Do You Think Vivian Vance Was Selfish? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Brian Damage · 02-07-2011, 04:58 AM

Just curious what fans take is on the Vivian/William Frawley feud? Not sure if this is 100% completely true but Vivian refused to do a spinoff of 'The Mertzes' because she hated Frawley. If true, was it selfish of her to act that way even if they hated eachother?

Tap Dancer · 02-07-2011, 02:12 PM

Not at all. Why should she have been stuck doing a show she didn't want to be on? Even if she had loved Bill, she might not have wanted to do it. I think it was a good decision. The Mertzes and the Richardos needed each other. I can't imagine either couple alone for many episodes.

Marvo301 · 02-07-2011, 04:46 PM

I don't think Bill Frawley was hurt by Viv's refusal to work with him. First of all he probably didn't want to work with either. Secondly he landed the role of Uncle Bub on My Three Sons so he wasn't lacking for work.

Hughsgirl · 02-08-2011, 10:43 AM

I don't feel she was selfish at all because from what I read, Bill gave as good as he got in that fued between them and quite frankly I'm surprised they worked as well as they did together for as long as they did. I think she made the right decision because that spin off would have never worked without Lucy and Desi, JMO.

70s show watcher · 02-08-2011, 06:26 PM

no i dont think she was selfish at all

clj2 · 02-09-2011, 02:35 AM

As much as I love The Mertzes, I couldn't see them without the Ricardos, or vice versa. I don't think she was selfish. She had a choice and chose not to....I don't know if I would have enjoyed a show knowing that she hated it.

lucyandethel · 02-09-2011, 03:19 AM

i don't think she was selfish. Of course, there is no way to know for sure, but I don't think a spinoff with just the Mertzes would have worked anyway. Second bananas rarely do well in their own shows.

TV Knowledge Fan · 02-09-2011, 03:46 AM

...she had some personal and psychological problems due to her marriage to Philip Ober, but she wasn't selfish. The reason her "chemistry" with Bill Frawley was so perfect on "I LOVE LUCY" was because they really did loathe each other...like any other long-lasting married couple did. Viewers usually had someone like "the Mertzes" in their family, and they could identify with their situation {"See, just like Aunt Martha yelled at Uncle Sid last week...and she was right!"}. Viv just didn't want to co-star with Bill in their own series...

tdr · 02-21-2011, 09:29 PM

No, she was not selfish, per se. She had already given a lot to the character of Ethel, especially considering it was a role she did not want, at least at the beginning, but was talked into by Desi Arnez and her agent, and she had to take so much nonsense as for the character as being fat and frumpy, Frawley's crude blather and Lucy's superior 'you-do-it-my-way' attitude. So then, to continue working with the actor she couldn't stand, as a character she didn't like, and as the stars who must make or break the show, they would inevitably have more scenes together ... no, that's not selfishness, it's personal and professional preservation.

LittleRickyII · 02-28-2011, 08:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tdr

No, she was not selfish, per se. She had already given a lot to the character of Ethel, especially considering it was a role she did not want, at least at the beginning, but was talked into by Desi Arnez and her agent, and she had to take so much nonsense as for the character as being fat and frumpy, Frawley's crude blather and Lucy's superior 'you-do-it-my-way' attitude. So then, to continue working with the actor she couldn't stand, as a character she didn't like, and as the stars who must make or break the show, they would inevitably have more scenes together ... no, that's not selfishness, it's personal and professional preservation.

Oh, I think Vivian wanted the role of Ethel, for sure. Lucy was skeptical about casting her, thinking she was too glamorous for the part. But Vivian went out of her way, showing up on the set in a bathrobe and curlers to prove to Lucy she could look like a frumpy landlady.

02-07-2011, 04:58 AM	#1
Brian Damage I'm Rich Bitch Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 03, 2002 Location: What Ain't No Country I Ever Heard Of...They Speak English in What? Posts: 63,107	Do You Think Vivian Vance Was Selfish? Just curious what fans take is on the Vivian/William Frawley feud? Not sure if this is 100% completely true but Vivian refused to do a spinoff of 'The Mertzes' because she hated Frawley. If true, was it selfish of her to act that way even if they hated eachother?
	__________________ The Key to the Kingdom of Heaven: John 3:3 *Money Doesn't Buy Happiness...But I'd Rather Cry in My Private Jet*

02-07-2011, 04:46 PM	#3
Marvo301 I'm NOT a Blockhead! Forum Celebrity Join Date: May 17, 2002 Location: The Great White North Posts: 21,456	I don't think Bill Frawley was hurt by Viv's refusal to work with him. First of all he probably didn't want to work with either. Secondly he landed the role of Uncle Bub on My Three Sons so he wasn't lacking for work.
	__________________ Only a life lived for others is worth living. Albert Einstein A life isn't worth living unless it has impact on other lives. Jackie Robinson Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let each new year find you a better man. Benjamin Franklin

02-09-2011, 02:35 AM	#6
clj2 Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Sep 16, 2005 Location: SC Posts: 3,501	As much as I love The Mertzes, I couldn't see them without the Ricardos, or vice versa. I don't think she was selfish. She had a choice and chose not to....I don't know if I would have enjoyed a show knowing that she hated it.
	__________________ -Chris

02-09-2011, 03:46 AM	#8
TV Knowledge Fan Member Senior Member Join Date: Mar 29, 2006 Location: Long Branch, N.J. Posts: 2,577	No, Vivian was definitely NOT selfish... ...she had some personal and psychological problems due to her marriage to Philip Ober, but she wasn't selfish. The reason her "chemistry" with Bill Frawley was so perfect on "I LOVE LUCY" was because they really did loathe each other...like any other long-lasting married couple did. Viewers usually had someone like "the Mertzes" in their family, and they could identify with their situation {"See, just like Aunt Martha yelled at Uncle Sid last week...and she was right!"}. Viv just didn't want to co-star with Bill in their own series...

02-07-2011, 02:12 PM	#2
Tap Dancer Member Forum Regular Join Date: Mar 20, 2005 Location: Virginia Posts: 754	Not at all. Why should she have been stuck doing a show she didn't want to be on? Even if she had loved Bill, she might not have wanted to do it. I think it was a good decision. The Mertzes and the Richardos needed each other. I can't imagine either couple alone for many episodes.

02-08-2011, 10:43 AM	#4
Hughsgirl Member Forum Regular Join Date: Sep 22, 2008 Location: Michigan Posts: 804	I don't feel she was selfish at all because from what I read, Bill gave as good as he got in that fued between them and quite frankly I'm surprised they worked as well as they did together for as long as they did. I think she made the right decision because that spin off would have never worked without Lucy and Desi, JMO.

02-08-2011, 06:26 PM	#5
70s show watcher Member Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: May 20, 2008 Location: between point place and studio 8 h Posts: 4,549	no i dont think she was selfish at all

02-09-2011, 03:19 AM	#7
lucyandethel Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Dec 18, 2009 Location: Los Angeles CA Posts: 435	i don't think she was selfish. Of course, there is no way to know for sure, but I don't think a spinoff with just the Mertzes would have worked anyway. Second bananas rarely do well in their own shows.

02-21-2011, 09:29 PM	#9
tdr Member Senior Member Join Date: Mar 23, 2001 Posts: 1,454	No, she was not selfish, per se. She had already given a lot to the character of Ethel, especially considering it was a role she did not want, at least at the beginning, but was talked into by Desi Arnez and her agent, and she had to take so much nonsense as for the character as being fat and frumpy, Frawley's crude blather and Lucy's superior 'you-do-it-my-way' attitude. So then, to continue working with the actor she couldn't stand, as a character she didn't like, and as the stars who must make or break the show, they would inevitably have more scenes together ... no, that's not selfishness, it's personal and professional preservation.