"I Love Lucy" | What Happened to Ethel's Mother? Exploring the Mystery

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"I Love Lucy" | What Happened to Ethel's Mother? Exploring the Mystery
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Комментарии : 252

@LyleFrancisDelp Год назад

Fred repeatedly carrying the potted tree is absolutely hysterical.

@michaeltaylor1603 Год назад

I agree! There is (and I'm NOT kidding) Take your houseplants for a walk day! It's July 27th. It's a holiday.

@justjeanny9013 Год назад

Yes. And the keeps getting bigger and bigger! And funnier!

@ACare15 Год назад

@@michaeltaylor1603 I need to put that on my calendar and make sure to watch the Albuquerque episode that day!

@ACare15 Год назад

I thought that potted tree was one of the most sophisticated jokes ever done on "Lucy"!

@LyleFrancisDelp Год назад

@@ACare15 Yes!! But it's actually an old schtick from vaudeville. And it was brilliant in execution.

@allisoncraig9047 Год назад

You're the best, Rick! I thought when Mr. Potter said "we", he could still have been referring to his wife even if she had passed away. It's hard to lose a loved one and sometimes the language we use still refers to the deceased person as if they are still alive. I absolutely love your "I Love Lucy" videos. Thank you for your time and efforts!

@philliphayes3641 Год назад

Agree , and he knew that Ethel would automatically know what he meant.

@juliemcmahan1207 Год назад

My husband passed away at the end of 2004. I still say "we", especially if it was something that happened when he was still alive. When Ethel left home, her mother was still alive, so it's natural that her dad would say "we", even if her mom has passed away since then. Rick, I am enjoying your videos so much! I'm learning a LOT, and I love it! Thank you for your time and energy in putting these together. 😊

@TheVerbalVolley Год назад

I love this video SO MUCH. I never even gave Ethel's mother a second thought before. It would have been great to have Ethel's mother as an occasional guest on the show. I would imagine her as a woman who disliked Fred, and the two characters would probably have exchanged incredibly hysterical sarcastic barbs at each other. It would have been fun. Thanks for the video, Rick!

@eloiseockert9233 Год назад

Maybe would have been too much as The Honeymooners.

@eloiseockert9233 Год назад

The writers did have sarcastic remarks from Lucy's mother to Ricky.

@bejoyful Год назад

Rick, your commitment to detail is admirable; I just think that the writer's never thought of reruns that would last indefinitely and we the viewers would forget about filler information and focus on the comedy; remember that even Fred's mother was mentioned in that same fighting episode and also when Lucy's mother in law arrives.

@davidwebb3407 Год назад

I interpret it as her father saying that he and his wife never changed Ethel’s room after she moved out. That would make sense even if his wife had passed in the last few years. A lot of widows and widowers still think in terms of “we”, especially if they had been married a long time. Also, this is the show that had to fight to get a pregnancy storyline. I doubt the censors would let the idea of divorce be implied.

@cockneyse Год назад

The censorship comment is completely valid. But it's also true they could have left it in the past as it was, even if they subsequently split up or divorced

@anitraduke2265 Год назад

I agree 100% David Webb.

@katmcmillan9712 Год назад

I was going to write a comment to say that the “We” he used is just out of habit. We’ve been married for 36 years and dated for 5 years before that, and I KNOW how much everything is about We in our relationship. Remember, it’s even in the vow we take when we get married, “...where two are joined together as one.” It’s so true! I can almost always “hear” his thoughts before he speaks them! I’m constantly telling him that he thinks too loud!!!

@LyleFrancisDelp Год назад

Just a note…at this time in TV history, there really was no attempt at any sort of continuity. The writers…often different people from season to season….didn’t really consider it. They just wrote the stories they wanted to write.

@Mouserjan0222 Год назад

And they never expected us to re-watch every episode and hyper analyze them

@eloiseockert9233 Год назад

Yes: Writers for sitcoms aren't consistent. "The Odd Couple," TV series had no consistency as to how Oscar and Felix met up . On "Friends," there was an episode where Joey claimed he had 15 minutes to go for an audition. The apt. building was near Central Park. The scene showed the audition taking place @ The Silvercup's studio. The Silvercup's studio is in Long Island City, Queens, a good 45 min. train ride from Manhattan where the Silvercup's studio is located, then walking several blocks, & then getting into the studio. Even if cabbing it, Joey would not make it in there in 15 mins! So why? Because it's "A SITCOM!"my

@kimberlymiller8274 Год назад

Maybe Ethel's mother didn't know Ethel was coming to visit, so she got in a fight with Mr. Potter and said, "I'm going to go stay with my daughter!" and went off to New York. What a shock when she gets to the Big Apple! Thanks for your hard work on this episode! Always look forward to your episodes... tastes like candy!

@roberttelarket4934 Год назад

Really good idea!!!

@downplay1979 Год назад

LOL…I love this.

@DavidBugea Год назад

Oh, I’m sure that dear old Mrs. Trumbull let Mrs. Potter into the Mertz’s apartment when she arrived in New York! 😂

@CAllen1950 Год назад

I just thought when the dad said “we left it…” he was referring to a housekeeper, and he and Ethel’s mom were divorced. But, it’s too bad they didn’t include both parents - even when Ricky’s mom came to visit - or when they went to Cuba. I have all the DVD’s, so will not enter the contest, but sure nice of you to do.

@vintagemarie2391 Год назад

Ethel May Potter, we never forgot her!

@MondoMiami Год назад

“Ethel’s Hometown” is easily the most underrated episode of the series.

@downplay1979 Год назад

I always assumed Mr Potter was a widower, and his reference to “we” was just alluding to the fact that neither he nor Mrs Potter (when she was living) had ever changed Ethel’s room around. Oftentimes, the living partner will continue to refer to themself in the plural “we,” especially when talking about an event in the past they had done together (like preserving their daughter’s bedroom). All I really know is, Ethel Mae Potter-they never forgot her!

@christopherkraft1327 Год назад

Hey Rick, I absolutely love the episode of Ethel's home town, when Ethel is on stage & Lucy, Ricky & Fred are behind her pulling their shenanigans, especially Fred carrying the tree that keeps growing, hilarious!!! As for Ethel's mother, I think that her & Ethel's father were still married, she's still alive but she simply wasn't home at the time, I'm guessing that she had a job, probably a telephone operator!!! You do bring up a good question for sure!!!! Thanks for sharing this interesting video!!! 👍👍🙂

@VI36196 Год назад

The ever-growing tree gag comes from Olsen and Johnson's "Hellzapoppin'", both the stage play and the movie. I love O & J in their pictures. My parents saw "Hellzapoppin'" in try-outs at the Majestic Theatre in Brooklyn, NY.

@crowtrobot30011 Год назад

This was always one of my favorite episodes. It is possible Ethel's mother may have passed away. When Mr. Potter said that, "we" never touched your room, he could have meant that neither he nor Ethel's mother ever touched the room after she moved out even if her mother was no longer there. Mr. Potter was an old man that must have been married for many years, so he might still talk about his wife as if she was still around even if she had passed. The divorced theory works too, since that was never discussed on TV back then, so they just didn't say anything and let the viewer make there own conclusions.

@falcon664 Год назад

"We left it" refers to the decision that was made by Ethel's mother and father at the time she left for vaudeville. That was at least 25 years before based on Fred and Ethel's wedding anniversary show in 1952. Fred also mentions he has bought Ethel birthday presents for 26 years. The Potters would not have divorced, (rare at the time), and since Mrs. Potter was not at the house, was not mentioned to be at the store or at Ethel's show, or anywhere else, she must have been deceased. Frankly, I think the writers concentrated all the Albuquerque issues in Mr. Potter, any additional characters would have too many and the effect diluted. Continuity was not a big issue for ILL, after all Ethel had 3 middle names and the Mertz's 18th and 25th anniversaries were one year apart.

@mattc3696 Год назад

I feel that in those days continuity of the storyline was, at best, an afterthought. Remember how many name changes Ethel Mae went through? Love the analysis, and of course you, Mr. Nineg.

@rager1969 Год назад

I loved how Fred was walking across the stage with a potted plant that kept getting bigger and bigger. Also, when Lucy held the swinging bench (with Ricky and Fred sitting on it) in her teeth. So wacky.

@peteocchi Год назад

Rick... this was absolutely one of your best! I'm in my 60's and grew up watching I Love Lucy and of course the reruns.. but how you uncovered this point is phenomenal! My guess is Mr. Potter is now widowed and although he says "we" haven't changed anything it still can be construed she may have passed away. Again... LOVED THIS ONE!

@ricknineg Год назад

Thank you kindly!

@davidgrech4574 Год назад

Thank you for all your research and your devotion to the series. Bless you and hope you know how much I appreciate your channel 👍🍀

@jenlemon4294 Год назад

I’m so glad you addressed this, Rick, because I always found it odd that Ethel’s mother wasn’t in that episode. As someone who has watched these episodes many times, I DO remember all the times Ethel’s mother was sprinkled in conversations. Maybe you’re correct in the conclusion that her parents were divorced, but somehow that seems so sad to me. I guess it’s possible that her mother was out of town when they happened to visit. Although you’d think it would be mentioned. Thank you for incredible amount of hard work that went into this video!

@ricknineg Год назад

So great that you enjoyed it and found it fun. I feel that these ideas and concepts pop into my head. I wonder if anyone else noticed. And after seeing thousands thinking similarly, it is truly wonderful

@trainsupporter9088 Год назад

Wow Rick - thanks for all the hard work you put into this video! I honestly had never thought of Ethel's mother...but the ideas you present are all interesting! Trust you are doing well Rick

@Jared_Wignall Год назад

I really enjoy these videos as they’re quite interesting. Going in and seeing what happened to a character based off of what we know from the show and sometimes also regarding if there was anything known about the performer who played the character, if they showed up on the show at all and not just talked about and never shown. Keep up the great work Rick, take care!

@garyburgmylifeandtimes6354 Год назад

Interesting that you focused on Ethel’s mother. You did a wonderful bit of research into this subject and it would be interesting to hear what the script writers have to say on that subject. The fact that Ethel’s mom didn’t surface when they visited Albuquerque leads me to believe she no longer exited at that time but who know (only the script writers 😉😉)

@justjeanny9013 Год назад

Great video. I often wondered what happened to Ethel's mother too. I think they never showed her because the producers couldn't find someone who would fit the age they wanted for Ethel so to please everyone including Vivian Vance they kept it mysterious.

@lazyhomebody1356 Год назад

Genius!! That is a great theory

@justjeanny9013 Год назад

Thanks. I have been watching many of Rick's videos.

@lazyhomebody1356 Год назад

@@justjeanny9013 Jean-ius. The writers were like, this is awkward. Let's completely ignore it.

@justjeanny9013 Год назад

Lol! 😊Yes! Totally agree. I don't think they thought we were smart enough to catch it let alone discuss it 6 decades plus later!

@lazyhomebody1356 Год назад

@@justjeanny9013 Oh, they had no idea we'd be carrying around teeny phones!

@sallyn2393 Год назад

It really is quite a mystery, I would probably assume by the Albuquerque episode she may have passed away, but the bigger mystery is, did Fred’s mother really look like a weasel?😆

@CAllen1950 Год назад

LOL about Fred’s mom - who must be quite elderly and still comes once a year to look under the rug!

@lazyhomebody1356 Год назад

You gotta wonder if Fred ever looked in a mirror! He's so critical of everyone else's looks

@roberttelarket4934 Год назад

Yes she absolutely looked every inch of a weasel!!! I have some other posts read them!

@sallyn2393 Год назад

@@roberttelarket4934 I did!😄

@susanm9824 Год назад

I think many of these issues are oversights of the writers, for example, as when Ethel is called Ethel Louise one time and then Ethel Roberta another. I honestly don't think the exact details were even thought of when writing the scripts. These inconsistencies probably had more to do with which actors they wanted to use, rather than preserving the continuity of the story.

@lcat1194 Год назад

Thanks for all of your time and interesting videos, Rick. When Mr. Potter states, "We haven't touched it (Ethel's old bedroom) since you left," I think he and Mrs. Potter are no longer married or she has passed away and he is just stating it in general terms. My own mother has passed away and my father still says "we" when he speaks of his home and things we all did there. For example, my dad will say, "we (or we've) had that nightlight in the hallway for years." It was always "we" with my parents and it's hard to break that pattern of saying "we" after being married for over 50 years. Just my 2 centavos.

@deborahd4310 Год назад

I love, I Love Lucy! I love trivia from classic TV shows like I Love Lucy or old movies. To me it just makes them more interesting and enjoyable to know a little bit about the background or something from the script that we always kind of wonder about. So nice to run across your Channel and looking forward to watching other videos you do as well.

@nickimontie Год назад

I never thought of this, Rick. I want to rewatch them to decide.

@howardstern8249 Год назад

Rick, you are absoloutely amazing with your keen eye on ILL! I collected TVGUIDES from 1964-2004 and recently got rid of them BUT I did keep a few from 63-65 and what's interesting is that growing up in the NYC metro area, The Lucy Show was NEVER listed as TLS but instead it was called Lucille Ball BOTH in prime-time and when it was run in Daytime! Would love to show these old TVGUIDES to you over coffee sometime? Thanks !

@ricknineg Год назад

So glad that you’re a collector the the guides

@lnat2000 Год назад

The timing of your post is perfect as we were watching “The Marriage License” at the time. 😄

@joesinkovits6591 Год назад

Great work, Rick! I’ve always assumed that Ethel’s parents were divorced, and that her mother was living somewhere in or near New York City. I think this is buttressed by Ethel’s occasional visits to her, and I just can’t see tightwad Fred allowing her to spend the money to go to Albuquerque. It’s also reinforced by a comment made off-handedly by Ethel when there is discussion of the Mertzes going to Hollywood with the Ricardos. Ethel claims she never gets to go anywhere, and Fred reminds her of the trip she took to Minnesota, whereupon Ethel explains that was to have her gall stones removed at the Mayo Clinic. This would make no sense if she’d traveled to New Mexico on at least two occasions. I think it’s probable that Mrs. Potter moved to NYC after her divorce to be near Ethel. Also, if Ethel had gone back to Albuquerque, why would Fred not have said that she’s “gone to see her folks” or her mother AND her father? But, again, this is all my supposition. In any case, I’m glad I’m not the only one who sweats these details! Thanks, Rick!

@ricknineg Год назад

🕵️‍♂️

@Dontuween Год назад

"We" can always be past-tense as well. I recall in the first "Superman" movie, as Clark was about to leave, Martha Kent indicated that "we both knew this day was coming", eventhough, we had just seen Jonathan Kent (Glenn Ford) pass away.

@lazyhomebody1356 Год назад

Good example!

@cadeevans4623 Год назад

Not sure what happened Rick let's solved the mystery thanks for sharing this video

@KrzNena Год назад

Hi Rick. I think perhaps Ethal’s mother had passed once they took that Albuquerque trip and her father used the word “we” to refer to them not disturbing her room since she left home. Hope you’re keeping cool during this heatwave. 😎

@kevinburke6446 Год назад

Great episode. Great detective work!

@nancyM1313 Год назад

That whole road trip episode is very funny. ❤lucy

@thetruthbetold961 Год назад

Like you mentioned, I think that the Potters were divorced. Mr. Potter said ''we ''meaning he and Ethel's mother just had never done anything to Ethel's room since she left. I just pretend that this is so, ha-ha. I really think the writers just forgot all about Ethel's mom, so therefore neglected to mention her absence. (If Mr. Potter had remarried, I think it would have been so fun to see his ''new'' wife and the plot that could have been in that episode regarding her reaction to everyone. She could have been a real hoity-toity person, for instance, throwing insults at everyone. But that would have added so much dialog to the episode that there wouldn't be enough time to show it within 30 minutes.

@judywho2249 Год назад

I guess I always assumed that Ethels mother had passed. She never appears in the series. Lots of people talk like their spouses are still alive and they arent.

@shelleynobleart Год назад

You know, I think a lot of the series plot/character/name gaps may stem from how this show pioneered sitcoms altogether. No one on earth would ever had guessed the global power of syndication and reruns! They couldn't realize anyone would really watch an episode twice! If they only knew we've all seen each one 100 times. Cheers.

@johnpontoon2625 Год назад

Excellent job.

@barry5153 Год назад

I love watching your video's. Always been a I love Lucy fan!!!!!!!!!!

@tigger06 Год назад

I remember all these episodes. And frankly, I agree with YOU. Your explanation really makes sense.

@toddmccreary4579 Год назад

I don't know why they didn't explain. I guess they figured when the dad visited the mother couldn't come but it's odd if they're so close why Ethel didn't ask why mother didn't come. But I think if it was explained each time people would be more obvious in thinking that they didn't want to cast anyone to play the mother. It's more fun guessing.

@RichardRitenour0522 Год назад

It is quite intriguing but with so much time gone by and so few clues we may never get closure but I do like your analysis on this. Stay awesome Rick and thanks!!

@roberttelarket4934 Год назад

ETHEL MAY POTTER WE NEVER FORGOT HER!!!!!! We will never forget you Ethel May Potter Mertz!!!!!! Ethel was my favorite above Lucille McGillicuddy!

@brettevans9492 Год назад

I think her mother passed away and didnt include it in the storyline but it's one of the few times the writers flubbed

@jonmcintosh2729 Год назад

Thank you for another informative video. I heard that Vivian Vance's real Mother disapproved of her daughter going into acting and refused to watch anything Vivian was in.

@vincentlara4563 Год назад

Hi Rick, how true that you obviously put a lot of effort into your videos (the research, etc) to get such accuracy. Well let me say that you are very much appreciated, I love ALL your ILL videos! Always love learning new trivia (being an ILL buff most I already knew) but you never cease to amaze me at your findings! Great questions about Ethel's mother, I'm going to go with your theory that they were probably divorced, and Mr. Potter probably did not remarry, or his wife would have been in seen or mentioned in "Ethel's Hometown." This brings up a question for me that it seems that Ethel (and Lucy) did not have any siblings, none are ever mentioned, or are they? In "The Ricardos Visit Cuba", they mention Ricky's huge family, brothers, sisters, aunts, and uncles.

@ricknineg Год назад

Thank you so so much! I don’t believe either mentions siblings. I’d guess that Lucy would at least had a brother

@33VMUH Год назад

Rick. Forget Ethel's missing mother. The actor playing Ethel's father is around six years younger than her husband, William Frawley!

@msplacebo-246 Год назад

Maybe Mrs Potter was busy working at the Sweet Shop that they owned. Just wanted to say that this was one of my favourite episodes too and that Vivian Vance was just excellent in it. Lucy was of course the star and because her comedic timing was so great Vivian Vance's contribution to the show is often overlooked. The last scene where Ethel realized that the other 3 are making a fool of her and she ends her operatic song with an ear splitting shriek is just hilarious!

@ricknineg Год назад

And she’d miss seeing her daughter after a long trip?

@painin2teeth Год назад

I think she passed in the earlier seasons and he referred "we" because while she was alive they did keep the room that way. He continues to say "we" out of habit and respect. He will always be "we" as they are forever married

@egggnome6266 Год назад

I like that it isn't explained. The characters would know the situation and wouldn't realistically be explaining it to each other, and the audience not knowing didn't detract from the story at all. You don't see this kind of writing in serious shows and in a comedy makes it even better. I see it as good story telling and not treating the viewers as morons like modern programming is required to do for the most part.

@TheJorgSacul Год назад

Interesting point of trivia-- William Frawley (b. 1887) was 7 years older than Irving Bacon (b.1893)!

@LyleFrancisDelp Год назад

The pic of Lucy with the pigeon on her head….classic. I Love Lucy truly was her high point. She never really matched it.

@MsBackstager Год назад

With many shows of the 50s and 60s -- with different writers, there was limited continuity. They just couldn't ever fathom that decades later, Rick and company would be binge watching these epic eps.

@PaulTesta Год назад

Rick, Great video. I like how you tied all these episodes that reference Ethel's mother together. I believe her Mother was alive the whole time! I love the Albuquerque episode. May be my favorite! The show at the end is their best performance - absolutely hilarious 😂!! Be hopeful!

@pcc678 Год назад

I think the most likely explanation for Ethel's mother not appearing is cost. They didn't want to spend time and money to hire someone to play Ethel's mother, and then spend writer's time writing dialog for her.

@brianrebmann5398 Год назад

Very good video and very entertaining topic. Perhaps Ethel mother might have been traveling away from home when Ethel came to visit and scheduling conflicts could have stopped them from meeting

@jons.6216 Год назад

Very well researched, Rick! I'm sure over the various seasons Fred had made a crack or two about his mother in law seeing how Mr Potter didn't really seem to be a big fan of him either!

@ianmalcolm2552 Год назад

Hi Rick, consider a video on what happened to Barney Fife’s mother (who was actually in an episode). She’s referred to many times during the show in both the present and past tenses.

@14stuyvesantoval Год назад

If you have not seen that movie, "Being the Ricardos," you should! That movie is all about one week in their lives: The week they filmed that episode where the Mertzes fought so deeply that they separated and Lucy entices each of the Mertzes over for dinner without the other's knowing it. J.K. Simmons is fantastic as William Frawley/Fred Mertz. Maybe the fact they were not pals in real life helped them be so great together - they were.

@edspeer3246 Год назад

Another great reaction all these years watching this I guess I never really paid too much attention but the more you explain it it does kind of make sense I'm like you I think they were divorced she lived in New York and her dad in Albuquerque.

@rustyrobinson8027 Год назад

Thanks Rick you're the best

@ricknineg Год назад

You’re the best, Rusty

@julievanderleest Год назад

I wonder if Ethel’s parents are divorced. The other crazy fact about Ethel is that she has a different middle name on other episodes. I forget what episode it was when Lucy called Ethel, “Ethel Roberta.” I believe that there’s more than one episode like that actually.

@1014Donna Год назад

Remember, Ethel had local family. Her uncle that sold Lucy the freezer, and the other uncle and aunt who were going to rent the Ricardo apartment when they were thinking on renting a bigger apartment in a luxury building. They must have been relatives on Ethel’s mother’s side. Maybe Ethel’s mom came to New York frequently and for extended visits and stayed with her siblings? It seems like Ethel hadn’t been to Albuquerque for many many years. So Ethel would visit her mom when she was in town.

@frankdellaquila7401 Год назад

I think Mr Potter is using the term "we" to refer to himself and the deceased Mrs Potter. I feel this is logical since Ethel had received her mother's flat-wear and because the Potters would have been married for many years and Mr Potter would be in the habit of saying "we" even though his wife had passed. I grew up watching "I Love Lucy" and never missed a chance to see any show with Lucy in it. These episodes are still funny today thanks to wonderful writing and incredibly talented cast members. Thank you for bringing these treasured episodes to us in a whole new light.

@geophizz Год назад

As you describe this, all I can think of is Maris from Frasier or Vera from Cheers, always talked about but never seen.

@01chippe Год назад

What I also found strange is that Fred’s parents were never mentioned , except one time in Lucy’s Mother In Law when Ethel tries to convince Lucy that her apartment had to be spotless for her mother in law’s inspection. Lucy says she doesn’t think her mother would come all the way from Cuba just to see what kind of housekeeper she is. Ethel replies “Fred’s mother comes once a year from Indiana just to look under my rug. If I thought she’d stay home, I’d send her the rug and a box of dirt”. To my knowledge, that’s the only time one of Fred’s parents was mentioned.

@markstrouse3101 Год назад

I strongly believe Ethel Mom was divorced and divorces were hardly mentioned on TV back in the 50' & 60's.

@fjccommish Год назад

I Rick Nineg really Little Ricky's son, Lucy's grandson?

@roberttelarket4934 Год назад

I have my suspicions!!!!

@roberttelarket4934 Год назад

Rick Nineg do you play the drums?

@roberttelarket4934 Год назад

A good I Love Lucy video might be the relationship of family members to the stars. In this case were Vivian and her real mother estranged?

@patbulfin5459 Год назад

Rick, maybe you could do one about what happened to the commissioner s wife on Batman. She was mentioned in Marsha, queen of diamonds. When Barbara came on, there's no mention of her mother.

@jamesm.3967 Год назад

I’ve been watching I Love Lucy for 50 years or more and I can’t remember seeing this episode although I’m sure I’ve seen it but not very often.

@elizabethharrison7306 Год назад

I Love Lucy my favorite one fan Big come California Come Dolls Seasons DVD 📀 💖💖💖💖💖💖💖🎶⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

@kellie-nd1yp 3 месяца назад

I’ve always thought Ethel’s parents were divorced. Her mother probably didn’t live in the city but close enough for Ethel to visit her frequently. I think her mother was similar to Lucy’s mother and Lucy and they were native New Yorker’s. Remember Ethel has at least two sets of aunts and uncles in New York. Ethel talks to her uncle Oscar on the phone in The Freezer episode and mentions her aunt Emmy . In The Face to Face episode an aunt Martha and uncle Elmo are mentioned as wanting to move into the apartment building. Ethel grew up in Albuquerque so it’s likely her mom just moved there after they married who knows how they met . She would have moved back to New York after the divorce. Maybe her father remarried or it was a housekeeper or family member that helped out. Maybe they just didn’t think but then we would have at least have mention of her mother. Ethel often mentioned divorce in one context or another so given the era I think she was more familiar with it than most of the other characters like during bridge games with the other women.

@QueenCityHistory Год назад

I always thought Ethel's parents were divorced or separated. Her mother in new York and her father in new Mexico. That's how I always took it. One opportunity I thought they missed was visiting Freds family in Indiana. ..can you imagine Freds mother...OMG

@tomsilverfield3041 Год назад

I think her Mom passed before the trip. Dad says "we left it" because after 50 years of marriage he still considers himself part of a couple.

@ddavenpAZ Год назад

Ethel Mertz’s mother was in show business and was known as “the invisible woman”. She would often wear an outfit that allowed her to successfully camouflage within whatever background was behind her, thus her “invisibility”. That’s why in the episode inside Ethel’s childhood home, no one could see Ethel’s mom as she blended in so well with the wallpaper. This would also explain why Ethel had a love for show business, she inherited that from her mom. On a more serious note, in your clip of Fred and Ethel sitting together in the Ricardo home, did you colorize Fred’s tie or am I seeing things? If it was you, great work! If it was me, boy do I need a vacation! 👨‍💼

@lazyhomebody1356 Год назад

The Invisible Woman explanation makes more sense than a divorce in those times! I see the rainbow tie too. Remember when VCR tapes would do that? Maybe something like that is going on

@roberttelarket4934 Год назад

Alot of nonsense!!! Vivian hated her mother(fanatic Christian) that cost her years of therapy! Her mother was dead set again show business!

@lazyhomebody1356 Год назад

@@roberttelarket4934 That's very interesting, and sad, but this is Ethyl

@roberttelarket4934 Год назад

@@lazyhomebody1356: I can’t believe it but I’m just thinking about you and Sally N hoping you’d read my posts especially the latest! I know you will and roll on the floor!!!

@roberttelarket4934 Год назад

@@lazyhomebody1356: Sad and terrible!

@roseannenorman7129 Год назад

I'd wondered the same thing. She doesn't ask about Mom when she goes to visit her Dad....where was she? She never mentions visiting her mom either. She wouldn't leave town when Ethel was visiting. I agree. They were at least separated. Sadly.

@rgoob4045 Год назад

Perhaps Ethel's mother is an 'unseen' character. One that exists but isn't ever casted or seen. For example, in 'Frasier' the character of 'Mariss' (sp?) who is "Niles' wife is referred to but is never seen or casted.

@ricknineg Год назад

Yes, maybe it was the beginning of that type character

@cepwin Год назад

I think the idea that Ethel's Mother lived elsewhere is correct. in addition to what you said she would have said going home to her Parents. i also think her Mother must have lived relatively a lot closer for the same reason

@tammyevans7333 Год назад

This is a mystery Rick let's find out thanks Rick

@SmokyMountainBlessed Год назад

nice research, her mother was mentioned several times but never shown so that is interesting, I am a subscriber but not publically, I'm Aspergers autistic so I prefer keeping my subscriptions private for my own personal reasons

@ricknineg Год назад

Thanks for being a supporter

@ritacorrieri9172 Год назад

Remember Ethel had an uncle and aunt who lived in New York (Uncle Elmo I believe who had the freezer). Maybe Ethel's mother visited/lived with them and that's when Ethel saw her mother. So if Ethel saw her mother on a more frequent basis, she was okay with just seeing her father on the trip. I think we're thinking too hard and that these are basically just one act plays and things/people are added or deleted as needed for the story.

@LoesserOf2Evils Год назад

I think Ethel’s mother passed away before the Ricardos and Mertzes arrive in Albuquerque. Here’s my reasoning: That Mrs. Potter is not mentioned again excepting for Mrs. Potter’s flatware. True that Lucy mentions her mother’s flatware. But my mother passed away over thirty years ago. I ended up with her chalice but eventually gave it to my sister. Whenever we refer to it, we invariably call it mother’s chalice. There are other pieces of personal property of my mother’s that we refer to as mom’s this or mom’s that. Friends of ours also refer to there late parents’ personal possessions in like fashion, especially when they hold sentimental value or familial importance. If Mrs. and Mr. Potter had divorced, it’s unlikely that Ethel would never mention her mother again unless they had had suffered a falling out. That Mr. Potter might not mention her again would depend on the state of his relationship with his ex-wife. However, he does seem to have some sentimental memories of her. That Mr. Potter says ”we” when referring to Ethel’s room may be habit, homage to his late wife, sentimentality for Ethel, or other reasons. This is not perfect reasoning. After all we the audience see only snippets in the characters’ lives; and it’s likely we have missed other references.

@devilman2465 Год назад

Ethel's father would still say "we" to mean that he and her mother left it the way it was way back when she moved out.

@michaeltaylor1603 Год назад

Never thought one way or another that they "might" be divorced. Did know that she was living. When Fred said the Ethyl said his mother looked like a weasel + Ricky's reaction. floors me every time! I'm now more curious about the episode that Ethyl did NOT appear in.

@jn8ive60 Год назад

I think Ethel's mother died after "Lucy Does a TV Commercial" and "Fred and Ethel Fight", and before "Ethel's Hometown". I think that Mr. Potter could be referring to a deceased wife when he said, "We haven't touched it since you left".

@al007italia Год назад

I never thought of this before. The impication is the early episodes was that she wasn't that far away. a lot closer than her mother would have been had she still lived in Albuquerque NM. I don't remember them saying where her parents lived until the episode where they have her visit her home. So, it could be a continuity blip, forgetting the implication in the earlier episodes. My thought is Ethel's parents may or may not have neen seperated. If they weren't seperated, then maybe her mother died right before the episode. When her father said "we" he could have been refering to the fact that the decision to keep it the way it was was a decision made by the 2 of them before the seperation or her death. His pawning the flatware would make sense if the mother had passed away by then.

@ricknineg Год назад

🤔

@alphonsocarioti512 Год назад

When Mr. Potter said "We left...", he could have been referring to the past when Ethel's mother was still alive or before their divorce. The entire series referred to her mother as a punchline when needed. It doesn't appear to me the writers ever had any intention to develop the character of her mom.

@ricknineg Год назад

Agreed, no intention to develop her character. It’s nice to theorize and expand upon these points

@alanlevine3984 Год назад

Her mom was working at the local Piggly Wiggly as a cashier. She couldn't get the day off.

@dianetheisen8664 Год назад

I think Ethyl's father meant he and her mother (not a step-mother) left her room just as she left it. That would before her mother's death or before their divorce. It makes sense, because if there was a divorce, that would have happened after Ethyl moved out.

@ACare15 Год назад

Ethel's mother is indeed alive! Or, at least, she and her father ~say~ she is and Ethel's husband and the Ricardos have no reason to question her. In fact, Ethel's mother is there in the house in Albuquerque. She is in the basement. Wearing a shawl. Sitting in a rocking chair. Beneath a long, bare, swinging light bulb. Go look for yourself!

@lazyhomebody1356 Год назад

LOL

@roberttelarket4934 Год назад

Reminds me of Psycho!!!

@donnarios8053 Год назад

Passed away

@michael6185 Год назад

To me, this video begs the question of what happened to Lucy's Father? Although Mrs. McGillicuddy (Kathryn Card) appears in several episodes (Hollywood and Europe), there is no explicit reference ever to Lucy's Father, Mr. McGillicuddy. The only possible mention is in the Passports episode when explaining where her Mother is, Lucy says "they're" on a driving trip in New England. Its not clear that "they" includes her Father.

@ricknineg Год назад

I really think the answer is that he had died when Lucy was young. The reason was because this is what actually happened to Lucille Ball. It would make sense that she would incorporate this into the story by not mentioning her father since she did not have that paternal figure.

@MrSkippydevereaux Год назад

I forget where I read it, but what about Lucy Ricardo's father?? In the episode where they went to Scotland and Lucy was going to look up her mother's family tree of McGillicuddy. McGillicuddy would have been her father's family tree, NOT her mother's. What was her mother's maiden name? Unless Lucy was born out of wedlock , McGillicuddy is not her mother's name to look up in a family tree. Egads, I have too much time on my hands when these things come up. LOL.

@lazyhomebody1356 Год назад

Wow. I can't believe I didn't notice that. Maybe that really was her mother's maiden name? And Lucille got confused, or left it in to honor her mother?

@lazyhomebody1356 Год назад

You don't have "too much time on your hands." People sarcastically tell me that when I point something out that they were too dumb to notice themselves! Never apologize for being the smartest one in the room,lol

@deborahleroy5323 Год назад

I wonder too about Ethel's mother because if the mother lived in New Mexico that is a distance to travel. Then I remember the episode where Ethel said ' I never get to go anywhere' If her mother lives in New Mexico that is a trip? I think mom lives in New York somewhere and the Father's saying 'WE' could mean a live individual or just a habit .

@kittenkagome1 Год назад

Hmm. Based on the evidence you presented I think Ethel's mother was alive for a while, but passed before they visited her hometown. Her father saying that they left the room the same could still be true, because he and his wife decided that before her passing. Another thought: Maybe part of the reason she went home to mom so much was because of failing health?

@14stuyvesantoval Год назад

When Mr. Potter states: "We left your room alone," "we" might allude to some cleaning lady or a maid.