The Lucy Phenomenon

We just can’t get enough of Lucy. “I Love Lucy” has been a global phenomenon for nearly 75 years. It has been on the air continuously for three-quarters of a century without pause ever since she dethroned Milton Berle as the king of prime-time television in 1951.

“I Love Lucy” aired on CBS from October 15, 1951, until May 6, 1957, when it segued into “The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour” as one-hour specials from 1957 to 1960, with a lineup of familiar guest stars who wanted to be seen. It returned during the 1960s as a series of one-hour summer special reruns that aired in CBS prime time.

Regardless of how many times I watch “I Love Lucy,” I can’t quit laughing. I am not always sure the generations following us feel the same way about Lucy. Those of us who grew up with “I Love Lucy” understand the humor. My grandfather, born in 1894, hated “I Love Lucy.” I suspect he didn’t care for the humble housewife getting the best of her husband. Yet, Lucy and Ricky (husband Desi Arnaz) were a “Spy-vs-Spy” adventure because she always got caught and Ricky responded with, “You got some splainin’ to do…”

It was a great battle of the sexes and a timeless situation comedy.

Though Lucy remained high in the ratings, it began to slide as the show’s producers attempted to make the series more viewable. By the fifth season, with a brief stint in Hollywood, extended trips to Europe and Japan, and a move to Connecticut, it had become decidedly stale and had run its course.

What made “I Love Lucy” so successful was the extraordinary combination of great comedic acting, writing, direction, and Desi’s three-camera approach to filming. With the three edited together, this approach worked with fluid precision.

“I Love Lucy” displaced Milton Berle as the most-watched television show in the United States during its network run in the 1950s. It remained on top of the Nielson ratings for four of its six seasons. What’s more, “I Love Lucy” has been syndicated in multiple languages around the world. It remains popular, especially with boomers, to the tune of 40 million viewers every year.

This popular sitcom was the first scripted TV show burned on 35mm film in front of a studio audience. It won five Emmy awards as a result. Audience poles have often said “I Love Lucy” is the best show of all time. No matter how we are feeling, rain or shine, “I Love Lucy” remains the go-to sitcom when we are bored out of our minds and sick of the news.

The show’s producers did “Lucy” so well that we fell into believing we were looking at a New York tenement apartment when, in reality, “I Love Lucy” was shot on a modest sound stage on Cahuenga Blvd (Desilu-Cahuenga) at the north end of Hollywood. It was aired live on TV while also being recorded on 35mm film. Desi’s approach to business kept the Lucy phenomenon rolling for decades. It continues to pay dividends 70 years later. Audience response enhanced the viewing experience. The “Uh-Oh” response you hear periodically throughout the episodes was Lucille Ball’s mother seated in the audience.

Lucy’s segue into the early 1960s with “The Lucy Show” and “Here’s Lucy” later on in 1967 enjoyed healthy ratings, though it seemed a lot of Americans had had their fill of Lucy. I believe what made Lucy successful in the 1960s was a balance of great comedic actors and America’s neurotic need for more Lucy. The storylines just didn’t compare with “I Love Lucy” in the 1950s. They were just out of ideas.

“The Lucy Show” in the early 1960s.

Though I am not a psychologist, it is my belief Lucille Ball just could get enough of the spotlight. She embraced it and pushed the limits of stardom. When “The Lucy Show” wore out its welcome, they resorted to nepotism, bringing in daughter Lucy and son Desi along with the great talents of Gale Gordon. It was Gordon’s great comedic abilities that made these rather lame episodes sizzle.

If I had the chance to reinvent Lucy after “I Love Lucy,” I would not have had Lucy as Lucille Carmichael and Vivian as Vivian Bagley. That approach was weak right from the start with widowed women with children. I would have recast Lucy and Vivian as Lucy Ricardo and Ethyl Mertz – in a new post-Ricky and Fred sitcom as either divorced or widowed women. Because divorce was taboo at the time, being widowed would have been the best option. William Frawley went on to star in “My Three Sons” as “Bub” in 1960. Lucy and Desi had divorced, which swiftly eliminated the “I Love Lucy” option. Desi stayed on as producer, replaced by her second husband, Gary Morton in the 1960s.

What made “The Lucy Show” a knockout was comedic actor Gale Gordon as her boss Mr. Mooney. As you might imagine, Lucy drove Mooney crazy, much as she did Ricky in “I Love Lucy.”

Great Comedic Actor, Gale Gordon.

The storylines, direction, and acting lost momentum in the absence of fresh ideas, making “The Lucy Show” a crashing bore, yet with enviable ratings. “The Lucy Show” continued until 1967 when Lucy was reinvented with “Here’s Lucy.” I am convinced the real success of a re-invented Lucy was the support of great comedic actors who made these shows worth watching. The list of great character actors was endless.

When the entire Lucy phenomenon had passed, Hollywood returned with “Life With Lucy” in the 1980s alongside time-proven Gale Gordon, who still made us laugh. He was still on top of his game some 13 years after “Here’s Lucy” wrapped. Lucille Ball’s last hurrah was the made-for-TV movie “Stone Pillow” where her acting ability was put to the test. Her performance was remarkable.

Despite all of the feelings we have about Lucille Ball, she still makes us laugh and will continue to do so for decades to come.