1974
A big year for Lucille Ball. After six seasons, “Here’s Lucy” wraps up and Ball returns to movies with “Mame.” To promote the film, and her first network special, Lucille goes on a publicity tour of talk shows!
“Lucy Is a Bird-Sitter” (HL S6;E15) ~ January 7, 1974
Arte Johnson plays an eccentric ornithologist, but the real star here is a flock of live pigeons, one of which is named Floyd, a rare Tongan Ruby Throated Weewawk.
“Meanwhile, Back at the Office” (HL S6;E16) ~ January 14, 1974
This was the last episode shot for “Here’s Lucy,” but it was decided not to use it as the series finale. Harry sells the Agency and Kim dresses as a little old lady with a pet lion!
“Lucy Is N.G. as an R.N.” (HL S6;E17) ~ January 21, 1974
When everyone gets sick at the same time, it is up to Lucy to nurse (R.N.) them back to health. Unsurprisingly, she is no good (N.G.) at it!
“Lucy, the Sheriff” (HL S6;E18) ~ January 28, 1974
This is director Coby Ruskin’s last episode. Lucille takes over as Director during the rehearsal process and fires Ruskin.
Lucille Ball’s grandmother’s name, Flora Belle Orcutt, is used as Lucy Carter’s great-grandmother’s name in this episode. “I Love Lucy” cast members Mary Wickes, Florence Halop, and Ross Elliott are in the cast.
“Milton Berle Is the Life of the Party” (HL S6;E19) ~ February 11, 1974
Lucy’s parties are a bore, so she calls a telethon to make a very low bid on Milton Berle to attend her next soiree. There was no new episode of “Here’s Lucy” on Monday, February 4, 1974. Director Jack Donohue replaces Coby Ruskin.
“Mary Jane’s Boyfriend”
(HL S6;E20) ~ February 18, 1974
This is the only episode of this series to feature a story dependent on Mary Jane Croft’s character of Mary Jane Lewis.
“Lucy and Phil Harris Strikes Up the Band”
(HL S6;E21) ~ February 25, 1974
Singer / Bandleader Phil Harris plays himself. An ad lib by Harris manages to make Lucille Ball break character on camera. In a musical segment they sing his signature tune “That’s What I Like About the South.”
“Lucy Carter Meets Lucille Ball”
(HL S6;E22) ~ March 4, 1974
In a memorably meta episode, Lucy meets Lucy. This show was timed to coincide with the opening of Mame. Lucie Arnaz and Carole Cook also are finalists in the ‘Lucille Ball Look-Alike Contest.’ Gary Morton plays himself.
“The Dick Cavett Show” ~ March 7, 1974
Ostensibly promoting Mame, this Dick Cavett’s interview turns into a review of Lucille Ball’s career.
“Where Is My Wandering Mother Tonight?” (HL S6;E23) ~ March 11, 1974
Staying at Kim’s new apartment for the weekend, Lucy discovers she may be mother-smothering her daughter and disappears. Director Jack Donahue and Musical Director Marl Young have cameos.
“The Phil Donahue Show”
~ March 15, 1974
Lucille Ball embarks on a publicity tour for Mame. This interview took place during the last months that “The Phil Donahue Show” was broadcast from Dayton, Ohio.
“The Bob Braun Show” ~ March 15, 1974
While in Ohio to do “Donahue,” Lucille Ball also appears on “The Bob Braun Show” in Cincinnati to promote Mame.
“Lucy Fights the System” (HL S6;E24) ~ March 18, 1974
In what turned out to be the series finale, Lucille Ball let’s her daughter Lucie Arnaz have the stage when Kim pretends to be a wacky waitress. The show (and the series) ends with Harry (Gale Gordon) getting a pie in the face and saying: “I knew it would end like this!”
“The
Tonight Show with Johnny Carson” ~ March 22, 1974
More Mame promotion. Lucille is joined on the coach by Tommy Newsom (guest bandleader), Dom DeLuise, Charleton Heston, Desi Arnaz Jr. (surprise cameo), Ace Trucking Company (musical guest), and Fred Willard (sketch cameo).
“Dinah’s
Place” ~ March 26, 1974
This appearance was part of Lucille’s promotional tour for her new movie Mame.
“Dinah’s
Place” ~ June 24, 1974
Mame had been out several months to mixed reviews. Lucille Ball talks about her role as Mame and demonstrates ballet-barre exercises wearing a cape made up of her costumes in the film.
“Dinah!”
~ November 4 or 6, 1974
Now promoting her first Lucille Ball Special, Lucy returns to Dinah Shore’s show, now revamped and re-titled.
“The
Tonight Show with Johnny Carson” ~ November 15, 1974
Lucille Ball is promoting her upcoming special. The show also features John Byner, John McKay, and The Jackson Five.
“Happy Anniversary and Goodbye” ~ November 19, 1974
The first of Lucille Ball’s scripted specials. Featuring Art Carney, Nanette Fabray, Peter Marshall, and Arnold Schwarzenegger. Lucille Ball filmed the interiors with a studio audience. It was shot at Paramount (formerly Desilu, formerly RKO) with exterior location footage of a Los Angeles public park and in Las Vegas, Nevada.
“Bicentennial
Minute” ~ November 28, 1974
The “Bicentennial Minute” began in July 1974 and continued well past Independence Day 1976 until the end of the year, making a total of 732 one-minute programs about American history. Lucille Ball’s minute concerned corn husking as a community ritual of the colonists.
Also in 1974…
“California My Way” – August 9, 1974
This is an ABC TV special hosted by Desi Arnaz Jr. hosts. He is supported in part by his father Desi Arnaz Sr. There is a taped message in tribute to the singer ‘Mama’ Cass Elliot who died shortly before this show aired in 1974. During this talk show, Paul Williams, Ross Martin, Dena Paul Martin and other celebrities discuss what they like about California, and their future plans within the city. There is footage of places in California where they spent a good amount of time – Malibu Beach, Burbank Studios, Olivera Street and the Beverly Hills nightclub ‘Daisy’. Lucille Ball does not appear.
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