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I Love Lucy  is an American television sitcom starring Lucille Ball, Desi Arnaz, Vivian Vance, 

and William Frawley. The blac!and!white series originally ran "rom #ctober $%, $&%$, to 'ay (,

$&%), on *B+. A"ter the series ended in $&%), however, a modi"ied version continued "or three more

seasons with $ one!hour s-ecials, running "rom $&%) to $&(, nown "irst as The Lucille Ball-Desi

 Arnaz Show  and later in reruns as The Lucy–Desi Comedy Hour .

The show, which was the "irst scri-ted television -rogram to be shot on % mm "ilm in "ront o" a

studio audience, won "ive /mmy Awards and received numerous nominations. Another award that

the show won was the coveted 0eabody Award "or 1recognition o" distinguished achievement in

television.1234

I Love Lucy  was the most watched show in the 5nited +tates in "our o" its si6 seasons, and was the

"irst to end its run at the to- o" the 7ielsen ratings 8an accom-lishment later matched only by The

 Andy Griffih Show  in $&(9 and Seinfeld  in $&&9: . The show is still syndicated in dozens o"

languages across the world, and remains -o-ular, with an American audience o" ; million each

year.24  A colorized version o" its *hristmas e-isode attracted more than eight million viewers when

*B+ aired it in -rime time in 3$ < (3 years a"ter the show -remiered.2;4 A second colorized s-ecial,

"eaturing the 1L.A. At Last=1 and 1Lucy and +u-erman1 e-isodes, aired on 'ay $), 3$%, attracting

(.; million viewers.2%4

I Love Lucy  is o"ten regarded as one o" the greatest and most in"luential sitcoms in history. >n 3$3, it

was voted the ?Best TV +how o" All Time? in a survey conducted by  AB* 7ews and !eo"le

#a$azine.2(4

Contents

  2hide4 

• $0remise

• 3*ast

o 3.$0rimary -roduction team

•

Bacground and develo-ment

o .$0roduction

o .3The 'ertzes

o .0regnancy and Little @icy

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• ;/-isodes

• %Broadcast history

o %.$7ielsen ratings

• (#-ening

o (.$Theme song

• )>n other media

o ).$@adio

o ).3'erchandise

o ).*omic boo and comic stri-

• 9A"ter Lucy 

o 9.$our!long "ormat

o 9.3Legacy

o 9.0rimetime /mmy Awards and nominations

o 9.;onors

o 9.%?Lucy? in *olor 

• &DVD and Blu!ray releases

o &.$#ther releases

• $Footnotes

• $$@e"erences

• $3/6ternal lins

Premise2edit4

#riginally set in an a-artment building in 7ew or *ity, I Love Lucy  centers on Lucy @icardo 8Lucille

Ball: and her singerCbandleader husband @icy @icardo 8Desi Arnaz:, along with their best "riends

and landlords Fred 'ertz 8William Frawley: and /thel 'ertz 8Vivian Vance:. During the second

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season, Lucy and @icy have a son named @icy @icardo, r. 81Little @icy1:, whose birth was timed

to coincide with Ball?s real!li"e delivery o" her son Desi Arnaz r.2)4

Lucy is naEve and ambitious, with an undeserved zeal "or stardom and a nac "or getting hersel"

and her husband into trouble whenever Lucy yearns to mae it in show business. The @icardos? best

"riends, Fred and /thel, are "ormer  vaudevillians and this only strengthens Lucy?s resolve to -rove

hersel" as a -er"ormer. 5n"ortunately, she has "ew maretable -er"ormance sills. +he does not

seem to be able to carry a tune or -lay anything other than o""!ey renditions o" songs such as 1low

Worm1 or 1+weet +ue1 on the sa6o-hone, and many o" her -er"ormances devolve into disaster.

owever, to say she is com-letely without talent would be untrue, as on occasion, she is shown to

be a good dancer and a com-etent singer. +he is also at least twice o""ered contracts by television

or "ilm com-aniesG"irst in 1The Audition1 when she re-laces an inHured clown in @icy?s act, and

later in ollywood when she dances "or a studio bene"it using a rubber @icy dummy as her dancing

-artner.

The show -rovided Ball am-le o--ortunity to dis-lay her considerable sill at clowning and -hysical

comedy. *haracter develo-ment was not a maHor "ocus o" early sitcoms, so little was o""ered about

her li"e be"ore the show. A "ew e-isodes mentioned that she was born in amestown, 7ew

or 8Lucille Ball?s real!li"e home town:, later corrected to %es   amestown, that she graduated "rom

amestown igh +chool, that her maiden name was 1'cillicuddy1 8indicating a +cottish or >rish

ethnicity at least on her "ather?s side, though she once mentioned her grandmother was +wedishI

there are sizable >rish and +wedish communities in amestown:, and that she met @icy on a boat

cruise with her "riend "rom an agency she once wored "or. er "amily was absent, other than

occasional a--earances by her bird!brained mother 8Jathryn *ard:, who could never get @icy?s

name right. Lucy also e6hibited many stereoty-ical "emale traits that were standard "or comedy at

the time, including being secretive about her age and true hair color, and being careless with money,

along with being somewhat materialistic, insisting on buying new dresses and hats "or every

occasion and telling old "riends that she and @icy were wealthy. +he was also de-icted as a

devoted housewi"e and attentive mother.

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Lucy and @icy are mountain climbing in the Al-s during their $&%( /uro-ean vacation.

Lucy?s husband, @icy @icardo, is an u-!and!coming *uban American singer and bandleader with

an e6citable -ersonality. is -atience is "reKuently tested by his wi"e?s antics. When e6as-erated, he

o"ten reverts to s-eaing ra-idly in +-anish. As with Lucy, not much is revealed about his -ast or

"amily. @icy?s mother 8-layed by actress 'ary /mery: a--ears in two e-isodesI in another Lucy

mentions that he has "ive brothers. @icy also mentions that he had been 1-ractically raised1 by his

uncle Alberto 8who was seen during a "amily visit to *uba:, and that he had attended the 5niversity

o" avana.

 An e6tended "lashbac segment in the $&%) e-isode 1Lucy Taes a *ruise to avana1 o" The Lucille

Ball–Desi Arnaz Show  "illed in numerous details o" how Lucy and @icy met and how @icy came to

the 5nited +tates. The story, at least inso"ar as related to news-a-er columnist edda o--er , is

that the cou-le met in avana when Lucy and the 'ertzes vacationed there in $&;. Des-ite his

being a university graduate, -ro"icient in /nglish, @icy is -ortrayed as a driver o" a horse!drawn cab

who waits "or "ares at a -ier where tourists arrive by shi-. @icy is hired to serve as one o" Lucy?s

tour guides and the two "all in love. aving coincidentally also met -o-ular singer @udy Valle on the

cruise shi-, Lucy arranges an audition "or @icy who is hired to be in Valle?s orchestra, thus

allowing him to immigrate to the 5nited +tates on the very shi- on which Lucy and the 'ertzes were

returning. Lucy later states that @icy -layed "or Valle only one night be"ore being traded to Mavier

*ugat?s orchestra.

Lucy is usually "ound with her sideic and best "riend /thel 'ertz. A "ormer model

"rom AlbuKuerKue, 7ew 'e6ico, /thel tries to relive her glory days in vaudeville. @icy is more

inclined to include /thel in -er"ormances at his nightclub because, unlie Lucy, she can actually sing

and dance rather well.

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/thel?s husband Fred served in World War >, and lived through the reat De-ression. e is very

stingy with money and is an irascible no!nonsense ty-e. owever, he also shows that he can be a

so"t touch, es-ecially when it comes to Little @icy. Fred can also sing and dance and o"ten -er"orms

duets with /thel.

The 'anhattan building they all lived in be"ore their move to West-ort, *onnecticut, was addressed

at a "ictional (3 /ast (9th +treet, on the 5--er /ast +ide o" 'anhattan. The addresses only go u-

to the %s be"ore the street terminates at the /ast @iver.

Cast2edit4

*ast members "rom le"t, standingN William Frawley, Desi Arnaz, seatedN Vivian Vance and Lucille Ball.

'ie 8le"t: and oe 'ayer both -layed Little @icy as a toddler.

• Lucille Ball as Lucille /smeralda 1Lucy1 'cillicuddy @icardo

• Desi Arnaz as /nriKue Alberto Fernando y de Acha 1@icy1 @icardo >>>

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• Vivian Vance as /thel 'ae 0otter 'ertz 8alternately 1/thel Louise1 and 1/thel @oberta1:

• William Frawley as Frederic 1Fred1 obart 'ertz

•

@ichard Jeith as /nriKue Alberto @icardo >V 81@icy @icardo, r.1:

• Twins 'ie 'ayer and oe 'ayer both -layed 1Little @icy1 as a toddler 

• Jathryn *ard as 'innie Finch 81Fan 'agazine >nterview1: and later as 'rs. 'cillicuddy <

Lucy?s mother 

• 'ary ane *ro"t as Lucy?s socialite school chum *ynthia arcourt, /velyn Bigsby 81@eturn

ome "rom /uro-e1: and later as *onnecticut neighbor Betty @amsey

• Fran 7elson as various characters and as @al-h @amsey

• erry ausner  as erry, @icy?s agent

• Doris +ingleton as *arolyn A--leby 8she was originally named Lillian A--lebyI but a"ter

+ingleton?s "irst a--earance on the show, the -roducers "elt that the names Lillian and Lucy

sounded too similar, so her name was changed to *arolyn:

• +hirley 'itchell as 'arion +trong, a role originated by 'argie Liszt

• /lizabeth 0atterson as 'rs. 'atilda Trumbull also the town mayor in the e-isode 1The

'arriage License1

• *harles Lane as various characters

• Barbara 0e--er  as various characters

• /ve 'cVeagh as @oberta, Lucy?s hairdresser 

• Bob ellison as Bobby the Bellboy 8ollywood /-isodes:

• 'ary Wices as 'adame Le 'ond, Lucy?s ballet teacher 

ale ordon and Bea Benaderet, su--orting cast members on #y &avorie Hus'and , were originally

a--roached "or the roles o" Fred and /thel, but neither could acce-t owing to -revious commitments.

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ordon did a--ear as a guest star in three e-isodes, -laying @icy?s boss, 'r. Little"ield, in two

e-isodes, and later in an hour!long e-isode as a civil court Hudge. ordon was a veteran "rom the

classic radio days in which he -er"ected the role o" the e6as-erated character, as in &i''er #cGee

and #olly  and (ur #iss Broo)s. e would go on to co!star with Ball in all o" her -ost<I Love

Lucy  series 8The Lucy Show , Here*s Lucy  and Life wih Lucy :. Benaderet was a guest star in one

e-isode as elderly 'iss Lewis, a neighbor o" the @icardos.

Barbara 0e--er  8later "eatured as Doris Oi""el in the series Green Acres: was also considered to -lay

/thel, but 0e--er had been drining very heavily a"ter the death o" her husband, *raig W. @eynolds.

er "riendshi- with Ball dated bac to the "ilm +oman Scandals, in which both a--eared as oldwyn

irls. +he did, however, turn u- in at least nine e-isodes o" I Love Lucy  in bit -arts.294

'any o" the characters? names were a"ter Lucille Ball?s "amily members or close "riendsI "or

e6am-le, 'arion +trong was one o" her best "riends and roommate "or a time in 7ew or, and alsoset Lucy and Desi u- on their "irst date. Lillian A--leby was a teacher o" Lucy?s when she was in an

amateur -roduction on the stage. 0auline Lo-us was a childhood "riend, Fred was also her brother

and grand"ather?s name. Lucy and Desi had a business manager by the name o" 'r. Andrew ico6,

and in the "irst e-isode o" season ;, called the 1The Business 'anager1 Lucy and @icy hire a man

named 'r. ico6.

Primary production team2edit4

• DirectorsN 'arc Daniels 8 e-isodes, $&%$<%:I William Asher  8$$ e-isodes, $&%3<

%):I ames V. Jern 8& e-isodes, $&%%<%):

• 0roducersN ess #--enheimer  8$% e-isodes, $&%$<%(:I Desi Arnaz 8e6ec. -roducerG$3;

e-isodes, $&%3<%(I -roducerG3( e-isodes, $&%(<%):

• WritersN ess #--enheimer  8head writer, seasons $<%:, 'adelyn 0ugh Davis and Bob

*arroll, r. 8All +easons including Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour :, Bob +chiller  and Bob

Weiso-"  8+easons %<( and Lucy!Desi *omedy our:

• #riginal 'usicN Wilbur atch 8 e-isodes, $&%$<%;:I /liot Daniel 8$% e-isodes, $&%3<

%):I 'arco @izo 8$&%$<$&%):

• *inematogra-hyN Jarl Freund 8$;& e-isodes, $&%$<%(:

• *ostume designN /lois enssen 8%) e-isodes, $&%<%%:

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• /ditorsN Dann *ahn, Bud 'olin

Background and development2edit4

Lucille Ball had come to ollywood a"ter a success"ul stint as a 7ew or model. +he was chosen

by +am oldwyn to be one o" si6teen oldwyn irls to co!star in the -icture +oman

Scandals 8$&: with "ilm star /ddie *antor . /nthusiastic and hard!woring Ball had been able to

secure "ilm wor brie"ly at the +amuel oldwyn +tudio and *olumbia 0ictures and then eventually

at @J# @adio 0ictures. >t was at @J# that Ball received steady "ilm wor, "irst as an e6tra and bit

-layer, eventually woring her way u- to co!starring roles in "eature "ilms and starring roles in second

rate B -ictures, collectively earning the nicname 1Pueen o" the B?s1. During her run at @J#, Ball

gained the re-utation "or doing -hysical comedy and stunts that most other actresses avoided,

ee-ing her steadily em-loyed. >n $&;, Lucy met Desi Arnaz, a *uban bandleader who had Hust

come o"" a success"ul run in the $&&<; Broadway show Too #any Girls. @J# had bought the "ilm

rights to the show and cast Ball as Arnaz?s love interest in the -icture. The duo began a whirlwind

courtshi- leading to their elo-ement to *onnecticut in 7ovember $&;. Des-ite being madly in love,

however, their careers e-t them se-arated, with Lucy?s "ilm wor ee-ing her anchored in

ollywood, while Desi?s nightclub engagements with his orchestra e-t him on the road.

Des-ite steadily woring in -ictures, Lucy?s movie career never advanced to the level o" a headlining

"eature!"ilm actressI nevertheless she remained -o-ular with movie audiences. A"ter receiving critical

acclaim "or her starring role in the $&;3 Damon @unyon "ilm The Bi$ Sree  8with enry Fonda:, Ball

came to the attention o" 'etro!oldwyn!'ayer , which bought out her contract. >t was at '' that

Ball, who had been a blonde, dyed her hair red to com-lement the Technicolor "eatures that ''

had -lanned to use her in. '' used Ball in a variety o" "ilms, but it was her wor with "unny

man @ed +elton in the $&;3 "ilm DuBarry %as a Lady  that brought Ball?s -hysical comedy into the

"ore"ront, earning her the re-utation as 1that crazy redhead1, as @icy would later call her.

2&4 7onetheless, Ball?s striing beauty was in shar- contrast to -hysical antics she did in her "ilmsI

thus, '' tried to use her in an array o" di""erent "ilm genres that did little to highlight her sills.

Being di""icult to cast, '' chose not to renew her contract when it e6-ired in $&;(.

Ball began woring as a "ree!lancer in "ilms and began to e6-lore other venues. Be"ore and during

World War >>, Lucy had made several notable and success"ul guest a--earances on several radio

-rogramsI among them ac aley?s radio show and bandleader Jay Jyser ?s radio -rogram. These

a--earances brought Lucy to the attention o" *B+, which in $&;9 enlisted Ball to star in one o" two

new hal"!hour situational comedies in develo-ment, (ur #iss Broo)s and #y &avorie Hus'and .

*hoosing the latter, Lucy -ortrayed Liz *ugat 8later anglicized to *oo-er:, the "rustrated and

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scheming housewi"e o" a 'innea-olis baner, -layed originally by actor  Lee Bowman in the series

-ilot, and later by actor @ichard Denning. Based on the novel #r, and #rs, Cu$a  by >sabel +cott

@oric, #y &avorie Hus'and  was -roduced by ess #--enheimer , written by #--enheimer, -lus

scribes 'adelyn 0ugh and Bob *arroll, r.. 0remiering on uly 3, $&;9 and s-onsored by eneral

Foods, Hus'and  became a hit "or *B+. During the run o" the radio -rogram Lucy a--eared in two

"eature "ilms with Bob o-e, Sorrowful ones in $&;&, and &ancy !ans in $&%. Both "ilms were bo6

o""ice and critical successes, "urther cementing Ball?s re-utation as a to- notch "irst!rate

comedienne. They also showed her continuing -o-ularity with audiences, enticing *B+ to "urther

use her sills.

>n $&%, *B+ ased Ball to tae #y &avorie Hus'and  to television with co!star @ichard Denning.

+he, however, saw a television show as a great o--ortunity to wor with Desi as it would ee- them

both in ollywood, and -erha-s save their shay marriage. Lucy insisted that Desi -lay her husband,

much to the dismay o" *B+, which was reluctant because Arnaz was *uban. 7etwor e6ecutives

believed that audiences would not believe the marriage between an all!American girl and a Latin

man. To -rove *B+ wrong, the cou-le develo-ed a vaudeville act, written by *arroll and 0ugh, that

they too on the road with Arnaz?s orchestra. The act was a hit and convinced *B+ e6ecutive arry

 Acerman that a Ball!Arnaz -airing would be a worthwhile venture. At the same time, rival

networs 7B*, AB*, and Du'ont were showing interest in a Ball!Arnaz series, which Acerman

used to convince *B+ to sign the duo. A -ilot was ordered and inesco-ed in ollywood in 'arch

$&%$, which coincided with Lucy?s "irst -regnancy, and the ending o" Hus'and , which aired its last

radio show on 'arch $, $&%$. Ball and Arnaz used the same radio team o" #--enheimer, 0ugh,

and *arroll to create the television series that was named I Love Lucy . A"ter showing the -ilot to

several advertising agencies, at "irst with not much luc, *B+ was able to sell the series to the 'ilton

Biow agency, which was able to convince one o" their clients, cigarette giant 0hili- 'orris, to s-onsor 

the show.

Production2edit4

During the s-ring and summer o" $&%$, I Love Lucy  moved into -roduction. #--enheimer, 0ugh, and

*arroll began "ine!tuning the -remise o" the show and writing the series? "irst scri-ts. The trio had the

good graces o" having a baclog o" storylines "rom #y &avorie Hus'and  to ada-t "or use on

television. >n addition, the series? ensemble cast and crew were assembled. Desi Arnaz retained his

orchestra, which was used in the series musical numbers and to score the show?s bacground and

transitional music. Arnaz?s childhood "riend 'arco @izo arranged the music and -layed the -iano "or

the show, while Wilbur atch was used to conduct the orchestra. Two -roblems arose, however,

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a"ter 0hili- 'orris signed on to s-onsor the show, that would ultimately change the "ate o" I Love

Lucy .

With ohn Wayne in an e-isode.

Lucy and Desi had originally decided that the series would air on a biweely basis much lie The

Geor$e Burns and Gracie Allen Show . 0hili- 'orris, however, was insistent that the show air weely,

thus diminishing the -ossibility o" Lucy continuing her "ilm career alongside a television show.

 Another -roblem lay in the "act that 0hili- 'orris wanted the series to originate "rom 7ew or rather 

than ollywood. At the time, most television shows were -roduced "rom 7ew or with live

broadcasts o" the show airing "or eastern and 'idwest audiences. West coast viewers were able to

view live -rograms only through low!Kuality inesco-es, which derived their images by using a

% mm or $( mm "ilm camera to record the show "rom a television monitor. As videota-e had not yet

been develo-ed, inesco-es seemed to be the only -ractical means to allow a live show to reach

television marets on the west coast. *om-licating matters was that inesco-es were not available

"or immediate re!broadcast as in $&%$ no coast!to!coast cable system was yet in service. +hows

had to be sent to ollywood, which delayed their airings "or west coast audiences by nearly a wee.

The -rocess o-erated in the reverse "or the "ew -rograms that originated live in ollywood, such

as The .d %ynn Show , thus maing blurry inesco-es o" these shows the only available -rint "or

eastern audiences. 'ost s-onsors, including 0hili- 'orris, "ound this to be undesirable as most o"

the television audience lived east o" the 'ississi--i at the time.

 Although the -ilot had been made as a inesco-e, "or the series itsel", the -rocess was reHected.

#wing to the im-ending birth o" their "irst child, both Lucy and Desi insisted on staying

in ollywood and -roducing the show on "ilm, something a "ew ollywood!based series had begun

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to do. Both *B+ and 0hili- 'orris initially baled at the idea, because o" the higher cost that "ilming

the show would incur, yet acKuiesced only a"ter the cou-le o""ered to tae a Q$, a wee -ay cut

in order to cover the additional e6-ense. >n e6change, Lucy and Desi demanded, and were given,

9R ownershi- in the I Love Lucy  "ilms 8the other 3R went to -roducer  ess #--enheimer  who

then gave %R to writer  'adelyn 0ugh and %R to writer Bob *arroll, r.:. +hooting the show on "ilm,

however, would reKuire that Lucy and Desi become res-onsible "or -roducing the series themselves.

5nion agreements at the time sti-ulated that any -roduction "ilmed in a studio use "ilm studio

em-loyees. *B+ sta"" were television and radio em-loyees and thus "ell under di""erent union

agreements. Thus, Arnaz reorganized the com-any he created to manage his orchestra booings

and used it as the cor-oration that would -roduce the I Love Lucy  shows. The com-any was

named Desilu, a"ter their ranch in*hatsworth, *ali"ornia.

Though some television series were already being "ilmed in ollywood, most used the single!

camera "ormat "amiliar "rom movies, with a laugh trac added to comedies to simulate audience

res-onse. Arnaz and ?> Love Lucy? creator  ess #--enheimer  decided, however, that Lucy needed to

wor in "ront o" an audience to create the ind o" comic energy she had dis-layed on radio. The idea

o" a "ilm studio that could accommodate an audience was a new one "or the time, as "ire sa"ety

regulations made it di""icult to allow an audience in a studio. Arnaz and #--enheimer were lucy

enough to "ind the "inancially struggling eneral +ervice +tudios located on Las 0almas Avenue in

ollywood. +tudio owner immy 7asser was eager to accommodate the Desilu com-any and

allowed them, with "inancial bacing o" *B+, to renovate two o" his studios so that they could

accommodate an audience and be in com-liance with local "ire laws.

*inematogra-her Jarl Freund in $&$%

 Another com-onent to "ilming the show came when it was decided to use three % mm "ilm cameras

to simultaneously "ilm the show. The idea had been -ioneered by @al-h /dwards on the game

show Truh or Conse/uences, and had subseKuently been used on  Amos *n* Andy  as a way to save

money, though Amos n* Andy  did not use an audience. /dwards?s assistant Al +imon was hired by

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Desilu to hel- -er"ect the new techniKue "or the series. The -rocess lent itsel" to the Lucy  -roduction

as it eliminated the -roblem o" reKuiring an audience to view and react to a scene three or "our times

in order "or all necessary shots to be "ilmed. 'ulti-le cameras would also allow scenes to be

-er"ormed in seKuence, as a -lay would be, which was unusual at the time "or "ilmed series. @etaes

were rare and dialogue mistaes were o"ten -layed o"" "or the sae o" continuity.

Ball and Arnaz enlisted the services o"  Jarl Freund, a cinematogra-her  who had wored on such

"ilms as #ero"olis 8$&3):, Dracula 8$&$:, and The Good .arh 8$&):, as well as director o"  The

#ummy  8$&3:, to be the series cinematogra-her . Although at "irst Freund did not want anything to

do with television, it was the -ersonal -lea o" the cou-le that convinced Freund to tae the Hob.

Freund was instrumental in develo-ing a way to uni"ormly light the set so that each o" the three

cameras would -ic u- the same Kuality o" image. Freund noted that a ty-ical e-isode 83<33 min.:

was shot in about ( minutes, with one constant concern being the shades!o"!gray contrast in the"inal -rint, as each stage o" transmission and broadcast would e6aggerate the contrast. 2$4N33 Among

other non!standard techniKues used in "ilming the show, cans o" -aint 8in shades ranging "rom white

to medium!gray: were e-t on set to 1-aint out1 ina--ro-riate shadows and disguise lighting "laws.2$$4

2$34 Freund also -ioneered 1"lat lighting,1 in which everything is brightly lit to eliminate shadows and

the need "or endless relighting.

 As mentioned, audience reactions were live, thus creating a "ar more authentic laugh than

the canned laughter  used on most "ilmed sitcoms o" the time. @egular audience members were

sometimes heard "rom e-isode to e-isode, and Arnaz?s distinctive laugh could be heard in thebacground during scenes in which he did not -er"orm, as well as Ball?s mother, DeDe, whose

distinctive 15h #h1 could be heard in many o" the e-isodes. >n later years, *B+ would devise a

laugh trac "rom several I Love Lucy  audiences and use them "or canned laughter on shows done

without a live audience.

I Love Lucy* s -ioneering use o"  three cameras led to it becoming the standard techniKue "or the

-roduction o" most sitcoms "ilmed in "ront o" an audience.2$4 +ingle!camera setu-s remained the

techniKue o" choice "or sitcoms that did not use audiences. This led to an une6-ected bene"it "or

Desilu during the series?s second season when it was discovered that Lucy was -regnant. 7ot being

able to "ul"ill the show?s &!e-isode commitment, both Desi and ess #--enheimer decided to

rebroadcast -o-ular e-isodes o" the series?s "irst season to hel- give Lucy the necessary rest she

needed a"ter she gave birth, e""ectively allowing "ewer e-isodes to be "ilmed that season.

5ne6-ectedly the rebroadcasts -roved to be ratings winners, e""ectively giving birth to the rerun, 

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which would later lead to the -ro"itable develo-ment o" the rerun syndication maret.2$;4 >t also

became the "irst television -rogram to introduce /nglish and +-anish.

Desilu 0roductions, Hointly owned by Ball and Arnaz, would gradually e6-and to -roduce and lease

studio s-ace "or many other shows. For seasons $ and 3 8$&%$<$&%:, Desilu rented s-ace and

"ilmed I Love Lucy  at eneral +ervice +tudios, which eventually became nown as ollywood

*enter +tudios. >n $&%, it leased the 'otion 0icture *enter at 9;( *ahuenga Blvd. in ollywood,

and renamed it Desilu +tudios to shoot seasons <( 8$&%<$&%): o" I Love Lucy . A"ter $&%(, it

became nown as Desilu-Cahuen$a Sudios to avoid con"usion with other acKuired Desilu locations.

>n an e""ort to ee- u- with the studio?s growth, and need "or additional sound stages, Desi and Lucy

-urchased @J# @adio 0ictures "rom eneral Tire in $&%) "or over Q( million, e""ectively owning the

studio where they had started as contract -layers. Desilu acKuired @J#?s two studio com-le6s

located on ower +treet in ollywood, and in *ulver *ity 8now -art o" the 0aramount lot and *ulver

+tudios res-ectively:, along with the *ulver *ity bac lot nicnamed 1Forty Acres1. The sale was

achieved by the duo selling their ownershi- o" the once thought worthless I Love Lucy  "ilms bac to

*B+ "or over "our million dollars.

>n $&(3, two years a"ter their marriage dissolved, Lucy bought out Desi?s shares o" Desilu, becoming

the studio?s sole owner. +he eventually sold o"" Desilu in $&() to ul"SWestern, owners o"

0aramount 0ictures. A"ter the sale, Desilu!*ahuenga became a -rivate -roduction com-any and

was nown as @en!'ar +tudios till 3$, when it was acKuired by the @ed Digital *inema *amera

*om-any and renamed @ed +tudios < ollywood.

The Mertzes2edit4

 As with #y &avorie Hus'and , Lucy  writers decided that the @icardos needed an older cou-le to -lay

o"" o". While -er"orming in Hus'and , veteran character actors ale ordon and Bea Benaderet had

-layed @udol-h and >ris Atterbury, an older, more "inancially stable cou-le as 'r. Atterbury had been

eorge *oo-er?s boss. Ball had initially wanted both actors to re-rise their roles on televisionI

however, both were unavailable at the time the show went into -roduction as Benaderet was already

-laying Blanche 'orton on The Burns and Allen Show , and ordon was under contract by *B+ to

-lay 'r. *onlin on the radio and television versions o" (ur #iss Broo)s.

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William Frawley in $&%$

*asting the 'ertzes, as they were now called 8the surname taen "rom a doctor

that Lucy  scri-twriter 'adelyn 0ugh new as a child in >ndiana-olis:, -roved to be a challenge. Ball

had initially wanted character actor  ames leason, with whom she a--eared in *olumbia

0ictures "ilm #iss Gran Ta)es +ichmond  8$&;&:, to -lay Frederic obart /die 'ertz, >>>. owever,

leason wanted nearly Q,% -er e-isode to -lay the role, a -rice that was "ar too high to sustain.

+i6ty!"our!year!old Bill Frawley, a seasoned vaudevillian and movie character actor with nearly $

"ilm credits to his name, was a long shot to -lay Fred 'ertz and only came into consideration a"ter

he tele-honed Ball -ersonally to as i" there was a role "or him on her new show. Ball, who had only

brie"ly nown Frawley "rom her days at@J#, suggested him to both Arnaz and *B+. The networ

obHected to the idea o" casting Frawley, "earing that his e6cessive driningGwhich was well nown in

ollywoodGwould inter"ere with a commitment a live show. Arnaz nonetheless lied Frawley and

lobbied hard "or him to have the role, even to the -oint o" having Lucy scribes re!tailor the role o"

Fred 'ertz to be a less "inancially success"ul and more curmudgeonly 8in contrast to ale ordon?s

'r. Atterbury: character to "it Frawley?s -ersona. *B+ relented only a"ter Arnaz contractually bound

Frawley to com-lete sobriety during the -roduction o" the show, and re-ortedly told the veteran actor 

that i" he ever a--eared on!set more than once in an into6icated state he would be "ired. 7ot once

during Lucy* s nine seasons did Frawley?s drining ever inter"ere with his -er"ormance, and over time

 Arnaz became one o" Frawley?s "ew close "riends.

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Vivian Vance in $&;9

*asting the /thel 'ertz character was also some wor. #ne choice was actress Barbara 0e--er ,

who was a close "riend o" Lucy?s. The two had a long history together, as 0e--er had been o" the

oldwyn irls who came to ollywood with Lucy in $&. 0e--er was "avored by Lucy hersel"I

however, *B+ re"used on the grounds that 0e--er su""ered "rom a drining -roblem too, which was

"ar more severe than Frawley?s. 7onetheless 0e--er did a--ear in several bit -arts during the run o"

the show. Vivian Vance became a consideration on the recommendation o" Lucy  director 'arc

Daniels. Daniels had wored with Vance in 7ew or on Broadway in the early $&;s. Vance had

already been a success"ul stage star -er"orming on Broadway "or nearly 3 years in variety o" -lays

and in addition, a"ter relocating to ollywood in the late $&;s, had two "ilm roles to her credit.

7onetheless, by $&%$, she was still a relatively unnown actress in ollywood. Vance was

-er"orming in a revival o" the -lay The 0oice of he Turle in La olla, *ali"ornia. Arnaz andess

#--enheimer  went to see her in the -lay and hired her on the s-ot. Vance was reluctant about

giving u- her "ilm and stage wor "or a television show, yet was convinced by Daniels that it would

be a big brea in her career. Ball, however, had many misgivings about hiring Vance, who was

younger and "ar more attractive than the conce-t o" /thel as an older, somewhat homely woman.

Ball was also a believer in the ollywood adage at the time that there should be only one -retty

woman on the set and Ball, being the star o" the show, was it. Arnaz, however, was im-ressed by

Vance?s wor and hired her. The decision was then made to dress Vance in "rum-ier clothing to tone

down her attractiveness. Ball and Vance?s relationshi- during the series? early beginnings wereluewarm at best. /ventually realizing that Vance was no threat and was very -ro"essional, Ball

began to warm to her. >n $&%;, Vance would become the "irst actress to win an /mmy

 Award "or (usandin$ Su""orin$ Acress. Vance and Ball would develo- a li"elong close "riendshi-.

Ball would go on to as Vance to co!star in Ball?s new series The Lucy Show  a"ter the end o" I Love

Lucy .

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Vance and Frawley?s o""!screen relationshi- was less success"ul. >n s-ite o" this, they were always

-ro"essional and e6hibited e6ce-tional chemistry while -er"orming on the show. >n "act, their

acrimonious -ersonal relationshi- may have hel-ed their onscreen marriage be that much "unnier.

Frawley derisively described Vance?s a--earance as 1a sac o" doornobs.12$%4 >t was re-orted that

Vance, who was 33 years younger than Frawley, was not really een on the idea that her character

/thel was married to a man that was old enough to be her "ather. Vance also com-lained that

Frawley?s song!and!dance sills were not what they once were. Frawley and Vance would have an

adversarial relationshi- during the entire run o" the show.2$(4

Desi Arnaz, Lucille Ball, Vivian Vance, and William Frawley

>n $&%), I Love Lucy  was re!tailored into an hour!long show originally titled The Lucille Ball-Desi

 Arnaz Show  that was to be -art o" an anthology series called the %esin$house Desilu !layhouse.

The hour!long Lucy-Desi  show was to alternate on a monthly basis with other hour

long !layhouse shows. The new series -ut a much heavier em-hasis on big name guest stars asbeing -art o" the -lot and although the 'ertz characters continued into the new series, their roles

became somewhat diminished. Although a lighter worload was welcomed by Frawley, Vance came

to somewhat resent the change. Arnaz, in an e""ort to -lease Vance, "or whom he had much res-ect,

-ro-osed doing a s-in!o"" "rom I Love Lucy  called The #erzes. +eeing a lucrative o--ortunity and

the chance to star in his own show, Frawley was enthused. Vance, however, declined "or a number

o" reasons, the biggest "actor being that she "elt she and Frawley could barely wor together on the

ensemble show they were doing at the time, so it would be much less liely the two could wor

together on their own series. Vance also "elt that the 'ertz characters would not be as success"ul

without the @icardos to -lay!o"" each other, and des-ite being her biggest success, she was

becoming interested in -laying more glamorous roles rather than /thel. >n "act, during the thirteen

e-isode run o" the Lucy-Desi  hour!long shows, Vance was given a lot more latitude to loo more

attractive as /thel 'ertz, something she was denied during the run o" the I Love Lucy  e-isodes.

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Frawley?s resentment o" Vance intensi"ied a"ter she declined to do the s-in!o"" show and the two

rarely taled to each other outside o" their characters? dialogue with one another.

Pregnancy and Little Ricky2edit4

ust be"ore "ilming the show, Lucy and Desi learned that Lucy was once again -regnant 8a"termulti-le miscarriages earlier in their marriage: with their "irst child, Lucie Arnaz. They actually "ilmed

the original -ilot while Lucy was 1showing1, but did not include any re"erences to the -regnancy in

the e-isode. This was because *B+ thought that tal o" -regnancy might be in bad taste and

because an ad agency told Desi not to show a -regnant woman.2$)4

Later, during the second season, Lucy was -regnant again with second child Desi Arnaz, r., and

this time the -regnancy was incor-orated into the series? storyline. Des-ite -o-ular belie", Lucy?s

-regnancy was not television?s "irst on!screen -regnancy. That distinction belongs to 'ary Jay on

the late $&;s sitcom #ary 1ay and ohnny .

+u-erman e-isode

*B+ would not allow I Love Lucy  to use the word 1-regnant1, so 1e6-ecting1 was used instead.2$94 The

e-isode 1Lucy >s /nceinte1 "irst aired on December 9, $&%3 81enceinte1 being French "or 1e6-ecting1

or 1-regnant1:. #ne wee later, on December $%, $&%3, the e-isode titled 10regnant Women Are

5n-redictable1 was aired 8although the show never dis-layed e-isode titles on the air:. The e-isode

in which Lucy gives birth, 1Lucy oes to the os-ital1, "irst aired on anuary $&, $&%, which was the

day be"ore the inauguration o"  Dwight /isenhower  as 0resident o" the 5nited +tates. To increase the

-ublicity o" this e-isode, the original air date was chosen to coincide with Lucille Ball?s real!li"e

delivery o" Desi, r. by *aesarean section.2)4

 1Lucy oes to the os-ital1 was watched by more-eo-le than any other television -rogram u- to that time, with )$.)R o" all American television sets

tuned in, to--ing the ().) rating "or the inauguration coverage the "ollowing morning.

5nlie some -rograms that advance the age o" a newborn over a short -eriod o" time, I Love Lucy  at

"irst allowed the Little @icy character to grow u- in real time. America saw Little @icy as an in"ant in

the $&%3<% season and a toddler "rom $&% to $&%(. owever, "or the $&%(!%) season, Little @icy

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suddenly aged by two years, becoming a young school!age boy "rom $&%( to $&(. Five actors

-layed the role, two sets o" twins and later Jeith Thibodeau6, whose stage name when -laying @icy

@icardo, r. was Little @icy. 8>n the +u-ermane-isode, Little @icy is mentioned as being "ive years

old but it had been less than "our years since the birth!o"!Little!@icy e-isode.:

ess #--enheimer  stated in his memoir, Lau$hs2 Luc),,,and Lucy3 How I Came o Creae he #os

!o"ular Sicom of All Time, that the initial -lan was to match the se6 o" the @icardo baby with Lucille

Ball?s real baby, inserting one o" two alternate endings into the broadcast -rint at the very last

minute. When logistical di""iculties convinced #--enheimer to abandon this -lan, he advised Desi

that as head writer, he would have Lucy @icardo give birth to a boy. Desi agreed, telling

#--enheimer that Lucy had given him one girl, and might give him anotherGthis might be his only

chance to get a son. When the baby was born, Desi immediately called #--enheimer and told him,

1Lucy "ollowed your scri-t. Ain?t she something1, to which #--enheimer re-lied 1Terri"ic= That

maes me the greatest writer in the world=12$&4

Episodes2edit4

#ain aricle3 Lis of I Love Lucy e"isodes

Season Episodes

Originally aired

First aired Last aired

$ % #ctober $%, $&%$ une &, $&%3

3 $ +e-tember $%, $&%3 une 3&, $&%

$ #ctober %, $&% 'ay 3;, $&%;

; #ctober ;, $&%; 'ay , $&%%

% 3( #ctober , $&%% 'ay $;, $&%(

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( 3) #ctober $, $&%( 'ay (, $&%)

*omedyour $

% 7ovember (, $&%) A-ril $;, $&%9

*omedy

our 3% #ctober (, $&%9 une %, $&%&

*omedy

our

+e-tember 3%, $&%& A-ril $, $&(

This section possibly contains original research. 0lease im-rov

claims made and adding inline citations. +tatements consisting on

research should be removed. 4Se"em'er 56789

'ost e-isodes tae -lace in the @icardos? modest brownstone a-artment at 8the "ictitious address:

(3 /ast (9th +treet 8;.)(9)U7 ).&%3)99UW: or at the downtown 1Tro-icana1 nightclub where

@icy is em-loyed, though other -arts o" the city are sometimes used. Later e-isodes tae the

@icardos and the 'ertzes to ollywood "or @icy to shoot a movie, and to /uro-e, when @icy and

his band tour the continent. There is also a tri- to 'iami Beach "or the two cou-les, with a side tri- to

@icy?s homeland o" *uba. /ventually, lie millions o" other Americans in the late $&%s, the "riends

move to the suburbs, in this case, to West-ort, *onnecticut.

+ome es-ecially memorable e-isodesN

• 1The Audition1N 0arts o" it were "ilmed in color by an audience member on 9mm "ilm.

• 1Lucy Does a TV *ommercial1N Lucy is hired to act as the 1Vitameatavegamin girl1 in a

television commercial, to -romote a -atent medicine that contains healthy amounts o"  vitamins,

meat, vegetables, minerals < and a less!than!healthy dose o" 3R alcohol 8;( -roo" I see, "or

instance, the similarly "ormulated and contem-orary remedies o"  adacol and Vics 7yKuil:.

234 Lucy becomes -rogressively druner throughout rehearsal, but gamely ee-s on -itching the

-roduct, eventually leading to a com-letely "lubbed live -er"ormance "or 1this stu"".1 >n #ctober

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3%, "ans voted this e-isode as their "avorite, during a (th anniversary I Love Lucy  television

s-ecial. T0 Guide and 7ic at 7ite raned it the second greatest television e-isode o" all time,

a"ter the #ary Tyler #oore Show  e-isode 1*hucles Bites the Dust1. 8original air date 'ay %,

$&%3:

• 1ob +witching1 8+eason 3, e-isode &:N Lucy and /thel get Hobs -acaging candy that is

delivered on a conveyor belt. The wor seems easy enough when they are shown what to do by

their su-ervisor, but then the -ace -ics u- and the women soon "all "urther and "urther behind.

>n des-eration, they resort to comical means to try to ee- u-. >n the 3$ 0aley *enter "or

'edia television s-ecial T0*s &unnies of he &unnies , the candy "actory scene was raned "irst

among the "unniest moments in TV history,23$4 with only one moment eligible -er TV series.

The sit, a variation o" an old vaudeville routine, has been -arodied numerous times. 8original air 

date +e- $%, $&%3:

• 1Lucy and +u-erman1N Lucy tries to get eorge @eeves, star o" the $&%s Advenures of

Su"erman television series, to a--ear at Little @icy?s birthday -arty. When she "ails, she

dresses u- as +u-erman hersel", only to have @eeves turn u- in costume at the last minute and

rescue her a"ter she tra-s hersel" on the ledge o" her a-artment. As +u-erman brings Lucy bac

to the window o" her a-artment, @icy is "urious, and at one -oint yells, 1...>n all o" the "i"teen

years we?ve been married...1 Then +u-erman says, 1ou mean to tell me that you?ve been

married to her "or "i"teen years1 @icy answers, 1eah, "i"teen years.1 +u-erman re-lies, 1And

they call me +u-erman=1 @eeves stays in the character o" +u-erman throughout the e-isode.

8original air date an $;, $&%):

• 1L.A. At Last=1N Lucy, Fred, and /thel have lunch at The Brown Derby, a restaurant

"reKuented by ollywood "ilm stars. A nervous Lucy accidentally causes a waiter to heave a -ie

into William olden?s "ace. Later at the hotel, @icy has a sur-rise "or her. e has brought one o" 

her "avorite actors to meet her < none other than William olden. Fearing that the actor will

recognize her, she -uts on a disguise that includes a -utty nose, which catches on "ire when she

lights a cigarette. This e-isode was re-ortedly Lucille Ball?s "avorite e-isode. 8original air date

Feb ), $&%%:

• 1ar-o 'ar61N While living in ollywood, Lucy is visited by *arolyn A--leby, a "riend who is

under the im-ression that Lucy nows numerous celebrities. A"ter Lucy and /thel get *arolyn?s

glasses away "rom her, Lucy -retends to be various stars. 'eanwhile, @icy and Fred

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invite ar-o 'ar6 to the @icardos? a-artment. When he shows u-, Lucy is disguised as him.

+eeing the real ar-o, she hides in a itchen doorway. ar-o is -er-le6ed when he sees what

he thins is his re"lection, "orcing Lucy to mimic his every move to avoid detection. This was a

tribute to ar-o and roucho?s mirror scene in the 'ar6 Brothers $& comedy "ilm, Duc) Sou".

8original air date 'ay &, $&%%:

• 1Lucy?s >talian 'ovie1N >n this e-isode, Lucy is cast as a character in a "ilmmaer?s u-coming

movie and, deciding to do some research on the role but nowing nothing about it other than the

title 8which contains the word gra-es:, decides to visit a local >talian winery. Taing on the Hob o" 

a gra-e!stom-er, she ends u- in a gigantic gra-e vat where she gets into a "ood "ight with one o" 

her co!worers. +he literally 1gets some local color,1 returning to her hotel room covered in

stains only to "ind out that the title o" the "ilm was only a mea"hor  and that Lucy had been cast

because o" her resemblance to the ugly American stereoty-e. 8original air date A-ril $(, $&%(:

• 1Lucy Does the Tango1N The @icardos and the 'ertzes chicen business is not doing very

well. Lucy and /thel come u- with a scheme to "ool the boys into thining the hens are laying

lots o" eggs by smuggling some -urchased eggs, hidden underneath their clothes, into the

henhouse. #n one such tri-, @icy insists that he and Lucy rehearse their tango number "or a

local bene"it. 5nbenownst to @icy, Lucy?s blouse is "illed with chicen eggs. The clima6 o" this

scene -rovoed the longest laugh "rom a studio audience in the history o" the show.2334 8original

air date 'ar $$, $&%):

• 1The Blac Wig1N Lucy thins @icy is not -aying enough attention to her and might be

tem-ted to see other women. Lucy?s hairdresser, /ve 'cVeagh, "i6es her u- in an >talian!style

blac wig. Lucy uses this o--ortunity to -retend to be someone else who can tem-t @icy. @icy

recognizes her in this -oor attem-t at a disguise, but acts as though he believes she really is

another woman, and ass her on a date. The Hoe is on Lucy, and her -lan does not wor out the

way she wants. 8original air date A-ril $&, $&%;:

•

1Lucy is /nceinte1N When Lucy discovers she is -regnant, she hatches a -lan "or the -er"ectway to tell @icy. A"ter losing out on that 1-er"ect1 o--ortunity time and time again, Lucy decides

the best way to brea the news about their e6citing addition is to sur-rise @icy at his nightclub.

When @icy is told that someone in the audience is -regnant, he sings 1We?re aving a Baby,1

while trying to determine which cou-le is e6-ecting. >t isn?t until -assing Lucy that he realizes the

-regnant woman is his wi"e. 8original air date December 9, $&%3:

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Broadcast history 2edit4

5nlie most television shows, which o"ten rerun a"ter a brie" hiatus, I Love Lucy  has never sto--ed

airing on television "rom the date o" its initial broadcast. As o" une 3$3, it airs on TV

Land, allmar *hannel and 'e!TV networs, and scores o" television stations in the 5.+. andaround the world.

I Love Lucy  aired 'ondays "rom & to &N -.m. /T on *B+ during its entire run.

*B+ re!aired a colorized, digitally remastered version o" the I Love Lucy  *hristmas s-ecial along

with 1Lucy?s >talian 'ovie,1 also in color, on December 3, 3$. 234 This s-ecial attracted 9.) million

-eo-le.23;4 *B+ reran the *hristmas s-ecial, this time with 1ob +witching1 as the com-anion e-isode,

in 3$;.23%4 Two additional colorized e-isodes, L.A. At Last= and Lucy and +u-erman, aired on 'ay

$), 3$%, attracting (.; million viewers.2%423(4 #n December 3, 3$%, the *hristmas s-ecial will be re!

aired once again, along with 1Lucy Does a TV *ommercial1 as its new com-anion e-isode.

ielsen ratings2edit4

I Love Lucy  raned highly in the 7ielsen ratings throughout its entire run. 2ciaion needed 4

Seaso

n

Episode

s

Originally aired

Tele!ision

Season

"ie#ers

$millions

%

Ran

k

First aired Last aired

$ % #ctober $%, $&%$ une &, $&%3 $&%$<$&%3 %.& &'

3 $+e-tember $%,

$&%3

une 3&,

$&%$&%3<$&% (). &(

$ #ctober %, $&% 'ay 3;, $&%; $&%<$&%; %9.9 &(

; #ctober ;, $&%; 'ay , $&%% $&%;<$&%% ;&. &(

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% 3( #ctober , $&%% 'ay $;, $&%( $&%%<$&%( ;(.$ &)

( 3) #ctober $, $&%( 'ay (, $&%) $&%(<$&%) ;.) &(

The e-isode 1Lucy oes to the os-ital1, which "irst aired on 'onday, anuary $&, $&%, garnered a

record )$.) rating, meaning )$.)R o" all television households at the time were tuned in to view the

-rogram.2ciaion needed 4 That record is sur-assed only by /lvis 0resley?s "irst o" three a--earances on The

.d Sullivan Show , which aired on +e-tember &, $&%( 893.(R rating:.2ciaion needed 4 I Love Lucy  continues,

however, to have the highest average rating "or a TV show "or any season.2ciaion needed 4

Opening2edit4

+hot o" an original introduction toI Love Lucy , as s-onsored by 0hili- 'orris. There were as many as $

di""erent animationsI23)4 the animation this shot was taen "rom was the o-ening "or the "irst 3 e-isodes o" the

"irst season.2394

The o-ening "amiliar to most viewers, "eaturing the credits su-erim-osed over a 1heart on satin1

image, was created s-eci"ically "or the $&%&<() *B+ daytime networ rebroadcasts, and

subseKuent syndication. As originally broadcast, the e-isodes o-ened with animated matchstic

"igures o" Arnaz and Ball maing re"erence to whoever the -articular e-isode?s s-onsor was. These

seKuences were created by the animation team o" William anna and ose-h Barbera, who declined

screen credit because they were technically under e6clusive contract to '' at the time.

The original s-onsor was cigarette maer 0hili- 'orris, so the -rogram o-ened with a cartoon o"

Lucy and @icy climbing down a -ac o" 0hili- 'orris cigarettes. >n the early e-isodes, Lucy and

@icy, as well as /thel and Fred on occasion, were shown smoing 0hili- 'orris cigarettes. Lucy

even went so "ar as to -arody ohnny @oventini?s image as the 0hili- 'orris 1bellho-1 in the 'ay %,

$&%3, e-isode, 1Lucy Does a TV *ommercial1. +ince the original s-onsor re"erences were no longer

a--ro-riate when the shows went into syndication, a new o-ening was needed, which resulted in the

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classic 1heart on satin1 o-ening. #ther s-onsors, whose -roducts a--eared during the original

o-enings, were 0rocter X amble "or *heer  and Lilt ome 0ermanent 8$&%;<%):, eneral

Foods "or +ana 8$&%%<%):, Ford 'otor *om-any 8$&%)<%9:, and Westinghouse com-any 8$&%9<

(:.

The original o-enings, with the s-onsor names edited out, were revived on TV Land showings, with

a TV Land logo su-erim-osed to obscure the original s-onsor?s logo. owever, this has led some

-eo-le to believe that the restored introduction was created s-eci"ically "or TV Land as an e6am-le

o" itsch.

The animated o-enings, along with the middle commercial introductory animations, are included,

"ully restored, in the DVDs.

Theme song2edit4

The title music was written by /liot Daniel as an instrumental.23&4 Lyrics were written by arold

 Adamson, who was nominated "ive times "or an #scar . The lyrics to 1> Love Lucy1 were sung by Desi

 Arnaz in the e-isode 1Lucy?s Last Birthday1N24

I love Lucy and she loves me,

%e*re as ha""y as wo can 'e,

Someimes we /uarrel 'u hen

How we love ma)in$ u" a$ain,

Lucy )isses li)e no one can,

She*s my missus and I*m her man2

 And life is heaven you see2

*Cause I love Lucy2 :es I love Lucy2 and Lucy loves me; 

1> Love Lucy1 sung by Desi Arnaz with 0aul Weston and the 7orman Lubo"" *hoir  was released as

the B!side o" 1There?s A Brand 7ew Baby 8At #ur ouse:1 by *olumbia @ecords 8catalog number

&&): in $&%.2$4 The song was covered by 'ichael Frans on the album Dra$onfly

Summer  8$&&:. >n $&)), the Wilton 0lace +treet Band had a To- ; hit with a disco version o" thetheme, 1Disco Lucy1.

In other media2edit4

Radio2edit4

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There was some thought about creating an I Love Lucy  radio show to run in conHunction with the

television series as was being done at the time with the *B+ hit show (ur #iss Broo)s. #n February

3), $&%3, a sam-le I Love Lucy  radio show was -roduced, but it never aired. This was a -ilot

e-isode, created by editing the soundtrac o" the television e-isode 1Breaing the Lease1, with

added Arnaz narration. >t included commercials "or 0hili- 'orris, which s-onsored the television

series. While it never aired on radio at the time in the $&%s 80hili- 'orris eventually s-onsored a

radio edition o" #y Lile #ar$ie instead:, co-ies o" this radio -ilot e-isode have been circulating

among 1old time radio1 collectors "or years, and this radio -ilot e-isode has aired in more recent

decades on numerous local radio stations that air some 1old time radio1 -rogramming. 234

Merchandise2edit4

Ball and Arnaz authorized various ty-es o" I Love Lucy  merchandise. Beginning in 7ovember $&%3, I 

Love Lucy  dolls were sold. Adult!size I Love Lucy  -aHamas and a bedroom set were also -roducedIall o" these items a--eared on the show.242;42%4

•

I Love Lucy  doll

 

•

I Love Lucy  bedroom set

 

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•

I Love Lucy  -aHamas

Comic book and comic strip2edit4

Dell *omics -ublished % issues o" an I Love Lucy  comic boo between $&%; and $&(3 including

two try!out Four *olor  issues 8Y%% and Y%%&:. Jing Features syndicated a comic stri- 8credited to

1Bob Lawrence1 but actually written by Lawrence 7adel and drawn by Bob #sner : "rom $&%3 to

$&%%.2(42)4 /ternity *omics in the early $&&s issued comic boos that re-rinted the stri- and Dell

comic boo series.

 After Lucy2edit4

*our+long ,ormat2edit4

 A"ter the conclusion o" the si6th season o" I Love Lucy , the Arnazes decided to cut down on the

number o" e-isodes that were "ilmed. >nstead, they e6tended I Love Lucy  to ( minutes, with a guest

star each e-isode. They renamed the show The Lucille Ball-Desi Arnaz Show , also nown as The

Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour . Thirteen hour!long e-isodes aired "rom $&%) to $&(. The main cast,

Lucille Ball, Desi Arnaz, Vivian Vance, William Frawley and Little @icyC@ichard Jeith 8birth name

Jeith Thibodeau6: were all in the show. The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour  is available on DVD, released

as I Love Lucy3 The &inal Seasons <2 =2 > ?. #n 'arch 3, Desi?s birthday, $&(, the day a"ter the last

hour!long e-isode was "ilmed, Lucille Ball "iled "or divorce "rom Desi Arnaz. >t made that -lay"ul, yet

-assionate iss at the end o" the "inal e-isode, which aired A-ril $, 1Lucy 'eets the 'oustache1, all

the more -oignant, as the world already new that this storied ollywood marriage was all but over,

and also lent e6tra meaning to the use o" the song 1That?s All1 8-er"ormed by guest star /die Adams:

in that e-isode.

 As already mentioned, Vance and Frawley were o""ered a chance to tae their characters to their

own s-in!o"" series. Frawley was willing, but Vance re"used to ever wor with Frawley again since

the two did not get along. Frawley did a--ear once more with Lucille Ball G in an e-isode o" The

Lucy Show  in $&(%, which did not include Vance 8who by then had ceased to be a regular on that

show:. owever, this was his last screen a--earance with his longtime "riend. e died in ollywood

on 'arch , $&((, o" a heart attac at age )&.

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>n $&(3, Ball began a si6!year run with The Lucy Show , "ollowed immediately in $&(9 by si6 more

years on a third sitcom, Here*s Lucy , "inally ending her regular a--earances on *B+ in $&);.

Both The Lucy Show  and Here*s Lucy  included Vance as recurring characters named 0iv  8Vivian

Bagley Bunson on The Lucy Show  and Vivian ones on Here*s Lucy :, so named because she was

tired o" being recognized on the street and addressed as .hel . Vance was a regular during the "irst

three seasons o" The Lucy Show  but continued to mae guest a--earances through the years

on The Lucy Show , and on Here*s Lucy . >n $&)), Vance and Ball were reunited one last time in the

*B+ s-ecial, Lucy Calls he !residen ,294 which co!starred ale ordon.

>n $&9(, Ball tried another sitcom, Life wih Lucy . The series debuted on AB* to very high ratings,

landing in 7ielsen?s to- 3 "or that wee. >ts ratings Kuicly declined, however, and resulted in a

cancellation a"ter eight e-isodes.

>n $&9&, the never!seen -ilot e-isode was discovered and revealed in a *B+ television s-ecial,hosted by Lucie Arnaz, becoming the highest rated -rogram o" the season.

Legacy2edit4

I Love Lucy  continues to be held in high esteem by television critics, and remains -erennially

-o-ular. For instance, it was one o" the "irst American -rograms seen on British television G which

became more o-en to commerce with the +e-tember $&%% launch o" >TV, a commercial networ that

aired the series. As o" anuary 3$%, it remains the longest!running -rogram to air continuously in

the Los Angeles area, almost ( years a"ter -roduction ended. owever, the series is currently aired

on JTTV on weeends and now J*#0 on weedays because both stations are a duo-oly, o" which

JTTV had given u- the *B+ a""iliation several months be"ore I Love Lucy  -remiered.2ciaion needed 4 >n the

5+, reruns have aired nationally on TB+ 8$&9s<$&&s:, 7ic at 7ite 8$&&;<3$: and TV

Land 83$<39: in addition to local channels. TV Land ended its run o" the series by giving

viewers the o--ortunity to vote on the show?s to- 3% greatest e-isodes on December $, 39

through the networ?s website. This is -articularly notable because, unlie some shows to which a

cable channel is given e6clusive rights to ma6imize ratings, Lucy  has been consistently G and

success"ully G broadcast on multi-le channels simultaneously. allmar *hannel is now the home

"or I Love Lucy  in the 5nited +tates, with the show having moved to the networ on anuary 3, 3&,

while the national version o"  Weigel Broadcasting?s 'e!TV digital subchannel networ has carried

the -rogram since its debut in December $%, 3$, de-ending on the maret 8in marets where

another station holds the rights, The Lucy Show  is substituted:. The show is seen on Fo6 *lassics in

 Australia.

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The Lucille Ball!Desi Arnaz *enter  in amestown, 7ew or is a museum memorializing Lucy and I

Love Lucy , including re-licas o" the 7* a-artment set 8located in the Desilu 0layhouse "acility in

the @a-a-ort *enter:.2&4

#n 'ay ;, 3, *B+ aired a television movie titled Lucy  that -ortrayed the li"e o" Lucille Ball, and

during the I Love Lucy  days, showed cli-s o" I Love Lucy  e-isodes. 7umerous cli-s were remade,

most notably 1Lucy Does a TV *ommercial1, 1Lucy >s /nceinte1, and 1ob +witching1. 7ear the end

o" the movie, there are a selection o" T0 Guide covers in the hallway showing I Love Lucy  "ranchises

on their cover. Also, there was a close u- o" a @ew :or) !os  article that tells the birth o" Little @icy.

>n 3$3, Todd VanDerWer"" o"  The A,0, Clu' wrote retros-ectivelyN2;4

I Love Lucy  2Z4 is one o" the two "oundational te6ts o" American TV comedy, along with The

Honeymooners. The series is legitimately the most in"luential in TV history, -ioneering so many

innovations and normalizing so many others that it would be easy to write an a--reciation o" sim-ly,

say, the show[s accidental invention o" the TV rerun.

Primetime Emmy -#ards and nominations2edit4

(./)

• Best *omedy +howG7ominated 8WinnerN The +ed S)elon Hour :

(./'

•Best +ituation *omedyGWon

• Best *omedienneN Lucille BallGWon

(./0

• Best Female +tar o" a @egular +eriesN Lucille BallG7ominated 8WinnerN /ve Arden "or (ur

#iss Broo)s:

• Best +eries +u--orting ActorN William FrawleyG7ominated 8WinnerN  Art *arney "or The

ac)ie Gleason Show :

• Best +eries +u--orting ActressN Vivian VanceGWon

• Best +ituation *omedyGWon

(.//

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• Best Actress +tarring in a @egular +eriesN Lucille BallG7ominated 8WinnerN Loretta

oung "or The Lorea :oun$ Show :

• Best +ituation *omedy +eriesG7ominated 8WinnerN The Danny Thomas Show :

• Best +u--orting Actor in a @egular +eriesN William FrawleyG7ominated 8WinnerN Art *arney

"or  The ac)ie Gleason Show :

• Best +u--orting Actress in a @egular +eriesN Vivian VanceG7ominated 8WinnerN Audrey

'eadows "or The ac)ie Gleason Show :

• Best Written *omedy 'aterialN ess #--enheimer , Bob *arroll, r. and 'adelyn DavisG

7ominated 8WinnersN ames B. Allardice, ac Douglas, al Janter  and arry Winler  "or  The

Geor$e Go'el Show :

(./1

• Best Actor in a +u--orting @oleN William FrawleyG7ominated 8WinnerN Art *arney "or The

Honeymooners:

• Best ActressG*ontinuing 0er"ormanceN Lucille BallGWon

• Best *omedy WritingN ess #--enheimer, 'adelyn Davis, Bob *arroll, r., Bob

+chiller  and Bob Weiso-"  "or 1L.A. at Last1G7ominated 8WinnersN 7at ien, Barry /.

Blitzer ,  Arnold '. Auerbach, arvey #rin, Vin Bogert, Arnie @osen, *oleman acoby, Tony

Webster  and Terry @yan "or The !hil Silvers Show N 1ou?ll 7ever et @ich1:

(./2

• Best *ontinuing 0er"ormance by a *omedienne in a +eriesN Lucille BallG7ominated

8WinnerN 7anette Fabray "or Caesar*s Hour :

• Best +u--orting 0er"ormance by an ActorN William FrawleyG7ominated 8WinnerN *arl

@einer  "or Caesar*s Hour :

• Best +u--orting 0er"ormance by an ActressN Vivian VanceG7ominated 8WinnerN 0at

*arroll "or Caesar*s Hour :

(./3

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• Best *ontinuing 0er"ormance 8Female: in a +eries by a *omedienne, +inger, ostess,

Dancer, '.*., Announcer, 7arrator, 0anelist, or any 0erson who /ssentially 0lays ersel"N

Lucille BallG7ominated 8WinnerN Dinah +hore "or The Dinah Shore Show :

• Best *ontinuing +u--orting 0er"ormance by an Actor in a Dramatic or *omedy +eriesN

William FrawleyG7ominated 8WinnerN *arl @einer "or Caesar*s Hour :

• Best *ontinuing +u--orting 0er"ormance by an Actress in a Dramatic or *omedy +eriesN

Vivian VanceG7ominated 8WinnerN Ann B. Davis "or The Bo' Cummin$s Show :

*onors2edit4

• >n $&&, I Love Lucy  became the "irst television show to be inducted into the Television all

o" Fame.2;$4

• >n $&&), the e-isodes 1Lucy Does a TV *ommercial1 and 1Lucy?s >talian 'ovie1 were

res-ectively raned 7o. 3 and 7o. $9 on T0 Guide* s list o" the $ reatest /-isodes o" All

Time.2;34

• >n $&&&, .nerainmen %ee)ly  raned the birth o" Little @icy as the "i"th greatest moment in

television history.2;4

• >n 33, T0 Guide raned I Love Lucy  7o. 3 on its list o" the % greatest shows,

behind Seinfeld  and ahead o" The Honeymooners 2;;4 8According to T0 Guide columnist 'att

@oush, there was a 1-assionate1 internal debate about whether I Love Lucy  should have been

"irst instead o" Seinfeld . e stated that this was the main source o" controversy in -utting

together the list.2;%4:

• >n 3), Time magazine -laced the show on its unraned list o" the $ best television

shows.2;(4

•

>n 3$3, I Love Lucy  was raned the Best TV *omedy and the Best TV +how in Bes in T03The Greaes T0 Shows of (ur Time.2;)42;94

• >n 3$, T0 Guide raned I Love Lucy  as the third greatest show o" all time.2;&4

4Lucy4 in Color 2edit4

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To date, a total o" si6 classic e-isodes o" I Love Lucy  have been colorized to the ha--iness o"

younger "ans who -re"er color -rogramming over original blac and white. While there are many TV

1-urists1 who have e6-ressed o--osition to colorizing as they indicate that the show was never

1meant1 to be seen in color, it is nown that star and -roducer Desi Arnaz had e6-ressed interest in

airing the show in color as early as $&%%, but the cost o" such a -resentation was -rohibitive at the

time.

The "irst e-isode that was colorized was the *hristmas s-ecial. The s-ecial e-isode itsel" had been

"eared 1lost1 "or many years as it was not included in the regular syndication -acage with the rest o" 

the series. A co-y was discovered in $&9&, and was aired by *B+ during December o" that year in

the original Blac and White "ormat. >n $&&, the e-isode was again aired in the days -rior to

*hristmas, but this time in "ull color. The s-ecial -er"ormed sur-risingly well in the ratings during both

years, and aired on *B+ each December through $&&;.

>n 3), as the 1*om-lete +eries1 DVD set was being -re-ared "or release, DVD -roducer regg

#--enheimer decided to have the e-isode 1Lucy oes to +cotland1 digitally colorized, maing it the

"irst I Love Lucy  e-isode to be "ully colorized 8the *hristmas s-ecial "rom the $&&s was only

-artially colorized:. This time, the color was a little more e6act, "eaturing a 1vintage Technicolor1 style

a--earance. Four years later, Time Li"e released the 1Lucy?s >talian 'ovie1 e-isode "or the "irst time

in "ull color as -art o" their 1/ssential ?> Love Lucy?1 collection, a--arently having used the same

-rocess as the ?+cotland? e-isode.

#n December 3, 3$, *B+ decided to re!air the *hristmas s-ecial "or the "irst time in nearly twodecades. The *hristmas s-ecial was re!colorized with the same -rocess as the other two 3s era

colorized e""orts, maing the e-isode more a--ealing to viewers who were "irst o--osed to colorizing

due to the -rocess?s early woes. The networ also aired the a"orementioned 1Lucy?s >talian 'ovie1

e-isode to mae the *hristmas +-ecial a "ull hour. 7early a year later, on December ), 3$;, the

*hristmas s-ecial was again aired on *B+, but this time -aired with the -o-ular 1ob +witching1

e-isode "eaturing Lucy and /thel in the chocolate "actory, which was newly colorized Hust "or the

*B+ broadcast.2%42%$42%34 This e-isode a--eared on the +econd +eason 5ltimate Blu!ray edition on

 August ;, 3$%.

To date, the colorized 1Lucy in +cotland1 e-isode has never aired on television, but the e-isode,

along with the *hristmas s-ecial and 1Lucy?s >talian 'ovie1, have been -acaged together on the

3$ 1> Love Lucy *olorized *hristmas1 DVD. 2%4 >n 3$;, Target *or-oration stores sold an e6clusive

version o" this DVD that also included 1ob +witching1.2%;4

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>n 3$%, *B+ aired two new colorized e-isodes in a 1+u-erstar +-ecial1 on 'ay $). They were 1L.A.

at Last1 and 1Lucy 'eets +u-erman1. >t is currently is unnown i" these will also be added to a new

DVD.2%%4 *B+ also aired the *hristmas +-ecial on December 3, 3$%, with the "lashbacs also

colorized "or the "irst time, and 1Lucy Does a TV *ommercial1 re-lacing 1ob +witching1. >t is also

currently is unnown i" these will also be added to a new DVD. 2%(4

DVD and Blu-ray releases2edit4

Beginning in the summer o" 3$, *olumbia ouse Television began releasing I Love Lucy  on DVD

in chronological order. They began that summer with the -ilot and the "irst three e-isodes on a single

DVD. /very si6 wees, another volume o" "our e-isodes would be released on DVD in chronological

order. During the summer o" 33, each DVD would contain between "ive and seven e-isodes on a

single DVD. They continued to release the series very slowly and would not even begin to release

any season 3 e-isodes until the middle o" 33. By the s-ring o" 3, the third season on DVD

began to be released with about si6 e-isodes released every si6 wees to mail order subscribers. All

these DVDs have the identical "eatures as the DVDs eventually released in the season bo6 sets in

retail.

By the "all o" 3, season "our e-isodes began to be o""ered by mail. By the s-ring o" 3; season

"ive DVDs with about si6 e-isodes each began to be released gradually. *olumbia ouse ended the

distribution o" these mail order DVDs in the Winter o" 3%. They began releasing com-lete season

sets in the +ummer o" 3; every "ew months. They stated that *olumbia ouse +ubscribers would

get these e-isodes through mail be"ore releasing any bo6 sets with the same e-isodes. They "inally

ended gradual subscri-tions in 3%, several months be"ore season % became available in retail.

*olumbia ouse then began to mae season bo6 sets available instead o" these single volumes.

*B+ DVD 8distributed by 0aramount: has released all si6 seasons o" I Love Lucy  on DVD in @egion

$, as well as all $ e-isodes o" The Lucy and Desi Comedy Hour  8as I Love Lucy3 The &inal

Seasons – <2 =2 > ?:. Bonus "eatures include rare on!set color "ootage and the

1DesiluCWestinghouse1 -romotional "ilm, as well as deleted scenes, original o-enings and interstitials

8be"ore they were altered or re-laced "or syndication: and on!air "lubs. These DVDs o""ered identical

"eatures and identical content to the mail order single sets "ormerly available until 3%. 2%)4

>n December 3$, the "irst high!de"inition release o" I Love Lucy  was announced, with the Blu!

ray edition o" the "irst season, scheduled "or 'ay %, 3$;. 2%94 The +econd +eason 5ltimate Blu!ray as

released on August ;, 3$%.

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Release Ep & 5"5 release date 6lu+ray release date

The *om-lete $st +eason %+e-tember 3, 38re!released une ), 3%:

8re!released #ctober &, 3$3:

'ay (, 3$;

The *om-lete 3nd +eason $ August $, 3;

8re!released #ctober &, 3$3: August ;, 3$%2%&4

The *om-lete rd +eason $ February $, 3%8re!released #ctober &, 3$3:

The *om-lete ;th +eason2(4 'ay , 3%

8re!released #ctober &, 3$3:

The *om-lete %th +eason 3( August $(, 3%

8re!released 7ovember (, 3$3:

The *om-lete (th +eason 3)'ay 3, 3(

8re!released 7ovember (, 3$3:

The Final +easons ), 9 X & $'arch $, 3)

8re!released 7ovember (, 3$3:

The *om-lete +eries2($4 $&#ctober 3, 3)

8re!released 7ovember , 3$%: