Before "I Love Lucy," Ball starred in several B-movies as well in some stage shows. She also met and eloped with Desi Arnaz, her "I Love Lucy" husband, before the show was even conceived.
After Ball was cast as a cooky wife on a radio show and its popularity seemed to grow, the "I Love Lucy" idea was brought about ... Lucy - always her own woman - insisted she wanted to work with her husband. Although CBS did not like the idea of a mixed couple on TV, because they did not think the American couple would take it well, they agreed ... and after a couple of bumps in the road "I Love Lucy" made it into CBS's line-up and the public loved it! And still does. In the 60 years since it has aired, "I Love Lucy" has practically never been off the air, and it has been translated into dozens of languages and seen all over the world.
Top Five Reasons You Should Love Lucy
5) She paved the way for women in the television business. She was the first woman to head a production company - Desilu - which she started with her husband. After they were divorced, she did what any smart woman would do ... she bought his share of the studio and ran it successfully until it was bought in 1967 and renamed Paramount Television.
4) Even if her first marriage didn't work out, you have to admit - Lucy snagged herself a (younger) hottie. She met Desi Arnaz in 1940 and eloped the same year. He was six years younger than her. Although a divorce was originally filed for in 1944, before "I Love Lucy" even aired, the couple did not actually divorce until 1960 - and they remained close friends even after the divorce.
3) She was one hot mama. In true Lucy fashion, when she was pregnant with her second child she insisted that her pregnancy be written into the "I Love Lucy" story line because the show was having top ratings at the time and most episodes were filmed live. CBS refused at first, saying that a pregnant woman could not be on television and the word "pregnant" could not be used either. But she wasn't going to have it ... so she continued to fight ... and she won, so her pregnancy was put into the story line ... but the word "expecting" was used throughout the show, as opposed to "pregnant."
2) Despite her antics, you can identify with her character. Although Lucy was always up to some crazy scheme in order to end up in a movie, or get a job, or cross a border ... her perseverance and work ethic is something that I think (or hope) everyone can relate to. If we all went that extra mile, or put that extra thought, into our everyday lives ... I think the world would be a better place (or a funnier one, at best).
1) She was just plain funny. Lucy's humor still resonates today. I dare anyone to watch an episode of "I Love Lucy" or "The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour" or anything she was in ... and not laugh. Whether she was shoving chocolate down her shirt or pressing grapes with her feet or herding baby chickens back into their boxes, she was the Queen of Comedy in the '50s and '60s ... and she still is today. She knew how to be funny across cultures, ages, and time ... and that's what made her so successful.
Here are some classic Lucy moments for you to enjoy ... As well as some of my favorites.
Lucy's in London. Bridges are falling down. People are runnin' 'round and the town's upside down. With her mini-skirt on, she got in with the mod and she really became top-gear. With her motorcycle and her sunglasses and her long bright red hair ... It was Lucy runnin' wild. (Lucy In London)
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