67: I Love Lucy Makes the First Gay Joke in Sitcom History

“Lucy Thinks Ricky Is Trying to Murder Her” (November 5, 1951)

Can we do a whole 52-minute episode that is essentially about one single joke? Hell yes we can. The fourth episode of I Love Lucy sure seems like it might feature the first gay joke in the history of sitcoms. And although we are open to arguments otherwise, it’s nonetheless interesting to think that the show that wouldn’t allow its married leads to share a bed onscreen would slip even a small gay joke past the network censors.

Visit our new Tee Public store and plaster your body and household with the Gayest Episode Ever logo.

The Boy Culture blog’s excellent timeline of LGBT milestones on TV.

The 1980 People magazine interview where Lucy says she’s down with the gays.

The Washington Blade article on Lucy Ricardo’s appeal to gay men.

A compilation of Frank “That Guy Who Says Yes” Nelson saying yes.

And if you want to listen to us debate whether the Dick Van Dyke Show ever made a semen joke, listen to that episode here.

This episode’s outro theme is “Slice Me Nice” by Fancy (Apple Music / Spotify / Amazon Music)