"The Girls Want to Go to a Nightclub" is the second filmed episode of ''

I Love Lucy ''I Love Lucy'' is an American television sitcom that originally aired on CBS from October 15, 1951, to May 6, 1957, with a total of 180 half-hour episodes, spanning six seasons. The show starred Lucille Ball, her husband, Desi Arnaz, along wit ...

'' but the first one aired. Originally, " Lucy Thinks Ricky Is Trying to Murder Her" was supposed to have been aired instead, as it was the first one filmed, but numerous production problems kept

Lucille Ball Lucille Désirée Ball (August 6, 1911 – April 26, 1989) was an American actress, comedienne and producer. She was nominated for 13 Primetime Emmy Awards, winning five times, and was the recipient of several other accolades, such as the Golde ...

and

Desi Arnaz Desiderio Alberto Arnaz y de Acha III (March 2, 1917 – December 2, 1986) was a Cuban-born American actor, bandleader, and film and television producer. He played Ricky Ricardo on the American television sitcom '' I Love Lucy'', in which he c ...

and others, who had a stake in the success of the program, from airing it until the problems had been fixed. Instead, it was determined that "The Girls Want to Go to the Nightclub" was a better product to introduce the American public to their program. It debuted on CBS on Monday, October 15, 1951 at 9:00 pm.

Plot summary

It is the Mertzes' 18th wedding anniversary, and they and the Ricardos want to do something to celebrate. However, the gentlemen and the ladies have different ideas about what to do. Ricky (

) and Fred (

William Frawley William Clement Frawley (February 26, 1887 – March 3, 1966) was an American vaudevillian and actor best remembered for playing landlord Fred Mertz in the American television sitcom '' I Love Lucy'', "Bub" O'Casey in the television comedy ser ...

) want to go to a

boxing Boxing (also known as "Western boxing" or "pugilism") is a combat sport in which two people, usually wearing protective gloves and other protective equipment such as hand wraps and mouthguards, throw punches at each other for a predetermine ...

match, but Lucy (

) and Ethel (

Vivian Vance Vivian Vance (born Vivian Roberta Jones; July 26, 1909 – August 17, 1979) was an American actress and singer best known for playing Ethel Mertz on the sitcom '' I Love Lucy'' (1951–1957), for which she won the Primetime Emmy Award for Out ...

) want to go to a

nightclub A nightclub (music club, discothèque, disco club, or simply club) is an entertainment venue during nighttime comprising a dance floor, lightshow, and a stage for live music or a disc jockey (DJ) who plays recorded music. Nightclubs gener ...

. They argue and are unable to come to an accord. Finally, Lucy announces that she and Ethel will find dates to take them out. The men go downstairs to Fred's apartment where Ricky expresses concern about "what might happen" when the girls go out with other men. Fred agrees it would be a good idea to get dates themselves and go to the nightclub to keep an eye on their wives. Lucy tries calling up old boyfriends, but most of them are busy, married or, in one case, babysitting a grandson (Lucy explains that when she had dated this fellow, he was an "interesting older man"). Meanwhile, Ricky is in a similar situation, having burned his " little black book" upon marrying Lucy (she had told him that doing this was an American marriage tradition). Finally, Ricky decides to phone a friend, Ginny Jones, who has connections to all the women in town. She agrees to set them up. Lucy also remembers Ginny's connections and phones her for the same reason. Ginny lets Lucy in on the husbands' scheme, and Lucy has an idea. She tells Ginny to arrange dates for Ricky and Fred—but with Ethel and herself. The evening comes around, and Ricky and Fred are anxiously waiting for their dates. The doorbell rings, and it is Lucy and Ethel, dressed in stereotypical hillbilly attire, and calling themselves "Eunice" and "Ma," respectively. Ricky and Fred are shocked and do not realize it is their wives behind the costumes. Ricky is eventually tipped off when Lucy gives herself away by knowing exactly where the cigarettes and matches are. Ricky takes Fred aside, fills him in, and they turn the tables on the women by being overly amorous. Lucy realizes that Ricky has discovered her trick, and the charade is over. Later that evening finds the couples out celebrating the Mertzes' anniversary—at the fights. "Happy anniversary, Ethel", Lucy sighs. "Thank you, Lucy", Ethel sighs back.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Girls Want to Go to a Nightclub, The 1951 American television episodes Girls Want To Go To A Nightclub American television series premieres