I remember after Mommie Dearest and My Mother's Keeper was released, Lucie Arnaz famously told the press that she was having a t-shirt made that said, "My Mother was a witch to but I'm not writing a book about it". In the decades since her parents death, Ms. Arnaz has provided honest and accurate information to film and Golden-era historians as to the problems and imperfections of her parents and yet has maintain such an extraordinary level of respect for them in doing so.
I actually like Lucy & Viv together on The Lucy Show better than I did on I Love Lucy! I liked seeing them as different characters: Lucille Carmichael & Vivian Bagley. I liked them living together in a house with 3 kids. It was a whole different dynamic!
I agree. They needed each other. In her last 3 shows, Lucy had Gale Gordon, but she needed SOMEONE whom she trusted & loved to be her main scene partner.
I'm glad Lucie Arnaz had the opportunity to do dramatic work. I still remember Ms. Arnaz starring in the made-for-TV movie "Who is the Black Dahlia?" then later she appeared in at least two episdoes that I know of of "Law & Order".
I always felt kindof bad for Vivian. I understand she was paid well, but I read her book, and understand that she ALWAYS LOVED the Theatre, but once she got on I LOVE LUCY, there was "NO TURNING BACK.". Rest in Peace Vivian and Lucy, hope you're making the Angels laugh!!!!
Yeah, in so many ways her life was a tragedy rather than a comedy. Here on YT, when I see someone call Vivian "Ethel", I ALWAYS correct them. I tell them that Vivian had one of the most recognized faces in the world yet no one new her name. That's tragic. I've been binge-watching Lucy & Viv on The Lucy Show in the last 2 weeks. I was so glad she was able to use the name "Vivian" for her character. I also loved that it was a completely different sitcom w/ no connections with any I Love Lucy characters. Yet, even in the comments under those vids, people would say, "Lucy & Ethel were so funny," or, whatever & it would bug the crap out of me. So I would tell them what I posted above, & point out the names of these new characters. I'd ask, "Did you not see the OPENING where the name of this show is printed on the screen & spoken by the narrator?... This show is totally unrelated to I Love Lucy. In this show, there has never been an Ethel & the Ricardos never existed. Didn't you hear how many times Lucy said, "Viv," in this episode? She says, "Viv!," more than Jack said, "Rose!" in James Cameron's Titanic! Yet, not once does she say, "Ethel." I honestly can't understand how anyone could watch, "The Lucy Show," when they were living together with their 3 children & still think those characters are Lucy Ricardo & Ethel. You don't have to pay close attention at all to see that.
I always found it strange that when Lucille Ball was interviewed on TV in the 60s 70s and 80s, she would mention Desi, Viv, Bill, Gale, her kids of course, Carole Cook, but as far as I can tell she never once mentioned Mary Jane Croft? Mary Jane appeared in all of Lucy's half hour sitcoms from the mid 50s to 1974 and she was a major part of Lucy's show especially in the late 60s and 70s, yet Lucy never mentioned her?
Did anyone else notice that those figurines on the mantle , where the original ones from the I LOVE LUCY show ? I always LOVED seeing them every time the show came on T.V. and wanting them .......over the years I've always hoped to see another pair of them in an Antique store or estate sale .
I've been watching Lucie a lot online... it's funny that I feel as though we would be fast friends. I know of her and her family and she has no clue I even exist! Lol. What a multi-talented family. It's nice to see her dad getting more credit. I feel like he didn't get enough back in the day. " I Love Lucie"
She's great! Still beautiful. Still real. Still wise. Still smart. I'm sure she must (somewhere inside herself) get tired of answering the same questions over and over about her mom, dad, upbringing, etc., but she's ALWAYS fresh. The documentary she made about her parents several years ago was so touching. Not because it was about two famous people--that was not at all the point for me. I found it so good because I saw two people who loved each other so passionately but they were just too different to make it work. I cried for these two people, as goofy as that sounds. They were just humans who loved but loved imperfectly, as we all do, and it just wasn't enough. Lucie seems happy, grounded and I love her energy and kindness. I hope I look 1/2 as good as she does in 9 years when I'M 69. I like her and I don't even know her. That's saying something.
Lucie inherited all of the best qualities from her folks. Such an interesting person to speak with. Her inner circle is fortunate to have her because if I needed someone to bounce something off of, she would be the person I would choose.
I love seeing Desi and Lucy in their daughter, Lucie! The San Fernando Valley Blog has great photos of the Desilu Ranchette, where Lucie spent her early childhood, at the corner of Corbin and Devonshire. The house was torn down in 1976 and there is no trace of the original property now. You can watch a you tube video of a drive down Devonshire in 1943 and they point out the Arnaz house. I remember the Old Valley from my childhood in the early 1950's.
I still watch Lucy almost every day. I have had a complete set of I love lucy and the lucy desi comedy hour dvds for many years. How can you not love someone who wants you to laugh?
Wish Lucie would do more theatre. In the 80s we tried to see her and Robert Klein in "They're Playing My Song" in L.A. and couldn't get tickets!!! A few months later we were in London and we saw it! She was WONDERFUL!!!
There were several duplicates of those & the piano ones as well.I knew a couple who had 2 of them made into lambs that were Kool their a little larger than I thought.
Not long ago I saw another interview Lucie gave on Vivian, saying how she saw her as an aunt, who used to read her bedtime stories when she would stay with her parents, which was often as the 1950s wore on and her own marriage to Phil Ober fell apart.
Oh, wow! I would LOVE to hear this interview (or read it, if it's in print!). I read that Lucie said her mom was devastated when Vivian died. Can you cite sources for any of these things so I can hear what she said? I love hearing her talk about Vivian!
I'm glad Lucie Arnaz is around to tell the truth about Vivian & the relationship b/t Lucy & Vivian. Is it true that Lucie was responsible for FINALLY getting Viv a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame? [ETA: I honestly can't believe Vivian didn't get a star during her lifetime. That's crazy.]
Lucie is right ! Her mother was definitely a “task master, perfectionist and THE boss on the set” ! Just ask Joan Crawford, Richard Burton, Jack Benny or Tallulah Bankhead, among others.
I remember watching HERE’S LUCY and having the biggest crush on that brunette bombshell Lucie Desiree Arnaz 🥰. So happy for her and Laurence and their wonderful family. I have to say to Phil Vandervort ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR MIND??!! Anyway I ❤️ LUCIE
I don’t think Viv gets much credit and a very sort of muted generic credit is about all she has ever gotten in interviews with Lucy and show principals. I will never understand it. Viv was a real ANCHOR in every Lucy vehicle - fact.
I have seen most of her interviews over the year and the questions are answers are the same. I just wish her Mother and Father were still hear to help her with them.
Tony u did such great work for The Lucy Show. A huge fave of mine & a series my own bro released as a mega pak! Was there any reason u were not involved in seasons 4-6?
Lucie is so different to me as she aged! I didn't care for her on her mom's shows BUT NOW she is awesome and so great to listen to because she worked with two legends In Viv and Lucy and came away the better for it!!
She played the lead role in a 70s tv movie about murdered Elizabeth Short(Smart??),known as ''the black dahlia,'' a gruesome still unsolved murder in Los Angeles. Haven't seen the movie since.
Vivian Vance was a talented actress, singer and a hottie in her own right. It annoyed me when I found out about the clause in her contract for I Love Lucy (and probably the other Lucy shows) that she was required to weigh 10 pounds more than Lucy. And then of course the camera adds five more pounds. Rant over. I love the ensemble cast and zaniness of I Love Lucy, even though William Frawley was the worst curmudgeon and Vivian detested working with him on the show. Rant really over now.
There was no such clause on The Lucy Show, or in any of her guest appearances with Ball throughout the years. I think such a clause for I Love Lucy is an urban myth. What is your source for making this claim?
Vivian's weight went up & down throughout I Love Lucy's run. The main issue was here was this attractive woman, 22 years younger than Frawley, & people were supposed to believe SHE'D be with him? So they had to make her look frumpy by giving her a bad perm & unflattering haircut, putting her in clothes that would be more appropriate for an older woman, & otherwise try to make it believable that she'd be married to Fred!
