jessica
15. The Networks Were Reluctant to Cast Arnaz
During the summer of 1950, CBS executives were still not convinced that Desi Arnaz would be the right actor to portray Lucy’s on-screen husband. They believed no one would accept that her character would marry a foreign man, something that would be balked at today due to our push for diversity in Hollywood. In order to prove that Desi was the perfect man for the part, Lucille performed with her husband while he was on tour in a vaudevillian act. It went over so well that the network signed off on Desi and the rest is history!
14. Lucille Made Up Crazy Contracts
Lucille Ball was known for creating outrageous contracts for her actors that had specific sets of absurd demands. For her co-star and friend Vivian Vance who played Ethel, Lucille demanded she gain five pounds per season of the show and never dye her hair the same color. Maybe that’s why Ethel was always eating?
13. The First Show to Use Three Cameras
Although most multi-cam sitcoms are extinct nowadays, I Love Lucy was the first TV show to utilize three cameras simultaneously. Since the show was shot in chronological order like a play, it was imperative they could get as many angles as possible at once.
12. Number One or Bust!
I Love Lucy managed to stay number one in the Nielsen ratings during its entire six season run. While most shows tend to taper off in the ratings from year-to-year, Lucy and co. proved that they were an instant classic, deserving of all the praise and recognition.
11. Only Lucy Could Make Fun of Ricky
In the early years of the show, the writers discovered that only Lucy could criticize the way Ricky pronounced certain words. When they tried having other characters make fun of his accent, the jokes never landed with the studio audience. Therefore, a rule was made that only Lucy could make fun of Ricky.
10. Redheads Have More Fun than Blondes
When Lucille Ball first moved to Hollywood she did so as a blonde; however, she adopted her signature red hair in 1942 while filming DuBarry was a Lady. Lucille would keep her red hair dye and a henna rinse she received from a wealthy sheikh locked away in a safe. We guess she really didn’t want anyone copying her hair color.
9. Behind the Scenes Drama
While Fred and Ethel seemed to have fun on-screen, the illusion stopped there. Both William Frawley and Vivian Vance hated each other and would often hurl insults backstage at one another. Thankfully, both were highly professional and never let their dislike for one another come out in the public eye. According to those close to Vance, she never liked the fact she had to play Frawley’s wife when he was 22 years older than her.
8. I’m Not a Cheater!
In the episode, “Lucy Tells the Truth” the writers originally wrote a scenario where Ricky cheated on his taxes. This did not go over well with Arnaz who had fled Cuba to Miami as a teenager and had worked hard for his citizenship. Not wanting the show’s viewers to believe immigrants would purposefully defraud the U.S. government, he forced the writers to come up with a new bit. We have to admit we think this was for the best.
7. The World Stopped for Lucy
The show was so popular at the time that the night it aired the world would literally go silent for the show. According to historians, when the show aired water and telephone usage decreased and even some department stores closed early! Talk about a dedicated fan base! We wish stores closed for Game of Thrones!
6. The Egg Tango
In 1957, the episode “Lucy Does the Tango” aired, which dealt with Lucy concealing a dozen eggs in her jacket and having to do the tango with Ricky. The bit received so much laughter that the audience went over for a minute after the bit concluded. What made the comedic timing even better were Lucy and Desi’s reactions were genuine, since they hadn’t rehearsed with the eggs prior to filming.
5. Lucy HATED Vitameatavegamin!
Although it is one of I Love Lucy’s most iconic episodes, Lucille Ball never remembered it very fondly. Due to the trouble with her lines and pronouncing the medication’s name properly, she remained stressed through the entire experience and was unable to appreciate the comedic timing of it all.
4. The Final Seasons
Although I Love Lucy would continue past season six, it wasn’t advertised as such. Tired of the long hours and producing full 25-episode seasons, Lucille and Desi decided to revamp the show into one-hour specials called The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour. Thirteen of these episodes aired between 1957-1960. The day after the final episode was filmed, Lucille Ball filed for divorce from Arnaz.
3. The Opening Title Card
The opening title card of a heart over a satin background was actually inspired by a gift Arnaz gave Lucille. On her 29th birthday, Desi gave Lucy a heart-shaped lapel watch and the producers decided to use the iconic image in the show. Cool, right?
2. The Show was Smoking…Literally
During the show’s run, Philip Morris Tobacco Company was the sole sponsor of the show. This led to many commercial breaks involving Lucy and Desi promoting various types of cigarettes. Both of their characters often smoked in the show as well, which would be frowned upon today.
1. Lucy Almost Drowned
In the infamous grape squashing episode, Lucy almost choked to death in the grape vat. The extra working with Lucy didn’t speak English, and although the scene was fully explained to her, she misinterpreted some of the directions given and held Lucy under the grapes. What’s even worse is no one knew that Lucy was in trouble until after the scene was filmed!
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