User reviews

I've watched the show since I was in kindergarten. It never crossed my mind that it's black and white. It is the best show. It's got so much history. Lucy was the reason I got into comedy. She's an inspiration. Desi is an inspiration for me as well. It never gets old. It'll never go away and we're not gonna let it.

To date, I have now seen every single episode from all 6 seasons of the "I Love Lucy" TV show from the 1950s. And, by far, I rate Season 4 as being the absolute best season of them all.

In fact, I'd quite confidently say that when it came to the show's superiority in the realm of its hilarious scriptwriting, Season 4 was, without question, the ultimate peak of Sit-Com perfection.

It was especially when the Ricardos and the Mertzes arrived in Hollywood, USA that this show's scriptwriters proved themselves to be at the absolute pinnacle of their craft by creating incomparably uproarious situations for Lucille Ball and her fellow cast members to indulge themselves in.

This review of mine is my respectful tribute to writers Bob Carroll Jr., Madelyn Pugh, and Jess Oppenheimer who, as a team, surely must have worked like fiends behind the scenes as they wrote one memorable episode of priceless, 1950's comedy after another.

I would also like to take this moment to salute and pay honour to director William Asher who was the one responsible for knowing exactly how to handle the script-material given to him and then mould the actors perfectly into the characters which they inevitably became. Even today, 60 years later, the "I Love Lucy" show still remains, on all levels, one of the most unique and unforgettable programs in all of television history, bar none.

"I Love Lucy" is one of my faves guaranteed to elicit a constant belly laugh from me. Great way to start any day! Ball's comic timing in her scenes has NEVER been surpassed. Since I was born in 1945 this is also somewhat of an opportunity to see what life in America was like when I was a mischievous child. Today, of course, we know more than we want to about the real-life personality conflicts behind the scenes and Desi's constant insensitivity toward Lucille. Ms Ball was a great role model for young ladies, esp. in the industry, because of her managerial/financial/directorial brilliance. I don't think that the later "Lucy" sitcoms were even as good as the "I love Lucy" series.

Everyone who has already commented has said just about all one can about this extraordinary accomplishment in TV entertainment. I would just like to add this. Some years ago, I saw a comic strip panel that showed the following. We see two gas pumps, one labeled Fred and the other Ethyl. That's it. Evokes a little chuckle. How many shows made the names of their characters so much part of our culture, that 50 years later, a pun like that would be immediately understood by young and old alike? You teenagers out there, do you remember Conklin and Boynton? Or Lily Ruskin and Hilda Crocker? How about Cosmo and Henrietta Topper? Seems to me it is just I Love Lucy and The Honeymooners that have stood the test of time and appealed to all generations. The Bach and Beethoven of TV. Real classics. I am so happy Lucy is finally available on DVD, with plenty of entertaining and fascinating extras.

It's still the best television series ever created: still playing on about 4 channels all the time here in the Bay Area. Beautiful Lucille Ball is a master of line delivery and facial expressions, never topped. Vivian Vance has the best supporting role in TV history, a warm, funny, sympathetic character. Desi Arnaz offers the first known Latino-Caucasian pairing ever while William Frawley excels as Vance's husband. Almost all shows are classics, even the lesser known ones. Writing is outstanding, dealing with everyday problems that all can still relate to, never dating. Unlike other TV series, it's VERY SLOWLY being released to DVD, accenting its special status. TV Guide gave it a number 2 rating in its 100 greatest comedy television series (following "Seinfeld"). While "Seinfeld" should be in the Top 10, Lucy was and will always be the pinnacle best.

This was the show that truly invented the situation comedy. Lucy was the show that truly put forth a situation each week and built a plot around it. Whether it was switching jobs, breaking into show business or just getting into trouble, Lucy and Ricky were just the couple for this show. I always enjoy watching it whenever its on, especially the episodes from the "Little Ricky" era. This show is a timeless classic that will always span the generations.

Is anyone else tired of this? Seriously, it first aired a year before my father was born and I don't think its been off the air sense.

But then, there is a reason for this, it represents the golden age of television...the first golden age at least.

It represents Americana and one of it's most unique art forms.

But honestly, it's still funny. It can still make you laugh. It still stands the test of time...that is it does for anyone that hasn't seen every episode multiple times

The series, "I Love Lucy" could be the most classic T.V. show in the history of television!! Lucille Ball incorporated slapstick stunts in situations that would utterly appall many insufferable people!! The cast is great!! Comprising of; Lucille Ball, Desi Arnaz, her real life husband, Vivian Vance, and William Frawley.. Originally, the parts of Fred and Ethel Mertz were suppose to be played by Gale Gordon ("Here's Lucy") and Bea Benederitt ("Petticoat Junction").... While both of these performers were very talented, they sought other avenues, and Vivian Vance and William Frawley stepped in!! From there, the television audience could not imagine any two other people playing the role of the Mertz couple!! "I Love Lucy" was very successful for many reasons, one being that the ethnicity recognition sparked a behavioral candor which was identifiable with many people who watched television !! Special guest stars contributed to the popularity of this show tremendously!! Desi Arnaz, who was very talented, became a likable element on "I Love Lucy".. Yet, first and foremost, Lucille Ball, (An RKO Queen) and her wiles of chicanery, are what symbolized the auspicious trademark to this program!! Lucy was the lovable mischief maker who garnered a camaraderie with the small screen viewer!! Her later shows were classic as well, but, "I Love Lucy" was the show which most sticks out in everybody's mind as the stellar sitcom in Lucille Ball's career!! For years and years "I Love Lucy" has been enjoyed by generations of television viewers, and it will continue to be enjoyed by more and more generations in the future!! "I LOVE LUCY" IS TELEVISION!!

A lot of episodes per season, so obviously some will be better or worse than others. Sadly over time, the show just drags on; milking the same kind of jokes and even making Lucy seem less likable with her erratic behavior.

Network executives tried to play a race card by objecting to Desi Arnez even being Lucille Ball's husband in this. Like today, the media is still behind the general population. Not only did the public not object to Desi, but it is hard to imagine anyone else playing Lucy's mate now.

This series really clicked on all cylinders all of the time. Lucy who had been schooled in physical comedy while at RKO studios by the great stone face, Buster Keaton, seemed to get better & better at it the longer the series ran. Desi got better & better at acting & comedy as the series kept on going.

William Frawley was brilliant as Fred Mertz, & Vivian Vance was the perfect Ethel Mertz. No matter how zany Lucy got, the others were always there to either help her scheme or pick up the pieces. Some of the comedy is so timeless that the reruns prosper still more than 50 years after they were made.

When Superman appeared, he met his match with Lucy. It's a Bird, It's A Plane, It's a Flying Redhead! The only Redhead nearly as famous as Lucy was Red Skelton & at times even his work was not as endearing as Lucy's was.

Lucille Ball changed television forever when "I Love Lucy" hit the air in 1951. It featured a woman as a main character, which was rare back during that time and age. And the fact that the woman did not listen to her husband often was even more controversial. Everything the show was was rebellious. It was also extremely controversial because her husband was Cuban, and back in the '50's, barely anyone married other races, and if so, the subject was definitely not the premise for a television show.

So, through the ages, I Love Lucy has had a major impact on generations, and has not slipped into culture like many shows, but has been accepted into culture. Not to mention all the Lucy impersonators who have pageants each and every year. But the thing I remember most, is the famous "Eeeooowww!"

5/5 stars --

John Ulmer

Memorable comedy show of the 1950s.

How daring of Lucille Ball to go on television with her Cuban born husband, Desi Arnaz, in 1951. CBS took a bold step and the dividends certainly paid off.

Even though they didn't get along at all off the cameras, Vivian Vance and William Frawley were the perfect neighbors for Lucy and Desi. It was Ethel who was also a part of Lucy's hair-brained schemes. Lucy always wanted to break into show business. Lucy was jealous of Desi. One show was where Lucy thought that Desi was going to kill her. Naturally, the classic shows was where Lucy advertised a vitamin, stepped on grapes, got her head caught in a vase, met various stars, and would be told by Desi to start 'splaining.

Fred Mertz (Frawley) did a great imitation of Jack Benny's cheapness. Remember Mrs. Trumbull, the landlady? She was played by Elizabeth Patterson, a veteran actress who played just about everyone's mother in Hollywood.

How can we forget the panic that ensued when Lucy told Desi that she was ready to give birth? We sure loved Lucy.

Even now, all these years later 'I Love Lucy' remains an iconic sitcom, a sitcom that all domestic sitcoms look up to, and Lucille Ball remains a hero to every comedienne trying to show that she can be as funny as a man.

Full of now iconic moments, this show remains as funny as it was when it first aired.

There aren't many sitcoms that have stood the test of time like this one. Well done, Lucy, I'm proud to say I still love you.

We will never forget Lucy and his friends, in "I Love Lucy". Still today we enjoy them, till cry of a laugh. I remember her since I as a very little child, and my mother put me on bed to watch Lucy's. Every week we were in front of TV, waiting for her. Lucy was brilliant and full of life, intelligence, happiness and a charming girl. Mostly now, comparing her shows with what is on TV in our days. She did not need a bad word or an unfair joke to make people laugh. I also never seen my mother and wife as happy as when they watch Lucy's show. Lovely Lucy,rest in peace, and keep shining in heaven. Love from my family and I in Spain. That's all I have to say at the moment.

It's the misadventures of Cuban band leader Ricky Ricardo (Desi Arnaz) and his wife Lucy (Lucille Ball). She always wants to get in on the act and always gets into all sorts of trouble. Their best friends are their neighbors Ethel (Vivian Vance) and Fred Mertz (William Frawley).

This is a classic TV sitcom. It's legendary and iconic. It's all Lucille Ball. She is the funniest woman alive of her era and a master of physical comedy. She has great facial expressions. She would be funny today. This is influential in the creation of the modern sitcom. It's still funny which isn't always the case for shows this old. Vivian Vance is a great sidekick. Desi Arnaz is a fine straight man. It's six years which transformed television.

I admit it, not every episode is perfect. But most of them are. Lucille Ball will have you clutching your sides laughing in this classic comedy also starring, of course, her husband Desi Arnaz.

I just found the first season on DVD, and started watching it again, and I just love this show. I am only thirteen years of age, but this show still makes me laugh so hard. Lucille Ball is a legend, and Desi sings quite well, well enough that I don't have to skip over the singing scenes in embarrassment.

What makes Ball funny is her talent for making voices and hilarious expressions. That alone is enough to make you laugh, if not for the funny little comments exchanged between the Ricardos. Don't let the release date stop you: watch this show!

PERHAPS WE'RE FLYING in the face of everyone, but this was never a favourite in the Ryan household. Oh sure, we watched and knew everyone in the cast. The longevity that this series generated a high degree of familiarity that was as wide spread and nearly universal. It seemed that everyone watched.

ALTHOUGH THIS WASN'T the first and original family Situation Comedy, it did manage to set the standard from which all others were measured. As is often the case, there was no super secret to their success; but rather they established a basic premise, added some very interesting characters, cast them as best as possible and work hard with good writing. (Simple formula, no?)

SO, WHAT KEPT America captivated through six full original run seasons and countless re-runs was the adventures of the Stage Struck wife of a Night Club Band leader and her attempts to break into Show Biz. With some variations, that was it.

DOUBTLESS WAS THE overwhelmingly positive effect that the contributions of the starring duo, Lucielle Ball & Desi Arnaz who portrayed Lucy & Ricky Ricardo. (Hey Schultz, were they typecast as married folks?)

ABOUT AS EQUAL a contribution was provided by William Frawley & Vivian Vance as Fred & Ethel Mertz, the Ricardo's landlords, as well as best friends. It has been reported that Mr. Frawley and Miss Vance really did not hit it off so well. If it was true, one would certainly not surmise it to be so by their on screen performances; with this obviously being a case of true professionalism.

AS A SIDE BAR to the story, the formation of DESILU PRODUCTIONS led to Mr. & Mrs. Arnaz's purchase of the former RKO RADIO PICTURES' Studio, rendering them a definite force in Hollywood and TV in particular.

The Simpsons were originally a set of cartoon shorts on the Tracy Ullman Show, with essentially a standard family sitcom scenario of a dense husband, the smarter wife, and two kids who are meant to be smarter than the adults, as has been repeated in other comedies over the decades. What does this have to do with I Love Lucy? Homer Simpson, the husband, would end up becoming TOO stupid and alienating the fans. Similarly, Lucy Ricardo would become too much herself.

The show had the original scenario of Lucy and Ricky Ricardo, the latter a Cuban immigrant who runs a musical band for a living, living in an apartment building next to their elderly neighbors the Mertzes. Lucy would get into a number of scrapes and would end up being bailed out by the others, often to their consternation. Later on in the series, Lucy and Ricky would end up having a baby son.

The show started well enough, but as time went on, Lucy would get into more and more ridiculous scrapes causing more and more headaches for everyone else, even making her husband think she was in mortal danger and causing him to panic, or trying to join his band as a singer when she couldn't sing. Lucy would evolve from being comical to becoming genuinely annoying. No shock that my elder sister did not love Lucy.

A classic show that revolutionized TV and comedy. The first of its time. On the Mount Rushmore of all time TV shows.

Lucy is the absolute worst. She's a conniving liar who constantly meddles in Ricky's work under some wild delusion that she has a modicum of talent. They even dedicated a whole episode to Lucy not being able to tell the truth for 24 hours. What a piece of scum that can't even go one day without lying. Even when caught in a lie she just keeps adding more lies.

She is one of the most passive aggressive people to ever slime their way across a TV screen. If she doesn't get what she wants she throws a tantrum and makes everyone's life hell until she gets it. She lives a privileged pampered life but plays the victim like she's married to a drunk who beats her senseless every day. She doesn't remotely deserve Ricky and is in serious need of a reality check.

More than once she calls Ricky claiming to be in mortal danger from an attacker just to see if Ricky "really loved" her and would rush to save her. She'd deserve every bit of it if something did happen to her, ala 'The Girl Who Cried Wolf'.

The real star of the show is Ricky and his unending patience. He's a real role model for a gentleman. Lucy however is a horrible role model for women.