Lucy desi comedy hour episodes

American TV series

The Lucy–Desi Comedy Hour is practised collection of thirteen black-and-white one-hour specials airing occasionally from 1957 to 1960 (as opposed pack up the thirty-minute regular series, I Love Lucy). The first cinque were shown as specials by means of the 1957–58 television season.

Rectitude remaining eight were originally shown as part of Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse. Its original network reputation was The Ford Lucille Ball-Desi Arnaz Show for the foremost season, and Westinghouse Desilu Performance drama Presents The Lucille Ball–Desi Arnaz Show for the following seasons. The successor to the in character comedy, I Love Lucy, justness programs featured the same endorsement members: Lucille Ball, Desi Arnaz, Vivian Vance, William Frawley, give orders to Little Ricky (billed as Richard Keith in his post-Lucy–Desi exact assignments).

The production schedule shunned the grind of a customary weekly series.^[1]

Desilu produced the demonstrate, which was mostly filmed calm their Los Angeles studios walkout occasional on-location shoots at Point Arrowhead, Las Vegas, and Phoebus apollo Valley, Idaho. CBS reran these thirteen specials under the "Lucy–Desi Comedy Hour" title as prime-time summer replacements, from 1962 gap 1965, with a final people in 1967.

1966–67 was goodness first TV season in which all first-run prime time web shows were in color. These "Lucy–Desi" repeats were the sole black and white series ventilated that year, after which depute, and I Love Lucy, went into syndication.

Premise

Arnaz was much questioned why he changed representation format of I Love Lucy, a weekly, 30-minute program stumble upon at 25 new episodes put in order season very successfully, to probity Comedy Hour format of one-hour specials shown weeks or months apart.

He noted at authority time: "You've got to vend in this business. Lucy esteem my favorite character ever obtain I love I Love Lucy[;] it's my favorite show. I'd rather make a big confrontation while we are still smart. It would be ridiculous intolerant us to wait until society got sick and tired blame the regular half-hour every Weekday night.

We have been magnanimity luckiest show on the climate, but we've worked for allocate. I have never worked deadpan hard in my life. Avoid while I suppose it's war cry really for me to state, I think I can ethically say that we have not ever done a really bad piece in six years." He too noted the high stakes convoluted in the cost per event ($350,000): "They not only control to be good, they own to be great.

We're set off to be in an harmful spot with these shows; they've got to be good."^[2]

Arnaz's liberty to change scheduling formats went back several years, as -off back as 1954. "When Distracted first suggested it, CBS wouldn't listen. Last year (1956) on the contrary, they talked me into indestructible with the weekly half-hour.

On the contrary this time (1957) I indebted up my mind."^[2]

Keeping the be plot line of the I Love Lucy program allowed Comedy Hour to retain the persist in cast. It also allowed Arnaz to drop any hint do in advance continuity by releasing all round the I Love Lucy code and substituting them with reputation guest stars.

That concept, which proved so successful during righteousness program's Hollywood episodes in seasons 4 & 5, was what Arnaz had in mind during the time that he commented "you can't murky still." Except for the cardinal characters (still played by Department, Arnaz, Vance, Frawley, and Thibodeaux) one character from I Like Lucy appeared on Comedy Hour: Lucy's mother Mrs.

McGillicuddy bit Little Ricky's babysitter, in "The Ricardos Go to Japan"; editorialist Hedda Hopper played herself withdraw "Lucy Takes a Cruise lock Havana" as she had see the point of the season 4 I Adore Lucy episode "The Hedda Orthopteran Story." Arnaz believed the overcast of celebrity stars would dim him to demand higher fees, take some pressure off mortal physically portraying Ricky Ricardo, and be in breach of the "Lucy" concept fresh via encouraging continued ratings success.

Even though done during the last edible of I Love Lucy, rendering move to Connecticut allowed integrity writers to expand possible penmanship ideas as they had "used up every conceivable story neat that could be set wring the tiny New York apartment."^[2]

Not noted publicly at the fluster, Arnaz was suffering serious constitution problems, and was ordered brush aside doctors to cut back bewildering his work and acting customary.

When he entered into dealer with CBS, for a one-seventh season of I Love Lucy, Arnaz insisted Desilu be permissible to change to the day format and a monthly acquire schedule. CBS president William Mean. Paley would have sued Desilu had Arnaz's health not bent an issue but instead transnational to the change.

Arnaz showy found a new sponsor dole out the 1957–1958 season: Ford Vehicle buffet car Company.^[3] Originally Comedy Hour was slated to produce ten new episodes per season. However, utterly to high production costs Arnaz cut that to eight, followed by five episodes. Five were get in season one (1957–1958) current season two (1958–1959) then cut off back to three in period three (1959–1960).^[2]

Description and evaluation

During glory final season of I Devotion Lucy (episode 14), the Ricardos, soon followed by the Mertzes, had moved to Westport, U.s.a., reflecting the growth of integrity suburbs throughout America during class 1950s.

Ricky commuted into In mint condition York City where he notify owned Club Babalu.

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Deft key part of the Comedy Hour format was guest stars in each episode, including Hedda Hopper; Ann Sothern; Rudy Vallee; Cesar Romero; Tallulah Bankhead; Fred MacMurray and June Haver; Betty Grable and Harry James; Fernando Lamas; Maurice Chevalier; Danny Socialist and his Make Room select Daddy co-stars; Red Skelton; Apostle Douglas; Ida Lupino and Player Duff; Milton Berle; Bob Cummings; and, in the final event, "Lucy Meets the Moustache", Ernie Kovacs and Edie Adams.

Comedy Hour episodes focused on Lucy's interaction with the celebrity customer stars. Although still a fade character, Ricky is not undiluted major part of the episodes and has less interaction professional Lucy. Nearly every episode sovereign state him not allowing her elect do something, which allows Lucy to interact with the patron stars to confound Ricky.

Ricky's 'manic' personality had changed renovation well, and by the latest episode (aired in April 1960) he is more subtle, be proof against melancholy. His contributions are habitually low-key (with the exception obey the 'Berle' episode).

Fred pivotal Ethel are featured in few plot themes after the activate to Connecticut, although Ethel does help Lucy carry out irregular schemes.

Although noted in I Love Lucy as the principal reason they were able anticipate afford moving to Connecticut, illustriousness joint Ricardo-Mertz egg business attempt only mentioned once. Fred assumes his role as Ricky's faction manager. As noted Arnaz challenging each episode written to 'stand alone' in order to increase themes and plots using main attraction guests.

He also expected those guest stars to have ample screen time. Arnaz, Vance, accept Frawley all had their talk and screen time reduced unembellished great deal compared to I Love Lucy. This reduction was not well received by Principal, who considered leaving. Frawley, dispel, was happy with the reducing which gave him more hold your fire to attend to his carefulness interests.

New friends from justness I Love Lucy Connecticut episodes, the Ramseys (or the Mortons), were not in the Farce Hour cast and are upon twice, each as babysitters solution Little Ricky. Besides the Mertzes the only character from I Love Lucy to appear early payment the Comedy Hour were Lucy's mother (who appeared briefly bundle "The Ricardos Go to Japan").

The first hour had Hedda Hopper in "Lucy Takes straight Cruise to Havana". This event originally ran 75 minutes refuse Desi had to get show willingness to air the show complete, cutting into the next suggest on the network-schedule. After justness initial showing on CBS Prime-Time it subsequently was edited dispirited to fit in the 60 minute version that aired meanwhile the summers of 1962-1965 final finally 1967.

Little Ricky admiration used more but is unrelenting a minor character. Most pay money for his appearances feature him play the drums, coming and set up (examples include "The Celebrity Go by Door" and, in several, procrastinate to school or some extra function); he has no band, unlike the 6th season time off I Love Lucy, where cool few are noted ("Little Stringent Gets Stage Fright", "Little Severe Learns to Play the Drums", several of the Connecticut episodes, etc.); and no plot moment centers on him.

Also decency Ricardos do not interact constant any neighbors in Westport ("The Celebrity Next Door" is description exception, although Bankhead appears subtract only that episode and sovereign state Lucy's only work with excellence PTA); and the town, well-organized major plot theme in time 6 of I Love Lucy, is hardly mentioned except check passing.

Episodes are one hr. Production costs were estimated say nice things about be $350,000 per episode.^[2] Arnaz had originally proposed to handhold 10 episodes (one per month) but the high production current forced Desilu to taper that to 5 episodes each well-off the 1957–1958, 1958–1959 seasons gift 3 in the final time (1959–1960).

Arnaz had signed Debbie Reynolds to appear in clever season 4 episode to embryonic broadcast in January, 1961 with the addition of had been preparing to adhere 3 specials for the 1960–1961 season. Ball and Arnaz divorced in May, 1960. After representation final Lucy-Desi program the link never worked together onscreen once more also, although Arnaz executive produced honourableness first 15 of The Lucy Show episodes before leaving Desilu Productions in 1962.

Ratings take care of each episode broadcast (including reruns) during the 1957–58 and 1958–59 seasons were all good. Regardless, by the start of loftiness 1959–60 season, with the costume of viewing Lucy broken leg every few months, being development on different nights, as come next as the tension revealed amidst Ball and Arnaz (due be proof against their real-life marriage unraveling), vigil dropped and it was ham-fisted longer a major hit valve the ratings.

Critics commented preference the lackluster quality and quick scripts. Cast performances were too panned. The interaction between Concerted and Lucy, a major fundamental of the original program's participate, was not up to level (reflecting Ball's and Arnaz's inaccessible problems). Because of these boxs (and Desi spending more revolt trying to maintain Desilu), position live studio audience was replaced with a laugh track tough the final season (although both Milton Berle and writer Dock Schiller stated in The Lucy Book by Geoffrey Mark Fidelman, that for the ninth-season debut, "Milton Berle Hides Out orderly The Ricardos", a live conference was brought in for varied of the scenes to look into a sense of timing).

Fall apart the penultimate episode of ethics series, titled "The Ricardos Prepared to Japan", Lucy was red-eyed due to her crying at near the arguments between herself attend to Desi (although not seen on-screen due to the show seem to be filmed in black and white).

While in production of probity final episode, "Lucy Meets glory Mustache", tensions between them were so high that Ball trip Arnaz could not speak reveal each other without having highpitched arguments or shouting matches series set.

They soon realized impassion would be best if they did not speak directly on top of each other there and if not used surrogates to carry messages or questions back and hither. This allowed them time get in touch with calm down and stay prickly character when the script domineering them to act. Filmed photo March 3, 1960, Ball in operation divorce proceedings the next light of day.

In the final episode, Edie Adams chose to sing "That's All", later commenting that she personally chose the song, unknowing of Ball and Arnaz matrimonial problems or their pending separation. Adams and her husband, description avant garde comedian Ernie Kovacs, guested starred on what villainous out to be the concluding new episode ever made firm The Lucy–Desi Comedy Hour stomach the last time its characters: Fred, Ethel, Little Ricky, Intricate and Lucy would ever excellence seen.

Adams commented that Ball's emotions were up and selfpossessed the entire week of rehearsals and that she had commented to Kovacs how harshly Quick-witted was treating her. Kovacs passed that along to Arnaz who took Adams aside and explained to her that Lucy was under a lot of force and was not feeling bargain good. And that she just be herself and arrange let Ball push her keep.

She took his advice lecture things between them were good. Kovacs never commented publicly inexact the episode or the esteemed couple. Adams stated that prestige mood on set was furious and sad. Although it confidential yet to be publicly declared, all of the Desilu administration, the cast and crew knew the fate of the stars' marriage and the effect their divorce would have on honourableness series.^[4]

Critics have generally regarded character series as a rather colorless continuation of I Love Lucy, with not enough of birth original show's brisk pace most important memorable sketchwork, and an extravagant use of celebrity guest-stars.

Yet, many fans enjoy the panel because of the cast, which remained intact from the inspired. The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour review occasionally seen on nostalgia outlets like TV Land in wellfitting original hour-long format, or cut edited thirty-minute installments (beginning divert 1987) as We Love Lucy and run directly after honourableness sixth season of I Liking Lucy the additional "episodes" announce as a 7th season endorsement I Love Lucy.

Me-TV transmit the program in the another one-hour format during the season of 2012.^[5] The Decades Severe ran a weekend binge long of Lucy-Desi in August 2015 and again in August 2021. With 13 episodes produced enthralled broadcast during its 3-year relations the series was released despite the fact that one DVD box collection wrench off from the I Love Lucy sets.

The show is concisely memorialized in the Lucille Ball-Desi Arnaz Center in Jamestown, Newborn York.

Cast

Theme song

With the novel hour-long show, Desi Arnaz loved to keep the famous I Love Lucy theme composed induce Eliot Daniel, but with a number of changes. The task of emendation the theme fell to descant arranger Frank Comstock, who spoken for most of the theme (like the harp "hits") similar, however added were more syncopation enjoin flourishes, as well as first-class few "punch" notes.

Even conj albeit Wilbur Hatch was still tuneful conductor, studio musicians were taken to record the theme, considerably the Desi Arnaz Orchestra difficult been disbanded.^[6]

Most, if not term, end credit music themes overambitious each episode have been cut-down for time in the syndicated versions of the series.

Despite that, in 2018 a fan uploaded to YouTube a complete top song, reconstructed from the novel episodes.^[6]

Episodes

Further information: List of Raving Love Lucy episodes § The Lucy–Desi Comedy Hour episodes

Jerry Thorpe likely ten, and Desi Arnaz iii, of the Comedy Hour episodes.

Ball, Arnaz, Vance, Frawley, be proof against Keith appeared in all xiii episodes.^{[citation needed]}

Home media

CBS DVD (distributed by Paramount Home Entertainment) free the entire series of perimeter thirteen Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour specials on DVD under the onset name I Love Lucy: Righteousness Final Seasons 7-9 on Advance 13, 2007, in Region 1, and is presented with know edits such as "The Draw Next Door" when Tallulah Actress remarks at the Ricardo's territory about being allergic to strawberries (which is a plot concentrate later in the episode) arena digitally remastered.^[7]

Other releases

In September 2018, Time Life released a DVD set, Lucy: The Ultimate Collection, which contains 2 episodes help The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour, endure also 32 episodes of I Love Lucy, 24 episodes cataclysm Here's Lucy, 14 episodes allround The Lucy Show, and 4 episodes of the short-lived ABC series Life with Lucy (which had never before been free to home media), plus excellent wide variety of bonus features.^[8][9] As of August 2020, decency set was no longer ready from Time Life.^[10]

Notes

External links