I Love Lucy - Hollywood and Don Juan - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

hobokenite · 03-01-2021, 12:28 PM

Forgive me if this question has been asked before, I am new here.

Throughout the entire series there were many inconsistencies, like in most long running shows. Facts or plot-lines were changed to suit a story for a particular episode. Usually not a big deal. However, there is one plot hole that seems to throw a major story arc off on I Love Lucy.

When the Ricardo's / Mertzes are in Hollywood, they are clearly there because Ricky was going to film the movie "Don Juan." They spend many many episodes there, while Ricky is apparently not doing much of anything other than making some publicity appearances around town. Eventually, there is an episode where the movie "Don Juan" is shelved. The studio says they are not going to fire Ricky, but will keep him on and look for something else for him to star in. They then spend another 15 episodes dealing with their stay in Hollywood and there is no mention of Ricky filming any movie. When they get back to NYC, all the neighbors are freaking out with Ricky being a big film star and Ricky makes some mention that they think the picture may be a hit. However, they had never shown or mentioned Ricky ever actually having filmed anything.

Is this a convenient plot point they chose to ignore or are we meant to believe that he filmed his movie (whatever movie that may be) and it all happened off screen? Also, after this, his movie was never mentioned again and a few episodes later they took off for Europe for the rest of the season.

PracTz · 03-01-2021, 01:44 PM

^^^

I read an interview with some of the writers decades after the fact in which they had worked themselves into a frenzy concocting the whole 'Don Juan' saga that when they had Ricky 'get cast into another movie', they simply were too tired to think of what its plot might have been and even its name so they opted to let the public just imagine both the above for themselves.

Of course, it was funny that within weeks of the Ricardos and Mertzes return from Hollywood, Ricky was back at the Tropicana before going on their European adventure- and even after their move to Connecticut (and the LD Comedy Hour), Ricky STILL worked at the Tropicana despite whatever movie he made and overseas tours he took! Of course, this ignored that nightclubs and big bands were getting decimated to the point of extinction by newfangled rock music!

hobokenite · 03-01-2021, 02:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PracTz

^^^

I read an interview with some of the writers decades after the fact in which they had worked themselves into a frenzy concocting the whole 'Don Juan' saga that when they had Ricky 'get cast into another movie', they simply were too tired to think of what its plot might have been and even its name so they opted to let the public just imagine both the above for themselves.

Of course, it was funny that within weeks of the Ricardos and Mertzes return from Hollywood, Ricky was back at the Tropicana before going on their European adventure- and even after their move to Connecticut (and the LD Comedy Hour), Ricky STILL worked at the Tropicana despite whatever movie he made and overseas tours he took! Of course, this ignored that nightclubs and big bands were getting decimated to the point of extinction by newfangled rock music!

Thanks for the insight / info.

I do always find it interesting that the show is so tied to NYC, but they pretty much spent two entire seasons at the height of its popularity (give or take a few episodes) out in Hollywood or in Europe. It is also interesting that there are really only 26 episodes where they live in Connecticut (13 in the original format and 13 in the comedy hour format.) It seems odd to spend so much money and time changing the entire set and coming up with so many new plot-lines for a show that they were going to cancel.

Babalu · 03-04-2021, 06:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hobokenite

Thanks for the insight / info.

I do always find it interesting that the show is so tied to NYC, but they pretty much spent two entire seasons at the height of its popularity (give or take a few episodes) out in Hollywood or in Europe. It is also interesting that there are really only 26 episodes where they live in Connecticut (13 in the original format and 13 in the comedy hour format.) It seems odd to spend so much money and time changing the entire set and coming up with so many new plot-lines for a show that they were going to cancel.

Desi was very invested in making the show as good as it could be. He was the producer and spared no expense in keeping the show on top. He knew that there were only so many stories the writers could come up with and the Hollywood and travel shows gave them a new lease on life. Obviously it couldn't last forever but it was their failing marriage that eventually ended the show.

PracTz · 03-05-2021, 09:59 AM

I don't think they chose to have had Ricky attempt to play Don Juan via mere happenstance- as I think it was somewhat obvious everyone from the writers to Lucy herself that Mr. Arnaz somewhat behaved as that character offscreen. I mean having him play Don Quixote would have been a bit awkward (and the audience DID get to see Ricky's audition scene for the fake movie that never was).

PhoenixAcres · 03-05-2021, 12:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hobokenite

Eventually, there is an episode where the movie "Don Juan" is shelved. The studio says they are not going to fire Ricky, but will keep him on and look for something else for him to star in. They then spend another 15 episodes dealing with their stay in Hollywood and there is no mention of Ricky filming any movie.

If my memory serves me correctly I think Ricky filmed the (unnamed) movie in the summer between seasons 4 and 5. In the season 5 opener they make a few references to him having completed the film and they depart Hollywood not too long after that.

stevea · 03-05-2021, 08:00 PM

Right, they have a few episodes at the beginning of season 5, like Lucy stealing John Wayne's footprint cement block.

The one little inconsistency I noticed was getting Carolyn Appleby's name right--in one Hollywood episode she was referred to as Lillian. Also the episode with Van Johnson was filmed after the Harpo Marx episode. CBS showed them in the proper order, but most stations showed syndicated episodes in production order, which in this case meant Carolyn was in Hollywood before she arrived.

By the way, IIRC while they were in Hollywood the Tropicana was remodeled and renamed Club Babalu.

03-01-2021, 12:28 PM	#1
hobokenite Member Forum Hawk Join Date: Mar 01, 2021 Location: Hoboken, NJ Posts: 3	I Love Lucy - Hollywood and Don Juan Forgive me if this question has been asked before, I am new here. Throughout the entire series there were many inconsistencies, like in most long running shows. Facts or plot-lines were changed to suit a story for a particular episode. Usually not a big deal. However, there is one plot hole that seems to throw a major story arc off on I Love Lucy. When the Ricardo's / Mertzes are in Hollywood, they are clearly there because Ricky was going to film the movie "Don Juan." They spend many many episodes there, while Ricky is apparently not doing much of anything other than making some publicity appearances around town. Eventually, there is an episode where the movie "Don Juan" is shelved. The studio says they are not going to fire Ricky, but will keep him on and look for something else for him to star in. They then spend another 15 episodes dealing with their stay in Hollywood and there is no mention of Ricky filming any movie. When they get back to NYC, all the neighbors are freaking out with Ricky being a big film star and Ricky makes some mention that they think the picture may be a hit. However, they had never shown or mentioned Ricky ever actually having filmed anything. Is this a convenient plot point they chose to ignore or are we meant to believe that he filmed his movie (whatever movie that may be) and it all happened off screen? Also, after this, his movie was never mentioned again and a few episodes later they took off for Europe for the rest of the season.

03-01-2021, 01:44 PM	#2
PracTz Member Senior Member Join Date: Jul 14, 2002 Location: United States of America [Happily Living in the 20th Century] Posts: 2,711	^^^ I read an interview with some of the writers decades after the fact in which they had worked themselves into a frenzy concocting the whole 'Don Juan' saga that when they had Ricky 'get cast into another movie', they simply were too tired to think of what its plot might have been and even its name so they opted to let the public just imagine both the above for themselves. Of course, it was funny that within weeks of the Ricardos and Mertzes return from Hollywood, Ricky was back at the Tropicana before going on their European adventure- and even after their move to Connecticut (and the LD Comedy Hour), Ricky STILL worked at the Tropicana despite whatever movie he made and overseas tours he took! Of course, this ignored that nightclubs and big bands were getting decimated to the point of extinction by newfangled rock music!

03-05-2021, 09:59 AM	#5
PracTz Member Senior Member Join Date: Jul 14, 2002 Location: United States of America [Happily Living in the 20th Century] Posts: 2,711	I don't think they chose to have had Ricky attempt to play Don Juan via mere happenstance- as I think it was somewhat obvious everyone from the writers to Lucy herself that Mr. Arnaz somewhat behaved as that character offscreen. I mean having him play Don Quixote would have been a bit awkward (and the audience DID get to see Ricky's audition scene for the fake movie that never was).

03-05-2021, 08:00 PM	#7
stevea 22 Years On Sitcoms Moderator Forum Legend Join Date: Aug 13, 2003 Location: Indy Posts: 44,704	Right, they have a few episodes at the beginning of season 5, like Lucy stealing John Wayne's footprint cement block. The one little inconsistency I noticed was getting Carolyn Appleby's name right--in one Hollywood episode she was referred to as Lillian. Also the episode with Van Johnson was filmed after the Harpo Marx episode. CBS showed them in the proper order, but most stations showed syndicated episodes in production order, which in this case meant Carolyn was in Hollywood before she arrived. By the way, IIRC while they were in Hollywood the Tropicana was remodeled and renamed Club Babalu.