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| Image from Wiki Commons |
"I have more talent in my little finger than most people have in their whole body." -Lucy Ricardo
from I Love Lucy Episode #72, "Lucy Tells the Truth"
In this most reoccurring I Love Lucy plot, Lucy is yet again trying to wheedle her way into Ricky's show, and offers up this statement as evidence that she is a competent performer. As usual, Ricky doesn't quite see it that way. Every time I watch this episode and hear this line, I think, how true! Lucille Ball definitely had more talent in her little finger than most people have in their whole body! While I never personally knew her, I feel confident in saying that I'm pretty sure she would never have actually said that about herself. However, there is a little tinge of irony here, as I am sure the writers of the show must have felt a spark of truth in that statement when writing it for Lucy.
Over the years, there seems to have been a meshing of Lucille and Lucy's identities. Anyone who has ever heard of Lucille Ball is sure to associate her with the character Lucy Ricardo, and likewise, anyone who thinks of Lucy Ricardo is sure to think of Lucille Ball. So how is it that we are able to laugh at Lucy Ricardo, but laugh with Lucille Ball, and do it simultaneously? I think this simple "I have more talent..." line is a prime example of how Lucille makes Lucy so believable, we sometimes forget that the two are not, in fact, one in the same. While the identities--and most especially, the personalities--of both Lucille and Lucy will forever be linked, in actuality, Lucille is Lucy Ricardo; but Lucy Ricardo isn't Lucille Ball.
As a viewer, we are aware that Lucille is an extremely talented performer; to ignore this would be to entirely ignore the television medium altogether. (Clearly, we have to acknowledge that we are spectators of a fictitious story with a fictitious plot comprised of fictitious characters.) How is it, then, that we are able to sympathize with Lucy Ricardo as a wanna-be star that simply hasn't been given adequate opportunity to display her (self-alleged) multiple talents? How is it that, while watching, we are able to forget the fact that this woman is a multi-talented star? The simple answer is it's because of Lucille Ball's exceptional capacity for acting and her convincing depiction of the Lucy Ricardo character.
As a performer, Lucille is so convincing as addlebrained Lucy, we are able to forget about the talented actress, and instead, identify with the bungling character. It is through this believability that Lucille gives credibility to Lucy, thus enabling us as viewers to realize the humor in her "I have more talent..." proclamation. After all, if Lucille Ball had said this about herself, it would be perceived as a brash and narcissistic statement; but as Lucy, it is humorous, amusing, and tinged with child-like naivete. It is only through her brilliant portrayal of Lucy that Lucille is able to transform such otherwise-arrogant statements into amusing bits of comedy. So... the next time you laugh at Lucy, don't forget that you really are laughing with Lucille.
