I LOVE LUCY

Contemplating a nervous breakdown because Ricky won't hire her for his new act, Lucy consults a book, "Abnormal Psychology", for a solution. Three symptoms of her frustration are likely to appear, according to the text: She will assume the identity of a celebrity, develop a hopeless case of amnesia, and revert to her childhood.

When Ricky arrives home, he is bombarded with not just one complex, but all three: Lucy impersonates Tallulah Bankhead, can't recognize herself in the mirror, and recklessly rides a tricycle around the living room. Ricky wants to call in psychiatrist Dr. Stevenson to help Lucy, but Fred first warns him that Lucy is faking.

Ricky decides to enlist the aid of an actor friend, Hal March, to play a phony physician. Doctor: "Just as I feared, you've contracted the gobloots. It came into the country on the hind legs of the boo-shoo bird. We may have to operate. We'll have to go in and take out your zorch."

Lucy believes him and prepares for her death. Ricky finally spills the beans whereupon Lucy insists on being in the nightclub act. Now Ricky is the one feigning amnesia.

Special Notes: Ricky claims that he and Lucy have been living in the Mertz building for five years. The song the musicians play for Lucy at her bedside was really, "I'll Be Gald When You're Dead, You Rascal You". Lucy recognizes this old jazz standard, which is why she gets so upset. Most I Love Lucy reference books incorrectly identify the song as "When the Saints Come Marching In." This episode is based on lucy's radio show, My Favorite Husband, Episode #111, "Liz Has The Flimjabs".

Bloopers: The green light bulb in Lucy's lamp is meant to make her think she's turned green but she immediately notices that Fred and Ricky look green too. Ricky then makes sure Fred plays along and say they don't look green to each other when they clearly do. In the next moment Ethel comes in and sees that Lucy appears green, but doesn't say anything about the others looking green. Odd considering Ethel isn't in on the boys' prank and she should have just as easily noticed that everyone in the room is green just like Lucy did.