Life with Lucy - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Madness · 02-14-2001, 01:08 AM

I have a question. I've heard Life with Lucy was supposed to be the biggest hit of the fall season in 1986(why not, you've got Lucille Ball starring, right?)--but sadly it wasn't. But what I can't understand is why did ABC put it on Saturday nights--the supposed 'Graveyard Night'. is there any reason? Why not have put it on a Tuesday or Wednesday? It might have lasted longer even though almost everyone says the show was horrible. Just a question for those who might remember if there was any specific reason. Thanks a lot.

Ian · 02-14-2001, 02:16 AM

It wouldn't have lasted long anyway, didn't Lucy pass away in 1989?

Madness · 02-14-2001, 02:36 AM

Yeah, she did. It probably would've lasted longer than 2 months, though if it wasn't on Saturday nights.(In my opinion)--but then again, who knows!

Adam

Perderabo · 02-14-2001, 11:29 AM

Saturday night is the "graveyard night" because so many younger viewers are out partying. That leaves the older audience at home who are more likely to be Lucy fans. A Saturday night show must compete only with other Saturday night shows. That is, it doesn't have to be number one among all shows, only among Saturday night shows.

But at age 75, Ms. Ball was unable to do the physical comedy that had made her famous. Her older co-star, Gale Gordon, was in no position to pick up the slack.

Sorry, but this show would have never lasted even a full month on a weekday. There is no way it would have attracted younger viewers.

Madness · 02-14-2001, 01:05 PM

Thanks for your input and answering my questions. Everyone's got their own opinion on how long it would've lasted.

Thanks for all the info, Pederabo.

[This message has been edited by Madness (edited 02-14-2001).]

EdLuvsLucy · 03-09-2001, 09:28 AM

I am a huge Lucy fan and have just recieved the last few episodes in this series in trade (there are 13 in all but only 8 aired). And even as much as I love her and will watch the series you can see where it is not her best work. The writing was getting old and the characters were kinda corny. I remember reading that they didn't ask for a pilot at ABC and that was a big mistake. Not sure about the Saturday slot thouh. I guess they figured 2 months with a name like Lucille Ball was enough time to gain an audience and sadly I think they are right. I did enjoy seeing her in a weekly series though since Here's Lucy went off the air when I was 2.

------------------
ELL

Jimbo · 07-29-2001, 11:30 AM

I've always been a Lucy fan, and wanted this show to be successful, but after watching the series premier, I knew it wouldn't last. As others have stated here, Ms. Ball and Mr. Gordon were well past their prime when this show debuted. They were just not physically capable of delivering the same kind of performances that had been their trademark in their younger days. Also, many of the same writers and other behind the scenes personnel were the same people who had worked on her previous shows. The style of humor that had worked so well for Lucy earlier in her career just did not hold up well in the 1980s. Ms. Ball and Mr. Gordon, God rest their souls, deserved to end their television careers on a better note.

LUCILLE BALL · 07-29-2001, 03:01 PM

That was the first show I ever saw with Lucile Ball. My FAVORITE show of hers....weird eh? most like I Love Lucy. I think it would have survived longer if they gave her a husband, maybe Gary Morton her REAl LIFE husband could have played him. They should have given her a different tv family. Had Gale Gordon on as a ploy for Gary and had Ann Southern as a foil for Lucy.

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I am happpy I have brought laughter because i have been shown by many the value of it...in so many lives in so many way>.....Lucille Ball 1989

callmetootie · 07-29-2001, 03:15 PM

I saw the first episode on Nick-At-Nite in the early 90's in a marathon, and I was really confused. It seemed like Lucy wasn't a good actress anymore, and that the others were even better. The scripts were fine, but she was too much of a crazy grandmother in it, totally unlike her character. Other then that it was a really cool show. Does anyone have any episodes that I could buy?

------------------
Andrew Carden

[This message has been edited by callmetootie (edited 07-29-2001).]

08-11-2001, 10:12 PM

There is this theme song lyric that I keep humming sometimes and I have NO IDEA what show it's from. I know it's a female singing it and she sings....." What does the future hold? I wish I knew. I wish I kneeeeeeeewwww." Thank you!!

*** CALLMETOOTIE , you answered my post on the theme song that it's LIFE WITH LUCY. I looked at the theme song for Life with Lucy and can't find it at all. It's driving me bananas! lol help me please.

sigmapi30 · 01-28-2007, 08:02 PM

i remember being excited that Lucy would be back on TV again but i barely remember this show. i just hope everyone is voting to have it releases on DVD. (along with The Lucy Show and Here's Lucy) Now that we finally have the entire series of I Love Lucy and The Lucy Desi Comedy Hour on the way, the others should be coming soon if fans support it enough.

02-14-2001, 01:08 AM	#1
Madness I call it the rocket Senior Member Join Date: May 03, 2000 Posts: 2,047	Life with Lucy I have a question. I've heard Life with Lucy was supposed to be the biggest hit of the fall season in 1986(why not, you've got Lucille Ball starring, right?)--but sadly it wasn't. But what I can't understand is why did ABC put it on Saturday nights--the supposed 'Graveyard Night'. is there any reason? Why not have put it on a Tuesday or Wednesday? It might have lasted longer even though almost everyone says the show was horrible. Just a question for those who might remember if there was any specific reason. Thanks a lot.

08-11-2001, 10:12 PM	#10
Anna21 Guest Posts: n/a	There is this theme song lyric that I keep humming sometimes and I have NO IDEA what show it's from. I know it's a female singing it and she sings....." What does the future hold? I wish I knew. I wish I kneeeeeeeewwww." Thank you!! *** CALLMETOOTIE , you answered my post on the theme song that it's LIFE WITH LUCY. I looked at the theme song for Life with Lucy and can't find it at all. It's driving me bananas! lol help me please.
Anna21 Guest Posts: n/a

02-14-2001, 02:16 AM	#2
Ian Member Senior Member Join Date: Nov 03, 2000 Posts: 1,234	It wouldn't have lasted long anyway, didn't Lucy pass away in 1989?

02-14-2001, 02:36 AM	#3
Madness I call it the rocket Senior Member Join Date: May 03, 2000 Posts: 2,047	Yeah, she did. It probably would've lasted longer than 2 months, though if it wasn't on Saturday nights.(In my opinion)--but then again, who knows! Adam

02-14-2001, 11:29 AM	#4
Perderabo Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jun 28, 2000 Location: Rockville, Md, USA Posts: 171	Saturday night is the "graveyard night" because so many younger viewers are out partying. That leaves the older audience at home who are more likely to be Lucy fans. A Saturday night show must compete only with other Saturday night shows. That is, it doesn't have to be number one among all shows, only among Saturday night shows. But at age 75, Ms. Ball was unable to do the physical comedy that had made her famous. Her older co-star, Gale Gordon, was in no position to pick up the slack. Sorry, but this show would have never lasted even a full month on a weekday. There is no way it would have attracted younger viewers.

02-14-2001, 01:05 PM	#5
Madness I call it the rocket Senior Member Join Date: May 03, 2000 Posts: 2,047	Thanks for your input and answering my questions. Everyone's got their own opinion on how long it would've lasted. Thanks for all the info, Pederabo. [This message has been edited by Madness (edited 02-14-2001).]

03-09-2001, 09:28 AM	#6
EdLuvsLucy Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Mar 08, 2001 Location: Glenshaw, Pa. 15116 Posts: 57	I am a huge Lucy fan and have just recieved the last few episodes in this series in trade (there are 13 in all but only 8 aired). And even as much as I love her and will watch the series you can see where it is not her best work. The writing was getting old and the characters were kinda corny. I remember reading that they didn't ask for a pilot at ABC and that was a big mistake. Not sure about the Saturday slot thouh. I guess they figured 2 months with a name like Lucille Ball was enough time to gain an audience and sadly I think they are right. I did enjoy seeing her in a weekly series though since Here's Lucy went off the air when I was 2. ------------------ ELL

07-29-2001, 11:30 AM	#7
Jimbo Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jul 29, 2001 Location: United States of America-One Nation UNDER GOD! Posts: 471	I've always been a Lucy fan, and wanted this show to be successful, but after watching the series premier, I knew it wouldn't last. As others have stated here, Ms. Ball and Mr. Gordon were well past their prime when this show debuted. They were just not physically capable of delivering the same kind of performances that had been their trademark in their younger days. Also, many of the same writers and other behind the scenes personnel were the same people who had worked on her previous shows. The style of humor that had worked so well for Lucy earlier in her career just did not hold up well in the 1980s. Ms. Ball and Mr. Gordon, God rest their souls, deserved to end their television careers on a better note.

07-29-2001, 03:01 PM	#8
LUCILLE BALL Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Jul 08, 2001 Location: Land of the Red White and LU Posts: 96	That was the first show I ever saw with Lucile Ball. My FAVORITE show of hers....weird eh? most like I Love Lucy. I think it would have survived longer if they gave her a husband, maybe Gary Morton her REAl LIFE husband could have played him. They should have given her a different tv family. Had Gale Gordon on as a ploy for Gary and had Ann Southern as a foil for Lucy. ------------------ I am happpy I have brought laughter because i have been shown by many the value of it...in so many lives in so many way>.....Lucille Ball 1989

07-29-2001, 03:15 PM	#9
callmetootie Member Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Mar 06, 2001 Location: Clifton Park, NY Posts: 4,768	I saw the first episode on Nick-At-Nite in the early 90's in a marathon, and I was really confused. It seemed like Lucy wasn't a good actress anymore, and that the others were even better. The scripts were fine, but she was too much of a crazy grandmother in it, totally unlike her character. Other then that it was a really cool show. Does anyone have any episodes that I could buy? ------------------ Andrew Carden [This message has been edited by callmetootie (edited 07-29-2001).]

01-28-2007, 08:02 PM	#11
sigmapi30 Lucille Ball RULES!! Frequent Poster Join Date: Jan 28, 2007 Location: Delaware Posts: 288	i remember being excited that Lucy would be back on TV again but i barely remember this show. i just hope everyone is voting to have it releases on DVD. (along with The Lucy Show and Here's Lucy) Now that we finally have the entire series of I Love Lucy and The Lucy Desi Comedy Hour on the way, the others should be coming soon if fans support it enough.