Today would have been Lucille Ball‘s 101st birthday. My mom and I used to relish watching reruns of Lucy together and would reenact our favorite moments with each other.
From “Vitameatavegamin” to her and Ethel’s job at the chocolate factory to “Slowly I Turned,” we would take turns playing Lucy in her various escapades.
One of our favorites was Lucy’s ballet lesson (see below). When Lucy, arriving to her class in full tutu, props her leg up on the bar, Madame Lamond instructs her, en francais to “a bas! (down!)” Lucy fights with her stubborn leg and ultimately ends up dangling from the bar with a bewildered Madame Lamond frantically trying to knock her down. This is one of the greatest comedic moments in television history.
So, get “a bas” with your bad self and enjoy Lucille Ball in your favorite series or film today and celebrate her birthday with me.
Tommy Karr 