Desi Arnaz pursued her on the set of "I Love Lucy"; and Sen. John F. Kennedy once slipped her his phone number.

Despite Arnaz's advances toward Eden, his wife (and "Lucy" star) Lucille Ball styled Eden to be as sexy as possible, in keeping with the script. Ball even expressed interest in representing Eden.

"The day we did our final shot on 'Lucy' was the day Fox called and said they were picking up my option," recalls the Tuscon native, 77. "So consequently, I went to 20th Century Fox. I don't know what would have happened if I had stayed with her."

Ball's assessment of Eden's talents was quite a compliment, considering the source.

Anybody else know this?

http://www.nj.com/entertainment/index.ssf/2011/09/barbara_eden_interview_i_dream.html

I knew she appeared in an episode of "I Love Lucy." She even does commentary on the DVD. I didn't know (or remember) that Lucille Ball wanted to represent Eden, though.

I knew she appeared in an episode of "I Love Lucy." She even does commentary on the DVD. I didn't know (or remember) that Lucille Ball wanted to represent Eden, though.


What episode was it?

What episode was it?

Episode 177, it's from season 6. It's titled "Country Club Dance."

Episode 177, it's from season 6. It's titled "Country Club Dance."


I guess those are the Connecticut episodes? I really didn't see many of those.

I guess those are the Connecticut episodes? I really didn't see many of those.

Yeah, it is.

I know a lot of people seem to put those episodes down but I think they're just as good as any episode of the show.

It says a lot about Barbara's character that she didn't pursue Desi or JFK's advances.

Episode 177, it's from season 6. It's titled "Country Club Dance."

I think Barbara played the niece of the Munsons, friends of the Ricardos. Ricky, Fred, and Ralph Ramsey were all trying to get a dance with her, making Lucy, Ethel and Betty jealous.

...was one of the last of the half-hour series, originally telecast on April 22, 1957. Barbara was "Diana", Grace Munson's cousin, who apparently flirts with virtually every man she meets (including Ricky, Fred and Ralph Ramsey). She also has a crush on a popular singer at that time- as Ralph puts it, "Who's Pat Boone?". Coincidentally, Barbara and Pat would co-star in several 20th Century-Fox features a few years later...

:tv:

Yeah, it is.

I know a lot of people seem to put those episodes down but I think they're just as good as any episode of the show.

Why? They're great episodes!!

Why? They're great episodes!!

I agree and don't know why people tend to not like these later episodes as much as the rest of the series. In the "Jump the Shark" book that came out in like 2004 or so, it was the move to the country that the author considered the JTS moment. It seems like on message boards, others agree.

IMHO, I Love Lucy was one show that NEVER jumped the shark. In fact, it was #1 in the Nielsen ratings during its last season.

The Connecticut episodes were hilarious. Who can forget Lucy doing the tango with a blouse full of eggs???

All of I Love Lucy is Top Notch!! New York episodes; Hollywood, Europe, Connecticut, TLDCH. Probably why the series always stayed so fresh was it changed settings so often. The show was so a head of its time, in this regard. Hard to believe sometimes that this show is from the '50's!!

I am going to read Barbara's book Genie out of a Bottle and read all about her life.

The Connecticut episodes were hilarious. Who can forget Lucy doing the tango with a blouse full of eggs???

At one time (maybe still), that scene resulted in the record for the longest studio audience laugh in history.

Episode 177, it's from season 6. It's titled "Country Club Dance."

Here's Barbara.

Several years earlier, she is with curly hair. Years later had her hair straight and long.

Those pictures don't even look like her! But that's cool that she was on I Love Lucy!

Barbara was such a babe on this episode.

Desi Arnaz pursued her on the set of "I Love Lucy"; and Sen. John F. Kennedy once slipped her his phone number.

Despite Arnaz's advances toward Eden, his wife (and "Lucy" star) Lucille Ball styled Eden to be as sexy as possible, in keeping with the script. Ball even expressed interest in representing Eden.

"The day we did our final shot on 'Lucy' was the day Fox called and said they were picking up my option," recalls the Tuscon native, 77. "So consequently, I went to 20th Century Fox. I don't know what would have happened if I had stayed with her."

Ball's assessment of Eden's talents was quite a compliment, considering the source.

Anybody else know this?

http://www.nj.com/entertainment/index.ssf/2011/09/barbara_eden_interview_i_dream.html
Most Lucy fans know this story lol.

I can just hear Diana saying HI in her somewhat shrill voice coming down the stairs. I get a kick of Ethel looking Diana over. Barbara was about 22 at the time?

Desi Arnaz pursued her on the set of "I Love Lucy"; and Sen. John F. Kennedy once slipped her his phone number.

Despite Arnaz's advances toward Eden, his wife (and "Lucy" star) Lucille Ball styled Eden to be as sexy as possible, in keeping with the script. Ball even expressed interest in representing Eden.

"The day we did our final shot on 'Lucy' was the day Fox called and said they were picking up my option," recalls the Tuscon native, 77. "So consequently, I went to 20th Century Fox. I don't know what would have happened if I had stayed with her."

Ball's assessment of Eden's talents was quite a compliment, considering the source.

Anybody else know this?

http://www.nj.com/entertainment/index.ssf/2011/09/barbara_eden_interview_i_dream.html
I was initially surprised to read of Lucy's kindness to Barbara, as I was to read of Ann Sothern's nastiness to her when she appeared on her show. Here is my "take" on this situation: I think that by 1957 Lucy's marriage was pretty much a done deal for Lucy. She had put up with Desi's womanizing for a long time at this point. Rather than go into hysterics at yet another pass being made at a pretty starlet, I think Lucy instead decided to put forth a "couldn't care less" attitude at this point, going out of her way to support the beautiful starlet to show Desi that it didn't matter in the least. By the way, I'd love to see some episodes of Barbara's first series "How To Marry A Millionaire" sometime. The last time I saw this show was in the mid-seventies during a "50s Comedy Festival" on local channel 32 (Chicago).

There are several episodes "floating" around on YouTube, Leslie (try starting with "Loco Leaves Home").

:tv:

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