User Reviews

This episode was a test for the sponsors to see if they wanted to sponsor the show. There are many differences between this episode and the show that we came to know and love. The opening is different, the settings are very different, and Fred and Ethel Mertz are nonexistent. The show starts out with Lucy wanting to get into Ricky's audition for a television show. Ricky just wants Lucy to cook and clean for him. This was the only appearance of Ricky's agent Jerry, played by Jerry Hausner. He was supposed to be on future episodes of the show, but they decided not to continue with his character. They go to what came to be known as the Tropicana Nightclub where Ricky is practicing with his orchestra. Pepeeto the clown is rehearsing his act and he injures himself. He goes to Ricky's apartment to rest, and Lucy is surprised to see him there. Pepeeto ends up driving his bike through the wall, and he is unable to perform in the audition later that night. Lucy shows up as Pepeeto and does the show with Ricky. They end up offering Lucy a television contract and she ends up declining it to be a wife to Ricky. This is not the best pilot for a show ever, but it is definitely worth watching!

"I can sing! I can dance! I can tell jokes!" So says Lucy, to which Ricky obviously response, no Lucy, you cannot be in the show. But of course, for Lucy, where there's a will there's a way, and she steps in to play a clown when Pepito is taken ill. There's no Fred and Ethel in this episode, only Jerry, Ricky's agent, as well as his band.

Ricky singing is the highlight of this show as well as the performance of the band which Ricky claims in a rehearsal has no energy. Lucy is naturally funny, and her reaction to the fact that Ricky has put together their Wills is hysterical. Unfortunately, other than the Tropicana set, the production values are low.

The Ricardo apartment is cheaply put together, and there's a drawing in the background with lines of varying degrees is supposedly representing a bridge outside their window. It is also a bit crowded and messy. Fortunately, that would change. What works is the chemistry and that's obviously what got this approved to be probably the most popular series in TV history.