http://www.bonethefish.com/viewtopics.php?1735

The Lucy Show was a television series which ran on CBS from 1962 until 1968. It was Lucille Ball's follow-up to I Love Lucy. A significant change in cast and premise for the 1965-66 season divides the program into two distinct eras; aside from Ball, only Gale Gordon, who joined the program for its second season, remained. For the first three seasons, Vivian Vance was the costar.

I actually found this more funny than I Love Lucy
But the cast changes killed this show. Vivian was a huge loss as well as the writing out of the children. I don't know why the show was messed around with behind the scenes.

I don't think it ever "boned the fish" .It just got different. Started out in Danfield, with Viv and the kids, and ended up in California. It almost seemed like a whole different show! I missed Viv, but IMO the kids didn't add that much to it anyway. (I liked her real kids in Here's Lucy a lot better) .And I was glad they added Mr. Theodore J. Mooney!

I don't think it ever boned the fish either. Considering it left the air in 1968 the No. 2 show in America. People were still loving Lucy! However, after Vivian Vance left, the show changed and not for the better. I was never a Gale Gordon fan, although Lucy obviously loved him. However, there will still some great episodes in seasons 4 - 6.

The Lucy Show never boned the fish. It is a classic sitcom and further established Lucille Ball as the Queen of Comedy and First Lady of Television.
The show was never out of the Top 10 and finished its' last season in second place with a 27.0 rating. It earned Lucy 4 Emmy Nominations and 2 wins for Best Actress In A Comedy Series Lead. The show was also nominated for Best Comedy, Best Supporting Actor In A Comedy (Gale Gordon) twice, and Best Writing for 'Lucy Gets Jack Benny's Bank Account.' I always liked both versions of The Lucy Show - the Vivian Vance years (62-65) and the California Years (65-68). I'm beginning to enjoy it more than I Love Lucy. I own all six seasons on DVD but I also own most things with Lucy on DVD. The Lucy Show is a classic and it never boooooooooned the fish.

When Desi Arnaz left Desilu. Desi knew comedy structure, and Lucy, though a fine clown, didn't.

When Desi Arnaz left Desilu. Desi knew comedy structure, and Lucy, though a fine clown, didn't.

What that probably means is that many episodes from the last couple of seasons seemed more like bad variety show skits than sitcom episodes.

What that probably means is that many episodes from the last couple of seasons seemed more like bad variety show skits than sitcom episodes.

I agree, the show evolved into a skitcom in the final few seasons. I think Lucy was conflicted as the years of the 60's rolled by, and this conflict would plague her the rest of her career. I think part of her wanted to try something different, but another part was afraid the audience might reject her so she could never make the full commitment. Mame, Stone Pillow, attempts to break with the past but she failed. "Life With Lucy" her final series, inspired by the Golden Girls but doomed to failure because of Lucy's inability to reach beyond that which was safe and try to present herself in a different way with an updated comedy style.

I think this thread has boned the fish

When Vivian left.