View Full Version : Lucy Moves To NBC
comedyfreak 02-09-2008, 10:50 AM This special was by far the best she did of all her specials. There were quite a few laughs and it was really good to see such stars as Bob Hope, Johnny Carson, Jack Klugman, Gary Coleman, and Donald O'Connor. The premise was good as I take it, it was Lucy's first NBC special and all the stars welcomed her to the NBC family. Also starring was Gale Gordon who was excellent in his part as Lucy's friend and then assistant T.V producer. There was a bit they did about Gale being Lucy's boss in her other shows, then he proceeded to boss her around it was hilarious.
I also managed to see Dinner With The President a T.V. special from 1953 and had the cast of I Love Lucy, Ethel Merman, Jackie Robinson, Rogers and Hammerstein, Helen Hayes and other stars all performing. The ILL cast did a scene from the show where Lucy steals Ricky's punchline jokes and Fred & Ethel sang Nothing Could Be Finer Than Being In Sweet Carolina In The Morning.
Benno123 02-09-2008, 12:13 PM I have never seen "Lucy Moves To NBC" (yet, anyway!) so I appreciate your take on it! Thanks for the posting. Isn't there also a pilot that Lucille produced and directed starring Gale Gordon as a monk that was done around this time?
I have the "Dinner with the President" broadcast on a tape somewhere which I haven't transfered to DVD yet. As I remember, I enjoyed watched the entire special, especially the ILL cast of course :)
comedyfreak 02-09-2008, 12:20 PM Isn't there also a pilot that Lucille produced and directed starring Gale Gordon as a monk that was done around this time?
I have never heard about that one, LOL. Sounds interesting. I do wonder why she left CBS after all those years with them.
comedyfreak 02-10-2008, 05:51 PM bump for Irene, Mikado, Bill, and all the rest.:D
SPLAIN 02-11-2008, 11:44 AM I have never heard about that one, LOL. Sounds interesting. I do wonder why she left CBS after all those years with them.
Because they gave her no work to do, NBC promised they would and they wanted her expertise in comedy, but she only did this one special and i did not like it at all, the opening and some of the guests were good but she was not allowed to shine in any comedy bits on her own though. Lucy calls the President and Mr and Mrs were quite better as specials.
comedyfreak 02-12-2008, 05:58 AM Wow how interesting, I guess it was really nostalgia for me seeing all those stars. I do agree with her doing more in, Lucy Calls The President.
SPLAIN 02-12-2008, 10:38 AM Well, yes, while i agree that it was nice for the NBC major names to do BITS on her special, i would have preferred something Lucyish at some point, this reminds me of Lucy in Nashville, another special where she just introduces people, although she did get to do two comedic bits herself in that one at least.
comedyfreak 02-13-2008, 05:13 AM I got to look that on up on iOffer. I gotta have it, LOL.
SPLAIN 02-13-2008, 11:26 AM She conducts the orchestra at one point in a scene reminiscent of Lucy Conducts the Symphony on The Lucy Show. And she has some funny moments with every major country star of that time peiod. I think it was at the Garnd Ole Opry and they greeted Lucy with a huge band and a fantastic opening too.
Benno123 02-13-2008, 09:17 PM I haven't seen the Lucy Goes To Nashville special, but the opening you described sounds like the Steve Lawrence Show from 1965 when she was the guest (on the first show) where there was a marching band and cheerleaders singing "We Love You, Lucy, oh yes we do" and a grand entrance for her! I just watched this over the weekend when I transfered it to DVD from VHS, the first time in years that I had watched it. In my opinion, it is one of her best TV appearences in her career. Every scene is just great! (This is the show where she shows the outtakes of her and the dolphins at Marineland, which aired earlier that evening on CBS.)
SPLAIN 02-14-2008, 11:09 AM Oh i so agree, that was a great show and you're right, the opening is similar in scope but Lucy coming in on an elephant is pretty special, LOL! Through Times Square yet! In an evening gown to boot! Yes, Lucy showed clips from her show and talked about the process of putting on that Marineland show, it very informative and quite funny. Is that also the show that she did Hey look me Over also? I know she did that number perfectly one a show and i'm pretty sure it's this one, i'll have to dig that one out and watch it this weekend.
Benno123 02-14-2008, 08:56 PM Yeah, this is the show that she sang "Hey Look Me Over" with the song lowered a key to fit her voice. In fact, I think the song works better in the lower register than it does when it's in its regular key from Wildcat! I don't know how long the Steve Lawrence Show lasted, from the teaser at the end it sounds like Art Carney was the guest the following week. I wish more of these shows would pop up!
SPLAIN 02-15-2008, 10:32 AM Steve was cancelled very fast, only a few weeks i think, well, still more than what they give them today to become a hit, maybe he was on opposite Sullivan or something, i forget. You're right, that was the best version of Hey Look me Over she ever did. Now i HAVE to watch that this weekend. Am still trying to get some of those specials copied for you, trouble with my supplier, should be very soon though.
Lodee 02-15-2008, 12:09 PM She looked great on the Steve Lawrence show, didn't she? Is that the one where she showed clips from the Marineland episode?
SPLAIN 02-15-2008, 02:17 PM Yup! And while doing it, she's wearing this elaborate evening gown with boas and all, reminded me of the one she wore to The Kennedy Center Honors, knowing how frugal she was, i always wondered if she had worn it again on that night but i guess it's just similar abd being a guy i can't tell the difference, LOL!
Lodee 02-15-2008, 03:10 PM Well, if it makes you feel any better, I'm not a guy and I couldn't tell either. Then again, I would make a great candidate for What Not to Wear so I might not be the best person to ask. :lol:
SPLAIN 02-18-2008, 10:51 AM Well, there are plenty of more important things in life than clothes anyway so who cares? LOL!
SPLAIN 02-18-2008, 10:52 AM Hey, what's the deal with your avatar anyway? What is that?:confused:
Benno123 02-18-2008, 12:09 PM No problem about the delay with the specials! I just appreciate the help!!! By the way, did you watch Steve Lawrence this weekend???
SPLAIN 02-18-2008, 02:23 PM No problem about the delay with the specials! I just appreciate the help!!! By the way, did you watch Steve Lawrence this weekend???
No, i was too busy watching the EIGHT Lucy specials i'm sending you, they're all done and i'm mailing them tomorrow. Remember that these bootlegs are not always the greatest copies but these are pretty good all things considered, i have yet to find a Lucy in London that is color correct, but if you don't mind a green sky as her plane lands, you'll do ok, LOL~
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