Childhood Favorite Comedy TV Programs

Originally Written Between 2017-2020      

I Love Lucy was my absolute favorite comedy show when growing up in the ‘50’s.  A close second was the Carol Burnett Show in the late ‘60’s.

 

Lucy Ricardo is the wacky wife of Cuban bandleader Ricky Ricardo. Living in New York, Ricky tries to succeed in show business while Lucy -- always trying to help -- usually manages to get in some kind of trouble that drives Ricky crazy. Their best friends are Fred and Ethel Mertz, who are also their landlords. Usually, Ethel becomes Lucy's less-than-willing partner in crime.

Now, one would think that my favorite I Love Lucy episode is the famous “chocolate factory” episode where Lucy and Ethel have to wrap pieces of chocolate candy in individual wrappers.  The conveyor belt, of course, goes from slow to fast and they end up throwing the chocolate in their mouths and in their baker’s hats.  I loved that episode and still laugh out loud whenever I see it in re-runs.  But – no – that is not my favorite.

My favorite is the episode entitled “Too Many Crooks.”  Lucy's neighbors see a robber go into their apartment building and the police suspect it's a woman they call Madame X.

It just happens that while these robberies are going on by Madame X, Lucy needs to borrow one of Fred’s old suits in order to determine his suit size so she can buy him a new suit for his birthday.  So, while the Mertzes are out of their apartment, Lucy enters their apartment to take one of Fred’s suits.

Mrs. Trumbull tells Ethel she thinks Lucy is Madame X since she has seen Lucy sneaking out with Fred's suit. To prove Lucy is innocent, Ethel and Fred decide to watch her from the fire escape. Fred got tired of waiting so he went back to his apartment leaving his coat and hat so Ethel can keep warm. But, Lucy hears her sneeze and then sees Ethel outside on the fire escape and now thinks that Ethel is Madame X. 

Wanting to talk Ethel out of her life of crime, Lucy decides to tell Ethel she is going to the Club with Ricky so that it'll appear that their apartment is empty.  Lucy then hides in her dark apartment, hoping Ethel will come and rob it. 

The real Madame X instead comes to rob the Ricardo's, and Lucy discovers she is not Ethel. As the thief flees, Ricky comes home and after a few scenes of hiding and running, Ricky catches Madame X as the police arrive.

This may not seem very funny to you – and maybe even a little complicated.  But, maybe that’s why I remember it and named it my #1 favorite episode.  This was considered a comedy show but for that one episode, it was scary.  At least it was scary to a then nine-year old watching a black-and-white TV in a darkened living room.   

 

Now the Carol Burnett Show had the best comedians – from Carol to Tim Conway to Harvey Korman.  I still laugh thinking about the “Gone with the Wind” sketch where Scarlett walks down the stairway wearing curtains – along with the curtain rod still attached over her shoulders.  

 

And Tim Conway could get Harvey Korman to laugh by just looking at him.  I’ve lost count of the many skits that leave me laughing out loud.  I remember one where Tim is the dentist and Harvey is the patient.  Tim is going to give Harvey a shot of Novocain and, of course, shoots his own hand instead.  His hand goes limp and one is laughing at Tim’s antics but mostly giggling at Harvey trying NOT to laugh.  Naturally, Harvey gives up and one can hear the entire audience laughing and clapping. 

 

Other comedians come to mind that I enjoyed:  Red Skelton and Sid Caesar to name just two.  I searched the internet for a list of the top 10 comedians since 2010 and discovered one thing:  I am old.  The only name that was familiar to me was Jimmy Kimmel.  While I didn’t read the entire bios of the other 19 names I found, it occurred to me that these current comedians all perform stand-up comedy.  Lucille Ball and Carol Burnett were physical comedians.  And maybe that’s the difference.  Today’s comedians seem to concentrate on dirty monologues or emphasize political viewpoints.  

 

Give me an I Love Lucy episode anytime.  My stress level will go down immediately!