Technically, weren't Lucy and Ricky the first interracial couple on TV? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

PrettyinPink55 · 09-01-2008, 01:45 AM

So I was watching the "Truth Behind the Sitcoms" about The Jeffersons, and they were talking about how Tom and Helen Willis were the first interracial couple on television. While I do see that their relationship broke barriers, social taboos, and was ground breaking in itself, didn't Lucy and Rick technically have the first interracial marriage on TV??
It strikes me as odd that people don't consider this and that it often gets overlooked...
What do you think??

catlover79 · 09-01-2008, 10:42 AM

Yes, you've got a good point!

Schmoopie · 09-02-2008, 12:52 AM

I never thought about that, but that's very possible! I guess when people think of "interracial" they think "black and white". That's the first thing I would think of.

Andrea

OH Nuts! · 09-02-2008, 07:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catlover79

Yes, you've got a good point!

Ditto. Goood point PrettyIn Pink55!

coffield3 · 09-02-2008, 08:12 AM

I think they were the first, but thanx I have never thought about that before good point.

comedyfreak · 09-04-2008, 09:37 AM

That's probably why CBS was against them working together, so to prove them wrong they took their act out on the road. It was a success so CBS relented and the rest is history.

Bill S. · 09-04-2008, 07:05 PM

Quote:

Technically, weren't Lucy and Ricky the first interracial couple on TV?

I would say so. And speaking of people overlooking I Love Lucy recently, I'm sure I'm not the only one that's seen those commercials on TBS claiming that Tyler Perry's House of Payne is the #1 sitcom of all-time. According to who, exactly?

Benno123 · 09-04-2008, 08:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bill S.

I would say so. And speaking of people overlooking I Love Lucy recently, I'm sure I'm not the only one that's seen those commercials on TBS claiming that Tyler Perry's House of Payne is the #1 sitcom of all-time. According to who, exactly?

It's probably #1 to the same person who voted for "Lawsuit" and "What's the Name?" for The Honeymooners!!!

catlover79 · 09-04-2008, 08:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Benno123

It's probably #1 to the same person who voted for "Lawsuit" and "What's the Name?" for The Honeymooners!!!

Or whoever thought it would be a great idea to desecrate the Honeymooners by releasing that awful remake a few years ago!!!

PrettyinPink55 · 09-05-2008, 01:19 AM

What types of problems did they have with CBS?? I find the history of Lucy and Desi fascinating!!!

As for the Tyler Perry sitcom, that's just an injustice to ILL and all other classic sitcoms!!!
Poor advertising, because in my opinion, nothing comes close to the classsics...when/if I ever watch it, I'll always think of that label, and how the show can never possibly live up to it...just IMO...I'm sure it's funny, but hold the praises...

comedyfreak · 09-05-2008, 05:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PrettyinPink55

What types of problems did they have with CBS?? I find the history of Lucy and Desi fascinating!!!

As for the Tyler Perry sitcom, that's just an injustice to ILL and all other classic sitcoms!!!
Poor advertising, because in my opinion, nothing comes close to the classsics...when/if I ever watch it, I'll always think of that label, and how the show can never possibly live up to it...just IMO...I'm sure it's funny, but hold the praises...

CBS thought people would not believe a Redheaded American girl being married to a cuban would work. As for Tyler Perry, his sitcom couldn't even touch Family Matters or any other older black show.

InspectorExstead · 09-07-2008, 11:04 PM

yep, i always thought lucy & ricky were tv's first interracial couple as well. tyler perry's house is the #1 sitcom of all time? i'd like to know how they got that one. lol.

desilu #1 · 09-10-2008, 05:55 PM

Lucy and Desi were no doubt the first interacial couple on TV. It could be that some people didn't consider Desi to be a different race because when most people speak of race, alot of people automatically think black and white and we all know that Desi was Cuban. Some people probably consider that a whole separate issue. But, think about it, back in the early 50's when "non-conformity" was definately looked down on, we know they had a much harder time dealing with the TV "experts" and I use that term loosly because it almost didn't happen and we would have been robbed of the best show in history because of their narrow-minds! By the time the Jeffersons came out in the 70's, society was more acceptable.

TV_on_the_Porch · 04-02-2009, 02:54 PM

Desi Arnaz was a caucasian. A dark-skinned caucasian is no less caucasian than a light-skinned black is black. Lucy and Desi are not recognized as TV's first interracial couple for a very good reason: they're not.

Zoneboy · 04-02-2009, 04:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TDRyan

Desi Arnaz was a caucasian. A dark-skinned caucasian is no less caucasian than a light-skinned black is black. Lucy and Desi are not recognized as TV's first interracial couple for a very good reason: they're not.

How about providing some proof to back up your claims, I can't find anything online that says Desi Arnaz was caucasian, Most every site I've checked says he was hispanic, not a dark-skinned caucasian and since Lucille Ball was obviously white that qualifies them as being an interracial couple and there are several sites that back this up.

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q...cial+&aq=f&oq=

09-01-2008, 01:45 AM	#1
PrettyinPink55 Member Forum Celebrity Join Date: Feb 11, 2005 Location: Texas Posts: 24,601	Technically, weren't Lucy and Ricky the first interracial couple on TV? So I was watching the "Truth Behind the Sitcoms" about The Jeffersons, and they were talking about how Tom and Helen Willis were the first interracial couple on television. While I do see that their relationship broke barriers, social taboos, and was ground breaking in itself, didn't Lucy and Rick technically have the first interracial marriage on TV?? It strikes me as odd that people don't consider this and that it often gets overlooked... What do you think??
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09-01-2008, 10:42 AM	#2
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,382	Yes, you've got a good point!
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09-02-2008, 12:52 AM	#3
Schmoopie Keep Calm and Love Snoopy Forum Star Join Date: Jul 13, 2008 Location: Lynnwood, Washington Posts: 15,697	I never thought about that, but that's very possible! I guess when people think of "interracial" they think "black and white". That's the first thing I would think of. Andrea
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09-02-2008, 08:12 AM	#5
coffield3 <3 Forum Veteran Join Date: Jul 23, 2006 Location: England Posts: 7,379	I think they were the first, but thanx I have never thought about that before good point.
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09-04-2008, 09:37 AM	#6
comedyfreak Cheers! Forum Fanatic Join Date: Dec 14, 2005 Location: Sunny California Posts: 11,060	That's probably why CBS was against them working together, so to prove them wrong they took their act out on the road. It was a success so CBS relented and the rest is history.
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09-05-2008, 01:19 AM	#10
PrettyinPink55 Member Forum Celebrity Join Date: Feb 11, 2005 Location: Texas Posts: 24,601	What types of problems did they have with CBS?? I find the history of Lucy and Desi fascinating!!! As for the Tyler Perry sitcom, that's just an injustice to ILL and all other classic sitcoms!!! Poor advertising, because in my opinion, nothing comes close to the classsics...when/if I ever watch it, I'll always think of that label, and how the show can never possibly live up to it...just IMO...I'm sure it's funny, but hold the praises...

09-07-2008, 11:04 PM	#12
InspectorExstead Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Oct 29, 2001 Location: The Golden State Posts: 12,902	yep, i always thought lucy & ricky were tv's first interracial couple as well. tyler perry's house is the #1 sitcom of all time? i'd like to know how they got that one. lol.
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09-10-2008, 05:55 PM	#13
desilu #1 Lucy/Desi 4-EVER Forum Regular Join Date: Sep 23, 2000 Location: Battle Creek, Michigan USA Posts: 724	Lucy and Desi were no doubt the first interacial couple on TV. It could be that some people didn't consider Desi to be a different race because when most people speak of race, alot of people automatically think black and white and we all know that Desi was Cuban. Some people probably consider that a whole separate issue. But, think about it, back in the early 50's when "non-conformity" was definately looked down on, we know they had a much harder time dealing with the TV "experts" and I use that term loosly because it almost didn't happen and we would have been robbed of the best show in history because of their narrow-minds! By the time the Jeffersons came out in the 70's, society was more acceptable.
	__________________ Amy M. Weaver

04-02-2009, 02:54 PM	#14
TV_on_the_Porch anything good on? Forum Regular Join Date: Oct 18, 2005 Posts: 879	Desi Arnaz was a caucasian. A dark-skinned caucasian is no less caucasian than a light-skinned black is black. Lucy and Desi are not recognized as TV's first interracial couple for a very good reason: *they're not.*
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