Top 10 ‘I Love Lucy’ Episodes, According to Fans on IMDB

TV fans across the world regard I Love Lucy as one of the greatest sitcoms ever made, even though it first aired over 70 years ago. Not only did it break records and barriers, but it also gave us some of the most hilarious moments to ever grace television screens. Even for a show with a run as strong as I Love Lucy’s, certain episodes stand out as better than the rest. Here are the top 10 episodes, according to fans on IMDB.

1. Season 4, Episode 16 – “L.A. At Last!”

What happens when Lucy bumps into none other than William Holden at the Brown Derby restaurant? Chaos, of course. And, in Mr. Holden’s case, a face full of pie. Embarrassed about the gaffe, Lucy is none-too-pleased when Ricky brings Holden back to the apartment to meet Lucy. She dons a giant fake nose of Pinnochio-esque proportions, and her disguise goes up in flames. Literally. Actor and comedian Jack Benny considered this episode such a perfectly executed comedy that he arranged for his writing staff to see it in a special screening at Desilu Studios. IMDB fans must agree with Mr. Benny’s assessment since it’s the most highly-rated episode on the platform with 9.5 out of 10 stars.

2. Season 1, Episode 30 – “Lucy Does a TV Commercial”

Any I Love Lucy list that doesn’t feature the iconic “Lucy Does a TV Commercial” must not be very well-researched. Not only did this episode rank second on TV Guide’s 1997 list of the “100 Greatest TV Episodes of All Time”, but it was Lucille Ball’s favorite episode. All it takes is one viewing of the iconic “Vitameatavegamin” scene to see why! After Lucy nabs a job filming a commercial for Vitameatavegamin, the lovable redhead is over the moon. The only problem? The foul-tasting concoction contains 23% alcohol. TV fans everywhere know what happens next. “Lucy Does a TV Commercial” currently sits at 9.5 out of 10 stars on IMDB. One user hails it as “among the best of any series!” We couldn’t agree more!

3. Season 2, Episode 1 – “Job Switching”

Season 2 started with a bang! Or should we say…a conveyor belt? After Fred and Desi complain about the girls’ spending, the foursome agrees to trade duties. The boys take on all the housework while Lucy and Ethel go job hunting. The two girls score jobs at a chocolate factory, where they quickly learn that the chocolatier industry is no place for novices. Interestingly, the lady making chocolates with Lucy in one scene was an actual candy maker from See’s Candies in Los Angeles. “Job Switching” sits only slightly below the previous entry on this list, with 9.4 out of 10 stars.

4. Season 5, Episode 23 – “Lucy’s Italian Movie”

We’re still in iconic episode territory! It’s no secret that Lucille Ball was a master of physical comedy, and “Lucy’s Italian Movie” proves exactly that! Some fans might know it as the episode where Lucy stomps grapes in a vat. What casual viewers might not realize is that the altercation between Lucy and her fellow grape stomper was real. “To drown in a vat of grapes was not the way I had planned to go,” Ball famously quipped later. While Ball may have suffered for her art, the episode is widely lauded as one of the best in the series. IMDB users agree, as “Lucy’s Italian Movie” sits at a 9.1 rating.

5. Season 5, Episode 5 – “The Great Train Robbery”

While not as widely recognizable as some other entries on this list, “The Great Train Robbery” is rated 9.1 stars on IMDB. The episode’s premise reads like a humorous take on Agatha Christie. On the trip back to New York City, Lucy discovers a jewel thief is on board. To the surprise of no one, the result is pure, unadulterated hilarity. As one IMDB user notes: “Add in the physical comedy that makes I Love Lucy so great, plus some of the most memorable running gags and funniest lines in the whole series, and you have a bona fide classic episode.”

6. Season 4, Episode 28 – “Harpo Marx”

Is anyone surprised that Lucille Ball could hold her own against a Marx brother? Ball appears alongside the eponymous Harpo Max in this classic episode. What many viewers might not know is that it’s not the first time Lucy appeared on-screen with Harpo. They acted together in the 1938 Marx Brothers’ film Room Service. Watching the two comedians together makes us wish that they’d appeared in more projects together! IMDB users must enjoy the comedy magic this pairing produces, as well. “Harpo Marx” is rated 9 out of 10 stars on the platform.

7. Season 5, Episode 2 – “Lucy and John Wayne”

Is there any stunt our favorite redhead won’t pull? According to this episode, the answer to that question is “no” after she steals John Wayne’s footprints from Grauman’s Chinese Theater. How does Lucy get herself out of the mess? By getting herself into more messes and making the situation even worse before it gets better! While perhaps not as beloved as some other episodes on this list, fans of the show regard it highly. Fans on IMDB rated it 9 out of 10 stars.

8. Season 1, Episode 29 – “The Freezer”

Some classic sitcoms struggled to find their footing in the first season. I Love Lucy is not among them. The show started just as strongly as it ended, if not even more. Exhibit A: “The Freezer.” After Lucy buys a used walk-in freezer, she and Ethel overestimate just how much a “side” of beef is. Soon, they have 700 pounds of cow meat and a huge problem on their hands. One thing leads to another, and Lucy gets trapped in the walk-in freezer. One IMDB user says of the episode: “From opening to ending, it’s full of knee-slapping laughter!” It’s truly one of I Love Lucy’s finest offerings, as evidenced by its 9-star rating on IMDB.

9. Season 4, Episode 13: “First Stop”

Who doesn’t love a good road trip? Especially when Lucy, Ricky, Fred, and Ethel are involved! They make the worst kind of vacation memories after they stop by a small-town diner, where the owner demands an arm and a leg for four dry sandwiches. Things go from bad to worse when they stumble upon their sleeping arrangements for the night. What they don’t know is that a train is set to go rumbling by their room, whereupon all four cast members exhibit their physical comedy skills! “First Stop” has 8.9 out of 10 stars on IMDB—a much-deserved rating!

10. Season 2, Episode 10 – “Lucy Is Enceinte”

Producers were none too pleased when they learned Lucille Ball was pregnant with her second child around the show’s second season. Back then, the strict Hays Code wouldn’t allow television shows to reference pregnancy. But that didn’t deter Lucille Ball or Desi Arnaz, who were determined to incorporate Ball’s pregnancy into the show. Thankfully, they got their way, resulting in some truly classic television! Because the word “pregnant” wasn’t allowed on TV at that time, characters instead had to say “expecting.” This episode sits at 8.9 out of 10 stars on IMDB.

Honorable Mentions

If you didn’t see one of your favorite episodes in the top 10, then maybe it’ll make the honorable mentions! Keep reading to find out what other episodes I Love Lucy fans rated highly on IMDB.

Season 5, Episode 26 – “Return Home from Europe”

What happens when Lucy is bound and determined to bring home a huge block of cheese from the Europe trip? Well, this episode answers that question!

Season 4, Episode 15 – “Ethel’s Hometown”

It’s not often that Ethel outdoes Lucy in the whacky department, but we get to see another side of Vivian Vance in this fun installment!

Season 5, Episode 20 – “Lucy Gets a Paris Gown”

If you want to see Lucille Ball modeling a potato sack dress…look no further than this episode.