Lucille Ball on Desi Arnaz "I Married a Loser.." - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

TMC · 12-12-2016, 05:02 PM

LittleRickyII · 12-12-2016, 06:10 PM

People keep reposting this interview with those four words in the title, completely taking out of context what she said. Perhaps she was inarticulate, but listening to her full statement, she's not calling him a bum (which is what your title makes it sound like she's saying); what she's saying is that Desi was self-destructive. This is her full statement: "I married a loser. He could win, win . . . high, high, high stakes. He could work very hard. He was brilliant. But he had to lose. . . . [He was] sweet, generous -- overly generous -- but he had to lose. He had to fail at everything he built up. Everything he built, he had to break down. And he still claims he's the same way."

Anna Karenina · 12-12-2016, 06:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LittleRickyII

People keep reposting this interview with those four words in the title, completely taking out of context what she said. Perhaps she was inarticulate, but listening to her full statement, she's not calling him a bum (which is what your title makes it sound like she's saying); what she's saying is that Desi was self-destructive. This is her full statement: "I married a loser. He could win, win . . . high, high, high stakes. He could work very hard. He was brilliant. But he had to lose. . . . [He was] sweet, generous -- overly generous -- but he had to lose. He had to fail at everything he built up. Everything he built, he had to break down. And he still claims he's the same way."

I hear what you are saying, she wasn't calling him a loser outright, just that he couldn't handle his success and had to tear it down. I suppose he was insecure and didn't feel he deserved it.

I wonder what Desi thought of this assessment though and if he took her to task privately for putting his issues on blast like that. I say this with all due respect to my red headed queen.

Babalu · 12-12-2016, 07:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LittleRickyII

People keep reposting this interview with those four words in the title, completely taking out of context what she said.

It's a misleading title but it gets attention.

OH Nuts! · 12-13-2016, 12:09 AM

If I were going to venture an opinion, I'd say Desi's womanizing is what wrecked the marriage most.

LittleRickyII · 12-13-2016, 02:29 AM

In this interview, from the same year, Lucy talks about her relationship with Desi at 17:50:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FuBtN6MtsRk&t=2376s

Torgo · 12-13-2016, 09:36 AM

Quote:

People keep reposting this interview with those four words in the title, completely taking out of context what she said.

Annoying click-bait. Same as the ads on Facebook.

LittleRickyII · 12-13-2016, 01:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Anna Karenina

I hear what you are saying, she wasn't calling him a loser outright, just that he couldn't handle his success and had to tear it down. I suppose he was insecure and didn't feel he deserved it.

I wonder what Desi thought of this assessment though and if he took her to task privately for putting his issues on blast like that.

I doubt it. As she states to Barbara Walters, Desi himself acknowledged being that way. I remember about two years after that interview, Rona Barrett, in gossip segment on Good Morning America, reported that Desi was pretty much broke, having gambled away his wealth. I remember her saying (slight paraphrase), "And what about all the money from all those reruns of I Love Lucy? Well, he sold away his rights years ago."

I remember awhile back Lucie Arnaz being questioned about her inheritance from her father. She kind of laughed and implied there was very little inheritance. It might not have amounted to much more than his Delmar and Mexico homes, and rights to The Mothers-in-Law. When he appeared on Alice (1978, I think), he might have actually needed the money. Of course, I don't know for certain that Rona Barrett's claim was accurate. And this site claims he had a net worth of $20 million: http://www.celebritynetworth.com/ric...naz-net-worth/ So who knows?

But what is known is that Desilu stockholders in 1962 wanted Desi to step down and turn the company over to Lucy because his drinking had started to affect his effectiveness in the company. After years of success in the '50s, thanks to Desi, the company then started struggling under his leadership in the early '60s, sort of fitting that pattern Lucy alludes to of building things up then tearing them down.

Anna Karenina · 12-13-2016, 05:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LittleRickyII

I doubt it. As she states to Barbara Walters, Desi himself acknowledged being that way. I remember about two years after that interview, Rona Barrett, in gossip segment on Good Morning America, reported that Desi was pretty much broke, having gambled away his wealth. I remember her saying (slight paraphrase), "And what about all the money from all those reruns of I Love Lucy? Well, he sold away his rights years ago."

I remember awhile back Lucie Arnaz being questioned about her inheritance from her father. She kind of laughed and implied there was very little inheritance. It might not have amounted to much more than his Delmar and Mexico homes, and rights to The Mothers-in-Law. When he appeared on Alice (1978, I think), he might have actually needed the money. Of course, I don't know for certain that Rona Barrett's claim was accurate. And this site claims he had a net worth of $20 million: http://www.celebritynetworth.com/ric...naz-net-worth/ So who knows?

But what is known is that Desilu stockholders in 1962 wanted Desi to step down and turn the company over to Lucy because his drinking had started to affect his effectiveness in the company. After years of success in the '50s, thanks to Desi, the company then started struggling under his leadership in the early '60s, sort of fitting that pattern Lucy alludes to of building things up then tearing them down.

Its so sad that they had this classic show, so much talent and love for each other and that he had to ruin it all with his drinking and womanizing.

Back then they didn't have the understanding we do today about alcoholism and substance abuse and apparently Desi only got sober when he went through the program that saved his son's life.

Was Lucy an alcoholic? I know she liked her "slushies" and on a lighter note nobody outside of Dudley Moore did a better drunk scene than she did.

Anna Karenina · 12-13-2016, 06:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Torgo

Annoying click-bait. Same as the ads on Facebook.

Along with the headlines on TMZ. Just egregious.

Babalu · 12-14-2016, 11:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Anna Karenina

Nobody outside of Dudley Moore did a better drunk scene than she did.

Anna Karenina · 12-15-2016, 01:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Babalu

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zzutOcgCwmY

Dianne3 · 12-21-2016, 03:32 PM

I'm currently re watching ILL reruns.
I have a couple of questions.

1. I would assume Lucy and Desi's problems started (or got worse) during the ILL run. Would anyone be able to pinpoint in what season onscreen the couple was having problems offscreen?

2. A few months back I saw Desi in an episode from Ironside from 1974. He played a veterinarian and shared quite a bit of screen time with Raymond Burr. When I researched this episode, it was mentioned it was a pilot for a possible series. Anyone have any more info here? This was either his second or third last TV appearance, a few years before his Alice appearance.

12-12-2016, 05:02 PM	#1
TMC Member Forum Idol Join Date: Jan 09, 2001 Posts: 126,327	Lucille Ball on Desi Arnaz "I Married a Loser.."

12-12-2016, 06:10 PM	#2
LittleRickyII Member Senior Member Join Date: Feb 22, 2009 Location: California Posts: 2,246	People keep reposting this interview with those four words in the title, completely taking out of context what she said. Perhaps she was inarticulate, but listening to her full statement, she's not calling him a bum (which is what your title makes it sound like she's saying); what she's saying is that Desi was self-destructive. This is her full statement: "I married a loser. He could win, win . . . high, high, high stakes. He could work very hard. He was brilliant. But he had to lose. . . . [He was] sweet, generous -- overly generous -- but he had to lose. He had to fail at everything he built up. Everything he built, he had to break down. And he still claims he's the same way."
	__________________ I Love Lucy Returns Again to CBS Primetime IN COLOR! Friday, May 19, 2017 at 9:00 PM/8:00 PM Central on CBS

12-13-2016, 12:09 AM	#5
OH Nuts! Member Forum King Join Date: Feb 15, 2005 Posts: 133,383	If I were going to venture an opinion, I'd say Desi's womanizing is what wrecked the marriage most.

12-13-2016, 02:29 AM	#6
LittleRickyII Member Senior Member Join Date: Feb 22, 2009 Location: California Posts: 2,246	In this interview, from the same year, Lucy talks about her relationship with Desi at 17:50: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FuBtN6MtsRk&t=2376s

12-21-2016, 03:32 PM	#13
Dianne3 Member Senior Member Join Date: Aug 07, 2002 Posts: 1,057	I'm currently re watching ILL reruns. I have a couple of questions. 1. I would assume Lucy and Desi's problems started (or got worse) during the ILL run. Would anyone be able to pinpoint in what season onscreen the couple was having problems offscreen? 2. A few months back I saw Desi in an episode from Ironside from 1974. He played a veterinarian and shared quite a bit of screen time with Raymond Burr. When I researched this episode, it was mentioned it was a pilot for a possible series. Anyone have any more info here? This was either his second or third last TV appearance, a few years before his Alice appearance.