LUCY and SUPERMAN

Scenes from "I Love Lucy" season six, episode 166, the classic "Lucy and Superman." The show first aired on January 14, 1957. Starring Lucille Ball and the Lucy gang, George Reeves makes a special guest appearance as Superman, visiting little Ricky's birthday party! For more info and a rare behind the scenes photo, visit www.dialbforblog.com/archives and go to Dial B for BLOG issue #216 -- "Lucy and Superman!"

[@Gvieto]

The line when the late George Reeves said "And they call ME Superman!" is one of the all time funniest punchlines of all time.

[@rhondabienes1329]

George B Vieto and I still find that line /joke funny /hilarious!🐯👏👍🤣😃Rhonda Bienes

[@SB992REBORN]

His smile smirkly smells it.. eygdh I mean sells it

[@spaceace4387]

That was so damn funny, Lucy’s expression made it even more hilarious. Also the fact that when the episode ended Lucy was still out on the ledge.

[@battlejack1863]

And Lucy’s reaction sold it!😆

[@13thwho]

The woman who saw Lucy in her makeshift Superman costume was Madge Blake, who would later play Aunt Harriet on “Batman”. Holy World’s Finest connection!

[@jennifersman7990]

I love the look on Ricky’s face when “Superman” says “...allow me?” and moves the piano so casually

[@darrellhunt2628]

BEST LINE IN THE ENTIRE SERIES!!!! AND IT NEVER GETS OLD!

[@markgiardina1303]

The best line of this show is when Desi tells everyone he's been married to Lucy for 15 years and Reeves shouts out "And they call ME Superman."

[@torchwoody58]

Mark Giardina One of the best lines in TV history.

[@TomFortey]

+Mark Giardina Bants all round

[@EricWilke1141987]

Oh the look on Lucy's face lol.

[@ECO473]

@@EricWilke1141987 Yeah, George slaughtered Lucy with that last line!

[@HENSLEYMB]

Agreed

[@Mike_Dubo]

"And they call me 'Superman'!" BEST. JOKE. EVER!

[@chicken4090]

U haven’t heard many jokes have you

[@charlesmays1557]

Reeves was fantastic as Superman. We really miss him!

[@CaptainLunar1994]

They didn't say. They never said it was George Reeves or call him "The actor that plays Superman" and the fact that he casually pushed a piano out of the way kinda makes it look like it was supposed to be the real Superman in the context of the episode

[@rtususian]

Yes one of those weird things where you know you are seeing the actor play his character, but their real selves and their character blend together. There's an hour long Desilu Westinghouse special where Lucy, Desi, Viv and Bill play their "real" selves by name while at the same time play their characters -- in other words, Lucille Ball still acts like Lucy Ricardo, Desi Arnaz still acts like Ricky Ricardo, etc. That would really make a viewer think that they are just like their TV characters at home.

[@thetooginator153]

TheOmnitron12345 - That was one of the reasons I Love Lucy was so popular - it was a little surreal. I remember watching this episode as a little boy and thinking it was REALLY cool that Superman saved Lucy!

[@Latinspidey98]

He did say "the tv star" so its safe to assume that its George Reeves and what George or Superman was doing is he was really being Superman without breaking character they have that rule at Disneyland all charactes in costume can not for even a mila second break character so if i was Spider-Man I Have to Be Spider-Man i cant talk about the job or my personal life as you can get fired for that and you have to know the character so well that any question they throw at you can respond as if they were asking you a common question like where are you from or how old are you so i don't know if the producers or creators ever confirmed it but its safe to say he's using that same rule that is now a rule for Disney character workers Ps. No one can dress up as a character at Disneyland because it could break the illusion for children I showed up for Disneyland on Halloween as Spider-Man (Infinity War Iron Spider) and i almost got kicked out i stayed because i had a feeling it might happen so i brought extra clothes

[@glennhart3634]

So sad what happened to George Reeves at the end of his life. He deserved better. By all accounts he was a very likable and talented guy, and this clip from "I Love Lucy" really proves that. I wish I could have met him. If I could, I would tell George how much he meant to folks my age who grew up in the 1960s watching reruns of "The Adventures of Superman." George Reeves will forever live in my heart and in the hearts of others as the only true Man of Steel--as Superman. RIP George Reeves. Hope you are at peace and realize now how much you are truly missed.

[@zabadazidit]

+1000

[@abbieb8130]

I grew up in the 90s, and George Reeves is my Superman too. (Though I enjoy him more as Clark Kent.)

[@Aquaman1054]

What a great clip! This segment has never failed to give me at least a chuckle. I love the smile on George's face when Little Ricky says "No, Daddy! Let Superman do it!". I'm also quite fond of the expression on Ricky and Ethel's face at 1:55 when George effortlessly pulls the piano that had balked Ricky from in front of the window. And of course, the very end of the sequence "And they call me Superman!" and Lucy's expression... priceless stuff!

[@misstanwyck]

I just adore that face she makes after he says "and they call ME superman". Fantastic!

[@rtususian]

Lucy has used that facial expression many times on her various shows. She said she got a lot of her mannerisms and facial expressions when she was growing up watching silent movies. (She was born in 1911).

[@rtususian]

She uses that expression again in the Connecticut episode "The Housewarming" where Lucy gives a luncheon for Betty Ramsey (Mary Jane Croft) and Ethel so they would get to know each other better. Initially Ethel can't stand Betty but when she finds out they both grew up in Albuquerque, after Ethel has treated her so coldly, Ethel says, I should have known you were from Albuquerque, you're so warm and friendly!!, Lucy makes that expression.

[@Astraldragon1]

And they call me Superman LMAO. one of the funniest lines in TV.

[@AshrafAnam]

"Married to her for 15 years? And they call me Superman."

[@LargestClassifieds]

LoL

[@travels129]

Classic

[@kennethdemuchest5171]

Lol. I loved this episode.

[@thebammer5166]

Best line of the entire episode!

[@rayjohnson4741]

My favorite only because George Reeves did this episode

[@BingCherry11]

"I've had a lot more flying time than you!" Lol!!!!!!

[@DreamDancer82]

"And they call me Superman!" LOL! I love that line! I love this episode. Heck with it. I Love Lucy!

[@fr6313]

The ironc thing is that George Reeves wanted to be a big time actor and felt that him playing the role as Superman destroyed that for good. Yet very few people today talk about Clark Gable or Marlon Brando as much as they talk about George Reeves.Reeves was more than just a good actor but a great human being . He's still my number one actor of all time

[@MuhammadAli-Lateef]

Mine too

[@StevieStitches]

fr6313 Marlon Brando could have played Clark/Superman in the '60s after George Reeves' death. Brando would have especially if a 1960s Superman film script had a message about racial equality. Brando was involved in the civil rights movement in the '60s. Even George Reeves said in 1954, "In Superman we're all concerned with giving kids the right kind of show. We even try in our scripts to give gentle messages of tolerance and address that a man's color and race should be respected." cbldf.org/2012/09/the-amazing-adventure-of-the-man-of-steel-and-the-psychiatric-censor-superman-vs-doctor-wertham/

[@fr6313]

+Darryl Ruiz I've often thought same thing so many times ......

[@ECO473]

@Darryl Ruiz: You're so right; that might be the biggest tragedy of Reeves' life...that he never got the chance to see how truly loved he really was and still is.

[@michaeldriscoll5957]

fr6313

[@kyrerichardson4613]

R.I.P. George Reeves Lucille Ball, Desi arnez, Vivivan Vance, William Frawley, And Kathryn Card

[@BelleroseQC]

All whites, unsurprisingly.

[@Everettescottortiz]

+François Royal You're not very bright are you? Desi Arnaz was anything but white... he was Cuban.

[@Everettescottortiz]

Okay then how about Latino? Satisfied now?

[@robertyoung3992]

Desi Arnez was from Havana,Cuba

[@tuxguys]

Man, Reeves seems so comfortable in the role here... Ironically, he's not listed as "George Reeves" in the credits for this episode, he's listed as "Superman." Good actor, knew how to deliver a line... there's a reason why that otherwise childish series ("Superman," not "Lucy") endures, and he's the reason. butchdeadlift10 I believe they're called Dutch doors, or Breakfast bar, or something like that, and the Ricardos' kitchen is on the other side of it. But you're right: A fantastic entrance.

[@1luiszepol]

For not to spoil children's innocence he was credited as Superman...lovely.

[@arthurlandrycf]

TV Guide has put this in the top 100 tv scenese of all time- and deservedly so RIP

[@CJurasin]

Wow.....I never knew he appeared on "I Love Lucy"....even as a kid!! Good find!!!

[@bobbova8708]

The meeting of characters who have brought enjoyment to generations of fans.My favorite line has to be "Ricardo you say you have been married for 15 years---and they call me Superman"!!

[@Astraldragon1]

Superman: Mr. Ricardo, you mean to say you've been married to her for 15 years? Ricky: YES 15 years! Superman: And they call me Superman!

[@eugoldlareg]

Best. Punchline. Ever.

[@tadimaggio]

This was Madge Blake's (the would-be tenant in the empty apartment) first run-in with a "superhero" (or a facsimile thereof). A few years later, she played the sweet (if clueless) Aunt Harriet on the "Batman" TV series, with Adam West and Burt Ward. And -- just to REALLY secure her place in my heart -- she appeared in TWO of my favorite movies: she was the gabby gossip columnist in the opening scene of "Singin' In The Rain", and one of Rosemary Barlow's lady friends who asks Dick Powell to sign her copy of his book in the wonderful Hollywood expose "The Bad and the Beautiful". It could be a damned good deal to be a character actor or actress in the Golden Age of Hollywood, or the early years of television. You came to be known as a certain character type, and could usually count on steady work. A wisecracking spinster or maid? "Get me Marjorie Main!" A wise older uncle or doctor? "Get me Donald Crisp!" Your name would never be above the title, but audiences would come to know and love you, and knew that they could count on you to do a good job. Not at all a bad way to earn a living.

[@STP43FAN1]

Priceless. George Reeves and Christopher Reeve - indeed.

[@snakes3425]

Chris Reeve was still a kid at the time, George Reeves was the one and only Superman back then

[@calebjackson3895]

I Love Lucy takes place in the DC Universe confirmed!

[@eugoldlareg]

I remember an issue of Justice League from the early 90s where Booster Gold mentioned that I Love Lucy was still in reruns in the 25th century... guess it really held up over the years...

[@DJDelta0]

And they call ME Superman!! LOL

[@bored1ca]

"....and they call ME Superman!" LOL!!

[@eddieg749]

This is one of my favorite episodes

[@swans1997]

Among the finest of 50's TV. Along with The Honeymooners. Watching George is always a pleasure. Seemed like a real nice guy.

[@ITILII]

because he's SUPERMAN !!! :-) and delivers the greatest line in tv history too !

[@DennyDreadBassMan]

That never gets old.

[@spencerfrankclayton4348]

Harold Lloyd, the silent comedian who climbed buildings, was the visual inspiration for Clark Kent. Kind of ironic how here Superman saves Lucy on a building.

[@marieruiz5696]

I Will forever love this episode because of Lucy n George Reeves, RIP Superman!!!!!!

[@bashbrannigan]

I'm always amazed at how completely convincing George Reeves was as Superman. Christopher Reeves was good, but I never 100% believed him. George Reeves must have been a pretty good actor, because he made you believe in the character.

[@StarWarriorCentral]

George Reeves played the role like a father figure, and I feel like he was great around kids. Christopher Reeve played the role like a fireman with a heart for Lois. Nothing wrong with that, but I feel like George Reeves's Superman had slightly better PR.

[@maxhiddren3421]

Christopher Reeve IS Superman

[@zciliyafilms5508]

It's really interesting how every generation has their own Superman. When Reeves took the mantle, Kirk Alyn, who had played him in the 1940s serials, couldn't watch him because he wasn't the "real" Superman.

[@davidahlstrom7533]

Well said. George Reeves really made you believe in Superman. Only a few actors have really pulled this off (Keefer Sutherland in 24, you expect him at the end of the TV season to go back to his counterterrorism day job, Leonard Nimoy as Mr Spock, and maybe a few other iconic characters). But the list is short.

[@ECO473]

Whatever the truth of his departure might be, God bless George Reeves!!!

[@Astraldragon1]

Superman: you mean to say you've been married to her for 15 yrs? Ricky: Yeah 15 yrs!! Superman: And they call me Superman. lol the best line in TV history.

[@davidgaela1497]

RIP george reeves

[@gamerzero7735]

George Reeves-"You mean to say you've been married to her for 15 years?!" Ricky Ricardo-"Yeah! 15 years!" George Reeves-"And they call ME Superman..."

[@TomFortey]

+GamerZero Bants all round

[@Lee-Darin]

And Lucy goes WAAAAAAAHHHHHH!

[@thedukeofchutney468]

I like how this isn’t implied to be an actor or anything but to actually be the REAL Superman.

[@ladygodeeva785]

They didn't want to destroy the Illusion for kids.

[@marieruiz5696]

One of my favorites episodes!!! n my original Superman!!!

[@Leadeshipcoach]

What is so cool is not only did they have George “Superman” Reeves but the lady who saw Lucy coming in the window ( Martha) was actress Madge Blake…she played aunt Harriet in the 1966 Batman series with Adam West and Burt Ward😊

[@alaricabercrombie2692]

And she also played the mother of Larry Mondelo, Beaver's friend, on LEAVE IT TO BEAVER the TV series

[@Leadeshipcoach]

@@alaricabercrombie2692 ..oh yeah! That’s right! Forgot about that😊👍

[@alaricabercrombie2692]

@@Leadeshipcoach 😊👌👌

[@chodeshadar18]

What a pleasure to see this. CLASSIC!

[@jamieakagibby]

Lucy’s face @ 2:46 cracks me up every time, she’s so offended by the comment, but it’s hilarious...😂😂

[@nhmooytis7058]

One of my fave epis!

[@howardbeck3400]

Funny that Aunt Harriet was in the episode

[@marieruiz5696]

My best childhood memories is of this Superman, I really thought he can fly when I was a kid we can only dream,

[@kurumais]

this was such happyshow

[@Alstheman37]

Ricky, you are the real Superman!!! Even George Reeves says so. It's a crying shame that they don't do this type of comedy anymore

[@dannyreyna2821]

Television Legends Live Forever Thank you for the memories ⚘

[@Gvieto]

@ECO473 He was the best actor to play Superman that I know of next to Christopher Reeve.

[@aljomatco2003]

That's good I'm glad you got credit it was the first Superman I ever saw!

[@allisocoolike]

Oh my gosh, that's so funny yet sad! Super Man: You mean you've been married to her for 15 years? Ricky: Yeah Super Man: And they call me Super Man.

[@bigbadseed7665]

Apparently I Love Lucy is part of the DC Extended Universe. I'm so sorry...

[@joshuastroupe1999]

Technically you’re not wrong! Lol

[@Mike_Dubo]

Me: (remembering the darkness and destruction that lies within the dc multiverse) Also Me: .....oh boy.

[@theodorecarter6601]

Alrighty then.

[@eugoldlareg]

According to Booster Gold, the show airs in reruns for over 500 years...

[@Philflash]

We need to find someone who can attest to the cannonicity of the Lucyverse. Great choice of words.

[@davidahlstrom7533]

Great segment. George Reeves handled that part so very well (Dean Cain was pretty good too). Especially good to see Superman with the kids -- we all looked up to him so much in those days.

[@IsiahBradley]

Very few people point out that Madge Blake (Aunt Harriet from "Batman" a decade later) is also in the episode!

[@fr6313]

One of my favorites. George Reeves was the best. Also if you look carefully you'll notice Madge Blake (Mrs Mondello-Leave it to Beaver and Aunt Harriet(Batman) and Mr Whipple from the Charmin commercials ....

[@the420man72]

Omg i cant believe ive never seen this before thanks for uploading

[@zabadazidit]

"Any of you fellas wanna rassle?"*Raising hand, waiving wildly* ME!!!!! ;-)

[@WytZox1]

Madge Blake was in this episode with Superman years before she was Aunt Harriet on Batman! ☺

[@SailorBarsoom]

She met the World's Finest.

[@rtususian]

I love the reason why Aunt Harriet was added to the TV show---she was never in the comic books before the show started in 1966 -- they didn't want it to appear that Bruce and Dick were lovers, living with a male manservant. ABC also had problems with Tony Randall and Jack Klugman as "The Odd Couple", so they established them as having girlfriends.

[@SailorBarsoom]

@@rtususian When _Sailor Moon_ was brought over to the US and Canada from Japan, the two characters Sailor Uranus and Sailor Neptune (who were a lesbian couple originally) were made out to be cousins instead. Sailor Neptune was always talking about some X-boyfriend. Um, no. Hey, neither the Lone Ranger nor Tonto had a girlfriend. Hhhmmmnnn......

[@CaptainLunar1994]

One thing I like about this is.... It's kinda made clear he's the "real" Superman in this.... Yeah that just makes the joke all the funnier.

[@albatani27]

That he's portrayed as being "real" makes it hilarious!

[@jennifersman7990]

Especially when he says "allow me?" and casually moves that piano, the look on Ricky's face is priceless.

[@jamesdavidson4769]

Best punchline ever.

[@simonmoves]

a rare video -what a wonderful scene-all of us miss george - superman and the series-left to soon-almost fifty years ago-i urge everyone to see the series 51-58-available on dvd now-worth watching.

[@heartbreak71]

i always loved this clip splain lucy lol

[@annelivalkama7451]

This was one of the inspirations for Total Television's "Underdog" which was released seven years later as Chet Stover watched this episode with his son, that plus the prompt that it had to be a 'super series'.

[@MrImiller07]

I'm sure that Reeves was delighted to work with stars like Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz, who were at the height of their popularity on television and in films in the mid 50s. Reeves was a skilled actor as evidenced by his performance in From Here To Eternity and in the Superman series. If he had been given the opportunity to do some work in non-Superman films, he might have broken the stereotype and avoided a tragic end to a good man's career.

[@markgiardina1303]

It's a shame that Lucy and Desi, who owned their own production company, couldn't help Reeves land a role other than Superman. Perhaps they only knew each other professionally and were not close friends.

[@jennifersman7990]

+MrImiller07 I heard that Reeves was supposed to direct episodes in what turned out to be the final season so maybe he was starting to plan for life after Superman but never had the chance

[@marciaallsbrook2335]

George Reeves was also in Gone With the Wind as one of Scarlett O'Hara' s beau, Stuart Tarleton.

[@BrotherDerrick3X]

jennifersman not only that, the only episode he directed was the final episode.

[@gkgrimes]

1 dislike......must be Lex Luther

[@ace942]

I have to agree with you. It is one of the best lines in TV history.

[@zyderman2050]

"Can you teach me to fly?" Superman: "Don't ask that. That's what suicide jumpers ask me."

[@fromthesidelines]

George was originally credited at the end of the show on CBS, but syndicated prints omitted Roy Rowan's announcment, "Our guest star tonight was George Reeves- star of the 'Superman' series". I've seen the original network print {Procter & Gamble's "Lilt" was the sponsor that evening}...

[@marieruiz5696]

I grew up with this Superman (yes I'm that old), but it's the best chill

[@silverandblack1977]

i remember that episode well......miss em all...

[@ronbridges3933]

He looked good here.

[@the430movie]

I remember it like yesterday!

[@cruse85]

Superman: You mean to say you've been married to her for 15 years? Ricky: YYEEEEESSS, 15 YEARS!!! Superman: And they call me Superman. LOL!!! Classic.

[@mcgannahanskyjellyfetti1663]

...and they call ME Superman!

[@ladygodeeva785]

George Reeves was the Best Superman.

[@tomsimpson5317]

I mss those days

[@IronLungs01]

Lucy chu got some splainin to do !!!!

[@Flipnred78]

The best......never seen this one!

[@philiphoward1731]

George Reeves was a really good actor and I think he had a really good sense of humor and I think everybody that worked with them on the TV show superman they all really respected him in mired him and they all said he was really a good person to work with. And the band that played Perry White he was a very good actor and I think he appeared in a lot of movies back in the 1930s and 40s I have seen the movies on KZbin and he was a very good actor to it was a very very good show

[@robertyglesias9673]

My childhood hero

[@lukeminix7312]

When I saw this on TV I didn't understand how George jumped into the room like that. I decided to rematch and discovered it was a slide! Lol

[@DavidRodriguez-tc4pr]

George Jetson Aunt Harriet and Superman on One show a classic

[@3dartistguy]

Madge Blake would later go on to play dizzy Aunt Harriet on the Batman tv series ten years later.

[@BrandonKohout]

Lucy is always doing the craziest things.

[@dafoilman671]

But You got to admit, that episode, has become so famous, not only it had "Superman"George Reeves, but it also got "Lttle Ricky's"character more friends, & He's the only one in the cast, that's alive. I could sit down, & listen to some "I Love Lucy" stories from Him.

[@luluzerbe9151]

The look on her face at the end 😂

[@karlmelcher3242]

My favorite line, which I don't think got the laugh it deserved, was the exchange between the couple checking the apartment: Was it a bird? No Was it a plane? No Well, what was it, dear? It was Superman!

[@ladygodeeva785]

That was Aunt Harriet from the Batman TV Show.

[@theatergeek82]

When I see this episode, I was like "yes it was a crazy thing to do but Lucy did it so her son could have a happy birthday." And I'm sure moms have done a lot of crazy things for their kids.

[@Trackrace29582]

Save MARTHA!!!!!

[@theOlLineRebel]

Very cool! I never even heard about this, much less saw it.

[@Shanethefilmmaker]

jacob fernandez The Joke implies that despite how impossible it seems due to their antics and constant bickering that Lucy and Ricky still remained married. Reeves here was simply stating that because Ricky put up with Lucy for 15 years without any sign of Divorce that Ricky is more of a Superman than....well Superman.

[@snakes3425]

No he's a real Superman because he's put up with Lucy and her crazy antics for 15 years and Lucy is still alive

[@treeguyable]

Wow, glad someone is here to breakdown and explain this mysterious humor that no one seems to understand.

[@canadianscratcher7834]

@0:09 Ricky breaks the 4th wall while pointing at George Reeves and says "How about that?"

[@orlandobabe]

I think George Reeve would have made an excellent father.

[@stevejoshua1995]

I like George, but I'm not sure what you're basing that observation on? Just because he knows how to act the part & act like he likes kids, doesn't mean he would have necessarily been a good father.

[@soyjacobo]

@sweetboy08 Thank You for the clarification. And I agree with Superman, Ricky really is Superman for marrying Lucy and living 15 with her!

[@markgiardina1303]

One must wonder what path George Reeves career could have taken had Desilu decided to back another TV show featuring Reeves in a different role rather than Superman. This episode was filmed in 1957, The Superman program ended in 1958.

[@rtususian]

Yes, I could imagine him playing, say a district attorney or private detective.

[@chesterlane3032]

Good thing that Superman was around to bring back Lucy back in apartment so she won't get wet and she was so lucky to meet Superman and they shake hands with each other

[@kennedylv9452]

And they call ME superman LOL!! Too funny!!