What if Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz had stayed together? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Timoth26 · 08-15-2010, 04:51 PM

Hey, I just got to wondering. What do you think would've happened if Lucy and Desi never divorced? Do you think they could've worked their problems out eventually? Do you think Desi could've stopped drinking and got some help? Do you think that Lucille Ball would've still done her other shows "The Lucy Show and Here's Lucy"? Maybe Desi could've co-produced all of The Lucy Show instead of just the first 12 episodes. What do you think The Lucy Show would've been like if Desi Arnaz had stayed with them? Could he have played Lucy Carmicheals husband? The Lucy Show could've given Lucy and Desi a fresh start since they had done ILL for so long. Please let me know your ideas. Thanks.

old grouch · 08-16-2010, 01:27 PM

If they had stayed together, Desi could have played her husband on 'Here's Lucy', which would have starred the entire Arnaz family: Lucille Ball, Desi Arnaz, Lucie Arnaz, and Desi Arnaz, Jr.

Rezny@gmail.com · 08-16-2010, 01:39 PM

And also,the executive producer of the first season (1962-1963)black and white of "The Lucy Show"WAS INDEED Desi Arnaz.Question:How come in the remaining seasons he was replaced?

Jude The Obscure · 08-16-2010, 02:38 PM

^Because Desi realized he could not handle the fact that things were NOT the same anymore. The pressures of running Desilu coupled with his own personal life in turmoil with the drinking, etc led him to step down and sell his share to Lucy. Even though they couldn't remained married, no one doubts for a minute that Lucy and Desi never stopped loving each other despite the fact they both remarried.

Had this been a perfect world with Desi and Lucy's problems worked out--they perhaps would have went with the variety show format, something many people believed had Lucy attempted it, she would have been a big success doing.

comedyfreak · 08-26-2010, 04:14 AM

If they would have stayed married maybe we would have gotten an I Love Lucy Reunion or specials.

old grouch · 08-26-2010, 01:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by comedyfreak

If they would have stayed married maybe we would have gotten an I Love Lucy Reunion or specials.

I'm sure Vivian Vance and William Frawley would have loved that.

Jude The Obscure · 08-26-2010, 06:21 PM

Ricky and Lucy as parents to a rebellious teenage son

Marvo301 · 08-26-2010, 07:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jude The Obscure

Ricky and Lucy as parents to a rebellious teenage son

Little Ricky you got some splainin to do!!

Tweety · 08-26-2010, 08:00 PM

Interesting question.

I don't think there's any doubt that they could have starred as husband and wife in another series. The public certainly never got tired of Lucy, and had the two of them worked through their problems, the public would have accepted Desi as well.

The public never would have accepted Lucy being married to someone else in a sitcom, and Lucy wouldn't have done anything like that anyway. It had to be Desi.

A sitcom probably would have worked with or without the kids, but having the kids star in it with them would certainly have been special for the family. And their standards were such that they would have made it a good show. There were still a lot of good writers around in those days.

And I certainly think a variety type format would have worked as well. And it would have been fun to see Lucy showcase her REAL signing and dancing talents. Variety doesn't work any more, but it was huge in the 50s and 60s.

comedyfreak · 09-03-2010, 09:53 AM

Their next series could have been The Mother's In Law.

Jude The Obscure · 09-03-2010, 09:46 PM

I suggested that in the Mothers-In-Law forum, in a way, that show could have been a great Lucy and Viv vehicle, had Lucy not listened to those insiders who sabotaged (temporarily) her friendship and partnership with Vivian.

comedyfreak · 09-04-2010, 05:36 AM

This would have been with Desi and William Frawley as their busbands.

08-15-2010, 04:51 PM	#1
Timoth26 Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Sep 08, 2009 Posts: 185	What if Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz had stayed together? Hey, I just got to wondering. What do you think would've happened if Lucy and Desi never divorced? Do you think they could've worked their problems out eventually? Do you think Desi could've stopped drinking and got some help? Do you think that Lucille Ball would've still done her other shows "The Lucy Show and Here's Lucy"? Maybe Desi could've co-produced all of The Lucy Show instead of just the first 12 episodes. What do you think The Lucy Show would've been like if Desi Arnaz had stayed with them? Could he have played Lucy Carmicheals husband? The Lucy Show could've given Lucy and Desi a fresh start since they had done ILL for so long. Please let me know your ideas. Thanks.

08-26-2010, 04:14 AM	#5
comedyfreak Cheers! Forum Fanatic Join Date: Dec 14, 2005 Location: Sunny California Posts: 11,059	If they would have stayed married maybe we would have gotten an I Love Lucy Reunion or specials.
	__________________ www.facebook.com/comedyfreak

08-26-2010, 08:00 PM	#9
Tweety Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Jan 18, 2002 Location: Florida Posts: 6,804	Interesting question. I don't think there's any doubt that they could have starred as husband and wife in another series. The public certainly never got tired of Lucy, and had the two of them worked through their problems, the public would have accepted Desi as well. The public never would have accepted Lucy being married to someone else in a sitcom, and Lucy wouldn't have done anything like that anyway. It had to be Desi. A sitcom probably would have worked with or without the kids, but having the kids star in it with them would certainly have been special for the family. And their standards were such that they would have made it a good show. There were still a lot of good writers around in those days. And I certainly think a variety type format would have worked as well. And it would have been fun to see Lucy showcase her REAL signing and dancing talents. Variety doesn't work any more, but it was huge in the 50s and 60s.
	__________________ Straight, and VERY proud of it. No, that's OK, I don't need a parade.

08-16-2010, 01:27 PM	#2
old grouch Member Senior Member Join Date: May 13, 2010 Location: montana Posts: 1,877	If they had stayed together, Desi could have played her husband on 'Here's Lucy', which would have starred the entire Arnaz family: Lucille Ball, Desi Arnaz, Lucie Arnaz, and Desi Arnaz, Jr.

08-16-2010, 01:39 PM	#3
Rezny@gmail.com Member Senior Member Join Date: Jul 20, 2007 Location: Nebraska Posts: 2,675	And also,the executive producer of the first season (1962-1963)black and white of "The Lucy Show"WAS INDEED Desi Arnaz.Question:How come in the remaining seasons he was replaced?

08-16-2010, 02:38 PM	#4
Jude The Obscure Retired Eternal Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Dec 10, 2006 Posts: 7,520	^Because Desi realized he could not handle the fact that things were NOT the same anymore. The pressures of running Desilu coupled with his own personal life in turmoil with the drinking, etc led him to step down and sell his share to Lucy. Even though they couldn't remained married, no one doubts for a minute that Lucy and Desi never stopped loving each other despite the fact they both remarried. Had this been a perfect world with Desi and Lucy's problems worked out--they perhaps would have went with the variety show format, something many people believed had Lucy attempted it, she would have been a big success doing.

08-26-2010, 06:21 PM	#7
Jude The Obscure Retired Eternal Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Dec 10, 2006 Posts: 7,520	Ricky and Lucy as parents to a rebellious teenage son

09-03-2010, 09:53 AM	#10
comedyfreak Cheers! Forum Fanatic Join Date: Dec 14, 2005 Location: Sunny California Posts: 11,059	Their next series could have been The Mother's In Law.

09-03-2010, 09:46 PM	#11
Jude The Obscure Retired Eternal Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Dec 10, 2006 Posts: 7,520	I suggested that in the Mothers-In-Law forum, in a way, that show could have been a great Lucy and Viv vehicle, had Lucy not listened to those insiders who sabotaged (temporarily) her friendship and partnership with Vivian.

09-04-2010, 05:36 AM	#12
comedyfreak Cheers! Forum Fanatic Join Date: Dec 14, 2005 Location: Sunny California Posts: 11,059	This would have been with Desi and William Frawley as their busbands.