1976
In her second year without a series, Lucille Ball dances with Shirley, dishes with Dinah, dreams with Danny, and delivers the digs with Dean.
“Gypsy
in My Soul” ~ January 10, 1976
Shirley MacLaine welcomes Lucille Ball to her CBS network special based on her Las Vegas and London show – bound for Broadway.
“What
Now, Catherine Curtis?” ~ March 30, 1976
This was Lucille Ball’s fourth prime time special co-starring Art Carney and Joseph Bologna as the men in Catherine’s (Lucy’s) life. This special was the #16 show for the week and won its time slot with a 22.6 rating and 36% share of the audience.
“Dinah!” ~ June 4, 1976
Lucille is joined by Valerie Harper, Carol Burnett, and Gale Gordon. Dinah Shore and Harper join Lucy in singing “Hey, Look Me Over.”
“The
Practice: The Dream” (S2;E1) ~ October 13, 1976
To help out her old friend Danny Thomas, Lucille Ball appears on his new sitcom, “The Practice,” as a patient with bad dreams. This would be the last time they would act together on television and the last time Ball would create a character on someone else’s show. This episode was taped on August 13, 1976, one week after Lucille’s 65th birthday.
“Bob
Hope’s World of Comedy” ~ October 29, 1976
Bob Hope reminisces with Lucille Ball,
which leads to a black and white clip of a sketch from a past show here Lucy plays a District Attorney and Bob a gangster. Hope also interviews Norman Lear, Neil Simon, Don Rickles, and Big Bird!
“NBC: The First 50 Years – A Closer Look” ~ November 26, 1976
A four and a half hour extravaganza that somehow included CBS star Lucille Ball, four years before she would leap over to the peacock network. Orson Welles was host and narrator.
“CBS
Salutes Lucy: The First 25 Years” ~ November 28, 1976
With tributes by William S. Paley, Desi Arnaz Sr., Milton Berle, Carol Burnett, Richard Burton, Johnny Carson, Sammy Davis Jr., Gale Gordon, Bob Hope, Danny Kaye, Dean Martin, Jimmy Stewart, Danny Thomas, Vivian Vance, Dick Van Dyke, and John Wayne.
The program received a 29 rating and 39 share of audience, figures unheard of today. Because of the anniversary theme of the show, it was never repeated.
“Van
Dyke and Company” (S1;E9) ~ December 9, 1976
Lucille Ball appears on Dick Van Dyke’s short-lived variety show. Lucy and Dick (whose sitcom shot at Desilu), do sketches, mime, and sing and dance.
“The
Dean Martin Celebrity Roast: Danny Thomas” (S4;E2) ~ December 15, 1976
Lucille Ball roasts her old friend, Danny Thomas. Her jokes revolve around not having enough lines when she guest-starred on “The Practice.” Also on the dais are Lucy’s old friends Orson Welles, Milton Berle, and Gene Kelly.
ALSO IN 1976…
“Donny and Marie” (S2;E1) ~ September 24, 1976
Desi Arnaz appeared in their salute to the pioneers of early television. Other guests include Milton Berle, Howdy Doody, Arthur Godfrey, and Art Linkletter. Lucy would appear on the show a year later.
Papermoon Loves Lucy 
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