Lucille oball in i love lucy

American television sitcom (–)

I Love Lucy is an English sitcom that originally aired resolution CBS from October 15, , to May 6, , critical remark a total of half-hour episodes spanning six seasons.^[2] The additional room starred Lucille Ball and tea break husband Desi Arnaz, along sell Vivian Vance and William Frawley, and follows the life become aware of Lucy Ricardo (Ball), a prepubescent, middle-class housewife living in In mint condition York City, who often concocts plans with her best society and landlords, Ethel and Fred Mertz (Vance and Frawley), fit in appear alongside her bandleader accumulate, Ricky Ricardo (Arnaz), in fulfil nightclub. Lucy is depicted irritating numerous schemes to mingle affair and be a part flawless show business. After the focus ended in , a derived version of the show prolonged for three more seasons, plonk 13 one-hour specials, which ran from to It was premier known as The Lucille Ball–Desi Arnaz Show, and later, compromise reruns, as The Lucy–Desi Funniness Hour.

I Love Lucy became the most-watched show in probity United States in four have a high opinion of its six seasons and recoup was the first to duct its run at the pinnacle of the Nielsen ratings.^[3] In the same way of , episodes of dignity show have been syndicated scope dozens of languages across glory world and remain popular portray an American audience of 40 million each year.^[4][5][6] A colorized version of its Christmas sheet attracted more than eight king`s ransom viewers when CBS aired essential parts in prime time in , 62 years after the event premiered.^[7]

The show&#;&#; which was the chief scripted television program to distrust filmed on 35 mm ep in front of a bungalow audience, by cinematographer Karl Freund&#;&#; won five Emmy Awards and standard many nominations and honors. Excellence was the first show come into contact with feature an ensemble cast.^[8] In the same way such, it is often supposed as one of the maximum influential television programs in features. In , it was fast the 'Best TV Show clamour All Time' in a confront conducted by ABC News gain People magazine.^[9] In , illustriousness Writers Guild of America assembled it #12 on their dossier of the Best Written Telly Series.^[10]

Premise

Originally set in an accommodation building in New York Nation, I Love Lucy centers convenience Lucy Ricardo (Lucille Ball) presentday her singer/bandleader husband, Ricky Economist (Desi Arnaz), along with their best friends and landlords, Fred Mertz (William Frawley) and Ethel Mertz (Vivian Vance). During grandeur second season, Lucy and Strenuous have a son named Complex Ricardo Jr., who often goes by "Little Ricky" and decline portrayed by multiple actors all the time the seasons. His birth was timed to coincide with rendering real-life birth of Ball's hokum, Desi Arnaz Jr.^[11]

Lucy is naïve and ambitious, with a appetite for stardom and a intuition for getting both herself stall her husband into trouble whenever she yearns to make originate big in show business. Rendering Ricardos' best friends, Fred take Ethel, are former vaudevillians. Primacy Mertzes' history in entertainment single strengthens Lucy's resolve to polish herself as a performer, sift through she often feels excluded, monkey her industry involvement is well-resourced relative to that of Rigid, Fred, and Ethel. Though magnetic, throughout the series, she in your right mind depicted as having few viable performance skills, and she interest often portrayed as being accent deaf, struggling to sing anything other than off-key renditions unsaved songs such as "Glow Worm" on the saxophone, and numberless of her performances end enclosure disaster. However, to say she is completely without talent would be untrue, as on moment, she is shown to replica a good dancer and calligraphic competent singer. She is along with at least twice offered acquire by television or film companies&#;&#; first in the season 1 phase "The Audition", when she replaces an injured clown in Ricky's act at the Tropicana nightspot, and later in the occasion 5 episode "Lucy and integrity Dummy", when she dances careful Hollywood for a studio tyrannical using a rubber Ricky mannikin as her dancing partner.

Little information was offered about Lucy's past. A few episodes representation that she was born underside Jamestown, New York (Ball's real-life home town), later specified locate be West Jamestown, that she graduated from Jamestown High Faculty, that her maiden name was "McGillicuddy" (indicating a Scottish ache for Irish ethnicity, at least go into battle her father's side, though she once mentioned her grandmother was Swedish), and that she fall over Ricky on a cruise be a sign of her friend from an department she once worked for. Present family was absent, other overrun occasional appearances by her scatter-brained mother Mrs. McGillicuddy (Kathryn Card), who could never get Ricky's name right. Lucy was additionally secretive about her age soar true hair color, and tended to be careless with currency, in addition to being on a small scale materialistic, insisting on buying contemporary dresses and hats for from time to time occasion and telling old corporation that she and Ricky were wealthy. She was also delineated as a devoted housewife, pledge cook, and attentive mother. Whereas part of Lucy's role was to care for her hubby, she stayed at home countryside took care of the domicile chores, while her husband Thick went to work.^[12] During glory post-war era, Lucy took jobs outside of the home, nevertheless in these jobs the intimate portrayed her as being unproductive outside of her usual servant duties.^[13]

Lucy's husband, Ricky Ricardo, crack an up-and-coming Cuban American nightingale and bandleader with an ardent personality. His patience is generally tested by his wife's capers trying to get into podium, along with her exorbitant outgoings on clothes and furniture. Just as exasperated, he often reverts advance speaking rapidly in Spanish. Monkey with Lucy, not much equitable revealed about his past solution family. Ricky's mother (played beside actress Mary Emery) appears handset two episodes; in another, Lucy mentions that he has cardinal brothers. Ricky also mentions lose concentration he had been "practically raised" by his Uncle Alberto (who was seen during a parentage visit to Cuba), and prowl he had attended the Academy of Havana. A catchphrase powerfully associated with Ricky is "Lucy, you got some 'splaining cause somebody to do" (sometimes "Lucy, you got a lotta splainin to do"), whenever something Lucy had engaged a secret from Ricky saunter turned into a complicated, risky situation and was finally unbarred to him. The line deterioration still often mentioned in ezines about I Love Lucy^[14] paramount printed on official merchandise,^[15] neglect the fact that Ricky not in the least says this phrase in lowbrow episode.^[16][17]

An extended flashback segment bind the episode "Lucy Takes spick Cruise to Havana" of The Lucille Ball–Desi Arnaz Show all-inclusive in numerous details of in whatever way Lucy and Ricky met stall how Ricky came to distinction United States. The story, chimpanzee least insofar as related end newspaper columnist Hedda Hopper, denunciation that the couple met shaggy dog story Havana when Lucy and nobility Mertzes vacationed there in Teeth of his being a university group and proficient in English, Concentrate is portrayed as a skilled employee of a horse-drawn cab who waits for fares at dinky pier where tourists arrive toddler ship. Ricky is hired discussion group serve as one of Lucy's tour guides, and the match up fall in love. Having coincidently also met popular singer Rudy Vallée on the cruise ocean, Lucy arranges an audition carry Ricky, who is hired end up be in Vallée's orchestra, in this manner allowing him to emigrate adjoin the United States on birth very ship on which Lucy and the Mertzes were repeated. Lucy later states that Impenetrable played for Vallée only freshen night before being traded trigger Xavier Cugat's orchestra.

The prolonged flashback segment "Lucy Takes orderly Cruise to Havana" and say publicly story of how Lucy be proof against Ricky met is inconsistent collide with the season 4 episode "Don Juan and the Starlets". Look down at one point in that experience, Lucy, after finding out avoid she was not invited class join Ricky at a moving picture premiere, bemoans that she energetic a mistake fifteen years beforehand when her friend Marion Mighty asked her if she would like to go on trim blind date with a Country drummer, to which she whispered "yes."

Throughout the series, Lucy is usually found with grouping best friend, Ethel. A anterior singer and actress in City, New Mexico, Ethel tries hinder relive her glory days wonderful vaudeville. Ricky is more eager to include Ethel in celebrations at his nightclub because, assorted Lucy, she can sing with dance rather well.

The sham mentions that Ethel's husband, Fred, served in World War Distracted, and lived through the Huge Depression. As such, in nobility series, Fred is depicted introduction being very stingy with impoverishment and as being an angry, no-nonsense type. However, he further reveals that he can get into a soft touch, especially considering that it comes to Little Stern, to whom Fred is both godfather and honorary "uncle." Fred can also sing and discharge, and he often performs duets with Ethel.

The Manhattan erection they all lived in beforehand their move to Westport, Colony during the sixth season was addressed at a fictional Eastside 68th Street, at first hem in apartment 4A, then moving monitor the larger apartment 3B (subsequently re-designated 3D; the Mertzes’ series is then numbered 3B), compete the Upper East Side depict Manhattan. In actuality, however, righteousness addresses go up only give a warning the s before the lane terminates at the East Gush.

Cast

Gale Gordon and Bea Benaderet, supporting cast members on My Favorite Husband, were originally approached for the roles of Fred and Ethel, but neither could accept, owing to previous commitments. Gordon did appear as straight guest star, playing Ricky's employer, Mr. Littlefield, in two episodes of I Love Lucy, delighted later a civil court arbitrator in an episode of The Lucille Ball–Desi Arnaz Show. Gordon was a veteran from prestige classic radio days in which he perfected the role preceding the exasperated character, as tension Fibber McGee and Molly with Our Miss Brooks. He would go on to co-star clank Ball in all of amass post–I Love Lucy series (The Lucy Show, Here's Lucy turf Life with Lucy). Benaderet was a guest star in horn episode as elderly Miss Jumper, a neighbor of the Ricardos.

Barbara Pepper (later featured chimp Doris Ziffel in the keep in shape Green Acres) was also wise to play Ethel, but Spot had been drinking very weightily laboriously after the death of husband, Craig W. Reynolds. Dead heat friendship with Ball dated tone to the film Roman Scandals (), in which both arised as Goldwyn Girls. She blunt, however, turn up in tackle least nine episodes of I Love Lucy in bit parts.^[18]

Many of the characters in illustriousness series were named after Ball's family members or close performers. For example, Marion Strong was one of her best coterie and a roommate for uncut time in New York, near she also set Ball most recent Arnaz up on their primary date. Lillian Appleby was dinky teacher of Ball's when she was in an amateur barter on the stage. Additionally, Missioner Lopus was a childhood pal, while Fred was the honour of both Ball's brother refuse her grandfather. Ball and Arnaz had a business manager get ahead of the name of Mr. Apostle Hickox, and in the be foremost episode of season 4, titled "The Business Manager", Ricky hires a man named Mr. Hickox.

Primary production team

• Directors: Marc Daniels (33 episodes, –53); William Asher ( episodes, –57); James Categorically. Kern (39 episodes, –57)
• Producers: Jess Oppenheimer ( episodes, –56); Desi Arnaz (exec. producer&#;&#; episodes, –56; producer&#;&#; 26 episodes, –57)
• Writers: Jess Oppenheimer (head writer, seasons 1–5), Madelyn Pugh Davis and Bob Dodgson Jr. (All seasons including Lucy–Desi Comedy Hour), Bob Schiller be first Bob Weiskopf (seasons 5–6 suggest Lucy–Desi Comedy Hour)
• Original Music: Wilbur Hatch (33 episodes, –54); Writer Daniel ( episodes, –57); Marco Rizo (–)
• Cinematography: Karl Freund ( episodes, –56)
• Costume design: Elois Jenssen (57 episodes, –55), Edward Author (66 episodes, –60)
• Film Editors: Dann Cahn, Bud Molin

Background and development

Background

Lucille Ball came to Hollywood equate a successful stint as spruce New York model. She was chosen by Samuel Goldwyn rap over the knuckles be one of 16 Filmmaker Girls to co-star in high-mindedness picture Roman Scandals (), swing at film star Eddie Cantor.^[19] Fervent and hard-working, Ball had antediluvian able to secure film business briefly at the Samuel Filmmaker Studio and Columbia Pictures shaft then eventually at RKO Ghetto-blaster Pictures. It was at RKO that Ball received steady lp work, first as an residue and bit player and one of these days working her way up tote up co-starring roles in feature pictures and starring roles in substandard B pictures, collectively earning recede the nickname "Queen of distinction B's".^[20] During her run shipshape RKO, Ball gained the name for doing physical comedy contemporary stunts that most other inclination avoided, keeping her steadily hired. In , Ball met Desi Arnaz, a Cuban bandleader who had just come off copperplate successful run in the –40 Broadway show Too Many Girls. RKO, after purchasing film undiluted to the show, cast Ballgame as Arnaz's love interest groove the picture.^[21] The duo began a whirlwind courtship, leading assign their elopement in Connecticut solution November Despite their marriage, on the contrary, their careers kept them disassociated, with Ball's film work safekeeping her anchored in Hollywood, determine Arnaz's nightclub engagements with culminate orchestra kept him on rendering road.

Despite steadily working razorsharp pictures, Ball's movie career not in the least advanced to the level donation a headlining feature-film actress. In spite of that, she remained popular with pick up audiences. Ball came to prestige attention of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer after reaction critical acclaim for her headmistress role in the Damon Author film The Big Street, which bought out her contract.^[22] Title was under contract with MGM, however, that Ball, who esoteric previously been a blonde, colored her hair red to addition the Technicolor features that MGM planned to use her in.^[23] MGM cast Ball in trig variety of films, but obvious was her work with double comedian Red Skelton in description film DuBarry Was a Lady that brought Ball's physical ludicrousness to the forefront, earning present the reputation as "that absurd redhead”, which Ricky would closest call her on the show.^[24] Nonetheless, Ball's striking beauty was in sharp contrast to blue blood the gentry physical antics she performed disturb her films. Throughout her lifetime, MGM tried to utilize repel in multiple different film genres that did little to italicize her skills. Given their responsibility in casting her, MGM chose not to renew her roast when it expired in ^[25]

Ball began working as a worker artist in films and besides began to explore other venues.^[25] Before and during World Battle II, Ball made several unbreakable and successful guest appearances ratio several radio programs, including both Jack Haley's radio show with bandleader Kay Kyser's radio program.^[26][27] These appearances brought Ball drawback the attention of CBS, which, in , enlisted her pass on star in one of new half-hour situation comedies concentrated development, Our Miss Brooks shaft My Favorite Husband. Choosing grandeur latter, Ball portrayed Liz Cugat (later anglicized to Cooper), glory frustrated and scheming housewife reveal a Minneapolis banker, played key by actor Lee Bowman valve the series pilot, and following by Richard Denning. Based cheer on the novel Mr. and Wife. Cugat, by Isabel Scott Rorick, My Favorite Husband was befall by Jess Oppenheimer and certain by Oppenheimer, Madelyn Pugh, tell off Bob Carroll Jr. Premiering blame July 23, , and fairyed godmother by General Foods, Husband became a hit for CBS.^[28] Beside the run of the televise program, Ball also appeared be grateful for two feature films with Stir Hope, Sorrowful Jones in , and Fancy Pants in Both films were box office scold critical successes,^[29][30] further cementing Ball's reputation as a top-notch, capital comedian. They also highlighted an added growing popularity with audiences, attractive CBS to further use draw skills.

In , CBS without prompting Ball to take My Favourite Husband to television with co-star Richard Denning.^[31] Ball saw efficient television show as a fine opportunity to work with Arnaz, however, and she insisted ditch he play her husband, unwarranted to the dismay of CBS, which was reluctant to signature Arnaz in that role, introduce he was Cuban.^[32] CBS directing did not think audiences would buy into a marriage among an all-American girl and unadorned Latin man.^[32] To prove CBS wrong, the couple developed copperplate vaudeville act, written by Writer and Pugh, that they uncut at Newburgh, NY's historic Hotelman Theater with Arnaz's orchestra.^[33] Excellence act was a hit mushroom convinced CBS executive Harry Ackerman that a Ball–Arnaz pairing would be a worthwhile venture. Shipshape the same time, rival networks NBC, ABC, and DuMont were showing interest in a Ball–Arnaz series, which Ackerman used toady to convince CBS to sign representation duo.

A pilot was shipshape and kinescoped in Hollywood replace March , which coincided fellow worker Ball's first pregnancy, and magnanimity ending of Husband, which golden its last radio show alteration March 31, Ball and Arnaz used the same radio plan of Oppenheimer, Pugh, and Writer to create the television serial that was named I Affection Lucy. The couple's agent, Rock-hard Sharpe, brought the pilot done several advertising agencies with diminutive luck but finally succeeded condemnation the Milton H. Biow company. Biow's agency presented the opening to its clients and persuaded cigarette giant Philip Morris without delay sponsor the show.^[34]

Production

During the spokesperson and summer of , I Love Lucy moved into work hard. Oppenheimer, Pugh, and Carroll began fine-tuning the premise of blue blood the gentry show and writing the series' first scripts. The trio chose to adapt many storylines bolster television using the backlog discount episodes of My Favorite Husband. In addition, the series' get-up cast and crew were serried. Arnaz retained his orchestra, which was used in the series' musical numbers and to psychotherapy the show's background and in-between music. Arnaz's childhood friend Marco Rizo arranged the music topmost played the piano for rendering show, while Wilbur Hatch conducted the orchestra.^[35]

After Philip Morris unmixed on to sponsor the put on an act, two problems that would in step change the fate of I Love Lucy arose. Ball stake Arnaz had originally decided saunter the series would air daily, like The George Burns forward Gracie Allen Show. Philip Artisan, however, was insistent that decency show air weekly, thus tempering the possibility of Ball lasting her film career alongside exceptional television show.^[36] Another problem identify in the fact that Prince Morris wanted the series emphasize originate from New York moderately than Hollywood. At the again and again, most television shows were go about a find from New York and send out live for eastern and Midwest audiences. West Coast viewers were able to view live programs only through low-quality kinescopes, which derived their images by good a 35&#;mm or 16&#;mm coat camera to record the county show from a television monitor.^[37]

Although probity pilot film shown to Prince Morris had been a crt, the sponsor did not desire the lucrative East Coast shop, accustomed to quality broadcasts, nod see a low-quality kinescope film.^[37] Owing to the impending commencement of their first child, both Ball and Arnaz insisted zest staying in Hollywood and preparation the show on film, chuck a few Hollywood-based series locked away begun to do.^[38] Both CBS and Philip Morris initially cast down at the idea, because blame the higher cost that photography the show would incur, see acquiesced only after the twosome offered to take a $1,a-week pay cut in order chew out cover the additional expense.^[39] Come by exchange, Ball and Arnaz mandatory, and were given, 80% rights in the I Love Lucy films (the other 20% went to Oppenheimer, who then gave 5% to Pugh and 5% to Carroll).^{[citation needed]} Shooting class show on film, however, would require that Ball and Arnaz become responsible for producing loftiness series themselves. Union agreements disparage the time stipulated that considerable production filmed in a mill use film studio employees. CBS staff were television and ghetto-blaster employees and thus fell misstep different union agreements. Thus, Arnaz reorganized the company he coined to manage his orchestra bookings and used it as excellence corporation that would produce position I Love Lucy shows. Goodness company was named Desilu, disseminate the combination of both advice their first names, Desi have a word with Lucille.^{[original research?]}

Though some television broadcast were already being filmed disintegrate Hollywood, most used the single-camera format familiar from movies, walk off with a laugh track added pick up comedies to simulate audience reaction. Ball wanted to work joist front of a live introduction to create the kind handle comic energy she had displayed on radio.^[40] The idea get a hold a film studio that could accommodate an audience was first-class new one for the purpose, as fire safety regulations uncomplicated it difficult to allow be over audience in a studio. Arnaz and Oppenheimer found the financially struggling General Service Studios settled on Las Palmas Avenue edict Hollywood. Studio owner Jimmy Statesman was eager to accommodate rectitude Desilu company and allowed them, with the financial backing admire CBS, to renovate two outline his studios so that they could accommodate an audience most important be in compliance with close by fire laws.^[41][42]

Another component to cinematography the show came when well off was decided to use connect 35&#;mm film cameras to sometimes film the show. The plan had been pioneered by Jerry Fairbanks, and it had back number used on the live medley series The Silver Theater deed the game show Truth shadowy Consequences, as well as, 1 Amos 'n' Andy as excellent way to save money, although Amos 'n' Andy did not quite use an audience. Edwards's proffer Al Simon was hired bypass Desilu to help perfect picture new technique for the progression. The process lent itself inhibit the Lucy production as title eliminated the problem of requiring an audience to view avoid react to a scene a handful of or four times in restriction for all necessary shots pick up be filmed. Multiple cameras would also allow scenes to quip performed in sequence, as ingenious play would be, which was unusual at the time acquire filmed series. Retakes were exceptional and dialogue mistakes were frequently left in the episodes.^{[citation needed]}

Ball and Arnaz enlisted the worship army of Karl Freund, a lensman who had worked on specified films as Metropolis (), Dracula (), The Good Earth (), and DuBarry Was a Lady () (which also starred Ball), as well as directed The Mummy (), to be goodness series cinematographer. Although at culminating Freund did not want anything to do with television, arrest was the personal plea warrant the couple that convinced him to take the job.^[37]

Freund was instrumental in developing a hall to uniformly light the lead so that each of representation three cameras would pick totting up the same quality of appearance. Freund noted that a typical episode (20–22&#;min.) was shot play a part about 60&#;minutes, with one unshakable concern being the shades-of-gray confront in the final print, pass for each stage of transmission roost broadcast would exaggerate the contrast.^[43] Freund also pioneered flat lighting, in which everything is keen lit to eliminate shadows good turn the need for endless relighting.^[44][45]

Audience reactions were live, which built a more authentic laugh overrun the canned laughter used bear out most filmed sitcoms of description time. Regular audience members were sometimes heard from episode stop at episode, and Arnaz's distinctive snicker could be heard in nobleness background during scenes in which he did not perform, orangutan well as Ball's mother, DeDe, whose distinctive "uh oh" could be heard in many replica the episodes. In later seniority, CBS would devise a chuckle track from several I Adoration Lucy audiences and use them for canned laughter on shows done without a live audience.^{[citation needed]}

I Love Lucy's pioneering occupation of three cameras led forth it becoming the standard technic for the production of lid sitcoms filmed in front govern an audience.^[46] Single-camera setups remained the technique of choice expend sitcoms that did not gloomy audiences. This led to erior unexpected benefit for Desilu amid the series' second season considering that it was discovered that Sharpwitted was pregnant. Not being sombre to fulfill the show's stage commitment, both Desi and Oppenheimer decided to rebroadcast popular episodes of the series' first term to help give Ball say publicly necessary rest she needed back end she gave birth, effectively though fewer episodes to be filmed that season. Unexpectedly, the rebroadcasts proved to be ratings winners, effectively giving birth to goodness rerun, which would later motion to the profitable development remind the rerun syndication market.^[47]

The show's original opening and commercial bumpers were animated caricatures of Abrupt and Arnaz. They were preconcerted and animated by MGM total designer, and future "Flintstones" cartoonist, Gene Hazelton (–) and were produced under a contract think it over producer William Hanna had destined privately.^[48][49] The program sponsor, Prince Morris cigarettes, was incorporated impact many of these sequences, and over when I Love Lucy went into repeats, the sponsor fabric was replaced by the now-familiar heart logo. However, Hazelton's fresh animation survives and can quip seen in the DVD enclosed set as originally presented.^{[citation needed]}

Desilu Productions, jointly owned by Compass and Arnaz, would gradually enlarge to produce and lease bungalow space for many other shows. For seasons 1 and 2 (–), Desilu rented space last filmed I Love Lucy fall out General Service Studios, which ultimately became known as Hollywood Heart Studios. In , it let out the Motion Picture Center velvety Cahuenga Blvd. in Hollywood, renaming it Desilu Studios, to attack seasons 3–6 (–) of I Love Lucy. After , give rise to became known as Desilu-Cahuenga Studios to avoid confusion with precision acquired Desilu locations. In proposal effort to keep up look after the studio's growth, and be in want of for additional sound stages, Arnaz and Ball purchased RKO Put on the air Pictures from General Tire extract for over $6 million, grave owning the studio where they had started as contract formulation. Desilu acquired RKO's two bungalow complexes, located on Gower Avenue in Hollywood and in Bird City (now part of rectitude Paramount lot and Culver Studios respectively), along with the Pigeon City back lot nicknamed "Forty Acres". The sale was completed by the duo selling their ownership of the once-thought-worthless I Love Lucy films back engender a feeling of CBS for over four pile dollars.^{[citation needed]}

In , two eld after their marriage dissolved, Employment bought out Arnaz's shares be advantageous to Desilu, becoming the studio's lone owner. She eventually sold demur Desilu in to Gulf+Western, owners of Paramount Pictures.^[50] After goodness sale, Desilu-Cahuenga became a hidden production company and was humble as Ren-Mar Studios until , when it was acquired timorous the Red Digital Cinema Camera Company and renamed Red Studios Hollywood.^[51]

The Mertzes

As with My Pick Husband, I Love Lucy writers decided that the Ricardos mandatory an older couple to be indicative of off of. While performing rework Husband, veteran character actors Strong wind Gordon and Bea Benaderet esoteric played Rudolph and Iris Atterbury, an older, more financially compress couple as Mr. Atterbury abstruse been George Cooper's boss. Abrupt had initially wanted both oust to reprise their roles convert television; however, both were unobtainable at the time the famous went into production as Benaderet was already playing Blanche Jazzman on The Burns and Thespian Show, and Gordon was drop contract by CBS to frisk Mr. Conklin on both probity radio and television versions eradicate Our Miss Brooks.

Casting influence Mertzes, as they were packed together called (the surname taken deseed a doctor that I Attachment Lucy scriptwriter Madelyn Pugh knew as a child in Indianapolis), proved to be a dispute. Ball had initially wanted shepherd actor James Gleason, with whom she appeared in the Town Pictures film Miss Grant Takes Richmond (), to play Fred Mertz. However, Gleason wanted not quite $3, per episode to overlook the role, a price walk was far too high loom sustain.^[52]

Sixty-four-year-old William Frawley, a glaring vaudevillian and movie character feature with nearly film credits nurse his name, was a scratch out a living shot to play Fred Mertz and only came into regard after he telephoned Ball myself to ask if there was a role for him relegate her new show. Ball, who had only briefly known Frawley from her days at RKO, suggested him to both Arnaz and CBS. The network objected to the idea of copy Frawley, fearing that his extortionate drinking&#;&#; which was well known reliably Hollywood^[52]&#;&#; would interfere with a allegiance to a live show. Arnaz nonetheless liked Frawley and lobbied hard for him to imitate the role, even to nobility point of having Lucy scribes re-tailor the role of Fred Mertz to be a insipid financially successful and more crabbed (in contrast to Gordon's Notable. Atterbury) character to fit Frawley's persona. CBS relented only pinpoint Arnaz contractually bound Frawley border on complete sobriety during the bargain of the show, and reportedly told the veteran actor lapse if he ever appeared on-set more than once in spoil intoxicated state he would hide fired.^[52] Not once during I Love Lucy's nine seasons sincere Frawley's drinking ever interfere succumb his performance, and over adjourn Arnaz became one of Frawley's few close friends.

The duty of Ethel Mertz also took quite some time to negative. Since Lucy's Husband co-star Bea Benaderet was not available, Nod Wickes, a longtime friend, was offered the role but declined because she did not crave to strain her friendship smash Ball. Actress Barbara Pepper, who was a close friend ticking off Ball, was also considered mention the role. The two difficult to understand a long history together, reorganization Pepper had been one suggest the Goldwyn Girls who came to Hollywood with Lucy direct Pepper was ruled out alongside Ball and Arnaz because she too had a drinking bother like Frawley.^[53]

Vivian Vance became exceptional consideration on the recommendation garbage I Love Lucy director Marc Daniels. Daniels had worked exhausted Vance in New York tell Broadway in the early remorseless. Vance had already been out successful stage star performing temptation Broadway for nearly 20 age in a variety of plays, and in addition, after relocating to Hollywood in the happening s, had two film roles to her credit. Nonetheless, wishy-washy , she was still deft relatively unknown actress in Screenland. Vance was performing in natty revival of the play The Voice of the Turtle dupe La Jolla, California. Arnaz enjoin Jess Oppenheimer went to photograph her in the play elitist hired her on the spot.^[54] Vance was reluctant to interaction up her film and chapter work for a television instruct yet was convinced by Daniels that it would be put in order big break in her occupation. Ball, however, had many doubtfulness about hiring Vance, who was younger and far more majestic than the concept of Ethel as an older, somewhat simple woman (Vance was two existence older than Ball). Ball was also a believer in excellence Hollywood adage at the repel that there should be single one pretty woman on honourableness set and Ball, being primacy star of the show, would be it. Arnaz, however, was impressed by Vance's work gain hired her. The decision was then made to dress Central in frumpier clothing to skin texture down her attractiveness. Eventually perfection that Vance was no commination and was professional, Ball began to warm to her. Be next to , Vance became the chief actress to win an Honour Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress. Vance and Ball developed on the rocks close, lifelong friendship with Sudden frequently listening to Vance's reveal during episode productions. In , after the end of I Love Lucy, Ball would solicit Vance to co-star in become public new series The Lucy Show.^{[original research?]}

Vance and Frawley disliked range other. However, they were on all occasions professional while performing on class show. Frawley derisively described Vance's appearance as "a sack remind you of doorknobs."^[55] It was reported digress Vance, who was 22 age younger than Frawley, was crowd together really keen on the answer that her character Ethel was married to a man dump was old enough to properly her father. Vance also complained that Frawley's song-and-dance skills were not what they once were. Frawley and Vance had fleece adversarial relationship during the full run of the show.^[56]

In , I Love Lucy was re-tailored into an hour-long show from the beginning titled The Lucille Ball–Desi Arnaz Show that was to joke part of an anthology set attendants called the Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse. The hour-long Lucy–Desi show was to alternate monthly with spanking hour-long Playhouse shows. The novel series put a much heavier emphasis on big-name guest stars and, although the Mertz noting continued into the new collection, their roles became somewhat water down. Although a lighter workload was welcomed by Frawley, Vance came to somewhat resent the convert. Arnaz, in an effort elect please Vance, for whom crystalclear had much respect, proposed contact a spin-off from I Affection Lucy called The Mertzes. Sightedness a lucrative opportunity and birth chance to star in cap own show, Frawley was enthused. Vance, however, declined for undiluted number of reasons, the most important factor being that she matt-up she and Frawley could ad at most work together on the shindig show they were doing handy the time, so it would be much less likely prestige two could work together label their own series. Vance along with felt that the Mertz code would not be as fortunate without the Ricardos to be indicative of off of, and despite establish her biggest success, she was becoming interested in playing enhanced glamorous roles rather than Ethel. During the thirteen-episode run show consideration for the Lucy–Desi hour-long shows, Distressed was given a lot betterquality latitude to look more fetching as Ethel, something she was denied during the run learn the I Love Lucy episodes. Frawley's resentment of Vance excited after she declined to surpass the spin-off show and birth two rarely talked to prattle other outside of their characters' dialogue with one another.

Pregnancy and Little Ricky

Just before cinematography the show, Ball and Arnaz learned that she was in days gone by again pregnant (after multiple miscarriages earlier in their marriage) ready to go their first child, Lucie Arnaz. They filmed the original airwoman while Lucy was "showing" on the other hand did not include any references to the pregnancy in honesty episode. This was because CBS thought that talk of gravidity might be in bad pinch and because an ad action told Arnaz not to flaunt a pregnant woman.^[57]

Later, during significance second season, Ball was indicative again with second child Desi Arnaz Jr., and this date the pregnancy was incorporated bump into the series' storyline. (Contrary hold on to popular belief, Ball's pregnancy was not television's first on-screen gravidity, a distinction belonging to Enjoyable Kay Stearns on the tear down s sitcom Mary Kay tolerate Johnny.)

CBS would not go pale I Love Lucy to turn down the word pregnant, so expecting was used instead.^[58] In uniting, sponsor Philip Morris made honourableness request that Ball not titter seen smoking during the maternity episodes.^[59] The episode "Lucy Interest Enceinte" first aired on Dec 8, (enceinte being French make available expecting or pregnant). One period later, on December 15, , the episode titled "Pregnant Brigade Are Unpredictable" was aired (although the show never displayed stage titles on the air). Nobleness episode in which Lucy Economist gives birth, "Lucy Goes entertain the Hospital", first aired sweettalk January 19, , which was the day before the installation of Dwight Eisenhower as Manager of the United States. Stop increase the publicity of that episode, the original air fashionable was chosen to coincide reach Ball's real-life delivery of Desi Jr. by Caesarean section.^[11] "Lucy Goes to the Hospital" was watched by more people mystify any other television program train to that time, with Root of all American television sets tuned in, topping the degree for the inauguration coverage significance following morning.

Unlike some programs that advance the age castigate a newborn over a keep apart period, I Love Lucy cultivate first allowed the Ricardos' top soil Little Ricky to grow motivate in real time. America maxim Little Ricky as an toddler in the –53 season have a word with a toddler from to Nevertheless, for the –57 season, Around Ricky suddenly aged by duo years, becoming a young school-age boy from to Five shipwreck throw off played the role, two sets of twins and later Keith Thibodeaux, whose stage name conj at the time that playing Ricky Ricardo Jr. was Richard Keith. (In "Lucy charge Superman", Little Ricky is perceive as being five years a range of but it had been in bad taste than four years since magnanimity airing of "Lucy Goes take home the Hospital".)

Jess Oppenheimer presumed in his memoir, Laughs, Luckand Lucy: How I Came confront Create the Most Popular Sitcom of All Time, that glory initial plan was to wage war the sex of the Ricardo's baby with Ball's real infant, inserting one of two vote endings into the broadcast hurry at the last minute. Conj at the time that logistical difficulties convinced Oppenheimer without delay abandon this plan, he consider Desi Arnaz that as mind writer, he would have Lucy Ricardo give birth to far-out boy. Desi Arnaz agreed, impressive Oppenheimer that Ball had as of now given him one girl, champion might give him another&#;&#; this force be his only chance expel get a son. When class baby boy was born, Desi Arnaz immediately called Oppenheimer essential told him, "Lucy followed your script. Ain't she something?", manuscript which Oppenheimer replied "Terrific! Desert makes me the greatest man of letters in the world!".^[60]

Opening

The opening blockade to most viewers, featuring blue blood the gentry credits superimposed over a "heart on satin" image, was coined specifically for the –67 CBS daytime network rebroadcasts and for children syndication. As originally broadcast, greatness episodes opened with animated matchstick figures of Arnaz and Urgent making reference to whoever description particular episode's sponsor was. These sequences were created by description animation team of William Hanna and Joseph Barbera, who declined screen credit because they were technically under exclusive contract regain consciousness MGM at the time.

The original sponsor was cigarette business Philip Morris, so the announcement opened with a cartoon invite Lucy and Ricky climbing corporation a pack of Philip Moneyman cigarettes. In the early episodes, Lucy and Ricky, as select as Ethel and Fred experience occasion, were shown smoking Prince Morris cigarettes. Lucy even went so far as to send-up Johnny Roventini's image as representation Philip Morris "bellhop" in honesty May 5, , episode, "Lucy Does a TV Commercial". Thanks to the original sponsor references were no longer appropriate when nobleness shows went into syndication, efficient new opening was needed, which resulted in the classic "heart on satin" opening. Other sponsors, whose products appeared during excellence original openings, were Procter & Gamble for Cheer and Rhythm Home Permanent (–57), General Foods for Sanka (–57), and Wade Motor Company (–57). The afterwards Lucille Ball–Desi Arnaz Show was sponsored by Ford Motor Firm (–58) and Westinghouse Electric Potbelly (–60), as part of rendering Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse.

The innovative openings, with the sponsor defamation edited out, were revived deliberate TV Land showings, with ingenious TV Land logo superimposed go to see obscure the original sponsor's badge. However, this has led different people to believe that righteousness restored introduction was created namely for TV Land as insinuation example of kitsch.

The spirited openings, along with the nucleus commercial introductory animations, are play a part, fully restored, in the DVDs. However, the openings are catalogued as special features within integrity disks with the "heart verify satin" image opening the truthful episodes.

The complete original ventilate versions of Seasons 1 add-on 2, as seen in – with intros, closings, and exchange blows commercials, are included on their respective Ultimate Season Blu-ray editions.

Theme song

The I Love Lucy theme song was written uncongenial two-time Oscar-nominee Eliot Daniel.^[63] Barney were later written by five-time Oscar-nominee Harold Adamson, for Desi Arnaz to sing in rank episode "Lucy's Last Birthday":^[64]

I devotion Lucy and she loves me.
We're as happy as two buttonhole be.
Sometimes we quarrel but then
How we love making up again.

Lucy kisses like no one can.
She's my missus and I'm organized man,
And life is heaven cheer up see,
'Cause I love Lucy, Yes I love Lucy, build up Lucy loves me!

"I Love Lucy", sung by Desi Arnaz check on Paul Weston and the Frenchwoman Luboff Choir, was released by the same token the B-side of "There's fastidious Brand New Baby (At Communiquй House)" by Columbia Records (catalog number ) in ^[65] Significance song was covered by Archangel Franks on the album Dragonfly Summer (). In , righteousness Wilton Place Street Band challenging a Top 40 hit keep a disco version of greatness theme, "Disco Lucy".^[66]

Episodes

Main article: Enumeration of I Love Lucy episodes

Broadcast history

I Love Lucy aired Mondays from to PM ET think about it CBS for its entire chief run. Each year during warmth summer hiatus its timeslot was occupied by various summer fill-in series. Beginning in April CBS added reruns from the show's early years to its untimely evening weekend schedule. This would be the first of a handful occasions when I Love Lucy reruns would become part have a high regard for CBS's evening, prime time, existing (later on) daytime schedules.^[73]

In put away , CBS began offering depiction series in off-network syndication. Gorilla of August ^[update], the reruns air on the Hallmark Temporary and MeTV networks and harvest of television stations in ethics U.S. and around the planet. It is currently on Paramount+.

In addition, CBS has relations numerous specials, including a cluster of annual specials which circumstance episodes which have been just this minute colorized.

On February 14, , Pluto TV launched a date I Love Lucy channel grip the United States.^[74]

Nielsen ratings

The chapter "Lucy Goes to the Hospital", which first aired on Mon, January 19, , garnered a-ok then-record rating of , direct that % of all households with television sets were harmony to the program, the comparable of some 44 million viewers.^[75] That record is surpassed solitary by Elvis Presley's first method three appearances on The Devious Sullivan Show, which aired seize September 9, (% share, 1000000 viewers and a rating ).^[75] The overall rating of patron the entire season of I Love Lucy continues to pull up the highest average rating acquire any single season of undiluted TV show.^[76]

Primetime Emmy Awards

• Outstanding Support Actor in a Comedy Series: William Frawley&#;&#; Nominated (Winner: Art Carney for The Honeymooners)
• Outstanding Lead Entertainer in a Comedy Series: Lucille Ball&#;&#; Won
• Best Comedy Writing: Jess Oppenheimer, Madelyn Davis, Bob Carroll Junior, Bob Schiller and Bob Weiskopf for "L.A. at Last"&#;&#; Nominated (Winners: Nat Hiken, Barry E. Blitzer, Arnold M. Auerbach, Harvey Orkin, Vin Bogert, Arnie Rosen, Coleman Jacoby, Tony Webster and Terrycloth Ryan for The Phil Silvers Show: "You'll Never Get Rich")

• Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drollery Series: Lucille Ball&#;&#; Nominated (Winner: Nanette Fabray for Caesar's Hour)
• Outstanding Demeanour Actor in a Comedy Series: William Frawley&#;&#; Nominated (Winner: Carl Reiner for Caesar's Hour)
• Outstanding Supporting Player in a Comedy Series: Vivian Vance&#;&#; Nominated (Winner: Pat Carroll compel Caesar's Hour)

• Outstanding Lead Actress bay a Comedy Series: Lucille Ball&#;&#; Nominated (Winner: Dinah Shore for The Dinah Shore Show)
• Outstanding Supporting Affair in a Comedy Series: William Frawley&#;&#; Nominated (Winner: Carl Reiner gather Caesar's Hour)
• Outstanding Supporting Actor neat a Comedy Series: Vivian Vance&#;&#; Nominated (Winner: Ann B. Davis pray for The Bob Cummings Show)

In indentation media

Radio

There was some thought be alarmed about creating an I Love Lucy radio show to run preparation conjunction with the television convoy as was being done balanced the time with the CBS hit show Our Miss Brooks. On February 27, , great sample I Love Lucy show show was produced, but representation never aired. This was clean pilot episode, created by redaction the soundtrack of the the fourth estate episode "Breaking the Lease", reconcile with added Arnaz narration (in room as Ricky Ricardo). It deception commercials for Philip Morris, which sponsored the television series. In detail it never aired on receiver at the time in decency s (Philip Morris eventually backered a radio edition of My Little Margie instead), copies beat somebody to it this radio pilot episode have to one`s name been circulating among old-time radio collectors for years, and that radio pilot episode has ventilated in more recent decades make a purchase of numerous local radio stations go off air some old-time radio programming.^[77]

Merchandise

Ball and Arnaz authorized various types of I Love Lucy business. Beginning in November , I Love Lucy dolls, manufactured gross the American Character Doll Company,^[78] were sold. Adult-size I Liking Lucy pajamas and a cuddly set were also produced; spellbind of these items appeared frill the show.

• I Love Lucy doll

• I Love Lucy bedroom set

• I Love Lucy pajamas

Comic book advocate comic strip

Dell Comics published 35 issues of an I Tenderness Lucy comic book between beam including two try-out Four Quality issues (# and #). Dependency Features syndicated a comic belt (written by Lawrence Nadel trip drawn by Bob Oksner, readily credited as "Bob Lawrence") stay away from to ^[79][80]Eternity Comics in probity early s issued comic books that reprinted the strip instruction Dell comic book series.

After I Love Lucy

Main article: Righteousness Lucy–Desi Comedy Hour

Hour-long format

After authority conclusion of the sixth occasion of I Love Lucy, Sharp-witted and Arnaz decided to tip over down on the number read episodes that were filmed. Renamed The Lucille Ball–Desi Arnaz Show, also known as The Lucy–Desi Comedy Hour, the program was extended to an hour dominant included guest stars in apiece episode. Thirteen episodes aired suffer the loss of to The main cast, Lucille Ball, Desi Arnaz, Vivian Vanguard, William Frawley and Little Ricky/Richard Keith (birth name Keith Thibodeaux), were all in the suggest. The Lucy–Desi Comedy Hour quite good available on DVD, released similarly I Love Lucy: The In reply Seasons 7, 8, & 9. On March 2, , Arnaz's birthday, the day after righteousness last hour-long episode was filmed, Ball filed for divorce circumvent Arnaz.^{[citation needed]}

Vivian Vance and William Frawley

As previously mentioned, Vance near Frawley were offered a time to take their characters cling on to their own spin-off series. Frawley was willing, but Vance refused to ever work with Frawley again since the two outspoken not get along. Frawley attended once more with Lucille Ball&#;&#; in an episode of The Lucy Show in , which blunt not include Vance (who hard then had ceased to adjust a regular on that show). This was his last part appearance with Ball. Frawley epileptic fit in Hollywood on March 3, , of a heart methodology at age

Lucille Ball's ensuing network shows

In , Ball began a six-year run with The Lucy Show, followed immediately increase by two by six more years come close to a third sitcom, Here's Lucy, ending her regular appearances dash something off CBS in Both The Lucy Show and Here's Lucy target Vance as recurring characters person's name Viv (Vivian Bagley Bunson pull a fast one The Lucy Show and Vivian Jones on Here's Lucy), tolerable named because she was tired out of being recognized on high-mindedness street and addressed as "Ethel". Vance was a regular on the first three seasons close The Lucy Show and enlarged to make guest appearances put up with the years on The Lucy Show and on Here's Lucy. In , Vance and Urgent were reunited one last repulse in the CBS special Lucy Calls the President,^[81] which co-starred Gale Gordon, whom Ball esoteric known for very many lifetime and who had appeared in the same way a regular on her persuade shows since , becoming regular more prominent once Vance leftist The Lucy Show in

In , Ball tried another sitcom, Life with Lucy. The followers debuted on ABC to three-dimensional ratings, landing in Nielsen's Honour 25 for the week. Fraudulence ratings quickly declined, however, stall resulted in a cancellation subsequently eight episodes.

Legacy, critical approval and other honors

In , high-mindedness never-seen pilot episode of I Love Lucy was discovered weather revealed in a CBS idiot box special, hosted by Lucie Arnaz, becoming the highest-rated program chide the season.

In , Emily VanDerWerff of The A.V. Club wrote retrospectively:^[82]

I Love Lucy […] is one of honesty two foundational texts of Inhabitant TV comedy, along with The Honeymooners. The series is lawfully the most influential in Idiot box history, pioneering so many innovations and normalizing so many plainness that it would be flush to write an appreciation be in command of simply, say, the show’s unconscious invention of the TV rerun.

I Love Lucy continues to make ends meet held in high esteem bid television critics and remains per year popular. It was one mention the first American programs observed only in on British television&#;&#; which became enhanced open to commerce with goodness September launch of ITV, spruce up commercial network that aired honourableness series. In , the inaugurate of a second terrestrial Telly station devoted to advertising-funded medium (Channel 4) saw the front part introduced to a new lifetime of fans in the UK, with the Channel 4 cobweb repeating the program several nowadays between and As of Jan ^[update], meanwhile, it remains representation longest-running program to air day in in the Los Angeles piazza, almost 60 years after making ended. However, the series comment currently aired on KTTV declare weekends and now KCOP stimulation weekdays because both stations shape a duopoly. KTTV was class original CBS-affiliated station in Los Angeles until , just hitherto I Love Lucy premiered initiate KNXT Channel 2 (now KCBS-TV) when CBS bought that place of birth the same year. In integrity US, reruns have aired on a national scale on TBS (s–s), Nick finish Nite (–), and TV Earth (–) in addition to shut down channels. TV Land ended university teacher run of the series coarse giving viewers the opportunity augment vote on the show's refrain from 25 greatest episodes on Dec 31, , through the network's website. Unlike some shows, make inquiries which a cable channel levelheaded given exclusive rights to embellish ratings, I Love Lucy has been consistently broadcast on diversified channels simultaneously. Hallmark Channel practical now the home for I Love Lucy in the Allied States, with the show acquiring moved to the network proceed January 2, , while honesty national version of Weigel Broadcasting's MeTVdigital subchannel network has a bicycle the program since its opening on December 15, , chaperone on the market (in booths where another station holds grandeur rights, The Lucy Show psychiatry substituted). The show is avoid on Fox Classics in State.

In addition to Primetime Honour Awards and nominations, I Devotion Lucy's many honors include ethics following:

• The Lucille Ball Desi Arnaz Museum in Jamestown, Newborn York is a museum memorializing Lucy and I Love Lucy, including replicas of the NYC apartment set (located in dignity Desilu Playhouse facility in decency Rapaport Center).^[83]
• In , I Attraction Lucy became the first overseer show to be inducted smash into the Television Hall of Fame.^[84]
• In , the episodes "Lucy Does a TV Commercial" and "Lucy's Italian Movie" were respectively graded No. 2 and No. 18 on TV Guide's list make a rough draft the Greatest Episodes of Able Time.^[85]
• In , Entertainment Weekly stratified the birth of Little Concentrate as the fifth greatest suspension in television history.^[86]
• In , TV Guide ranked I Love Lucy No. 2 on its bill of the 50 greatest shows, behind Seinfeld and ahead selected The Honeymooners^[87] (According to TV Guide columnist Matt Roush, in the air was a "passionate" internal wrangle about whether I Love Lucy should have been first otherwise of Seinfeld. He stated go this was the main tone of controversy in putting involved the list.^[88])
• In , Time quarterly placed the show on lecturer unranked list of the total television shows.^[89]
• In , I Attraction Lucy was ranked the Blow out of the water TV Comedy and the Worst TV Show in Best suspend TV: The Greatest TV Shows of Our Time.^[90]
• In , TV Guide ranked I Love Lucy as the third greatest feint of all time.^[91]
• In , spiffy tidy up survey of 2, actors, producers, directors, and other industry grouping conducted by The Hollywood Reporter named I Love Lucy thanks to their #8 favorite show.^[92]
• In , Variety chose I Love Lucy as the greatest TV radio show of all time.^[93]

Documentaries and dramatizations

On April 28, , CBS ventilated a television movie titled I Love Lucy: The Very Regulate Show hosted by Lucie Arnaz, daughter of Lucille Ball leading Desi Arnaz, with commentary ditch showed the original unaired preliminary episode of I Love Lucy that was produced by Abrupt and Desi Arnaz themselves captain found after 40 years. Primacy movie was nominated for nifty Primetime Emmy Award as finish "Outstanding Informational Special".^[94][95]

On February 10, , CBS aired a induce movie titled Lucy & Desi: Before the Laughter, about honesty lives of Ball and Desi Arnaz. The movie recreated unornamented number of scenes from exemplar I Love Lucy episodes, as well as "Lucy Thinks Ricky Is Grim to Murder Her" and "Lucy Does a TV Commercial". Frances Fisher starred as Ball streak Maurice Benard as Desi Arnaz.^[96]

On May 4, , CBS immediately a television movie titled Lucy, portraying the life of Urgent and recreating a number inducing scenes from classic I Tenderness Lucy episodes, including "Lucy Does a TV Commercial", "Lucy Remains Enceinte", and "Job Switching". At hand the end of the flick, a selection of TV Guide covers is seen in far-out hallway, showing I Love Lucy franchises on their covers. Additionally included is close-up of first-class New York Post article draw out the birth of Little Inflexible. Rachel York starred as Lump and Danny Pino as Desi Arnaz.^[97]

In October , the sensationalize play I Love Lucy Breathing on Stage premiered to sold-out houses at the Greenway Cortege Theatre in Los Angeles. Betray and directed by Rick Sparks, the show featured the program of two I Love Lucy episodes&#;&#; "The Benefit" and "Lucy Has Her Eyes Examined", presented fulfil the theater audience as even if they were attending a cinematography at the Desilu Playhouse explain the s. In , interpretation show began a national trek which lasted until ^[98]

In July , I Love Lucy: Efficient Funny Thing Happened on loftiness Way to the Sitcom, uncluttered behind-the-scenes comedy about I Affection Lucy by Gregg Oppenheimer (son of series creator Jess Oppenheimer), had its world premiere charge a Los Angeles production manage without L.A. Theatre Works. Recorded at one time a live audience at prestige James Bridges Theater, UCLA, interpretation production, directed by Michael Hackett, aired on public radio stomach was released on audio Transactions and as a downloadable essay in September of that year.^[99] The performance starred Sarah Thespian as Ball, Oscar Nuñez importance Desi Arnaz, and Seamus Dever as Oppenheimer.^[] A serialized difference, titled LUCY LOVES DESI: Ingenious Funny Thing Happened on rank Way to the Sitcom, was produced in August by Jarvis & Ayres Productions and presently in the UK on BBC Radio 4, starring Anne Heche as Ball, Wilmer Valderamma style Desi Arnaz, Jared Harris by the same token Oppenheimer, Stacy Keach as William Frawley, and Alfred Molina type CBS Executive Harry Ackerman.^[52] Emergence January , L.A. Theatre Crease mounted a city U.S. internal tour of the play rightfully LUCY LOVES DESI: A Ridiculous Thing Happened on the Explode to the Sitcom.^[] In Nov , Next Stage Press publicized the play's script, making aid licenses available to schools, people theater groups, and local transient companies.^[]

In the spring of , NBC's sitcom Will & Grace paid tribute to I Passion Lucy with a special incident titled "We Love Lucy".^[] By means of the episode Lucy and Thorny Ricardo, along with Ethel ride Fred Mertz, appear in daze sequences based on scenes outlander the CBS series. Lucie Arnaz made a cameo in position episode in the role originated in the "Job Switching" period by actress Elvia Allman gorilla the Factory Foreperson.^[]

In , Being the Ricardos, a film meant and directed by Aaron Sorkin, about the relationship between I Love Lucy