I Love Lucy is not that funny

[Lee G]

This is just my opinion, but sometimes I don't understand what people from the fifties were thinking. The Honeymooners classic 39 episodes have more laughs in them than the entire I Love Lucy series. Now the Mertzes were funny and so was Ricky. But Lucy was so over the top and usually she wasn't that funny. Some episodes though are good. But overall, the I Love Lucy series suffers from inconsistency with too many scenarios being played out. It's like they had a hard time deciding what direction to go in with the series. There were too many guest stars and too much nonsense going on in many of the episodes. I think what endeared Lucy to a lot of people is that she was somewhat of a trailblazer in the respect that a woman hadn't done this type of comedy before. She incorporated the style of old time silent comics like Charlie Chaplain and Buster Keaton into her act. But in many of these episodes, I find that she's basically acting like a lunatic and to me it's just not very funny.

In 1954, Lucy and Desi made the movie- The Long, Long Trailer. Now THIS is a classic 1950's period piece. It is not part of the I Love Lucy series, so Lucy and Desi step out of their Ricardo's character and this is one funny, wonderful movie. If only I Love Lucy was more like this. The Long, Long Trailer is superb. Lucy and Desi are good in this movie and it shows that Lucy did indeed have talent as an actress and comedianne if given the proper outlet to display it. The Long, Long Trailer is full of funny situations and has a tender moment at the end. Highly recommended.

When Lucy split with Desi and went on her own in the 60's with shows like The Lucy Show and Here's Lucy, she was getting older and had to tone down her act a little. In these two series, her acting was more mature and she displayed more of her natural acting ability. There are some classic routines with Vivian Vance, Lucy and Viv were a great team. So I will take episodes of The Lucy Show and Here's Lucy over I Love Lucy any day of the week.

[OH Nuts!]

I personally LOVED the show but we all have different takes on things.

But you reminded me of a dilemma I've always had: Why don't I "love" something that everyone else seems to (for ex: Star Trek, Forrest Gump, #1 songs I thought really sucked etc.)?

I guess it just comes down to this: taste is subjective.

[Lee G]

Originally Posted by rich p

I personally LOVED the show but we all have different takes on things.

But you reminded me of a dilemma I've always had: Why don't I "love" something that everyone else seems to (for ex: Star Trek, Forrest Gump, #1 songs I thought really sucked etc.)?

I guess it just comes down to this: taste is subjective.

Yea, it's about what each individual prefers. Lucy was definitely a talent, there's no denying that and she has her mark on the history of TV. But in some of these I Love Lucy episodes, her acting is silly and over the top and it comes off like she's trying too hard to be funny. It looks unnatural. I think she was much better in her later shows. But again, that's just my opinion.

[OH Nuts!]

She was funny in them too. I'm glad you liked her in something. It's hard to imagine anyone never liking Lucy.

While I thought she was a wonderful comedienne, I didn't think she was anything to write home about as an actress. The only exception was when she played a mom in "Yours, Mine and Ours". But man what a beautiful woman. She had legs that rivaled Betty Grables --even at 60. But then I guess that came from being a showgirl.

I bet the one thing we agree on is that she should have left well enough alone. The last show she did in the 80's was a real clinker.

[Mikado]

Lee, youre right to say there was no direction from episode to episode, but, that wasnt the point. Every show was basically a self-contained
sketch-comedy "play" ( Unless you count the trips to Hollywood and Europe...and to a lesser extent, the shows leading up to little Ricky's birth ), it wasnt meant to show character development, but to showcase the comedic and other talents of the 4 main actors as a "team". Yes Lucy got the main billing, but, her genius was the ability to be SO over-the-top, that it was the other character's reactions to her schemes and faux-pas that really made the show. Lucy, despite her character's reputation, was the REAL "straight-man" of the show, and made the others hilarious. All of this has made the show, the classic that has survived on syndicated TV for over 55 years....long after its contemporaries are only shown in rare DVD box sets!

[Mr. Television]

Originally Posted by Mikado

Lee, youre right to say there was no direction from episode to episode, but, that wasnt the point. Every show was basically a self-contained
sketch-comedy "play" ( Unless you count the trips to Hollywood and Europe...and to a lesser extent, the shows leading up to little Ricky's birth ), it wasnt meant to show character development, but to showcase the comedic and other talents of the 4 main actors as a "team". Yes Lucy got the main billing, but, her genius was the ability to be SO over-the-top, that it was the other character's reactions to her schemes and faux-pas that really made the show. Lucy, despite her character's reputation, was the REAL "straight-man" of the show, and made the others hilarious. All of this has made the show, the classic that has survived on syndicated TV for over 55 years....long after its contemporaries are only shown in rare DVD box sets!

Very well said.

[Mikado]

TY

[Ireneparalegal]

If I may add to Mikado's well written post, I Love Lucy came from the radio shows that were the norm from that era. The radio shows were not meant to be a series in which there was continuation. It was 30 minutes of laughs and jokes with a story. That is why if you read through our threads and posts on I Love Lucy you will read where we make comments on the goofs, errors, lack of continuation on certain aspects, etc. Bringing a radio show to tv was a huge task, and in this case, a brilliant move on Lucy and Desi's part.

And if you really take the time to check out Lucille Ball's biography as far as work is concerned, you will notice that she did many movies waaaaay before she ever did I Love Lucy. The Long Long Trailer came AFTER I Love Lucy. Desi Arnaz has an extensive work history as well. To evaluate Lucy's acting abilities simply by The Long Long Trailer is not giving her credit at all. Interesting note regarding that movie, a lot of people at that time felt why should they pay to go see a movie when they could just sit at home and watch Lucy and Desi for free.

Also, I Love Lucy is the show that many sitcoms that came after that, had hoped to be compared to as far as ratings, stamina, good cast, memorable episodes, memorable scenes and a show that will forever be seen in reruns.
I Love Lucy is the godfather of sitcoms. It is the show that others look up to and refer to.

[JulieSomoski]

I think the problem with I Love Lucy was that it was one of the first multicamera sitcoms on television, so things were just getting started. No one knew exactly how to run a TV show, or how exactly people wanted the series to go. They were really just getting their feet wet, consideirn git was 1951 when the show began.

Although, I think it's a great series. Comparing this with other TV series that were ratings winners, like All in the Family, or The Cosby Show, I always thought it was just as great.

[Mikado]

Youre right Roseanne , ILL pioneered the 3 camera system thats more or less universal now, also, it was the first TV show to be filmed, other shows of its time were recorded on "Kinescope" ( Something like filming a picture off of a TV screen, with the same poor quality youd get from that ). Furthermore, it was a pioneer of the idea that a woman was more than windowdressing on a mans arm!

[Ireneparalegal]

Not only that but the 3 camera system was DEVELOPED BY DESI ARNAZ. Something that future television shows should be forever grateful for. No one seemed to give Desi the kudos he deserved. He really knew his stuff and if it weren't for Lucy constantly reminding people of that fact, he may not have ever gotten his recognition.

[Mikado]

Yup Desi was a genius actor and producer....and he proved it by letting his wife take the credit, while he quietly kept everything running like clockwork, behind the scenes! ( Its not surprising that Lucy wanted to give Desi his due...even long after they were married to others, they both readilly admitted being the love of each others lives< which makes me kind of sad to know they just couldnt work things out )

ps...To expand on something Irene said, I love Lucy was based on Lucys old radio show "My favorite Husband", which was adapted for TV. Originally, the network wanted an American actor to play the husband ( as on the radio show ), but, Lucy insisted on Desi....and thankfully for posterity, got her way, despite the network's rascist objections!

[Ireneparalegal]

Originally Posted by Mikado

Yup Desi was a genius actor and producer....and he proved it by letting his wife take the credit, while he quietly kept everything running like clockwork, behind the scenes! ( Its not surprising that Lucy wanted to give Desi his due...even long after they were married to others, they both readilly admitted being the love of each others lives< which makes me kind of sad to know they just couldnt work things out )

ps...To expand on something Irene said, I love Lucy was based on Lucys old radio show "My favorite Husband", which was adapted for TV. Originally, the network wanted an American actor to play the husband ( as on the radio show ), but, Lucy insisted on Desi....and thankfully for posterity, got her way, despite the network's rascist objections!

Lucy and Desi though divorced, as you kindly pointed out, they remained on friendly terms and they both gave each other credit for many things. I remember when Desi passed away Lucy was asked by a reporter outside of the church to say something abt Desi. Lucy said that he was a great man, a great father, he was a genius and some other stuff. She was sincere abt it and you could see it in her face how sad she was. I also seen Desi, I believe it was the Merv Griffin show and he was just saying all these wonderful things abt Lucy. They were the epitomy of how two people who couldn't be married, remained friends and said only good things abt each other. Lucy said if it wasn't for Desi's drinking and cheating ways, they would never have parted.

[Mikado]

: Irene, was ILL on NBC or CBS? Im thinking CBS, but, Im not really sure.

[Ireneparalegal]

CBS