I Love Lucy: "Lucy Does a TV Commercial"


The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation Presents

02:26

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About

When you think of I Love Lucy, a few images probably spring to mind. Lucy stomping on grapes, Lucy and Ethel stuffing bon-bons down their shirts, and Lucy attempting to say "Vitameatavegamin." That last scene occurred on the 30th episode of the show, "Lucy Does a TV Commercial," which first aired on May 5, 1952.

Ricky is hosting a TV show and needs someone to do a commercial spot. Lucy begs to do it, but Ricky refuses, even after Lucy pulls apart their television set, climbs inside and demonstrates what a fine spokeswoman she would be. She schemes her way onto the show, and does take after take of the ad for "Vitameatavegamin," which contains 23% alcohol. The more takes she does, the better the product tastes, and the harder it is for Lucy to stay on script.

Madelyn Pugh Davis and Bob Carroll, Jr. wrote the script for "Lucy Does a TV Commercial" and according to them, it took Lucille Ball a whopping one take to do the memorable scene. The episode ranked #2 on TV Guide's List of Top 100 TV Episodes of All Time, beaten only by The Mary Tyler Moore Show's "Chuckles Bites the Dust."

 

Highlights
Bob Carroll, Jr. & Madelyn Pugh Davis on Lucille Ball doing "vitameatavegamin" in one take
00:39
Editor Dann Cahn on editing the famous Vitameatavegamin episode of I Love Lucy entitled "Lucy Does a TV Commercial"
01:28
Who talked about this show

Dann Cahn

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Editor Dann Cahn on editing the famous Vitameatavegamin episode of I Love Lucy entitled "Lucy Does a TV Commercial"
01:28

Madelyn Pugh Davis

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Bob Carroll, Jr. & Madelyn Pugh Davis on Lucille Ball doing "vitameatavegamin" in one take
00:39
Bob Carroll, Jr. & Madelyn Pugh Davis on Lucille Ball doing "vitameatavegamin" in one take
00:39

Glenda Rovello

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Glenda Rovello on production design for the Will & Grace episode "We Love Lucy" which recreated sets from the I Love Lucy episodes "Job Switching," "Lucy Does a TV Commercial," and "Lucy's Italian Movie"
03:16

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