Rewind: Rob Reiner remembers being screamed at by Desi Arnaz 

When he played Meat Head, he wasn't acting, he really is dead from the neck up.

Who wouldn't scream at Rob Reiner.

Desi pretty much invented modern television. If he got upset with improvising, I would have listened. Lucy was the same way. No improvising allowed and she would tell you exactly how she felt. When you are a guest on a show, you do as they ask. It’s their show, their project. Their art. Desi always gets a bad rep, but he was an amazing man who gave us modern TV.

I would say Desi is correct. Rob should have asked if it was okay to Improv.

I was screamed at by Rob Reiner. I was a courier at the time and went to the Sony lot to pick up sheet music for a film that he was making. I went and his assistant came over and apologized that it wont be ready for another 20 mins and asked if I’d mind waiting (thats code for please don’t charge me wait time). It was 8 in the morning and they had a huge spread of food on the table so I said “sure, no problem.. do you mind if I have a bagel?” She smiled and said “Oh please, I’ll make one for you.” Reiner stands up screaming “HOLD IT!!” The conductor stops everybody freezes and turns to him. He says, “YOU, THE DAY YOU SIT IN THIS CHAIR THEN YOU CAN ASK FOR A BAGEL. DON’T GIVE HIM ANYTHING!!” I turned to his assistant and said I need to call my dispatch to let them know I’ll be late so they can start the clock.” Btw I’m Latino and most likely he has issues with us as the other drivers had similar stories about him. Most of Hollywood has issues with us.

Man, I'm 71 and feeling old. I'm glad to find anyone who remembers what I do -- Desi Arnez.

Desi was the boss. If an actor is told to stick to the script, you stick to the script. Especially if a super talented person like Desi tells you to.

Desi and Lucy had top notch writers. That’s why he mentioned paying ten grand a script. Desi wanted what he paid for. Read the script. 👍

Yup, saw an interview with Keith Thibodeaux who played Little Ricky, they sure didn't like to improvise, you had to know the script by heart. Desi literally read a script once and remembered it. Lucy too, they both worked really hard and built an empire. Great people, loved each other till the day they died.

I remember Lucy saying that EVERYTHING on I Love Lucy was scripted. And while he shouldn't have pushed, he was the BOSS, both the producer & studio head. He had every right to wanted it done the way he believed was best. Desi extended an olive branch. Kinda sad Reiner didn't take it. PS if Desi was crazy, he was crazy like a fox!!!

Should a just told him "sorry boss won't happen again" Not "this is the way i work" smh

Desi was old school. His era was the 1950s. Time had moved on but he hadn’t.

There would be no "Star Trek" If not for Lucy/Desi....

I LOVED The Mothers In Law. Eve Arden and Kay Ballard! And that ol' queen Roger C Carmel. I would have shoved Reiner too. Saying to the producer and owner of the studio "this is the way I work!" Its a well known fact that Desi was a perfectionist and always demanded that people stick to the script! So was Lucy.

Desi was right. Follow the script. He was the one paying the money to the writers.

When you are producing a show you are not just paying for the expensive script but the talent, the production crew, etc…There is just so much invested that you need it done the way you envision it, and that’s the way it should be done. You can improvise all you want when you are paying or at the very least after the required take is in the can.

Cuban tempers are like Italian tempers-it’s cultural and it means something different from a Waspy type truly toxic temper. It’s just passion. Desi Arnaz had one of the best reputations, professionally, in Hollywood. Everyone who worked for him was loyal, he let people do their jobs, and was the best boss ever. He knew what he wanted. After he divorced Lucy, she had to turn into the hard producer, running everything, and sadly, it kind of ruined her great child like talent. Before the divorce, she came to the set to play and rehearse and create. After the divorce it was work work work, and she really missed having her producer/protector. Well actually, he continued to produce the great Lucy Show for the first few seasons, then stopped due to his alcoholism disease. Lucille Ball 1951-1966 was the greatest comedian on TV, who ever lived. After 1966, she just turned hard. Some good moments, but the classic Lucy was gone. Anyway… Oh how I loved Desi Arnaz and everything he represented about the classic immigrant/America/Hard work/ joi de vivre… He was just beloved. So don’t let this make you feel differently about him. Carl Reiner (Rob’s father) worshipped Desi. All Hollywood knew how great he was. He built the sitcom industrial complex in Hollywood. Just an Amazing American story.

I remember when they broke up, it was very sad. They still loved each other.

I saw Kirk Douglas and Sonny Bono jogging together on a beach in Acapulco when I was 15. They were so kind and friendly to me. My dad refused to believe me saying a man like Kirk Douglas would never be seen with someone like Sonny Bono.

Reiner has always been overbearing and annoying, I’m glad someone put him in his place, at least for a few minutes.

Sound like Rob was spoiled being Carl Reiners son. But Desi put him in his place. May be he should not have been too hard, but he did apologize. And yes, Lucy was the exact same way

Desi was a frickin genius so if he wanted to push me I would have said more. He was so underrated as a producer and comedic actor.

Desi Arnaz was a genius in television - I'd be proud if he pushed me around!

As an avid Andy Griffith Show watcher, Rob Reiner's contribution to the 2 seconds of screen time he got on the show meant absolutely nothing then, and means even less now.

Bottom line, Rob shows no respect. He may have talent, but it does not out weigh his big mouth..ugh.

This guy, YT gets mad when I post mean things about people on the left even though they're true so I just won't post anything about this guy.

I remember when All in the Family first hit, there was a big publicity article in Life Magazine, and Norman Lear claimed to have picked up Rob Reiner hitchhiking in New York, not knowing who he was, drove him to LA, and was so taken with him that he cast him as "Mike."

He got the "Cuban" arm after the "blow UP" Amigo! Desi was charming as well. While considered brilliant, Jackie Gleason didn't rehearse because he didn't want to go "stale" but, often forgot his lines & had a temper as well.

Surprising since the DVD show , of which his father was one of the owners , was in a close professional association with Desilu .

Being The Ricardos brought me here. Great story and his Desi accent was hilarious.

Desi should have turned meathead into a meatball!

I have always had respect for Desi Arnaz

Desi was right! Archie was also right!

Back in the 70's I looked so much like him on All in the family that everyone was calling me "Meathead", and today I look nothing like him at all. 🤣😂🤣

2:20 something tells me it went more like Rob saying “I’m gonna call me daddy”!

Rob Rob Rob he was the boss you are supposed to do as the boss asks you to do it not as you want unless they say do it however you want and talk about doing a stereotype voice 😡

Once a hippie always a hippie. Him and his freaked out liberal ideas

Well done Dezi: The Meathead had it coming..

When all else fails, stick to the script.

At one time, Desi saved CBS a million dollars. I wish that million was given to Judy Garland when she started her TV show, whether the program was popular or not. When Jackie Gleason started on CBS, he was given 11 million right away; how did they know the Honeymooners would be popular or not ? 😮

Something tells me Norman Lear wouldn't let him improv with his even more expensive scripts. Reiner was a greenie then and should just admit Desi was right.

Rob Reiner is like a pushy relative who is invited to dinner in your home but he likes a lot of salt and garlic in his food, so without asking, he dumps those condiments into the casserole, not content to limit them to his own serving. And, he is proud that he did that.

Archie Bunker was right Rob Reiner will always be a Meathead.

Vivian Vance was one of the very few people in Hollywood to stand up to Lucy and Desi.

He should remember how many people think he’s an idiot.

A young hippie improvising without authorization

Rockford Files was also a classic.

Funny, l remember Rob Reiner mentioning Desi Arnaz's name on ALL in THE FAMILY as he was arguing with "Archie".

Rob Reiner was the son of a famous Director actor writer. So he probably felt he could say that! He certainly wasn’t going to be out on the street like most actors if he lost the job.

Today the show would’ve been cancelled, Desi Arnaz would be charged with assault and Rob Reiner would’ve received a 3 million dollar settlement.

I can vouch for this. This reminded me of the time I worked for an old school Cuban who must've been in his 60s in Jersey back in the day when I was a teenager and boy did he have a temper...his bark was worse than his bite though. Deep inside he was a decent, humble, sociable nice man when he was in a good mood...just don't piss him off lol

Definitely Meathead retelling the story. Too bad we can't hear Desi's version. I find it hard to believe early in his career he would have told Desi Arnaz to find another actor. I also wonder how many times Desi told him "Stay with the script". Rob Reiner's career begets a belief in his own hype.

I can't stand Rob Reiner. If Desi yelled at him, I'm SURE he had it coming

Sounds unrealistic that he, a small-part actor, would tell Desi, "Hey that's how I work. Find someone else." But his dad was big time.

Desi Arnaz was a genius and Rob Reiner is a hack.

After hearing that I like Desi way more. 😎

I've heard that during All in the Family Reiner and Carrol O'Connor were taping a scene. Àrchie says something stupid and Mike droops his head in exasperation. O'Connor improvised "what's wrong? Is my fly down?" Reiner somehow kept it together.

Rob was a member of “ The committee “, which was an improv group. It was the predecessor of the more famous “Groundlings “. Many actors who started in live theatre might have liked to ad lib or try a different take. Desi was a musician first.

He looked so tall next to Carroll O'Connor. I bumped into him while he was rushing out of the Carnegie Deli while jamming a sandwich into his mouth and not looking where he was going. I would guess he was 5'11", tops. And he was wearing a green and white leisure suit.

I love Reiner's impersonation of Desi's accent: part Cuban, part Yiddish 😄

Rob does a really inspired and accurate Desi impression.

Hardly surprising as Desi was a small guy and Reiner was not. He had the power so Reiner was wise to walk.

Watching 'I Love Lucy' as a kid, it made my skin crawl to watch Lucy constantly do selfish, idiotic things and poor Ricky would come home to a new nightmare everyday. I didn't realize at the time that it was just teaching me what to expect, if you have a bored woman at home. I vowed to marry a woman that works and knows what accountability is and I fulfilled that promise to myself. Thank you Desi, for that life lesson.

Rob Reiner wasn't an actor He was the spoiled talentless son of Carl Reiner

Dezi had a quick temper...

Amazing how much Desi Arnaz sounded like Mel Brooks -- who knew?

He left out that he was also in the Odd Couple.

There is a long list of people who would like to physically confront Reiner. Desi just got there first‼️

I’d love to see the Johnny Carson interview with Audrey Hepburn. Haven’t found it anywhere. It’s the only celebrity that Carson said made him sweat, jumble over his words and not know how to act.

Rob does a good Desi impersonation.

Desi was Very Insistence...many Stories...Read his book..

Considering Rob probably wasn't really trying, he really did conjure up Desi.

I liked his early cameos on Gomer Pyle. The dude who thought he was on candid camera. The dude who is going to join up but not sure who he is. And the dude named Moondog.😂

Rob also memorably guest-appeared in "Where's Poppa" (w/Ruth Gordon, George Segal & Bernard Hughes).

Desi Arnaz made Lucy great. He was the funny one, watching him reacting to Lucy. Without Desi, Lucy was coasting. the Lucy show was nothing compared to I Love Lucy.

I've been with other actors on a set before. If you don't know each other and you're not comfortable with each other yet, you cannot improvise like that because it's not fair to everyone else if they don't know you're gonna do that. That being said, Desi should NOT have put his hands on him like that. Desi may have been right in principle, but Reiner was also right to ask Desi to find another actor after that specific interaction.

Always respected Desi, but now even more so.

He forgot the Odd Couple!!! lol he was hilarious!!!

Rob is a WEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEENY

Rob Reiner probably came in thinking because of who his dad was he would impress Desi with how brilliant he was.

Thanks to Rob Reiner’s unhinged rants on Twitter over the past several years we found out that the Communist he played on “All in The Family” wasn’t fictional.

Thats the best Yiddish Cuban accent I've ever heard!😂

I liked "Hey Landlord."

Now I like Desi even more

Love rob, my dad loved him too 😍🥰

Ha ha I would have screamed at Meathead too.

Dezi knew a meathead when he saw one.

The ultimate moonbat!

I do know that Lucille Ball was not a fan of All in the family. I don't know about Desi.

Desi and Luci were geniuses, but there’s no doubt that Desi was a hothead and a terrible alcoholic for many years.

I always enjoyed Rob Reiners work. I am glad that he is not anymore, a heavy political activist. He is free to decide where he stands but it makes it very difficult to watch his work. he is an excellent Director. Thanks Rob.

Rob Reiner is relaxed, here, and enjoyable too watch. What happened to him? So blessed, is he. With Pops, yu get to do a lot of things, others could only dream, about! Yet he is, so very talented!

"Started improvising" = doesn't know his lines...

Good !

...so traumatizing that it turned him into a meathead...

Well, whatever else Rob was at the time of his confrontation with Desi, he was no starving actor. "This is the way I work" . . . (and I can't work differently, at least for you, or for only this much compensation). I wonder, what is the average age at which people decide they are too old to learn something new?

Rob also appeared in an episode of Batman. He played a a room service guy for the Penguin in his hotel room.

Poor rob. Whaaaa.

I'm really surprised that Rob Reiner couldn't admit that he was wrong: somewhat telling.

makes you wonder if meathead is telling the whole story.