ricky] From now on you better not bring home your M-A-K-E-U-P.
Little Ricky: I know what that is!
Lucy Ricardo (Lucille Ball): You do?
Little Ricky: It’s spelling!
Ricky Ricardo (Desi Arnaz): I am not going to be seen in those early American snickers!
Lucy Ricardo (Lucille Ball): Those are called ‘knickers.’
Fred Mertz (William Frawley): For one thing, this wig is too hot! How do people with hair stand it?
Lucy Ricardo (Lucille Ball): [trying to get their dog, Freddy, to bark] Well, you know, he’s not supposed to speak unless he wants something, like his dinner, you know.
Ricky Ricardo (Desi Arnaz): Oh, he’s a before dinner speaker.
Fred Mertz (William Frawley): [after Lucy has broken the statue] Wouldn’t you know it? The poor guy made it through the Revolutionary War without a scratch, but five minutes with you and he’s finished!
Lucy Ricardo (Lucille Ball): Hey, I’ve got an idea! Maybe it’s too wild.
Ethel Mertz (Vivian Vance): If you think you have an idea you think is too wild, then I don’t want to hear it!