- Numerous articles and books have been written to celebrate the value, significance, and entertainment of I Love Lucy, and it’s not difficult to see why. Who can forget classic episodes such as “Lucy Does a TV Commercial,” “Job Switching,” “L.A. at Last,” and “Lucy’s Italian Movie”? These and other memorable moments have cemented the show’s legacy, and here are six interesting facts to underscore its historical importance.
- In 1953, 29 million people watched Dwight D. Eisenhower’s presidential inauguration, but 44 million viewers tuned in the next day to witness Lucy giving birth to little Ricky. That amounted to a staggering 72% of all TV households at the time. As it happens, Lucy’s real-life son, Desi Arnaz Jr., was born on the same day as Little Ricky.
- Bea Benaderet was the top pick to play Ethel Mertz, but she couldn’t do it because she was already starring as Blanche Morton on The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show. Benaderet did, however, make a guest appearance in the first season episode “Lucy Plays Cupid.”
- Barbara Pepper, who is best known for her role as Doris Ziffel on the wacky sitcom Green Acres, was also considered for the part of Ethel. Pepper was Lucy’s close friend in real life and appeared in 10 episodes of I Love Lucy, including the season one episode “Breaking the Lease.”
- Gale Gordon, who later became Lucy’s trusty sidekick, was initially considered for the role of Fred Mertz, but he was already committed to the sitcom Our Miss Brooks with Eve Arden. However, Gordon did appear twice on I Love Lucy as Ricky’s boss, Alvin Littlefield, and later as a judge on an episode of The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour. Meanwhile, Arden herself had a cameo appearance as herself in the “L.A. at Last” episode of I Love Lucy, alongside William Holden.
- Despite being 22 years apart in age, William Frawley and Vivian Vance, who played Fred and Ethel, respectively, seemed like the perfect on-screen couple. However, legend has it that they were not particularly fond of each other in real life. When the possibility of a spin-off featuring the duo was raised after I Love Lucy ended, Vance put an immediate stop to the idea. Had it gone ahead, it would have been the first spin-off series in television history.
From 1957 to 1960, The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour (originally named The Lucille Ball-Desi Arnaz Show) aired 13 hour-long episodes, chronicling the continuing adventures of the Ricardos and the Mertzes. One of these episodes included a crossover with The Danny Thomas Show, marking the first known instance of a crossover in television history. In return, Lucy and Desi guest-starred as the Ricardos in a 1959 episode of The Danny Thomas Show titled “Lucy Upsets the Williams Household.”
After the couple divorced in 1960, Lucille Ball found success in The Lucy Show from 1962 to 1968 and Here’s Lucy from 1968 to 1974. However, it’s widely agreed that there will never be another show like I Love Lucy. Lucie Arnaz, in an interview, credited the show’s success to the reliability of its characters. The humor was grounded in the relationships and desires of the characters, making it universally relatable. Additionally, the comedy was not topical, which has allowed it to remain timeless. The characters of Lucy, Ricky, Fred, and Ethel were similar to people we encounter in real life, making the show feel authentic.
Despite the show’s lighthearted nature, every episode was happily resolved by the end. The show’s enduring popularity is evident as it continues to make people laugh even today. Here’s to another 70 years of I Love Lucy and the unforgettable characters of Lucy, Ricky, Ethel, and Fred. We will always love you, Lucy!
