To her dismay, Lucy finds out that she's put on 22 pounds since marrying Ricky. After Ricky tells her that she can be in the show if she can lose 12 pounds and fit in the costume, she tries anything and everything to lose weight.
Plot[]
Lucy weighing herself
The episode starts with the Ricardos and Mertzs sitting in the Ricardo's apartment after a meal, all of them stuffed after the meal. The girls and guys both critique the other on how much they ate, and Lucy boasts that she still weighs the same as when she was married. Nobody else believes her, so Ricky gets a scale to weigh her. Lucy is shocked to find out that she's gained 22 pounds, and begins to cry and hate herself, thinking she won't be able to perform on stage, when that opportunity comes. Jerry calls Ricky shortly after on the phone and tells him that the Joanne, the girl who dances with Ricky has quit, and he has to find a new girl as soon as possible. Lucy wants to be that girl, but Ricky is against it. Ricky finally agrees to audition her, although he will show no favoritism.
At the Tropicana, Lucy arrives to find many younger girls already waiting to audition. The girls don't think Lucy has a chance, but Lucy is persistant. Ricky arrives, and the auditions begin. Ricky asks all the girls if they're size 12, but Lucy hesitates before answering. Ricky gives Lucy the costume she would have to wear, and she struggles to get it on, and eventually rips it. Desperate, Lucy asks Ricky that if she loses enough weight, can she get the part, to which Ricky agrees, highly doubtful that she can do it.
Lucy trying to eat a potato
The next day, Ethel is in the Ricardo's apartment, and Lucy is running around the fourth floor for exercise. After running, Ethel gives her a jump rope for more exercise, but Lucy is too tired by now. They decide to weigh Lucy again, and find out Lucy has lost two pounds total. That evening, Ethel provides dinner for everyone, and Lucy gets a piece of celery while everyone else gets a steak. Fred brought along his dog Butch as well. Lucy desperately wants food, and tries to take a potato from the bowl, with no luck. Lucy decides to leave, but sneaks back in and hides under the table. She pretends to be the dog to get a piece of meat, but the dog takes it from her.
The next day, Ethel comes up to the apartment to find Lucy in a human pressure cooker. Lucy plans on spending the next five hours in the pressure cooker to lose the last five pounds. Ethel comes back at 6:00 before the show is about to start to check on Lucy. Lucy is incredibly tired, but she loses enough weight and is determined to dance with Ricky.
At the club, Ricky begins singing the number, and Lucy comes in instead of the other girl, and starts dancing the number with Ricky. The dance number is successful, and Ricky and Lucy are applauded by the crowd. Afterward, Lucy is very weak from malnutrition, and she is taken home in a stretcher. While heading off, she gives Ethel a key and points to a door. Ethel unlocks it to find the girl supposed to do the number with Ricky tied up in the closet.
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-LawEthel'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 WellesLittle 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 TownHousewarming • Building a B-B-Q • Country Club Dance • Lucy Raises Tulips The Ricardos Dedicate a Statue
