Saturday's Johnny Carson episode on Antenna TV features Lucille Ball as a guest as well as Charlton Heston. 10-11:30PM eastern with an encore from 1:30-3:00AM.

Saturday's Johnny Carson episode on Antenna TV features Lucille Ball as a guest as well as Charlton Heston. 10-11:30PM eastern with an encore from 1:30-3:00AM.

Thank you so much for this alert! The broadcast date is March 22, 1974. She was almost certainly on that night to promote Mame. Also, the final original broadcast of Here's Lucy was four nights earlier, so she'll probably be discussing wrapping up her TV series.

I Love Lucy but she could be a real grouch in interviews. The Mame reviews were scathing so she was especially grumpy. I loved her fuchsia jacket though.

It was funny when Desi Jr. came on and talked about how he helped out Johnny with his Aston Martin.

I Love Lucy but she could be a real grouch in interviews. The Mame reviews were scathing so she was especially grumpy. I loved her fuchsia jacket though.

It was funny when Desi Jr. came on and talked about how he helped out Johnny with his Aston Martin.

I watched this interview. She was being playful, not grumpy. Her humor was often dry.

At times she was playful but there was also a good deal of old school grouchiness too. :)

At times she was playful but there was also a good deal of old school grouchiness too. :)

I've seen virtually all her interviews and the only time I saw her being what could be interpreted as grouchy (as opposed to showing her dry humor) was on Irv Kupcinet's show in the late '70s, but that was her bluntly reacting to Elizabeth Ashley, who was calling herself a trollop and making other over-the-top comments. Lucy was no nonsense and always spoke her mind and didn't hold back when she thought someone was being less than authentic. Other than that, she was thoughtful and warm throughout the show, spending much of it holding or stroking Otto Preminger's hand.

I've seen people comment that Lucy was aloof when she was on Dick Cavett's show in 1974, but knowing the context, I don't see that at all. And the context: she was in the midst of a national tour promoting Mame. She was very exhausted that day and didn't want to do the Cavett show (had no energy) but nonetheless she always fulfilled her duties and commitments, no matter how tough the assignment, and fought her way through it. I know what it's like to be forced to do something when I'm really tired. I can't put on my best face under those circumstances. Given that situation, knowing she really needs to go back to the hotel and take a nap, I think she did great.

If you look at my avatar you know I am a Lucy superfan and as such I recognize another one. :wave:

Thank you for your insightful post. :wave:

I would have loved to have seen that interview with Elizabeth Ashley it sounds like a hoot.

I am sure you must have seen this but I loved this interview with Joan Rivers when Lucy was plugging Life with Lucy. She was so feisty but lovable. Joan's admiration for her was palpable. I am so glad she received the Kennedy Center Honor before she died, I only wish Desi Arnaz had gotten one too, he really deserved it. :)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jlHw1PvMv-A

That was before the internet !
OMG!

If you look at my avatar you know I am a Lucy superfan and as such I recognize another one. :wave:

Thank you for your insightful post. :wave:

I would have loved to have seen that interview with Elizabeth Ashley it sounds like a hoot.

I am sure you must have seen this but I loved this interview with Joan Rivers when Lucy was plugging Life with Lucy. She was so feisty but lovable. Joan's admiration for her was palpable. I am so glad she received the Kennedy Center Honor before she died, I only wish Desi Arnaz had gotten one too, he really deserved it. :)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jlHw1PvMv-A

Yes, I had seen that Joan Rivers interview before but it had been awhile. Thanks for posting the link. I watched it again last night. Other than the issues with the harsh critics, she seems happy there. It's too bad the months ahead, with Desi's illness and death and the cancellation of her show, would take that away from her. That Kennedy Center Honor came at a moment when she most needed to be lifted up. That was only days after Desi died, and you can see her trying to contain her emotions. But she desperately needed something positive in the midst of the negative, so I hope that was able to lift her spirits some.

I would have loved to have seen that interview with Elizabeth Ashley it sounds like a hoot.

Here you go: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FuBtN6MtsRk

This is some great conversation, not the usual fluff you would see on other TV talk shows. This is four major entertainment industry personalities (plus the host), spanning a couple generations, having a relaxed and in-depth conversation. There's no studio audience, which I think makes a difference. So they can sit back and speak candidly, as if they're the only ones in the room.