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Men are Messy
Menaremessy
Episode Info
Series: I Love Lucy
Season: 1
Episode: 8
Broadcast Info
Air Date: December 3, 1951
Channel: CBS
Production Info
Directed By: Marc Daniels
Written By: Jess Oppenheimer
Madelyn Pugh
Bob Carroll, Jr.
Produced By: Jess Oppenheimer


Men are Messy is the eighth episode of I Love Lucy. It first aired December 3, 1951.

Synopsis[]

After having an argument over cleaning the apartment with Ricky, Lucy decides to divide the apartment in half. When Ricky calls the next day and asks her to clean up the apartment for a magazine spread, she decides to get back at him and make the apartment even messier.

Plot[]

The episode starts with Lucy cleaning the Ricardo's apartment. Ethel calls on the telephone, and Lucy tells her what she's been doing. As she goes into the kitchen, Ricky comes home from work. When he arrives, he throws all of his clothes on the floor and tosses the paper everywhere, ruining Lucy's work. When Lucy comes in from the kitchen, she sees the mess and is furious with Ricky, although Ricky doesn't think the room is messy. Lucy tells Ricky about a band magazine that Ricky was supposed to get the next spread in the magazine, and Ricky's mad that he didn't get the spread.

Men Are Messy 1

The apartment after Ricky comes home

Ethel and Fred are about to come up, and Lucy tells Ricky to start cleaning up, although Ricky refuses. Lucy decides to divide the apartment in half, and Ricky and Lucy will keep their side they want to. The Mertzs arrive, and Ricky asks them to pick a side. Ethel thinks Ricky's side is messy, but Fred thinks it's fine, just like Ricky. The telephone rings, and it's on the line, so Lucy and Ricky both answer it. Ricky wants to get some cold beer, but the kitchen is on Lucy's side. Lucy wants to show Ethel some bath salts, but the bathroom is on Ricky's side. Ricky and Lucy decide to see who will last the longest.

At the Tropicana, Ricky begins singing a new number, and he waits for Maggie, the janitor, to sit and watch. Kenny, his agent, comes by and tells Ricky he's going to get the next magazine spread. Ricky decides to call Lucy and tell her that a photographer will be coming to their house that night.

Men Are Messy 2

Lucy as a hillbilly

At the Ricardos apartment, Ethel comes in and tells Lucy Ricky's message, since Lucy was busy on the phone. Lucy was about to clean it up, but decides to make it even messier for that evening. When Ricky gets home with the photographer, the apartment is a mess, with clothes hung everywhere and garbage piled on the sofas. Lucy walks in wearing a hillbilly outfit. Ricky is very angry with Lucy, and desperately wants to clean up the apartment. After hearing he is a photographer, Lucy wants to get her picture taken. Lucy checks to see if her clothes are dry, and Ethel is in one of the clothes, pretending to be her grandmother. Lucy and Ethel go into the bedroom to do some hunting, and come back with a bear. Ethel and Lucy reveal the gig, hoping the musicians get a good laugh. However, the photographer isn't from the musician magazine, but LOOK magazine.

Later on at the Ricardo's apartment, Lucy is crying on the couch. Ricky comes home, and Lucy tells him LOOK magazine came out. Ricky doesn't know why she's crying, as Jim said she wouldn't be on the article. Lucy tells him she didn't make the article; she made the cover.

Cast[]

Cast
Lucille Ball Lucy Ricardo
Desi Arnaz Ricky Ricardo
Vivian Vance Ethel Mertz
William Frawley Fred Mertz
Ken Morgan Kenny
Lewis Martin Jim White
Hazel Boyne Maggie

Crew[]

Crew
Producer Jess Oppenheimer
Director Marc Daniels
Writers Jess Oppenheimer
Madelyn Pugh
Bob Carroll, Jr.
Director of Photography Karl Freund
Music Wilbur Hatch
Associate Producer Al Simon
Art Director Larry Cuneo
Editor Dann Cahn
Make-up Max Factor

Memorable Quotes[]

"You mean that's the only cigarette we have in the house?"
"Yep. You get Phillip and I get Morris"
- Ricky, Lucy

"It's a regular pigpen."
"Oh, it ain't a regular one, but it'll do."

- Ricky, Lucy
I Love Lucy Episodes
Season 1 The Girls Want to Go to a NightclubBe A PalThe Diet
Lucy Thinks Ricky is Trying to Murder HerThe Quiz ShowThe AuditionThe Séance
Men are MessyThe Fur CoatLucy is Jealous of Girl SingerDraftedThe Adagio
The BenefitThe Amateur HourLucy Plays CupidLucy Fakes Illness
Lucy Writes a PlayBreaking the LeaseThe BalletThe Young FansNew Neighbors
Fred and Ethel FightThe MoustacheThe GossipPioneer Women
The Marriage LicenseThe KleptomaniacCuban PalsThe Freezer
Lucy Does a TV CommercialThe Publicity AgentLucy Gets Ricky on the Radio
Lucy's ScheduleRicky Thinks he's Getting BaldRicky Asks for a Raise
Season 2 Job SwitchingThe SaxophoneThe Anniversary PresentThe HandcuffsThe Operetta Vacation From MarriageThe CourtroomRedecoratingRicky Loses His Voice
Lucy Is EnceintePregnant Women Are UnpredictableLucy's Show Biz Swan Song
Lucy Hires An English TutorRicky Has Labor PainsLucy Becomes A Sculptress
Lucy Goes To The HospitalSales ResistanceThe Inferiority Complex
The Club ElectionThe Black EyeLucy Changes Her MindNo Children Allowed
Lucy Hires A MaidThe Indian ShowLucy's Last Birthday
The Ricardos Change ApartmentsLucy Is MatchmakerLucy Wants New Furniture
The Camping TripRicky And Fred Are TV FansNever Do Business With Friends
Season 3 Ricky's 'Life' StoryThe Girls Go Into BusinessLucy And Ethel Buy The Same Dress
Equal RightsBaby PicturesLucy Tells The TruthThe French Revue
Redecorating The Mertzes' ApartmentToo Many CrooksChanging The Boys' Wardrobe
Lucy Has Her Eyes ExaminedRicky's Old GirlfriendThe Million-Dollar Idea
Ricky Minds The BabyThe Charm SchoolSentimental Anniversary
Fan Magazine InterviewOil WellsRicky Loses His TemperHome Movies
Bonus BucksRicky's Hawaiian VacationLucy Is EnviousLucy Writes A Novel
Lucy's Club DanceThe Black WigThe DinerTennessee Ernie Visits
Tennessee Ernie Hangs OnThe Golf GameThe Sublease
Season 4 The Business ManagerMertz and KurtzLucy Cries WolfThe Matchmaker
Mr. and Mrs. TV ShowRicky's Movie OfferRicky's Screen TestLucy's Mother-In-Law Ethel's BirthdayRicky's ContractGetting ReadyLucy Learns to Drive
California, Here We Come!First StopTennessee BoundEthel's Home Town
L.A., At LastDon Juan and the StarletsLucy Gets Into PicturesThe Fashion Show
The Hedda Hopper StoryDon Juan is ShelvedBull Fight Dance
Hollywood AnniversaryThe Star UpstairsLucy in Palm SpringsDancing Star
Harpo MarxRicky Needs an AgentThe Tour
Season 5 Lucy Visits Grauman'sLucy and John WayneLucy and the Dummy
Ricky Sells the CarThe Great Train RobberyHomecomingFace to Face
Lucy Goes to a RodeoNursery SchoolRicky's European BookingThe Passports
Staten Island FerryBon VoyageSecond HoneymoonLucy Meets the Queen
The Fox HuntLucy Goes to ScotlandParis at LastLucy Meets Charles Boyer
Lucy Gets a Paris GownLucy in the Swiss AlpsLucy Gets Homesick in Italy
Lucy's Italian MovieLucy's Bicycle TripLucy Goes to Monte Carlo
Return Home from Europe
Season 6 Lucy and Bob HopeLittle Ricky Learns to Play the DrumsLucy Meets Orson Welles Little Ricky Gets Stage FrightVisitor from ItalyOff to FloridaDeep-Sea Fishing
Desert IslandThe Ricardos Visit CubaLittle Ricky's School Pageant
I Love Lucy Christmas ShowLucy and the Loving CupLucy and Superman
Little Ricky Gets a DogLucy Wants to Move to the CountryLucy Hates to Leave
Lucy Misses the MertzesLucy Gets Chummy With the Neighbors
Lucy Raises ChickensLucy Does The TangoRagtime BandLucy's Night in Town HousewarmingBuilding a B-B-QCountry Club DanceLucy Raises Tulips
The Ricardos Dedicate a Statue
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