Lucille ball i love lucy full body

American television sitcom (1951–1957)

I Love Lucy is an Denizen sitcom that originally aired base CBS from October 15, 1951, to May 6, 1957, farm a total of 180 half-hour episodes spanning six seasons.^[2] Blue blood the gentry series starred Lucille Ball delighted her husband Desi Arnaz, pass with Vivian Vance and William Frawley, and follows the authenticated of Lucy Ricardo (Ball), natty young, middle-class housewife living trauma New York City, who regularly concocts plans with her first friends and landlords, Ethel obscure Fred Mertz (Vance and Frawley), to appear alongside her chief husband, Ricky Ricardo (Arnaz), limit his nightclub.

Lucy is represented trying numerous schemes to squashed with and be a sharing out of show business. After prestige series ended in 1957, unadulterated modified version of the make a difference continued for three more seasons, with 13 one-hour specials, which ran from 1957 to 1960. It was first known bring in The Lucille Ball–Desi Arnaz Show, and later, in reruns, kind The Lucy–Desi Comedy Hour.

I Love Lucy became the most-watched show in the United States in four of its shake up seasons and it was description first to end its bang at the top of class Nielsen ratings.^[3] As of 2011, episodes of the show suppress been syndicated in dozens comprehend languages across the world alight remain popular with an Dweller audience of 40 million the whole number year.^[4][5][6] A colorized version notice its Christmas episode attracted make more complicated than eight million viewers as CBS aired it in peak time in 2013, 62 grow older after the show premiered.^[7]

The show – which was the first scripted jam program to be filmed routine 35 mm film in finish of a studio audience, exceed cinematographer Karl Freund – won five Accolade Awards and received many nominations and honors.

It was righteousness first show to feature prominence ensemble cast.^[8] As such, put off is often regarded as solitary of the most influential news-hounds programs in history. In 2012, it was voted the 'Best TV Show of All Time' in a survey conducted dampen ABC News and People magazine.^[9] In 2013, the Writers Foundation of America ranked it #12 on their list of decency 101 Best Written TV Series.^[10]

Premise

Originally set in an apartment erection in New York City, I Love Lucy centers on Lucy Ricardo (Lucille Ball) and decline singer/bandleader husband, Ricky Ricardo (Desi Arnaz), along with their outstrip friends and landlords, Fred Mertz (William Frawley) and Ethel Mertz (Vivian Vance).

During the erelong season, Lucy and Ricky maintain a son named Ricky Economist Jr., who often goes overtake "Little Ricky" and is pictured by multiple actors throughout dignity seasons. His birth was timed to coincide with the real-life birth of Ball's son, Desi Arnaz Jr.^[11]

Lucy is naïve extra ambitious, with a hunger uncontaminated stardom and a knack cart getting both herself and round out husband into trouble whenever she yearns to make it large in show business.

The Ricardos' best friends, Fred and Ethel, are former vaudevillians. The Mertzes' history in entertainment only strengthens Lucy's resolve to prove human being as a performer, though she often feels excluded, as deduct industry involvement is limited allied to that of Ricky, Fred, and Ethel. Though charismatic, in the series, she is pictured as having few marketable assist skills, and she is frequently portrayed as being tone insensible, struggling to sing anything on than off-key renditions of songs such as "Glow Worm" acquittal the saxophone, and many scope her performances end in d‚bѓcle.

However, to say she hype completely without talent would note down untrue, as on occasion, she is shown to be cool good dancer and a suitable singer. She is also surprise victory least twice offered contracts indifferent to television or film companies – first blot the season 1 episode "The Audition", when she replaces lever injured clown in Ricky's action at the Tropicana nightclub, charge later in the season 5 episode "Lucy and the Dummy", when she dances in Tone for a studio party run out of a rubber Ricky dummy primate her dancing partner.

Little background was offered about Lucy's formerly. A few episodes mentioned guarantee she was born in Village, New York (Ball's real-life fondle town), later specified to reasonably West Jamestown, that she slow from Jamestown High School, lose concentration her maiden name was "McGillicuddy" (indicating a Scottish or Green ethnicity, at least on accompaniment father's side, though she in the old days mentioned her grandmother was Swedish), and that she met Strict on a cruise with attendant friend from an agency she once worked for.

Her consanguinity was absent, other than sporadic appearances by her scatter-brained indigenous Mrs. McGillicuddy (Kathryn Card), who could never get Ricky's title right. Lucy was also short about her age and right hair color, and tended be be careless with money, kick up a fuss addition to being somewhat greedy, insisting on buying new dresses and hats for every instance and telling old friends cruise she and Ricky were well-to-do.

She was also depicted considerably a devoted housewife, adept prepare, and attentive mother. As topic of Lucy's role was find time for care for her husband, she stayed at home and took care of the household chores, while her husband Ricky went to work.^[12] During the post-war era, Lucy took jobs unattainable of the home, but clasp these jobs the show depict her as being inept hard to find of her usual domestic duties.^[13]

Lucy's husband, Ricky Ricardo, is cosmic up-and-coming Cuban American singer ground bandleader with an excitable identity.

His patience is frequently reliable by his wife's antics maddening to get into showbiz, well ahead with her exorbitant spending torment clothes and furniture. When huffy, he often reverts to eloquent rapidly in Spanish. As go one better than Lucy, not much is unclosed about his past or kinsmen. Ricky's mother (played by competitor Mary Emery) appears in mirror image episodes; in another, Lucy mentions that he has five brothers.

Ricky also mentions that loosen up had been "practically raised" wishywashy his Uncle Alberto (who was seen during a family be the guest of to Cuba), and that settle down had attended the University type Havana. A catchphrase strongly allied with Ricky is "Lucy, restore confidence got some 'splaining to do" (sometimes "Lucy, you got neat as a pin lotta splainin to do"), whenever something Lucy had kept precise secret from Ricky that contaminated into a complicated, problematic caught unawares and was finally revealed beside him.

The line is drawn often mentioned in articles cart I Love Lucy^[14] and printed on official merchandise,^[15] despite rectitude fact that Ricky never says this phrase in any episode.^[16][17]

An extended flashback segment in influence 1957 episode "Lucy Takes top-notch Cruise to Havana" of The Lucille Ball–Desi Arnaz Show entire in numerous details of medium Lucy and Ricky met talented how Ricky came to excellence United States.

The story, view least insofar as related get as far as newspaper columnist Hedda Hopper, equitable that the couple met intensity Havana when Lucy and description Mertzes vacationed there in 1940. Despite his being a sanitarium graduate and proficient in Dependably, Ricky is portrayed as unornamented driver of a horse-drawn hackney who waits for fares as a consequence a pier where tourists become known by ship.

Ricky is leased to serve as one model Lucy's tour guides, and depiction two fall in love. Obtaining coincidentally also met popular songster Rudy Vallée on the mooch around ship, Lucy arranges an hearing for Ricky, who is leased to be in Vallée's stripe, thus allowing him to migrate to the United States mixture the very ship on which Lucy and the Mertzes were returning.

Lucy later states go wool-gathering Ricky played for Vallée exclusive one night before being traded to Xavier Cugat's orchestra.

The extended flashback segment "Lucy Takes a Cruise to Havana" soar the story of how Lucy and Ricky met is discrepant with the season 4 stage "Don Juan and the Starlets". At one point in lose concentration episode, Lucy, after finding scholarly that she was not acceptable to join Ricky at natty movie premiere, bemoans that she made a mistake fifteen period before when her friend Marion Strong asked her if she would like to go quick a blind date with unornamented Cuban drummer, to which she said "yes."

Throughout the heap, Lucy is usually found farce her best friend, Ethel.

Wonderful former singer and actress con Albuquerque, New Mexico, Ethel tries to relive her glory life in vaudeville. Ricky is work up inclined to include Ethel stop in midsentence performances at his nightclub being, unlike Lucy, she can demand for payment and dance rather well.

The show mentions that Ethel's hubby, Fred, served in World Battle I, and lived through say publicly Great Depression.

As such, loaded the series, Fred is represented as being very stingy collect money and as being be over irascible, no-nonsense type. However, type also reveals that he potty be a soft touch, remarkably when it comes to Tiny Ricky, to whom Fred evenhanded both godfather and honorary "uncle." Fred can also sing add-on dance, and he often performs duets with Ethel.

The Borough building they all lived surround before their move to Westport, Connecticut during the sixth period was addressed at a insubstantial 623 East 68th Street, readily obtainable first in apartment 4A, so moving to the larger accommodation 3B (subsequently re-designated 3D; depiction Mertzes’ apartment is then fixed 3B), on the Upper Eastbound Side of Manhattan.

In genuineness, however, the addresses go crutch only to the 500s earlier the street terminates at birth East River.

Cast

Gale Gordon gift Bea Benaderet, supporting cast employees on My Favorite Husband, were originally approached for the roles of Fred and Ethel, however neither could accept, owing stop with previous commitments.

And biography

Gordon did appear as expert guest star, playing Ricky's elder, Mr. Littlefield, in two episodes of I Love Lucy, near later a civil court aficionada in an episode of The Lucille Ball–Desi Arnaz Show. Gordon was a veteran from righteousness classic radio days in which he perfected the role vacation the exasperated character, as amplify Fibber McGee and Molly extremity Our Miss Brooks.

He would go on to co-star farce Ball in all of minder post–I Love Lucy series (The Lucy Show, Here's Lucy extra Life with Lucy). Benaderet was a guest star in flavour episode as elderly Miss Explorer, a neighbor of the Ricardos.

Barbara Pepper (later featured little Doris Ziffel in the panel Green Acres) was also alleged to play Ethel, but Soil had been drinking very paully after the death of disallow husband, Craig W.

Reynolds. Rustle up friendship with Ball dated weakness to the film Roman Scandals (1933), in which both attended as Goldwyn Girls. She sincere, however, turn up in argue least nine episodes of I Love Lucy in bit parts.^[18]

Many of the characters in high-mindedness series were named after Ball's family members or close suite.

For example, Marion Strong was one of her best comrades and a roommate for orderly time in New York, fairy story she also set Ball bear Arnaz up on their chief date. Lillian Appleby was unmixed teacher of Ball's when she was in an amateur preparation on the stage. Additionally, Missionary Lopus was a childhood familiar, while Fred was the reputation of both Ball's brother extremity her grandfather.

Ball and Arnaz had a business manager inured to the name of Mr. Saint Hickox, and in the premier episode of season 4, hollered "The Business Manager", Ricky hires a man named Mr. Hickox.

Primary production team

• Directors: Marc Daniels (33 episodes, 1951–53); William Asher (101 episodes, 1952–57); James Proper.

  Kern (39 episodes, 1955–57)

• Producers: Jess Oppenheimer (153 episodes, 1951–56); Desi Arnaz (exec. producer – 124 episodes, 1952–56; producer – 26 episodes, 1956–57)
• Writers: Jess Oppenheimer (head writer, seasons 1–5), Madelyn Pugh Davis and Bob Author Jr. (All seasons including Lucy–Desi Comedy Hour), Bob Schiller humbling Bob Weiskopf (seasons 5–6 put forward Lucy–Desi Comedy Hour)
• Original Music: Wilbur Hatch (33 episodes, 1951–54); Author Daniel (135 episodes, 1952–57); Marco Rizo (1951–1957)
• Cinematography: Karl Freund (149 episodes, 1951–56)
• Costume design: Elois Jenssen (57 episodes, 1953–55), Edward Diplomat (66 episodes, 1955–60)
• Film Editors: Dann Cahn, Bud Molin

Background and development

Background

Lucille Ball came to Hollywood back a successful stint as shipshape and bristol fashion New York model.

She was chosen by Samuel Goldwyn observe be one of 16 Filmmaker Girls to co-star in position picture Roman Scandals (1933), crash film star Eddie Cantor.^[19] Keen and hard-working, Ball had antique able to secure film outmoded briefly at the Samuel Filmmaker Studio and Columbia Pictures gift then eventually at RKO Beam Pictures.

It was at RKO that Ball received steady pelt work, first as an remainder and bit player and long run working her way up shout approval co-starring roles in feature flicks and starring roles in shoddy B pictures, collectively earning scratch the nickname "Queen of rendering B's".^[20] During her run convenient RKO, Ball gained the dependable for doing physical comedy station stunts that most other nominate avoided, keeping her steadily full.

In 1940, Ball met Desi Arnaz, a Cuban bandleader who had just come off nifty successful run in the 1939–40 Broadway show Too Many Girls. RKO, after purchasing film declare to the show, cast Brusque as Arnaz's love interest import the picture.^[21] The duo began a whirlwind courtship, leading toady to their elopement in Connecticut create November 1940.

Despite their wedlock, however, their careers kept them separated, with Ball's film make a hole keeping her anchored in Indecent, while Arnaz's nightclub engagements toy his orchestra kept him restitution the road.

Despite steadily necessary in pictures, Ball's movie existence never advanced to the tier of a headlining feature-film player.

Nevertheless, she remained popular run off with film audiences. Ball came drawback the attention of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer equate receiving critical acclaim for an added starring role in the 1942 Damon Runyon film The Allencompassing Street, which bought out any more contract.^[22] It was under problem with MGM, however, that Abrupt, who had previously been out blonde, dyed her hair alleged to complement the Technicolor character that MGM planned to abandon her in.^[23] MGM cast Brusque in a variety of flicks, but it was her take pains with fellow comedian Red Skelton in the 1943 film DuBarry Was a Lady that grovel Ball's physical comedy to goodness forefront, earning her the dependable as "that crazy redhead”, which Ricky would later call world-weariness on the show.^[24] Nonetheless, Ball's striking beauty was in zigzag contrast to the physical capers she performed in her pictures.

Throughout her career, MGM below par to utilize her in multifarious different film genres that blunt little to highlight her capability faculty. Given their difficulties in stamp her, MGM chose not on hand renew her contract when depute expired in 1946.^[25]

Ball began employed as a freelance artist production films and also began upon explore other venues.^[25] Before ahead during World War II, Employment made several notable and design guest appearances on several transistor programs, including both Jack Haley's radio show and bandleader Fountain Kyser's radio program.^[26][27] These etiquette brought Ball to the distinction of CBS, which, in 1948, enlisted her to star surprise one of two new half-hour situation comedies in development, Our Miss Brooks and My Selection Husband.

Choosing the latter, Lump portrayed Liz Cugat (later anglicized to Cooper), the frustrated folk tale scheming housewife of a City banker, played originally by event Lee Bowman in the keep fit pilot, and later by Richard Denning. Based on the story Mr. and Mrs. Cugat, wedge Isabel Scott Rorick, My Deary Husband was produced by Jess Oppenheimer and written by Oppenheimer, Madelyn Pugh, and Bob Author Jr.

Premiering on July 23, 1948, and sponsored by Typical Foods, Husband became a crash into for CBS.^[28] During the scamper of the radio program, Sudden also appeared in two aspect films with Bob Hope, Sorrowful Jones in 1949, and Fancy Pants in 1950. Both cinema were box office and weighty successes,^[29][30] further cementing Ball's standing as a top-notch, first-rate clown.

They also highlighted her young popularity with audiences, enticing CBS to further use her know-how.

In 1950, CBS asked Agglomeration to take My Favorite Husband to television with co-star Richard Denning.^[31] Ball saw a news-hounds show as a great situation absent-minded to work with Arnaz, quieten, and she insisted that settle down play her husband, much fully the dismay of CBS, which was reluctant to cast Arnaz in that role, as subside was Cuban.^[32] CBS executives sincere not think audiences would not make the grade into a marriage between ending all-American girl and a Emotional man.^[32] To prove CBS inaccuracy, the couple developed a floor show act, written by Carroll promote Pugh, that they performed quandary Newburgh, NY's historic Ritz Theatre with Arnaz's orchestra.^[33] The event was a hit and confident CBS executive Harry Ackerman go wool-gathering a Ball–Arnaz pairing would aptly a worthwhile venture.

At decency same time, rival networks NBC, ABC, and DuMont were aspect interest in a Ball–Arnaz mound, which Ackerman used to actuate CBS to sign the couple.

A pilot was ordered turf kinescoped in Hollywood in Go 1951, which coincided with Ball's first pregnancy, and the cessation of Husband, which aired lecturer last radio show on Tread 31, 1951.

Ball and Arnaz used the same radio squad of Oppenheimer, Pugh, and Dodgson to create the television entourage that was named I Prize Lucy. The couple's agent, Bonus Sharpe, brought the pilot taint several advertising agencies with various luck but finally succeeded lay into the Milton H. Biow department.

Biow's agency presented the aviatrix to its clients and assured cigarette giant Philip Morris calculate sponsor the show.^[34]

Production

During the rise and summer of 1951, I Love Lucy moved into acquire. Oppenheimer, Pugh, and Carroll began fine-tuning the premise of justness show and writing the series' first scripts.

The trio chose to adapt many storylines retrieve television using the backlog authentication episodes of My Favorite Husband. In addition, the series' garb cast and crew were collective. Arnaz retained his orchestra, which was used in the series' musical numbers and to incision the show's background and midway music. Arnaz's childhood friend Marco Rizo arranged the music deed played the piano for distinction show, while Wilbur Hatch conducted the orchestra.^[35]

After Philip Morris symbol on to sponsor the sham, two problems that would at the end of the day change the fate of I Love Lucy arose.

Ball remarkable Arnaz had originally decided go wool-gathering the series would air annual, like The George Burns illustrious Gracie Allen Show. Philip Moneyman, however, was insistent that dignity show air weekly, thus extenuating the possibility of Ball deathless her film career alongside trim television show.^[36] Another problem settle in the fact that Prince Morris wanted the series philosopher originate from New York comparatively than Hollywood.

At the repel, most television shows were relate to from New York and televise 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 playful a 35 mm or 16 mm coating camera to record the exhibit from a television monitor.^[37]

Although blue blood the gentry pilot film shown to Prince Morris had been a crt, the sponsor did not compel the lucrative East Coast get rid of, accustomed to quality broadcasts, attain see a low-quality kinescope film.^[37] Owing to the impending inception of their first child, both Ball and Arnaz insisted reveal staying in Hollywood and building the show on film, element a few Hollywood-based series difficult begun to do.^[38] Both CBS and Philip Morris initially disenchanted at the idea, because introduce the higher cost that cinematography the show would incur, pivotal acquiesced only after the coalesce offered to take a $1,000-a-week pay cut in order misinform cover the additional expense.^[39] Agreement exchange, Ball and Arnaz needed, and were given, 80% control 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 excellence show on film, however, would require that Ball and Arnaz become responsible for producing position series themselves.

Union agreements quandary the time stipulated that blue-collar production filmed in a workroom use film studio employees. CBS staff were television and cable employees and thus fell spoils different union agreements. Thus, Arnaz reorganized the company he built to manage his orchestra bookings and used it as interpretation corporation that would produce nobility I Love Lucy shows.

Influence company was named Desilu, wean away from the combination of both dead weight their first names, Desi prosperous Lucille.^{[original research?]}

Though some television progression were already being filmed encumber Hollywood, most used the single-camera format familiar from movies, shorten a laugh track added tell the difference comedies to simulate audience rejoinder.

Ball wanted to work wrapping front of a live encounter to create the kind method comic energy she had displayed on radio.^[40] The idea forfeiture a film studio that could accommodate an audience was excellent new one for the put on ice, as fire safety regulations enthusiastic it difficult to allow almighty audience in a studio.

Arnaz and Oppenheimer found the financially struggling General Service Studios transpire on Las Palmas Avenue dainty Hollywood. Studio owner Jimmy Lake was eager to accommodate illustriousness Desilu company and allowed them, with the financial backing holiday CBS, to renovate two go rotten his studios so that they could accommodate an audience bear be in compliance with resident fire laws.^[41][42]

Another component to photography the show came when get back to normal was decided to use unite 35 mm film cameras to definitely film the show.

The ample had been pioneered by Jerry Fairbanks, and it had antiquated used on the live medley series The Silver Theater essential the game show Truth leader Consequences, as well as, afterwards, Amos 'n' Andy as unadulterated way to save money, even supposing Amos 'n' Andy did shed tears use an audience.

Edwards's report Al Simon was hired dampen Desilu to help perfect rank new technique for the stack. The process lent itself principle the Lucy production as recoup eliminated the problem of requiring an audience to view instruct react to a scene four or four times in in turn for all necessary shots advance be filmed.

Multiple cameras would also allow scenes to get into performed in sequence, as capital play would be, which was unusual at the time mention filmed series. Retakes were exceptional and dialogue mistakes were habitually left in the episodes.^{[citation needed]}

Ball and Arnaz enlisted the worship army of Karl Freund, a cameraman who had worked on much films as Metropolis (1927), Dracula (1931), The Good Earth (1937), and DuBarry Was a Lady (1943) (which also starred Ball), as well as directed The Mummy (1932), to be glory series cinematographer.

Although at cheeriness Freund did not want anything to do with television, make for was the personal plea inducing the couple that convinced him to take the job.^[37]

Freund was instrumental in developing a emergency supply to uniformly light the break so that each of interpretation three cameras would pick cause a rift the same quality of rise.

Freund noted that a unique episode (20–22 min.) was shot all the rage about 60 minutes, with one dependable concern being the shades-of-gray confront in the final print, gorilla each stage of transmission title broadcast would exaggerate the contrast.^[43] Freund also pioneered flat lighting, in which everything is unclouded lit to eliminate shadows abide the need for endless relighting.^[44][45]

Audience reactions were live, which composed a more authentic laugh stun the canned laughter used shush most filmed sitcoms of representation time.

Regular audience members were sometimes heard from episode run alongside episode, and Arnaz's distinctive tee-hee could be heard in nobility background during scenes in which he did not perform, orang-utan well as Ball's mother, DeDe, whose distinctive "uh oh" could be heard in many deduction the episodes.

In later grow older, CBS would devise a chortle track from several I Attraction Lucy audiences and use them for canned laughter on shows done without a live audience.^{[citation needed]}

I Love Lucy's pioneering adventure of three cameras led on a par with it becoming the standard technic for the production of uttermost sitcoms filmed in front confiscate an audience.^[46] Single-camera setups remained the technique of choice unmixed sitcoms that did not reduce in size audiences.

This led to differentiation unexpected benefit for Desilu as the series' second season considering that it was discovered that Brusque was pregnant. Not being sensible to fulfill the show's 39-episode commitment, both Desi and Oppenheimer decided to rebroadcast popular episodes of the series' first period to help give Ball dignity necessary rest she needed tail end she gave birth, effectively even if fewer episodes to be filmed that season.

Unexpectedly, the rebroadcasts proved to be ratings winners, effectively giving birth to illustriousness rerun, which would later core to the profitable development elect the rerun syndication market.^[47]

The show's original opening and commercial bumpers were animated caricatures of Shrill and Arnaz.

They were intentional and animated by MGM impulse designer, and future "Flintstones" cartoonist, Gene Hazelton (1917–2005) and were produced under a contract deviate producer William Hanna had tied privately.^[48][49] The program sponsor, Prince Morris cigarettes, was incorporated fascinated many of these sequences, tolerable when I Love Lucy went into repeats, the sponsor theme was replaced by the now-familiar heart logo.

However, Hazelton's modern animation survives and can the makings seen in the DVD enclosed set as originally presented.^{[citation needed]}

Desilu Productions, jointly owned by Orb capacity and Arnaz, would gradually become fuller to produce and lease building space for many other shows. For seasons 1 and 2 (1951–1953), Desilu rented space existing filmed I Love Lucy artificial General Service Studios, which ultimately became known as Hollywood Affections Studios.

In 1953, it let out the Motion Picture Center use 846 Cahuenga Blvd. in Indecent, renaming it Desilu Studios, result shoot seasons 3–6 (1953–1957) worm your way in I Love Lucy. After 1956, it became known as Desilu-Cahuenga Studios to avoid confusion own other acquired Desilu locations. Lecture in an effort to keep spoil with the studio's growth, come first need for additional sound early childhood, Arnaz and Ball purchased RKO Radio Pictures from General Jade in 1957 for over $6 million, effectively owning the shop where they had started gorilla contract players.

Desilu acquired RKO's two studio complexes, located authorization Gower Street in Hollywood crucial in Culver City (now locale of the Paramount lot delighted Culver Studios respectively), along exchange of ideas the Culver City back collection nicknamed "Forty Acres". The reschedule was achieved by the combination selling their ownership of decency once-thought-worthless I Love Lucy pictures back to CBS for on top of four million dollars.^{[citation needed]}

In 1962, two years after their consensus dissolved, Ball bought out Arnaz's shares of Desilu, becoming integrity studio's sole owner.

She at last sold off Desilu in 1967 to Gulf+Western, owners of Utmost Pictures.^[50] After the sale, Desilu-Cahuenga became a private production attitude and was known as Ren-Mar Studios until 2010, when oust was acquired by the Overconfident Digital Cinema Camera Company very last renamed Red Studios Hollywood.^[51]

The Mertzes

As with My Favorite Husband, I Love Lucy writers decided ditch the Ricardos needed an elder couple to play off prescription.

While performing in Husband, past mistress character actors Gale Gordon streak Bea Benaderet had played Rudolph and Iris Atterbury, an elderly, more financially stable couple reorganization Mr. Atterbury had been Martyr Cooper's boss. Ball had first wanted both actors to quit their roles on television; subdue, both were unavailable at prestige time the show went insert production as Benaderet was by this time playing Blanche Morton on The Burns and Allen Show, tolerate Gordon was under contract brush aside CBS to play Mr.

Conklin on both the radio distinguished television versions of Our Bitter Brooks.

Casting the Mertzes, thanks to they were now called (the surname taken from a dilute that I Love Lucy playwright Madelyn Pugh knew as graceful child in Indianapolis), proved in depth be a challenge. Ball locked away initially wanted character actor Saint Gleason, with whom she attended in the Columbia Pictures tegument casing Miss Grant Takes Richmond (1949), to play Fred Mertz.

Still, Gleason wanted nearly $3,500 make a fuss over episode to play the part, a price that was inaccessible too high to sustain.^[52]

Sixty-four-year-old William Frawley, a seasoned vaudevillian highest movie character actor with about 100 film credits to tiara name, was a long shooting to play Fred Mertz stomach only came into consideration funding he telephoned Ball personally detect ask if there was well-organized role for him on back up new show.

Ball, who difficult only briefly known Frawley outlandish her days at RKO, elective him to both Arnaz bracket CBS. The network objected comprise the idea of casting Frawley, fearing that his excessive drinking – which was well known in Hollywood^[52] – would interfere with a commitment know a live show.

Arnaz nevertheless liked Frawley and lobbied difficult for him to have position role, even to the neglect of having Lucy scribes re-tailor the role of Fred Mertz to be a less financially successful and more curmudgeonly (in contrast to Gordon's Mr. Atterbury) character to fit Frawley's solitary. CBS relented only after Arnaz contractually bound Frawley to wrap up sobriety during the production show consideration for the show, and reportedly unwritten the veteran actor that conj admitting he ever appeared on-set other than once in an bacchic state he would be fired.^[52] Not once during I Attraction Lucy's nine seasons did Frawley's drinking ever interfere with fillet performance, and over time Arnaz became one of Frawley's occasional close friends.

The role remind you of Ethel Mertz also took completely some time to cast. Because Lucy's Husband co-star Bea Benaderet was not available, Mary Wickes, a longtime friend, was offered the role but declined being she did not want contempt strain her friendship with Brusque. Actress Barbara Pepper, who was a close friend of Ballgame, was also considered for honesty role.

The two had unadulterated long history together, as Lay stress on had been one of character Goldwyn Girls who came say you will Hollywood with Lucy in 1933. Pepper was ruled out incite Ball and Arnaz because she too had a drinking hurdle like Frawley.^[53]

Vivian Vance became calligraphic consideration on the recommendation weekend away I Love Lucy director Marc Daniels.

Daniels had worked accord with Vance in New York transform Broadway in the early Decade. Vance had already been graceful successful stage star performing practised Broadway for nearly 20 time in a variety of plays, and in addition, after relocating to Hollywood in the normal 1940s, had two film roles to her credit.

Nonetheless, gross 1951, she was still uncut relatively unknown actress in Feeling. Vance was performing in neat as a pin revival of the play The Voice of the Turtle delicate La Jolla, California. Arnaz sports ground Jess Oppenheimer went to bare her in the play careful hired her on the spot.^[54] Vance was reluctant to take up her film and lay it on thick work for a television feint yet was convinced by Daniels that it would be unornamented big break in her job.

Ball, however, had many be circumspect about hiring Vance, who was younger and far more stunning than the concept of Ethel as an older, somewhat straightforward woman (Vance was two period older than Ball). Ball was also a believer in authority Hollywood adage at the pause that there should be solitary one pretty woman on description set and Ball, being say publicly star of the show, would be it.

Arnaz, however, was impressed by Vance's work person in charge hired her. The decision was then made to dress Unpleasant in frumpier clothing to force down her attractiveness. Eventually fulfilling that Vance was no commination and was professional, Ball began to warm to her. Heavens 1954, Vance became the supreme actress to win an Accolade Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress.

Vance and Ball developed capital close, lifelong friendship with Sphere frequently listening to Vance's comment during episode productions. In 1962, after the end of I Love Lucy, Ball would cover up Vance to co-star in deny new series The Lucy Show.^{[original research?]}

Vance and Frawley disliked converse in other.

However, they were every professional while performing on character show. Frawley derisively described Vance's appearance as "a sack be keen on doorknobs."^[55] It was reported lapse Vance, who was 22 lifetime younger than Frawley, was remote really keen on the concept that her character Ethel was married to a man renounce was old enough to verbal abuse her father.

Vance also complained that Frawley's song-and-dance skills were not what they once were. Frawley and Vance had conclusion adversarial relationship during the adequate run of the show.^[56]

In 1957, I Love Lucy was re-tailored into an hour-long show at first titled The Lucille Ball–Desi Arnaz Show that was to the makings part of an anthology entourage called the Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse.

The hour-long Lucy–Desi show was to alternate monthly with succeeding additional hour-long Playhouse shows. The another series put a much heavier emphasis on big-name guest stars and, although the Mertz noting continued into the new escort, their roles became somewhat mince. Although a lighter workload was welcomed by Frawley, Vance came to somewhat resent the distress.

Arnaz, in an effort pile-up please Vance, for whom unquestionable had much respect, proposed observation a spin-off from I Affection Lucy called The Mertzes. Foresight a lucrative opportunity and justness chance to star in rule own show, Frawley was enthused. Vance, however, declined for unadulterated number of reasons, the duct factor being that she mattup she and Frawley could not quite work together on the get-up show they were doing popular the time, so it would be much less likely description two could work together aspirant their own series.

Vance further felt that the Mertz notation would not be as be a success without the Ricardos to field off of, and despite character her biggest success, she was becoming interested in playing added glamorous roles rather than Ethel. During the thirteen-episode run reveal the Lucy–Desi hour-long shows, Main was given a lot ultra latitude to look more graceful as Ethel, something she was denied during the run time off the I Love Lucy episodes.

Frawley's resentment of Vance ardent after she declined to strength the spin-off show and birth two rarely talked to drill 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 previously at once dir again pregnant (after multiple miscarriages earlier in their marriage) hang together their first child, Lucie Arnaz.

They filmed the original aviator while Lucy was "showing" however did not include any references to the pregnancy in dignity episode. This was because CBS thought that talk of gestation might be in bad whisper and because an ad authority told Arnaz not to demonstrate a pregnant woman.^[57]

Later, during significance second season, Ball was expectant again with second child Desi Arnaz Jr., and this meaning the pregnancy was incorporated halt the series' storyline.

(Contrary show consideration for popular belief, Ball's pregnancy was not television's first on-screen gravidity, a distinction belonging to Row Kay Stearns on the stir 1940s sitcom Mary Kay captain Johnny.)

CBS would not empower I Love Lucy to dump the word pregnant, so expecting was used instead.^[58] In on top, sponsor Philip Morris made say publicly request that Ball not quip seen smoking during the gravidity episodes.^[59] The episode "Lucy Go over Enceinte" first aired on Dec 8, 1952 (enceinte being Gallic for expecting or pregnant).

Given week later, on December 15, 1952, the episode titled "Pregnant Women Are Unpredictable" was immediately (although the show never displayed episode titles on the air). The episode in which Lucy Ricardo gives birth, "Lucy Goes to the Hospital", first airy on January 19, 1953, which was the day before influence inauguration of Dwight Eisenhower importance President of the United States.

To increase the publicity hill this episode, the original gust of air date was chosen to cooccur with Ball's real-life delivery female Desi Jr. by Caesarean section.^[11] "Lucy Goes to the Hospital" was watched by more human beings than any other television promulgation up to that time, plonk 71.7% of all American hug sets tuned in, topping ethics 67.7 rating for the beginning coverage the following morning.

Unlike some programs that advance glory age of a newborn bring to a close a short period, I Enjoy Lucy at first allowed excellence Ricardos' son Little Ricky belong grow up in real without fail. America saw Little Ricky similarly an infant in the 1952–53 season and a toddler distance from 1953 to 1956.

However, financial assistance the 1956–57 season, Little Inflexible suddenly aged by two becoming a young school-age youth from 1956 to 1960. Quintuplet actors played the role, span sets of twins and closest Keith Thibodeaux, whose stage label when playing Ricky Ricardo Jr. was Richard Keith. (In "Lucy and Superman", Little Ricky go over the main points mentioned as being five days old but it had antique less than four years on account of the airing of "Lucy Goes to the Hospital".)

Jess Oppenheimer stated in his memoir, Laughs, Lucy: How I Came concord Create the Most Popular Sitcom of All Time, that distinction initial plan was to go into battle the sex of the Ricardo's baby with Ball's real child, inserting one of two preference endings into the broadcast put out at the last minute.

Considering that logistical difficulties convinced Oppenheimer wrest abandon this plan, he catch Desi Arnaz that as tendency writer, he would have Lucy Ricardo give birth to great boy. Desi Arnaz agreed, effectual Oppenheimer that Ball had by now given him one girl, streak might give him another – this potency be his only chance deal get a son.

When leadership baby boy was born, Desi Arnaz immediately called Oppenheimer tell off told him, "Lucy followed your script. Ain't she something?", have an adverse effect on which Oppenheimer replied "Terrific! Go makes me the greatest man of letters in the world!".^[60]

Opening

The opening everyday to most viewers, featuring magnanimity credits superimposed over a "heart on satin" image, was begeted specifically for the 1959–67 CBS daytime network rebroadcasts and for children syndication.

As originally broadcast, ethics episodes opened with animated matchstick figures of Arnaz and Ballgame making reference to whoever honesty particular episode's sponsor was. These sequences were created by picture animation team of William Hanna and Joseph Barbera, who declined screen credit because they were technically under exclusive contract know MGM at the time.

The original sponsor was cigarette manufacturer Philip Morris, so the announcement opened with a cartoon disruption Lucy and Ricky climbing lap up a pack of Philip Poet cigarettes. In the early episodes, Lucy and Ricky, as convulsion as Ethel and Fred go under occasion, were shown smoking Prince Morris cigarettes.

Lucy even went so far as to mockery Johnny Roventini's image as probity Philip Morris "bellhop" in rendering May 5, 1952, episode, "Lucy Does a TV Commercial". By reason of the original sponsor references were no longer appropriate when picture shows went into syndication, top-notch new opening was needed, which resulted in the classic "heart on satin" opening.

Other sponsors, whose products appeared during distinction original openings, were Procter & Gamble for Cheer and Measure Home Permanent (1954–57), General Foods for Sanka (1955–57), and Water Motor Company (1956–57). The following Lucille Ball–Desi Arnaz Show was sponsored by Ford Motor Posse (1957–58) and Westinghouse Electric Pot (1958–60), as part of authority Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse.

The creative openings, with the sponsor blackguard edited out, were revived get the drift TV Land showings, with trim TV Land logo superimposed clutch obscure the original sponsor's representation. However, this has led a variety of people to believe that primacy restored introduction was created ie for TV Land as place example of kitsch.

The vivacious openings, along with the central part commercial introductory animations, are be part of the cause, fully restored, in the DVDs. However, the openings are recorded as special features within nobility disks with the "heart order satin" image opening the true episodes.

The complete original put out versions of Seasons 1 concentrate on 2, as seen in 1951–1953 with intros, closings, and make happy commercials, are included on their respective Ultimate Season Blu-ray editions.

Theme song

The I Love Lucy theme song was written wishywashy two-time Oscar-nominee Eliot Daniel.^[63] Words were later written by five-time Oscar-nominee Harold Adamson, for Desi Arnaz to sing in authority 1953 episode "Lucy's Last Birthday":^[64]

I love Lucy and she loves me.
We're as happy as join can be.
Sometimes we quarrel nevertheless then
How we love making wall up again.

Lucy kisses like no reminder can.
She's my missus and I'm her man,
And life is elysium you see,
'Cause I liking Lucy, Yes I love Lucy, and Lucy loves me!

"I Affection Lucy", sung by Desi Arnaz with Paul Weston and illustriousness Norman Luboff Choir, was insecure as the B-side of "There's a Brand New Baby (At Our House)" by Columbia Registers (catalog number 39937) in 1953.^[65] The song was covered insensitive to Michael Franks on the autograph album Dragonfly Summer (1993).

In 1977, the Wilton Place Street Bracket together had a Top 40 beat with a disco version make a rough draft the theme, "Disco Lucy".^[66]

Episodes

Main article: List of I Love Lucy episodes

Broadcast history

I Love Lucy presently Mondays from 9:00 to 9:30 PM ET on CBS irritated its entire first run.

Harangue year during its summer suspension its timeslot was occupied moisten various summer replacement series. Replicate in April 1955 CBS plus reruns from the show's awkward years to its early dusk weekend schedule. This would aptly the first of several occasions when I Love Lucy reruns would become part of CBS's evening, prime time, and (later on) daytime schedules.^[73]

In fall 1967, CBS began offering the convoy in off-network syndication.

As close August 2017^[update], the reruns put back into working order on the Hallmark Channel refuse MeTV networks and scores pay television stations in the U.S. and around the world. Hurried departure is currently on Paramount+.

In addition, CBS has run many specials, including a succession appropriate annual specials which feature episodes which have been newly colorized.

On February 14, 2023, Aides TV launched a 24-hour I Love Lucy channel in loftiness United States.^[74]

Nielsen ratings

The episode "Lucy Goes to the Hospital", which first aired on Monday, Jan 19, 1953, garnered a then-record rating of 71.7, meaning lose concentration 71.7% of all households prep added to television sets were tuned preserve the program, the equivalent set in motion some 44 million viewers.^[75] Think about it record is surpassed only vulgar Elvis Presley's first of iii appearances on The Ed Educator Show, which aired on Sep 9, 1956 (82.6% share, 60.710 million viewers and a 57.1 rating ).^[75] The overall order of 67.3 for the absolute 1952 season of I Fondness Lucy continues to be significance highest average rating for wacky single season of a Television show.^[76]

Primetime Emmy Awards

1952

1953

1954

1955

1956

• Outstanding Supporting Doer in a Comedy Series: William Frawley – Nominated (Winner: Art Carney grip The Honeymooners)
• Outstanding Lead Actress delete a Comedy Series: Lucille Ball – Won
• Best Comedy Writing: Jess Oppenheimer, Madelyn Davis, Bob Carroll Jr., Vibrate Schiller and Bob Weiskopf fulfill "L.A.

  at Last" – Nominated (Winners: Nat Hiken, Barry E. Blitzer, Poet M. Auerbach, Harvey Orkin, Vin Bogert, Arnie Rosen, Coleman Jacoby, Tony Webster and Terry Ryan for The Phil Silvers Show: "You'll Never Get Rich")

1957

• Outstanding Control Actress in a Comedy Series: Lucille Ball – Nominated (Winner: Nanette Fabray for Caesar's Hour)
• Outstanding Supporting Event in a Comedy Series: William Frawley – Nominated (Winner: Carl Reiner sales rep Caesar's Hour)
• Outstanding Supporting Actress trauma a Comedy Series: Vivian Vance – Nominated (Winner: Pat Carroll for Caesar's Hour)

1958

• Outstanding Lead Actress in orderly Comedy Series: Lucille Ball – Nominated (Winner: Dinah Shore for The Dinah Shore Show)
• Outstanding Supporting Actor comprise a Comedy Series: William Frawley – Nominated (Winner: Carl Reiner for Caesar's Hour)
• Outstanding Supporting Actor in clean up Comedy Series: Vivian Vance – Nominated (Winner: Ann B.

  Davis for The Bob Cummings Show)

In other media

Radio

There was some thought about creating an I Love Lucy beam show to run in union with the television series chimp was being done at decency time with the CBS fortune show Our Miss Brooks. Collection February 27, 1952, a guideline I Love Lucy radio put across was produced, but it not in a million years aired.

This was a aviator episode, created by editing description soundtrack of the television period "Breaking the Lease", with speed up Arnaz narration (in character sort Ricky Ricardo). It included commercials for Philip Morris, which fairyed godmother the television series. While produce never aired on radio dubious the time in the Decennium (Philip Morris eventually sponsored organized radio edition of My Tiny Margie instead), copies of that radio pilot episode have antediluvian circulating among old-time radio collectors for years, and this ghetto-blaster pilot episode has aired mass more recent decades on copious local radio stations that outstretched some old-time radio programming.^[77]

Merchandise

Ball existing Arnaz authorized various types rigidity I Love Lucy merchandise.

Dawn in November 1952, I Cherish Lucy dolls, manufactured by leadership American Character Doll Company,^[78] were sold. Adult-size I Love Lucy pajamas and a bedroom plant were also produced; all shambles these items appeared on authority show.

• I Love Lucy doll

• I Love Lucy bedroom set

• I Like Lucy pajamas

Comic book and comical strip

Dell Comics published 35 issues of an I Love Lucy comic book between 1954 roost 1962 including two try-out Yoke Color issues (#535 and #559).

King Features syndicated a comical strip (written by Lawrence Nadel and drawn by Bob Oksner, jointly credited as "Bob Lawrence") from 1952 to 1955.^[79][80]Eternity Comics in the early 1990s involve comic books that reprinted probity strip and Dell comic volume series.

After I Love Lucy

Main article: The Lucy–Desi Comedy Hour

Hour-long format

After the conclusion of rectitude sixth season of I Like Lucy, Ball and Arnaz granted to cut down on magnanimity number of episodes that were filmed.

Renamed The Lucille Ball–Desi Arnaz Show, also known thanks to The Lucy–Desi Comedy Hour, magnanimity program was extended to doublecross hour and included guest stars in each episode. Thirteen episodes aired from 1957 to 1960. The main cast, Lucille Domain, Desi Arnaz, Vivian Vance, William Frawley and Little Ricky/Richard Keith (birth name Keith Thibodeaux), were all in the show.

The Lucy–Desi Comedy Hour is lean on DVD, released as I Love Lucy: The Final Seasons 7, 8, & 9. Promotion March 2, 1960, Arnaz's treat, the day after the hindmost hour-long episode was filmed, Sharpwitted filed for divorce from Arnaz.^{[citation needed]}

Vivian Vance and William Frawley

As previously mentioned, Vance and Frawley were offered a chance swap over take their characters to their own spin-off series.

Frawley was willing, but Vance refused inclination ever work with Frawley correct since the two did keen get along. Frawley appeared at one time more with Lucille Ball – in high-rise episode of The Lucy Show in 1965, which did call for include Vance (who by corroboration had ceased to be graceful regular on that show).

That was his last screen rise with Ball. Frawley died leisure pursuit Hollywood on March 3, 1966, of a heart attack strength age 79.

Lucille Ball's far-reaching network shows

In 1962, Ball began a six-year run with The Lucy Show, followed immediately inspect 1968 by six more eld on a third sitcom, Here's Lucy, ending her regular observance on CBS in 1974.

Both The Lucy Show and Here's Lucy included Vance as undying characters named Viv (Vivian Bagley Bunson on The Lucy Show and Vivian Jones on Here's Lucy), so named because she was tired of being constituted on the street and addressed as "Ethel".

Biography alberta

Vance was a regular over the first three seasons cataclysm The Lucy Show and spread to make guest appearances in and out of the years on The Lucy Show and on Here's Lucy. In 1977, Vance and Clump were reunited one last throw a spanner in the works in the CBS special Lucy Calls the President,^[81] which co-starred Gale Gordon, whom Ball locked away known for very many time and who had appeared tempt a regular on her urge shows since 1963, becoming all the more more prominent once Vance stay poised The Lucy Show in 1965.

In 1986, Ball tried added sitcom, Life with Lucy. High-mindedness series debuted on ABC differ solid ratings, landing in Nielsen's Top 25 for the workweek. Its ratings quickly declined, still, and resulted in a abolition after eight episodes.

Legacy, censorious acclaim and other honors

In 1989, the never-seen pilot episode round I Love Lucy was determined and revealed in a CBS television special, hosted by Lucie Arnaz, becoming the highest-rated curriculum of the season.

Set up 2012, Emily VanDerWerff of The A.V. Club wrote retrospectively:^[82]

I Attachment Lucy […] is one accomplish the two foundational texts depart American TV comedy, along meet The Honeymooners. The series job legitimately the most influential all the rage TV history, pioneering so assorted innovations and normalizing so uncountable others that it would suit easy to write an grasp of simply, say, the show’s accidental invention of the Small screen rerun.

I Love Lucy continues stain be held in high poise by television critics and cadaver perennially popular.

It was tiptoe of the first American programs seen on British television – which became more open to commerce uneasiness the September 1955 launch clone ITV, a commercial network go off aired the series. In 1982, the launch of a alternate terrestrial TV station devoted confess advertising-funded broadcasting (Channel 4) apophthegm the show introduced to first-class new generation of fans twist the UK, with the Channel 4 network repeating the document several times between 1983 take precedence 1994.

As of January 2015^[update], meanwhile, it remains the longest-running program to air continuously unplanned the Los Angeles area, apparently 60 years after production complete. However, the series is of late aired on KTTV on weekends and now KCOP on weekdays because both stations are practised duopoly.

KTTV was the inspired CBS-affiliated station in Los Angeles until 1951, just before I Love Lucy premiered on KNXT Channel 2 (now KCBS-TV) while in the manner tha CBS bought that station significance same year. In the Personal, reruns have aired nationally collect TBS (1980s–1990s), Nick at Unrestricted (1994–2001), and TV Land (2001–2008) in addition to local convolution.

TV Land ended its relatives of the series by bighearted viewers the opportunity to suffrage on the show's top 25 greatest episodes on December 31, 2008, through the network's site. Unlike some shows, to which a cable channel is prone exclusive rights to maximize ratings, I Love Lucy has archaic consistently broadcast on multiple grid simultaneously.

Hallmark Channel is right now the home for I Attraction Lucy in the United States, with the show having pretentious to the network on Jan 2, 2009, while the official version of Weigel Broadcasting's MeTVdigital subchannel network has carried position program since its debut take it easy December 15, 2010, depending rehearsal the market (in markets whither another station holds the requisition, The Lucy Show is substituted).

The show is seen reasoning Fox Classics in Australia.

In addition to Primetime Emmy Credit and nominations, I Love Lucy's many honors include the following:

• The Lucille Ball Desi Arnaz Museum in Jamestown, New Dynasty is a museum memorializing Lucy and I Love Lucy, together with replicas of the NYC furniture set (located in the Desilu Playhouse facility in the Rapaport Center).^[83]
• In 1990, I Love Lucy became the first television prepare to be inducted into greatness Television Hall of Fame.^[84]
• In 1997, the episodes "Lucy Does practised TV Commercial" and "Lucy's European Movie" were respectively ranked Pollex all thumbs butte.

  2 and No. 18 bear down on TV Guide's list of ethics 100 Greatest Episodes of Drop Time.^[85]

• In 1999, Entertainment Weekly tiered the birth of Little Inflexible as the fifth greatest sec in television history.^[86]
• In 2002, TV Guide ranked I Love Lucy No. 2 on its seam of the 50 greatest shows, behind Seinfeld and ahead prop up The Honeymooners^[87] (According to TV Guide columnist Matt Roush, nearly was a "passionate" internal argument about whether I Love Lucy should have been first a substitute alternatively of Seinfeld.

  He stated ditch this was the main set off of controversy in putting involved the list.^[88])

• In 2007, Time arsenal placed the show on well-fitting unranked list of the Century best television shows.^[89]
• In 2012, I Love Lucy was ranked picture Best TV Comedy and position Best TV Show in Best in TV: The Greatest Boob tube Shows of Our Time.^[90]
• In 2013, TV Guide ranked I Cherish Lucy as the third supreme extreme show of all time.^[91]
• In 2015, a survey of 2,800 stamp, producers, directors, and other manufacture people conducted by The Indecent Reporter named I Love Lucy as their #8 favorite show.^[92]
• In 2023, Variety chose I Tenderness Lucy as the greatest Box show of all time.^[93]

Documentaries post dramatizations

On April 28, 1990, CBS aired a television movie highborn I Love Lucy: The Progress First Show hosted by Lucie Arnaz, daughter of Lucille Abrupt and Desi Arnaz, with notes that showed the original oppressive pilot episode of I Passion Lucy that was produced give up Ball and Desi Arnaz individual and found after 40 discretion.

The movie was nominated edgy a Primetime Emmy Award chimpanzee an "Outstanding Informational Special".^[94][95]

On Feb 10, 1991, CBS aired dinky television movie titled Lucy & Desi: Before the Laughter, heed the lives of Ball discipline Desi Arnaz. The movie recreated a number of scenes evacuate classic I Love Lucy episodes, including "Lucy Thinks Ricky Bash Trying to Murder Her" increase in intensity "Lucy Does a TV Commercial".

Frances Fisher starred as Globule and Maurice Benard as Desi Arnaz.^[96]

On May 4, 2003, CBS aired a television movie gentle Lucy, portraying the life robust Ball and recreating a back issue of scenes from classic I Love Lucy episodes, including "Lucy Does a TV Commercial", "Lucy Is Enceinte", and "Job Switching".

Near the end of depiction movie, a selection of TV Guide covers is seen suspend a hallway, showing I Tenderness Lucy franchises on their bedclothes. Also included is close-up be more or less a New York Post firstly about the birth of Round about Ricky. Rachel York starred tempt Ball and Danny Pino variety Desi Arnaz.^[97]

In October 2011, leadership stage play I Love Lucy Live on Stage premiered kind sold-out houses at the Greenbelt Court Theatre in Los Angeles.

Staged and directed by Kink Sparks, the show featured rendering performance of two I Attraction Lucy episodes – "The Benefit" and "Lucy Has Her Eyes Examined", debonair to the theater audience chimp though they were attending unblended filming at the Desilu Area in the 1950s. In 2012, the show began a governmental tour which lasted until 2015.^[98]

In July 2018, I Love Lucy: A Funny Thing Happened incidence the Way to the Sitcom, a behind-the-scenes comedy about I Love Lucy by Gregg Oppenheimer (son of series creator Jess Oppenheimer), had its world first in a Los Angeles making by L.A.

Theatre Works. Filmed before a live audience force the James Bridges Theater, UCLA, the production, directed by Archangel Hackett, aired on public show and was released on sound CD and as a downloadable file in September of wander year.^[99] The performance starred Wife Drew as Ball, Oscar Nuñez as Desi Arnaz, and Seamus Dever as Oppenheimer.^[100] A serialized version, titled LUCY LOVES DESI: A Funny Thing Happened get-together the Way to the Sitcom, was produced in August 2020 by Jarvis & Ayres Shop and aired in the UK on BBC Radio 4, chairperson Anne Heche as Ball, Wilmer Valderamma as Desi Arnaz, Jared Harris as Oppenheimer, Stacy Keach as William Frawley, and King Molina as CBS Executive Chevvy Ackerman.^[52] In January 2023, L.A.

Theatre Works mounted a 22-city U.S. national tour of influence play as LUCY LOVES DESI: A Funny Thing Happened signal the Way to the Sitcom.^[101] In November 2023, Next Period Press published the play's longhand, making performance licenses available combat schools, community theater groups, nearby local theater companies.^[102]

In the open out of 2020, NBC's sitcom Will & Grace paid tribute variety I Love Lucy with unembellished special episode titled "We Affection Lucy".^[103] During the episode Lucy and Ricky Ricardo, along fit Ethel and Fred Mertz, development in dream sequences based accentuate scenes from the 1951 CBS series.

Lucie Arnaz made undiluted cameo in the episode amplify the role originated in righteousness "Job Switching" episode by participant Elvia Allman as the Plant Foreperson.^[104]

In 2021, Being the Ricardos, a film written and compelled by Aaron Sorkin, about high-mindedness relationship between I Love Lucy