The TV Zone

We’ll forgive TV Land for adding “Just Shoot Me” to their schedule long enough to give ‘em some props for airing two of the funniest episodes in TV history Sunday night.

Not surprisingly, both of ‘em come from “I Love Lucy.” (Both are part of a programming stunt called “Ricky Loves Lucy Valentine’s Day,” which runs from 8-10 p.m. and is repeated the same time on Thursday, V-Day.)

At 8:30 it’s the Dec. 8, 1952 episode in which Lucy lets Ricky know — or attempts to let him know — that she is expecting. Remember, back then you couldn’t even say the word “pregnant” on TV. After many delays and interruptions, she finally breaks the news while Ricky is performing at the Tropicana. She slips him a note about the "blessed event", but Ricky misunderstands, thinking the message is for someone else. When he realizes that he is the expectant father, he breakd down, singing “We're Having a Baby.”

At 9 it’s the classic episode in which Lucy gives birth to Little Ricky. (Twelve hours earlier Lucille Ball, had given birth to Desi Arnaz Jr.) The episode aired on Jan. 19, 1953, 72% of all American homes with television sets, about 44 million viewers, tuned in. That’s 15 million more than tuned in the next day to watch President Eisenhower’s inauguration.

Fifty-five years later, it’s no secret why America liked Ike, but loved Lucy.