Did Lucille Ball's alleged drinking become problematic

[TMC]

Lucy was apparently, if not an out and out alcoholic, was at the very least a problem drinker. Do you agree that if one watches The Lucy Show carefully, you can clearly see that Lucy’s moods are random and she’s often “out of sync” with her scenes? She also needed cue cards as you can see her eyes following something just out of camera range.

[Schmo]

TMC should change his or her pseudonym to “TMZ”.

[TV Guy]

TMC is a gossipmonger of the worst kind. He/she made a post on the “My Three Sons” message board saying that Fred MacMurray didn’t like working with kids, as evidenced by the show’s production. In reality, MacMurray only agreed to the job if he had a shortened working schedule and by all accounts had good relationships with the boys who played his sons.

In the case of Lucille Ball, she increasingly relied on cue cards on “The Lucy Show” because she had another job: president of Desilu! She became president of the company during the company’s first season when she bought out ex-husband Desi Arnaz. She no longer had as much time to memorize her lines.

There’s a special place in hell for those who slander other people.

[Steve_uk]

Originally Posted by TMC

Lucy was apparently, if not an out and out alcoholic, was at the very least a problem drinker. Do you agree that if one watches The Lucy Show carefully, you can clearly see that Lucy’s moods are random and she’s often “out of sync” with her scenes? She also needed cue cards as you can see her eyes following something just out of camera range.

I thought it was her husband who was the alcoholic.

[TMC]

Originally Posted by TV Guy

TMC is a gossipmonger of the worst kind. He/she made a post on the “My Three Sons” message board saying that Fred MacMurray didn’t like working with kids, as evidenced by the show’s production. In reality, MacMurray only agreed to the job if he had a shortened working schedule and by all accounts had good relationships with the boys who played his sons.

In the case of Lucille Ball, she increasingly relied on cue cards on “The Lucy Show” because she had another job: president of Desilu! She became president of the company during the company’s first season when she bought out ex-husband Desi Arnaz. She no longer had as much time to memorize her lines.

There’s a special place in hell for those who slander other people.

Again, how am I slandering people!? Whenever I post something about a TV show or actor/actress, I try to "back it up" with as many links or forms of "evidence" as I possibly can. I don't recall out and out saying that Fred MacMurray didn't like working with kids. I don't understand why you need to make ad hominem attacks on your end. I just insinuated that the production style that he worked with on the surface seemed to be overwhelming for his young co-stars. It's naive to say that My Three Sons regardless, wasn't an easy show to make since they had to work around Fred MacMurray's availability.

[quincywagstaff]

The alcoholism referenced in the article referred to Desi, not Lucy. There have been countless books written about her, their marriage and the show, and not one has ever suggested that Lucy was an alcoholic. At the very least, the title of this thread is unfortunate as it implies that she was a heavy drinker without any evidence to support the insinuation.

[TMC]

Originally Posted by quincywagstaff

The alcoholism referenced in the article referred to Desi, not Lucy. There have been countless books written about her, their marriage and the show, and not one has ever suggested that Lucy was an alcoholic. At the very least, the title of this thread is unfortunate as it implies that she was a heavy drinker without any evidence to support the insinuation.

Well, we know for sure that Lucy at least during her later years, enjoyed the occasional bourbon, which she referred to as her "slushies". But it wasn't exactly as far as we know, to the degree of Desi Arnez's alleged drinking habit.

[80s Dude]

The article didn't say which one was an alcoholic. Desi had a drinking problem, along with William Fauley.

Lucy's daughter seems very bitter over the years at her mother's success.

[GentlemanJim]

Originally Posted by TMC

. Do you agree that if one watches The Lucy Show carefully, you can clearly see that Lucy’s moods are random and she’s often “out of sync” with her scenes?

I think that we as a society are overly obsessed with passing judgement on our fellow man/woman. I think we look for reasons to place ourselves on a pedestal, at the expense of our peers. And condemning people for their chosen means of pursuing pleasure is often low hanging fruit.

If getting falling down drunk every night was Lucy's only way to find happiness, then who am I to say she owes to the world to be miserable?

I've drank an ocean of booze in my lifetime, but have been completely sober since 2004. I quit because I got bored with it...not because anybody made me.

But have always felt, and will continue to feel, that if drinking is what makes a person happy, then that is what they should do.

Now, if she was out there driving buses full of people around, or flying commercial airliners, I might be a little more willing to judge. But that's not the case here.

[Greenbeans]

Originally Posted by GentlemanJim

I think that we as a society are overly obsessed with passing judgement on our fellow man/woman. I think we look for reasons to place ourselves on a pedestal, at the expense of our peers. And condemning people for their chosen means of pursuing pleasure is often low hanging fruit.

If getting falling down drunk every night was Lucy's only way to find happiness, then who am I to say she owes to the world to be miserable?

I've drank an ocean of booze in my lifetime, but have been completely sober since 2004. I quit because I got bored with it...not because anybody made me.

But have always felt, and will continue to feel, that if drinking is what makes a person happy, then that is what they should do.

Now, if she was out there driving buses full of people around, or flying commercial airliners, I might be a little more willing to judge. But that's not the case here.

I pretty much agree. If you have young kids, a marriage, or a job where you have to be sober, that's different. But if you are single and like to drink, smoke weed, whatever, I'm not judging. People can judge so fast. I know people who hate alcoholics but are taking Xanax left and right.