"I Love Lucy" (1951) TV series 1951-1957

User Rating:

9.0/10   

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6

Release Date:

15 October 1951 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Family

Plot:

A daffy woman constantly strives to become a star along with her bandleader husband and gets herself in the strangest situations.

Plot Keywords:

Bandleader | Friendship Between Men | Product Placement | Cult TV | Friendship Between Women

Awards:

Won 4 Primetime Emmys. Another 3 wins & 24 nominations

US TV Schedule:

Sat. July 11	2:30 AM	HALMRK	Tennessee Ernie Hangs On	#3.31
Tue. July 14	2:30 AM	HALMRK	The Golf Game	#3.32

Cast

Lucille Ball	...	Lucy Ricardo / ... (181 episodes, 1951-1957)
Desi Arnaz	...	Ricky Ricardo (181 episodes, 1951-1957)
Vivian Vance	...	Ethel Mertz (176 episodes, 1951-1957)
William Frawley	...	Fred Mertz (175 episodes, 1951-1957)

Also Known As:

"Lucy & Ricky" (USA) (working title)
"Lucy in Connecticut" (USA) (rerun title)
"Lucy" (USA) (working title)
"The Sunday Lucy Show" (USA) (rerun title)
"The Top Ten Lucy Show" (USA) (rerun title)

Runtime:

30 min (179 episodes) | Argentina:30 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Spanish

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

USA:TV-G (TV rating) | Argentina:Atp | Canada:G

Filming Locations:

General Service Studios - 6625 Romaine Street, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

CBS Television Network

Trivia:

The series was partially based on "My Favorite Husband", a radio comedy series with a similar storyline in which Lucille Ball had starred for several years.

Goofs:

Continuity: In various episodes, Ethel is referred to as Ethel Roberta, Ethel Louise, and Ethel Mae.

Quotes:

Lucy Ricardo: Nurtz to Mertz

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Wings: B.S. I Love You (#7.12)" (1996)

Soundtrack:

I Love Lucy

How much more can be said?

I want to echo all those who have praised Desi Arnaz--he was simply the best straight man in show business. Lucille Ball was incredibly funny, but when you watch her later series, there seems to be something missing--and it's of course Desi. He's hilarious, and as others have mentioned a real pioneer in TV production. Throw in his musical ability and he's hard to beat as performer by anyone (better than Jackie Gleason in my opinion).

As for the show itself, it's timeless. These days it's strange to watch MASH, All In The Family, Maude, they've all faded and seem hopelessly dated. Not so with I Love Lucy, it's just as funny today--no it doesn't deal with abortion, or teen suicide, it deals with funny people who are even funnier when they are together, who have great chemistry together and then the show puts them into genuinely funny situations. In todays politically correct world, one wonders if the thought police would have allowed Lucy to jab at Ricky's accent, or would require some sort of social message about Lucy's role as a housewife. Please. I tend to find more meaning in Ricky singing "I Love Lucy" or Lucy trying to sneak into Ricky's show down at the Tropicana after he's banned her than in all of Maude's tired feminist rants put together.