Dick Martin's Harry - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

mikey0581 · 07-16-2019, 12:22 PM

I was just wondering, does anyone know why Dick Martin left The Lucy show, I thought having Harry around was awesome for Lucy. Did it have anything to do with him being on Rowan and Martin's Laugh In? I was mad when he left after the Judo episode, but after being hit with a flower vase after flower vase, I would have left too. Lol.

PracTz · 07-21-2019, 01:57 AM

Based on interviews I've read from the late Mr. Martin, it seems he and both the Arnazes had been friends for sometime when approached to do the part by Desi himself but was reluctant since he and Dan Rowan's nightclub act was gaining popularity Anyway, Desi told him it would be okay for him to be on for as a semi-regular and Mr. Martin decided that the role would be good to help him gain recognition so he could gain more fans for his act with Mr. Rowan. His role of Harry Conners was to essentially advice his love interest Lucy and her friend Viv not to do something, go off on a flight, then come back and be surprised at the mess they'd gotten themselves into while he was away. Although Mr. Martin would say that he understood that with Lucy and Viv's antics, his character soon proved to be extraneous and he had no problems being let go since his nightclub act with Dan Rowan was his main focus, I can't help but wonder if at least part of the reason he was phased out was that Desi Arnaz himself parted ways with Desilu about eight episodes into the show ( I guess he and Lucy realized that they could NOT pretend they were still chummy colleagues in such close quarters despite their divorce and her remarriage ) and they decided to make a fresh start including ridding many of the Arnaz hires. It would still be about five more years before 'Laugh In's' debut in 1968.

Still, Lucy herself seemed to have no problems working with him- and would work with him and her onetime flame Dan Rowan [!] in a somewhat bizarre onetime comedy special hosted by Dinah Shore and Diana Ross [of all folks] called "Like Hep" (1969) in which the five performers did "Laugh In" type fast sketches interspersed with musical numbers by Miss Shore and Miss Ross! This despite the fact that "Laugh In" ran at the very same time as "Here's Lucy!" Since Lucy had no logical obligation to work with the others, all I can think of is that she had genuine affection for at least Mr. Rowan, Mr. Martin and Miss Shore and perhaps was curious enough to want to work with Miss Ross in her first primetime network comedy venture!

mikey0581 · 07-21-2019, 11:50 AM

Thanks for the information, yeah it was sad when Desi left but according to Vivian Vance, he was depressed behind the scenes, it wasn't like when he was the actor on set, instead of being behind the camera. So, I understand. He also didn't want to mess up the success of I Love Lucy because he didn't believe success like that would come around twice. But he was the one to push Lucy back into what she love to do, act in front of the audience and also I just read recently that Desilu had financial problems and they thought this would fix it. Interesting about Laugh in and Lucy starring with them in Like Hep, I need to look for that. Thanks again. Never thought Lucy worked with Diana Ross of all people, surprising.

TV Guy · 07-21-2019, 01:21 PM

Lucy and Desi, when they originally founded Desilu, had a “buy-sell agreement” built into their ownership. That meant that if one owner wanted to invoke the buy-sell, he/she would make an offer to the other for their half of the company. The other person either had to make an offer that exceeded the first offer, or sell out. It would go back and forth until one accepted an offer. It was a very clever to get the selling partner a good price.

Desi was drinking heavily on the set of “The Lucy Show”. He had difficulty seeing Lucy with her new husband, who was also on the set. He would fall asleep, drunk, on the set. Lucy would send an assistant to pretend to trip over his legs and wake him up. Finally, she had enough and invoked the buy-sell agreement. IIRC, Desi accepted her first offer - he also knew that things couldn’t continue as is.

Dick Martin was there to be an occasional boyfriend for the Lucy character. But Lucy decided she would not have a regular love interest on her series again. So Dick was gone before the first season was over. Dick later said it was a mistake for Lucy to not have a love interest on the show - it didn’t have to be him, but someone should have that role. I agree with him - it was odd for her to not have that aspect of her live. And Lucy Carmichael was an attractive woman, so she shouldn’t have problems dating.

mikey0581 · 07-21-2019, 09:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TV Guy

Lucy and Desi, when they originally founded Desilu, had a “buy-sell agreement” built into their ownership. That meant that if one owner wanted to invoke the buy-sell, he/she would make an offer to the other for their half of the company. The other person either had to make an offer that exceeded the first offer, or sell out. It would go back and forth until one accepted an offer. It was a very clever to get the selling partner a good price.

Desi was drinking heavily on the set of “The Lucy Show”. He had difficulty seeing Lucy with her new husband, who was also on the set. He would fall asleep, drunk, on the set. Lucy would send an assistant to pretend to trip over his legs and wake him up. Finally, she had enough and invoked the buy-sell agreement. IIRC, Desi accepted her first offer - he also knew that things couldn’t continue as is.

Dick Martin was there to be an occasional boyfriend for the Lucy character. But Lucy decided she would not have a regular love interest on her series again. So Dick was gone before the first season was over. Dick later said it was a mistake for Lucy to not have a love interest on the show - it didn’t have to be him, but someone should have that role. I agree with him - it was odd for her to not have that aspect of her live. And Lucy Carmichael was an attractive woman, so she shouldn’t have problems dating.

Wow, I didn't know it was still that bad for Desi but I understand having your Ex on the set with your new husband there must have been painful to watch. He had his share of flings too I heard.

I know on I Love Lucy he would be constantly drinking. He would carry a glass that looks like water but it was straight up vodka.

07-16-2019, 12:22 PM	#1
mikey0581 Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Aug 14, 2017 Location: wisconsin Posts: 365	Dick Martin's Harry I was just wondering, does anyone know why Dick Martin left The Lucy show, I thought having Harry around was awesome for Lucy. Did it have anything to do with him being on Rowan and Martin's Laugh In? I was mad when he left after the Judo episode, but after being hit with a flower vase after flower vase, I would have left too. Lol.

07-21-2019, 01:57 AM	#2
PracTz Member Senior Member Join Date: Jul 14, 2002 Location: United States of America [Happily Living in the 20th Century] Posts: 2,711	Based on interviews I've read from the late Mr. Martin, it seems he and both the Arnazes had been friends for sometime when approached to do the part by Desi himself but was reluctant since he and Dan Rowan's nightclub act was gaining popularity Anyway, Desi told him it would be okay for him to be on for as a semi-regular and Mr. Martin decided that the role would be good to help him gain recognition so he could gain more fans for his act with Mr. Rowan. His role of Harry Conners was to essentially advice his love interest Lucy and her friend Viv not to do something, go off on a flight, then come back and be surprised at the mess they'd gotten themselves into while he was away. Although Mr. Martin would say that he understood that with Lucy and Viv's antics, his character soon proved to be extraneous and he had no problems being let go since his nightclub act with Dan Rowan was his main focus, I can't help but wonder if at least part of the reason he was phased out was that Desi Arnaz himself parted ways with Desilu about eight episodes into the show ( I guess he and Lucy realized that they could NOT pretend they were still chummy colleagues in such close quarters despite their divorce and her remarriage ) and they decided to make a fresh start including ridding many of the Arnaz hires. It would still be about five more years before 'Laugh In's' debut in 1968. Still, Lucy herself seemed to have no problems working with him- and would work with him and her onetime flame Dan Rowan [!] in a somewhat bizarre onetime comedy special hosted by Dinah Shore and Diana Ross [of all folks] called "Like Hep" (1969) in which the five performers did "Laugh In" type fast sketches interspersed with musical numbers by Miss Shore and Miss Ross! This despite the fact that "Laugh In" ran at the very same time as "Here's Lucy!" Since Lucy had no logical obligation to work with the others, all I can think of is that she had genuine affection for at least Mr. Rowan, Mr. Martin and Miss Shore and perhaps was curious enough to want to work with Miss Ross in her first primetime network comedy venture!

07-21-2019, 11:50 AM	#3
mikey0581 Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Aug 14, 2017 Location: wisconsin Posts: 365	Thanks for the information, yeah it was sad when Desi left but according to Vivian Vance, he was depressed behind the scenes, it wasn't like when he was the actor on set, instead of being behind the camera. So, I understand. He also didn't want to mess up the success of I Love Lucy because he didn't believe success like that would come around twice. But he was the one to push Lucy back into what she love to do, act in front of the audience and also I just read recently that Desilu had financial problems and they thought this would fix it. Interesting about Laugh in and Lucy starring with them in Like Hep, I need to look for that. Thanks again. Never thought Lucy worked with Diana Ross of all people, surprising.

07-21-2019, 01:21 PM	#4
TV Guy Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Jun 25, 2001 Location: Boston, MA, USA Posts: 3,419	Lucy and Desi, when they originally founded Desilu, had a “buy-sell agreement” built into their ownership. That meant that if one owner wanted to invoke the buy-sell, he/she would make an offer to the other for their half of the company. The other person either had to make an offer that exceeded the first offer, or sell out. It would go back and forth until one accepted an offer. It was a very clever to get the selling partner a good price. Desi was drinking heavily on the set of “The Lucy Show”. He had difficulty seeing Lucy with her new husband, who was also on the set. He would fall asleep, drunk, on the set. Lucy would send an assistant to pretend to trip over his legs and wake him up. Finally, she had enough and invoked the buy-sell agreement. IIRC, Desi accepted her first offer - he also knew that things couldn’t continue as is. Dick Martin was there to be an occasional boyfriend for the Lucy character. But Lucy decided she would not have a regular love interest on her series again. So Dick was gone before the first season was over. Dick later said it was a mistake for Lucy to not have a love interest on the show - it didn’t have to be him, but someone should have that role. I agree with him - it was odd for her to not have that aspect of her live. And Lucy Carmichael was an attractive woman, so she shouldn’t have problems dating.