The Inspiration Behind I Love Lucy’s Iconic Chocolate Factory Episode

The moment has inspired a million laughs. Even casual viewers of the 1951 sitcom I Love Lucy have probably seen the episode “Job Switching.”

After all, it features one of the most iconic scenes in television history.

The plot of the episode is typical I Love Lucy fare. Frustrated, Lucy and Ethel complain that their husbands have easier jobs. Of course, Fred and Ricky laugh at the notion and suggest they switch responsibilities for a week. Lucy and Ethel agree. Pretty soon, the boys are cooking breakfast and cleaning their apartments while the girls go job hunting.

I Love Lucy fans know what happens next.

They end up at a chocolate factory, where they quickly learn that making chocolate is a lot harder than it looks. After the girls fail at their respective positions, the hard-nosed boss gives them one more chance and threatens to fire them if they don’t succeed. As the conveyor belt starts up, the girls skillfully wrap the chocolates. But they soon realize they’re out of their depth when the conveyor belt speeds up. Unable to keep up, Lucy and Ethel stuff their cheeks and uniforms with chocolates.

It’s the very definition of comedy gold.

But what most people might not know is that another comedy great was the inspiration behind the iconic conveyor belt gag.

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Lucy drew inspiration from the Charlie Chaplin film Modern Times, as revealed by her daughter Lucie Arnaz. “They were inspired by remembering the comedy of Chaplin. The greats steal from the greats,” Arnaz stated.

“Job Switching” is just one of 180 episodes packed with comedy gold, hilarious physical comedy, and memorable moments. In 1996, TV Guide included the episode as part of its “100 Most Memorable Moments in TV History”, listing it at number two. A much-deserved accolade!