I Love Lucy first aired in the days of black-and-white television, but it is still counted among the most-loved shows of all time. How much do you remember about the adventures of Lucy and Ricky? Take a tablespoonful of Vitameatavegamin, relax, and take this quiz!
1: What actress played Lucy in I Love Lucy?
CBS
So many Lucys! Lucille Ball is the only actress in this list. Lucy Ricardo was the name of her character on I Love Lucy, and Lucy van Pelt is a character from the popular comic strip, Peanuts. Lucy Carmichael was the main character on Lucille Ball’s 1962–1968 show, The Lucy Show.
2: What radio show inspired I Love Lucy?
CBS
My Favorite Husband debuted on the radio in 1948. Lucille Ball starred as Liz Cugat, later renamed Liz Cooper. Her husband, George, was played by Richard Denning.
3: What role did Lucille Ball’s real-life husband play on the show?
CBS
Actor and musician Desi Arnaz played Lucy’s husband, Ricky Ricardo, and the two were married in real life. They divorced in 1960, after 20 years of marriage. Their production company, Desilu, is a portmanteau of their first names.
4: In what years did I Love Lucy originally air?
CBS
I Love Lucy aired from 1951 to 1957, with a total of 181 black-and-white episodes. During four of its six seasons, it was the most-watched show on television.
5: What was the relationship between the Ricardos and the Mertzes?
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The Mertzes owned the Upper East Side building where Ricky and Lucy Ricardo lived in the early seasons of the show. When the Ricardos moved to a larger unit in the same building, their apartment number was either 3B or 3D, depending on which episode you’re watching.
6: What was the name of the nightclub where Ricky performed?
CBS
Ricky was the bandleader at the Tropicana, and Mr. Littlefield was his boss. The Littlefield role was played by Gale Gordon, who later starred with Lucille Ball on both The Lucy Show and Here’s Lucy.
7: Can you name the iconic episode that featured a candy conveyor belt?
CBS
Lucy and Ethel believe that most jobs are easier than keeping house, so they take jobs in a candy factory. At first, they do all right, wrapping pieces of candy and placing them on a conveyor belt, but when production speeds up, they can’t keep up. In a panic, the two women stuff candy in their mouths and in their clothes.
8: What product does Lucy try to advertise while she is under the influence?
CBS
Against Ricky’s wishes, Lucy wins a spot in a TV commercial for a health tonic called Vitameatavegamin. This product name would be hard to pronounce at any time, but even more so after Lucy has swallowed too much of the tonic, which is 23% alcohol.
9: On which television network did I Love Lucy originally air?
CBS
I Love Lucy aired on CBS. At the time, there were four networks: ABC, CBS, NBC, and DuMont. The lead-in show for I Love Lucy was the then-popular Arthur Godfrey’s Talent Scouts.
10: What comedian performs an amazing mirror scene with Lucy?
CBS
Lucy dresses up as several celebrities of the era, including Gary Cooper, Clark Gable, and Harpo Marx, to fool her nearsighted friend, Caroline. To Lucy’s surprise, Harpo Marx actually shows up. He and Lucy perform a brilliant scene, mirroring each other’s actions, while they are wearing matching raincoats and hats. Cleverly, the episode’s title is Lucy and Harpo Marx.
11: Lucy tries to get a role in what movie?
CBS
While Lucy is in Italy, a movie producer offers her a chance to audition for his new film. She gets a job stomping grapes in order to practice, and the grapes turn her skin a funny color. Sadly, she loses out on the role.
12: What game do the Ricardos and Mertzes frequently play?
CBS
The Ricardos and Mertzes frequently play bridge, and Lucy and Ethel also enjoy the game with a group of women. Bridge is a card game, played with four players in two teams of two.
13: In the episode Lucy and Ethel Buy the Same Dress, what song do they plan to perform together?
CBS
Lucy and Ethel are scheduled to appear on television as part of their Wednesday Afternoon Fine Arts League’s variety show. They both buy the same dress for the event, and both promise to return it, but of course they show up at the studio dressed alike. While they perform the song Friendship on stage, they tear each other’s dresses.
14: In what sport did Fred Mertz used to compete?
CBS
Fred was a Golden Gloves Boxing Champion in 1909. In the episode Changing the Boys’ Wardrobe, Fred proudly wears a sweater commemorating his win.
15: Before they were landlords, what did Fred and Ethel Mertz do to make money?
CBS
Fred and Ethel used to have a vaudeville act, performing as Mertz and Mertz. Fred performed soft shoe and told jokes, while Ethel sang and played piano.
16: After Ricky buys the nightclub where he had played for years, what does he rename it?
CBS
Ricky had played at the Tropicana for many years. After he starred in a couple of Hollywood films, he earned enough money to purchase the club and rename it Club Babalu, after his signature song.
17: What instrument did Ricky play?
CBS
Ricky played the conga, a tall, narrow drum from Cuba. Another name for the conga is the tumbadora. And, by the way, Ricky Ricardo's full name was Enrique Alberto Fernando Ricardo y de Acha III.
18: How old were William Frawley and Vivian Vance, who played Fred and Ethel Mertz, when the show began?
CBS
Yes, William Frawley was 22 years older than Vivian Vance, and he was 64 when I Love Lucy started. After that show ended, he appeared on My Three Sons as “Bub” O’Casey.”
19: The characters Lucy and Ricky Ricardo made a guest appearance on what other television show?
CBS
In 1959, Lucy and Ricky appeared on The Danny Thomas Show, in an episode titled Lucy Upsets the Williams Household. Before that, in 1958, the main characters from The Danny Thomas Show appeared on The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour, in an episode titled Lucy Makes Room for Danny.
20: When Lucy learns that she is pregnant, how does she tell Ricky?
CBS
In the episode called Lucy Is Enceinte, Lucy can’t find the right moment to tell Ricky that they are going to be parents. She ultimately goes to his nightclub and submits an anonymous request for him to sing “We’re Having a Baby.” I Love Lucy was the first popular television show to depict a pregnancy—the very first was a show called Mary Kay and Johnny, from the 1940s.
