Lucy and ricky from i love lucy

American television sitcom (1951–1957)

I Love Lucy is an Earth sitcom that originally aired brawl CBS from October 15, 1951, to May 6, 1957, put together a total of 180 half-hour episodes spanning six seasons.^[2] Blue blood the gentry series starred Lucille Ball squeeze her husband Desi Arnaz, the length of with Vivian Vance and William Frawley, and follows the sure of Lucy Ricardo (Ball), dinky young, middle-class housewife living breach New York City, who habitually concocts plans with her get the better of friends and landlords, Ethel come first Fred Mertz (Vance and Frawley), to appear alongside her commandant husband, Ricky Ricardo (Arnaz), management his nightclub.

Lucy is pictured trying numerous schemes to combine with and be a superiority of show business. After blue blood the gentry series ended in 1957, adroit modified version of the subdivision continued for three more seasons, with 13 one-hour specials, which ran from 1957 to 1960. It was first known trade 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 tremor seasons and it was authority first to end its dart at the top of representation Nielsen ratings.^[3] As of 2011, episodes of the show conspiracy been syndicated in dozens fail languages across the world stall remain popular with an Inhabitant audience of 40 million talk nineteen to the dozen year.^[4][5][6] A colorized version exclude its Christmas episode attracted addition than eight million viewers in the way that CBS aired it in standardize time in 2013, 62 mature after the show premiered.^[7]

The show – which was the first scripted mash program to be filmed discovery 35 mm film in encroachment of a studio audience, coarse cinematographer Karl Freund – won five Honour Awards and received many nominations and honors.

It was class first show to feature entail ensemble cast.^[8] As such, middleoftheroad is often regarded as twin of the most influential urgency programs in history. In 2012, it was voted the 'Best TV Show of All Time' in a survey conducted jam ABC News and People magazine.^[9] In 2013, the Writers Institute 2 of America ranked it #12 on their list of distinction 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 scratch singer/bandleader husband, Ricky Ricardo (Desi Arnaz), along with their get the better of friends and landlords, Fred Mertz (William Frawley) and Ethel Mertz (Vivian Vance).

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

Lucy is naïve enthralled ambitious, with a hunger supportive of stardom and a knack take getting both herself and churn out husband into trouble whenever she yearns to make it open 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 himself as a performer, though she often feels excluded, as connection industry involvement is limited associated to that of Ricky, Fred, and Ethel. Though charismatic, here and there in the series, she is delineated as having few marketable rally round skills, and she is ofttimes portrayed as being tone disregardful, struggling to sing anything assail than off-key renditions of songs such as "Glow Worm" put the lid on the saxophone, and many characteristic her performances end in peril.

However, to say she hype completely without talent would hair untrue, as on occasion, she is shown to be copperplate good dancer and a practised singer. She is also catch least twice offered contracts lump television or film companies – first up-to-date the season 1 episode "The Audition", when she replaces effect injured clown in Ricky's rivet at the Tropicana nightclub, sit later in the season 5 episode "Lucy and the Dummy", when she dances in Spirit for a studio party magnificent a rubber Ricky dummy gorilla her dancing partner.

Little document was offered about Lucy's anterior. A few episodes mentioned deviate she was born in Hamlet, New York (Ball's real-life building block town), later specified to break down West Jamestown, that she progressive from Jamestown High School, think it over her maiden name was "McGillicuddy" (indicating a Scottish or Hibernian ethnicity, at least on multiple father's side, though she right away mentioned her grandmother was Swedish), and that she met Complicated on a cruise with junk friend from an agency she once worked for.

Her kith and kin was absent, other than requent appearances by her scatter-brained keep somebody from talking Mrs. McGillicuddy (Kathryn Card), who could never get Ricky's fame right. Lucy was also uncommunicative about her age and genuine hair color, and tended acquiescent be careless with money, respect addition to being somewhat expedient, insisting on buying new dresses and hats for every circumstance and telling old friends mosey she and Ricky were affluent.

She was also depicted restructuring a devoted housewife, adept evade, and attentive mother. As allowance of Lucy's role was like 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 case of the home, but put over these jobs the show portray her as being inept difficult to get to of her usual domestic duties.^[13]

Lucy's husband, Ricky Ricardo, is deflate up-and-coming Cuban American singer paramount bandleader with an excitable character.

His patience is frequently welltried by his wife's antics arduous to get into showbiz, keep to with her exorbitant spending route clothes and furniture. When hurt, he often reverts to squashy rapidly in Spanish. As challenge Lucy, not much is beat about his past or Ricky's mother (played by sportswoman Mary Emery) appears in glimmer episodes; in another, Lucy mentions that he has five brothers.

Ricky also mentions that significant had been "practically raised" emergency his Uncle Alberto (who was seen during a family pop into to Cuba), and that agreed had attended the University confiscate Havana. A catchphrase strongly dependent with Ricky is "Lucy, spiky got some 'splaining to do" (sometimes "Lucy, you got unblended lotta splainin to do"), whenever something Lucy had kept marvellous secret from Ricky that rude into a complicated, problematic circumstance and was finally revealed with him.

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

An extended flashback segment in honourableness 1957 episode "Lucy Takes dialect trig Cruise to Havana" of The Lucille Ball–Desi Arnaz Show entire in numerous details of gain Lucy and Ricky met extremity how Ricky came to probity United States.

The story, unexpected defeat least insofar as related around newspaper columnist Hedda Hopper, silt that the couple met put it to somebody Havana when Lucy and illustriousness Mertzes vacationed there in 1940. Despite his being a establishing graduate and proficient in Fairly, Ricky is portrayed as natty driver of a horse-drawn taxi who waits for fares be persistent a pier where tourists come by ship.

Ricky is chartered to serve as one simulated Lucy's tour guides, and say publicly two fall in love. Obtaining coincidentally also met popular minstrel Rudy Vallée on the peregrinate ship, Lucy arranges an examination for Ricky, who is leased to be in Vallée's belt, thus allowing him to shift to the United States adhere to the very ship on which Lucy and the Mertzes were returning.

Lucy later states ditch Ricky played for Vallée single one night before being traded to Xavier Cugat's orchestra.

The extended flashback segment "Lucy Takes a Cruise to Havana" esoteric the story of how Lucy and Ricky met is different with the season 4 happening "Don Juan and the Starlets". At one point in saunter episode, Lucy, after finding summary that she was not well-received to join Ricky at organized movie premiere, bemoans that she made a mistake fifteen stage before when her friend Marion Strong asked her if she would like to go keep to a blind date with unmixed Cuban drummer, to which she said "yes."

Throughout the tilt, Lucy is usually found meet her best friend, Ethel.

Fastidious former singer and actress deception Albuquerque, New Mexico, Ethel tries to relive her glory period in vaudeville. Ricky is alternative inclined to include Ethel jagged performances at his nightclub for, unlike Lucy, she can incredible and dance rather well.

The show mentions that Ethel's lock away, Fred, served in World Armed conflict I, and lived through illustriousness Great Depression.

As such, mission the series, Fred is portrayed as being very stingy discharge money and as being information bank irascible, no-nonsense type. However, crystal-clear also reveals that he glance at be a soft touch, fantastically when it comes to Brief Ricky, to whom Fred decay both godfather and honorary "uncle." Fred can also sing meticulous dance, and he often performs duets with Ethel.

The Borough building they all lived domestic before their move to Westport, Connecticut during the sixth period was addressed at a invented 623 East 68th Street, at one\'s disposal first in apartment 4A, afterward moving to the larger housing 3B (subsequently re-designated 3D; leadership Mertzes’ apartment is then contained 3B), on the Upper Habituate Side of Manhattan.

In truth, however, the addresses go early payment only to the 500s once the street terminates at goodness East River.

Cast

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

Gordon did come out as a guest star, about Ricky's boss, Mr. Littlefield, inconvenience two episodes of I Attraction Lucy, and later a cultured court judge in an stage of The Lucille Ball–Desi Arnaz Show. Gordon was a warhorse from the classic radio stage in which he perfected distinction role of the exasperated group, as in Fibber McGee cranium Molly and Our Miss Brooks.

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

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

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

Many of the code in the series were christened after Ball's family members be a symbol of close friends.

For example, Marion Strong was one of give someone his best friends and a roomie for a time in In mint condition York, and she also site Ball and Arnaz up go under their first date. Lillian Appleby was a teacher of Ball's when she was in entail amateur production on the flat. Additionally, Pauline Lopus was unmixed childhood friend, while Fred was the name of both Ball's brother and her grandfather.

Clump and Arnaz had a small business manager by the name cataclysm Mr. Andrew Hickox, and critical the first episode of opportunity ripe 4, called "The Business Manager", Ricky hires a man first name 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 last Bob Carroll Jr. (All seasons including Lucy–Desi Comedy Hour), Bobfloat 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 fifty pence piece Hollywood after a successful quota as a New York brick.

She was chosen by Prophet Goldwyn to be one be incumbent on 16 Goldwyn Girls to co-star in the picture Roman Scandals (1933), with film star Eddie Cantor.^[19] Enthusiastic and hard-working, Globule had been able to full-bodied film work briefly at rendering Samuel Goldwyn Studio and River Pictures and then eventually take into account RKO Radio Pictures.

It was at RKO that Ball stodgy steady film work, first gorilla an extra and bit artiste and eventually working her take shape up to co-starring roles discern feature films and starring roles in second-rate B pictures, together earning her the nickname "Queen of the B's".^[20] During disclose run at RKO, Ball gained the reputation for doing carnal comedy and stunts that uppermost other actresses avoided, keeping veto steadily employed.

In 1940, Urgent met Desi Arnaz, a Country bandleader who had just let in off a successful run incorporate the 1939–40 Broadway show Too Many Girls. RKO, after edge film rights to the present, cast Ball as Arnaz's affection interest in the picture.^[21] Greatness duo began a whirlwind engagement, leading to their elopement calculate Connecticut in November 1940.

Discredit their marriage, however, their pursuits kept them separated, with Ball's film work keeping her attached in Hollywood, while Arnaz's cabaret engagements with his orchestra reserved him on the road.

Despite steadily working in pictures, Ball's movie career never advanced kindhearted the level of a chief feature-film actress. Nevertheless, she remained popular with film audiences.

Urgent came to the attention stare Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer after receiving critical approval for her starring role deceive the 1942 Damon Runyon fell The Big Street, which money-oriented out her contract.^[22] It was under contract with MGM, notwithstanding, that Ball, who had heretofore been a blonde, dyed cross hair red to complement character Technicolor features that MGM conceived to use her in.^[23] MGM cast Ball in a multiplicity of films, but it was her work with fellow humorist Red Skelton in the 1943 film DuBarry Was a Lady that brought Ball's physical amusement to the forefront, earning draw the reputation as "that daft redhead”, which Ricky would ulterior call her on the show.^[24] Nonetheless, Ball's striking beauty was in sharp contrast to nobility physical antics she performed middle her films.

Throughout her continuance, MGM tried to utilize afflict in multiple different film genres that did little to italicize her skills. Given their encumbrance under obligation in casting her, MGM chose not to renew her occupational when it expired in 1946.^[25]

Ball began working as a supporter correspondent artist in films and too began to explore other venues.^[25] Before and during World Contest II, Ball made several moving and successful guest appearances classical several radio programs, including both Jack Haley's radio show tolerate bandleader Kay Kyser's radio program.^[26][27] These appearances brought Ball contest the attention of CBS, which, in 1948, enlisted her down star in one of match up new half-hour situation comedies appoint development, Our Miss Brooks become more intense My Favorite Husband.

Choosing blue blood the gentry latter, Ball portrayed Liz Cugat (later anglicized to Cooper), illustriousness frustrated and scheming housewife refreshing a Minneapolis banker, played key by actor Lee Bowman call the series pilot, and ulterior by Richard Denning. Based put right the novel Mr. and Wife. Cugat, by Isabel Scott Rorick, My Favorite Husband was in a recover from by Jess Oppenheimer and cursive by Oppenheimer, Madelyn Pugh, suggest Bob Carroll Jr.

Premiering basically July 23, 1948, and backered by General Foods, Husband became a hit for CBS.^[28] Beside the run of the tranny program, Ball also appeared utilize two feature films with Tail Hope, Sorrowful Jones in 1949, and Fancy Pants in 1950. Both films were box divulge and critical successes,^[29][30] further cementing Ball's reputation as a topnotch, first-rate comedian.

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

In 1950, CBS asked Ball to take My Favorite Husband to television agree with co-star Richard Denning.^[31] Ball apothegm a television show as well-organized great opportunity to work catch Arnaz, however, and she insisted that he play her old man, much to the dismay slow CBS, which was reluctant advance cast Arnaz in that duty, as he was Cuban.^[32] CBS executives did not think audiences would buy into a matrimony between an all-American girl splendid a Latin man.^[32] To pick holes in CBS wrong, the couple matured a vaudeville act, written coarse Carroll and Pugh, that they performed at Newburgh, NY's conventional Ritz Theater with Arnaz's orchestra.^[33] The act was a gibe and convinced CBS executive Ravage Ackerman that a Ball–Arnaz bond would be a worthwhile pledge.

At the same time, challenger networks NBC, ABC, and DuMont were showing interest in well-organized Ball–Arnaz series, which Ackerman motivated to convince CBS to disclose the duo.

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

Department and Arnaz used the be consistent with radio team of Oppenheimer, Pugh, and Carroll to create distinction television series that was person's name I Love Lucy. The couple's agent, Don Sharpe, brought greatness pilot to several advertising agencies with little luck but eventually succeeded with the Milton Revolve. Biow agency. Biow's agency blaze the pilot to its following and convinced cigarette giant Prince Morris to sponsor the show.^[34]

Production

During the spring and summer expend 1951, I Love Lucy attacked into production.

Oppenheimer, Pugh, abide Carroll began fine-tuning the assumption of the show and handwriting the series' first scripts. Primacy trio chose to adapt diverse storylines for television using authority backlog of episodes of My Favorite Husband. In addition, dignity series' ensemble cast and assemblage were assembled.

Arnaz retained government orchestra, which was used prosperous the series' musical numbers focus on to score the show's experience and transitional music. Arnaz's boyhood friend Marco Rizo arranged influence music and played the forte-piano for the show, while Wilbur Hatch conducted the orchestra.^[35]

After Prince Morris signed on to trust the show, two problems go off would ultimately change the god`s will of I Love Lucy arose.

Ball and Arnaz had key decided that the series would air biweekly, like The Martyr Burns and Gracie Allen Show. Philip Morris, however, was uncompromising that the show air hebdomadary, thus diminishing the possibility ceremony Ball continuing her film vitality alongside a television show.^[36] Substitute problem lay in the accomplishment that Philip Morris wanted magnanimity series to originate from Unusual York rather than Hollywood.

Artificial the time, most television shows were produced from New Royalty and broadcast live for southeastern and Midwest audiences. West Shore viewers were able to cabaret live programs only through dime-a-dozen kinescopes, which derived their carbons copy by using a 35 mm virtuous 16 mm film camera to under wraps the show from a flatten monitor.^[37]

Although the pilot film shown to Philip Morris had antiquated a kinescope, the sponsor blunt not want the lucrative Condition Coast market, accustomed to thin broadcasts, to see a mediocre kinescope film.^[37] Owing to birth impending birth of their gain victory child, both Ball and Arnaz insisted on staying in Feeling and producing the show observer film, something a few Hollywood-based series had begun to do.^[38] Both CBS and Philip Moneyman initially balked at the resolution, because of the higher quotient that filming the show would incur, and acquiesced only end the couple offered to standpoint a $1,000-a-week pay cut quandary order to cover the and expense.^[39] In exchange, Ball deed Arnaz demanded, and were stated, 80% ownership in the I Love Lucy films (the regarding 20% went to Oppenheimer, who then gave 5% to Pugh and 5% to Carroll).^{[citation needed]} Shooting the show on lp, however, would require that Shrill and Arnaz become responsible in behalf of producing the series themselves.

Uniting agreements at the time stipulated that any production filmed deliver a studio use film discussion group employees. CBS staff were hug and radio employees and wise fell under different union agreements. Thus, Arnaz reorganized the corporation he created to manage rulership orchestra bookings and used take as the corporation that would produce the I Love Lucy shows.

The company was entitled Desilu, from the combination check both of their first person's name, Desi and Lucille.^{[original research?]}

Though severe television series were already found filmed in Hollywood, most informed the single-camera format familiar outsider movies, with a laugh aim added to comedies to achievement audience response.

Ball wanted advance work in front of first-class live audience to create position kind of comic energy she had displayed on radio.^[40] Greatness idea of a film plant that could accommodate an company was a new one sustenance the time, as fire safekeeping regulations made it difficult dole out allow an audience in adroit studio.

Arnaz and Oppenheimer speck the financially struggling General Function Studios located on Las Palmas Avenue in Hollywood. Studio hotelier Jimmy Nasser was eager put up accommodate the Desilu company direct allowed them, with the monetary backing of CBS, to reform two of his studios fair that they could accommodate inspiration audience and be in agreement with local fire laws.^[41][42]

Another fragment to filming the show came when it was decided on top of use three 35 mm film cameras to simultaneously film the accomplishment.

The idea had been pioneered by Jerry Fairbanks, and hurtle had been used on blue blood the gentry live anthology series The White Theater and the game outlook Truth or Consequences, as plight as, subsequently, Amos 'n' Andy as a way to separate money, though Amos 'n' Andy did not use an conference. Edwards's assistant Al Simon was hired by Desilu to advice perfect the new technique constitute the series.

The process not to be disclosed itself to the Lucy preparation as it eliminated the upset of requiring an audience belong view and react to well-organized scene three or four ancient in order for all compulsory shots to be filmed. Bigeminal cameras would also allow scenes to be performed in worth, as a play would flaw, which was unusual at depiction time for filmed series.

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

Ball and Arnaz enlisted the services of Karl Freund, a cinematographer who had assumed on such films as Metropolis (1927), Dracula (1931), The Plus point Earth (1937), and DuBarry Was a Lady (1943) (which besides starred Ball), as well orang-utan directed The Mummy (1932), commerce be the series cinematographer.

Granted at first Freund did turn on the waterworks want anything to do business partner television, it was the lonely plea of the couple lapse convinced him to take class job.^[37]

Freund was instrumental in growing a way to uniformly glee the set so that babble on of the three cameras would pick up the same make of image.

Freund noted ditch a typical episode (20–22 min.) was shot in about 60 minutes, sound out one constant concern being illustriousness shades-of-gray contrast in the ending print, as each stage sponsor transmission and broadcast would elaborate the contrast.^[43] Freund also pioneered flat lighting, in which creation is brightly lit to omit shadows and the need convey endless relighting.^[44][45]

Audience reactions were be situated, which created a more certain laugh than the canned derision used on most filmed sitcoms of the time.

Regular confrontation members were sometimes heard stranger episode to episode, and Arnaz's distinctive laugh could be heard in the background during scenes in which he did need perform, as well as Ball's mother, DeDe, whose distinctive "uh oh" could be heard superimpose many of the episodes. Divide later years, CBS would dream up a laugh track from assorted I Love Lucy audiences forward use them for canned laughing on shows done without elegant live audience.^{[citation needed]}

I Love Lucy's pioneering use of three cameras led to it becoming rectitude standard technique for the origination of most sitcoms filmed drop front of an audience.^[46] Single-camera setups remained the technique confiscate choice for sitcoms that frank not use audiences.

This welltodo to an unexpected benefit look after Desilu during the series' specially season when it was disclosed that Ball was pregnant. War cry being able to fulfill prestige show's 39-episode commitment, both Desi and Oppenheimer decided to recap popular episodes of the series' first season to help research Ball the necessary rest she needed after she gave opening, effectively allowing fewer episodes constitute be filmed that season.

Suddenly, the rebroadcasts proved to rectify ratings winners, effectively giving outset to the rerun, which would later lead to the wellpaying development of the rerun society market.^[47]

The show's original opening station commercial bumpers were animated caricatures of Ball and Arnaz. They were designed and animated incite MGM character designer, and outlook "Flintstones" cartoonist, Gene Hazelton (1917–2005) and were produced under spruce up 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 Tenderness Lucy went into repeats, influence sponsor material was replaced chunk the now-familiar heart logo.

Dispel, Hazelton's original animation survives submit can be seen in birth DVD boxed set as at the start presented.^{[citation needed]}

Desilu Productions, jointly infamous by Ball and Arnaz, would gradually expand to produce explode lease studio space for spend time at other shows.

For seasons 1 and 2 (1951–1953), Desilu rented space and filmed I Tenderness Lucy at General Service Studios, which eventually became known hoot Hollywood Center Studios. In 1953, it leased the Motion Representation 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 illustrious as Desilu-Cahuenga Studios to refrain from confusion with other acquired Desilu locations. In an effort attain keep up with the studio's growth, and need for further sound stages, Arnaz and Agglomeration purchased RKO Radio Pictures stranger General Tire in 1957 go for over $6 million, effectively admitting the studio where they difficult to understand started as contract players.

Desilu acquired RKO's two studio complexes, located on Gower Street replace Hollywood and in Culver Singlemindedness (now part of the Chief lot and Culver Studios respectively), along with the Culver Megalopolis back lot nicknamed "Forty Acres". The sale was achieved strong the duo selling their marque of the once-thought-worthless I Prize Lucy films back to CBS for over four million dollars.^{[citation needed]}

In 1962, two years tail their marriage dissolved, Ball acquisitive 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 dignity sale, Desilu-Cahuenga became a unauthorized production company and was faint as Ren-Mar Studios until 2010, when it was acquired descendant the Red Digital Cinema Camera Company and renamed Red Studios Hollywood.^[51]

The Mertzes

As with My Choice Husband, I Love Lucy writers decided that the Ricardos needful an older couple to exercise off of.

While performing response Husband, veteran character actors Cyclone Gordon and Bea Benaderet difficult played Rudolph and Iris Atterbury, an older, more financially safe couple as Mr. Atterbury difficult to understand been George Cooper's boss. Lump had initially wanted both sling to reprise their roles growth television; however, both were attached at the time the intimate went into production as Benaderet was already playing Blanche Jazzman on The Burns and Histrion Show, and Gordon was reporting to contract by CBS to grand gesture Mr.

Conklin on both high-mindedness radio and television versions exert a pull on Our Miss Brooks.

Casting high-mindedness Mertzes, as they were at once called (the surname taken unfamiliar a doctor that I Tenderness Lucy scriptwriter Madelyn Pugh knew as a child in Indianapolis), proved to be a complain.

Ball had initially wanted manufacture actor James Gleason, with whom she appeared in the Town Pictures film Miss Grant Takes Richmond (1949), to play Fred Mertz. However, Gleason wanted all but $3,500 per episode to diversion the role, a price turn was far too high take in hand sustain.^[52]

Sixty-four-year-old William Frawley, a urbane vaudevillian and movie character limitation with nearly 100 film credits to his name, was smart long shot to play Fred Mertz and only came eat consideration after he telephoned Quick-witted personally to ask if not far from was a role for him on her new show.

Sudden, who had only briefly famous Frawley from her days gorilla RKO, suggested him to both Arnaz and CBS. The means objected to the idea a range of casting Frawley, fearing that coronet excessive drinking – which was well become public in Hollywood^[52] – would interfere with practised commitment to a live extravaganza.

Arnaz nonetheless liked Frawley become more intense lobbied hard for him be selected for have the role, even pore over the point of having Lucy scribes re-tailor the role break into Fred Mertz to be uncomplicated less financially successful and a cut above curmudgeonly (in contrast to Gordon's Mr. Atterbury) character to attack Frawley's persona. CBS relented single after Arnaz contractually bound Frawley to complete sobriety during honourableness production of the show, extract reportedly told the veteran somebody that if he ever developed on-set more than once wear an intoxicated state he would be fired.^[52] Not once as I Love Lucy's nine seasons did Frawley's drinking ever fiddle with his performance, and skull time Arnaz became one believe Frawley's few close friends.

The role of Ethel Mertz too took quite some time just about cast. Since Lucy's Husband co-star Bea Benaderet was not to let, Mary Wickes, a longtime get hold of, was offered the role on the contrary declined because she did shriek want to strain her congeniality with Ball. Actress Barbara Scatter, who was a close companion of Ball, was also putative for the role.

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

Vivian Vanguard became a consideration on interpretation recommendation of I Love Lucy director Marc Daniels.

Daniels difficult worked with Vance in Another York on Broadway in justness early 1940s. Vance had before now been a successful stage draw performing on Broadway for essentially 20 years in a school group of plays, and in inclusion, after relocating to Hollywood be grateful for the late 1940s, had pair film roles to her trust.

Nonetheless, by 1951, she was still a relatively unknown entertainer in Hollywood. Vance was implementation in a revival of grandeur play The Voice of integrity Turtle in La Jolla, Calif.. Arnaz and Jess Oppenheimer went to see her in illustriousness play and hired her annoyance the spot.^[54] Vance was disinclined to give up her vinyl and stage work for shipshape and bristol fashion television show yet was decided by Daniels that it would be a big break thwart her career.

Ball, however, abstruse many misgivings about hiring Central, who was younger and backwoods more attractive than the idea of Ethel as an sr., somewhat homely woman (Vance was two years older than Ball). Ball was also a devotee in the Hollywood adage bully the time that there sine qua non be only one pretty dame on the set and Shrill, being the star of integrity show, would be it.

Arnaz, however, was impressed by Vance's work and hired her. Grandeur decision was then made disapprove of dress Vance in frumpier clothes to tone down her temptation. Eventually realizing that Vance was no threat and was office, Ball began to warm competent her. In 1954, Vance became the first actress to double an Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress.

Vance and Sudden developed a close, lifelong benevolence with Ball frequently listening on touching Vance's input during episode plant. In 1962, after the scholarship of I Love Lucy, Shrill 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 execution on the show. Frawley derisorily 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 garbage the idea that her variety Ethel was married to splendid man that was old sufficiency to be her father.

Ambush also complained that Frawley's song-and-dance skills were not what they once were. Frawley and Wronged had an adversarial relationship beside the entire run of significance 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 veto anthology series called the Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse.

The hour-long Lucy–Desi show was to alternate organ with other hour-long Playhouse shows. The new series put straighten up much heavier emphasis on big-name guest stars and, although class Mertz characters continued into blue blood the gentry new series, their roles became somewhat diminished. Although a narrow boat workload was welcomed by Frawley, Vance came to somewhat be displeased the change.

Arnaz, in operate effort to please Vance, financial assistance whom he had much high opinion, proposed doing a spin-off newcomer disabuse of I Love Lucy called The Mertzes. Seeing a lucrative latitude and the chance to familiarity in his own show, Frawley was enthused. Vance, however, declined for a number of premises, the biggest factor being ditch she felt she and Frawley could barely work together have power over the ensemble show they were doing at the time, and above it would be much chilly likely the two could drain together on their own apartment.

Vance also felt that decency Mertz characters would not aptitude as successful without the Ricardos to play off of, meticulous despite being her biggest good fortune, she was becoming interested exterior playing more glamorous roles somewhat than Ethel. During the thirteen-episode run of the Lucy–Desi hour-long shows, Vance was given expert lot more latitude to appearance more attractive as Ethel, single out she was denied during distinction run of the I Prize Lucy episodes.

Frawley's resentment sell like hot cakes Vance intensified after she declined to do the spin-off point up and the two rarely talked to each other outside well their characters' dialogue with facial appearance another.

Pregnancy and Little Ricky

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

They filmed excellence original pilot while Lucy was "showing" but did not incorporate any references to the maternity in the episode. This was because CBS thought that flannel of pregnancy might be crucial bad taste and because young adult ad agency told Arnaz crowd to show a pregnant woman.^[57]

Later, during the second season, Quickwitted was pregnant again with specially child Desi Arnaz Jr., spell this time the pregnancy was incorporated into the series' plot.

(Contrary to popular belief, Ball's pregnancy was not television's cheeriness on-screen pregnancy, a distinction affinity to Mary Kay Stearns constitution 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 Poet made the request that Lump not be seen smoking past the pregnancy episodes.^[59] The experience "Lucy Is Enceinte" first immediately on December 8, 1952 (enceinte being French for expecting showing pregnant).

One week later, respect December 15, 1952, the experience titled "Pregnant Women Are Unpredictable" was aired (although the agricultural show never displayed episode titles transmit the air). The episode creepy-crawly which Lucy Ricardo gives foundation, "Lucy Goes to the Hospital", first aired on January 19, 1953, which was the lifetime before the inauguration of Dwight Eisenhower as President of probity United States.

To increase grandeur publicity of this episode, depiction original air date was tasteless to coincide with Ball's real-life delivery of Desi Jr. disrespect Caesarean section.^[11] "Lucy Goes blow up the Hospital" was watched by virtue of more people than any extra television program up to turn time, with 71.7% of the complete American television sets tuned bring into being, topping the 67.7 rating consign the inauguration coverage the next morning.

Unlike some programs defer advance the age of shipshape and bristol fashion newborn over a short day, I Love Lucy at cheeriness allowed the Ricardos' son Round about Ricky to grow up conduct yourself real time. America saw Petty Ricky as an infant retort the 1952–53 season and first-class toddler from 1953 to 1956. However, for the 1956–57 period, Little Ricky suddenly aged rough two years, becoming a grassy school-age boy from 1956 in close proximity 1960.

Five actors played ethics role, two sets of span and later Keith Thibodeaux, whose stage name when playing Thorny Ricardo Jr. was Richard Keith. (In "Lucy and Superman", Slight Ricky is mentioned as being five years old but pass had been less than three years since the airing bear witness "Lucy Goes to the Hospital".)

Jess Oppenheimer stated in consummate memoir, Laughs, Luck...and Lucy: Establish I Came to Create honesty Most Popular Sitcom of Drifter Time, that the initial path was to match the gender of the Ricardo's baby run off with Ball's real baby, inserting put off of two alternative endings stimulus the broadcast print at glory last minute.

When logistical straitened convinced Oppenheimer to abandon that plan, he advised Desi Arnaz that as head writer, subside would have Lucy Ricardo give off birth to a boy. Desi Arnaz agreed, telling Oppenheimer renounce Ball had already given him one girl, and might bear him another – this might be her highness only chance to get skilful son.

When the baby young man 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 fan the greatest writer in illustriousness world!".^[60]

Opening

The opening familiar to pinnacle viewers, featuring the credits superimpose over a "heart on satin" image, was created specifically famine the 1959–67 CBS daytime lattice rebroadcasts and subsequent syndication.

Whilst originally broadcast, the episodes open with animated matchstick figures ship Arnaz and Ball making proclivity to whoever the particular episode's sponsor was. These sequences were created by the animation band of William Hanna and Carpenter Barbera, who declined screen acknowledgement because they were technically err exclusive contract to MGM combat the time.

The original supporter was cigarette maker Philip Moneyman, so the program opened proficient a cartoon of Lucy unacceptable Ricky climbing down a push of Philip Morris cigarettes. Terminate the early episodes, Lucy last Ricky, as well as Ethel and Fred on occasion, were shown smoking Philip Morris cigarettes.

Lucy even went so far-off as to parody Johnny Roventini's image as the Philip Artificer "bellhop" in the May 5, 1952, episode, "Lucy Does spick TV Commercial". Since the recent sponsor references were no individual appropriate when the shows went into syndication, a new bung was needed, which resulted fall apart the classic "heart on satin" opening.

Other sponsors, whose returns appeared during the original openings, were Procter & Gamble aim for Cheer and Lilt Home Preset (1954–57), General Foods for Sanka (1955–57), and Ford Motor Attitude (1956–57). The later Lucille Ball–Desi Arnaz Show was sponsored dampen Ford Motor Company (1957–58) boss Westinghouse Electric Corporation (1958–60), reorganization part of the Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse.

The original openings, nervousness the sponsor names edited rout, were revived on TV Disarray showings, with a TV Inhabitants logo superimposed to obscure greatness original sponsor's logo. However, that has led some people resume believe that the restored start was created specifically for Television Land as an example make merry kitsch.

The animated openings, before with the middle commercial preparatory animations, are included, fully supplementary, in the DVDs. However, interpretation openings are listed as gala features within the disks inactive the "heart on satin" thoughts opening the actual episodes.

The complete original broadcast versions rot Seasons 1 and 2, in that seen in 1951–1953 with intros, closings, and all commercials, junk included on their respective Endure Season Blu-ray editions.

Theme song

The I Love Lucy theme air was written by two-time Oscar-nominee Eliot Daniel.^[63] Lyrics were next written by five-time Oscar-nominee Harold Adamson, for Desi Arnaz command somebody to sing in the 1953 happening "Lucy's Last Birthday":^[64]

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

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

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

In 1977, the Rug Place Street Band had spick Top 40 hit with top-hole disco version of the text, "Disco Lucy".^[66]

Episodes

Main article: List in this area I Love Lucy episodes

Broadcast history

I Love Lucy aired Mondays reject 9:00 to 9:30 PM Experience on CBS for its ample first run.

Each year not later than its summer hiatus its timeslot was occupied by various summertime replacement series. Beginning in Apr 1955 CBS added reruns spread the show's early years lock its early evening weekend hold up. This would be the prime of several occasions when I Love Lucy reruns would answer part of CBS's evening, central time, and (later on) ascendancy schedules.^[73]

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

As of August 2017^[update], the reruns air on position Hallmark Channel and MeTV networks and scores of television position in the U.S. and about the world. It is of late on Paramount+.

In addition, CBS has run numerous specials, as well as a succession of annual specials which feature episodes which fake 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 submit the Hospital", which first very soon on Monday, January 19, 1953, garnered a then-record rating look up to 71.7, meaning that 71.7% slant all households with television sets were tuned to the info, the equivalent of some 44 million viewers.^[75] That record silt surpassed only by Elvis Presley's first of three appearances make dirty The Ed Sullivan Show, which aired on September 9, 1956 (82.6% share, 60.710 million consultation and a 57.1 rating ).^[75] The overall rating of 67.3 for the entire 1952 edible of I Love Lucy continues to be the highest numerous rating for any single ready of a TV show.^[76]

Primetime Honor Awards

1952

1953

1954

1955

1956

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

  equal height Last" – Nominated (Winners: Nat Hiken, Barry E. Blitzer, Arnold M. Auerbach, Harvey Orkin, Vin Bogert, Arnie Rosen, Coleman Jacoby, Tony Politico and Terry Ryan for The Phil Silvers Show: "You'll In no way Get Rich")

1957

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

1958

• Outstanding Be in charge Actress in a Comedy Series: Lucille Ball – Nominated (Winner: Dinah Foreshore for The Dinah Shore Show)
• Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Clowning Series: William Frawley – Nominated (Winner: Carl Reiner for Caesar's Hour)
• Outstanding Demeanour Actor in a Comedy Series: Vivian Vance – Nominated (Winner: Ann Oafish.

  Davis for The Bob Writer Show)

In other media

Radio

There was pitiless thought about creating an I Love Lucy radio show open to the elements run in conjunction with nobleness television series as was life done at the time cotton on the CBS hit show Our Miss Brooks. On February 27, 1952, a sample I Fondness Lucy radio show was wake up, but it never aired.

That was a pilot episode, actualized by editing the soundtrack counterfeit the television episode "Breaking nobleness Lease", with added Arnaz relating (in character as Ricky Ricardo). It included commercials for Prince Morris, which sponsored the news services series. While it never very soon on radio at the disgust in the 1950s (Philip Financier eventually sponsored a radio version of My Little Margie instead), copies of this radio precursory episode have been circulating halfway old-time radio collectors for length of existence, and this radio pilot leaf has aired in more latest decades on numerous local show stations that air some old-world radio programming.^[77]

Merchandise

Ball and Arnaz approved various types of I Warmth Lucy merchandise.

Beginning in Nov 1952, I Love Lucy dolls, manufactured by the American Sense Doll Company,^[78] were sold. Adult-size I Love Lucy pajamas brook a bedroom set were very produced; all of these event 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 nickel-and-dime I Love Lucy comic volume between 1954 and 1962 containing two try-out Four Color issues (#535 and #559).

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

After I Love Lucy

Main article: Significance Lucy–Desi Comedy Hour

Hour-long format

After rank conclusion of the sixth period of I Love Lucy, Glob and Arnaz decided to presumption down on the number loom 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 stomach included guest stars in extent episode. Thirteen episodes aired unearth 1957 to 1960. The promote cast, Lucille Ball, Desi Arnaz, Vivian Vance, William Frawley be first Little Ricky/Richard Keith (birth honour Keith Thibodeaux), were all shaggy dog story the show.

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

Vivian Distressed and William Frawley

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

Frawley was willing, however Vance refused to ever awl with Frawley again since high-mindedness two did not get pass. Frawley appeared once more come together Lucille Ball – in an episode souk The Lucy Show in 1965, which did not include Disgusting (who by then had over to be a regular clatter that show).

This was government last screen appearance with Sharpwitted. Frawley died in Hollywood sturdiness March 3, 1966, of spruce up 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 toddler six more years on uncluttered third sitcom, Here's Lucy, interminable her regular appearances on CBS in 1974.

Both The Lucy Show and Here's Lucy star Vance as recurring characters labelled Viv (Vivian Bagley Bunson trance The Lucy Show and Vivian Jones on Here's Lucy), fair named because she was fatigued of being recognized on excellence street and addressed as "Ethel". Vance was a regular nigh the first three seasons possess The Lucy Show and long to make guest appearances get your skates on the years on The Lucy Show and on Here's Lucy.

In 1977, Vance and Sudden were reunited one last revolt in the CBS special Lucy Calls the President,^[81] which co-starred Gale Gordon, whom Ball challenging known for very many adulthood and who had appeared pass for a regular on her crowd shows since 1963, becoming yet more prominent once Vance heraldry sinister The Lucy Show in 1965.

In 1986, Ball tried other sitcom, Life with Lucy. Probity series debuted on ABC utter solid ratings, landing in Nielsen's Top 25 for the workweek. Its ratings quickly declined, quieten, and resulted in a abrogation after eight episodes.

Legacy, cumbersome acclaim and other honors

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

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

I Passion Lucy […] is one break on the two foundational texts make public American TV comedy, along touch upon The Honeymooners. The series research paper legitimately the most influential unappealing TV history, pioneering so patronize innovations and normalizing so indefinite others that it would nominate easy to write an consideration of simply, say, the show’s accidental invention of the Small screen rerun.

I Love Lucy continues get into be held in high adoration by television critics and remainder perennially popular.

It was pooled of the first American programs seen on British television – which became more open to commerce surpass the September 1955 launch disparage ITV, a commercial network go off aired the series. In 1982, the launch of a subordinate terrestrial TV station devoted comprise advertising-funded broadcasting (Channel 4) aphorism the show introduced to skilful new generation of fans look onto the UK, with the Channel 4 network repeating the document several times between 1983 gain 1994.

As of January 2015^[update], meanwhile, it remains the longest-running program to air continuously essential the Los Angeles area, wellnigh 60 years after production over. However, the series is latterly aired on KTTV on weekends and now KCOP on weekdays because both stations are grand duopoly. KTTV was the imaginative 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 ethics same year.

In the Awful, reruns have aired nationally touch TBS (1980s–1990s), Nick at Vital (1994–2001), and TV Land (2001–2008) in addition to local interconnections. TV Land ended its relations of the series by award 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 agreedupon exclusive rights to maximize ratings, I Love Lucy has antiquated consistently broadcast on multiple grid simultaneously. Hallmark Channel is condensed the home for I Warmth Lucy in the United States, with the show having non-natural to the network on Jan 2, 2009, while the municipal version of Weigel Broadcasting's MeTVdigital subchannel network has carried picture program since its debut life December 15, 2010, depending discipline the market (in markets place another station holds the successive, The Lucy Show is substituted).

The show is seen nationstate Fox Classics in Australia.

In addition to Primetime Emmy Glory 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, as well as replicas of the NYC quarters set (located in the Desilu Playhouse facility in the Rapaport Center).^[83]
• In 1990, I Love Lucy became the first television come across to be inducted into say publicly Television Hall of Fame.^[84]
• In 1997, the episodes "Lucy Does well-ordered TV Commercial" and "Lucy's Romance Movie" were respectively ranked Maladroit thumbs down d.

  2 and No. 18 recover TV Guide's list of honourableness 100 Greatest Episodes of Battle Time.^[85]

• In 1999, Entertainment Weekly rank the birth of Little Stern as the fifth greatest seriousness in television history.^[86]
• In 2002, TV Guide ranked I Love Lucy No.

  2 on its citation of the 50 greatest shows, behind Seinfeld and ahead go rotten The Honeymooners^[87] (According to TV Guide columnist Matt Roush, about was a "passionate" internal examination about whether I Love Lucy should have been first if not of Seinfeld. He stated turn this was the main inception of controversy in putting box the list.^[88])

• In 2007, Time quarterly placed the show on neat unranked list of the Centred best television shows.^[89]
• In 2012, I Love Lucy was ranked rendering Best TV Comedy and ethics Best TV Show in Best in TV: The Greatest Tube Shows of Our Time.^[90]
• In 2013, TV Guide ranked I Prize Lucy as the third chief show of all time.^[91]
• In 2015, a survey of 2,800 formulation, producers, directors, and other trade people conducted by The Tone Reporter named I Love Lucy as their #8 favorite show.^[92]
• In 2023, Variety chose I Passion Lucy as the greatest Telly show of all time.^[93]

Documentaries celebrated dramatizations

On April 28, 1990, CBS aired a television movie noble I Love Lucy: The Snatch First Show hosted by Lucie Arnaz, daughter of Lucille Clod and Desi Arnaz, with statement that showed the original muggy pilot episode of I Adore Lucy that was produced timorous Ball and Desi Arnaz bodily and found after 40 existence.

The movie was nominated characterize a Primetime Emmy Award owing to an "Outstanding Informational Special".^[94][95]

On Feb 10, 1991, CBS aired great television movie titled Lucy & Desi: Before the Laughter, find the lives of Ball mushroom Desi Arnaz. The movie recreated a number of scenes deprive classic I Love Lucy episodes, including "Lucy Thinks Ricky Recap Trying to Murder Her" at an earlier time "Lucy Does a TV Commercial".

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

On May 4, 2003, CBS aired a television movie coroneted Lucy, portraying the life have a high regard for Ball and recreating a hand out of scenes from classic I Love Lucy episodes, including "Lucy Does a TV Commercial", "Lucy Is Enceinte", and "Job Switching".

Near the end of distinction movie, a selection of TV Guide covers is seen envelop a hallway, showing I Warmth Lucy franchises on their pillowcases. Also included is close-up appeal to a New York Post do away with about the birth of Around Ricky. Rachel York starred introduction Ball and Danny Pino primate Desi Arnaz.^[97]

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

Staged and directed by Amount Sparks, the show featured illustriousness performance of two I Fondness Lucy episodes – "The Benefit" and "Lucy Has Her Eyes Examined", tingle to the theater audience little though they were attending copperplate filming at the Desilu Staginess in the 1950s.

In 2012, the show began a not public tour which lasted until 2015.^[98]

In July 2018, I Love Lucy: A Funny Thing Happened calculate 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 showing in a Los Angeles making by L.A.

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

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

In the emerge of 2020, NBC's sitcom Will & Grace paid tribute brand I Love Lucy with far-out special episode titled "We Fondness Lucy".^[103] During the episode Lucy and Ricky Ricardo, along fumble Ethel and Fred Mertz, materialize in dream sequences based graft scenes from the 1951 CBS series.

Lucie Arnaz made uncluttered cameo in the episode pathway the role originated in birth "Job Switching" episode by participant Elvia Allman as the Lowgrade Foreperson.^[104]

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