Cuban Bandleader Ricky Ricardo would be happy if his wife Lucy would just be a housewife. Instead she tries constantly to perform at the Tropicana where he works, and make life comically frantic in the apartment building they share with landlords Fred and Ethel Mertz, who also happen to be their best friends.
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The peak run. Top 40% of seasons by average rating — consecutive, with an average of 8.74.
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Lucille Ball
Lucy Ricardo
Desi Arnaz
Ricky Ricardo
Vivian Vance
Ethel Mertz
William Frawley
Fred Mertz
All 180 episodes plotted by IMDb rating
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35 episodes • 1951Avg: 6.8Valley of Despair
| # | Episode | Air Date | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Girls Want to Go to a Nightclub | Oct 15, 1951 | 7.3 |
| 2 | Be a Pal | Oct 22, 1951 | 7.5 |
| 3 | The Diet | Oct 29, 1951 | 8.0 |
| 4 | Lucy Thinks Ricky Is Trying to Murder Her | Nov 5, 1951 | 7.7 |
| 5 | The Quiz Show | Nov 12, 1951 | 7.0 |
| 6 | The Audition | Nov 19, 1951 | 7.0 |
| 7 | The Séance | Nov 26, 1951 | 6.3 |
| 8 | Men Are Messy | Dec 3, 1951 | 6.2 |
| 9 | The Fur Coat | Dec 10, 1951 | 6.0 |
| 10 | Lucy Is Jealous of Girl Singer | Dec 17, 1951 | 7.3 |
| 11 | Drafted | Dec 24, 1951 | 6.7 |
| 12 | The Adagio | Dec 31, 1951 | 6.8 |
| 13 | The Benefit | Jan 7, 1952 | 7.0 |
| 14 | The Amateur Hour | Jan 14, 1952 | 8.0 |
| 15 | Lucy Plays Cupid | Jan 21, 1952 | 7.8 |
| 16 | Lucy Fakes Illness | Jan 28, 1952 | 7.5 |
| 17 | Lucy Writes a Play | Feb 4, 1952 | 5.5 |
| 18 | Breaking the Lease | Feb 11, 1952 | 6.2 |
| 19 | The Ballet | Feb 18, 1952 | 6.8 |
| 20 | The Young Fans | Feb 25, 1952 | 7.0 |
| 21 | New Neighbors | Mar 3, 1952 | 7.3 |
| 22 | Fred and Ethel Fight | Mar 10, 1952 | 7.3 |
| 23 | The Moustache | Mar 17, 1952 | 7.3 |
| 24 | The Gossip | Mar 24, 1952 | 8.0 |
| 25 | Pioneer Women | Mar 31, 1952 | 7.3 |
| 26 | The Marriage License | Apr 7, 1952 | 6.3 |
| 27 | The Kleptomaniac | Apr 14, 1952 | 7.0 |
| 28 | Cuban Pals | Apr 21, 1952 | 5.7 |
| 29 | The Freezer | Apr 28, 1952 | 7.7 |
| 30 | Lucy Does a TV Commercial | May 5, 1952 | 7.5 |
| 31 | The Publicity Agent | May 12, 1952 | 5.0 |
| 32 | Lucy Gets Ricky on the Radio | May 19, 1952 | 5.5 |
| 33 | Lucy's Schedule | May 26, 1952 | 5.5 |
| 34 | Ricky Thinks He Is Getting Bald | Jun 2, 1952 | 5.5 |
| 35 | Ricky Asks for a Raise | Jun 9, 1952 | 7.0 |
31 episodes • 1952Avg: 8.4
| # | Episode | Air Date | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Job Switching | Sep 15, 1952 | 6.5 |
| 2 | The Saxophone | Sep 22, 1952 | 8.0 |
| 3 | The Anniversary Present | Sep 29, 1952 | 8.0 |
| 4 | The Handcuffs | Oct 6, 1952 | 9.0 |
| 5 | The Operetta | Oct 13, 1952 | 8.0 |
| 6 | Vacation from Marriage | Oct 27, 1952 | 8.0 |
| 7 | The Courtroom | Nov 10, 1952 | 9.0 |
| 8 | Redecorating | Nov 24, 1952 | 9.0 |
| 9 | Ricky Loses His Voice | Dec 1, 1952 | 8.0 |
| 10 | Lucy Is Enceinte | Dec 8, 1952 | 9.0 |
| 11 | Pregnant Women are Unpredictable | Dec 15, 1952 | 8.0 |
| 12 | Lucy's Showbiz Swan Song | Dec 22, 1952 | 8.0 |
| 13 | Lucy Hires an English Tutor | Dec 29, 1952 | 8.0 |
| 14 | Ricky Has Labor Pains | Jan 5, 1953 | 8.0 |
| 15 | Lucy Becomes a Sculptress | Jan 12, 1953 | 8.0 |
| 16 | Lucy Goes to the Hospital | Jan 19, 1953 | 9.0 |
| 17 | Sales Resistance | Jan 26, 1953 | 8.0 |
| 18 | The Inferiority Complex | Feb 2, 1953 | 8.0 |
| 19 | The Club Election | Feb 16, 1953 | 8.0 |
| 20 | The Black Eye | Mar 9, 1953 | 9.0 |
| 21 | Lucy Changes Her Mind | Mar 30, 1953 | 9.0 |
| 22 | No Children Allowed | Apr 20, 1953 | 9.0 |
| 23 | Lucy Hires a Maid | Apr 27, 1953 | 8.0 |
| 24 | The Indian Show | May 4, 1953 | 8.0 |
| 25 | Lucy's Last Birthday | May 11, 1953 | 8.0 |
| 26 | The Ricardos Change Apartments | May 18, 1953 | 9.0 |
| 27 | Lucy Is Matchmaker | May 25, 1953 | 9.0 |
| 28 | Lucy Wants New Furniture | Jun 1, 1953 | 9.0 |
| 29 | The Camping Trip | Jun 8, 1953 | 9.0 |
| 30 | Ricky and Fred are TV Fans | Jun 22, 1953 | 9.0 |
| 31 | Never Do Business With Friends | Jun 29, 1953 | 9.0 |
31 episodes • 1953Avg: 8.4
| # | Episode | Air Date | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ricky's 'Life' Story | Oct 5, 1953 | 8.0 |
| 2 | The Girls Go Into Business | Oct 12, 1953 | 8.0 |
| 3 | Lucy and Ethel Buy the Same Dress | Oct 19, 1953 | 9.0 |
| 4 | Equal Rights | Oct 26, 1953 | 9.0 |
| 5 | Baby Pictures | Nov 2, 1953 | 8.0 |
| 6 | Lucy Tells the Truth | Nov 9, 1953 | 9.0 |
| 7 | The French Revue | Nov 16, 1953 | 8.0 |
| 8 | Redecorating the Mertzes' Apartment | Nov 23, 1953 | 8.0 |
| 9 | Too Many Crooks | Nov 30, 1953 | 9.0 |
| 10 | Changing the Boys' Wardrobe | Dec 7, 1953 | 8.0 |
| 11 | Lucy Has Her Eyes Examined | Dec 14, 1953 | 8.0 |
| 12 | Ricky's Old Girlfriend | Dec 21, 1953 | 8.0 |
| 13 | The Million Dollar Idea | Jan 11, 1954 | 9.0 |
| 14 | Ricky Minds the Baby | Jan 18, 1954 | 8.0 |
| 15 | The Charm School | Jan 25, 1954 | 9.0 |
| 16 | Sentimental Anniversary | Feb 1, 1954 | 9.0 |
| 17 | Fan Magazine Interview | Feb 8, 1954 | 8.0 |
| 18 | Oil Wells | Feb 15, 1954 | 8.0 |
| 19 | Ricky Loses His Temper | Feb 22, 1954 | 9.0 |
| 20 | Home Movies | Mar 1, 1954 | 9.0 |
| 21 | Bonus Bucks | Mar 8, 1954 | 9.0 |
| 22 | Ricky's Hawaiian Vacation | Mar 22, 1954 | 8.0 |
| 23 | Lucy Is Envious | Mar 29, 1954 | 8.0 |
| 24 | Lucy Writes a Novel | Apr 5, 1954 | 8.0 |
| 25 | Lucy's Club Dance | Apr 12, 1954 | 8.0 |
| 26 | The Black Wig | Apr 19, 1954 | 8.0 |
| 27 | The Diner | Apr 26, 1954 | 9.0 |
| 28 | Tennessee Ernie Visits | May 3, 1954 | 8.0 |
| 29 | Tennessee Ernie Hangs On | May 10, 1954 | 8.0 |
| 30 | The Golf Game | May 17, 1954 | 9.0 |
| 31 | The Sublease | May 24, 1954 | 8.0 |
30 episodes • 1954Avg: 8.7
| # | Episode | Air Date | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Business Manager | Oct 4, 1954 | 9.0 |
| 2 | Mertz and Kurtz | Oct 11, 1954 | 8.0 |
| 3 | Lucy Cries Wolf | Oct 18, 1954 | 8.0 |
| 4 | The Matchmaker | Oct 25, 1954 | 8.0 |
| 5 | Ricky's Movie Offer | Nov 8, 1954 | 9.0 |
| 6 | Ricky's Screen Test | Nov 15, 1954 | 8.0 |
| 7 | Lucy's Mother-in-Law | Nov 22, 1954 | 9.0 |
| 8 | Ethel's Birthday | Nov 29, 1954 | 9.0 |
| 9 | Ricky's Contract | Dec 6, 1954 | 8.0 |
| 10 | Getting Ready | Dec 13, 1954 | 9.0 |
| 11 | Lucy Learns to Drive | Jan 3, 1955 | 9.0 |
| 12 | California, Here We Come! | Jan 10, 1955 | 9.0 |
| 13 | First Stop | Jan 17, 1955 | 9.0 |
| 14 | Tennessee Bound | Jan 24, 1955 | 8.0 |
| 15 | Ethel's Home Town | Jan 31, 1955 | 9.0 |
| 16 | L.A. at Last | Feb 7, 1955 | 10.0 |
| 17 | Don Juan and the Starlets | Feb 14, 1955 | 8.0 |
| 18 | Lucy Gets in Pictures | Feb 21, 1955 | 9.0 |
| 19 | The Fashion Show | Feb 28, 1955 | 9.0 |
| 20 | The Hedda Hopper Story | Mar 14, 1955 | 8.0 |
| 21 | Don Juan is Shelved | Mar 21, 1955 | 9.0 |
| 22 | Bull Fight Dance | Mar 28, 1955 | 8.0 |
| 23 | Hollywood Anniversary | Apr 4, 1955 | 8.0 |
| 24 | Mr. and Mrs. TV Show | Apr 11, 1955 | 9.0 |
| 25 | The Star Upstairs | Apr 18, 1955 | 9.0 |
| 26 | In Palm Springs | Apr 25, 1955 | 8.0 |
| 27 | The Dancing Star | May 2, 1955 | 9.0 |
| 28 | Harpo Marx | May 9, 1955 | 9.5 |
| 29 | Ricky Needs an Agent | May 16, 1955 | 9.0 |
| 30 | The Tour | May 30, 1955 | 9.0 |
26 episodes • 1955Avg: 8.8Golden Era
| # | Episode | Air Date | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lucy Visits Grauman's | Oct 3, 1955 | 9.0 |
| 2 | Lucy and John Wayne | Oct 10, 1955 | 10.0 |
| 3 | Lucy and the Dummy | Oct 17, 1955 | 8.0 |
| 4 | Ricky Sells the Car | Oct 24, 1955 | 8.0 |
| 5 | The Great Train Robbery | Oct 31, 1955 | 10.0 |
| 6 | Homecoming | Nov 7, 1955 | 8.0 |
| 7 | Face to Face | Nov 14, 1955 | 8.0 |
| 8 | Lucy Goes to a Rodeo | Nov 28, 1955 | 8.0 |
| 9 | Nursery School | Dec 5, 1955 | 8.0 |
| 10 | Ricky's European Booking | Dec 12, 1955 | 9.0 |
| 11 | The Passports | Dec 19, 1955 | 9.0 |
| 12 | Staten Island Ferry | Jan 2, 1956 | 9.0 |
| 13 | Bon Voyage | Jan 16, 1956 | 9.0 |
| 14 | Second Honeymoon | Jan 23, 1956 | 9.0 |
| 15 | Lucy Meets the Queen | Jan 30, 1956 | 8.0 |
| 16 | The Fox Hunt | Feb 6, 1956 | 8.0 |
| 17 | Lucy Goes to Scotland | Feb 20, 1956 | 8.0 |
| 18 | Paris at Last | Feb 27, 1956 | 9.0 |
| 19 | Lucy Meets Charles Boyer | Mar 5, 1956 | 9.0 |
| 20 | Lucy Gets a Paris Gown | Mar 19, 1956 | 9.0 |
| 21 | Lucy in the Swiss Alps | Mar 26, 1956 | 9.0 |
| 22 | Lucy Gets Homesick in Italy | Apr 9, 1956 | 9.0 |
| 23 | Lucy's Italian Movie | Apr 16, 1956 | 10.0 |
| 24 | Lucy's Bicycle Trip | Apr 23, 1956 | 9.0 |
| 25 | Lucy Goes to Monte Carlo | May 7, 1956 | 9.0 |
| 26 | Return Home from Europe | May 14, 1956 | 9.0 |
27 episodes • 1956Avg: 8.7Golden Era
| # | Episode | Air Date | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lucy and Bob Hope | Oct 1, 1956 | 9.0 |
| 2 | Little Ricky Learns to Play the Drums | Oct 8, 1956 | 8.0 |
| 3 | Lucy Meets Orson Welles | Oct 15, 1956 | 8.0 |
| 4 | Little Ricky Gets Stage Fright | Oct 22, 1956 | 8.0 |
| 5 | Visitor from Italy | Oct 29, 1956 | 9.0 |
| 6 | Off to Florida | Nov 12, 1956 | 9.0 |
| 7 | Deep Sea Fishing | Nov 19, 1956 | 9.0 |
| 8 | Desert Island | Nov 26, 1956 | 9.0 |
| 9 | The Ricardos Visit Cuba | Dec 3, 1956 | 8.0 |
| 10 | Little Ricky's School Pageant | Dec 17, 1956 | 8.0 |
| 11 | Christmas Show | Dec 24, 1956 | 8.0 |
| 12 | Lucy and the Loving Cup | Jan 7, 1957 | 9.0 |
| 13 | Lucy and Superman | Jan 14, 1957 | 9.0 |
| 14 | Little Ricky Gets a Dog | Jan 21, 1957 | 9.0 |
| 15 | Lucy Wants to Move to the Country | Jan 28, 1957 | 9.0 |
| 16 | Lucy Hates to Leave | Feb 4, 1957 | 9.0 |
| 17 | Lucy Misses the Mertzes | Feb 11, 1957 | 9.0 |
| 18 | Lucy Gets Chummy With the Neighbors | Feb 18, 1957 | 9.0 |
| 19 | Lucy Raises Chickens | Mar 4, 1957 | 9.0 |
| 20 | Lucy Does the Tango | Mar 11, 1957 | 9.0 |
| 21 | Ragtime Band | Mar 18, 1957 | 8.0 |
| 22 | Lucy's Night in Town | Mar 25, 1957 | 9.0 |
| 23 | Housewarming | Apr 1, 1957 | 9.0 |
| 24 | Building a B.B.Q. | Apr 8, 1957 | 9.0 |
| 25 | Country Club Dance | Apr 22, 1957 | 9.0 |
| 26 | Lucy Raises Tulips | Apr 29, 1957 | 9.0 |
| 27 | The Ricardos Dedicate a Statue | May 6, 1957 | 8.0 |
