Question About Lucy and Ricky's Sleeping Arrangements On The Show - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

JamesG · 02-03-2008, 02:14 AM

I understand at the time that it was a bit of a social taboo to show a couple sleeping in the same bed (sometimes the bedroom wasn't even shown at all) when it was clear that they (the actors) were not married.

Now in "I Love Lucy" when they showed the bedroom they had Lucy and Ricky sleeping in 2 different beds. I was wondering as to how come no exceptions were made to this since Lucy and Desi were actually married when they were on the show?

desilu #1 · 02-03-2008, 05:34 AM

I have always wondered the same thing. I think it was all the censors drawing the lines. If you watched the earlier episodes, (before Lucy became pregnant), you will notice that they had pushed the twin beds together and after she became pregnant, they pulled the beds apart. It made no sense! She was already pregnant and they acted as if married people didn't have sex. This has always bothered me because I doubt that the audience took them being that close to each other as seriously as the censors did. They were so freaked out by showing any kind of affection on TV back then and I'm sure most people didn't find it as offensive as they did.

SPLAIN · 02-03-2008, 07:01 PM

If they would not allow them to use the word PREGNANT on the show, then it stands to reason they would also make a silly fuss about the bed being seperated, it was the fifties, and they had censors and rules, eventually they put the beds together and there was a baby boom, LOL!

Ireneparalegal · 02-03-2008, 07:08 PM

Yeah, the whole word PREGNANT was a taboo word for television in that era. So what did people say in real life? PREGNANT! HEL-LOOOOOOOO

It didn't make sense how the beds were pushed together early in the show and all of a sudden, two separate twin beds.

BTW, the Ricardos bedroom and the Mertzes living room were one in the same. They used the same set. Note how the Mertzes living room had a window in the same spot as the Ricardo's bedroom.

SPLAIN · 02-03-2008, 07:20 PM

But the Ricardo bedroom sure seemed less shaby than that Mertz living room though, LOL! By the way, Lucy had the exact same situation in movies, ever see the funny STILLS from Her Husband's Affairs? Two beds split apart and both leads munching on chicken legs i think it was. Censorship can be so stupid sometimes.

Ireneparalegal · 02-03-2008, 07:24 PM

Censorship certainly is stupid.

Yeah, they made special panels for the walls, so when the Mertzes apartment was being used, they pulled out those walls and when the Ricardos bedroom was needed, they put those walls back up.

SPLAIN · 02-03-2008, 07:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ireneparalegal

Censorship certainly is stupid.

Yeah, they made special panels for the walls, so when the Mertzes apartment was being used, they pulled out those walls and when the Ricardos bedroom was needed, they put those walls back up.

Wouldn't it have been simpler to use one side for each? LOL!

Mikado · 02-03-2008, 07:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ireneparalegal

Yeah, the whole word PREGNANT was a taboo word for television in that era. So what did people say in real life? PREGNANT! HEL-LOOOOOOOO

.

I think back then a lot of people prefered to say "With child" I know thats how they used to say it in my family, when i was little. (and that was in the 60s!)
BTW, I find it hilarious that they titled the episode when she reveals her pregnancy "Lucy is Enceinte".....enceinte is the French word for pregnant!

Ireneparalegal · 02-03-2008, 10:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mikado

I think back then a lot of people prefered to say "With child" I know thats how they used to say it in my family, when i was little. (and that was in the 60s!)
BTW, I find it hilarious that they titled the episode when she reveals her pregnancy "Lucy is Enceinte".....enceinte is the French word for pregnant!

Right, that is how they referred it.

Even in the episode when Lucy is reading a newspaper column out loud to Fred and Ethel, after Fred brings in the newspaper and yells that Ricky is in Winchell's column (the article really talks abt Lucy being pregnant) and Lucy uses another word for "being pregnant"...for the life of me I can't think of it right now. I guess I have to pop in the disc.

desilu #1 · 02-10-2008, 10:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mikado

I think back then a lot of people prefered to say "With child" I know thats how they used to say it in my family, when i was little. (and that was in the 60s!)
BTW, I find it hilarious that they titled the episode when she reveals her pregnancy "Lucy is Enceinte".....enceinte is the French word for pregnant!

I think they also used "In a family way". I bet these same people pooped themselves when the term "knocked up" was used.

drewfussclass101 · 02-10-2008, 11:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ireneparalegal

BTW, the Ricardos bedroom and the Mertzes living room were one in the same. They used the same set. Note how the Mertzes living room had a window in the same spot as the Ricardo's bedroom.

interesting fact. i did not know that but now that you mention the window...it does make sense.

02-03-2008, 05:34 AM	#2
desilu #1 Lucy/Desi 4-EVER Forum Regular Join Date: Sep 23, 2000 Location: Battle Creek, Michigan USA Posts: 724	I have always wondered the same thing. I think it was all the censors drawing the lines. If you watched the earlier episodes, (before Lucy became pregnant), you will notice that they had pushed the twin beds together and after she became pregnant, they pulled the beds apart. It made no sense! She was already pregnant and they acted as if married people didn't have sex. This has always bothered me because I doubt that the audience took them being that close to each other as seriously as the censors did. They were so freaked out by showing any kind of affection on TV back then and I'm sure most people didn't find it as offensive as they did.
	__________________ Amy M. Weaver

02-03-2008, 07:08 PM	#4
Ireneparalegal LEGAL SPICE ;) Forum Legend Join Date: Jul 25, 2005 Location: OXNARD, CA - WHERE THE DALLAS COWBOYS TRAIN & PRACTICE Posts: 38,691	Yeah, the whole word PREGNANT was a taboo word for television in that era. So what did people say in real life? PREGNANT! HEL-LOOOOOOOO It didn't make sense how the beds were pushed together early in the show and all of a sudden, two separate twin beds. BTW, the Ricardos bedroom and the Mertzes living room were one in the same. They used the same set. Note how the Mertzes living room had a window in the same spot as the Ricardo's bedroom.
	__________________ DALLAS COWBOYS ARE HERE AT TRAINING CAMP!!!

02-03-2008, 02:14 AM	#1
JamesG Freakshow Moderator Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 01, 2008 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 57,127	Question About Lucy and Ricky's Sleeping Arrangements On The Show I understand at the time that it was a bit of a social taboo to show a couple sleeping in the same bed (sometimes the bedroom wasn't even shown at all) when it was clear that they (the actors) were not married. Now in "I Love Lucy" when they showed the bedroom they had Lucy and Ricky sleeping in 2 different beds. I was wondering as to how come no exceptions were made to this since Lucy and Desi were actually married when they were on the show?

02-03-2008, 07:01 PM	#3
SPLAIN I Love Lucy Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Mar 04, 2002 Location: MONTREAL, CANADA Posts: 4,563	If they would not allow them to use the word PREGNANT on the show, then it stands to reason they would also make a silly fuss about the bed being seperated, it was the fifties, and they had censors and rules, eventually they put the beds together and there was a baby boom, LOL!

02-03-2008, 07:20 PM	#5
SPLAIN I Love Lucy Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Mar 04, 2002 Location: MONTREAL, CANADA Posts: 4,563	But the Ricardo bedroom sure seemed less shaby than that Mertz living room though, LOL! By the way, Lucy had the exact same situation in movies, ever see the funny STILLS from Her Husband's Affairs? Two beds split apart and both leads munching on chicken legs i think it was. Censorship can be so stupid sometimes.

02-03-2008, 07:24 PM	#6
Ireneparalegal LEGAL SPICE ;) Forum Legend Join Date: Jul 25, 2005 Location: OXNARD, CA - WHERE THE DALLAS COWBOYS TRAIN & PRACTICE Posts: 38,691	Censorship certainly is stupid. Yeah, they made special panels for the walls, so when the Mertzes apartment was being used, they pulled out those walls and when the Ricardos bedroom was needed, they put those walls back up.