If Life With Lucy were redone - Page 2 - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

JaneTVFan · 09-19-2002, 04:57 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by SPLAIN
As for the Lucy role on the Golden Girls, that could have been solved by Betty playing the trampy Blanche role she played to perfection on Mary Tyler Moore's show. Remember Sue Ann Nivens? And Lucy had a reputation for taking over the show and being difficult to work with, i don't know if Bea's rep was as bad! So even though Betty and Bea were friends of hers, they might have not wanted to lose that friendship by working with her. Gossip time, do any of you know why Bea and Betty hate each other to this day, ever read anything about it?

Of course I remember Sue Ann! I love that character, and I love the Mary Tyler Moore Show. What I recall about the GG is that Rue and Betty didn't want to be typecast in their former roles (Rue played kind of a dimwit on Maude, though not quite as dim as Rose), so they switched roles and Rue got to play the slut and Betty the dim bulb. As for Lucy and her takeover reputation being a possible reason she didn't get signed on to do the GG, that's a very plausible explanation. I'm sure there would have been plenty trouble on that set if Lucy had been cast as a regular. But then on the other hand, by that time, Lucy seemed to have lost her feistiness. On Life with Lucy, she didn't rehearse things to death like she did in earlier years or badger people. Like many people that age, she got tired easily and just wanted to get a days work over with and go home. About the Bea/Betty thing, I've never heard that they hate eachother. I always thought all the four women on that set got along beautifully. Where did you hear that about them?

LUCILLE BALL · 09-19-2002, 05:15 PM

Well even so for the fact As the height of the popularity grew for the GG especially the fact that most of the women had past endeavors, but Golden Girls gave them that "nitch" as Lucy would call it. If anyone has ever seen a Gameshow with Betty White as Guest she gets pretty good applause, when she was with Lucy The applause would echo throughout the studio,.,, Lucy was more popular than any of them,,, do u see where I am getting at? Lucy was really good friends with Betty, and she liked Bea Arthur a lot and the feeling mutual, I think if they had eventually started working together everyday, I believe there would be friction at some point. Lucy could be blunt and Bea could be blunbt to people and no Betty White isn't totally like Rose, she can be blunt to the point as well. I think the combination of Bea, Betty, Rue and Estelle is Heaven Sent. They are a perfect team just like Lucy Bil Desi Gale, and Viv all were... and I think lucy had her own thing and they like I said had a good thing going, and need not be touched. I don't think there will be another show like Golden Girls and Nobody of course can touch Lucy. So there is my thoughts on that one. If it ain't broke don't fix it. I do agree maybe it would have been nice to maybe have had Lucille as a guest star on GG, I kno that when Bob Hope was on the show it was totally awesome, That was one of my favorite shows. I think they could have used a similar plot with Lucy on that show.

SPLAIN · 09-20-2002, 01:51 PM

Oh, so you're only an expert on Lucy then as this feud between the two golden girls is VERY common knowledge, i've heard many stories and it's not gossip, yes, reporters LOVE to start something when big FEMALE stars work together, but they're not working together anymore and the feud is on now! I'll get you details on the weekend! My last thought on all this is i would have killed to see Lucy on the Golden Girls, and if she had starred, i think she would have lived longer too, but that's just my opinion!

baronzzz · 09-20-2002, 02:27 PM

I remember watching Life with Lucy and thinking it was bad and feeling sorry for Lucy. And upset with Gary Morton and Lucy's handlers (if she had any) for letting her do it. I think I read somewhere that he was encouraging it.

Anyway, I did save somewhere the Life with Lucy with John Ritter and it was hilarious. It was about the only episode that was good however.

There was a scene in the hardware store with Lucy, Gale Gordon, and John that was classic. The timing of those three together was like music. As I recall John Ritter did most of the slapstick part of the scene but Lucy was right there with him. Does anyone remember the scene I'm talking about. John was on a ladder and fell off and Lucy tried to help him but kept hurting him more and more...

SPLAIN · 09-20-2002, 02:41 PM

Yep, i have it remember it and watch it regularly, it was the best episode of the bunch. They loved working together and it shows. She looked horrible though in that white nurse's uniform, made her look older and her movements were so labored. But yet in the one where she's in a chair run amok, she did great, so as Einstien used to say Go Figure! Yes Gary encouraged her to do the show so he could pocket 100 thousand a show, while she got 125 thousand as the star, so he didn't care if it got cancelled, and she certainly could not livve down those newspaper headlines saying the Queen is Dead! It hastened her death there is no doubt about that!

LUCILLE BALL · 09-21-2002, 03:51 PM

When anyone is in severe depression as she had, it takes ten yrs off your life AT LEAST! Lucy had always bee a very mobile person, one of those who kept on going relentlessly, and didn't want to slow down...always moving, Those are traits taht got her where she was the desire to want to work and make things work, and when she got Those notices if you excuse the word Notices, it made her feel liuke, I can't do anything anymore, I am useless. The one said she was too old to be doing that and to leave it to the younger actors and actresses, adn she felt like how can I compete. Lucy wasn't in the best of health first of all, and EVERYONE knew it especially Gary. The doctors warned her after she did Stone Pillow to slow down, and she did take somewhat of a Hiatus, she toured the counrty giving lectures, Gary saw dollar signs and suddenly Lucy's health didn't matter anymore. Gary had this thing about him that he could be really persuasive with Lucy.....before that deal ever came about Lucy had said in numerous interviews I couldn't top what I have done. But once Gary got load that there would be a big cash advance for him like I said, he pushed Lucy "off a cliff" made her do something she shouldn't have done. Now I am not saying she shouldn't have worked at all, maybe narrowed down to appearances and stuff, As much as we al Love Lucy and Love to see her perform, I think in retrospect of what ended up to be, It wasn't good for her. I think if they would have given her a better story it would have and perhaps that would have been the key of hope for Lucy to hang on and perhaps she would have still been here. But unfortunately it wasn't to be and all I can see on Lucy's behalf is Mitakes were made,,Others are to blame.

SPLAIN · 09-23-2002, 10:30 AM

He should have let her do the Broadway show Lee had planned for her but he couldn't go without his beloved golf game in New York City, the stinker!

RWCTV · 09-26-2002, 05:47 AM

The real reason that the show did not appeal to some is because of the stories for it were written as though it was written in the 1950's or 60's. The show was released in the 1980's, but the situations were written for the 1950's.

After bellybusters like The Jeffersons and All in the Family, Sanford and Son, etc. I think that people were ready for Lucy to go forward in television, not backwards.

I personally liked some of the episodes because it was like "Lucy Joins the 80's". Also, you don't see too many Lucy photos and video that has her in her final years.

SPLAIN · 09-26-2002, 12:59 PM

Most of us always say the show stank, but i wonder, if they had given it time to take off instead of expecting it to save the network, if it would have lasted, people tuned in to see Lucy, that's obvious, and you are so right, even Lucy is quoted as saying she should have tried different things with different people. Every time i watched a show after she retired, i thought, why couldn't Lucy play Mary Tyler Moore's aunt Flo, or why wasn't she a Golden Girl, but if you'll recall she had all these obstacles to durmount, her rep as being diffficult to work with, her not wanting to be involved in anything risquee, her being typecast as the lovable goof, and her incompetent manager husband!

oldshows · 10-01-2002, 05:32 PM

The show needed a better cast and better scripts. Plus I don't think Lucy had it in her to do Lucy anymore. Afterall, she was 75.

SPLAIN · 10-02-2002, 08:50 AM

Didn't matter how old she was, when you truly LOVE something like she did, and she LIVED to WORK, you can do it forever. She used to say, i'll retire when i drop dead in my tracks. And like Irene Ryan (Granny on the Hillbillies) she should have starred in a Broadway show instead, Irene died during a show one night, or right after a performance, and i think Lucy would have loved going out that way, instead of bored depressed and alone in that mansion in Beverly Hills!

09-19-2002, 05:15 PM	#17
LUCILLE BALL Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Jul 08, 2001 Location: Land of the Red White and LU Posts: 96	Well even so for the fact As the height of the popularity grew for the GG especially the fact that most of the women had past endeavors, but Golden Girls gave them that "nitch" as Lucy would call it. If anyone has ever seen a Gameshow with Betty White as Guest she gets pretty good applause, when she was with Lucy The applause would echo throughout the studio,.,, Lucy was more popular than any of them,,, do u see where I am getting at? Lucy was really good friends with Betty, and she liked Bea Arthur a lot and the feeling mutual, I think if they had eventually started working together everyday, I believe there would be friction at some point. Lucy could be blunt and Bea could be blunbt to people and no Betty White isn't totally like Rose, she can be blunt to the point as well. I think the combination of Bea, Betty, Rue and Estelle is Heaven Sent. They are a perfect team just like Lucy Bil Desi Gale, and Viv all were... and I think lucy had her own thing and they like I said had a good thing going, and need not be touched. I don't think there will be another show like Golden Girls and Nobody of course can touch Lucy. So there is my thoughts on that one. If it ain't broke don't fix it. I do agree maybe it would have been nice to maybe have had Lucille as a guest star on GG, I kno that when Bob Hope was on the show it was totally awesome, That was one of my favorite shows. I think they could have used a similar plot with Lucy on that show.
	__________________ *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 ways...Lucille Ball 1989* http://www.smiliegenerator.de/s17/smilies-23676.png

09-26-2002, 05:47 AM	#23
RWCTV Making Sense Senior Member Join Date: Sep 21, 2001 Location: Lockport, IL USA Posts: 1,138	The Reason Life With Lucy Didn't appeal to some The real reason that the show did not appeal to some is because of the stories for it were written as though it was written in the 1950's or 60's. The show was released in the 1980's, but the situations were written for the 1950's. After bellybusters like The Jeffersons and All in the Family, Sanford and Son, etc. I think that people were ready for Lucy to go forward in television, not backwards. I personally liked some of the episodes because it was like "Lucy Joins the 80's". Also, you don't see too many Lucy photos and video that has her in her final years.
	__________________ Rob W. Case Do you desire to know about the topics that help you and hurt you in society? Whether it is Government, religious discussion, psychology, and health, we have it all! http://makingsense.proboards.com/ Stop in, get informed, or debate the issues. If you have something to say, this is the place. Hope that you'll join us! See you there!!!

09-20-2002, 01:51 PM	#18
SPLAIN I Love Lucy Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Mar 04, 2002 Location: MONTREAL, CANADA Posts: 4,563	Oh, so you're only an expert on Lucy then as this feud between the two golden girls is VERY common knowledge, i've heard many stories and it's not gossip, yes, reporters LOVE to start something when big FEMALE stars work together, but they're not working together anymore and the feud is on now! I'll get you details on the weekend! My last thought on all this is i would have killed to see Lucy on the Golden Girls, and if she had starred, i think she would have lived longer too, but that's just my opinion!

09-20-2002, 02:27 PM	#19
baronzzz Member Frequent Poster Join Date: May 11, 2002 Location: Beautiful Downtown Burbank Posts: 192	I remember watching Life with Lucy and thinking it was bad and feeling sorry for Lucy. And upset with Gary Morton and Lucy's handlers (if she had any) for letting her do it. I think I read somewhere that he was encouraging it. Anyway, I did save somewhere the Life with Lucy with John Ritter and it was hilarious. It was about the only episode that was good however. There was a scene in the hardware store with Lucy, Gale Gordon, and John that was classic. The timing of those three together was like music. As I recall John Ritter did most of the slapstick part of the scene but Lucy was right there with him. Does anyone remember the scene I'm talking about. John was on a ladder and fell off and Lucy tried to help him but kept hurting him more and more...

09-20-2002, 02:41 PM	#20
SPLAIN I Love Lucy Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Mar 04, 2002 Location: MONTREAL, CANADA Posts: 4,563	Yep, i have it remember it and watch it regularly, it was the best episode of the bunch. They loved working together and it shows. She looked horrible though in that white nurse's uniform, made her look older and her movements were so labored. But yet in the one where she's in a chair run amok, she did great, so as Einstien used to say Go Figure! Yes Gary encouraged her to do the show so he could pocket 100 thousand a show, while she got 125 thousand as the star, so he didn't care if it got cancelled, and she certainly could not livve down those newspaper headlines saying the Queen is Dead! It hastened her death there is no doubt about that!

09-21-2002, 03:51 PM	#21
LUCILLE BALL Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Jul 08, 2001 Location: Land of the Red White and LU Posts: 96	When anyone is in severe depression as she had, it takes ten yrs off your life AT LEAST! Lucy had always bee a very mobile person, one of those who kept on going relentlessly, and didn't want to slow down...always moving, Those are traits taht got her where she was the desire to want to work and make things work, and when she got Those notices if you excuse the word Notices, it made her feel liuke, I can't do anything anymore, I am useless. The one said she was too old to be doing that and to leave it to the younger actors and actresses, adn she felt like how can I compete. Lucy wasn't in the best of health first of all, and EVERYONE knew it especially Gary. The doctors warned her after she did Stone Pillow to slow down, and she did take somewhat of a Hiatus, she toured the counrty giving lectures, Gary saw dollar signs and suddenly Lucy's health didn't matter anymore. Gary had this thing about him that he could be really persuasive with Lucy.....before that deal ever came about Lucy had said in numerous interviews I couldn't top what I have done. But once Gary got load that there would be a big cash advance for him like I said, he pushed Lucy "off a cliff" made her do something she shouldn't have done. Now I am not saying she shouldn't have worked at all, maybe narrowed down to appearances and stuff, As much as we al Love Lucy and Love to see her perform, I think in retrospect of what ended up to be, It wasn't good for her. I think if they would have given her a better story it would have and perhaps that would have been the key of hope for Lucy to hang on and perhaps she would have still been here. But unfortunately it wasn't to be and all I can see on Lucy's behalf is Mitakes were made,,Others are to blame.

09-23-2002, 10:30 AM	#22
SPLAIN I Love Lucy Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Mar 04, 2002 Location: MONTREAL, CANADA Posts: 4,563	He should have let her do the Broadway show Lee had planned for her but he couldn't go without his beloved golf game in New York City, the stinker!

09-26-2002, 12:59 PM	#24
SPLAIN I Love Lucy Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Mar 04, 2002 Location: MONTREAL, CANADA Posts: 4,563	Most of us always say the show stank, but i wonder, if they had given it time to take off instead of expecting it to save the network, if it would have lasted, people tuned in to see Lucy, that's obvious, and you are so right, even Lucy is quoted as saying she should have tried different things with different people. Every time i watched a show after she retired, i thought, why couldn't Lucy play Mary Tyler Moore's aunt Flo, or why wasn't she a Golden Girl, but if you'll recall she had all these obstacles to durmount, her rep as being diffficult to work with, her not wanting to be involved in anything risquee, her being typecast as the lovable goof, and her incompetent manager husband!

10-01-2002, 05:32 PM	#25
oldshows Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Dec 10, 2001 Posts: 215	The show needed a better cast and better scripts. Plus I don't think Lucy had it in her to do Lucy anymore. Afterall, she was 75.

10-02-2002, 08:50 AM	#26
SPLAIN I Love Lucy Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Mar 04, 2002 Location: MONTREAL, CANADA Posts: 4,563	Didn't matter how old she was, when you truly LOVE something like she did, and she LIVED to WORK, you can do it forever. She used to say, i'll retire when i drop dead in my tracks. And like Irene Ryan (Granny on the Hillbillies) she should have starred in a Broadway show instead, Irene died during a show one night, or right after a performance, and i think Lucy would have loved going out that way, instead of bored depressed and alone in that mansion in Beverly Hills!