Mary Jane Croft was Audrey Simmons in the first season of The Lucy Show. Later, she was Mary Jane Lewis.

she was Audrey for the first three seasons. I actually liked her better as Audrey. As Mary Jane, she was just a poor man's Viv and too much like Clara, her character on Ozzie and Harriet ( a show she did concurrently with The Lucy Show)

she was Audrey for the first three seasons. I actually liked her better as Audrey. As Mary Jane, she was just a poor man's Viv and too much like Clara, her character on Ozzie and Harriet ( a show she did concurrently with The Lucy Show)

I kind of feel sorry for Mary Jane because people want to compare her character to Viv. But I remember Lucille Ball saying nobody could replace Vivian Vance, so she didn't try. Even though Mary Jane played the part of Lucy's best friend, she was not intended to be another Vivian. Nor was she even a regular on the series. Only rarely did they use her in a Viv-like scene. Normally, her purpose was just to help set up a scene or a plot, then Lucy would go off and do her thing with Gale, a guest star, or solo.

I kind of feel sorry for Mary Jane because people want to compare her character to Viv. But I remember Lucille Ball saying nobody could replace Vivian Vance, so she didn't try. Even though Mary Jane played the part of Lucy's best friend, she was not intended to be another Vivian. Nor was she even a regular on the series. Only rarely did they use her in a Viv-like scene. Normally, her purpose was just to help set up a scene or a plot, then Lucy would go off and do her thing with Gale, a guest star, or solo.


I loved Mary Jane. And I loved it when Lucy would pull MJ into her schemes like she used to with Ethel/Viv. But yes, I "get" that she wasn't supposed to replace Viv.

Not to sound snippy, Little Ricky.....but I was not trying to say Mary Jane was supposed to be a Viv. It was just a comment.

for the last few seasons, I would say she was a regular.

Not to sound snippy, Little Ricky.....but I was not trying to say Mary Jane was supposed to be a Viv. It was just a comment.

Well, when you referred to her as a "poor man's Viv," that's the impression I got.

Well, I'm sorry if that was the impression you got...

I'm not here to be argumentive. Let's just talk Lucy :)

Audrey looked so beautiful in her volunteer firefighters' uniform (when the group got their meeting outfits, blouse & skirt). I'm so glad that Mary Jane's character was in the front row!

I liked Mary Jane but they never gave her enough of the right stuff to do. She once said Lucy insisted she have the nasally, slow drawl to her voice because Lucy thought it was funny, but it kind of made her somewhat annoying too.

Does anyone know if Mary Jane Croft was on contract or if she was just hired on an as-needed basis? Seems like in some seasons she would appear in 1 or 2 episodes in a row, then disappear for the next 12 or more.