Ep 9. Lucy Gets Caught up in the Draft

Lucy Gets Caught up in the Draft is the ninth episode of the first season of The Lucy Show. The episode follows Lucy Carmichael, played by Lucille Ball, as she gets caught up in the confusion and mayhem surrounding the draft for the Vietnam War.

The episode begins with Lucy and Vivian, her best friend and neighbor, discussing their plans for the upcoming weekend. They are interrupted by a rotary phone (a relic of the past), which Lucy answers to hear the news that her daughter Chris has been drafted. Naturally, Lucy is in a panic and rushes to Chris' room to comfort her. As it turns out, the rotary phone is not the most reliable of sources, and Chris has not actually been drafted. The draft board has just been sending out questionnaires to all eligible men and women.

Despite this, Lucy is still worried sick about the possibility of Chris being drafted. She visits the draft board to try to talk them out of drafting Chris, but is met with a stern, unyielding official who tells her that Chris must report for her physical exam. Lucy, not one to give up easily, tries to sneak into the building to warn Chris and inadvertently gets herself caught in the draft.

The rest of the episode follows Lucy as she tries to evade capture and get out of the draft. She makes a series of hilarious attempts to convince everyone she encounters that she is too old, too sick, or too crazy to be drafted. One particularly memorable scene involves Lucy hiding under a table and pretending to be a dog.

Eventually, Lucy is caught by the draft board and given a physical exam. To her surprise, she passes with flying colors, proving that she is in good health and perfectly capable of serving in the armed forces. The only problem is that she is a woman, thus ineligible to be drafted. This leads to an awkward exchange between Lucy and the draft board, in which Lucy insists that women should be able to serve their country just like men. The draft board, bemused by Lucy's antics, agrees to put her name on the waiting list for when women are allowed to serve in combat.

The Lucy Show was a groundbreaking show for its time, and this episode is no exception. Not only does it tackle the serious issue of the Vietnam War, but it does so with humor and heart. The show is a true testament to the talent of Lucille Ball and her team of writers, who managed to make audiences laugh while also touching on important social issues. Whether you're a fan of classic television or just looking for a good laugh, Lucy Gets Caught up in the Draft is a must-see episode that will leave you smiling from ear to ear.