Little Ricky Gets Stagefright—I Love Lucy

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Little Ricky Gets Stage Fright—I Love Lucy season 6, episode 157, originally aired October 22, 1956

Little Ricky Gets Stage Fright is a very sweet episode of I Love Lucy, where Little Ricky is going to put his drum skills to use before a live audience. It’s very funny to see how nervous the adults are, and how calm Little Ricky is ... until he ‘catches’ their nervousness, and is unable to play the drums. Lucy is insistent that he needs to ‘get back on the horse’, and it’s a moment both funny and touching as Ricky Ricardo tries to explain to Little Ricky, using the boys toys to illustrate, how he needs to play the drums—to not be afraid.

Lucy sets up another recital for Little Ricky’s band, at (big) Ricky’s club—at the last moment, one of the boys in the band becomes ill, and Little Ricky is afraid to go on ... but momma Lucy promises that she’ll be right by him. And she is, in the missing boy’s outfit—this time, Lucy is in the show—but for her little boy’s sake. A funny and sweet episode.

Little Ricky Gets Stagefright is available on the I Love Lucy season 6 DVD collection.

Funny quotes from Little Ricky Gets Stage Fright—I Love Lucy

Ethel Mertz (Vivian Vance): I was so nervous I couldn’t eat my breakfast.
Fred Mertz (William Frawley): And for Ethel, that’s nervous!

Fred Mertz (William Frawley): You’ll be glad to know I’ll be fixing that loose rail on the back porch.
Lucy Ricardo (Lucille Ball): What’s the rush? We only reported it 5 years and 3 delivery boys ago.

Ricky Ricardo (Desi Arnaz): Lucy, what’s come over you?
Lucy Ricardo (Lucille Ball): Bad idea?
Ricky Ricardo (Desi Arnaz): No, good idea! What’s come over you?

[Fred and Ethel enter as Ricky and Lucy are kissing]
Fred Mertz (William Frawley): Close your eyes, Ethel, I don’t want you to get any ideas.