Fun
Frisky
Nostalgic
Intense
Adventurous
Choked Up
Curious
Romantic
Weird
Decades before anyone was honestly questioning whether or not women are funny, Lucille Ball was setting the gold standard in comedy. Female comedians aren’t the only ones who owe a major debt to Ball — her physicality and perfect timing serves as a model for nearly every comic actor who works in television, including plenty of men. That she was so vital to the work behind-the-scenes is also an impressive, and often overlooked, detail in her biography. Her major influence, of course, is the brilliant sitcom I Love Lucy. Out of the 181 episodes, we’ve managed to find the ten best — some of which you might recognize even if you haven’t seen them yet.
"Job Switching," Season 2, Episode 4
When Ricky and Fred suggest that housework is easier than going out and getting a job, the men and women switch it up for a day in this classic sitcom battle of the sexes. Of course, Ricky and Fred make a mess of the laundry and botch an attempt at dinner; Lucy and Ethel find themselves up against a maniacal conveyer belt in a candy factory.
Watch this episode on Hulu.
"Lucy Does a TV Commercial," Season 1, Episode 30
Lucy goes behind Ricky’s back and lands a commercial gig. The problem isn’t the name “Vitameatavegamin” — it’s that Vitameatavegamin contains 23% alcohol, leaving Lucy completely wasted by the end of the shoot.
Watch this episode on Hulu.
"Lucy's Italian Movie," Season 5, Episode 23
While touring Europe, Lucy is offered a role in a film called Bitter Grapes. Always the method actor, she stops by an Italian winery as research — only to come head-to-head against a fellow grape-stomper.
Watch this episode on Hulu.
"Lucy Is Enceinte," Season 2, Episode 15
When Lucy discovers she’s pregnant, she frets over the best way to tell Ricky. She anonymously requests him to sing his song “We’re Having a Baby” at his show, and surprises him as the one who made the request. (Fun fact: because the network barred the word “pregnant,” the show went with the French term — “enceinte.”)
"Ricky Has Labor Pains," Season 2, Episode 19
Ricky wants to have Fred over to watch sports, but feels defeated when Lucy makes him cancel so her friends can throw her a baby shower. Suddenly, Ricky becomes jealous of all of the attention Lucy and their baby are getting.
Watch this episode on Hulu.
"Harpo Marx," Season 4, Episode 28
Lucy’s friend Carolyn is visiting from out of town, and Lucy promises to introduce her to celebrities. Taking advantage of Carolyn’s bad eyesight, Lucy dresses up as Clark Gable, Marlon Brando, and Harpo Marx. This all works… that is until the real Harpo Marx shows up!
"Lucy and Superman," Season 6, Episode 13
When Lucy promises Little Ricky that Superman will attend his fifth birthday party, she has to scramble together a plan. Dressed in a Superman costume, Lucy gets stuck on the apartment balcony while the “real” Superman (played by George Reeves) shows up at the party.
Watch this episode on Hulu.
"In Palm Springs," Season 4, Episode 26
Lucy and Ethel get into fights with their husbands, and in retaliation venture on a vacation in Palm Springs, where they run into noted Hollywood movie star Rock Hudson (as you do).
Watch this episode on Hulu.
"Lucy Tells the Truth," Season 3, Episode 5
Ricky bets Lucy that she can’t go 24 hours with telling a fib. The result? Not only does Lucy insult her friends, but she accidentally lands a spot on television — as the target in a knife-throwing bit.
Watch this episode on Hulu.
"Lucy Thinks Ricky Is Trying to Murder Her," Season 1, Episode 4
After getting wrapped up in a mystery novel, a paranoid Lucy is convinced that her husband is out to get her. (I mean, how can you possibly go wrong with an episode with such a literal title?)
