MovieChat Forums > I Love Lucy (1951) Discussion > New and Improved Titles

New and Improved Titles

posted 4 years ago by gary4movies (174)
33 replies | jump to latest

As many TV fans know, some TV shows make episode titles known, while others do not. Old detective shows or Westerns will reveal the title right after the opening credits (The Big Valley, "The Night of The Wolf"). Classic sitcoms often did not, despite great titles (Bewitched, " Toys in Babeland"). Get Smart only revealed its classic titles in the last season ("The Apes of Wrath").

I Love Lucy NEVER revealed episode titles, as they felt the need only to "label" their teleplays. Staff writer Madeline Pugh later confessed that had they'd all known the continued popularity of ILL, they would have created better titles.

So, I'm hoping we can come up with some sharper titles. The rules are we can't reveal which eps we are referring to. My first two are easy.

Hair Today, Gone Tomorrow
The Truth, the Whole Truth, and Nothing But The Truth

Any others?

[–] [email protected] (6082) 4 years ago

I love when the title is revealed at the beginning of the episode.

Bonanza always did that and so did Hawaii Five-O.

Get Smart had many great titles, very often a play on words or a twist on a movie title like, "The Mess of Adrian Listenger". lol

Seinfeld never wanted his writers to spend a long time on creating clever titles. All the shows have simple titles like The Pen, The Chinese Restaurant, The Boyfriend, etc.

Actually a lot of ILL titles are clever. But some could use improving.

I have to give it some thought. But there are a few that come to mind. They're pretty bad though!

The Wrath of Grapes
Don't Hesitate or You'll Miss the Boat
Lucy Acts Like a Dumb Cluck

[–] gary4movies (174) 4 years ago

Not bad, although I'm not certain what episode you're referring to in "Dumb Cluck." Is it "Lucy Raises Chickens?"

Bewitched has a great third season entry with a ho-hum title, "I Remember You... Sometimes." I always thought "Thanks for the Memories" would've been better. But again, who knew in 1967 that we would even know the titles?

My favorite Get Smart title is the one where Barbara Feldon has an imposter: "And Only Two Ninety-Nine."

[–] [email protected] (6082) 4 years ago

Yeah, you got it. After I typed it I realized that it could apply to a few episodes.

Get Smart had a lot of great titles that were a play on movie titles. I can think of some of those for Lucy episodes, the problem is that the movies I think of came out AFTER ILL!

For example, Last Tango in Westport or My Cousin Ernie.

I can think of one using a movie title from the forties, The Bongo Player and the Bobby Soxer.

Bewitched had a lot of imaginative titles. But there are a few that I simply do NOT get! I love A is for Aardvark, but I never got the significance of that title.

[–] gary4movies (174) 4 years ago

NOBODY has ever figured out what "A is for Aardvark" means, only that it's a great episode.

The Outer Limits ep "Keeper of the Purple Twilight" features another title that nobody ever knew the meaning of. Author David L. Schow, writer of two tomes on the series, stated that in countless years of research, he could never unlock the meaning behind the the title.

I love The Bongo Player and the Bobbysoxer! Is this the "Peggy Dawson" show?

[–] [email protected] (6082) 4 years ago

Darn! I was sure a Bewitched expert like you knew the meaning of that title.

The Outer Limits had some imaginative titles, but I never understood the one you mentioned either.

Yes, it's the Peggy episode. Do you know what 1940's movie I stole it from?

Other ILL titles from a movie that came out in the 1960's, Father Goose and Mother's Grim, Guess Who's Coming To California?

[–] gary4movies (174) 4 years ago

"The Bachelor and the bobbysoxer° sounds wonderful in a goods are

[–] [email protected] (6082) 4 years ago

Yes, an old Cary Grant movie!

The Best Friend of My Best Friend is No Friend of Mine!

Another one based on an eighties movie- Three Men and a Hot Babe

[–] gary4movies (174) 4 years ago

Well, clearly that's another (better) title for "Homecoming."

This isn't very good, but how about:

Lucy Takes a Detour

Lucy Plays the Market

And, finally, while very obvious:

And ONLY Forty Cents a Quart

[–] [email protected] (6082) 4 years ago

I'm confused. Did you mean "Housewarming"? (the Connecticut episode) That's what I meant.

Lucy Takes a Detour. Is that "First Stop"? A better title since it's Lucy who is responsible for the mess they were in.

Forty Cents a Quart. That's a good one! "Lucy Plays the Market" is more descriptive than "The Business Manager".

I've been trying to come up with some title for my favorite episodes. "Never Get Fooled by a Finch" or "Never Let A Minnie Make a Fool of You".

"Dressed to Thrill"

[–] gary4movies (174) 4 years ago

Pretty good, but you haven't figured out mine, very well.

[–] [email protected] (6082) 4 years ago

Did I get "Lucy Takes a Detour" wrong? If so, the only one I can think of is the European episode with the bicycle trip.

Speaking of the European episodes,
A Dress to Die For

Boy oh Boyer! Did You Fool Me!

You Think You're Pretty Foxy, Don't You?

(a real stretch because I don't think it was the same mountain)
What the Matta Hon?

[–] gary4movies (174) 4 years ago

Yes, I was referring to the "Housewarming" episode. The Charles Boyer one is a hoot, and far better than the blah "Lucy Meets Charles Boyer."

"Lucy Takes a Detour" WOULD be an improvement over "First Stop.". It's even an improvement over what I MEANT - a new title for " Lucy Raises Tulips."

How about?

And Enough Oil For a Salad
A Hunting We Will Go
The Dread of Fred

[–] [email protected] (6082) 4 years ago

Is that the "Oil Wells" episode?

The hunting one, is that when Lucy insists on going camping with Ricky?

The Dread of Fred has me stumped. There were lots of things he dreaded' concerning Ethel! Could it be the Staten Island Ferry episode and his seasickness?

Another European episode, Lucy's Little Fromage.

Lucy's Two Most Unhappy Fellas.

[–] gary4movies (174) 4 years ago

Yes, it's the camping episode. And yes, The Dread of Fred is the Staten Island Ferry ep.

Yours HAS to be "Return Home From Europe", a MUCH better title.

Is Lucy's Two Most Unhappy Fellas the one where she babysits twins??

[–] [email protected] (6082) 4 years ago

Glad that I had few correct!

Yes, I was considering something with Chester in the title.

No, it's not the one with the twins although that would make sense. Now you've reminded me of that episode.

Actually it was a play on the title of the musical that they almost saw all the way through.

Remember in the lobby when Ricky asked Fred about the main character? Fred said that he knew by the title, the guy wasn't married. lol

It was "The Most Happy Fella".

In this case, Lucy made two married men unhappy by getting tickets for the matinee!

[–] gary4movies (174) 4 years ago

Ah, yes! "Lucy's Night in Town."

[–] [email protected] (6082) 4 years ago

Yes. Lucy messed up that time.

Some more titles...

Is Honesty Always the Best Policy?

When the Fabric Ruins the Friendship

The Spendthrift vs. the Screamer

[–] gary4movies (174) 4 years ago

New titles for "Lucy Tells the Truth" and "Ricky Loses His Temper."

Have to think about the fabric one.

[–] [email protected] (6082) 4 years ago

You got the first two!

Now think about it. Fabric AND friendship! Two key clues!

I know you know it.

[–] gary4movies (174) 4 years ago

"Lucy and Ethel Wear the Same Dress?"

How about these:

"Mamacita, thou art Sweet"

"Hey, Walter, Heeeeere She Comes!"

[–] [email protected] (6082) 4 years ago

Yeah, the Friendship episode.

The next one, Lucy's Mother-in-Law?

I am drawing a blank on the last one. I can't think of a Walter in ILL!

[–] gary4movies (174) 4 years ago

Can't think of a Walter??? He was one of Lucy's biggest victims! PJ, I'm ashamed of you!

[–] [email protected] (6082) 4 years ago

YOU'RE ashamed? So am I! I cannot think of a Walter in ILL.

I am drawing a blank

[–] gary4movies (174) 4 years ago

I'll let you think about it some more.

[–] [email protected] (6082) 4 years ago

I've thought and thought.
Cannot think of a Walter.

[–] gary4movies (174) 4 years ago

Good grief, PJ, Lucy didn't want him to wind up in the gutter.

[–] [email protected] (6082) 4 years ago

I'm still blank! And so is my computer. Something is wrong with it and I'm using a computer at the library.

So don't think I'm ignoring you!

[–] gary4movies (174) 4 years ago

Oh, dear, and you had computer trouble only a few months back. Can't you use your phone? Anyway, another hint: "And every finger points to you, Walter...

[–] [email protected] (6082) 4 years ago

I seem to have computer trouble a LOT!

No I can't use my phone. I am one of those old fashioned throwbacks who does NOT have a cell phone! Hard to believe, but it's true!

I am still blank about Walter! HELP!!

[–] gary4movies (174) 4 years ago

"They fire you immediately"

[–] [email protected] (6082) 4 years ago

Now I get it since you told me on the other thread! Walter Riley. How could I have forgotten?

How about "Clowning Around"? You probably remember it as one of my least favorite episodes.

[–] Garyandfilm (548) 4 years ago

is it "The Audition with Buffo the Clown?

[–] [email protected] (6082) 4 years ago

Yeah! Clowns creep me out!!!