I LOVE LUCY

The Wednesday Afternoon Fine Arts League is staging its yearly talent show (just three months after the last one), which is to be televised on Charlie Appleby's TV station at midnight Monday.

Lucy promises the girls that Ricky will emcee the show, despite the fact he earlier wanted nothing more to do with the ladies' group. Offering that "next to sugar, Cuba's biggest export is ham," Lucy uses a little reverse psychology to get Ricky to appear. She tells him she has the perfect emcee - Dan Jenkins, who plays tissue paper and comb. Ricky changes his mind and even helps Lucy and Ethel rehearse their duet, "Friendship."

But sparks fly when Lucy brings out the dress she intends to wear - it's identical to the one Ethel bought (Lucy got hers at Gimbels and Ethel found hers at Macy's). To avoid a fight, both decide to return their dresses.

Later we learn that neither took back her dress, thinking the other would, and while they perform their song on TV, they rip each other's dresses to shreds until Ricky and Fred have to break up the on-camera scuffle.

Special Notes: The song "Friendship" was written for the 1939 Broadway musical "DuBarry Was a Lady," with music and lyrics by Cole Porter. Lucille Ball also sang this song in the 1943 film version. This episode is based on lucy's radio show, My Favorite Husband, Episode #85, "Liz Appears on Television".