I LOVE LUCY

When a letter from the War Department arrives, requesting Ricky to appear at "Fort Dix, Monday at 3pm," Lucy concludes he's been drafted. Actually, Ricky's been invited to the New Jersey camp to entertain.

Since Fred knows an appropriate Civil War routine from his vaudeville days (first mention of his show business past), Ricky invites him to go along. Not knowing of these plans, the girls begin knitting their men socks, and also arrange for a going-away party Sunday night with a guest list to include the Sedgwicks, the Orsattis, the Buzzells, and Billy Josephy.

Ricky and Fred determine, based on their wives' knitting, that the girls are expecting babies, and plan a similar party (the shower) that same night.

Special Notes: The Sedgewicks, Orsattis, Buzzells, and Willard Josephy were real-life friends of the Arnazes. The original print of this episode included a special four-minute tag that was introduced by the "Lucy" announcer, Johnny Jacobs as "Lucy and Ricky will be back with a little surprise!" The Christmas Eve (original air date of "Drafted") "surprise" featured the four dressed as Santas and singing "Jingle Bells" while skipping around the Ricardos' yule tree. As if magically, a fifth St. nick appears, leaving them to quizzically wish the "Lucy" audience a Merry Christmas. The "real" Santa Claus was played by actor, Vernon Dent. Desi hums a few bars of the song he and Eddie Maxwell wrote in July 1951 titled "There's a Brand New Baby in Our House." This episode is based on lucy's radio show, My Favorite Husband, Episode #115, "George is Drafted - Liz's Baby".