Okay, so I'm watching "Lucy Learns to Drive" last night and she did something that just irked me.

Ricky brings the Pontiac home and everyone is excited to go down and see it. The Lucy remembers the baby. Darn, can't leave the baby unattended. So Lucy tells Ricky to go get Mrs. Trumble.

Here's my question- why the $#@#& couldn't they just take the baby down with them?? It's not like he was asleep. I swear, Lucy Ricardo does not win mother of the year.

They probably didn't have the baby on set that day. They wouldn't have had it around the studio unless they absolutely needed it. This is partly because of the risk of it audibly crying when it could screw up scenes, and also because it required looking after. They still do it today, and since the alternative to having a live baby about the place is the always bad doll substitute, it's best if they just explain a good reason for keeping the baby off camera as much as possible!

:wave:

Originally posted by Mickey
They probably didn't have the baby on set that day. They wouldn't have had it around the studio unless they absolutely needed it. This is partly because of the risk of it audibly crying when it could screw up scenes, and also because it required looking after. They still do it today, and since the alternative to having a live baby about the place is the always bad doll substitute, it's best if they just explain a good reason for keeping the baby off camera as much as possible!

:wave: Good point.

Then I say, when it comes to a scene like that, don't have the baby in the show at all. Mrs. Trumble took him to the zoo for the day or something. I just think it makes them look like bad parents.

Originally posted by dawsongirl
Then I say, when it comes to a scene like that, don't have the baby in the show at all. Mrs. Trumble took him to the zoo for the day or something. I just think it makes them look like bad parents. It seem's like she was more a Mother! *LOL*

Well at least she was thinking of the baby. But yeah, why even mention the baby if you aren't going to show him? I doubt most people would be thinking, "Did she just leave Little Ricky alone?" When it comes to TV, most people are "out of sight, out of mind" type of people.

I get what you're saying, Cathy. I always felt sorry for Little Ricky. Lucy, Ricky, Fred, and Ethel always went on cool trips and Little Ricky had to stay home most of the time.

Then again, by not showing that much of LR they weren't jumping the shark. Whenever I watched the Dick Van Dyke show, I would get so irritated by Richie's character. Wasn't that the character's name? jmo, but that kid just couldn't act. He shouted his lines and he was the only really annoying aspect of that show. He only showed up occasionally, but the kid just would drive me crazy with the line shouting.

LR could act better than the Richie actor, but I guess they were trying to keep LR in the background so those that hated the LR character wouldn't tune out completely. Most shows rely on that cuteness factor. Oh look, we've got a Little Ricky now! Isn't he the cutiest little thing? The kid is more than likely pushed front and center and everybody fades in the background. ILL didn't take that route, fortunately.

Re: the Dick van Dyke show - why didn't they just use Barry? He did a couple of guest appearances which were perfectly competent.

As for having little Ricky on the show, maybe they just couldn't be bothered to hide her pregnancy? So they figured, why not write in a kid, but only have it around some of the time?

Originally posted by Mickey
Re: the Dick van Dyke show - why didn't they just use Barry? He did a couple of guest appearances which were perfectly competent.


Hmm...there's a good question. I didn't even know he was on, but yeah, they should have just used him.

I like the Dick Van Dyke Show. I like Ritchie sometimes, too. But, I think it would make more sense to use Barry than Larry Matthews.

Originally posted by dawsongirl
Okay, so I'm watching "Lucy Learns to Drive" last night and she did something that just irked me.

Ricky brings the Pontiac home and everyone is excited to go down and see it. The Lucy remembers the baby. Darn, can't leave the baby unattended. So Lucy tells Ricky to go get Mrs. Trumble.

Here's my question- why the $#@#& couldn't they just take the baby down with them?? It's not like he was asleep. I swear, Lucy Ricardo does not win mother of the year.

The whole deal with Mrs. Trumble *always* being available to babysit, even at the last minute, has always bugged me. Didn't she have a life of her own?

As a mother of 2 myself, I know how hard it is to find a babysitter! I feel like the Ricardo's took advantage of an elderly lady. They didn't even pay her! :rolleyes:

Plus, I remember the Ricardo's saying "Well, it gives her something to do". Just because Mrs. Trumble was at home, doesn't mean she's doing nothing!

That has always irritated me, obviously ;) .

Originally posted by Amanda924
Plus, I remember the Ricardo's saying "Well, it gives her something to do". Just because Mrs. Trumble was at home, doesn't mean she's doing nothing!

That has always irritated me, obviously ;) .

Apparently when people get old, they don't do anything anymore. :rolleyes:

Let's remember its a fictional show that has a plot of getting Lucy into a wacky situation. She can't get into all these wacky situations holding a baby. It really doesn't bother me any.

Thank you old shows for saying what i was going to say, thank you Mickey for stating the obvious. Cathy, those things would make sense if it were I Love Being a Mother, but it was a comedy called I Love Lucy, we didn't need to see the baby as Lucy's character was childish enough. And, when did any of those kids look good, they were always cranky or crying, they brought the kid on because Lucille Ball was preggers in real life, it certainly wasn't to improve the show. Liked what you said about Richie on the otherwise perfect Van Dyke show, he was cute but could not act!

Originally posted by Mickey
Re: the Dick van Dyke show - why didn't they just use Barry? He did a couple of guest appearances which were perfectly competent.


Are you talking about Barry Van Dyke? If so, that would have been pretty cool! :)

Yes, I meant Barry van Dyke. He did a couple of guest appearances when he was about nine, apparently, playing a violin-playing prodigy neighbour.

Ever seen the home movies that they played during one of the episodes of Diagnosis Murder? They show Dick and Barry playing around when Barry was about that age, and they're really funny!

:wave:

Originally posted by dawsongirl


Apparently when people get old, they don't do anything anymore. :rolleyes:
Wow this has been totally over analyzed. Obviously Mrs. Trumble enjoyed LR or she wouldn't babysit. As far as sitcom kids. They are all perfect. They nap, they go to bed on time and they quietly play in their rooms. j/k And most importantly they never interrupt you when you are on the phone.
:D

Originally posted by ricardo/mertz
Sitcom kids are all perfect. They nap, they go to bed on time and they quietly play in their rooms. j/k And most importantly they never interrupt you when you are on the phone

It's not kids who interrupt you on the phone. It's mothers. I think it's oe of the things they learn at pre-natal classes. :)

Now before I ask my question Mickey I want you to know I feel really stupid.:crazy:
But, I don't get your response. Could you please splain?

You said sitcom kids never interrupt you on the phone, which I took to mean that you thought real life kids do - but I've never been interrupted on the phone by a kid. Only people I ever notice interrupting telephone calls are mothers. :)

Mine's particularly good at it. She sees you with a telephone in your hand, she thinks it's time to chat.

:wave:

As a parent, i say she should come on here and give her side of the story, what do you say Mickey?:lol:

You're kidding. I'd never get the keyboard back. She'd still be typing this time in 2005. :)

Ok guys, I promise to not type forever ha ha.
But my kids are notorious for bugging me while I'm on the phone. I could go a couple of hours and they won't say a word to me. Then BAM! I pick up the phone to call a friend and they are suddenly crawling out of the woodwork w/ something to say to me. Don't get me wrong I love 'em but give me a few minutes to chat, please!
Thaks for clarifying Mickey!:wave:

That was what it was always like, the child bugging the parent on the phone...


Babalu

Child, parent, whatever, here at work, it's the same thing, when will people realize that they should not interrupt when you're on the phone? That's why we're all stressed out, we're always doing two things at once!

Originally posted by SPLAIN
Child, parent, whatever, here at work, it's the same thing, when will people realize that they should not interrupt when you're on the phone? That's why we're all stressed out, we're always doing two things at once! I agree, Claude!

Splain you hit the nail on the head! I'm always doing two or three things at once! But, I wouldn't have it any other way. My life can be a handful at times. I look so forward to my internet time.:D
I always joke w/ my husband that I think I could be a great hostage negotiator.
I can cook dinner help w/ homework and settle a fight between the kids all at the same time! My kids think I'm a genius! ha ha.
It's crazy at my house most of the time. But, my sweet little miracles are worth it!:crazy: :bonk:

Wow, very impressive, maybe you should go into hostage negotiating, you're certainly qualified! You know what you're doing is a lot more important, your kids will always remember that you took the time, and the worst thing is when a person snaps at them when they're just angry at the situation they're in, you sound like a GREAT mother, congratulations, patience is not one of my virtues! And i was really shocked that kids apparently LOVE it when you discipline them, the books say it shows you care about them. Lucy's a great example of that, she used to say she could be strict for about ten minutes, then they could wrap her around their little finger! She seems to have done a great job with them anyway, they turned out to be great kids, i'm sure yours will too!

Thank you for the wonderful compliment Splain. I t almost brought me to tears. (good tears) I'm by no means perfect. I occasionally have my Ricky Ricardo moments. It' s a shame I don't know any spanish. My ranting is in English.ha ha
Like Lucy my kids get me wrapped around their fingers also. But, there has to be a balance between being strict and being loving.


Hey Ralph Malph Ricardo. That is a beautiful picture of Lucy.:)

Originally posted by ricardo/mertz
Thank you for the wonderful compliment Splain. I t almost brought me to tears. (good tears) I'm by no means perfect. I occasionally have my Ricky Ricardo moments. It' s a shame I don't know any spanish. My ranting is in English.ha ha
Like Lucy my kids get me wrapped around their fingers also. But, there has to be a balance between being strict and being loving.


Hey Ralph Malph Ricardo. That is a beautiful picture of Lucy.:) Thank You!:happyface

One of the best i've ever seen! Try for color next time, it might even be better!

I think black and white pictures are crisper and more elegant. What can I say, I was born in the wrong decade.:D

Originally posted by ricardo/mertz
What can I say, I was born in the wrong decade.:D

Me too. :)

You all make very good points, but you're also really wrong on so many levels. Don't you guys know anything about the process of making a TV show? Someone mentioned that maybe the baby wasn't on the set that day. This is the best point I believe I read. They pretty much have to at least mention the baby. TV viewers are not "out of sight, out of mind" people. It always bothers me when they totally forget to acknowledge the existence of characters. Like shows that have children who disappear from the face of the Earth (i.e., Family Matters and Happy Days"). Furthermore, they probably didn't drag the baby into the situation because the characters would have to be watching the baby instead of going about their business. That has been a major concern on Friends now that Emma is around. The baby can't interfere with the major plot lines that were around pre-baby, otherwise the show will be able to "jump the shark."