In "Ricky and Fred are TV Fans", Fred runs down to his apartment during the commercial. Ethel says ever since TV came along, Fred can do anything in 30 seconds. Lucy and Ethel make eye contact and Ethel nods. Then Lucy says something like, "Amazing".

Nothing risque at all...compared to the sitcoms of today, I LOVE LUCY was very innocent!!

I love Lucy’s Schedule. And yes, we all need more than 15 minutes for that. I always crack up at that line. She delivered the line in just the right tone of voice too

The most overtly sexual line in the series comes when Lucy and Ethel pretend to be taking a survey and a woman (played by the brilliant Kathryn Card, who would eventually play Lucy's mother) asks, "Say, your name ain't Kinsey, is it?" The audience laughs heartily at this because the second Kinsey Report--on sexuality in the human female--had just been published.

Hello Rick, I fully believe the writers knew exactly what they were insinuating with each inappropriate (for the 50's), yet subtle joke. Lucy and Dezi were 2 intelligent creative people, and playing with the dialogue was a challenge everyone liked to play against. Also, I don't necessarily believe people in the 50's were much more innocent than we are today. They were just more private, even fearful, to express themselves.

"Ever since we said 'I do', there are so many things we don't!" Definitely suggestive.

Innuendo is funny and better than the vulgar immoral garbage on TV today.

When Lucy finds the list of dogs Ricky will use in an act, and thinks they're replacements for her. She reads the female names...and ends with a male name. The puzzled look on her face suggests he is having an affair with a man.

I love the fact that it was such a hush hush thing back then! It makes it more funny than watching things now days where there's nothing left to the imagination! I love Lucy will always be number one in my eyes!

I found nothing inappropiate about I Love Lucy...best comedy show ever...

The travelling salesman is a sort of a early meme representing any adult [mature audiance] story or joke.

I do see some innuendo. But it's still good clean fun.

In season 3's "Fan Magazine Interview," When Lucy and Ethel knock on a woman's door because they think Ricky is seeing another woman, they cover up what they're really there for by telling the woman they are conducting a survey about married couples or something like that. The woman looks at Lucy, and she says "Your name ain't Kinsey is it?" This of course is a reference to the Kinsey Report, which was a survey done by psychiatrists asking people about their marital habits. It was the first of its kind ever done in this country, and everyone watching I Love Lucy would have understood that joke, and if you listen to the audience, it's one of the biggest laughs I've heard in the series.

I've always thought they made up lines that left to people's imaginations as to what was meant. Could be naughty or could be innocent, could be about anything. Saved them from the censors and from viewers' criticism or outrage.

"I know just exactly the kind of show that your lodge brothers would like to see " "So do I but you can't do that kind of a show"

There's a line in the very first episode I thought was risque.. Lucy and Ethel are doing dishes, and Lucy says something like, since we've said "I do", there are a lot things we don't...always thought of bedroom activities..even as a kid...lol..

Also, don’t forget all the girl references Fred makes about beautiful woman and whistles. Even when the girls dressed up as other women in schemes Fred always would flirt with them. ( back then in the 50’s) even joking about cheating was not tolerable. Great video upload. Enjoy the weekend. Remember why it’s Memorial Day. BE HOPEFUL

The three most risque moments in I Love Lucy for the 1950's , I think, involved situations, rather than the subtle innuendo in your video, Rick: 1. The Make Room for Daddy crossover on the Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour, where Lucy scratches Danny's back in bed and he flirts with her in a fairly overt sexual manner, mistaking Lucy for his wife. One of the funniest moments on the show--and a scene that wouldn't have been out of place on Three's Company. 2. The scene where Ricky and Fred find BOTH Lucy and Ethel in negligees and in a hotel room with another man. (Fred: "Ethel! You, here, with him. HE must be out of his mind!") 3. In the John Wayne scene above, it's not so much the bawdy joke that I found risque, but the moment where Lucy pulls off the towel around his waist while peeking through her fingers. She then makes an expression along the lines of "not bad" when she sees his black shorts. I love your videos, Rick. Please keep them coming.

Great video. What about all the times Ricky spanked Lucy? I always thought that was a bit risqué!

Fred to Ethel...”What are you complaining about? You’ve got the vote! You get to wear pants. You drive busses! What else do you want?!!” Lmao 😂 so many feminists would get so butt hurt over this, today.

I've been watching I Love Lucy since I was very little I'm 59 years old and never thought anything bad in anything they said or did . My children were little when they watched and I saw nothing Inappropriate in any of the shows. I'm sure nowa days people will find something.

"Bullfight Dance" from the Hollywood arc. Ethel: "For once, the bull will be full of Lucy!" (instead of the other way around...)

Not that the 50's were innocent But nowadays its WE with the sick minds. Cant say nothing without people raising there eyebrows or get " Offended"

Here's a real subtle one... The girls are all playing bridge and complaining about how their husbands were flirting with, I believe it was Sylvia collins. Someone asks, "What was holding up that dress??" Lucy replies, "Two diamonds" .. Then they go o to say every man in the room was waiting for her to exhale... "Two diamonds"?? Really?? Think about it... I don't think she was talking about the card game at that point!😂😀

Remember when Ricky thought it would be funny to convince Lucy they weren't legally married? Lucy insisted they go back to the place where he proposed, and start over. When they got to the hotel, Ricky naturally signed them in as Mr & Mrs. Lucy corrected the register, signing her maiden name. The desk clerk THOUGHT he knew what was going on.

"Keep giggling Peggy, please keep giggling. You know your a much better giggler than Lucy." Ricky with a devious smile while saying this.

Rick, love listening to you talk about I Love Lucy. You missed a huge one in your list. The entire last half of Don Juan and the Starlets has Lucy thinking Ricky spent the entire night out and slept somewhere else. Both Fred and Ethel also think Ricky must have been sleeping around and Fred even lies to cover for Ricky. I can't think, of anything more inappropriate than an episode where Lucy, Fred, and Ethel assume Ricky was sleeping around and Ricky has to prove he didn't! Apparently, this episode was played out many times in the Arnaz house, only with a different ending.

The Camping Trip. I dunno, Lucy and Ricky seem pretty content and Lucy seems like she doesn't want to let go of him. In that scene, those two weren't acting. Lucy and Desi were totally in love with each other.

Great video Rick. I think some of the jokes were meant to be led to the imagination. My favorite being Lucy's schedule. "I am going to need a lot more time for that."

I feel that you have answered your own question; when you say ''..am I seeing this through 2018..'. No, your seeing through the eyes of someone who is, I guess 2 generations from the cultural humor of the Lucy Show. At 70 years of age, I remember the 50's well; The 'Farmer's Daughter, or the Traveling Salesman' jokes came mostly out of Vaudeville and especially 'legit' Burlesque. To which, Lucy and Frawley would have been well acquainted. Such jokes were so a part of the 'adult' humor scene in America, that the moment anyone started off starting to tell one, in mixed company--many a woman would do exactly what Ethel would do and check if it were fit to be said in front of women, (some of the ones I remember could be rather on the 'raunch' side). As, is the case with Jerry starting off with his 'Paris' joke--the two formats were cousins-in-humor to each other....As to Lucys'...comment in the 'schedule' espisode....that routine of ' "oh, I'll need more that 15 minutes for that" is straight from many a Burlesque comic routine...and was utilized by Abbott and Costello....Nah, I have read that Lucy, her self made Damn sure that the censors had 'no reason' to question anything about her show.

Salutations Rick. I love your videos! I have a theory that when Lucy says, "Oh, I am going to need more than 15 minutes for that" in "The Schedule", it is referring to the time she needs to keep dyeing her hair red. I could be wrong, but that was a running joke throughout the series.

My hubby and I love classic shows and are having a blast watching your vids. We think Lucy and Desi knew exactly what they are doing☺️ Keep up the great work!!❤️

And a note - it was only 'I Love Lucy ' that wasn't allowed to say "pregnant" on TV. It was used on series before 'Lucy', while 'Lucy' was on the air, and afterwards. The first pregnant women in TV was in a show called 'Mary Kay and Johnny' in the late 1940s. Sadly only a few episodes survive.

Notice that, in the episode "Lucy's Schedule", Lucy's line "Oh, I'm gonna need more than fifteen minutes for that" comes soon after Ricky asks her "Now, how long does it take you in the bathtub? , to which she perhaps suggestively responds "To do what?". Also, in the episode "Ricky and Fred are TV Fans", Ethel's line "You know, he's got himself trained so he can do anything in less than a minute" sounds to me slightly suggestive of... I don't know what.

Just wanted to comment that there are many variations on the 'traveling salesman' joke. They all involve the salesman, the farmer and the farmer's daughter, but from there the variations are endless. I've heard versions that involve the farmer's wife, popcorn, a milking machine, and any number of other astonishing elements. Lord knows which one Fred was going to tell!

I think in that seance episode Ricky says something like "I'm just thinking of a perfect 16 I used to know". I always thought that was a bit risqué haha

Hey Rick - I also want to point out something else about the John Wayne massage scene that I have always noticed. When John takes off his robe and lays down on the table, Lucy comes out from hiding with her hand over her eyes. When she finally looks at John on the table, she glances at his booty and gives a facial expression of “not bad.”😂

Burns and Allen got away with much more. There was even an episode when Gracie thought that Ronnie had gotten a girl pregnant and was trying to get them married.

A real winner, Rick. But, you did miss three other scenes with risque dialogue. The one below brought up by Stephen Eccles with the "Fred has it down so he can anything in 30 seconds" line by Ethel. Paul833Medina points out in the episode "The Fan Magazine," where Lucy and Ethel knock on a door and say they're taking a survey. The old lady that answers asks "Your name ain't Kinsey, is it?" That got a huge laugh and was clearly risque. (For those too young to know who Alfred Kinsey was, he led a study of sexual habits of Americans that was famous and controversial back in the late 1940's and early 1950's) Plus, a scene in one of the Hollywood episodes. An agent is in the Ricardo's hotel room with Ricky and Lucy and he's trying to come up with ideas for a P.R. campaign for Ricky. At one point, he says to Ricky "We'll bill you as the Cuban Liberace!" Ricky's eyes bug out and he gives him a stunned look. It got a big laugh. After the laugh dies down, Ricky says "no" to the idea. Keep up the great work, Rick! Stay positive and hopeful!

The joke is about a traveling salesman who gets the farmer to let him stay in his home only to find out that he was taking liberties with his daughter!

Rick, I believe these double entendres ran through a lot of TV sitcoms (and cartoons). And what is really interesting is the way housewives were outfitted on some sitcoms vs. another. Take the difference between the wardrobe choices for Lucy Ricardo vs. June Cleaver. Lol!!! I remember how attracted I was to some of those sitcom housewives, Marjorie Lord, Patricia Crowley, Donna Reed lol!!

Thank you for all the great commentaries about classic American television and "I Love Lucy," in particular. This was overwhelmingly done in good taste, as were the sitcoms that seem to enjoy heavy popularity in syndication today, like "Gilligan's Island," "The Brady Bunch," "Petticoat Junction," "The Beverly Hillbillies," and even "Saved by the Bell." People really like fun that's depicted with decency, since they're able to show it to children while enjoying the nostalgia. There's one more episode that may have had a risque scene - "The Passports." Near the end, after Lucy took all Fred's motion sickness pills on the Staten Island Ferry and was at the passport office with only one chance to get hers, she was very flirtatious and made very overt attempts to kiss Ricky as he compelled her to sign the document. He retorts, "Later, honey, later." That and the response Ricky gave to Lucy about vibrations were the lines that seemed to stand out most. Many thanks again, Rick, and keep them coming. This has been a very welcome reprieve in 2020 from Coronavirus, lockdown, economic collapse, political volatility and everything else! Keep up the great work!

Hi, Rick. Just found this now. Love it. I always thought the innuendos were funny and subtle. I think that is one of the reasons this show was different than so many others. And no, I don't see you as outraged or offended. I see you as someone keeping the legend alive.

Lucy in real life did have a strong sense of belief in divination.

"...Didn't you like it?" As in, "Didn't you like being around [with me] this morning too as I liked being around you?" That's how I've always interpreted it... Now that line will never seem the same.

And, when Ricky told that schoolgirl, "Kip jigglin', Peggy, pliz kip jigglin'!"

In Season 3 Episode 17 The Fan Magazine Interview Lucy and Ethel pretend they are doing a survey on the most popular night club entertainer and the women says "say your name ain't Kinsey is it?" (which got a pretty big laugh) referring to the 1950's Kinsey sex survey was pretty risque for that time. I am surprised the sensor didn't stop that considering they wouldn't let them say pregnant.

Great video Rick! I always Wondered about those Iinnuendos; lol on Lucy’s schedule there’s also a part when a Ricky asks how much time do you need in the morning?” And she answered “to do what?!”

First off, I love your videos and please keep making more, because this is my favorite show of all time. :) I don’t see anything wrong with any of these lines. You have to remember that burlesque was a big part of show business and a huge influence on what came after burlesque and vaudeville died. There were hundreds of traveling salesman jokes, because you can make practically any dirty gag out of a man, a girl, and a protective father way out on a farm someplace, or a salesman and a wife alone at home. As for Jerry’s joke about the Paris nightclub, remember that France was the Mecca of pornography when it wasn’t as easily available here in America, which is why those famous “French postcards” were so popular here in the early 20th century, and eventually became part of popular culture. France was associated with a “good time”, especially with WWI. Just remember that old song “Hinky Dinky Parlay Voo!” Also, spending time at home is nice when the husband works a lot. Doing it more often, I don’t think even crossed the minds of viewers. I’ve watched ILL for over 25 years and haven’t noticed any of this. 21st century mentality has been trained to see things that just weren’t there, or if they were there, they were certainly not intended to be something to get past the censors. This was the 1950s, keep in mind, and Joe McCarthy was murdering show business careers left and right, and the HUAC tried to end Lucille Ball’s career also. I don’t think this show was taking any chances on being vulgar. Finally, the only thing I ever considered risqué on this show, out of all the episodes, was in #4, “The Diet”, and I don’t even think the audience cared, but rather enjoyed it, because again, they were mentally used to Burlesque. When Lucy and Ricky Sing “Cuban Pete”, Lucy is Sally Sweet, “the queen of Delancey Street”, with a tight dress, a small purse, and shakes her hips like hell. Ricky fanning her butt with his hat during the finish is a nice touch of burlesque, too. Sally Sweet was intended to portray a prostitute. And this act was just great, and the audience loved it, because it was part of the stage act that Desi and Lucy took on the road when CBS didn’t believe an American audience would accept a Cuban and a redheaded american girl as a married couple on television. Well, those are just my thoughts on the subject, I hope I was helpful in some way. And lastly, I’ll try and leave you the most abrupt version of two of my favorite jokes, one is a “traveling salesman” joke, but it is long lol. And the other is a burlesque Paris/France joke. Both of these jokes are as old as time itself lolol: Traveling salesman come up to a house in the country and knocks. Man answers, salesman says “sir, I am lost. I need a place to stay and I am hungry.” Farmer says, “mister, the lord says to feed the hungry and give them a roof. I will give you a hot plate of food, and you can sleep out in the hay bed in the barn with a nice heavy warm blanket.” So the salesman eats, sleeps there. Next morning, he gets up and tells the farmer, “sir I am most thankful for all of this. I’d like to pay you for your kindness.” Farmer says, “no mister, no payment is needed.” Salesman says, “well then, I would like to share a talent I have that could improve your farming. See, I have the ability to communicate with animals, and I would like to go speak to your animals and see if there is anything they could tell me in order for you to know how they feel about the way they’re treated and in order for you to perhaps improve your farming success .” Farmer is incredulous at first but says , “alright, that you may do. God bless you.” So the salesman goes and comes back in an hour. He says to the farmer, “well, I have spoken to the animals. I spoke to your horse, and he told me that you recently changed his shoes, and that he is much happier now and can work easier.” Farmer says, “that’s amazing, you’re right, I did do that!” Salesman says, “and I spoke to your cow Bessie, and she said that with the new milking machine that you bought, she gives a lot more milk since you changed the settings to a more gentle speed.” Farmer says, “Amazing, her name Is Bessie, and she’s right, I did do that!” Salesman says, “and I also spoke to a couple of the sheep, and-“ Farmer exclaims, “THOSE LIARS, DONT BELIEVE NOTHIN THEY SAY!” Soldier stationed in France, he goes and sees a doctor and says, “doc, I met this girl last night at the moulin rouge and she’s a real good lookin tomato, but there’s something about her. We got to petting pretty fast, but she’s pale and don’t breathe so well; we agreed to meet tonight. Thing is, I’m hesitant, I don’t know whether she might have TB or VD.” Doctor says, “well look, I’ll inoculate you just to be safe, and tonight, you take her for a walk along the Seine. And if she coughs, then just get a room, turn the lights off, put your mask over your mouth, and make her all you like.” (Make is an early expression for screw).

In the second honeymoon episode Ethel is in a room with Fred and she says something like “hey tiger” and then does a really weird laugh.

Lucy was good wholesome comedy. These shows are Rated G.

THE SHOW IS INNOCENT IS PEOPLE WITH DIRTY MINDS THAT MAKE IT SOMETHING ELSE

What about the Operetta!!? Lucy plays the Queen of the Gypsies (with a strong speech impediment) and she tells Lily (Ethel) to "shit down." It was obviously a curse word, but got by because of the lisp. I always marveled at that.

lucy’s schedule and the diet are my favorite episodes

Or how about in "The Operetta" when Ethel sings her "Lilly of the Valley" number, at the end she goes into a little Burlesque bit. Downright RAUNCHY, I tell 'ya!

With the line in Lucy's Schedule I honestly think the line was just meant to be smartassy lol

This is one video I missed ! Loyal subscriber from the days you had only 1k subs Rick ! Now you have 59.6K SUBS !!! I'm so happy for you !! You deserve it because your channel brings a wonderful rest from the stress of life ! Hope you get many many MANY more !! As for these scenes I'm laughing because I bet they did have "naughty ideas" behind the lines... but they are SO INNOCENT compared to today !

The Desert Island episode hands done w Joi Lansing, where Ethel sticks out her chest to mockingly immitate Joi's character!

I Love Lucy was innocent by today's standards but compared to Andy Griffith or Leave it to Beaver, it was a little more adult themed. It had alcohol, guns, burglary, fighting, smoking.

I saw the title and who did this on and I just had to click on it. I really do love these videos. They're so entertaining

Hey Rick, Continuing to explore some of your older content. This was an interesting topic. When it comes to suggestive content, I think the most surprising (and most adult) moment comes in the episode "Fan Magazine Interview" (S3 E17). It occurs when Minnie Finch says, "Say, your name ain't Kinsey, is it?" Referring, of course, to Alfred Kinsey's studies on human sexuality. There'd be no question as to what she was referring to. Of course, as a little boy watching ILL, it went right over my innocent little head! Stay well, Paul

Lucy’s schedule always stuck out to me too

There was another one where Fred starts telling a joke about a man who goes into a Turkish bath, but Ethel won't let him finish it. I forget which episode it was though.

I always thought she meant she needs more than 15 minutes to get her hair done, makes sense since she dyed it lol.

I appreciate your positive and encouraging words at the end of your videos ...very kind of you

All of these all fall under two common categories: 1. Anything is dirty when you think about it dirty 2. Not telling the dirty joke IS the joke

Love all of these. If had not been married in real life I don't think it would have come across as so realistic and true. We ALL fell in love with Lucy. For me it's been decades and longer, yet I can still watch and still laugh.

Can you imagine what would have gone on if I love Lucy was filmed today ?

Oh, the times they lived in THEN & the COVID - 19 'time' we are living in NOW. Be positive & be hopeful!!!

There's an episode of My Favorite Husband, Lucy's radio series from 1949 where she teaches a shy Richard Crenna to dance, and she mentions that men and women are made differently so they can dance together. The radio audience laughed extra long because of the innuendo; however, when she uses the same line on Richard again in the I Love Lucy episode The Young Fans from Season 1, the audience as I recall doesn't laugh as knowingly as the radio audience.

Pretty tame all in all but the suggestion is there.I had noticed these. I also think there is a moment in ‘The Black Wig’ when Ricky tells Lucy the world is made up of two groups, men and women and Lucy says, “I know, it’s a wonderful arrangement!”. Ricky then starts explaining the difference between men and women is short and long hair and Lucy looks at him like “oh?.....” - thanks for sharing Rick!

I always thought that Lucy meant she would need more than 15 minutes to use the restroom.

I love the schedule epidode! Love the way Desi delivers the line...don't you like the way I vibrate? Very funny episodes.

Lucy wearing pants as a TV housewife in the 50s was even unusual.This show was trailblazer

You forgot the reference to the Kinsey Report when Lucy suspects Ricky of cheating one of the woman who answers a door asks if Lucy and Ethel are doing the Kinsey Report survey.

Of course they gonna try see how much they can get away with on tv.. But it’s nice way for them to be discreet and funny at same time.. I’m pretty sure they would’ve been way worse if it was filmed today...

Also in season 1E15 (Lucy plays cupid), there is a part where Mrs. Louis is talking to Lucy about Mr. Ritter and she says to Lucy "we had a long conversation over the pickle barrel, it sort of raised my hopes" now what did she mean by this in these days?

I think it's similar to Disney movies now: it's mainly for "family" viewing, but in order to get families to watch it you have to make at least a bit bearable to the ones who are paying for it: the adults. So, you have to throw in some jokes that appeal to them.

Lucy was an awesome amazing actress 💖

I definitely think most of these are open to interpretation. It`s all in how you take it. That being said I must admit I laughed out loud at "oh I`m gonna need more than 15 minutes for that". Combination of the line and the way she delivered it.

Why am I stuck on your videos. Lol Great video 💙🐝💙

All good clean fun to me! Thanks for another great video Rick!

Different times. It's amazing to me how much television has changed! Never in my life did I think I would be paying for the local channels. Television should be free! 😊✌🐩

I just saw the schedule episode Saturday! Not kidding lol she froze his eggs and coffee! 😂🤣

Of course innuendos! This wasn't unique to I Love Lucy from back in the 50s-60s. Thanks for the episode.

I'm surprised you didn't mention the club scene where Lucy pretends to be a musician and Ricky asks to see her credentials. I always thought that was super risque for that time.

There is nothing wrong with Lucy and Ricky. Take a look at what at what you see on the tv today.

Her reaction immediately after Ricky's question said everything! "Lucy, don't you like the way I vibrate?"

When Lucy and Ethel are in Eddie's hotel room, trying on the night gowns he's selling! The look on Fred and Ricky's faces! Also, in later episodes, when Lucy and Ricky are practicing their Tango routine for little Ricky's school, and she wants them to wear a sultry look. Ricky tells her he doesn't want them to get rated by the school! Finally, when the Ricardos' elderly neighbor says the word 'sex', but she glances around to make sure nobody else hears her.

Another great vid., Rick!!

,,,,maybe John Wayne was expecting a happy ending massage??………...

Absolutely, before I even watched your clips, I was already thinking about the one where they come out of the bedroom in “afterglow” and practically reeking of post-coital bliss.

Rick - LOVING these videos and, by the way, re "Lucy's Schedule, there is no doubt in my mind that Lucy was referring to their love-making and her achieving orgasm - I have always thought it and I am glad you mentioned it. As for the "traveling salesman" jokes, people knew or thought that men told each other off-color jokes never to be told in mixed company - so the audience was in on this and laughed at it. You're very perceptive, Rick. :)

There was another travelling salesman joke (beginning only of course) on the Andy Griffith Show as well. I was shocked!

It seems likely to me that “traveling salesman/farmer’s daughter” could’ve been a common joke setup, much the same way that many jokes now begin with “A man walks into a bar.”

Couldn’t agree more! Being of the fact that the show was aired in front of a live audience back in the early to mid 50’s! Back then it was very clear that even as of to suggesting something only suitable for mature audiences would’ve been pulled off the air. However, the writers (Lucille Ball being one of them) were so clever with delivering their lines, as well as making sure that the storyline flew over the coo-coo’s nest of pestering executives working for other networks, thus competing with such that of a high rated, we’ll received show! Thanks for the upload! Love you as narrator! That of a soothing & pleasant voice! 👍 I remember growing up in the eighties and watching shows where they would put an announcement in the beginning of the show as a warning ⚠️ ‘Please be advised that their is content suitable for adult audiences’... somewhere along those lines!

One of my favorite risque jokes that never got finished was Johnny Carson and Ed McMahon starting, "There was an old hermit named Dave..."

Lucy was the first to say a dirty word on TV. It’s when she played a witch. She tells Ethel who is playing a sweet innocent girl to “sit down“ but it comes out “sh!t down“ because of the way she speaks as a witch.

There was an episode that referenced the KInsey Report

I'm surprised you didn't include the Kinsey line when Lucy was going door to door. I forget which episode but I remember that line.