Have you ever SEEN "My Favorite Husband"? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

LittleRickyII · 03-11-2011, 12:30 AM

Okay, I know there was a television version of My Favorite Husband that you could have seen, but which did not star Lucille Ball. I'm talking about that. I'm talking about the actual radio version that did star Lucille Ball. And how could you see a radio show? Well, some clever guy made it possible by creating new animation to go along with the original audio of the show. I love it!

Part 1:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SmHvq...eature=related

Part 2:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZEI1rqrKjj8

Part 3:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OMwxS...eature=related

TV Knowledge Fan · 03-11-2011, 04:38 AM

...even though the original radio show {starring Lucy} was developed by Jess Oppenheimer [based on Isabel Scott Rorick's novel, "Mr. & Mrs. Cugat"], and written by the same team of writers (Jess, Madelyn Pugh, Bob Carroll Jr.) who were the architects of "I LOVE LUCY", the series was produced and owned by CBS. In fact, they wanted Lucy to star in a TV version as early as 1950. However, she insisted on starring in a similar series with Desi {"Forget it, Lucy. Nobody is going to believe you and Desi are married."/"But we ARE married!"}, and had to prove to the network she could star in a TV series with him...in fact, she ended the radio series in March 1951 so that she could concentrate on the TV show the following fall. After that became a roaring success, CBS revived the idea of making a TV series out of "MY FAVORITE HUSBAND" in 1953. They decided to produce a live series [it was faster and less expensive than staging it on film], starring Joan Caufield and Barry Nelson (in Richard Denning's role), using different scripts {some written by Sol Saks, who later created "BEWITCHED"} and a slightly different couple than "Rudolph & Iris Atterbury" [Gale Gordon & Bea Benaderet] on radio, as "George & Liz Cooper"'s friends- they became "Gilmore & Myra Cobb" [Bob Sweeney & Alix Talton]...and the show was a moderate hit, airing live (from CBS' Television City facilities) on Saturday nights for two seasons. Very few kinescopes of these episodes are known to exist- and I haven't see any of those.

Then, the network decided to convert it to a filmed series in the fall of 1955 {with Desilu providing the facilities this time}, replacing Joan Caufield with Vanessa Brown, and Bob Sweeney with Dan Tobin {the "Cobbs" becoming "Oliver & Myra Shepard"}. General Motors' Frigidaire division became the sponsor (and the only reason they did was because they wanted to sponsor the show that followed "THE $64,000 QUESTION" on Tuesday nights that fall, which had become an unexpected hit that summer, as "WHO WANTS TO BE A MILLIONAIRE?" did, decades later). So, 13 episodes were filmed...and the show faltered- apparently, very few viewers stuck around after "THE $64,000 QUESTION" to see it. Years later, Desi Arnaz shrugged, "I guess it needed Lucy". So, Frigidaire replaced it with another quiz show, Edgar Bergen's "DO YOU TRUST YOUR WIFE?"- his version of Groucho's "YOU BET YOUR LIFE", also on film- in January 1956. The network later repeated 12 of the 13 filmed episodes as Jack Benny's summer replacement in 1957, then sent all 13 into syndication. In 1966, CBS Films pulled the series off the market [along with the controversial "AMOS 'N' ANDY SHOW" and several other "dated" series], and it hasn't been seen since. I remember seeing one filmed episode. It was amusing- but, as Desi said, "it needed Lucy".

LittleRickyII · 03-11-2011, 05:54 PM

I don't know if maybe you didn't read what I posted, or checked out the links, but the point of my thread was not the My Favorite Husband television series, but about this guy who has animated Lucille Ball's radio series. That's what I wanted people to see. I'm very impressed with what he's done. I'm sure it was very time-consuming, painstaking work. He's included so many details, it looks professional. But he did this by himself. I'm just amazed!

Marvo301 · 03-11-2011, 07:55 PM

What a cool idea! I'd love to see more old radio shows animated like this!!

LittleRickyII · 03-11-2011, 09:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marvo301

What a cool idea! I'd love to see more old radio shows animated like this!!

Me too! He's apparently working on another My Favorite Husband episode. I'm looking forward to seeing it when he's done. I hope it has the Atterburys in it because I'm anxious to see his animated version of Gale Gordon and Bea Benaderet.

Marvo301 · 03-11-2011, 10:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LittleRickyII

Me too! He's apparently working on another My Favorite Husband episode. I'm looking forward to seeing it when he's done. I hope it has the Atterburys in it because I'm anxious to see his animated version of Gale Gordon and Bea Benaderet.

Me too! I was waiting the whole episode for the Atterburys to show up and was disappointed that they never did.

Jude The Obscure · 03-11-2011, 11:14 PM

Oh this is too funny, because I've been re-listening to my CD of My Favorite Husband! Once you become familiar with it, it has its own flavor and rhythm and you don't think of it as I love Lucy, the radio series.....at least I don't!

LittleRickyII · 03-12-2011, 03:16 PM

Ditto, Marvo! Before I finally sat back and watched the whole thing, I was jumping around looking for the Atterburys. So I'm keeping my fingers crossed they'll be in the next one. And Jude, I think I understand what you mean about the rhythm. There's a very different feeling with the way the plots move compared to I Love Lucy. Maybe it has something to do with the more low key Liz & George dynamic versus Lucy & Ricky. The same thing with Liz & Iris or Liz & Katy versus Lucy & Ethel. Liz and her counterparts on My Favorite Husband don't ever really seem to "get into it" with each other, unlike Lucy and Ethel, who could get agitated with one another and into a heated argument. I suppose because Liz's husband worked for Iris's husband, and because Katy worked for Liz, the relationships on My Favorite Husband weren't such that the characters could go at it the same way Lucy and Ethel did. And the plots seem to move at a different pace. I Love Lucy pretty predictably built up to a big climactic scene at the end. I don't find that same structure, at least not to the same degree, with My Favorite Husband. Perhaps the visual aspect of I Love Lucy allowed for that more, I don't know. But whatever the reason, the two shows do have a very different feel to them.

TV Knowledge Fan · 03-14-2011, 02:51 AM

...of the radio show- and I AM impressed! In fact, had this been the original network version (instead of an Armed Forces rebroadcast), the opening sequence visuals could have been even more interesting- like this:

BOB LeMOND: "It's time for 'MY FAVORITE HUSBAND', starring Lucille Ball!"
LUCY: {holding up a box of Jell-O} "JELL-O, everybody!"
[opening title, theme and applause]
BOB: "Yes, it's the gay new family series starring Lucille Ball, with Richard Denning...transcribed and brought to you by the Jell-O Family of Desserts!"
QUINTET: {standing in front of Jell-O banner behind them, as they sing the sponsor's jingle}
J-e-l-l....Oh!
The big red letters stand for the Jell-O Family,
Oh, the big red letters stand for the Jell-O Family,
That's Jell-O!
FEMALE SINGER: Yum-yum-yum!
QUINTET: Jell-O Pudding!
MALE SINGER: Yum-yum-yum!
QUINTET: Jell-O Tap-i-oca Pudding, yes, sireee!!
BOB: "And now, Lucille Ball with Richard Denning, as 'Liz & George Cooper'...."

Lucyeth's · 03-27-2011, 07:03 AM

This is very neat! I've watched an episode of his animation of My Favorite Husband before I believe, but not for awhile so I forgot how good it was! I'd like to see more old radio shows animated like this; preferably the mysterious ones!

03-11-2011, 12:30 AM	#1
LittleRickyII Member Senior Member Join Date: Feb 22, 2009 Location: California Posts: 2,246	Have you ever SEEN "My Favorite Husband"? Okay, I know there was a television version of My Favorite Husband that you could have seen, but which did not star Lucille Ball. I'm talking about that. I'm talking about the actual radio version that did star Lucille Ball. And how could you see a radio show? Well, some clever guy made it possible by creating new animation to go along with the original audio of the show. I love it! Part 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SmHvq...eature=related Part 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZEI1rqrKjj8 Part 3: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OMwxS...eature=related
	Last edited by LittleRickyII; 03-11-2011 at 12:48 AM.

03-11-2011, 04:38 AM	#2
TV Knowledge Fan Member Senior Member Join Date: Mar 29, 2006 Location: Long Branch, N.J. Posts: 2,577	"MY FAVORITE HUSBAND"... ...even though the original radio show {starring Lucy} was developed by Jess Oppenheimer [based on Isabel Scott Rorick's novel, "Mr. & Mrs. Cugat"], and written by the same team of writers (Jess, Madelyn Pugh, Bob Carroll Jr.) who were the architects of "I LOVE LUCY", the series was produced and owned by CBS. In fact, they wanted Lucy to star in a TV version as early as 1950. However, she insisted on starring in a similar series with Desi {"Forget it, Lucy. Nobody is going to believe you and Desi are married."/"But we ARE married!"}, and had to prove to the network she could star in a TV series with him...in fact, she ended the radio series in March 1951 so that she could concentrate on the TV show the following fall. After that became a roaring success, CBS revived the idea of making a TV series out of "MY FAVORITE HUSBAND" in 1953. They decided to produce a live series [it was faster and less expensive than staging it on film], starring Joan Caufield and Barry Nelson (in Richard Denning's role), using different scripts {some written by Sol Saks, who later created "BEWITCHED"} and a slightly different couple than "Rudolph & Iris Atterbury" [Gale Gordon & Bea Benaderet] on radio, as "George & Liz Cooper"'s friends- they became "Gilmore & Myra Cobb" [Bob Sweeney & Alix Talton]...and the show was a moderate hit, airing live (from CBS' Television City facilities) on Saturday nights for two seasons. Very few kinescopes of these episodes are known to exist- and I haven't see any of those. Then, the network decided to convert it to a filmed series in the fall of 1955 {with Desilu providing the facilities this time}, replacing Joan Caufield with Vanessa Brown, and Bob Sweeney with Dan Tobin {the "Cobbs" becoming "Oliver & Myra Shepard"}. General Motors' Frigidaire division became the sponsor (and the only reason they did was because they wanted to sponsor the show that followed "THE $64,000 QUESTION" on Tuesday nights that fall, which had become an unexpected hit that summer, as "WHO WANTS TO BE A MILLIONAIRE?" did, decades later). So, 13 episodes were filmed...and the show faltered- apparently, very few viewers stuck around after "THE $64,000 QUESTION" to see it. Years later, Desi Arnaz shrugged, "I guess it needed Lucy". So, Frigidaire replaced it with another quiz show, Edgar Bergen's "DO YOU TRUST YOUR WIFE?"- his version of Groucho's "YOU BET YOUR LIFE", also on film- in January 1956. The network later repeated 12 of the 13 filmed episodes as Jack Benny's summer replacement in 1957, then sent all 13 into syndication. In 1966, CBS Films pulled the series off the market [along with the controversial "AMOS 'N' ANDY SHOW" and several other "dated" series], and it hasn't been seen since. I remember seeing one filmed episode. It was amusing- but, as Desi said, "it needed Lucy".

03-11-2011, 07:55 PM	#4
Marvo301 I'm NOT a Blockhead! Forum Celebrity Join Date: May 17, 2002 Location: The Great White North Posts: 21,450	What a cool idea! I'd love to see more old radio shows animated like this!!
	__________________ Only a life lived for others is worth living. Albert Einstein A life isn't worth living unless it has impact on other lives. Jackie Robinson Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let each new year find you a better man. Benjamin Franklin

03-14-2011, 02:51 AM	#9
TV Knowledge Fan Member Senior Member Join Date: Mar 29, 2006 Location: Long Branch, N.J. Posts: 2,577	Okay, NOW I've seen the first part of the "animated" version... ...of the radio show- and I AM impressed! In fact, had this been the original network version (instead of an Armed Forces rebroadcast), the opening sequence visuals could have been even more interesting- like this: BOB LeMOND: "It's time for 'MY FAVORITE HUSBAND', starring Lucille Ball!" LUCY: {holding up a box of Jell-O} "JELL-O, everybody!" [opening title, theme and applause] BOB: "Yes, it's the gay new family series starring Lucille Ball, with Richard Denning...transcribed and brought to you by the Jell-O Family of Desserts!" QUINTET: {standing in front of Jell-O banner behind them, as they sing the sponsor's jingle} J-e-l-l....Oh! The big red letters stand for the Jell-O Family, Oh, the big red letters stand for the Jell-O Family, That's Jell-O! FEMALE SINGER: Yum-yum-yum! QUINTET: Jell-O Pudding! MALE SINGER: Yum-yum-yum! QUINTET: Jell-O Tap-i-oca Pudding, yes, sireee!! BOB: "And now, Lucille Ball with Richard Denning, as 'Liz & George Cooper'...."

03-11-2011, 05:54 PM	#3
LittleRickyII Member Senior Member Join Date: Feb 22, 2009 Location: California Posts: 2,246	I don't know if maybe you didn't read what I posted, or checked out the links, but the point of my thread was not the My Favorite Husband television series, but about this guy who has animated Lucille Ball's radio series. That's what I wanted people to see. I'm very impressed with what he's done. I'm sure it was very time-consuming, painstaking work. He's included so many details, it looks professional. But he did this by himself. I'm just amazed!

03-11-2011, 11:14 PM	#7
Jude The Obscure Retired Eternal Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Dec 10, 2006 Posts: 7,519	Oh this is too funny, because I've been re-listening to my CD of My Favorite Husband! Once you become familiar with it, it has its own flavor and rhythm and you don't think of it as I love Lucy, the radio series.....at least I don't!

03-12-2011, 03:16 PM	#8
LittleRickyII Member Senior Member Join Date: Feb 22, 2009 Location: California Posts: 2,246	Ditto, Marvo! Before I finally sat back and watched the whole thing, I was jumping around looking for the Atterburys. So I'm keeping my fingers crossed they'll be in the next one. And Jude, I think I understand what you mean about the rhythm. There's a very different feeling with the way the plots move compared to I Love Lucy. Maybe it has something to do with the more low key Liz & George dynamic versus Lucy & Ricky. The same thing with Liz & Iris or Liz & Katy versus Lucy & Ethel. Liz and her counterparts on My Favorite Husband don't ever really seem to "get into it" with each other, unlike Lucy and Ethel, who could get agitated with one another and into a heated argument. I suppose because Liz's husband worked for Iris's husband, and because Katy worked for Liz, the relationships on My Favorite Husband weren't such that the characters could go at it the same way Lucy and Ethel did. And the plots seem to move at a different pace. I Love Lucy pretty predictably built up to a big climactic scene at the end. I don't find that same structure, at least not to the same degree, with My Favorite Husband. Perhaps the visual aspect of I Love Lucy allowed for that more, I don't know. But whatever the reason, the two shows do have a very different feel to them.

03-27-2011, 07:03 AM	#10
Lucyeth's The Craziest 'A' Frequent Poster Join Date: Oct 22, 2010 Location: US Posts: 124	This is very neat! I've watched an episode of his animation of My Favorite Husband before I believe, but not for awhile so I forgot how good it was! I'd like to see more old radio shows animated like this; preferably the mysterious ones!