I was in the audience for LIFE WITH LUCY filming one time - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Lamont · 03-08-2006, 08:27 PM

Just thought id share the story
i was part of the "live studio audience" for the filming of the episode where Audrey Meadows guest starred

The audience (including me) was soooooo excited to see Lucy that we didn't even notice how bad the show was

I screamed like a little kid when Lucy came out, and Gale Gordon and Audrey Meadows too

we all laughed hard and applauded and loved it

it "seemed" like a great show at the time, because we had such a good time seeing it filmed

it was only later when I saw the show on tv, that i realized what a mess it was

its funny, b/c that was one of the best memories i had of that whole era, and i guess the perception is a lot different when u r caught up in the moment

scotsguy · 03-15-2006, 05:56 PM

What a great experience that must have been.
I really only got into the whole Lucy thing over the last few years.
I bought a season of "I Love Lucy"(Season2) when I was a bit fed up with a job I had at the time,really cheered me up!
I also like "The Lucy Show"(though the film quality of the DVD of that is awful) and "Here's Lucy" which I really like too,great to see Lucy with her real life kids,Lucie and Desi Jnr.

comedyfreak · 03-16-2006, 09:02 AM

I just wish the producers would have put more energy into making the show a hit and got better writers. I have Here's Lucy Vol . 1 it's great. I have I Love Lucy seasons 1-5 and I'm waiting for 6 to come out.

Pitooey · 03-16-2006, 09:26 AM

I haven't seen the show in ages. I did like Lucy's children on the show. I remember Desi Jr being in the band Dino, Desi and Billy at the time.

NOVARick · 06-12-2006, 01:37 AM

I'm jealous. At the time, I lived too far away and had too little money to even consider being there. About Audrey Meadows, apparently there was some thought given to bringing her back for future episodes. Of course, the show was cancelled before that could even happen. And at some point, something happened between Lucy and Audrey that apparently put some distance between them and, I guess, ended their relationship. Jayne Meadows has alluded to this, but won't explain what happened. It seems it's too difficult for her to discuss. I can't even imagine what it could have been.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lamont

Just thought id share the story
i was part of the "live studio audience" for the filming of the episode where Audrey Meadows guest starred

The audience (including me) was soooooo excited to see Lucy that we didn't even notice how bad the show was

I screamed like a little kid when Lucy came out, and Gale Gordon and Audrey Meadows too

we all laughed hard and applauded and loved it

it "seemed" like a great show at the time, because we had such a good time seeing it filmed

it was only later when I saw the show on tv, that i realized what a mess it was

its funny, b/c that was one of the best memories i had of that whole era, and i guess the perception is a lot different when u r caught up in the moment

Lamont · 06-14-2006, 01:42 PM

its no secret that Lucy could be VERY demanding and bossy on the set, especially in later years, and Lucy was NOT in the best spirits towards the end of LIFE WITH LUCY as the show was doing awful in the ratings and critics were cruel towards Lucy and the show

i dont know if it was a personal issue or simply a matter of lucy being really unhappy and awful towards Audrey Meadows b/c of it

I have read that Lucy was great towards the younger cast, BUT the older cast and writers, that she had known for decades, she was a bit more "grumpy" towards

who knows

TV Knowledge Fan · 06-19-2006, 07:45 PM

....Lucy was NOT in the "best shape" to film "LIFE WITH LUCY". She had gotten "rusty", and she was getting on in years.

My uncle is in his mid-'80s, and I go to his house once in a while to "help out" and share his company. He was a doctor (retired), has a brilliant mind, and usually has a positive disposition on life. However, he's almost blind, and his hearing isn't that good. His disposition can be unbearable at times. He may bark at you if you don't answer him right away, or if you're not right near him, or if thinks you're not doing something right. He needs a lot of assistance in "getting around" these days.

When I think about that, I think of Lucy in HER later years. It was wrong for Gary Morton to try to "sell" her in a new series when she wasn't ready to tackle a weekly format again. The enthusiatic reception you and the studio audience gave for her, 'lamont', and for that entire episode and cast didn't help, either. It merely gave her the illusion that she was still "on top". I don't think she ever understood why "LIFE WITH LUCY" failed. Nobody wanted to tell her to her face that it was time for her to "retire", that her time had passed. Well, at least she finally went peacefully. Bob Hope, on the other hand, wound up like my uncle did, I'm sure. Possibly even worse.

Lamont · 06-20-2006, 11:37 AM

gary didnt force her to do the show

lucy was a bit bored and missed it
but was reallll hesitant

i think gary gave her bad advice on this one and it showed
but the final call, as always, was lucys

TV Knowledge Fan · 06-26-2006, 05:29 PM

...but he didn't tell her NOT to do it, either.

He put "the package" together with the help of Aaron Spelling (who STILL couldn't produce a successful situation comedy, even to his death last week), and KNEW Lucy wouldn't say "no" if he approached her the right way
{I believe he put it this way: "Look, Bob and Madelyn want to write this, Gale wants to be your co-star again, Aaron wants to be our partner, ABC WANTS you, I think this'll be a new beginning for you, and a lotta fun. Whatta ya' say?"}. Yes, it was "Lucy's call"....and it wasn't the right one.

My uncle is doing rather well, if case you're wondering.

TVFactFan · 06-26-2006, 10:46 PM

ABC was counting on Life with Lunch be a HIT but the show couldn't help the network in 86

comedyfreak · 08-22-2006, 08:14 AM

I just got the complete series dvd from iOffer, it's not really bad. The Laugh Out Loud episode was the one with John Ritter, he did his best falls and it was really funny. The rest to follow, tried to be a somewhat serious comedy and it was not funny. I still enjoyed it though. I think it didn't work because we weren't use to seeing Lucy look so old, she still had spunk.

Lamont · 08-22-2006, 08:08 PM

it really WAS that bad
the john ritter show was bad too

the writing was childish and amateurish and it was just bad
i felt so bad for lucy and gale gordon

treky · 08-23-2006, 01:22 AM

yea, I remember the scenes between her & Gale Gordon just weren't the same anymore.

treky · 08-23-2006, 01:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TVResearcher

ABC was counting on Life with Lunch be a HIT but the show couldn't help the network in 86

what's LIFE WITH LUNCH?

03-08-2006, 08:27 PM	#1
Lamont Lamont says Smile! Forum Veteran Join Date: May 28, 2005 Location: Deep in the Heart of Nowhere Posts: 5,217	I was in the audience for LIFE WITH LUCY filming one time Just thought id share the story i was part of the "live studio audience" for the filming of the episode where Audrey Meadows guest starred The audience (including me) was soooooo excited to see Lucy that we didn't even notice how bad the show was I screamed like a little kid when Lucy came out, and Gale Gordon and Audrey Meadows too we all laughed hard and applauded and loved it it "seemed" like a great show at the time, because we had such a good time seeing it filmed it was only later when I saw the show on tv, that i realized what a mess it was its funny, b/c that was one of the best memories i had of that whole era, and i guess the perception is a lot different when u r caught up in the moment
	__________________ I have not been trading for some time now, so please do not ask---- sorry, i cannot help you!

03-15-2006, 05:56 PM	#2
scotsguy Member Forum Regular Join Date: Nov 25, 2002 Location: Edinburgh,Scotland Posts: 696	For life with Lucy What a great experience that must have been. I really only got into the whole Lucy thing over the last few years. I bought a season of "I Love Lucy"(Season2) when I was a bit fed up with a job I had at the time,really cheered me up! I also like "The Lucy Show"(though the film quality of the DVD of that is awful) and "Here's Lucy" which I really like too,great to see Lucy with her real life kids,Lucie and Desi Jnr.

03-16-2006, 09:02 AM	#3
comedyfreak Cheers! Forum Fanatic Join Date: Dec 14, 2005 Location: Sunny California Posts: 11,058	I just wish the producers would have put more energy into making the show a hit and got better writers. I have Here's Lucy Vol . 1 it's great. I have I Love Lucy seasons 1-5 and I'm waiting for 6 to come out.
	__________________ www.facebook.com/comedyfreak

03-16-2006, 09:26 AM	#4
Pitooey Member Forum Star Join Date: Feb 15, 2001 Location: Rocking in Transylvania. Posts: 15,042	I haven't seen the show in ages. I did like Lucy's children on the show. I remember Desi Jr being in the band Dino, Desi and Billy at the time.
	__________________ Pitooey... AKA JennyLee - I love the Monkees all over again! *SAY NO TO DRUGS* Jesus saves...

06-14-2006, 01:42 PM	#6
Lamont Lamont says Smile! Forum Veteran Join Date: May 28, 2005 Location: Deep in the Heart of Nowhere Posts: 5,217	welll...... its no secret that Lucy could be VERY demanding and bossy on the set, especially in later years, and Lucy was NOT in the best spirits towards the end of LIFE WITH LUCY as the show was doing awful in the ratings and critics were cruel towards Lucy and the show i dont know if it was a personal issue or simply a matter of lucy being really unhappy and awful towards Audrey Meadows b/c of it I have read that Lucy was great towards the younger cast, BUT the older cast and writers, that she had known for decades, she was a bit more "grumpy" towards who knows

06-19-2006, 07:45 PM	#7
TV Knowledge Fan Member Senior Member Join Date: Mar 29, 2006 Location: Long Branch, N.J. Posts: 2,577	you have to remember that.... ....Lucy was NOT in the "best shape" to film "LIFE WITH LUCY". She had gotten "rusty", and she was getting on in years. My uncle is in his mid-'80s, and I go to his house once in a while to "help out" and share his company. He was a doctor (retired), has a brilliant mind, and usually has a positive disposition on life. However, he's almost blind, and his hearing isn't that good. His disposition can be unbearable at times. He may bark at you if you don't answer him right away, or if you're not right near him, or if thinks you're not doing something right. He needs a lot of assistance in "getting around" these days. When I think about that, I think of Lucy in HER later years. It was wrong for Gary Morton to try to "sell" her in a new series when she wasn't ready to tackle a weekly format again. The enthusiatic reception you and the studio audience gave for her, 'lamont', and for that entire episode and cast didn't help, either. It merely gave her the illusion that she was still "on top". I don't think she ever understood why "LIFE WITH LUCY" failed. Nobody wanted to tell her to her face that it was time for her to "retire", that her time had passed. Well, at least she finally went peacefully. Bob Hope, on the other hand, wound up like my uncle did, I'm sure. Possibly even worse.

06-20-2006, 11:37 AM	#8
Lamont Lamont says Smile! Forum Veteran Join Date: May 28, 2005 Location: Deep in the Heart of Nowhere Posts: 5,217	from what i hear gary didnt force her to do the show lucy was a bit bored and missed it but was reallll hesitant i think gary gave her bad advice on this one and it showed but the final call, as always, was lucys

06-26-2006, 05:29 PM	#9
TV Knowledge Fan Member Senior Member Join Date: Mar 29, 2006 Location: Long Branch, N.J. Posts: 2,577	Gary didn't force her to do the show, 'Lamont'..... ...but he didn't tell her NOT to do it, either. He put "the package" together with the help of Aaron Spelling (who STILL couldn't produce a successful situation comedy, even to his death last week), and KNEW Lucy wouldn't say "no" if he approached her the right way {I believe he put it this way: "Look, Bob and Madelyn want to write this, Gale wants to be your co-star again, Aaron wants to be our partner, ABC WANTS you, I think this'll be a new beginning for you, and a lotta fun. Whatta ya' say?"}. Yes, it was "Lucy's call"....and it wasn't the right one. My uncle is doing rather well, if case you're wondering.

06-26-2006, 10:46 PM	#10
TVFactFan Member Forum Junkie Join Date: Aug 17, 2002 Posts: 98,949	ABC was counting on Life with Lunch be a HIT but the show couldn't help the network in 86

08-22-2006, 08:14 AM	#11
comedyfreak Cheers! Forum Fanatic Join Date: Dec 14, 2005 Location: Sunny California Posts: 11,058	I just got the complete series dvd from iOffer, it's not really bad. The Laugh Out Loud episode was the one with John Ritter, he did his best falls and it was really funny. The rest to follow, tried to be a somewhat serious comedy and it was not funny. I still enjoyed it though. I think it didn't work because we weren't use to seeing Lucy look so old, she still had spunk.
	Last edited by comedyfreak; 08-22-2006 at 08:31 AM.

08-22-2006, 08:08 PM	#12
Lamont Lamont says Smile! Forum Veteran Join Date: May 28, 2005 Location: Deep in the Heart of Nowhere Posts: 5,217	i disagree it really WAS that bad the john ritter show was bad too the writing was childish and amateurish and it was just bad i felt so bad for lucy and gale gordon

08-23-2006, 01:22 AM	#13
treky star trek fan Eternal Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Feb 25, 2002 Location: Conshohocken, pennsylvania Posts: 14,490	yea, I remember the scenes between her & Gale Gordon just weren't the same anymore.
	__________________ the Clampetts are in a fancy Beverly Hills jewelry store. Granny points to a tray of rubies. Granny: "How much fer one o' them red diamonds?" clerk: "Madam, those are rubies." Granny: "OK ask her kin we buy one offa her." clerk: " The ruby I am talking about is not a lady." Granny: "Lissen, how she got them diamonds is her business. I'm just sayin' ask her kin we buy one from her."