Superman on Television

Adventures of Superman: Episode Reviews

I Love Lucy: "Lucy and Superman"

Original Broadcast Date: January 14, 1957

Writers: Bob Carroll, Junior, Madelyn Martin, Bob Schiller And Bob Weiskopf

Director: James V. Kern

Guest Cast:
Lucille Ball as Lucy Ricardo
Desi Arnaz as Ricky Ricardo
Vivian Vance as Ethel Mertz
William Frawley as Fred Mertz
Richard Keith as Little Ricky Ricardo
Madge Blake as Martha
Ralph Dumke as Martha's Husband
Steven Kay as Stevie Appleby
George O'Hanlon as Charlie Appleby
Doris Singleton as Caroline Appleby

"Lucy and Superman"

Superman is in town, and Little Ricky Ricardo wants him to come to his birthday party. His mother Lucy cannot promise anything. However, she will take him to Macy's Department Store to meet the Man of Steel if he is a good boy. In the meantime, Lucy and Ricky are talking with guests Charlie and Caroline Appleby. Their son Stevie, who is Little Ricky's best friend, has been invited to the aforementioned party. The boys' birthdays are only four days apart. Caroline has already scheduled Stevie's festivities for Saturday, the same day as Little Ricky's. Neither Lucy nor Caroline are willing to change the day. This creates a competition as to which of the children will have a better day. Stevie will have a clown and magician at his celebration. Little Ricky, according to Lucy, will have something better - Superman. Perhaps, Mrs. Ricardo has once again cooked up a scheme that will cause her to be in over her head.

Ricky Ricardo once met Superman when he was in California. Lucy hopes that this will help her keep her promise to her son. Unfortunately, the Metropolis Marvel must fly to Terre Haute, Indiana for an appearance on Saturday. This does not deter Lucy. She has come up with a plan to make sure Superman will be there for Little Ricky's birthday party. It may end up becoming yet another wacky mess that gets the crazy redhead in trouble.

Using an empty apartment across the hall in which Fred Mertz wants to rent out, Lucy intends to walk out onto the ledge to her home in a Superman costume and helmet to hide her true identity. Once the window is opened by Ethel Mertz, she will land like the Last Son of Krypton into her living room during the party. Some things happen on Saturday to put a monkey wrench into her plan, much to her chagrin. An elderly married couple wishes to see the vacant apartment. This leads the wife to believe that she actually saw Superman. As a result, they do not wish to live there. Pigeons are landing on poor Lucy, making it difficult for her to get to her destination. The dizzy redhead nearly falls when a drain pipe comes loose. At the same time, her cape gets caught in a connection. Meanwhile, Ricky has come home with a surprise. Superman has arrived because he didn't want to disappoint the children. Unfortunately, Lucy is nowhere to be seen. Can Superman find her and rescue her from the trouble she has caused for herself?

The party has ended, and there's still no sign of Lucy. Worse yet, it's raining. Ethel Mertz reveals to Ricky that she's on the ledge. Little Ricky suggests that Superman go get her. Moving the piano with ease, the Man of Tomorrow walks out to get Lucy, who asks him to teach her to fly. Once Superman explains that he has never had cape trouble because of his experience as a superhero, Ricky gets angry.

Ricky shouts, "Of all the crazy things you've done in the fifteen years that we've been married ..."

"Wait a minute, Mister Ricardo. You mean to tell me that you've been married to her for fifteen years?," Superman asks.

"Yeah, fifteen years!"

"And they call me Superman," Superman replies with a smile.

Rating - 3 (out of 5): Lucille Ball, Desi Arnaz, Vivian Vance, William Frawley and Richard Keith will be forever in the hearts of millions as the main cast of I Love Lucy. Lucy and Desi also produced many television shows over the years. They eventually formed their own production company called Desilu Productions. Lucy was the head of Desilu, making her the first woman to own her own studio.

Desi Arnaz was responsible for producing such shows as The Untouchables and The Mothers-In-Law.

Besides being in numerous projects with Lucille Ball, Vivian Vance was Clara Appleby in The Red Skelton Show.

William Frawley is also best known for the role of Michael Francis "Bub" O'Casey in My Three Sons.

Richard Keith often played Opie's friend Johnny Paul Jason on The Andy Griffith Show.

In addition to believing Lucy was Superman, Madge Blake portrayed Aunt Harriet Cooper in the 1966-1967 Batman television series.

Ralph Dumke was Mister McAfee in The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show. He also had the classic roles of Jim Tallman in the Elvis film Loving You, Police Chief Nick Grivett in 1956's Invasion of the Body Snatchers and the uncredited part of Buck Monahan in 1953's War of the Worlds.

Steven Kay's only other role was that Jordan Benedict III at age four in Giant starring James Dean, Elisabeth Taylor and Rock Hudson.

George O'Hanlon played Calvin Dudley in The Life of Riley and Artie Burns in The Reporter. However, he is best known for being the voice of George Jetson, the patriarch of The Jetsons.

Doris Singleton had many bits parts in various shows starring Lucille Ball. She was also Angel's friend Susie in the 1960-1961 television series Angel.

George Reeves is listed as uncredited for this episode in the Internet Movie Database. While he is not listed with the rest of the actors in the closing credits, the announcer does say he was in the episode.

Footage from season one of The Adventures of Superman is used during the television announcement of Superman's appearance at Macy's. George Reeves is on wires during his flight, something that was changed after Reeves had fallen after one had broken during filming of the first twenty-six entries that comprised that year of the series.

George Reeves is never referred to as George or Mister Reeves by the characters in this episode.He's always called Superman to help make children of the time believe that the Man of Steel is really visiting the Ricardo home.

Look closely at Stevie when he's on the sofa as the telephone rings. He's clearly holding the comic book sideways. Perhaps he'll have a future as an American politician.

Superboy and Acton Comics comic books can be seen in scenes throughout this episode. Little Ricky is also wearing a Superman play suit.

My taste in comedy is pretty broad. I like a mixture of classics and new stuff. I enjoy such shows as The Addams Family, I Dream of Jeannie, Soap, Mystery Science Theater 3000, Seinfeld and Arrested Development. I Love Lucy was just never my cup of tea. Then again, neither is Two and a Half Men. I never found Lucy and the rest of the cast very funny. That being said, the real saving grace of "Lucy and Superman" is the appearance of George Reeves.

The story itself is a very thin one. However, we do get to see the impact Superman had on a generation of children and adults from the point of view of the I Love Lucy cast of characters. I can only imagine what it would have been like for a child in 1957 to see George Reeves in the iconic red, blue and yellow costume in person. I probably would have been the same way with Christopher Reeve as I was only five years-old when the Richard Donner film first came out in cinemas. Seeing George Reeves gives us as viewers the impression that he is trying his best to bring the character of Superman to life in order to give joy to the children who idolized him. This really helps "Lucy and Superman" a bunch. It also gives the audience a glimpse into the history and importance of the Man of Steel to the entire world, and that's always fascinating to me.

There are a few laughs here and there in "Lucy and Superman". This is especially true in the scenes featuring George Reeves. Reeves has shown in some episodes of The Adventures of Superman that he has a great gift for comedic timing and acting. He gets to really show this off in I Love Lucy. It's a pity George never got a chance to be more humorous. He would have been great in a sitcom or film produced by some of the kings of laughter.

Fans of I Love Lucy and The Adventures of Superman could really have fun watching this show. Fans of Superman, in general, could probably like it for its examination of the importance of the character and his influence on 1957 youth. Fans of George Reeves can see the actor stretch his comedic legs to some degree. In other words, there is something in this episode for everyone. I could never get into I Love Lucy. However, there are scenes in "Lucy and Superman" that even gave me something to enjoy.

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