Vivian Vance/William Frawley TV Hall of Fame Induction

[LittleRickyII]

I don't know if these links were ever posted here. This is from the induction ceremony on March 1 of this year. Doris Singleton, Barry Livingston, Stanley Livingston, and Vivian Vance's sister, Lou Ann Graham, who were the presenters as Vivian Vance and William Frawley were inducted into the Television Academy Hall of Fame. Jon Cryer was host. Among the remarks, Barry Livingston once again tells that great story about how William Frawley involved him and his brother, Stanley, in a practical joke to antagonize Vivian Vance during rehearsals for The Lucy Show.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sNdsg...eature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=teZnn...feature=relmfu

RIP beautiful Doris Singleton. Seeing her here, it's hard to believe that she was gone less than four months later.

[lucyandethel]

So glad Viv and Bill were inducted into the Hall of Fame. Long overdue, but better late than never.

[Big3sCompanyFan]

They had a chance at their own series but Vivian didn't want to do it. You guys realize what Vivian said about Fred?

She should be banned from any consideration after saying that!

[Benno123]

Originally Posted by Big3sCompanyFan

They had a chance at their own series but Vivian didn't want to do it. You guys realize what Vivian said about Fred?

She should be banned from any consideration after saying that!

And you realize what William Frawley said about Vivian Vance? Calling her a "dried up old c*@$" isn't exactly the nicest thing to say, either.

They did not like each other, period. He called her nasty names, she called him an old fart, and even had a champagne toast when he died. But what they did off the stage and how they felt about one another never once caused an issue in how they acted as Fred and Ethel. This recognition was way overdue.

[Big3sCompanyFan]

But William wanted to do a show with Viv but Viv said NO and stuff like "I wish he were dead" and "let's have a party" when he died!

The info I've seen indicates she treated him a lot worse than vice versa.

[LittleRickyII]

Originally Posted by Big3sCompanyFan

But William wanted to do a show with Viv but Viv said NO and stuff like "I wish he were dead" and "let's have a party" when he died!

The info I've seen indicates she treated him a lot worse than vice versa.

I'm with Benno123 on this. Neither party was innocent in this feud. From what I remember, he started it by insulting her singing early on. She had had a long career in musical comedy before I Love Lucy, and it was one of her passions. You don't make comments like that about something a person has devoted much of their life to doing if you want to be liked. Granted, I don't think he intended for her to hear his comment, but still, why go there? I'm not defending her, and I'm not defending him. I'm just saying they were both equally culpable.

When I watch them perform as Fred and Ethel, I don't concern myself with their personal feelings for one another offstage. It doesn't matter. They were great at what the did. And Vivian Vance was a terrific comedic actress and a treasure to television viewers. She most certainly deserved this honor.