Gary Morton's Negative Effects on Lucy's Shows - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

oldshows · 10-04-2002, 05:19 PM

Desi, in my opinion, doesn't receive enough credit for the success of I Love Lucy. The guy never received an Emmy nomination and never got credit for running the show because everyone assumed Lucy ran things. Well of course it was actually Desi that made sure everything was in place for the show's success. He made sure Bob and Madelyn produced great scripts and when they didn't, he always gave them helpful, constructive suggestions which they used to make a not so good script into a great one. He also made sure all the props, costumes, cameras, ect were going well kept everyone on the set happy, and kept everything flowing smooth. He continued doing so for the superior first season of The Lucy Show as well. Well, after he left The Lucy Show at the end of the first season, Gary started taking over some of the roles Desi was doing, mainly the person the writers had to pitch a script too. Unfortunately, his abilities to recoginize poor scripts wasn't nearly that of Desi's. As a result, Lucy started finding herself in situations that were simply ridiculous and without any logical premises. Gary also wouldn't tone down Lucy's on set tiradesand let her criticize people in negatives ways, ways Desi never let her do and always did himself in a constructive, helpful manner. As a result, she lost many good people like her writers, who left after 2nd season of The Lucy Show. Then Gary wasn't exactly nice to Vivian either, which, in my opinion, helped lead to her departure from The Lucy Show after season 3. Well, by season 4, Gary had done so many things wrong Desi would have done right, The Lucy Show wasn't nearly as good as it was under Desi in Season 1. And it never got any better either not saying there weren't a few standout episodes during that time. Here's Lucy showed a pickup from The Lucy Show. With a whole new plot and the addition of Desi Jr and Lucie things were really going good especially in season 3 when Bob and Madelyn returned as writers. Unfortunately Desi Jr left at the end of season 3 and Gary, who by then had complete control, let everything go downhill, especially in Season 5.

Fan of old shows · 10-13-2002, 10:53 AM

Desi was the master behind Lucy. Desi worked hard as did Lucy. The divorce was a mistake in my opinion and never should have happend.

SPLAIN · 10-22-2002, 01:57 PM

I know, isn't it tempting to think how different her life would have been if she had reconciled with him at some point?

oldshows · 10-22-2002, 08:55 PM

Oh, if Desi would have stayed with Lucy The Lucy Show and Here's Lucy wouldn't just be good series, they would have been equal to I Love Lucy.

SPLAIN · 10-23-2002, 10:45 AM

Yes, but they might have killed each other in the process. And remember that The Mothers in Law, produced by Desi only lasted a couple of seasons, the magic was the four of them together with those great scripts by those geat writers, and don't forget Jess' contribution too!

SPLAIN · 10-23-2002, 10:46 AM

Just realized that Desi might have directed his own kids on Here's Lucy, love that scenario!

Barnabas1 · 11-02-2002, 11:03 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Fan of old shows Desi was the master behind Lucy. Desi worked hard as did Lucy. The divorce was a mistake in my opinion and never should have happend.

100% With Fan Of Old Shows!

That Other Fan · 12-01-2002, 06:06 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by oldshows
Oh, if Desi would have stayed with Lucy The Lucy Show and Here's Lucy wouldn't just be good series, they would have been equal to I Love Lucy.

The Lucy - Desi Comedy Hour didn't equal ILL. Neither did the few episodes that Desi (produced/directed) during the first season of The Lucy Show.

The four main characters could've reunited, the writers, the producers, everyone and it wouldn't have been the same. Why? Because the viewer would judge it, always compare it (as we do now with TLS and HL).

That Other Fan · 12-01-2002, 06:33 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by oldshows
Desi, in my opinion, doesn't receive enough credit for the success of I Love Lucy. The guy never received an Emmy nomination and never got credit for running the show because everyone assumed Lucy ran things. Well of course it was actually Desi that made sure everything was in place for the show's success. He made sure Bob and Madelyn produced great scripts and when they didn't, he always gave them helpful, constructive suggestions which they used to make a not so good script into a great one. He also made sure all the props, costumes, cameras, ect were going well kept everyone on the set happy, and kept everything flowing smooth. He continued doing so for the superior first season of The Lucy Show as well. Well, after he left The Lucy Show at the end of the first season, Gary started taking over some of the roles Desi was doing, mainly the person the writers had to pitch a script too. Unfortunately, his abilities to recoginize poor scripts wasn't nearly that of Desi's. As a result, Lucy started finding herself in situations that were simply ridiculous and without any logical premises. Gary also wouldn't tone down Lucy's on set tiradesand let her criticize people in negatives ways, ways Desi never let her do and always did himself in a constructive, helpful manner. As a result, she lost many good people like her writers, who left after 2nd season of The Lucy Show. Then Gary wasn't exactly nice to Vivian either, which, in my opinion, helped lead to her departure from The Lucy Show after season 3. Well, by season 4, Gary had done so many things wrong Desi would have done right, The Lucy Show wasn't nearly as good as it was under Desi in Season 1. And it never got any better either not saying there weren't a few standout episodes during that time. Here's Lucy showed a pickup from The Lucy Show. With a whole new plot and the addition of Desi Jr and Lucie things were really going good especially in season 3 when Bob and Madelyn returned as writers. Unfortunately Desi Jr left at the end of season 3 and Gary, who by then had complete control, let everything go downhill, especially in Season 5.

Bob and Madelyn returned in Season 4 (They wrote the famous "Burton-Taylor" episode in season 3, but that was it)

I believe both Lucie and Desi Jr. have said that Gary handled more of the business (day to day) activities in connection with Lucy in the 60's and 70's. If what's written in "I Loved Lucy" is correct, I believe he took more control over her career in the late 70's and 80's and yes then he didn't make the best decisions (and if what's written is true the money and not the creative usually clouded that decision which is unfortunate).

During the "The Lucy Show" and "Here's Lucy" years, Lucy ran a tight ship. Anytime she had a conflict about whether a script was good or not she ALWAYS turned to Desi for advice.

TLS and HL not matching up to ILL, in my opinion, is unfortunately
as with all shows being on the air for a long time the quality starts to wane. Lucille Ball was on the air for over 20+ years playing the "Lucy" character and unfortunately it's hard to keep coming up with "great episodes" putting the character in new situations, therefore it looks "stale" and "weak" even if the same amount of effort is being put into it each week

SPLAIN · 12-03-2002, 02:38 PM

That was all very well said, i would only add that after 23 years of the same silly ideas she needed to change her character to someone more sophisticated and the comedy would have come out of the characters like it did on Cheers or Mary Tyler Moore, but Lucy changing with the times, she NEVER would have gone for that, she thought she lasted that long BECAUSE she never changed! And in some ways that was true, people loved her because they could count on her to be the same, the one thing in America that never did change in spite of wars and recessions and all the other things that drive us nuts!

CBSrulz · 12-04-2002, 02:59 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by oldshows
Oh, if Desi would have stayed with Lucy The Lucy Show and Here's Lucy wouldn't just be good series, they would have been equal to I Love Lucy.

I bet if Lucy and Desi never split up I Love Lucy would have kept running til maybe the 1965-1966 season and would have color eps. for those crazy color lucy fans....and Lucy and Desi could had worked on more TV shows together.

SPLAIN · 12-04-2002, 12:09 PM

Are you kidding, they'd probably still be working together today, Lucy would do a guest spot on the Osbournes, Desi would have an interview with Connie Chung and hit on her, and Gale would do his cartwheel on a Jackass episode!

CBSrulz · 12-04-2002, 10:30 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by SPLAIN
Are you kidding, they'd probably still be working together today, Lucy would do a guest spot on the Osbournes, Desi would have an interview with Connie Chung and hit on her, and Gale would do his cartwheel on a Jackass episode!

Probably!LoL!

! That would be funny!

SPLAIN · 12-05-2002, 12:04 PM

I was always sorry Lucy didn't work more with some modern shows like Saturday Night Live, they finally asked her when they heard she was dying in the hospital, jerks!

oldshows · 12-12-2002, 11:47 PM

Gosh, The Other Fan, the way your talking about how unfortunate it was TLS and HL didn't compare with ILL and how all shows quality wanes over time just as Lucy did, you make it sound like these shows were terrible. Yes, I'll admit they weren't ILL but then again what other show ever made can compare with ILL. TLS and HL were good in there own right, had some really great classic episodes, along with some flops, and deserve to be back on the air.

10-04-2002, 05:19 PM	#1
oldshows Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Dec 10, 2001 Posts: 215	Gary Morton's Negative Effects on Lucy's Shows Desi, in my opinion, doesn't receive enough credit for the success of I Love Lucy. The guy never received an Emmy nomination and never got credit for running the show because everyone assumed Lucy ran things. Well of course it was actually Desi that made sure everything was in place for the show's success. He made sure Bob and Madelyn produced great scripts and when they didn't, he always gave them helpful, constructive suggestions which they used to make a not so good script into a great one. He also made sure all the props, costumes, cameras, ect were going well kept everyone on the set happy, and kept everything flowing smooth. He continued doing so for the superior first season of The Lucy Show as well. Well, after he left The Lucy Show at the end of the first season, Gary started taking over some of the roles Desi was doing, mainly the person the writers had to pitch a script too. Unfortunately, his abilities to recoginize poor scripts wasn't nearly that of Desi's. As a result, Lucy started finding herself in situations that were simply ridiculous and without any logical premises. Gary also wouldn't tone down Lucy's on set tiradesand let her criticize people in negatives ways, ways Desi never let her do and always did himself in a constructive, helpful manner. As a result, she lost many good people like her writers, who left after 2nd season of The Lucy Show. Then Gary wasn't exactly nice to Vivian either, which, in my opinion, helped lead to her departure from The Lucy Show after season 3. Well, by season 4, Gary had done so many things wrong Desi would have done right, The Lucy Show wasn't nearly as good as it was under Desi in Season 1. And it never got any better either not saying there weren't a few standout episodes during that time. Here's Lucy showed a pickup from The Lucy Show. With a whole new plot and the addition of Desi Jr and Lucie things were really going good especially in season 3 when Bob and Madelyn returned as writers. Unfortunately Desi Jr left at the end of season 3 and Gary, who by then had complete control, let everything go downhill, especially in Season 5.

10-13-2002, 10:53 AM	#2
Fan of old shows Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Aug 25, 2002 Location: Florida Posts: 417	Desi was the master behind Lucy. Desi worked hard as did Lucy. The divorce was a mistake in my opinion and never should have happend.

10-22-2002, 01:57 PM	#3
SPLAIN I Love Lucy Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Mar 04, 2002 Location: MONTREAL, CANADA Posts: 4,563	I know, isn't it tempting to think how different her life would have been if she had reconciled with him at some point?

10-22-2002, 08:55 PM	#4
oldshows Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Dec 10, 2001 Posts: 215	Oh, if Desi would have stayed with Lucy The Lucy Show and Here's Lucy wouldn't just be good series, they would have been equal to I Love Lucy.

10-23-2002, 10:45 AM	#5
SPLAIN I Love Lucy Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Mar 04, 2002 Location: MONTREAL, CANADA Posts: 4,563	Yes, but they might have killed each other in the process. And remember that The Mothers in Law, produced by Desi only lasted a couple of seasons, the magic was the four of them together with those great scripts by those geat writers, and don't forget Jess' contribution too!

10-23-2002, 10:46 AM	#6
SPLAIN I Love Lucy Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Mar 04, 2002 Location: MONTREAL, CANADA Posts: 4,563	Just realized that Desi might have directed his own kids on Here's Lucy, love that scenario!

12-03-2002, 02:38 PM	#10
SPLAIN I Love Lucy Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Mar 04, 2002 Location: MONTREAL, CANADA Posts: 4,563	That was all very well said, i would only add that after 23 years of the same silly ideas she needed to change her character to someone more sophisticated and the comedy would have come out of the characters like it did on Cheers or Mary Tyler Moore, but Lucy changing with the times, she NEVER would have gone for that, she thought she lasted that long BECAUSE she never changed! And in some ways that was true, people loved her because they could count on her to be the same, the one thing in America that never did change in spite of wars and recessions and all the other things that drive us nuts!

12-04-2002, 12:09 PM	#12
SPLAIN I Love Lucy Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Mar 04, 2002 Location: MONTREAL, CANADA Posts: 4,563	Are you kidding, they'd probably still be working together today, Lucy would do a guest spot on the Osbournes, Desi would have an interview with Connie Chung and hit on her, and Gale would do his cartwheel on a Jackass episode!

12-05-2002, 12:04 PM	#14
SPLAIN I Love Lucy Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Mar 04, 2002 Location: MONTREAL, CANADA Posts: 4,563	I was always sorry Lucy didn't work more with some modern shows like Saturday Night Live, they finally asked her when they heard she was dying in the hospital, jerks!

12-12-2002, 11:47 PM	#15
oldshows Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Dec 10, 2001 Posts: 215	Gosh, The Other Fan, the way your talking about how unfortunate it was TLS and HL didn't compare with ILL and how all shows quality wanes over time just as Lucy did, you make it sound like these shows were terrible. Yes, I'll admit they weren't ILL but then again what other show ever made can compare with ILL. TLS and HL were good in there own right, had some really great classic episodes, along with some flops, and deserve to be back on the air.