I'm one of those weirdos never enamored by "I Love Lucy." Sure, the formula of Lucy getting herself into situations that make us embarrassed for her, while not my kind of comedy, is OK. What really ruined the show was Ricky's musical numbers, which were annoying and added nothing to the show. The best episodes were those in which Ricky's profession wasn't featured.
In "The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour", the show moves to Connecticut, and there's thankfully a complete lack of singing, except for a brief, non-irritating song in the finale ("Lucy Meets the Mustache"), but the "zany antics" (as people call them) remain. This show's formula shifts to a "guest star of the week" formula and this week's guest Tallulah Bankhead is the best of them.
At first, Lucy is pleased to have such a talented celebrity next door and convinces Miss Bankhead to be in Little Ricky's school play. Though, it's not long until the two become entrenched in a feud, culminating in Lucy's attempts at revenge at Little Ricky's play, with unexpected results.
This episode is full of quotes that are memorable even years later, mostly thanks to the wonderful contribution of Miss Bankhead. This is 50s sitcoms at their best.
