Rating: 
Summary: The Laughs Just Keep Coming
Review: The second half of season one was certainly stronger, as these four episodes demonstrate.Unfortunately, this disc starts with a weak episode. "The Young Fans" finds both Ricky and Lucy with crushes from young neighbors. Fred and Ethel are completely missing (a common complaint of mine early on) and I find the ending unbelievable. Fortunately, the other three episodes are much better. "New Neighbors" finds Lucy thinking he's over heard a plot to kill her and Ricky when she spies on the new tenants. This episode is hysterical, especially for Lucy's impersonation of a chair. When "Fred and Ethel Fight," Lucy and Ricky get caught in the middle. And after the Mertzes have made up, it's the Ricardos who aren't speaking to each other. Lastly, "The Moustache" finds Lucy trying to get Ricky to shave only to wind up with a beard herself. This episode features some truly funny facial expressions from a frustrated Lucy. This DVD is a collector's dream. The episodes are presented in their entirety, and they look and sound sharp. There are occasional flaws in the picture, but considering the source material is 50 years old, it really isn't bad at all. The sound is presented in mono. While it won't challenge your sound system, it serves the purpose well and is faithful to the original audio recording. The extras this time around feature two original openings since they changed starting with "New Neighbors." Also included are the now familiar guest cast info, trivia, mistakes, and episode of "My Favorite Husband." While not an ideal way to be released, it's wonderful to have these shows on DVD. I can't get enough Lucy, and this disc will be played many times at my house.
Rating:
Summary: The Queen of Comedy on DVD.
Review: The sixth volume of I Love Lucy's first season features episodes 20-23, which are all favorites of mine, especially "The Young Fans." Although, like many other people, I wish they would release season-by-season DVDs, this is still a must have collection. Lucy's brand of humor and physical gags transcends time and it shows on this set. "The Young Fans" (aired 2/25/52)- When Peggy (Janet Waldo), a teenaged girl, develops a huge crush on Ricky, Lucy decides to have a talk with a friend of Peggy's named Arthur (Richard Crenna), in hopes that the two will get interested in each other. The plan backfires and the boy becomes infatuated with Lucy. The Ricardos then decide to dress up as ninety-year-olds, hoping to diminish the love-struck teenagers' crushes. "New Neighbors" (aired 3/3/52)- Lucy and Ethel are dying to check out the new neighbors' apartment, but Ricky forbids her to set a foot in the O'Brien's place. Of course, that doesn't stop Lucy from sneaking in on her hands and knees. When she overhears the couple rehearsing for a play, she assumes they're planning to take over the government. "Fred and Ethel Fight" (aired 3/10/52)- While trying to patch things up between the Mertzes after they've had a fight (Fred: "She said my mother looks like a weasel!" Lucy: "Ethel... apologize!" Ethel: "I'm sorry your mother looks like a weasel."), Lucy and Ricky begin fighting over who apologized first in their last argument. "The Mustache" (aired 3/17/52)- Ricky has been growing a mustache for a movie he wants to audition for, but Lucy hates it. To make him shave, she borrows a fake beard from Fred and puts it on with what she thinks is spirit gum. When Ricky finally breaks down and shaves, Lucy tries to take her beard off and then realizes it's been glued on with Bulldog cement!
Rating:
Summary: How come when Lucy tries to help it always backfires?
Review: With Volume 6 of Season One of "I Love Lucy" we are in the second half of the season as the show was really starting to hit stride. Lucy temporarily puts aside her eternal quest to get into show business by playing the helpful wife and neighbor on this particular quartet of episodes: Episode 20, "The Fans" (February 25, 1952) has a young bobby-soxer (Janet Waldo) developing a crush on Ricky. Fortunately Lucy is there to help save Ricky. This episode is of historic note because it was the debut of William Asher as a director on the show. While this was the only first season episode not directed by Marc Daniels, Asher would be the primary director on "I Love Lucy" for the rest of its run. Richard Crenna also appears in this episode; he was about to become a notable character on "Our Miss Brooks," which was also produced by Desilu. Episode 21, "New Neighbors" (March 3, 1952) has Lucy and Ethel getting the wrong idea about the new couple have just moved into the building. Yes, that is Hayden Rorke from "I Dream of Jeannie" you see in this episode. This is a good DVD for spotting future TV stars. Episode 22, "Fred and Ethel Fight" (March 10, 1952) is something of a misnomer as a title, because while the episode starts off giving second bananas Vivian Vance and William Frawley a chance to shine as the Mertzes have a fight, it is Lucy and Rick who end up just about destroying their own marriage trying to help Fred and Ethel make up. Episode 23, "The Mustache" (March 17, 192) presents a classic sitution comedy Lucy plot. Ricky has grown a mustache. Lucy does not like Ricky's mustache. To show him the error of his ways, Lucy comes up with her own false whiskers. However, she has, of course, put on the mustache a little bit too well... Overall there is a nice thematic unity to these four episodes as Lucy tries time and time again to be helpful and only succeeds in making matters worse. "The Mustache" is another great example of Lucille Ball's skills as a comedian, even when all she is working with is a fake mustache. All of these episodes were written by the legendary team of Jess Oppenheimer, Madelyn Pugh, and Bob Carroll, Jr. The second half of Season One is clearly a lot stronger, and the best is yet to come (one word: Vitametavegamin).
Rating:
Summary: How come when Lucy tries to help it always backfires?
Review: With Volume 6 of Season One of "I Love Lucy" we are in the second half of the season as the show was really starting to hit stride. Lucy temporarily puts aside her eternal quest to get into show business by playing the helpful wife and neighbor on this particular quartet of episodes: Episode 20, "The Fans" (February 25, 1952) has a young bobby-soxer (Janet Waldo) developing a crush on Ricky. Fortunately Lucy is there to help save Ricky. This episode is of historic note because it was the debut of William Asher as a director on the show. While this was the only first season episode not directed by Marc Daniels, Asher would be the primary director on "I Love Lucy" for the rest of its run. Richard Crenna also appears in this episode; he was about to become a notable character on "Our Miss Brooks," which was also produced by Desilu. Episode 21, "New Neighbors" (March 3, 1952) has Lucy and Ethel getting the wrong idea about the new couple have just moved into the building. Yes, that is Hayden Rorke from "I Dream of Jeannie" you see in this episode. This is a good DVD for spotting future TV stars. Episode 22, "Fred and Ethel Fight" (March 10, 1952) is something of a misnomer as a title, because while the episode starts off giving second bananas Vivian Vance and William Frawley a chance to shine as the Mertzes have a fight, it is Lucy and Rick who end up just about destroying their own marriage trying to help Fred and Ethel make up. Episode 23, "The Mustache" (March 17, 192) presents a classic sitution comedy Lucy plot. Ricky has grown a mustache. Lucy does not like Ricky's mustache. To show him the error of his ways, Lucy comes up with her own false whiskers. However, she has, of course, put on the mustache a little bit too well... Overall there is a nice thematic unity to these four episodes as Lucy tries time and time again to be helpful and only succeeds in making matters worse. "The Mustache" is another great example of Lucille Ball's skills as a comedian, even when all she is working with is a fake mustache. All of these episodes were written by the legendary team of Jess Oppenheimer, Madelyn Pugh, and Bob Carroll, Jr. The second half of Season One is clearly a lot stronger, and the best is yet to come (one word: Vitametavegamin).
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