The Audition

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The Audition Episode Info Series: I Love Lucy Season: 1 Episode: 6 Broadcast Info Air Date: November 19, 1951 Channel: CBS Production Info Directed By: Marc Daniels Written By: Jess Oppenheimer Madelyn Pugh Bob Carroll, Jr. Produced By: Jess Oppenheimer The Audition is the sixth episode of I Love Lucy, and a remake of the pilot. It first aired on November 19, 1951. Synopsis Ricky's band is set to have a T.V. audition, and Lucy can't get into the act. However, when Buffo the Clown gets injured while riding his bicycle, Lucy gets her big break to save the audition for Ricky. Plot The episode starts with Ricky sleeping in bed, while Lucy comes in to wake him up. Lucy tries to wake him up for an appointment, but he doesn't wake up until she plays his drum. Lucy asks Ricky if he's had any word for his T.V. audition, but Ricky hasn't. Lucy wants to be on the T.V. audition with him, but Ricky is against it. Lucy claims she's a good entertainer, but Ricky still says no. Ricky doesn't want a wife in show business The doorbell rings, and Ricky answers it to let Fred in. Fred gives Ricky a letter that says tonight is the night of Ricky's T.V. audition, and Ricky tells him not to tell Lucy. Inside the letter are the Ricardo's wills. Ricky decides to send Lucy down to the attorney with the wills to get rid of her for the day. Lucy walks in pretending to be a showgirl, but Ricky still says no. Ricky tells her about the will, and Lucy panics, especially when she finds out about her will. At the club, Ricky is rehearsing the band for the audition that night. Buffo the Clown, an act set to appear at the audition. While practicing an act, Buffo crashed into a table when the brakes locked. Ricky decides to have him rest at his apartment until that evening. At Ricky's apartment, Lucy comes home while Buffo is sleeping, and thinks he's a criminal. Buffo tells Lucy about the T.V. audition, and tries out his bike to see if it will work, but with no luck. Buffo suggests Lucy take his place, which Lucy immediately agrees to. Lucy as Buffo the Clown At the club that night, Ricky is singing his signature number, Babalu, for the T.V. audition. When the number is finished, Ricky asks Fred where Buffo is, but Fred doesn't know either. Ricky's about to wrap the show when Lucy walks in, starting a comedic act. Lucy's act consists of trying to get in the band playing the cello. Lucy does many stunts, like putting a plunger on the cello to make it stay up, and pretending to play the cello like without a bow. Ricky introduces a new instrument to Lucy, which are a number of squeaky horns. Lucy acts like a seal and hits them with her nose. After her performance, the audience applauds and the show is concluded. Back at the Ricardo's apartment, Ricky isn't speaking to Lucy, because Lucy got a contract instead of Ricky. Ricky tells Lucy that he wants her just to be his wife, and Lucy tries to show him by cleaning the house and giving him his slippers. Ricky also gets the impression that she's pregnant, but Lucy tells him she just baked him his favorite pie. Cast Cast Lucille Ball Lucy Ricardo Desi Arnaz Ricky Ricardo Vivian Vance Ethel Mertz William Frawley Fred Mertz Pat Moran Buffo the Clown Jess Oppenheimer TV Network Rep #1 Harry Ackerman TV Network Rep #2 Hal Hudson TV Network Rep #3 Bennett Green Stagehand 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 "So how would you like to have your product sponsored by a gorgeous redhead?" "I'd love it. Do you know where I can find one?" - Lucy, Ricky "Never mind making fun of my English." "That's English?" - Ricky, Lucy "And cook for you, and be the mamma for your children." "Let's see you pull that out of your pocket." - Lucy, Ricky I Love Lucy Episodes Season 1 The Girls Want to Go to a Nightclub • Be A Pal • The Diet Lucy Thinks Ricky is Trying to Murder Her • The Quiz Show • The Audition • The Séance Men are Messy • The Fur Coat • Lucy is Jealous of Girl Singer • Drafted • The Adagio The Benefit • The Amateur Hour • Lucy Plays Cupid • Lucy Fakes Illness Lucy Writes a Play • Breaking the Lease • The Ballet • The Young Fans • New Neighbors Fred and Ethel Fight • The Moustache • The Gossip • Pioneer Women The Marriage License • The Kleptomaniac • Cuban Pals • The Freezer Lucy Does a TV Commercial • The Publicity Agent • Lucy Gets Ricky on the Radio Lucy's Schedule • Ricky Thinks he's Getting Bald • Ricky Asks for a Raise Season 2 Job Switching • The Saxophone • The Anniversary Present • The Handcuffs • The Operetta Vacation From Marriage • The Courtroom • Redecorating • Ricky Loses His Voice Lucy Is Enceinte • Pregnant Women Are Unpredictable • Lucy's Show Biz Swan Song Lucy Hires An English Tutor • Ricky Has Labor Pains • Lucy Becomes A Sculptress Lucy Goes To The Hospital • Sales Resistance • The Inferiority Complex The Club Election • The Black Eye • Lucy Changes Her Mind • No Children Allowed Lucy Hires A Maid • The Indian Show • Lucy's Last Birthday The Ricardos Change Apartments • Lucy Is Matchmaker • Lucy Wants New Furniture The Camping Trip • Ricky And Fred Are TV Fans • Never Do Business With Friends Season 3 Ricky's 'Life' Story • The Girls Go Into Business • Lucy And Ethel Buy The Same Dress Equal Rights • Baby Pictures • Lucy Tells The Truth • The French Revue Redecorating The Mertzes' Apartment • Too Many Crooks • Changing The Boys' Wardrobe Lucy Has Her Eyes Examined • Ricky's Old Girlfriend • The Million-Dollar Idea Ricky Minds The Baby • The Charm School • Sentimental Anniversary Fan Magazine Interview • Oil Wells • Ricky Loses His Temper • Home Movies Bonus Bucks • Ricky's Hawaiian Vacation • Lucy Is Envious • Lucy Writes A Novel Lucy's Club Dance • The Black Wig • The Diner • Tennessee Ernie Visits Tennessee Ernie Hangs On • The Golf Game • The Sublease Season 4 The Business Manager • Mertz and Kurtz • Lucy Cries Wolf • The Matchmaker Mr. and Mrs. TV Show • Ricky's Movie Offer • Ricky's Screen Test • Lucy's Mother-In-Law Ethel's Birthday • Ricky's Contract • Getting Ready • Lucy Learns to Drive California, Here We Come! • First Stop • Tennessee Bound • Ethel's Home Town L.A., At Last • Don Juan and the Starlets • Lucy Gets Into Pictures • The Fashion Show The Hedda Hopper Story • Don Juan is Shelved • Bull Fight Dance Hollywood Anniversary • The Star Upstairs • Lucy in Palm Springs • Dancing Star Harpo Marx • Ricky Needs an Agent • The Tour Season 5 Lucy Visits Grauman's • Lucy and John Wayne • Lucy and the Dummy Ricky Sells the Car • The Great Train Robbery • Homecoming • Face to Face Lucy Goes to a Rodeo • Nursery School • Ricky's European Booking • The Passports Staten Island Ferry • Bon Voyage • Second Honeymoon • Lucy Meets the Queen The Fox Hunt • Lucy Goes to Scotland • Paris at Last • Lucy Meets Charles Boyer Lucy Gets a Paris Gown • Lucy in the Swiss Alps • Lucy Gets Homesick in Italy Lucy's Italian Movie • Lucy's Bicycle Trip • Lucy Goes to Monte Carlo Return Home from Europe Season 6 Lucy and Bob Hope • Little Ricky Learns to Play the Drums • Lucy Meets Orson Welles Little Ricky Gets Stage Fright • Visitor from Italy • Off to Florida • Deep-Sea Fishing Desert Island • The Ricardos Visit Cuba • Little Ricky's School Pageant I Love Lucy Christmas Show • Lucy and the Loving Cup • Lucy and Superman Little Ricky Gets a Dog • Lucy Wants to Move to the Country • Lucy Hates to Leave Lucy Misses the Mertzes • Lucy Gets Chummy With the Neighbors Lucy Raises Chickens • Lucy Does The Tango • Ragtime Band • Lucy's Night in Town Housewarming • Building a B-B-Q • Country Club Dance • Lucy Raises Tulips The Ricardos Dedicate a Statue