Ep 2. Lucy and Ethel Buy the Same Dress

Lucy and Ethel Buy the Same Dress is the second episode of the third season of the classic sitcom I Love Lucy. The show originally aired on CBS on October 15, 1953, and was written by Jess Oppenheimer, Madelyn Pugh, and Bob Carroll Jr.

In this episode, Lucy and Ethel become entranced by a beautiful dress displayed in a store window. Both women become obsessed with owning the dress and decide to purchase it. However, the situation takes a comical turn when they discover that they have accidentally bought the same dress and plan to wear it to a special event.

The remainder of the episode follows Lucy and Ethel's increasingly frantic attempts to differentiate their outfits in order to prevent any embarrassment at the event. They try modifying the dresses, accessorizing differently, and hiding the identical elements of their outfits. Meanwhile, their husbands, Ricky and Fred, become increasingly bemused by the women's antics and try to stay out of their way.

As Lucy and Ethel's methods become increasingly ridiculous, they both begin to realize the absurdity of the situation. Ultimately, they decide to laugh off their mistake and wear the identical outfits together to the event. This culminates in a classic scene where Lucy and Ethel arrive at the event in their matching outfits and perform a song-and-dance number together.

Throughout the episode, Lucy and Ethel's friendship is ultimately strengthened by their shared plight. The episode also features the usual mix of physical comedy and verbal humor that made I Love Lucy one of the most beloved sitcoms of all time.

Overall, Lucy and Ethel Buy the Same Dress is a classic episode of I Love Lucy that showcases the chemistry between Lucille Ball and Vivian Vance, as well as the show's sharp writing and innovative storytelling techniques. It remains a fan favorite to this day and is a testament to the enduring popularity of the time-honored sitcom.