I Love Lucy (1951)

Watchseries; PERHAPS WE'RE FLYING in the face of everyone, but this was never a favourite in the Ryan household. Oh sure, we watched and knew everyone in the cast. The longevity that this series generated a high degree of familiarity that was as wide spread and nearly universal. It seemed that everyone watched.

ALTHOUGH THIS WASN'T the first and original family Situation Comedy, it did manage to set the standard from which all others were measured. As is often the case, there was no super secret to their success; but rather they established a basic premise, added some very interesting characters, cast them as best as possible and work hard with good writing. (Simple formula, no?)

SO, WHAT KEPT America captivated through six full original run seasons and countless re-runs was the adventures of the Stage Struck wife of a Night Club Band leader and her attempts to break into Show Biz. With some variations, that was it.

DOUBTLESS WAS THE overwhelmingly positive effect that the contributions of the starring duo, Lucielle Ball & Desi Arnaz who portrayed Lucy & Ricky Ricardo. (Hey Schultz, were they typecast as married folks?)

ABOUT AS EQUAL a contribution was provided by William Frawley & Vivian Vance as Fred & Ethel Mertz, the Ricardo's landlords, as well as best friends. It has been reported that Mr. Frawley and Miss Vance really did not hit it off so well. If it was true, one would certainly not surmise it to be so by their on screen performances; with this obviously being a case of true professionalism.

AS A SIDE BAR to the story, the formation of DESILU PRODUCTIONS led to Mr. & Mrs. Arnaz's purchase of the former RKO RADIO PICTURES' Studio, rendering them a definite force in Hollywood and TV in particular.

PERHAPS WE'RE FLYING in the face of everyone, but this was never a favourite in the Ryan household. Oh sure, we watched and knew everyone in the cast. The longevity that this series generated a high degree of familiarity that was as wide spread and nearly universal. It seemed that everyone watched.

ALTHOUGH THIS WASN'T the first and original family Situation Comedy, it did manage to set the standard from which all others were measured. As is often the case, there was no super secret to their success; but rather they established a basic premise, added some very interesting characters, cast them as best as possible and work hard with good writing. (Simple formula, no?)

SO, WHAT KEPT America captivated through six full original run seasons and countless re-runs was the adventures of the Stage Struck wife of a Night Club Band leader and her attempts to break into Show Biz. With some variations, that was it.

DOUBTLESS WAS THE overwhelmingly positive effect that the contributions of the starring duo, Lucielle Ball & Desi Arnaz who portrayed Lucy & Ricky Ricardo. (Hey Schultz, were they typecast as married folks?)

ABOUT AS EQUAL a contribution was provided by William Frawley & Vivian Vance as Fred & Ethel Mertz, the Ricardo's landlords, as well as best friends. It has been reported that Mr. Frawley and Miss Vance really did not hit it off so well. If it was true, one would certainly not surmise it to be so by their on screen performances; with this obviously being a case of true professionalism.

AS A SIDE BAR to the story, the formation of DESILU PRODUCTIONS led to Mr. & Mrs. Arnaz's purchase of the former RKO RADIO PICTURES' Studio, rendering them a definite force in Hollywood and TV in particular.

I Love Lucy watchseries. This might be an old black and white TV series from the 1950s, but it has definitely stood well through the test of times. Comedian Lucille Ball stars as Lucy Ricardo, the wife of Cuban Bandleader Ricky Ricardo (Desi Arnaz) who wants to become a star like her husband and, as a result, would get herself in the oddest of situations. She also makes life frantic in the apartment building she and Ricky share with landlords Fred and Ethel Mertz (William Frawley and Vivian Vance).

This show has a combination of just the right amount of witty humor and slapstick comedy - tastefully done which sends side-splitting laughter to everyone. The timing of Lucille's comic relief is impeccable and her facial expressions in every frustrated, odd or comedic situation are just perfect. From Lucy's buzzed Vitameatavegamin episode to the chocolate-wrapping fiasco, and from her grape-stomping fight to her bread-making disaster, it's a TV-series in a league of its own!

Grade A

Lucille Ball changed television forever when "I Love Lucy" hit the air in 1951. It featured a woman as a main character, which was rare back during that time and age. And the fact that the woman did not listen to her husband often was even more controversial. Everything the show was was rebellious. It was also extremely controversial because her husband was Cuban, and back in the '50's, barely anyone married other races, and if so, the subject was definitely not the premise for a television show.

So, through the ages, I Love Lucy has had a major impact on generations, and has not slipped into culture like many shows, but has been accepted into culture. Not to mention all the Lucy impersonators who have pageants each and every year. But the thing I remember most, is the famous "Eeeooowww!"

5/5 stars --

John Ulmer

Network executives tried to play a race card by objecting to Desi Arnez even being Lucille Ball's husband in this. Like today, the media is still behind the general population. Not only did the public not object to Desi, but it is hard to imagine anyone else playing Lucy's mate now.

This series really clicked on all cylinders all of the time. Lucy who had been schooled in physical comedy while at RKO studios by the great stone face, Buster Keaton, seemed to get better & better at it the longer the series ran. Desi got better & better at acting & comedy as the series kept on going.

William Frawley was brilliant as Fred Mertz, & Vivian Vance was the perfect Ethel Mertz. No matter how zany Lucy got, the others were always there to either help her scheme or pick up the pieces. Some of the comedy is so timeless that the reruns prosper still more than 50 years after they were made.

When Superman appeared, he met his match with Lucy. It's a Bird, It's A Plane, It's a Flying Redhead! The only Redhead nearly as famous as Lucy was Red Skelton & at times even his work was not as endearing as Lucy's was.

for nostalgics and idealists. for discover the roots of TV series and the comfortable manner to create entertainment. for each of that , it is the perfect choice. because, after decades, it remains sweet and clever and provocative and the expression of clever humor. because reminds a world who can be silly in some measure but it remains a not bad refuge or lesson for the our period. because Lucy and Rick are more than a splendid couple. and because the series preserves the flavor of fairy tale. it is difficult to define it . because it is , with each episode, before and today, a surprise. not for the plot, not for situations who defines the characters but for a form of innocence who seduce.

I Love Lucy was more than just a sitcom. It was beginning of television situation comedies. Lucille Ball was already a television and radio actress. Jess Oppenheimer was the creative force behind Lucy. With him and head writers, Madelyn Pugh and Bob Carroll Jr., they created some of television's most memorable moments. The execution of their writing was done by a first rate cast. The multi talented Lucille Ball played Lucy Ricardo. Her real life husband and partner, Desi Arnaz, played her musician husband and band leader, Ricky Ricardo. The supporting cast was Fred and Ethel Mertz. They were played beautifully by film and vaudeville veteran William Frawley and theatre actress Vivian Vance. Lucy and Ethel's friendship was key in the show's success. Ironically Ricky and Fred became close friends off screen as well from the show. Frawley and Vance may have personally disliked each other but were professional enough for the show. This show had many breakthroughs. You couldn't have asked for a better show!