Is This True Of Vivian Vance? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

JamesG · 02-07-2008, 04:40 PM

I was aware that Vivian Vance and William Frawley (Ethel & Fred Mertz) did not get along at all on the I Love Lucy set. I heard a tale that when Vivian heard of William Frawley's passing she said something along the line of "where's the champagne?" or "pass the champagne."

Is this true or is it an urban legend of a sort?

Dr. Thong · 02-07-2008, 04:49 PM

I did read somewhere that Vivian and William Frawley did not get along at all. He was something like 20 years older than her and she always wondered why they put her with someone who was that much older. She was not happy with that at all.

tdr · 02-07-2008, 05:17 PM

No one knows (apparently) whether this is really true or not, but it has been discussed in several threads before, such as:
http://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards/...ighlight=vance

drewfussclass101 · 02-07-2008, 09:36 PM

i heard that viv and her new husband were at a diner eating and when she heard she yelled, "Thank God, Champaigne for Everyone"

Ireneparalegal · 02-08-2008, 06:24 PM

I am sure it is a rumor. I haven't never heard anything concrete as far as that actual statement.

kooky12 · 02-08-2008, 06:30 PM

The aforementioned thread goes into a lot more detail about this matter, but I recently saw a show about Lucy on PBS, where the narrator basically just said, that both Vivian and William thought that he/she should have been paired with someone younger and more glamourous.

Mikado · 02-08-2008, 06:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kooky12

The aforementioned thread goes into a lot more detail about this matter, but I recently saw a show about Lucy on PBS, where the narrator basically just said, that both Vivian and William thought that he/she should have been paired with someone younger and more glamourous.

Benno123 · 02-08-2008, 10:31 PM

Don't forget Desi Arnaz offered to spin the Mertzes off into their own series after the Ricardos moved to Connecticut, but Vivian Vance refused. She would not work in a series with just William Frawley. Had the show been produced and been a hit, it would have made both Vance and Frawley very wealthy, but since Viv refused to do it Bill resented that and would never speak to her again unless working in a scene with her.

The fact they hated each other off camera just goes to show what wonderful actors they were in front of the camera.

desilu #1 · 02-10-2008, 09:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JamesG

I was aware that Vivian Vance and William Frawley (Ethel & Fred Mertz) did not get along at all on the I Love Lucy set. I heard a tale that when Vivian heard of William Frawley's passing she said something along the line of "where's the champagne?" or "pass the champagne."

Is this true or is it an urban legend of a sort?

I heard that story a few times. I can't recall the exact words, but they were along the same lines. I only hope it wasn't true. I have a hard time thinking that she could be that harsh and hate someone to the degree of celebrating their death. Regardless of their feelings for each other, they worked closely for several years and I just can't believe she held that much resentment and if she did, she was obviously wounded somehow in her own exsistance. Not trying to be a "head doctor" here folks, just observant. I suppose I shouldn't talk though because I did celebrate when Saddam Hussein was hung. We all know Bill Frawley couldn't have been THAT bad.

SPLAIN · 02-11-2008, 11:56 AM

I also read that when Desi was shooting The Untouchables, Viv asked him how much the mob would ask for to RUB out Bill, i wonder of it's true, LOL!

Lodee · 02-11-2008, 05:31 PM

Well I hope you're kidding about that one Splain!

I think a spin off of Ethel and Fred would have been pretty boring unless they came up with some pretty good costars.

SPLAIN · 02-11-2008, 07:40 PM

Not only that but she wanted his dead body ground up and then served on crackers to his family and friends, which i thought was a mite OVER THE TOP, dontcha thin? That's the thing Lodee, these stories get embellished over the decades, and people tell them to impress people and they add to them . . . I just don't see Viv doing that when hearing he passed away.

Benno123 · 02-11-2008, 08:10 PM

I don't know, but at the same time I wouldn't be surprised if Vivian did do some celebrating when Bill died. Afterall, several people have said that she use to call him an "old coot" and he would call her a "dried up old $&!@!" Being called that, I could see some celebrating being done!

SPLAIN · 02-12-2008, 10:34 AM

And there are also many stories that would validate that. Like Bill getting the kids from My Three Sons to make noise when she was doing scenes on The Lucy Show, i can see Bill doing that.

Benno123 · 02-12-2008, 09:57 PM

I forgot about that story, with Bill and the kid throwing empty film cans! Mean or not, when I first read about that it did make me laugh!!!

02-07-2008, 04:49 PM	#2
Dr. Thong a/k/a "ACK!" Forum Veteran Join Date: Jul 10, 2001 Location: New Hampshire, USA Posts: 5,546	I did read somewhere that Vivian and William Frawley did not get along at all. He was something like 20 years older than her and she always wondered why they put her with someone who was that much older. She was not happy with that at all.
	__________________ "Sunday has been cancelled due to lack of interest. That is all."

02-08-2008, 06:24 PM	#5
Ireneparalegal LEGAL SPICE ;) Forum Legend Join Date: Jul 25, 2005 Location: OXNARD, CA - WHERE THE DALLAS COWBOYS TRAIN & PRACTICE Posts: 38,691	I am sure it is a rumor. I haven't never heard anything concrete as far as that actual statement.
	__________________ DALLAS COWBOYS ARE HERE AT TRAINING CAMP!!!

02-07-2008, 04:40 PM	#1
JamesG Freakshow Moderator Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 01, 2008 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 57,121	Is This True Of Vivian Vance? I was aware that Vivian Vance and William Frawley (Ethel & Fred Mertz) did not get along at all on the I Love Lucy set. I heard a tale that when Vivian heard of William Frawley's passing she said something along the line of "where's the champagne?" or "pass the champagne." Is this true or is it an urban legend of a sort?

02-07-2008, 05:17 PM	#3
tdr Member Senior Member Join Date: Mar 23, 2001 Posts: 1,454	No one knows (apparently) whether this is really true or not, but it has been discussed in several threads before, such as: http://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards/...ighlight=vance

02-07-2008, 09:36 PM	#4
drewfussclass101 Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jun 27, 2004 Location: TN Posts: 156	i heard that viv and her new husband were at a diner eating and when she heard she yelled, "Thank God, Champaigne for Everyone"

02-08-2008, 06:30 PM	#6
kooky12 Member Senior Member Join Date: Sep 06, 2005 Posts: 2,022	The aforementioned thread goes into a lot more detail about this matter, but I recently saw a show about Lucy on PBS, where the narrator basically just said, that both Vivian and William thought that he/she should have been paired with someone younger and more glamourous.

02-08-2008, 10:31 PM	#8
Benno123 Jenna Fischer Rocks My World!! Senior Member Join Date: Nov 01, 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 1,036	Don't forget Desi Arnaz offered to spin the Mertzes off into their own series after the Ricardos moved to Connecticut, but Vivian Vance refused. She would not work in a series with just William Frawley. Had the show been produced and been a hit, it would have made both Vance and Frawley very wealthy, but since Viv refused to do it Bill resented that and would never speak to her again unless working in a scene with her. The fact they hated each other off camera just goes to show what wonderful actors they were in front of the camera.

02-11-2008, 11:56 AM	#10
SPLAIN I Love Lucy Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Mar 04, 2002 Location: MONTREAL, CANADA Posts: 4,563	I also read that when Desi was shooting The Untouchables, Viv asked him how much the mob would ask for to RUB out Bill, i wonder of it's true, LOL!

02-11-2008, 05:31 PM	#11
Lodee Member Senior Member Join Date: Jun 12, 2003 Posts: 1,562	Well I hope you're kidding about that one Splain! I think a spin off of Ethel and Fred would have been pretty boring unless they came up with some pretty good costars.

02-11-2008, 07:40 PM	#12
SPLAIN I Love Lucy Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Mar 04, 2002 Location: MONTREAL, CANADA Posts: 4,563	Not only that but she wanted his dead body ground up and then served on crackers to his family and friends, which i thought was a mite OVER THE TOP, dontcha thin? That's the thing Lodee, these stories get embellished over the decades, and people tell them to impress people and they add to them . . . I just don't see Viv doing that when hearing he passed away.

02-11-2008, 08:10 PM	#13
Benno123 Jenna Fischer Rocks My World!! Senior Member Join Date: Nov 01, 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 1,036	I don't know, but at the same time I wouldn't be surprised if Vivian did do some celebrating when Bill died. Afterall, several people have said that she use to call him an "old coot" and he would call her a "dried up old $&!@!" Being called that, I could see some celebrating being done!

02-12-2008, 10:34 AM	#14
SPLAIN I Love Lucy Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Mar 04, 2002 Location: MONTREAL, CANADA Posts: 4,563	And there are also many stories that would validate that. Like Bill getting the kids from My Three Sons to make noise when she was doing scenes on The Lucy Show, i can see Bill doing that.

02-12-2008, 09:57 PM	#15
Benno123 Jenna Fischer Rocks My World!! Senior Member Join Date: Nov 01, 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 1,036	I forgot about that story, with Bill and the kid throwing empty film cans! Mean or not, when I first read about that it did make me laugh!!!