The Lucille Ball Comedy Hour/Specials

[comedyfreak]

I recently bought a 6 disc of Lucy specials that haven't been seen since they originally aired. I can't believe I never seen any of them, they're good but they are not her slapstick comedy it's more of a dark comedy with dramatic overtones. She's seen with dark hair here's what I have. The What Now, Katherine Curtis seemed like it was taken after her break up with Desi. She's newly divorced and living on her own she has a crying spell and unleashes all of her hurt and angry feelings. It was a trip to see. I'm up to Vol 3.

Vol. 1 (From 16mm)

3 FOR 2 (Guest Star: JACKIE GLEASON)

WHAT NOW, KATHERINE CURTIS? (Guest Star: ART CARNEY)


Vol. 2 (From OTV)

HERE’S LUCY (Guest Star: JOAN RIVERS)

LIFE WITH LUCY (PILOT) short-lived 1987 series with GALE GORDON


Vol. 3 (From 16mm & Has O/C)

LUCY IN LONDON (10/24/66) Anthony Newley, Dave Clark Five, Wilfred Hyde-White, Peter Wyngarde


Vol. 4 (From 16mm & Has O/C)

LUCY PHONES THE PRESIDENT (11/21/77) Vivian Vance, Gale Gordon, Steve Allen, and Ed McMahon


Vol. 5 (From OTV & Has O/C)

LUCY MOVES TO NBC (5/2/80) Bob Hope, Johnny Carson, Jack Klugman, Gene Kelly, Donald O’Connor, Ruta Lee, Robert Alda, Gary Coleman, Gloria DeHaven


BONUS DISC:

(From 16mm)

DINNER WITH THE PRESIDENT (1953) Dine with IKE (Eisenhower) and his Special Guests: LUCILLE BALL, DESI ARNAZ, VIVIAN VANCE, WILLIAM FRAWLEY and ETHEL MERMAN

[SPLAIN]

I'd say the best of the lot, as far as her specials are concerned are The Lucille Ball comedy hour, aka Mr and Mrs with Bob Hope, well written and stands up well. Lucy calls the President is a great one, the Lucy cast was reunited one last time for this one, Viv, Mary, Gale, Mary Jane, they're all there, and then some. What Now Catherine Curtis is a drama with Gleason and is almost devoid of laughs, very serious, and it was the seventees, not right after the divorce. Happy anniversary and Goodbye with Art Carney is also very good and quite funny. Lucy in Nashville is more of a variety format but Lucy gets to do her shtick at least twice on the show. There are about a dozen specials in all and they should all be put out on dvd so everybody can see them, Paul Brownstein owns them and he's the one who put out that great 24 best of Here's Lucy dvd.

[comedyfreak]

I'd like to see the one with Bob Hope. I'm now on disc 4 which I'll watch tonight.

[SPLAIN]

I just reread your original post and realized i forgot Lucy in London, one of my favorites, so different and very original, should have won Emmys. In the Hope one she wears these fancy Edith head creations and looks sophisticated, like a million bucks.

[Lodee]

I like Lucy Calls The President. I think Viv is so funny in that.

[comedyfreak]

Originally Posted by SPLAIN

I just reread your original post and realized i forgot Lucy in London, one of my favorites, so different and very original, should have won Emmys.

I enjoyed the special, she got to be her Lucy self and it was cool seeing all the sights of London. She even did a number wearing the hippie type clothes of that time period. I'm looking forward to watching Lucy Meets The President.

[AB]

I don't remember seeing any of those. They sound interesting though. I can't remember seeing them in any stores, do you have to order them over the internet?

[SPLAIN]

They haven't been put out on DVD yet by Mr Brownstein which is horrible considering so much garbage is being sold on dvd which shouldn't be. So, all we have are bootlegs that people sell on the net, yes, but the last copies i got were very clear for once, the old vhs ones were sometimes copies of copies of copies of copies . . .

[AB]

^thanks for the info!

[SPLAIN]

You're welcome. But it would be so much simpler if all of the material Lucy did over the decades was put out on dvd for us to buy. We wouldn't need to get bootleg coppies of everything and then make copies for everybody who wants them. Here's just some of the best, 79 movies, some as The Lucille Ball Collection, some bits in Astaire Rogers musicals, some as part of other people's collections like Esther Williams, Kate Hepburn and even Bob Hope. Stone Pillow, the TV movie, the other two TV Movies made about her life, the CBS Salutes Lucy, the first 25 years, one of the best, the 50th anniversary special which i hate. Over 500 TV shows from 5 different series and the specials. Then there are talk show appearances, game shows of course, and loads of variety shows and other people's specials and regular shows, then there are tributes and events, in the audience for concerts and other special events. Clips of things on entertainment programs alone could total loads of dvds, then there are the many various specials on PBS as well as everything from A and E to even the Travel channel. The many shows from when she passed alone take several dvds. Then there are the many mentions of her or clips on other people's tributes and shows. I've even made some compilation dvds of some of her best musical numbers, or best sight gags, best tributes, awards only, and people have sent me audio ones too of all the best songs from her shows, then there are music videos and the great Babalu Music. There is just NO END to the wealth of material Lucy left behind for us to enjoy till the end of TIME. Like the newscasters said when she died, the movies had Chaplin, TV had Lucy. And as Lucy herself stated, you can go your whole life and not leave anything behind, she sure made sure that was not the case for her, LOL!

[comedyfreak]

Originally Posted by annball1957

I don't remember seeing any of those. They sound interesting though. I can't remember seeing them in any stores, do you have to order them over the internet?

I bought mine from iOffer.com.

[AB]

^Thanks, I may check it out.

[SPLAIN]

Originally Posted by annball1957

^Thanks, I may check it out.

MAY check it out????? And you call yourself a FAN, sheesh! LOL!

[comedyfreak]

Originally Posted by SPLAIN

MAY check it out????? And you call yourself a FAN, sheesh! LOLl

[AB]

^ A fan on a budget. (lol!)