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The Quiz Show
Quizshow
Episode Info
Series: I Love Lucy
Season: 1
Episode: 5
Broadcast Info
Air Date: November 12, 1951
Channel: CBS
Production Info
Directed By: Marc Daniels
Written By: Jess Oppenheimer
Madelyn Pugh
Bob Carroll, Jr.
Produced By: Jess Oppenheimer


The Quiz Show is the fifth episode of I Love Lucy. It first aired on November 12, 1951.

Synopsis[]

When Lucy's household accounts are overdrawn again, she decides to compete in a radio show to earn enough money to pay off the debt. However, she soon finds out that to get the money, she must pretend to have a first husband until midnight.

Plot[]

The episode starts with Lucy sitting at the desk with a bunch of papers around her. Ethel walks in, and Lucy tells her that today is the day Ricky goes over her household accounts, which are a mess. Ricky walks in and checks the books, and is surprised by the $245 in miscellaneous, and Ricky also finds out that she just paid last December's bills. Ricky tells Lucy that she's used up her allowance until next February, and she won't get any more money until then, although he says if she can pay the bills, she can have her allowance back. Ethel comes up after Ricky leaves, and offers to take Lucy to a radio show to cheer her up. Lucy is reluctant to go, until she finds out that the first place prize is $1000.

The Quiz Show 1

Lucy deciding which bills to pay

At the radio show, Freddy Fillmore introduces the show, and brings out Lucy, who's willing to do something silly for the jackpot prize. Freddy tells Lucy that they're going to bring the beach to Lucy, and bring a box of sand, an umbrella, and a rain coat that they put on Lucy. The challenge is for Lucy to sing "My Bonnie lies over the Ocean," but whenever Lucy says a word associated with water, she gets sprayed. This joke continues after the song ends. The competition isn't over, and Freddy tells her that to win the thousand dollars, she must introduce a man from the radio station as her long lost first husband. If Lucy can keep up the masquerade until midnight, she wins the $1000.

At the Ricardo's apartment, Lucy is very nervous and anxious about the man from the radio station. Ricky suggest that she knit to ease her mind, which she agrees to. Outside in the alley, a homeless man knocks on the Mertz's door, asking for money. Ethel turns him away, but he sneaks upstairs when she goes back inside.

The Quiz Show 2

Lucy "Second First Husband"

Back at the Ricardo's, Lucy has knitted the socks to extensive lengths, not paying attention. The homeless man knocks on the door, and Lucy thinks it's the man from the radio station, introducing him as her first husband. Ricky doesn't believe the story, and the homeless person starts taking objects from the apartment and hiding them in his jacket. Ricky catches him when he doesn't know Lucy's name, but he accidentally lets it slip. Ethel comes in, and tells Lucy that the man is a tramp, and not from the station. She kicks him out of the apartment after Ricky takes all the items he stole out of his jacket. Ricky asks Lucy to explain the whole situation when the real man from the station arrives. Lucy, stuck in the middle, tries to pass him off as her second first husband.

At midnight, Lucy is trying to explain the story to Ricky, but he doesn't believe her. Her "first husband" confirms the story, and gives her the $1000 since it's after midnight. Ricky takes the money to pay the bills, and gives Lucy the fifty cents of change.

Cast[]

Cast
Lucy Ricardo Lucille Ball
Ricky Ricardo Desi Arnaz
Ethel Mertz Vivian Vance
Fred Mertz William Frawley
Freddie Fillmore Frank Nelson
The Announcer Lee Millar
Mrs. Peterson Hazel Pierce
The Tramp John Emery
The First Husband Phil Ober

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 were not friends, you were married."
"Yeah, just a little bit."
- Ricky, Lucy

"Ricky, I'd like you to meet my second first husband."

- 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