The Lucy Show vs I Love Lucy

[LittleRickyII]

Originally Posted by retroTVfan4ever

Whatever is most popluar with the masses is usually overrated. I Love Lucy is no exception.

Overrated, when it's popular generation after generation, not only with the public but also critics? Give me break.

[LittleRickyII]

Originally Posted by Wiseguy2

On the other hand, one might look upon actors playing themselves as actors playing a character, a fictionalized version of themselves. Actors have done this for years (Jack Benny, Drew Carey, Jerry Seinfeld). In that sense the fictionalized John Wayne character that appeared on I Love Lucy may not be the same character as the fictionalized John Wayne that appeared on The Lucy Show. Or would say that Maude and Lucy are in the same universe since John Wayne appeared (as himself) on Maude as well?

I'd like to think John Wayne on I Love Lucy and The Lucy Show is in the same universe as John Wayne on Maude, and imagine the kind of party that could be had if the host invited some people and asked them to invite a few people they know, and said their invitees could do the same. That way, Maude could invite the Bunkers (except Archie, of course , and Edith could invite the Jeffersons. And, of course, Edith would bring Archie along anyway. Maude could also invite John Wayne who, as a favor to Mary Jane, invites Lucy Carmichael who then invites Mr. Mooney. And Mr. Wayne also invites the Ricardos who, in turn, invite Danny Williams and his family. And Danny invites Andy Taylor, who invites Aunt Bee, Opie, Barney and Gomer. And Gomer invites Sgt. Carter. Danny Williams' wife, Kathy, invites her old friend Lucy Carter, who brings along Uncle Harry and her kids and her friend, Mary Jane. And Lucy Carter also invites that bus driver she met once at Jack Benny's house, Ralph Kramden, who brings along his wife and the Nortons. Of course I would want this party to be televised so that I can see the three Lucys interacting with one another, the two Mary Janes interacting, and Mr. Mooney and Harry Carter as well. And Ralph Kramden chatting it up with Archie Bunker. And Maude trying to demonstrate to Ricky Ricardo just how much latinos mean to her, etc.

[1960'sTVfan]

Originally Posted by LittleRickyII

Overrated, when it's popular generation after generation, not only with the public but also critics? Give me break.

I Love Lucy isn't a bad show, but in my opinion it is overrated. A lot of long time popular things are overrated, it isn't just restricted to TV shows, it's the same with movies and music as well. Elvis Presley is overrated. The Beatles are overrated. The Rolling Stones are overrated. In my experience, it's the things that have more of a unique, cult following that happen to really be the best.

And I've never paid attention to critics. Critics don't know anything, they're not experts. I don't need a critic to tell me what I should or shouldn't like, I make up my own mind. Critics are people who are lucky to have a job where they are paid for their opinions, I don't listen to them. Same thing with all these awards shows. Awards shows are nothing but glamorized popularity contests, it doesn't mean what wins is best.

[Will Dockery]

Originally Posted by The Flying Dutchmans

Are these 2 shows basically the same? I know the comedy is because it's Lucy doing both. But to me, it seems like a colorized version of ILL only without Ricky and Fred. Maybe it's just me.

Personally, I've always seen The Lucy Show as pretty much a sequel to I Love Lucy... unofficially of course, but it seems to fit.

Also, I remember The Lucy Show credits giving the statement that the series was based on a book "Live Without George"... anyone ever read that book or know rge story behind that?

[ajgenard]

Originally Posted by Will Dockery

Personally, I've always seen The Lucy Show as pretty much a sequel to I Love Lucy... unofficially of course, but it seems to fit.

Also, I remember The Lucy Show credits giving the statement that the series was based on a book "Live Without George"... anyone ever read that book or know rge story behind that?

Never read the book but I know the first couple seasons were loosely based on it, which deals with 2 divorcees living together and raising their kids (in the show Lucy is actually a widow). But after a couple years they had written out many of these characters for various reasons and the entire premise was different, now simply reduced to the lowest common denominator of Lucy getting into zany situations. By the time the show had ended it was virtually unrecognizable from the early seasons, which only had minimal ties to the book to begin with. Seeing the "based on" credit in the final seasons always makes me chuckle since it's apparently nothing like the book at all.

In all fairness, The Lucy Show was never meant to last. It was basically a bargaining chip for CBS to greenlight other Desilu projects at the time.

[Wiseguy2]

Originally Posted by ajgenard

Never read the book but I know the first couple seasons were loosely based on it, which deals with 2 divorcees living together and raising their kids (in the show Lucy is actually a widow). But after a couple years they had written out many of these characters for various reasons and the entire premise was different, now simply reduced to the lowest common denominator of Lucy getting into zany situations. By the time the show had ended it was virtually unrecognizable from the early seasons, which only had minimal ties to the book to begin with. Seeing the "based on" credit in the final seasons always makes me chuckle since it's apparently nothing like the book at all.

I believe Vivian Bagley was the first regular character who was a divorced woman on TV or at least on a sitcom long before Lee Grant as Fay (anybody remember that one?) or Ann Romano on One Day at a Time in 1975.

[1960'sTVfan]

Originally Posted by ajgenard

Never read the book but I know the first couple seasons were loosely based on it, which deals with 2 divorcees living together and raising their kids (in the show Lucy is actually a widow). But after a couple years they had written out many of these characters for various reasons and the entire premise was different, now simply reduced to the lowest common denominator of Lucy getting into zany situations. By the time the show had ended it was virtually unrecognizable from the early seasons, which only had minimal ties to the book to begin with. Seeing the "based on" credit in the final seasons always makes me chuckle since it's apparently nothing like the book at all.

Have to agree with you, that's pretty much how the show played out during it's six season run. By the 2nd season, the kids were already beginning to be phased out and were given less to do. The 4th season is when the show really changed gears. Viv had left and Gale Gordon became "second banana". Mary Jane Croft joined the cast, and while her participation in the episodes may not have equaled Viv's, she did her best to fill the void after Viv's departure. I think the 4th and 5th seasons of the series are the weakest, they're not bad seasons but just not as good compared to seasons 1-3. Season 6 comes back a little and the show seems to have gotten itself back on track again, at least the series ended on an up note.

[Flying Dutchman]

Originally Posted by LittleRickyII

Greatest star ever does not necessarily mean greatest actor ever. I think a very, very strong argument can be made that Lucille Ball was the greatest star ever. I don't know of another performing artist who was as enduring and beloved as she was. I Love Lucy can still be found regularly on television -- I can't remember a time when it wasn't available -- but it's little more difficult to come across a Bette Davis or Katharine Hepburn film. Young people today are probably more likely to recognize Lucille Ball than pretty much anyone else from that era. During the '50s, "Lucymania" swept the nation. But the country never experienced Bette-mania or Katharine-mania. They were certainly great box office stars, but people were not going crazy over them and treating them as not-to-be missed the way they were with Lucille Ball. When Lucy went into the hospital the week before her death, Cedars Sinai experienced the largest volume of flowers and get-well cards in its entire history. This is a hospital that has treated virtually every big name celebrity at some point. The outpouring of devotion for Lucille Ball was far greater than for anyone who had ever spent time there. I Love Lucy has endured more than any other TV show. Lucille Ball mistakenly felt the failure of Life with Lucy meant her fans no longer were interested in her. Hopefully, that outpouring in her last days made her realize they had turned away only from that show, not from her. And the fact that people are still talking about her 24 years after her death, and there are websites galore devoted to her, and virtually every TV show she made is available on DVD, all speaks volumes about her place in history and among the greatest of stars.

I don't think anyone on this board could have said it better, Little Ricky II. Well done.

[LittleRickyII]

Originally Posted by Flying Dutchman

I don't think anyone on this board could have said it better, Little Ricky II. Well done.

Thanks.