Welcome to a new Wildcard Wednesday! This week, I’m paying annual homage to Lucille Ball, who was born 114 years ago today. In celebration, here is a copy of the 2nd revised final draft script for the second aired episode of Here’s Lucy — “Lucy Visits Jack Benny” (09/30/1968), which was written by Ray Singer and long-time Jack Benny scribe Milt Josefsberg.

Now, we all know that Here’s Lucy isn’t a great sitcom — it’s second only to Life With Lucy as the iconic redhead’s weakest foray into the genre that she had once mastered — but “Lucy Visits Jack Benny” is one of this show’s better samples, largely because it unites two of the funniest people who ever lived. And there’s even a cameo at the end by the Great One, Jackie Gleason as Ralph Kramden, making it a rare meeting of three of the most formative entertainers in sitcom history — all of whom, incidentally, are major figures in my new book, Great American Sitcoms of the 1950s (available here or here). So, I thought it was appropriate to share this year, as we celebrate early sitcoms and the wonderful, lovable Lucy (plus Jack and Jackie). Enjoy!

Come back next week for another Wildcard! And stay tuned Tuesday for more Mother!