Lucy's Peak Year - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

nvtlover · 09-20-2010, 10:24 PM

When do you think Lucy's career peaked? Every legend has a slow decline as they get older in their career because of their age, Hollywood ageism, etc... I love Lucy right up to the end but when do you think her performances peaked? I think 1968. This is the last year she won an Emmy for The Lucy Show. She starred in the highly successful Yours, Mine, and Ours. She got her children to star with her in Here's Lucy and enjoyed working with them, despite somewhat low but still top ratings during the first season.

comedyfreak · 09-21-2010, 08:38 AM

I can't really say until I see the rest of the seasons.

lucyandethel · 12-24-2010, 12:32 AM

Well, Lucy really stayed a beloved star from the inception of I Love Lucy to the day she died. Even today more than two decades after her death, she is a star and her shows continue in syndication everywhere.

I Love Lucy and The Lucy Show were both triumphs for her. Here's Lucy had some memorable episodes, but many of the them were duds. I think Lucy honestly could have continued best in another format sans her kids.

Lucy needed strong supporting actors around her. She had that with Desi Sr. and Vivian Vance. I think she had strong actors in Mary Jane Croft (who simply was not utilized nearly enough in Here's Lucy) and Mary Wicks (who should have became a regular after Vance left.) While Lucy and Gale Gordon had some great moments, I just don't think he was the "ideal" co-hort for her. His blustery Mr. Mooney became old after awhile, as did Mr. Carter on "Here's Lucy".

Just my thoughts.

nvtlover · 12-26-2010, 09:57 PM

I agree with you. Mary Jane Croft and Lucy were terrific together and she was one of the most underused actress on television. She should have become Lucy's co-star like Viv. She was different from Viv (simplier, not as sassy) but gave us another great person to play off of. Mary Wickes is hilarious in all her Lucy appearances and she should also had become a co-star. Mary Jane and Mary could switch eposides if they want a light workload with an occasional Lucy and celebrity show. (Variety shows were big in the 60s so I don't think Lucy would get away from this format.) gale and Lucy were great in The Lucy Show but in Here's Lucy it didn't work as well. The family relationship didn't help and we had seen it before. While Desi was more a hearttrob, he was cut in some of his scenes. However, Lucie shouldn't have been dropped from the show. By the later seasons, Lucie and Lucille's relationship resulted in some of the show's best eposides. Overall, I think Lucy should have done some specials 1968-1969 and come back 1969-1970 with a stronger show, though Here's Lucy still was entertaining and better than most shows today and even some that aired then.

Jude The Obscure · 12-26-2010, 10:44 PM

They should have had a rotating cast of supporting players--one week Mary Jane, the next Mary Wicks--with the occasional guest appearance of Viv and Ann Sothern thrown in the mix.

Somehow I thought Mary Jane was in more Here's Lucy than she has been. Is it with the fourth season that they really start using her more?

McGillicuddy · 12-26-2010, 11:01 PM

I always wondered why she wasn't listed as a co-star, like Gale and Lucie. She was always credited at the top of the supporting cast as, "with Mary Jane Croft", no prominence.

scotsguy · 09-21-2011, 06:37 AM

I totally agree,I find Mary Jane hilarious that voice starts me laughing.

I've now seen the first 4 seasons and I like the episodes best when they deal with Lucy and Harry having a fall out or Lucy worrying about the kids.

The weak ones are the one about the astronaunts and Lucy In The Jungle from season 4 and the terrible Lucy Arnaz pliot show about Kim.

Really enjoyed the Ginger Rogers one and the Dinah Shore one on season4.

LittleRickyII · 09-21-2011, 08:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scotsguy

I totally agree,I find mary Jane hilarious that voice starts me laughing.

I've now seen the first 4 seasons and I like the epiosdes best when they deal with Lucy and Harry having a fall out or Lucy worrying about the kids.

The weak ones are the one about the astronaunts and Lucy In The Jungle from season 4 and the terrible Lucy Arnaz pliot show about Kim.

Really enjoyed the Ginger Rogers one and the Dinah Shore one on season4.

I kind of like that astronauts episode, though the "Shine On Harvest Moon" bit grew tiresome. But I agree with you about the rest.

09-20-2010, 10:24 PM	#1
nvtlover Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Feb 22, 2010 Location: Vermont Posts: 55	Lucy's Peak Year When do you think Lucy's career peaked? Every legend has a slow decline as they get older in their career because of their age, Hollywood ageism, etc... I love Lucy right up to the end but when do you think her performances peaked? I think 1968. This is the last year she won an Emmy for The Lucy Show. She starred in the highly successful Yours, Mine, and Ours. She got her children to star with her in Here's Lucy and enjoyed working with them, despite somewhat low but still top ratings during the first season.

09-21-2010, 08:38 AM	#2
comedyfreak Cheers! Forum Fanatic Join Date: Dec 14, 2005 Location: Sunny California Posts: 11,059	I can't really say until I see the rest of the seasons.
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09-21-2011, 06:37 AM	#7
scotsguy Member Forum Regular Join Date: Nov 25, 2002 Location: Edinburgh,Scotland Posts: 696	I totally agree,I find Mary Jane hilarious that voice starts me laughing. I've now seen the first 4 seasons and I like the episodes best when they deal with Lucy and Harry having a fall out or Lucy worrying about the kids. The weak ones are the one about the astronaunts and Lucy In The Jungle from season 4 and the terrible Lucy Arnaz pliot show about Kim. Really enjoyed the Ginger Rogers one and the Dinah Shore one on season4.
	Last edited by scotsguy; 11-18-2011 at 07:01 AM.

12-24-2010, 12:32 AM	#3
lucyandethel Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Dec 18, 2009 Location: Los Angeles CA Posts: 435	Well, Lucy really stayed a beloved star from the inception of I Love Lucy to the day she died. Even today more than two decades after her death, she is a star and her shows continue in syndication everywhere. I Love Lucy and The Lucy Show were both triumphs for her. Here's Lucy had some memorable episodes, but many of the them were duds. I think Lucy honestly could have continued best in another format sans her kids. Lucy needed strong supporting actors around her. She had that with Desi Sr. and Vivian Vance. I think she had strong actors in Mary Jane Croft (who simply was not utilized nearly enough in Here's Lucy) and Mary Wicks (who should have became a regular after Vance left.) While Lucy and Gale Gordon had some great moments, I just don't think he was the "ideal" co-hort for her. His blustery Mr. Mooney became old after awhile, as did Mr. Carter on "Here's Lucy". Just my thoughts.

12-26-2010, 09:57 PM	#4
nvtlover Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Feb 22, 2010 Location: Vermont Posts: 55	I agree with you. Mary Jane Croft and Lucy were terrific together and she was one of the most underused actress on television. She should have become Lucy's co-star like Viv. She was different from Viv (simplier, not as sassy) but gave us another great person to play off of. Mary Wickes is hilarious in all her Lucy appearances and she should also had become a co-star. Mary Jane and Mary could switch eposides if they want a light workload with an occasional Lucy and celebrity show. (Variety shows were big in the 60s so I don't think Lucy would get away from this format.) gale and Lucy were great in The Lucy Show but in Here's Lucy it didn't work as well. The family relationship didn't help and we had seen it before. While Desi was more a hearttrob, he was cut in some of his scenes. However, Lucie shouldn't have been dropped from the show. By the later seasons, Lucie and Lucille's relationship resulted in some of the show's best eposides. Overall, I think Lucy should have done some specials 1968-1969 and come back 1969-1970 with a stronger show, though Here's Lucy still was entertaining and better than most shows today and even some that aired then.

12-26-2010, 10:44 PM	#5
Jude The Obscure Retired Eternal Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Dec 10, 2006 Posts: 7,520	They should have had a rotating cast of supporting players--one week Mary Jane, the next Mary Wicks--with the occasional guest appearance of Viv and Ann Sothern thrown in the mix. Somehow I thought Mary Jane was in more Here's Lucy than she has been. Is it with the fourth season that they really start using her more?

12-26-2010, 11:01 PM	#6
McGillicuddy Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Sep 28, 2002 Posts: 5,179	I always wondered why she wasn't listed as a co-star, like Gale and Lucie. She was always credited at the top of the supporting cast as, "with Mary Jane Croft", no prominence.