Lucille Ball: Her 10 Best TV Moments, Ranked

There’s a long list of Hollywood legends that have a permanent place in television history. However, comedy icon, Lucille Ball, is in a league all her own. During her era, Ball was a trendsetter and world-famous celebrity that changed television forever. Indeed, she was a true pioneer that paved the way for a new generation of funny female TV sitcom women.

Her hilarious performances transcend time and remain popular to this day. Throughout her illustrious career, Ball gave stellar performances any time she appeared on the television screen. Fans and critics will never forget each of Ball’s memorable and groundbreaking moments.

Lucy And The Stomper

In the 1950s, Lucille Ball became a household name with her starring role as Lucy Ricardo in the critically acclaimed sitcom I Love Lucy. The lovable Lucy was often getting into trouble and ended up in a few sticky situations.

The season 5 episode “Bitter Grapes” featured one of Ball’s most memorable performances. In the episode, Lucy takes a job at a local vineyard to prepare for an audition in an Italian movie. Lucy has fun stomping grapes in a famous scene until she gets into a fight with another stomper. It remains one of the funniest and most iconic moments of Ball’s career.

Breaking Eggs And The Tango

I Love Lucy was one of the few shows of its era to film in front of a live studio audience. The audience adored Lucille Ball and reacted with enthusiasm for everything she did. In the season 6 episode, “Lucy Does The Tango,” Lucy and her husband, Ricky, go into the egg business. However, egg production is low, and Ricky wants out.

Lucy then hatches a scheme and buys eggs from the store. At one point, Lucy hides a bunch of eggs from Ricky in her shirt. Coincidentally, Ricky wants to practice the tango at that very moment. The tension builds until Ricky twirls Lucy in for the big conclusion, and all the eggs smash in her shirt. The iconic moment produced the longest laugh in the show’s history, at 65 seconds.

Stuck In The Shower

In the early 1960s, Lucille Ball portrayed Lucy Carmichael in her second hit series, The Lucy Show. It featured Lucy and her best friend Vivian in the middle of more chaos. In the season 1 episode, “Lucy and Viv Put in a Shower,” Lucy runs off the plumber and enlists Vivian’s help to finish the job.

Lucy and Vivan get stuck in the shower in a classic moment as the stall fills up with water. The two friends are trapped in the shower and argue as the water reaches the very top. Ball and her co-stars were masters at physical comedy. In particular, Ball wowed audiences with her incredible use of physical comedy throughout her career.

Lucy’s Big Dance Number

In the I Love Lucy episode, “The Diet,” Lucy goes on a diet to prove to Ricky that she can get in shape and join his nightclub act. The episode, not surprisingly, does include a few I Love Lucy jokes that aged poorly over the years. Indeed, Lucy uses a few unhealthy methods judged by today’s standards.

Regardless, Lucy pulls off a stunning and phenomenal dance number in the end. But, of course, she then faints due to exhaustion. Lucille Ball proved that she’s more than just a funny performer. She could truly do it all.

Fake Nose On Fire

Lucy Ricardo encountered a long list of celebrity guest stars on I Love Lucy. However, William Holden’s appearance resulted in one of Lucy’s funniest moments. In the season 4 episode, “Hollywood, At Last,” Lucy accidentally knocks over a pie onto Holden at the Brown Derby restaurant.

Later, Lucy’s mortified when Holden and Ricky have a business meeting. Lucy’s embarrassed and afraid to mess up Ricky’s meeting, so she dons a disguise. Part of her disguise includes a nose made out of putty, but her plan unravels when the nose catches on fire. The hilarious moment influenced several other comedians and performers.

Lucy’s Expecting

During season 2 of I Love Lucy, Lucille Ball’s real-life pregnancy became part of the show. However, back then, CBS wouldn’t let the series use the word “pregnancy.” Therefore the episode title is “Lucy Is Enceinte,” which is the French word for pregnancy.

Once again, Ball puts on a stellar performance, as do her talented co-stars. The highlight is when Lucy announces that it’s time to go to the hospital, and chaos ensues. The groundbreaking episode aired the same day that Ball gave birth to her son, Desi Arnaz Jr.

Lucy Meets Elizabeth Taylor

In the late ’60s and early ’70s, Lucille Ball starred as Lucy Hinkley Carter in her third popular series, Here’s Lucy. The series picked up where the last two left off with even more schemes and sticky situations.

In the season 3 premiere, “Lucy Meets The Burtons,” Lucy has another classic celebrity encounter, this time with Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor. In the episode, Lucy makes the mistake of trying on one of Taylor’s rings and can’t get it off. Taylor tries to pull off the ring in one of the funniest moments in the series.

Lucille Ball’s Standing Ovation At The Emmys

In 1981, Lucille Ball’s career had slowed down, but she still had one more iconic moment left in her. She made an unforgettable appearance at the 33rd Primetime Emmy Awards that year. Ball received an award from Shirley MacLaine for her outstanding work in the industry for over 30 years.

When Ball first walked out, the audience gave her a standing ovation that lasted over 30 seconds. She was visibly emotional and gave a classic speech. At the age of 70, Ball was still a show stealer and the highlight of the night.

Lucy And Ethel Wrap Candy

The season 2 premiere “Switching Jobs” is often considered the second greatest episode of I Love Lucy. The classic episode featured Lucy and her best friend, Ethel, in one of their best friendship moments working at Kramer’s Kandy Kitchen. Of course, the two best friends get in trouble and create a whole lot of chaos.

At one point, Lucy and Ethel must wrap each piece of candy coming through on a conveyor belt. Initially, the candy comes in slowly, but the speed of the conveyor belt increases. Eventually, Lucy and Ethel find themselves in the middle of mayhem, struggling to wrap the candy as it comes in faster and faster. The hilarious scene is considered one of the most iconic moments in TV history.

Lucy Does A TV Commercial

In the season 1 episode “Lucy Does a TV Commercial,” Lucille Ball gave a stellar performance that fans and critics consider one of her greatest. The performance helped separate I Love Lucy from the other sitcoms of the era. In the episode, Lucy appears in a commercial for the health drink Vitameatavegamin. But, of course, nobody tells Lucy the drink contains 23 percent alcohol.

During the rehearsal, Lucy tries the drink several times and can’t hide her disgust. Eventually, Lucy becomes very intoxicated during the live commercial and hilariously struggles to get through the rest of it. Critics still praise Ball’s incredible performance and regard it as one of her funniest moments.