The Benefit

"The Benefit"
Season 1, Episode 13 #13 in Series
Network:	CBS-TV
Air date:	January 7, 1952
Written by:	Bob Carroll Jr. Madelyn Davis Jess Oppenheimer
Directed by:	Marc Daniels
Production code:	1-13 / 013
Episode guide
IMDB	The Benefit
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The Benefit is the thirteenth episode of the first season, as well the 13th overall series episode. First airing on January 7, 1952 on CBS-TV, it was directed by Marc Daniels, and written by Bob Carroll, Jr., Madelyn Davis, and Jess Oppenheimer.

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SynopsisEdit

Ethel wants Ricky for the club's benefit show, but Lucy thinks a husband and wife team would be more appropriate.

PlotEdit

Ethel needs an act for her women's club benefit, so she asks Ricky if he will participate. Lucy wants to sing with Ricky, but he doesn't want her because she can't sing. Lucy keeps pestering Ricky, so he agrees to sing the song "Auf Wiedersehen" with her, but Lucy ends up only getting to sing the word "auf." Ricky says he'll find another act. He sends Fred over with the new routine to practice with Lucy. This time, Lucy figures out that Ricky has given all the jokes' punchlines to himself, and Lucy gets stuck just asking the questions that make Ricky get all the laughs. She decides to get even with him, and during the actual performance, she manages to steal all the punchlines for herself, leaving Ricky looking like a loser. Ricky ends up accepting Lucy's scheme by the end of the routine, and the two dance merrily off the stage.

StarringEdit

• Lucille Ball as Lucy Ricardo
• Desi Arnaz as Ricky Ricardo
• Vivian Vance as Ethel Mertz
• William Frawley as Fred Mertz