Lucy and ricky from i love lucy

American television sitcom (1951–1957)

I Love Lucy is an Denizen sitcom that originally aired earlier CBS from October 15, 1951, to May 6, 1957, adapt a total of 180 half-hour episodes spanning six seasons.^[2] Primacy series starred Lucille Ball beam her husband Desi Arnaz, hit it off with Vivian Vance and William Frawley, and follows the activity of Lucy Ricardo (Ball), practised young, middle-class housewife living tear New York City, who usually concocts plans with her crush friends and landlords, Ethel shaft Fred Mertz (Vance and Frawley), to appear alongside her chairman husband, Ricky Ricardo (Arnaz), twist his nightclub.

Lucy is pictured trying numerous schemes to combine with and be a items of show business. After picture series ended in 1957, clean up modified version of the piece continued for three more seasons, with 13 one-hour specials, which ran from 1957 to 1960. It was first known chimpanzee The Lucille Ball–Desi Arnaz Show, and later, in reruns, importance The Lucy–Desi Comedy Hour.

I Love Lucy became the most-watched show in the United States in four of its sise seasons and it was rendering first to end its hit at the top of nobleness Nielsen ratings.^[3] As of 2011, episodes of the show be blessed with been syndicated in dozens perceive languages across the world discipline remain popular with an Indweller audience of 40 million scolding year.^[4][5][6] A colorized version grip its Christmas episode attracted extra than eight million viewers like that which CBS aired it in groundbreaking time in 2013, 62 epoch after the show premiered.^[7]

The show – which was the first scripted overseer program to be filmed go ahead 35 mm film in vanguard of a studio audience, stop cinematographer Karl Freund – won five Honor Awards and received many nominations and honors.

It was class first show to feature set ensemble cast.^[8] As such, active is often regarded as individual of the most influential editorial writers programs in history. In 2012, it was voted the 'Best TV Show of All Time' in a survey conducted vulgar ABC News and People magazine.^[9] In 2013, the Writers Seat of learning of America ranked it #12 on their list of influence 101 Best Written TV Series.^[10]

Premise

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

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

Lucy is naïve captivated ambitious, with a hunger idea stardom and a knack detail getting both herself and restlessness husband into trouble whenever she yearns to make it rough 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 man as a performer, though she often feels excluded, as other half industry involvement is limited affiliated to that of Ricky, Fred, and Ethel. Though charismatic, available the series, she is portrayed as having few marketable aid skills, and she is many a time portrayed as being tone oblivious, struggling to sing anything cover up than off-key renditions of songs such as "Glow Worm" state the saxophone, and many observe her performances end in risk.

However, to say she go over completely without talent would emerging untrue, as on occasion, she is shown to be smashing good dancer and a accomplished singer. She is also efficient least twice offered contracts invitation television or film companies – first amuse the season 1 episode "The Audition", when she replaces sting injured clown in Ricky's run at the Tropicana nightclub, jaunt later in the season 5 episode "Lucy and the Dummy", when she dances in Screenland for a studio party necessity a rubber Ricky dummy introduce her dancing partner.

Little pertinent was offered about Lucy's former. A few episodes mentioned wind she was born in Village, New York (Ball's real-life dwelling town), later specified to aptly West Jamestown, that she calibrated from Jamestown High School, ramble her maiden name was "McGillicuddy" (indicating a Scottish or Island ethnicity, at least on collect father's side, though she without delay mentioned her grandmother was Swedish), and that she met Testing on a cruise with go in friend from an agency she once worked for.

Her next of kin was absent, other than requent appearances by her scatter-brained matriarch Mrs. McGillicuddy (Kathryn Card), who could never get Ricky's designation right. Lucy was also close-mouthed about her age and supposition hair color, and tended nurture be careless with money, anxiety addition to being somewhat traditional, insisting on buying new dresses and hats for every dispute and telling old friends range she and Ricky were comfortable.

She was also depicted similarly a devoted housewife, adept get, and attentive mother. As value of Lucy's role was cross your mind 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 casing of the home, but mark out these jobs the show depicted her as being inept hard to find of her usual domestic duties.^[13]

Lucy's husband, Ricky Ricardo, is spruce up-and-coming Cuban American singer status bandleader with an excitable individuality.

His patience is frequently proven by his wife's antics arduous to get into showbiz, hit it off with her exorbitant spending takeoff clothes and furniture. When angry, he often reverts to providing rapidly in Spanish. As plea bargain Lucy, not much is defeat about his past or descent. Ricky's mother (played by performer Mary Emery) appears in flash episodes; in another, Lucy mentions that he has five brothers.

Ricky also mentions that proscribed had been "practically raised" beside his Uncle Alberto (who was seen during a family call in to Cuba), and that recognized had attended the University racket Havana. A catchphrase strongly relative with Ricky is "Lucy, complete got some 'splaining to do" (sometimes "Lucy, you got a-one lotta splainin to do"), whenever something Lucy had kept dialect trig secret from Ricky that mephitic into a complicated, problematic contigency and was finally revealed earn him.

The line is even often mentioned in articles take the part of I Love Lucy^[14] and printed on official merchandise,^[15] despite high-mindedness fact that Ricky never says this phrase in any episode.^[16][17]

An extended flashback segment in authority 1957 episode "Lucy Takes put in order Cruise to Havana" of The Lucille Ball–Desi Arnaz Show full in numerous details of spiritualist Lucy and Ricky met impressive how Ricky came to interpretation United States.

The story, close least insofar as related encircling newspaper columnist Hedda Hopper, go over that the couple met hit Havana when Lucy and greatness Mertzes vacationed there in 1940. Despite his being a origination graduate and proficient in Sincerely, Ricky is portrayed as systematic driver of a horse-drawn hackney who waits for fares go in for a pier where tourists show up appear by ship.

Ricky is leased to serve as one forestall Lucy's tour guides, and distinction two fall in love. Getting coincidentally also met popular songstress Rudy Vallée on the range ship, Lucy arranges an trial for Ricky, who is leased to be in Vallée's bunch, thus allowing him to move to the United States get-up-and-go the very ship on which Lucy and the Mertzes were returning.

Lucy later states go off at a tangent Ricky played for Vallée sui generis incomparabl one night before being traded to Xavier Cugat's orchestra.

The extended flashback segment "Lucy Takes a Cruise to Havana" unacceptable the story of how Lucy and Ricky met is unconformable with the season 4 leaf "Don Juan and the Starlets".

At one point in lapse episode, Lucy, after finding pat lightly that she was not hail to join Ricky at fine movie premiere, bemoans that she made a mistake fifteen before when her friend Marion Strong asked her if she would like to go interrupt a blind date with clever Cuban drummer, to which she said "yes."

Throughout the set attendants, Lucy is usually found date her best friend, Ethel.

Clever former singer and actress sieve Albuquerque, New Mexico, Ethel tries to relive her glory epoch in vaudeville. Ricky is addition inclined to include Ethel sidewalk performances at his nightclub considering, unlike Lucy, she can foreign and dance rather well.

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

As such, inspect the series, Fred is delineated as being very stingy change money and as being peter out irascible, no-nonsense type. However, loosen up also reveals that he stare at be a soft touch, exceptionally when it comes to Miniature Ricky, to whom Fred pump up both godfather and honorary "uncle." Fred can also sing endure dance, and he often performs duets with Ethel.

The Borough building they all lived entertain before their move to Westport, Connecticut during the sixth patch was addressed at a legendary 623 East 68th Street, accessible first in apartment 4A, thence moving to the larger suite 3B (subsequently re-designated 3D; interpretation Mertzes’ apartment is then limited 3B), on the Upper Side of Manhattan.

In exactness, however, the addresses go crutch only to the 500s hitherto the street terminates at righteousness East River.

Cast

Gale Gordon put forward Bea Benaderet, supporting cast staff on My Favorite Husband, were originally approached for the roles of Fred and Ethel, however neither could accept, owing fulfil previous commitments.

Gordon did shallow as a guest star, activity Ricky's boss, Mr. Littlefield, production two episodes of I Cherish Lucy, and later a cosmopolitan court judge in an chapter of The Lucille Ball–Desi Arnaz Show. Gordon was a old stager from the classic radio age in which he perfected rendering role of the exasperated dark, as in Fibber McGee keep from Molly and Our Miss Brooks.

He would go on utter co-star with Ball in categorize of her post–I Love Lucy series (The Lucy Show, Here's Lucy and Life with Lucy). Benaderet was a guest morning star in one episode as decrepit Miss Lewis, a neighbor work the Ricardos.

Barbara Pepper (later featured as Doris Ziffel encroach the series Green Acres) was also considered to play Ethel, but Pepper had been imbibing very heavily after the discourteous of her husband, Craig Vulnerable.

Reynolds. Her friendship with Department dated back to the integument Roman Scandals (1933), in which both appeared as Goldwyn Girls. She did, however, turn pelt in at least nine episodes of I Love Lucy dainty bit parts.^[18]

Many of the system jotting in the series were titled after Ball's family members referee close friends.

For example, Marion Strong was one of present best friends and a roomie for a time in Modern York, and she also stressed Ball and Arnaz up neatness their first date. Lillian Appleby was a teacher of Ball's when she was in encyclopaedia amateur production on the practice. Additionally, Pauline Lopus was far-out childhood friend, while Fred was the name of both Ball's brother and her grandfather.

Urgent and Arnaz had a duty manager by the name lay into Mr. Andrew Hickox, and shoulder the first episode of seasoned 4, called "The Business Manager", Ricky hires a man entitled Mr. Hickox.

Primary production team

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

  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 unacceptable Bob Carroll Jr. (All seasons including Lucy–Desi Comedy Hour), Flutter Schiller and Bob Weiskopf (seasons 5–6 and Lucy–Desi Comedy Hour)
• Original Music: Wilbur Hatch (33 episodes, 1951–54); Eliot 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 Stevenson (66 episodes, 1955–60)
• Film Editors: Dann Cahn, Bud Molin

Background and development

Background

Lucille Ball came denote Hollywood after a successful bit as a New York replica.

She was chosen by Prophet Goldwyn to be one chuck out 16 Goldwyn Girls to co-star in the picture Roman Scandals (1933), with film star Eddie Cantor.^[19] Enthusiastic and hard-working, Brusque had been able to knot film work briefly at honourableness Samuel Goldwyn Studio and University Pictures and then eventually tackle RKO Radio Pictures.

It was at RKO that Ball normal steady film work, first slightly an extra and bit theatrical and eventually working her drink up to co-starring roles strike home feature films and starring roles in second-rate B pictures, in concert earning her the nickname "Queen of the B's".^[20] During move up run at RKO, Ball gained the reputation for doing sublunary comedy and stunts that uppermost other actresses avoided, keeping faction steadily employed.

In 1940, Sharpwitted met Desi Arnaz, a State bandleader who had just way off a successful run injure the 1939–40 Broadway show Too Many Girls. RKO, after position film rights to the pretend, cast Ball as Arnaz's cherish interest in the picture.^[21] Magnanimity duo began a whirlwind courting, leading to their elopement middle Connecticut in November 1940.

Undeterred by their marriage, however, their pursuits kept them separated, with Ball's film work keeping her made fast in Hollywood, while Arnaz's spot engagements with his orchestra aloof him on the road.

Despite steadily working in pictures, Ball's movie career never advanced without more ado the level of a principal feature-film actress.

Nevertheless, she remained popular with film audiences. Department came to the attention annotation Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer after receiving critical approval for her starring role perceive the 1942 Damon Runyon single The Big Street, which mercenary out her contract.^[22] It was under contract with MGM, quieten, that Ball, who had once been a blonde, dyed go to pieces hair red to complement significance Technicolor features that MGM projected to use her in.^[23] MGM cast Ball in a character of films, but it was her work with fellow joker Red Skelton in the 1943 film DuBarry Was a Lady that brought Ball's physical drollery to the forefront, earning need the reputation as "that insane redhead”, which Ricky would following call her on the show.^[24] Nonetheless, Ball's striking beauty was in sharp contrast to nobility physical antics she performed attach her films.

Throughout her vitality, MGM tried to utilize ride out in multiple different film genres that did little to call or draw attention her skills. Given their indebtedness in casting her, MGM chose not to renew her roast when it expired in 1946.^[25]

Ball began working as a paid artist in films and besides began to explore other venues.^[25] Before and during World Bloodshed II, Ball made several significant and successful guest appearances arranged several radio programs, including both Jack Haley's radio show come first bandleader Kay Kyser's radio program.^[26][27] These appearances brought Ball tote up the attention of CBS, which, in 1948, enlisted her surpass star in one of team a few new half-hour situation comedies grind development, Our Miss Brooks topmost My Favorite Husband.

Choosing excellence latter, Ball portrayed Liz Cugat (later anglicized to Cooper), rendering frustrated and scheming housewife invoke a Minneapolis banker, played from the beginning by actor Lee Bowman knoll the series pilot, and next by Richard Denning. Based make your mind up the novel Mr. and Wife. Cugat, by Isabel Scott Rorick, My Favorite Husband was emerge b be published by Jess Oppenheimer and meant by Oppenheimer, Madelyn Pugh, give orders to Bob Carroll Jr.

Premiering haul July 23, 1948, and backered by General Foods, Husband became a hit for CBS.^[28] Fabric the run of the crystal set program, Ball also appeared complain two feature films with Cork Hope, Sorrowful Jones in 1949, and Fancy Pants in 1950. Both films were box bring into being and critical successes,^[29][30] further cementing Ball's reputation as a ace, first-rate comedian.

They also highlighted her growing popularity with audiences, enticing CBS to further awaken her skills.

In 1950, CBS asked Ball to take My Favorite Husband to television hash up co-star Richard Denning.^[31] Ball proverb a television show as systematic great opportunity to work agree with Arnaz, however, and she insisted that he play her groom, much to the dismay female CBS, which was reluctant return to cast Arnaz in that pretend, as he was Cuban.^[32] CBS executives did not think audiences would buy into a affection between an all-American girl flourishing a Latin man.^[32] To discredit CBS wrong, the couple advanced a vaudeville act, written from end to end of Carroll and Pugh, that they performed at Newburgh, NY's traditional Ritz Theater with Arnaz's orchestra.^[33] The act was a receiving and convinced CBS executive Chase Ackerman that a Ball–Arnaz conjunction would be a worthwhile speculation.

At the same time, opponent networks NBC, ABC, and DuMont were showing interest in ingenious Ball–Arnaz series, which Ackerman handmedown to convince CBS to vestige the duo.

A pilot was ordered and kinescoped in Tone in March 1951, which coincided with Ball's first pregnancy, turf the ending of Husband, which aired its last radio present on March 31, 1951.

Compass and Arnaz used the unchanged radio team of Oppenheimer, Pugh, and Carroll to create magnanimity television series that was dubbed I Love Lucy. The couple's agent, Don Sharpe, brought goodness pilot to several advertising agencies with little luck but in the end succeeded with the Milton Gyrate. Biow agency.

Biow's agency blaze the pilot to its business and convinced cigarette giant Prince Morris to sponsor the show.^[34]

Production

During the spring and summer longed-for 1951, I Love Lucy enraptured into production. Oppenheimer, Pugh, dispatch Carroll began fine-tuning the fare of the show and scribble the series' first scripts.

Blue blood the gentry trio chose to adapt several storylines for television using say publicly backlog of episodes of My Favorite Husband. In addition, depiction series' ensemble cast and proletariat were assembled. Arnaz retained fillet orchestra, which was used put back the series' musical numbers see to score the show's location and transitional music.

Arnaz's immaturity friend Marco Rizo arranged glory music and played the keyboard for the show, while Wilbur Hatch conducted the orchestra.^[35]

After Prince Morris signed on to subsidizer the show, two problems go would ultimately change the chance of I Love Lucy arose.

Ball and Arnaz had at decided that the series would air biweekly, like The Martyr Burns and Gracie Allen Show. Philip Morris, however, was incessant that the show air paper, thus diminishing the possibility help Ball continuing her film calling alongside a television show.^[36] On the subject of problem lay in the reality that Philip Morris wanted interpretation series to originate from Modern York rather than Hollywood.

Utter the time, most television shows were produced from New Dynasty and broadcast live for get one\'s bearings and Midwest audiences. West Slip viewers were able to bearing live programs only through cheap kinescopes, which derived their angels by using a 35 mm slip 16 mm film camera to transcribe the show from a gather monitor.^[37]

Although the pilot film shown to Philip Morris had archaic a kinescope, the sponsor blunt not want the lucrative Take breaths Coast market, accustomed to distinction broadcasts, to see a dime-a-dozen kinescope film.^[37] Owing to honesty impending birth of their supreme child, both Ball and Arnaz insisted on staying in Tone and producing the show mindset film, something a few Hollywood-based series had begun to do.^[38] Both CBS and Philip Journeyman initially balked at the meaning, because of the higher ratio that filming the show would incur, and acquiesced only make something stand out the couple offered to perception a $1,000-a-week pay cut imprison order to cover the extra expense.^[39] In exchange, Ball squeeze Arnaz demanded, and were land-dwelling, 80% ownership in the I Love Lucy films (the all over the place 20% went to Oppenheimer, who then gave 5% to Pugh and 5% to Carroll).^{[citation needed]} Shooting the show on husk, however, would require that Lump and Arnaz become responsible purport producing the series themselves.

Wholeness accord agreements at the time stipulated that any production filmed layer a studio use film workroom employees. CBS staff were the media and radio employees and fashion fell under different union agreements. Thus, Arnaz reorganized the resting on he created to manage her majesty orchestra bookings and used unfitting as the corporation that would produce the I Love Lucy shows.

The company was dubbed Desilu, from the combination designate both of their first take advantage of, Desi and Lucille.^{[original research?]}

Though time-consuming television series were already churn out filmed in Hollywood, most submissive the single-camera format familiar propagate movies, with a laugh boundary added to comedies to feigning audience response.

Ball wanted interested work in front of well-organized live audience to create leadership kind of comic energy she had displayed on radio.^[40] Greatness idea of a film bungalow that could accommodate an rendezvous was a new one appropriate the time, as fire maintenance regulations made it difficult put your name down allow an audience in trim studio.

Arnaz and Oppenheimer overawe the financially struggling General Help Studios located on Las Palmas Avenue in Hollywood. Studio p Jimmy Nasser was eager be acquainted with accommodate the Desilu company predominant allowed them, with the 1 backing of CBS, to reform two of his studios positive that they could accommodate representative audience and be in accept with local fire laws.^[41][42]

Another division to filming the show came when it was decided exchange use three 35 mm film cameras to simultaneously film the extravaganza.

The idea had been pioneered by Jerry Fairbanks, and die had been used on character live anthology series The Silvery Theater and the game county show Truth or Consequences, as adequately as, subsequently, Amos 'n' Andy as a way to keep back money, though Amos 'n' Andy did not use an chance.

Edwards's assistant Al Simon was hired by Desilu to relieve perfect the new technique take possession of the series. The process reproduce itself to the Lucy making as it eliminated the fear of requiring an audience benefits view and react to pure scene three or four era in order for all compulsory shots to be filmed. Many cameras would also allow scenes to be performed in progression, as a play would weakness, which was unusual at interpretation time for filmed series.

Retakes were rare and dialogue mistakes were often left in prestige episodes.^{[citation needed]}

Ball and Arnaz enlisted the services of Karl Freund, a cinematographer who had attacked on such films as Metropolis (1927), Dracula (1931), The Adequate Earth (1937), and DuBarry Was a Lady (1943) (which as well starred Ball), as well primate directed The Mummy (1932), permission be the series cinematographer.

Though at first Freund did battle-cry want anything to do cotton on television, it was the secluded plea of the couple depart convinced him to take justness job.^[37]

Freund was instrumental in underdeveloped a way to uniformly brightness the set so that tell off of the three cameras would pick up the same adequate of image.

Freund noted lapse a typical episode (20–22 min.) was shot in about 60 minutes, lay into one constant concern being ethics shades-of-gray contrast in the farewell print, as each stage outline transmission and broadcast would fortify the contrast.^[43] Freund also pioneered flat lighting, in which macrocosm is brightly lit to root out shadows and the need pursue endless relighting.^[44][45]

Audience reactions were physical, which created a more absolute laugh than the canned gibe used on most filmed sitcoms of the time.

Regular consultation members were sometimes heard suffer the loss of episode to episode, and Arnaz's distinctive laugh could be heard in the background during scenes in which he did party perform, as well as Ball's mother, DeDe, whose distinctive "uh oh" could be heard fulfil many of the episodes. Guarantee later years, CBS would conceive a laugh track from a handful I Love Lucy audiences limit use them for canned jeer on shows done without spruce up live audience.^{[citation needed]}

I Love Lucy's pioneering use of three cameras led to it becoming birth standard technique for the acquire of most sitcoms filmed pretense front of an audience.^[46] Single-camera setups remained the technique unravel choice for sitcoms that outspoken not use audiences.

This quieten to an unexpected benefit support Desilu during the series' next season when it was revealed that Ball was pregnant. Remote being able to fulfill ethics show's 39-episode commitment, both Desi and Oppenheimer decided to reproduce popular episodes of the series' first season to help take Ball the necessary rest she needed after she gave ancestry, effectively allowing fewer episodes explicate be filmed that season.

Abruptly, the rebroadcasts proved to aptitude ratings winners, effectively giving childbirth to the rerun, which would later lead to the propitious development of the rerun confederation market.^[47]

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

They were designed and animated past as a consequence o MGM character designer, and vanguard "Flintstones" cartoonist, Gene Hazelton (1917–2005) and were produced under natty contract that producer William Hanna had secured privately.^[48][49] The announcement sponsor, Philip Morris cigarettes, was incorporated into many of these sequences, so when I Like Lucy went into repeats, primacy sponsor material was replaced overstep the now-familiar heart logo.

On the contrary, Hazelton's original animation survives existing can be seen in say publicly DVD boxed set as pioneer presented.^{[citation needed]}

Desilu Productions, jointly eminent by Ball and Arnaz, would gradually expand to produce reprove lease studio space for haunt other shows. For seasons 1 and 2 (1951–1953), Desilu rented space and filmed I Attraction Lucy at General Service Studios, which eventually became known renovation Hollywood Center Studios.

In 1953, it leased the Motion Scope Center at 846 Cahuenga Blvd. in Hollywood, renaming it Desilu Studios, to shoot seasons 3–6 (1953–1957) of I Love Lucy. After 1956, it became leak out as Desilu-Cahuenga Studios to keep off confusion with other acquired Desilu locations. In an effort get keep up with the studio's growth, and need for increased sound stages, Arnaz and Agglomeration purchased RKO Radio Pictures take from General Tire in 1957 storage space over $6 million, effectively affirmation the studio where they difficult started as contract players.

Desilu acquired RKO's two studio complexes, located on Gower Street nucleus Hollywood and in Culver Nous (now part of the Extreme lot and Culver Studios respectively), along with the Culver Section back lot nicknamed "Forty Acres". The sale was achieved make wet the duo selling their sticky label of the once-thought-worthless I Warmth Lucy films back to CBS for over four million dollars.^{[citation needed]}

In 1962, two years stern their marriage dissolved, Ball corrupt out Arnaz's shares of Desilu, becoming the studio's sole landlord.

She eventually sold off Desilu in 1967 to Gulf+Western, owners of Paramount Pictures.^[50] After goodness sale, Desilu-Cahuenga became a ormal production company and was known as Ren-Mar Studios until 2010, when it was acquired through the Red Digital Cinema Camera Company and renamed Red Studios Hollywood.^[51]

The Mertzes

As with My Selection Husband, I Love Lucy writers decided that the Ricardos requisite an older couple to chapter off of.

While performing presume Husband, veteran character actors Blast Gordon and Bea Benaderet abstruse played Rudolph and Iris Atterbury, an older, more financially calm couple as Mr. Atterbury abstruse been George Cooper's boss. Sphere had initially wanted both throw out to reprise their roles turning over television; however, both were attached at the time the flaunt went into production as Benaderet was already playing Blanche Jazzman on The Burns and Gracie Show, and Gordon was beneath contract by CBS to amuse oneself Mr.

Conklin on both high-mindedness radio and television versions cut into Our Miss Brooks.

Casting class Mertzes, as they were notify called (the surname taken running off a doctor that I Enjoy Lucy scriptwriter Madelyn Pugh knew as a child in Indianapolis), proved to be a tricky.

Ball had initially wanted classify actor James Gleason, with whom she appeared in the University Pictures film Miss Grant Takes Richmond (1949), to play Fred Mertz. However, Gleason wanted fundamentally $3,500 per episode to drive at the role, a price drift was far too high tolerate sustain.^[52]

Sixty-four-year-old William Frawley, a well-versed vaudevillian and movie character human being with nearly 100 film credits to his name, was spruce up long shot to play Fred Mertz and only came devour consideration after he telephoned Glob personally to ask if here was a role for him on her new show.

Sphere, who had only briefly memorable Frawley from her days impinge on RKO, suggested him to both Arnaz and CBS. The textile objected to the idea unconscious casting Frawley, fearing that tiara excessive drinking – which was well faint in Hollywood^[52] – would interfere with wonderful commitment to a live deed.

Arnaz nonetheless liked Frawley with lobbied hard for him succeed to have the role, even scolding the point of having Lucy scribes re-tailor the role be in the region of Fred Mertz to be capital less financially successful and work up curmudgeonly (in contrast to Gordon's Mr. Atterbury) character to fundraiser Frawley's persona. CBS relented one after Arnaz contractually bound Frawley to complete sobriety during description production of the show, brook reportedly told the veteran performer that if he ever developed on-set more than once of the essence an intoxicated state he would be fired.^[52] Not once next to I Love Lucy's nine seasons did Frawley's drinking ever stick your nose in with his performance, and jurisdiction time Arnaz became one company Frawley's few close friends.

The role of Ethel Mertz additionally took quite some time give in cast. Since Lucy's Husband co-star Bea Benaderet was not present, Mary Wickes, a longtime neighbour, was offered the role however declined because she did not quite want to strain her companionability with Ball. Actress Barbara Individual, who was a close associate of Ball, was also putative for the role.

The a handful of had a long history peak, as Pepper had been procrastinate of the Goldwyn Girls who came to Hollywood with Lucy in 1933. Pepper was ruled out by Ball and Arnaz because she too had precise drinking problem like Frawley.^[53]

Vivian Chief became a consideration on authority recommendation of I Love Lucy director Marc Daniels.

Daniels challenging worked with Vance in Spanking York on Broadway in justness early 1940s. Vance had before now been a successful stage morning star performing on Broadway for basically 20 years in a manner of plays, and in enclosure, after relocating to Hollywood complain the late 1940s, had figure film roles to her desert.

Nonetheless, by 1951, she was still a relatively unknown performer in Hollywood. Vance was performing arts in a revival of integrity play The Voice of honourableness Turtle in La Jolla, Calif.. Arnaz and Jess Oppenheimer went to see her in representation play and hired her compassion the spot.^[54] Vance was recalcitrant to give up her vinyl and stage work for on the rocks television show yet was certain by Daniels that it would be a big break twist her career.

Ball, however, locked away many misgivings about hiring Wrong, who was younger and far-away more attractive than the solution of Ethel as an experienced, somewhat homely woman (Vance was two years older than Ball). Ball was also a admirer in the Hollywood adage smack of the time that there obligation be only one pretty female on the set and Glob, being the star of justness show, would be it.

Arnaz, however, was impressed by Vance's work and hired her. Righteousness decision was then made resting on dress Vance in frumpier drape to tone down her bait. Eventually realizing that Vance was no threat and was varnished, Ball began to warm set about her. In 1954, Vance became the first actress to merit an Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress.

Vance and Glob developed a close, lifelong comradeship with Ball frequently listening joke Vance's input during episode shop. In 1962, after the put the last touches on of I Love Lucy, Sudden would ask Vance to co-star in her new series The Lucy Show.^{[original research?]}

Vance and Frawley disliked each other.

However, they were always professional while effecting on the show. Frawley mockingly described Vance's appearance as "a sack of doorknobs."^[55] It was reported that Vance, who was 22 years younger than Frawley, was not really keen provisional the idea that her dark Ethel was married to systematic man that was old ample to be her father.

Angry also complained that Frawley's song-and-dance skills were not what they once were. Frawley and Wrong had an adversarial relationship sooner than the entire run of greatness show.^[56]

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

The hour-long Lucy–Desi show was to alternate journal with other hour-long Playhouse shows. The new series put uncluttered much heavier emphasis on big-name guest stars and, although glory Mertz characters continued into leadership new series, their roles became somewhat diminished. Although a notate workload was welcomed by Frawley, Vance came to somewhat butt in the change.

Arnaz, in stick in effort to please Vance, let slip whom he had much conformity, proposed doing a spin-off alien I Love Lucy called The Mertzes. Seeing a lucrative job and the chance to main attraction in his own show, Frawley was enthused. Vance, however, declined for a number of hypothesis, the biggest factor being defer she felt she and Frawley could barely work together practised the ensemble show they were doing at the time, straightfaced it would be much understandable likely the two could effort together on their own keep fit.

Vance also felt that greatness Mertz characters would not amend as successful without the Ricardos to play off of, arm despite being her biggest health, she was becoming interested inspect playing more glamorous roles comparatively than Ethel. During the thirteen-episode run of the Lucy–Desi hour-long shows, Vance was given span lot more latitude to manifestation more attractive as Ethel, take steps she was denied during loftiness run of the I Liking Lucy episodes.

Frawley's resentment help Vance intensified after she declined to do the spin-off production and the two rarely talked to each other outside assess their characters' dialogue with flavour another.

Pregnancy and Little Ricky

Just before filming the show, Domain and Arnaz learned that she was once again pregnant (after multiple miscarriages earlier in their marriage) with their first daughter, Lucie Arnaz.

They filmed nobleness original pilot while Lucy was "showing" but did not comprise any references to the gravidity in the episode. This was because CBS thought that lecture of pregnancy might be score bad taste and because swindler ad agency told Arnaz pule to show a pregnant woman.^[57]

Later, during the second season, Urgent was pregnant again with alternative child Desi Arnaz Jr., roost this time the pregnancy was incorporated into the series' story.

(Contrary to popular belief, Ball's pregnancy was not television's primary on-screen pregnancy, a distinction fellowship to Mary Kay Stearns attach a label to the late 1940s sitcom Mary Kay and Johnny.)

CBS would not allow I Love Lucy to use the word pregnant, so expecting was used instead.^[58] In addition, sponsor Philip Craftsman made the request that Urgent not be seen smoking past the pregnancy episodes.^[59] The sheet "Lucy Is Enceinte" first in a minute on December 8, 1952 (enceinte being French for expecting indistinct pregnant).

One week later, reposition December 15, 1952, the happening titled "Pregnant Women Are Unpredictable" was aired (although the fкte never displayed episode titles tolerance the air). The episode moniker which Lucy Ricardo gives dawn, "Lucy Goes to the Hospital", first aired on January 19, 1953, which was the dowry before the inauguration of Dwight Eisenhower as President of interpretation United States.

To increase integrity publicity of this episode, loftiness original air date was tasteless to coincide with Ball's real-life delivery of Desi Jr. unwelcoming Caesarean section.^[11] "Lucy Goes on two legs the Hospital" was watched do without more people than any new television program up to focus time, with 71.7% of rivet American television sets tuned disturb, topping the 67.7 rating entertain the inauguration coverage the shadowing morning.

Unlike some programs zigzag advance the age of grand newborn over a short hour, I Love Lucy at cardinal allowed the Ricardos' son Tiny Ricky to grow up strike home real time. America saw Small Ricky as an infant auspicious the 1952–53 season and unornamented toddler from 1953 to 1956. However, for the 1956–57 stint, Little Ricky suddenly aged prep between two years, becoming a pubescent school-age boy from 1956 inherit 1960.

Five actors played honourableness role, two sets of duo and later Keith Thibodeaux, whose stage name when playing Strenuous Ricardo Jr. was Richard Keith. (In "Lucy and Superman", Around Ricky is mentioned as continuance five years old but accomplished had been less than duo years since the airing elaborate "Lucy Goes to the Hospital".)

Jess Oppenheimer stated in reward memoir, Laughs, Luck...and Lucy: In all events I Came to Create say publicly Most Popular Sitcom of Come to blows Time, that the initial procedure was to match the nookie of the Ricardo's baby engross Ball's real baby, inserting predispose of two alternative endings inspire the broadcast print at birth last minute.

When logistical in the red convinced Oppenheimer to abandon that plan, he advised Desi Arnaz that as head writer, elegance would have Lucy Ricardo fair exchange birth to a boy. Desi Arnaz agreed, telling Oppenheimer avoid Ball had already given him one girl, and might bring in him another – this might be king only chance to get systematic son.

When the baby young days adolescent was born, Desi Arnaz instantly called Oppenheimer and told him, "Lucy followed your script. Ain't she something?", to which Oppenheimer replied "Terrific! That makes hold your horses the greatest writer in loftiness world!".^[60]

Opening

The opening familiar to almost viewers, featuring the credits overlying over a "heart on satin" image, was created specifically affection the 1959–67 CBS daytime textile rebroadcasts and subsequent syndication.

Tempt originally broadcast, the episodes unfasten with animated matchstick figures be frightened of Arnaz and Ball making mention to whoever the particular episode's sponsor was. These sequences were created by the animation body of William Hanna and Patriarch Barbera, who declined screen worth because they were technically mess exclusive contract to MGM unexpected result the time.

The original fund was cigarette maker Philip Moneyman, so the program opened disagree with a cartoon of Lucy very last Ricky climbing down a compact of Philip Morris cigarettes. Focal the early episodes, Lucy current Ricky, as well as Ethel and Fred on occasion, were shown smoking Philip Morris cigarettes. Lucy even went so backwoods as to parody Johnny Roventini's image as the Philip Poet "bellhop" in the May 5, 1952, episode, "Lucy Does skilful TV Commercial".

Since the innovative sponsor references were no long appropriate when the shows went into syndication, a new luck was needed, which resulted schedule the classic "heart on satin" opening. Other sponsors, whose proceeds appeared during the original openings, were Procter & Gamble fit in Cheer and Lilt Home Preset (1954–57), General Foods for Sanka (1955–57), and Ford Motor Tamp down (1956–57).

The later Lucille Ball–Desi Arnaz Show was sponsored moisten Ford Motor Company (1957–58) roost Westinghouse Electric Corporation (1958–60), bit part of the Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse.

The original openings, look at the sponsor names edited into the open air, were revived on TV Peninsula showings, with a TV Territory logo superimposed to obscure ethics original sponsor's logo.

However, that has led some people cue believe that the restored open was created specifically for Idiot box Land as an example marvel at kitsch.

The animated openings, stick to with the middle commercial initial animations, are included, fully green, in the DVDs. However, integrity openings are listed as allimportant features within the disks suitable the "heart on satin" visual opening the actual episodes.

The complete original broadcast versions reminiscent of Seasons 1 and 2, though seen in 1951–1953 with intros, closings, and all commercials, stature included on their respective Eventual Season Blu-ray editions.

Theme song

The I Love Lucy theme ditty was written by two-time Oscar-nominee Eliot Daniel.^[63] Lyrics were adjacent written by five-time Oscar-nominee Harold Adamson, for Desi Arnaz telling off sing in the 1953 experience "Lucy's Last Birthday":^[64]

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

Lucy kisses like no one can.
She's tidy up missus and I'm her man,
And life is heaven you see,
'Cause I love Lucy, Altogether I love Lucy, and Lucy loves me!

"I Love Lucy", voiced by Desi Arnaz with Uncomfortable Weston and the Norman Luboff Choir, was released as greatness B-side of "There's a Impersonation New Baby (At Our House)" by Columbia Records (catalog few 39937) in 1953.^[65] The ditty was covered by Michael Franks on the album Dragonfly Summer (1993).

In 1977, the Rug Place Street Band had unmixed Top 40 hit with nifty disco version of the subject matter, "Disco Lucy".^[66]

Episodes

Main article: List love I Love Lucy episodes

Broadcast history

I Love Lucy aired Mondays shun 9:00 to 9:30 PM Tv show on CBS for its wide-ranging first run.

Each year meanwhile its summer hiatus its timeslot was occupied by various season replacement series. Beginning in Apr 1955 CBS added reruns escape the show's early years elect its early evening weekend set back. This would be the primary of several occasions when I Love Lucy reruns would grow part of CBS's evening, pioneering time, and (later on) day schedules.^[73]

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

As of August 2017^[update], the reruns air on leadership Hallmark Channel and MeTV networks and scores of television class in the U.S. and crush the world. It is not long ago on Paramount+.

In addition, CBS has run numerous specials, plus a succession of annual specials which feature episodes which suppress been newly colorized.

On Feb 14, 2023, Pluto TV launched a 24-hour I Love Lucy channel in the United States.^[74]

Nielsen ratings

The episode "Lucy Goes give somebody the job of the Hospital", which first in a minute on Monday, January 19, 1953, garnered a then-record rating emancipation 71.7, meaning that 71.7% round all households with television sets were tuned to the syllabus, the equivalent of some 44 million viewers.^[75] That record commission surpassed only by Elvis Presley's first of three appearances go The Ed Sullivan Show, which aired on September 9, 1956 (82.6% share, 60.710 million spectators and a 57.1 rating ).^[75] The overall rating of 67.3 for the entire 1952 spell 1 of I Love Lucy continues to be the highest recurrent rating for any single period of a TV show.^[76]

Primetime Accolade Awards

1952

1953

1954

1955

1956

• Outstanding Supporting Actor in dexterous Comedy Series: William Frawley – Nominated (Winner: Art Carney for The Honeymooners)
• Outstanding Lead Actress in a Humour Series: Lucille Ball – Won
• Best Comedy Writing: Jess Oppenheimer, Madelyn Davis, Shake Carroll Jr., Bob Schiller dispatch Bob Weiskopf for "L.A.

  cultivate Last" – Nominated (Winners: Nat Hiken, Barry E. Blitzer, Arnold M. Auerbach, Harvey Orkin, Vin Bogert, Arnie Rosen, Coleman Jacoby, Tony Lexicologist and Terry Ryan for The Phil Silvers Show: "You'll Not till hell freezes over Get Rich")

1957

• Outstanding Lead Actress tier a Comedy Series: Lucille Ball – Nominated (Winner: Nanette Fabray for Caesar's Hour)
• Outstanding Supporting Actor in keen Comedy Series: William Frawley – Nominated (Winner: Carl Reiner for Caesar's Hour)
• Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Humour Series: Vivian Vance – Nominated (Winner: Difference Carroll for Caesar's Hour)

1958

• Outstanding Star Actress in a Comedy Series: Lucille Ball – Nominated (Winner: Dinah Foreshore for The Dinah Shore Show)
• Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Chaffing Series: William Frawley – Nominated (Winner: Carl Reiner for Caesar's Hour)
• Outstanding Significance direction Actor in a Comedy Series: Vivian Vance – Nominated (Winner: Ann Blundering.

  Davis for The Bob Writer Show)

In other media

Radio

There was dire thought about creating an I Love Lucy radio show add up to run in conjunction with picture television series as was duration done at the time better the CBS hit show Our Miss Brooks. On February 27, 1952, a sample I Prize Lucy radio show was chance upon, but it never aired.

That was a pilot episode, begeted by editing the soundtrack party the television episode "Breaking glory Lease", with added Arnaz chronicling (in character as Ricky Ricardo). It included commercials for Prince Morris, which sponsored the telly series. While it never golden on radio at the at the double in the 1950s (Philip Journeyman eventually sponsored a radio trace of My Little Margie instead), copies of this radio flier episode have been circulating between old-time radio collectors for adulthood, and this radio pilot adventure has aired in more current decades on numerous local ghettoblaster stations that air some old-fashioned radio programming.^[77]

Merchandise

Ball and Arnaz canonical various types of I Cherish Lucy merchandise.

Beginning in Nov 1952, I Love Lucy dolls, manufactured by the American Amount Doll Company,^[78] were sold. Adult-size I Love Lucy pajamas extra a bedroom set were further produced; all of these factually appeared on the show.

• I Love Lucy doll

• I Love Lucy bedroom set

• I Love Lucy pajamas

Comic book and comic strip

Dell Comics published 35 issues of evocation I Love Lucy comic picture perfect between 1954 and 1962 containing two try-out Four Color issues (#535 and #559).

King Constitution syndicated a comic strip (written by Lawrence Nadel and ragged by Bob Oksner, jointly credited as "Bob Lawrence") from 1952 to 1955.^[79][80]Eternity Comics in high-mindedness early 1990s issued comic books that reprinted the strip skull Dell comic book series.

After I Love Lucy

Main article: Rank Lucy–Desi Comedy Hour

Hour-long format

After glory conclusion of the sixth edible of I Love Lucy, Brusque and Arnaz decided to undo down on the number confiscate 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 tolerate included guest stars in compete episode. Thirteen episodes aired reject 1957 to 1960. The demand cast, Lucille Ball, Desi Arnaz, Vivian Vance, William Frawley person in charge Little Ricky/Richard Keith (birth title Keith Thibodeaux), were all hobble the show.

The Lucy–Desi Facetiousness Hour is available on DVD, released as I Love Lucy: The Final Seasons 7, 8, & 9. On March 2, 1960, Arnaz's birthday, the light of day after the last hour-long leaf was filmed, Ball filed gather divorce from Arnaz.^{[citation needed]}

Vivian Distasteful and William Frawley

As previously illustration, Vance and Frawley were offered a chance to take their characters to their own limb series.

Frawley was willing, on the other hand Vance refused to ever gratuitous with Frawley again since ethics two did not get advance. Frawley appeared once more prep added to Lucille Ball – in an episode holiday The Lucy Show in 1965, which did not include Wronged (who by then had extinct to be a regular conquer that show).

This was rule last screen appearance with Chunk. Frawley died in Hollywood steal March 3, 1966, of exceptional heart attack at age 79.

Lucille Ball's subsequent network shows

In 1962, Ball began a six-year run with The Lucy Show, followed immediately in 1968 timorous six more years on first-class third sitcom, Here's Lucy, catastrophe her regular appearances on CBS in 1974.

Both The Lucy Show and Here's Lucy objective Vance as recurring characters entitled Viv (Vivian Bagley Bunson opinion The Lucy Show and Vivian Jones on Here's Lucy), straightfaced named because she was drooping of being recognized on character street and addressed as "Ethel". Vance was a regular close to the first three seasons push The Lucy Show and elongated to make guest appearances by virtue of the years on The Lucy Show and on Here's Lucy.

In 1977, Vance and Department were reunited one last at a rate of knots in the CBS special Lucy Calls the President,^[81] which co-starred Gale Gordon, whom Ball difficult known for very many life-span and who had appeared translation a regular on her converging shows since 1963, becoming regular more prominent once Vance heraldry sinister The Lucy Show in 1965.

In 1986, Ball tried selection sitcom, Life with Lucy. Birth series debuted on ABC communication solid ratings, landing in Nielsen's Top 25 for the period. Its ratings quickly declined, on the contrary, and resulted in a recall after eight episodes.

Legacy, carping acclaim and other honors

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

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

I Devotion Lucy […] is one be keen on the two foundational texts flash American TV comedy, along hash up The Honeymooners. The series shambles legitimately the most influential tight TV history, pioneering so innumerable innovations and normalizing so various others that it would credit to easy to write an knowledge of simply, say, the show’s accidental invention of the Goggle-box rerun.

I Love Lucy continues limit be held in high deference by television critics and stiff perennially popular.

It was put off of the first American programs seen on British television – which became more open to commerce communicate the September 1955 launch star as ITV, a commercial network mosey aired the series. In 1982, the launch of a subsequent terrestrial TV station devoted tolerate advertising-funded broadcasting (Channel 4) apophthegm the show introduced to spruce up new generation of fans get your skates on the UK, with the Channel 4 network repeating the syllabus several times between 1983 ground 1994.

As of January 2015^[update], meanwhile, it remains the longest-running program to air continuously dupe the Los Angeles area, about 60 years after production difficult. However, the series is newly aired on KTTV on weekends and now KCOP on weekdays because both stations are unadulterated duopoly. KTTV was the advanced CBS-affiliated station in Los Angeles until 1951, just before I Love Lucy premiered on KNXT Channel 2 (now KCBS-TV) conj at the time that CBS bought that station high-mindedness same year.

In the Establish, reruns have aired nationally hand to TBS (1980s–1990s), Nick at Unchangeable (1994–2001), and TV Land (2001–2008) in addition to local grid. TV Land ended its scud of the series by offering appearance viewers the opportunity to referendum 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 landdwelling exclusive rights to maximize ratings, I Love Lucy has antique consistently broadcast on multiple grill simultaneously. Hallmark Channel is at the present time the home for I Warmth Lucy in the United States, with the show having touched to the network on Jan 2, 2009, while the formal version of Weigel Broadcasting's MeTVdigital subchannel network has carried representation program since its debut crowd December 15, 2010, depending verify the market (in markets locale another station holds the declare, The Lucy Show is substituted).

The show is seen solemnity Fox Classics in Australia.

In addition to Primetime Emmy Acclaim 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, plus replicas of the NYC series set (located in the Desilu Playhouse facility in the Rapaport Center).^[83]
• In 1990, I Love Lucy became the first television well-known to be inducted into depiction Television Hall of Fame.^[84]
• In 1997, the episodes "Lucy Does natty TV Commercial" and "Lucy's Romance Movie" were respectively ranked Inept.

  2 and No. 18 intelligence TV Guide's list of birth 100 Greatest Episodes of Shrink Time.^[85]

• In 1999, Entertainment Weekly grade the birth of Little Easier said than done as the fifth greatest fit in television history.^[86]
• In 2002, TV Guide ranked I Love Lucy No. 2 on its string of the 50 greatest shows, behind Seinfeld and ahead personal The Honeymooners^[87] (According to TV Guide columnist Matt Roush, less was a "passionate" internal wrangle about whether I Love Lucy should have been first by way of alternative of Seinfeld.

  He stated dump this was the main inception of controversy in putting peak the list.^[88])

• In 2007, Time periodical placed the show on neat unranked list of the Century best television shows.^[89]
• In 2012, I Love Lucy was ranked glory Best TV Comedy and authority Best TV Show in Best in TV: The Greatest Box Shows of Our Time.^[90]
• In 2013, TV Guide ranked I Affection Lucy as the third leading show of all time.^[91]
• In 2015, a survey of 2,800 remove, producers, directors, and other commerce people conducted by The Indecent Reporter named I Love Lucy as their #8 favorite show.^[92]
• In 2023, Variety chose I Affection Lucy as the greatest Tube show of all time.^[93]

Documentaries duct dramatizations

On April 28, 1990, CBS aired a television movie highborn I Love Lucy: The Publication First Show hosted by Lucie Arnaz, daughter of Lucille Globe and Desi Arnaz, with comment that showed the original oppressive pilot episode of I Tenderness Lucy that was produced tough Ball and Desi Arnaz human being and found after 40 The movie was nominated do a Primetime Emmy Award significance an "Outstanding Informational Special".^[94][95]

On Feb 10, 1991, CBS aired systematic television movie titled Lucy & Desi: Before the Laughter, be evidence for the lives of Ball crucial Desi Arnaz.

The movie recreated a number of scenes chomp through classic I Love Lucy episodes, including "Lucy Thinks Ricky Silt Trying to Murder Her" significant "Lucy Does a TV Commercial". Frances Fisher starred as Sudden and Maurice Benard as Desi Arnaz.^[96]

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

Near the end of righteousness movie, a selection of TV Guide covers is seen bear hug a hallway, showing I Enjoy Lucy franchises on their bedding. Also included is close-up preceding a New York Post item about the birth of Petite Ricky. Rachel York starred gorilla Ball and Danny Pino little Desi Arnaz.^[97]

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

Staged and directed by Blow Sparks, the show featured high-mindedness performance of two I Affection Lucy episodes – "The Benefit" and "Lucy Has Her Eyes Examined", nip to the theater audience hoot though they were attending undiluted filming at the Desilu Time in the 1950s. In 2012, the show began a internal tour which lasted until 2015.^[98]

In July 2018, I Love Lucy: A Funny Thing Happened artificial 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 night in a Los Angeles arrange by L.A.

Theatre Works. Transcribed before a live audience sleepy the James Bridges Theater, UCLA, the production, directed by Archangel Hackett, aired on public tranny and was released on afferent CD and as a downloadable file in September of avoid 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 thwart the Way to the Sitcom, was produced in August 2020 by Jarvis & Ayres Factory and aired in the UK on BBC Radio 4, prominent Anne Heche as Ball, Wilmer Valderamma as Desi Arnaz, Jared Harris as Oppenheimer, Stacy Keach as William Frawley, and Aelfred Molina as CBS Executive Dog Ackerman.^[52] In January 2023, L.A.

Theatre Works mounted a 22-city U.S. national tour of say publicly play as LUCY LOVES DESI: A Funny Thing Happened introduce the Way to the Sitcom.^[101] In November 2023, Next Episode Press published the play's penmanship, making performance licenses available collect schools, community theater groups, with local theater companies.^[102]

In the bloom of 2020, NBC's sitcom Will & Grace paid tribute relax I Love Lucy with precise special episode titled "We Fondness Lucy".^[103] During the episode Lucy and Ricky Ricardo, along plonk Ethel and Fred Mertz, materialize in dream sequences based smartness scenes from the 1951 CBS series.

Lucie Arnaz made boss cameo in the episode story the role originated in depiction "Job Switching" episode by team member actor Elvia Allman as the Middling Foreperson.^[104]

In 2021, Being the Ricardos, a film written and destined by Aaron Sorkin, about rectitude relationship between I Love Lucy