I Love Lucy: A Show Fraught With Personality Clashes! - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Terry Ross · 12-27-2000, 12:55 PM

This show was the most successful sitcom in history yet it was filled with personality problems. And the professionalism of the four actors made it impossible for the TV audience to notice.

First, there was Lucy and Desi's marital problems,which were becoming major in the 50's. Yet, the TV characters still appeared very much in love (the actors were still in love). In later years, Lucille Ball commented that the show was an escape, a relief of sorts from her failing marriage.

And Lucille Ball did not like Vivian Vance initally (Desi hired her) but they grew to become best friends. Lucy was one of the last people to see Vivian in 1979 before she died of cancer. The death devastated her.

Vivian Vance despised William Frawley, who was 20+ years older. There are signs of strain in that relationship on camera (i.e. they never kiss). Bill wasn't very fond of Vivian, either.

And if you read "Life After Lucy" by Keith Thibodeaux (aka Little Ricky), even more stories emerge. Lucille Ball treated him very professionally but if you watch her interact with him on screen, you'd think she was wild about him. Desi treated him the best and William Frawley was nice, too. The biggest surprise was Vivian Vance, who he said barely spoke to him at all.

Many problems on this show yet the actors were so professional, the TV audience could only love them.

ilovelucyjg15 · 02-17-2002, 01:15 AM

hmm. Interesting.
Does anyone know exactly why Vivian hated William so much!??

Joicetti · 02-17-2002, 02:23 AM

Re why Vivian hated Bill, I think she initially resented being paired with someone so much older, and he overheard this or some such remark and it was downhill from there. Don't know if there was ever an initial exchange (in one of the Lucy books it says that she called him an "old coot" or something along those lines which he heard) but I do believe that their age difference was at the center of it at first. From then on I guess they just started to hate everything else about each other until they could barely say two words to one another.

And then re Vivian and Richard Keith, that really surprises me. I'm surprised that she barely spoke to him. What reason was there for her not to like him? But then again, she never had any children herself so that perhaps distanced her from him???

LucieFam · 02-17-2002, 02:39 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Joicetti
Re why Vivian hated Bill, I think she initially resented being paired with someone so much older, and he overheard this or some such remark and it was downhill from there. Don't know if there was ever an initial exchange (in one of the Lucy books it says that she called him an "old coot" or something along those lines which he heard) but I do believe that their age difference was at the center of it at first. From then on I guess they just started to hate everything else about each other until they could barely say two words to one another.

And then re Vivian and Richard Keith, that really surprises me. I'm surprised that she barely spoke to him. What reason was there for her not to like him? But then again, she never had any children herself so that perhaps distanced her from him???

That is a little different to what you'd expect, considering Viv was an absolute saint to little Lucie Arnaz. So, I'm sure it wasn't a children thing. Lucie adored Viv, who became a wonderful friend and mentor. It was Viv who encouraged Lucie to follow her heart to live theatre, and eventually Broadway!

Barnabas1 · 02-17-2002, 09:12 AM

How can you say that? About our favorite show!

cablejockey · 02-17-2002, 11:31 AM

I also read the Keith Thibodeaux book. He talks about how he was invited to Lucy and Desi's to spend weekends and such. He could hear the Arnazs fighting a lot. Its a good book for those behind the scenes stuff as seen by a child.

ilovelucyjg15 · 02-17-2002, 02:30 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Babalu
How can you say that? About our favorite show!

What the heck are you talking about Babalu!???? We aren't even saying anything bad!

davy's niece · 02-17-2002, 04:38 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by ilovelucyjg15

What the heck are you talking about Babalu!???? We aren't even saying anything bad!

I'm gonna have to agree with that..You ok Babalu? lol.

ilovelucyjg15 · 02-17-2002, 04:56 PM

.

ilovelucyjg15 · 02-17-2002, 04:56 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by davy's niece

I'm gonna have to agree with that..You ok Babalu? lol.

LoL

Hollow · 02-17-2002, 05:00 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by davy's niece

I'm gonna have to agree with that..You ok Babalu? lol.

Barnabas1 · 02-17-2002, 07:13 PM

what is everyone's problem? That is a horrible thing to say about our favorite show!

dawsongirl · 02-17-2002, 08:21 PM

Ricky, nothing said in this post is anything but the truth. And as we all know, the truth sometimes hurts, but everyone has to live with it.

Barnabas1 · 02-17-2002, 08:48 PM

Wait! They said Many Problems on this show! HAAAAAAA!

dawsongirl · 02-17-2002, 09:15 PM

There were many problems on this show. It may have looked good on TV, but not behind the scenes.

12-27-2000, 12:55 PM	#1
Terry Ross Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Nov 20, 2000 Location: New Jersey Posts: 196	I Love Lucy: A Show Fraught With Personality Clashes! This show was the most successful sitcom in history yet it was filled with personality problems. And the professionalism of the four actors made it impossible for the TV audience to notice. First, there was Lucy and Desi's marital problems,which were becoming major in the 50's. Yet, the TV characters still appeared very much in love (the actors were still in love). In later years, Lucille Ball commented that the show was an escape, a relief of sorts from her failing marriage. And Lucille Ball did not like Vivian Vance initally (Desi hired her) but they grew to become best friends. Lucy was one of the last people to see Vivian in 1979 before she died of cancer. The death devastated her. Vivian Vance despised William Frawley, who was 20+ years older. There are signs of strain in that relationship on camera (i.e. they never kiss). Bill wasn't very fond of Vivian, either. And if you read "Life After Lucy" by Keith Thibodeaux (aka Little Ricky), even more stories emerge. Lucille Ball treated him very professionally but if you watch her interact with him on screen, you'd think she was wild about him. Desi treated him the best and William Frawley was nice, too. The biggest surprise was Vivian Vance, who he said barely spoke to him at all. Many problems on this show yet the actors were so professional, the TV audience could only love them.

02-17-2002, 02:23 AM	#3
Joicetti Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Dec 02, 2001 Location: San Diego, CA, USA Posts: 46	Re why Vivian hated Bill, I think she initially resented being paired with someone so much older, and he overheard this or some such remark and it was downhill from there. Don't know if there was ever an initial exchange (in one of the Lucy books it says that she called him an "old coot" or something along those lines which he heard) but I do believe that their age difference was at the center of it at first. From then on I guess they just started to hate everything else about each other until they could barely say two words to one another. And then re Vivian and Richard Keith, that really surprises me. I'm surprised that she barely spoke to him. What reason was there for her not to like him? But then again, she never had any children herself so that perhaps distanced her from him???
	__________________ Joy

02-17-2002, 09:12 AM	#5
Barnabas1 Member Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Dec 01, 2001 Posts: 4,598	How can you say that? About our favorite show!
	__________________ My favorite shows :: I Love Lucy, Dark Shadows, Leave it to Beaver, The Munsters, Chico and the Man, and Get Smart. Formerly Babalu and agsfan

02-17-2002, 04:56 PM	#9
ilovelucyjg15 Banned Banned!! Frequent Poster Join Date: Nov 06, 2001 Location: MA Posts: 209	.
	Last edited by ilovelucyjg15; 02-17-2002 at 04:57 PM.

02-17-2002, 01:15 AM	#2
ilovelucyjg15 Banned Banned!! Frequent Poster Join Date: Nov 06, 2001 Location: MA Posts: 209	hmm. Interesting. Does anyone know exactly why Vivian hated William so much!??

02-17-2002, 11:31 AM	#6
cablejockey Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Dec 29, 2001 Location: ontario canada Posts: 478	I also read the Keith Thibodeaux book. He talks about how he was invited to Lucy and Desi's to spend weekends and such. He could hear the Arnazs fighting a lot. Its a good book for those behind the scenes stuff as seen by a child.

02-17-2002, 07:13 PM	#12
Barnabas1 Member Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Dec 01, 2001 Posts: 4,598	what is everyone's problem? That is a horrible thing to say about our favorite show!

02-17-2002, 08:21 PM	#13
dawsongirl Member Forum Icon Join Date: Jan 04, 2001 Posts: 53,128	Ricky, nothing said in this post is anything but the truth. And as we all know, the truth sometimes hurts, but everyone has to live with it.

02-17-2002, 08:48 PM	#14
Barnabas1 Member Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Dec 01, 2001 Posts: 4,598	Wait! They said Many Problems on this show! HAAAAAAA!

02-17-2002, 09:15 PM	#15
dawsongirl Member Forum Icon Join Date: Jan 04, 2001 Posts: 53,128	There were many problems on this show. It may have looked good on TV, but not behind the scenes.