Real Life Similarities on ILL - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Madame X · 01-31-2010, 05:20 PM

There were a lot of similarities between Lucy and Desi's real life and what was portrayed on screen by Lucy and Ricky.

-Both couples were married in 1940 at the Byram River Beagle Club in Connecticut. Both couples repeated their vows.

-Both Lucys were born in Jamestown, NY, and attended Celeron High School.

-Ricky was a Cuban band leader, so was Desi.

-Lucy B. was a crazy driver, so was Lucy R. ("Lucy Learns to Drive")

-For Lucy and Desi's first date he told her he would teach her to rhumba. In "The Black Wig," Ricky uses the same line to get a date with the black-haired woman.

-Ricky wasn't close to his mother-in-law (Mrs. McGulicuddy) and she didn't respect him. Desi wasn't close to his mother-in-law (DeeDee) and she didn't respect him. Fathers were not characters in ILL.

-Walter Winchell broke the story of Lucy's pregnancy without permission. In the song "We're Having a Baby," Ricky sings that 'You'll read it in Winchell..."

-The Arnaz family's getaway was Del Mar, CA. In "The Sublease," Ricky is excited about getting a booking in Del Mar.

-Desi's pianist/arranger was Marco Rizo. Ricky's pianist was Marco.

-Lucy's brother Fred and Fred Mertz were both band managers.

-Vivian Vance and Ethel both grew up in Albuquerque.

-In "Lucy and Bob Hope," Fred tells Little Ricky about the best baseball player, Joe DiMaggio. Bill Frawley and Joe D. were friends in real life.

-The vaudeville routines the Ricardos do were the ones Lucy and Desi did: The Professor and Cuban Pete/Sally Sweet.

-In Desi's earlier career he played in Xavier Cugat's band. In ILL Xavier Cugat's name is used often as Ricky's professional rival.

-Little Ricky played the drums, so did Desi Jr.

Lucy loved to use names of real people in her life as character names. Here are some:

Recurring last names of friends-Van Vlack (childhood friend), Sedgwick (director), (and probably Orsatti); Adele Sliff from "In Palm Springs" (script supervisor); Ruth Knickerbocker in "The Club Election" (Bill lived in Knickerbocker Hotel); Dan Jenkins in "Redecorating" (columnist), Hudson Twins in "The Amateur Hour" (Hal Hudson, CBS executive ), Marion Strong (childhood friend), Caroline Appleby (Lucy's teacher), Andrew Hickcox in "The Business Manager" (board member, business mgr), Dr. Rabwin in "Ricky Has Labor Pains" (Lucy's real doctor). In "Ricky's Old Girlfriend," the boyfriends' names that Lucy lists are from the ILL production staff.

Lucy and Desi liked to help their friends by giving them parts in the show:

Barbara Pepper (Lucy's friend and and extra in many scenes); Pepito the Clown (Arnaz friend); Marco Rizo (Desi's childhood friend/music consultant), Louis Nicoletti (Desi's friend, had many bit roles); I'm sure there are others!

Larry Surrell · 01-31-2010, 08:18 PM

Good list, Madame X.

This may be another one: Weren't Desi Jr born (via C section) on the night "Lucy Goes to the Hospital" aired?

Madame X · 01-31-2010, 10:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Larry Surrell

Good list, Madame X.

This may be another one: Weren't Desi Jr born (via C section) on the night "Lucy Goes to the Hospital" aired?

I believe so!

Madame X · 01-31-2010, 10:21 PM

Something else I just stumbled upon. Lucy B. was interested in numerology. That must have inspired the episode "The Seance."

Larry Surrell · 02-01-2010, 09:10 PM

I loved how The Medium Rhea contacted the spirits. "Ethel to Tilly...Ethel to Tilly...Come in Tilly...Over."

Madame X · 02-01-2010, 10:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Larry Surrell

I loved how The Medium Rhea contacted the spirits. "Ethel to Tilly...Ethel to Tilly...Come in Tilly...Over."

I know. I still laugh at that. I also love Fred's lines:

"Introducing Raya, the Medium."

Ethel bows.

"Well done, Medium Raya."

01-31-2010, 05:20 PM	#1
Madame X Member Senior Member Join Date: Sep 15, 2006 Location: Oregon Posts: 1,831	Real Life Similarities on ILL There were a lot of similarities between Lucy and Desi's real life and what was portrayed on screen by Lucy and Ricky. -Both couples were married in 1940 at the Byram River Beagle Club in Connecticut. Both couples repeated their vows. -Both Lucys were born in Jamestown, NY, and attended Celeron High School. -Ricky was a Cuban band leader, so was Desi. -Lucy B. was a crazy driver, so was Lucy R. ("Lucy Learns to Drive") -For Lucy and Desi's first date he told her he would teach her to rhumba. In "The Black Wig," Ricky uses the same line to get a date with the black-haired woman. -Ricky wasn't close to his mother-in-law (Mrs. McGulicuddy) and she didn't respect him. Desi wasn't close to his mother-in-law (DeeDee) and she didn't respect him. Fathers were not characters in ILL. -Walter Winchell broke the story of Lucy's pregnancy without permission. In the song "We're Having a Baby," Ricky sings that 'You'll read it in Winchell..." -The Arnaz family's getaway was Del Mar, CA. In "The Sublease," Ricky is excited about getting a booking in Del Mar. -Desi's pianist/arranger was Marco Rizo. Ricky's pianist was Marco. -Lucy's brother Fred and Fred Mertz were both band managers. -Vivian Vance and Ethel both grew up in Albuquerque. -In "Lucy and Bob Hope," Fred tells Little Ricky about the best baseball player, Joe DiMaggio. Bill Frawley and Joe D. were friends in real life. -The vaudeville routines the Ricardos do were the ones Lucy and Desi did: The Professor and Cuban Pete/Sally Sweet. -In Desi's earlier career he played in Xavier Cugat's band. In ILL Xavier Cugat's name is used often as Ricky's professional rival. -Little Ricky played the drums, so did Desi Jr. Lucy loved to use names of real people in her life as character names. Here are some: Recurring last names of friends-Van Vlack (childhood friend), Sedgwick (director), (and probably Orsatti); Adele Sliff from "In Palm Springs" (script supervisor); Ruth Knickerbocker in "The Club Election" (Bill lived in Knickerbocker Hotel); Dan Jenkins in "Redecorating" (columnist), Hudson Twins in "The Amateur Hour" (Hal Hudson, CBS executive ), Marion Strong (childhood friend), Caroline Appleby (Lucy's teacher), Andrew Hickcox in "The Business Manager" (board member, business mgr), Dr. Rabwin in "Ricky Has Labor Pains" (Lucy's real doctor). In "Ricky's Old Girlfriend," the boyfriends' names that Lucy lists are from the ILL production staff. Lucy and Desi liked to help their friends by giving them parts in the show: Barbara Pepper (Lucy's friend and and extra in many scenes); Pepito the Clown (Arnaz friend); Marco Rizo (Desi's childhood friend/music consultant), Louis Nicoletti (Desi's friend, had many bit roles); I'm sure there are others!

01-31-2010, 08:18 PM	#2
Larry Surrell Ed M. 1918-2006 RIP Forum Regular Join Date: Dec 27, 2003 Location: Thousand Oaks, CA Posts: 702	Good list, Madame X. This may be another one: Weren't Desi Jr born (via C section) on the night "Lucy Goes to the Hospital" aired?

01-31-2010, 10:21 PM	#4
Madame X Member Senior Member Join Date: Sep 15, 2006 Location: Oregon Posts: 1,831	Something else I just stumbled upon. Lucy B. was interested in numerology. That must have inspired the episode "The Seance."

02-01-2010, 09:10 PM	#5
Larry Surrell Ed M. 1918-2006 RIP Forum Regular Join Date: Dec 27, 2003 Location: Thousand Oaks, CA Posts: 702	I loved how The Medium Rhea contacted the spirits. "Ethel to Tilly...Ethel to Tilly...Come in Tilly...Over."