Desi Arnaz, Jr. - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

greenfuzz · 03-14-2002, 02:25 PM

Does anybody recall if Desi Arnez, Jr. made an appearance on HERE'S LUCY while a member of Dino, Desi, & Billy? This would have been between '66 - '69. If so, did he play the drums in the episode? Was a band featured?

Thanks.

Mike

Pitooey · 03-14-2002, 03:36 PM

One more question??? What ever became of Billy? Does anyone know?

NCVARick · 03-19-2002, 12:19 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by greenfuzz
Does anybody recall if Desi Arnez, Jr. made an appearance on HERE'S LUCY while a member of Dino, Desi, & Billy? This would have been between '66 - '69. If so, did he play the drums in the episode? Was a band featured?

Thanks.

Mike

I'm not sure I understand the question. Desi Jr. not only appeared on "Here's Lucy," but was a co-star during the first three seasons (1968-1971). He did play the drums on the show a number of times, including an episode guest-starring Buddy Rich which was written to showcase Desi Jr's (and Buddy Rich's) drum playing abilities.

NCVARick · 03-19-2002, 12:23 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by JennyLee22
One more question??? What ever became of Billy? Does anyone know?

He is still around. In fact, he and Desi have reprised their Dino, Desi and Billy singing group. I can't remember who the other band member is who is taking Dean Paul Martin's place.

I couple years ago I had the pleasure of meeting Billy Hinsche and joining him and a few others for dinner at the Loving Lucy convention. He was part of the banquet show, joining Keith Thibodeaux (who was playing Desi's part) on the drums in a recreation of Dino, Desi and Billy. Billy is very much alive and well.

greenfuzz · 03-19-2002, 02:45 PM

Thanks for the info, NCVARick. I'm doing research on rock band cameo appearances on '60's TV (sitcoms and dramas), hence my original question. So...I know that Dino, Desi, & Billy never appeared on HERE'S LUCY, but did Arnez appear with any other band on the show, or was he featured as a solo drummer only?

I appreciate your help.

Pitooey · 03-19-2002, 08:57 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by NCVARick

He is still around. In fact, he and Desi have reprised their Dino, Desi and Billy singing group. I can't remember who the other band member is who is taking Dean Paul Martin's place.

I couple years ago I had the pleasure of meeting Billy Hinsche and joining him and a few others for dinner at the Loving Lucy convention. He was part of the banquet show, joining Keith Thibodeaux (who was playing Desi's part) on the drums in a recreation of Dino, Desi and Billy. Billy is very much alive and well.

Thanks NCVARick!!! Glad to hear he's doing good!

NCVARick · 03-20-2002, 12:08 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by greenfuzz
Thanks for the info, NCVARick. I'm doing research on rock band cameo appearances on '60's TV (sitcoms and dramas), hence my original question. So...I know that Dino, Desi, & Billy never appeared on HERE'S LUCY, but did Arnez appear with any other band on the show, or was he featured as a solo drummer only?

I appreciate your help.

He only appeared solo. Lucille Ball was quoted as saying she wanted Dino, Desi and Billy for a guest shot on her show, but that they were too expensive! Surely there must have been some other reason she didn't have them on the show. If those kids were too expensive, how much did she pay to get folks like Liz Taylor and Richard Burton to do her show?

NCVARick · 03-20-2002, 12:10 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by JennyLee22
Thanks NCVARick!!! Glad to hear he's doing good!

You're welcome. :-)

NCVARick · 03-20-2002, 07:17 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by NCVARick

He only appeared solo. Lucille Ball was quoted as saying she wanted Dino, Desi and Billy for a guest shot on her show, but that they were too expensive! Surely there must have been some other reason she didn't have them on the show. If those kids were too expensive, how much did she pay to get folks like Liz Taylor and Richard Burton to do her show?

I should amend this to note that Desi Jr. did perform a duet with Buddy Rich in one episode. That was a pretty spectacular performance on both their parts, by the way.

Also, in the first episode, Desi Jr. performs with a band, but I don't know who the other performers were. Nobody famous, I'm sure.

Speaking of the first episode, in that one, Lucy substitutes for Kim as the vocalist because Kim has laryngitis. Actually, Lucy lip syncs to a recording of Kim singing. My question is this: In the scene where we find out Kim has lost her voice, she otherwise seems fine. She's not sick, just lost her voice. Given that there was a recording of Kim's available -- the one to which Lucy is lip syncing -- and because Kim is otherwise healthy, why didn't Kim perform with the band instead of Lucy? It would certainly make more sense for her to lip sync to her own voice, rather than have 57 year-old Lucy dressed up pretending to be 17 year-old Kim.

TV Guy · 03-22-2002, 07:19 PM

Oh, come on Rick, you know you can't apply logic to "Here's Lucy" scripts. By this point, the writers did anything to get Lucy into (what they thought were) funny situations, no matter how little sense it made!

LucieFam · 03-23-2002, 10:14 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by NCVARick

I should amend this to note that Desi Jr. did perform a duet with Buddy Rich in one episode. That was a pretty spectacular performance on both their parts, by the way.

Also, in the first episode, Desi Jr. performs with a band, but I don't know who the other performers were. Nobody famous, I'm sure.

Speaking of the first episode, in that one, Lucy substitutes for Kim as the vocalist because Kim has laryngitis. Actually, Lucy lip syncs to a recording of Kim singing. My question is this: In the scene where we find out Kim has lost her voice, she otherwise seems fine. She's not sick, just lost her voice. Given that there was a recording of Kim's available -- the one to which Lucy is lip syncing -- and because Kim is otherwise healthy, why didn't Kim perform with the band instead of Lucy? It would certainly make more sense for her to lip sync to her own voice, rather than have 57 year-old Lucy dressed up pretending to be 17 year-old Kim.

Because Lucy Carter would have wanted her baby to stay in bed and rest??

Don't know, but there possibly was a motherly instinct purpose in there. It isn't Kim's voice that Lucy actually lip-syncs to (that I'm aware of), although it was supposed to be. What I mean is, it isn't Lucie Arnaz' voice in the recording. I think I remember hearing that it's Carole Cook's voice we hear.

Also, with Desi on the drums, there was a good solo in "Lucy & Tennessee Ernie's Fun Farm", although it was pre-recorded and a bit out. But, still, pretty great! I'll add some more if I think of 'em!

NCVARick · 03-25-2002, 11:36 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by LucieFam

Because Lucy Carter would have wanted her baby to stay in bed and rest?? Don't know, but there possibly was a motherly instinct purpose in there. It isn't Kim's voice that Lucy actually lip-syncs to (that I'm aware of), although it was supposed to be. What I mean is, it isn't Lucie Arnaz' voice in the recording. I think I remember hearing that it's Carole Cook's voice we hear.

Also, with Desi on the drums, there was a good solo in "Lucy & Tennessee Ernie's Fun Farm", although it was pre-recorded and a bit out. But, still, pretty great! I'll add some more if I think of 'em!

Oh, that makes more sense if that was Carole Cook. I assumed Lucy was lip syncing to Kim's voice because it was so obvious it wasn't her own. Maybe they wanted us to think it was Lucy's voice, in which case my question would be irrelevant. But too bad the bit didn't come off any better than it did.

As for the Desi's solo in the Tennessee Ernie episode, I wouldn't know. That's the single episode of the series I absolutely will not watch. Apart from an absolutely preposterous plot, that whole looong scene where they're supposed to be doing a commercial and all that constant yelling going on . . . ugh! That's the most grating thing I've ever experience on television. How could Lucy have ever accepted that script? That episode is way worse than even those Wayne Newton episodes. But back to episode one, in spite of the ending, I think that episode really sparkled. The dialogue between Lucy and the kids was funny, and that scene in the office with Lucy licking envelopes is hysterical!

LucieFam · 03-25-2002, 11:45 PM

How interesting... The Tennessee Ernie episode was one of my absolute favourites as I was growing up. I remember my friends loved it, too. I recorded it on a cassette tape and took it with me when I went overseas for a few months when I was 10. Now, I look at the episode and see how ridiculous it is, but, it certainly had an appeal for the younger audience! All the musical moments were my favourites.

As for the lip-syncing, I think perhaps we were supposed to belive that it was Lucy Carter singing "All Alone" and dancing to "I Want A Place"...???

03-14-2002, 02:25 PM	#1
greenfuzz Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Dec 07, 2000 Location: Lombard, IL 60148 Posts: 6	Desi Arnaz, Jr. Does anybody recall if Desi Arnez, Jr. made an appearance on HERE'S LUCY while a member of Dino, Desi, & Billy? This would have been between '66 - '69. If so, did he play the drums in the episode? Was a band featured? Thanks. Mike

03-14-2002, 03:36 PM	#2
Pitooey Member Forum Star Join Date: Feb 15, 2001 Location: Rocking in Transylvania. Posts: 15,042	One more question??? What ever became of Billy? Does anyone know?
	__________________ Pitooey... AKA JennyLee - I love the Monkees all over again! *SAY NO TO DRUGS* Jesus saves...

03-19-2002, 02:45 PM	#5
greenfuzz Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Dec 07, 2000 Location: Lombard, IL 60148 Posts: 6	Desi Arnaz, Jr. Thanks for the info, NCVARick. I'm doing research on rock band cameo appearances on '60's TV (sitcoms and dramas), hence my original question. So...I know that Dino, Desi, & Billy never appeared on HERE'S LUCY, but did Arnez appear with any other band on the show, or was he featured as a solo drummer only? I appreciate your help.

03-25-2002, 11:45 PM	#13
LucieFam Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Aug 28, 2001 Location: QLD, Australia Posts: 77	Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Desi Arnaz, Jr. How interesting... The Tennessee Ernie episode was one of my absolute favourites as I was growing up. I remember my friends loved it, too. I recorded it on a cassette tape and took it with me when I went overseas for a few months when I was 10. Now, I look at the episode and see how ridiculous it is, but, it certainly had an appeal for the younger audience! All the musical moments were my favourites. As for the lip-syncing, I think perhaps we were supposed to belive that it was Lucy Carter singing "All Alone" and dancing to "I Want A Place"...???

03-22-2002, 07:19 PM	#10
TV Guy Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Jun 25, 2001 Location: Boston, MA, USA Posts: 3,419	Oh, come on Rick, you know you can't apply logic to "Here's Lucy" scripts. By this point, the writers did anything to get Lucy into (what they thought were) funny situations, no matter how little sense it made!