This is one of 5 episodes of the game show 'Super-Password' filmed in December of 1986. Joining Lucy is her 'Life with Lucy' co-star Ann Dusenberry as well as Betty White and Estelle Getty of 'The Golden Girls'.
R.I.P. to Lucy, Bert and Estelle, and Betty White who passed away a few hours ago… She is just a visitor in this episode, but she will always be the Queen of Password!
That would have been a ratings blockbuster. But Lucy considered herself a jinx in regard to doing shows by that time in her life, and probably would have turned down the offer. She was clinically depressed, and would have benefited from psychotherapy and medication. I urge everyone to read Lee Tannen's fantastically written and intimate biography of Lucy, aptly entitled "I Loved Lucy". It showed Lucy as she was during the last decade of her life, when Lee was her best friend and she was largely away from the public eye. Some of it is hard to read, but you get an idea as to why Lucy was as she was in the decade prior to her death. This excerpt from Tannen kind of sums it up (he knew her better than anyone during the last decade of her life), and puts a lump in my throat. He wrote that the cause Lucy's death was listed on the "...death certificate listed a ruptured aorta...." He then added poignantly, "...I think Lucy died because she simply did not want to live anymore..."
He did it with the approval of Lucy's children, Lucie and Desi Jr. Little Lucie even wrote the forward to the book in appreciation of the way he was able to capture the essence of Lucy during the last decade of her life. They wanted the world to know about the "lost Lucy years", as Lucie Jr. entitled them, when she kept away from the public eye and lived a virtually secluded life at her home on Roxbury Drive in Beverly Hills. The book is sad, but we get to see Lucy as she was at the end of her life, deeply depressed and feeling unloved and forgotten, which we would never have gotten to see otherwise. She needed to be in total control of most all situations in her life, because she was agoraphobic and afraid of even leaving her home. So sad that it came down to this for possibly the most beloved entertainer in history. Lucy was human and had many faults. But she was dedicated to her friends and would do anything for them, if they approached her the right way. Lee Tannen knew how to do this, and he got the best biography about her that anyone could possibly have written, due to his ability to stay close to her, challenge her (at times) and earn her love and trust.
Lucy LOVED Betty White dearly (and vice versa). She would even send Betty's mother flowers for her birthday each year. She also had a standing agreement with a local flower boutique to send another person she deeply loved, Carol Burnett, a large bouquet of flowers every year for her birthday. Lucy died on Carol's birthday, and I remember a RU-vid post where Carol said how upset she was that Lucy had passed, especially on her birthday, but the real kicker, the thing that made her cry, was that flowers arrived from Lucy on Carol's birthday after news had spread that Lucy had just recently passed away a few hours earlier. :(
Verbal Volley Wait! Carol's a girl? *Hard Laughing Audience You: *Facepalm Aw great! Now you made me feel like as if I'm Rose or Patrick Star and that you're Dorothy. Sorry! And sorry for Carol, too! Man, that was an emotional time as Lucy died.
@@scotnick59 Very intelligent. But they all were. Really all of them. Also, just my opinion, I think Estelle & Betty were the most approachable, as reserved as the latter said the former was. Both sweethearts. 😍🙆👏👏👏👏
It was taped the morning Desi had died and Lucy had found out on the set. This is what Betty White told what had happened that day: "The day that Desi died [in 1986] she and I were doing Password together. She was being real funny on the show, but during a break she said, “You know [her language was always salty], it’s the damnedest thing. Goddamn it, I didn’t think I’d get this upset. There he goes.” It was a funny feeling, kind of a lovely, private moment." I'm wondering how it made her real feel.
I remember this. Lucy and Betty were extremely close friends, and when she found out about Desi's passing, she said to Betty, "There he goes. Just like that. Dammit..." She then added tenderly to Betty , "...There goes the love of my life." You will also notice that Lucy carried a tissue with her, in case she broke down on camera. And yet, she still was able to somehow hold herself together, and even paid Estelle Getty tremendous accolades on her characterization of Sophia on the "Golden Girls."
also, Lucy was critical of Ann Dusenberry's acting skills. Lucy was quoted as saying that Dusenberry did not have the timing for comedy. although lucy was great, she had always had great sidekicks like vivian vance
Lucy had committed to doing the show weeks prior to Desi's passing. All five shows for the week are taped on the same day and aired on a Monday to Friday time frame, so there were no need for plans for a funeral, wake, memorial or anything like that. She only had to tape 2 more episodes (totaling about one hour, if she could hold herself together). Lucy was obligated to do the show. After all, she wasn't married to Desi, even though she loved him more than oxygen. I give her credit for soldering on when her heart was broken into many pieces. And she had one of her best friends, Betty White, to console her and provide a shoulder to cry on. You could see how tightly Lucy was holding on to the tissue. He was gone...and there was absolutely nothing she could do. She saved her breakdown for when the cameras stopped rolling and she was behind the door of her own home.
Interesting, even in the 80s there was still a 50s vibe on certain programs, like the way people spoke. I know the guests are older lol, but you could even notice this in younger folk from 80s interviews and such.
The world was starting to change in the 80's but many many things were still of the old way then. By the 90's not so much...big changes. And it has not stopped or slowed since.
No matter how many times I've watched the episodes, I still get a kick out of "I Love Lucy." I'm not a fan of the other Lucy series like "The Lucy Show" and "Here's Lucy." There's just something comforting about the original series. Such a great ensemble cast.
@@frackstonwilson685 I thought Gale Gordon was the only good thing about the later series. The scripts weren't very funny and her kids weren't very comedic. Lucie Arnaz was too loud. She always sounded like she was talking to someone in the next room. The earlier "Here's Lucy" was good when she was interacting with Vivian Vance. I love the one where's she's trying to install an outdoor antenna on the house.
You should give The Lucy Show a try. It was very funny and Lucy and Vivian are just great together. Also the California seasons 4,5 and 6, are really good. If you love Lucille Ball, you’ll love the Teo other shows.
@@angelgstag I don't mind some of the earlier Lucy Show episodes with Vivian Vance. Some of the later shows with her own kids aren't very funny. Her daughter was always talking too loud. The scripts lack the creativity that was so great about I Love Lucy.
You could tell how close of a friendship Betty and Estelle had by how insync they were with the game. Such classy ladies on that stage. Thank you for the laughs ladies ❤
I just read that Betty and Lucille were sisters? And that they BOTH play the role of Queen Elizabeth?? I wonder if there are any pics of either of them meeting the queen?
Real Fact: 35 years ago This episode was actually recorded with Lucille ball the exact day Ricki passed away Dec 2, 1986 Rip Ricki, Lucille ball & The Iconic Betty White 🕊️🤍🕊️🤍🕊️🤍
hard to believe she appeared on the day desi sr. died...OMG! this explains SO much...she never fully recovered from desi sr's death history would tell...but nevertheless, there she was! the show went on!
In this show and the second part ,it is the only time Lucy is nervously tapping her fingers continuously ,otherwise her hands are totally still ,its obvious she's trying to put up a normal facade for the public .only time she is at a loss for the right words
When Lucy truly let out with a laugh, there was no mistaking it - we heard her 'comedy' laugh many times throughout her career, but truly original laughs were fewer between.
And she deserved each any every one she got...including the standing ovations, when standing ovations were actually scarce and meant something special. Nowadays, people will give a standing ovation to a good bowel movement. Plus, Desi had just passed, and really needed to feel the love from her legion of fans.
Love Betty White Loved Estelle Getty Lucy Ball They were awesome with each other they were great !! Betty White is still around She s awesome lady still alive in her 90s now Lucy Estelle are gone not forgotten !!
Lucille Ball and I share a birthday of August 6th. When I found out Betty and her were such good friends I looked up Betty's sun sign, and she is a Capricorn born on January 17th. That was interesting to me because my twin cousins share Betty's birthday and I share Lucille's. My cousins and I get on incredibly well just like Lucille and Betty.
So descent & professional by host to give the Queen of screen, lucille Ball 'special mention' at first. But Goldenn Girls a special mention show certainly. E
The audio of this video really bothers me. No! It's not the fact that it took place in 1986, but because of the video. Oh wells! I don't care already as I got used to it.
No - This show above is about a year or so before Lucy suffered a small stroke. She suffered the stroke in 1988. She appeared again on this game show after the stroke - but had mostly recovered.
Betty White said that this was THE DAY Desi died. She said they were tapping this show when he passed away. That all knew he was about to die and Lucy was able to speak with Desi on the phone to say her goodbyes. Very Sad experience for the family.
