Lucille Ball was a woman who didn't mind looking funny, as long as she WAS funny.
None of which takes away from Desi Arnaz's estimable talents as a producer. His "can do" attitude made the "I Love Lucy Show" work. He innovated the three camera filming format still in use today. Previously, shows like this were performed before a live audience and preserved on kinescope which makes poor copies. Desi's filming of Lucy is the reason there are great copies today.
For the "I Love Lucy Show" the casting of William Frawley and the then unknown Vivian Vance was sheer genius. Although Vance was often unhappy to be playing the frumpy wife of a man who was 22 years her senior, she would stick with Lucille Ball into the "Lucille Ball Show" and "Here's Lucy."
Part of the "I Love Lucy" success was the real relationship between Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz. The love showed. While Lucy always has some "splainin'" to do for her antics, he always forgave her.
Lucille Ball was a pathfinder who paved the way for all the women in TV to follow. Without Lucy, arguably, there might not have been a Carol Burnett or Mary Tyler Moore.
She proved women could be the leads and carry a show. Not one show, but several.
She was the first female head of a studio. While running Desilu, her willingness to take a risk led her to approve production of Mission Impossible and Star Trek.
Upcoming episodes on KBYU
Ricky Loses His Temper Air date: 7/4/2009 8:23:00 PM Ricky tries his hand at a little psychology to overcome Lucy's mania for buying hats.
The Quiz Show Air date: 7/5/2009 6:00:00 PM Desperate to win a $1000 jackpot to balance her household accounts, Lucy agrees to a quiz show stunt in which she has to introduce a stranger to Ricky as her "long lost husband."
Home Movies Air date: 7/11/2009 8:23:00 PM When Ricky makes a film and succeeds in selling it to a producer, Lucy decides to get into the act by producing her own western.
The Audition Show Air date: 7/12/2009 5:38:00 PM Ricky tries to keep Lucy away from the club while he does a TV audition, but when a clown has an accident and can't make it, Lucy shows up in his place.
Bonus Bucks Air date: 7/18/2009 8:23:00 PM Lucy and Ethel engage in a not-too-neighborly tiff over the ownership of a "bonus buck" when its serial number turns up in a newspaper.
The Seance Air date: 7/19/2009 6:00:00 PM Lucy and Ethel have taken up the art of the Ouija Board.
Ricky's Hawaiian Vacation Air date: 7/25/2009 8:23:00 PM When Ricky makes no provision for Lucy to accompany him on a trip to Hawaii, Lucy sets out to win a free trip for herself and the Mertzes.
Men Are Messy Air date: 7/26/2009 6:00:00 PM Tired of Ricky's messy habits, Lucy divides the apartment in half - hecan be a slob in his half, but not hers.
Lucille Ball was a woman who didn't mind looking funny, as long as she WAS funny.
