In the season-one episode Be a Pal, Lucy imitates which entertainer?

In “Be a Pal,” Lucy imitates Carmen Miranda.

The season-one episode, which follows the series premiere, has Lucy trying to rekindle Ricky’s interest by copying his hobbies and staging a performance. Her most memorable attempt is a Carmen Miranda-style number, complete with an elaborate fruit-inspired costume and exaggerated performance.

Miranda was a Portuguese-born Brazilian singer, dancer, and actress who became one of Hollywood’s most recognizable stars during the 1940s. Her towering fruit hats, platform shoes, colorful costumes, and energetic delivery made her an especially familiar target for television parody.

A common mix-up is confusing the performer with the song. Lucy’s routine is an imitation of Miranda, and she lip-syncs to “Mamãe Eu Quero.” Miranda herself was not a guest star in the episode. “Be a Pal” also helped establish the show’s recurring pattern of Lucy attempting show-business stunts that spiral into comic trouble.