1978
In 1978, Lucille Ball spends the year paying tribute to the fabulous ‘50s, Gene Kelly, Henry Fonda, Milton Berle, Bob Hope, Jimmy Stewart, CBS, General Electric, and Nashville!
“TV: The Fabulous ‘50s” ~ March 3, 1978
This NBC special featured Lucille Ball talking about sitcoms. It also featured Red Skelton (on comedy), Mary Martin (on dramas), David Janssen (on action shows), Michael Landon, and Dinah Shore (on musicals). The above ad was for a repeat broadcast in 1980, after the death of David Janssen.
“Gene
Kelly: An American in Pasadena” ~ March 13, 1978
Gene Kelly’s CBS special featuring
Lucille Ball,
Frank Sinatra, Gloria De Haven, Kathryn Grayson, Betty Garrett, Cyd Charisse,Liza Minnelli, and Janet Leigh. Kelly and Ball recreate the song “Friendship” from their film DuBarry Was A Lady.
“AFI
Salute to Henry Fonda” ~ March 15, 1978
The American Film Institue (AFI) honors Henry Fonda with tributes from Lucille Ball, Richard Burton, Bette Davis, Kirk Douglas, Jane and Peter Fonda, Lillian Gish, Charlton Heston, Fred MacMurray, Gregory Peck, Barbara Stanwyck, James Stewart, Richard Widmark, and Billy Dee Williams. Lucy’s daughter, Lucie Arnaz, and her husband, Gary Morton, sit next to her in the audience.
“A Tribute to Mr. Television, Milton Berle” ~ March 26, 1978
Joining Uncle Miltie for this NBC tribute are Lucille Ball, Joey Bishop, George Carlin, Johnny Carson, Angie Dickinson, Kirk Douglas, Jim Henson, Bob Hope, Gabe Kaplan, Gene Kelly, Donny and Marie Osmond, Gregory Peck, and Carl Reiner.
“CBS
on the Air: A Celebration of 50 Years” ~ March 26 & 27, 1978
CBS celebrated its anniversary with a week of specials. Lucille Ball appeared on Sunday, March 26 in the line-up of stars. Naturally, she represented “Monday Nights” on CBS…
Lucille was integral to the second special aired on Monday, March 27, where she sang and danced with Beatrice Arthur, talked with Arthur Godfrey and George Burns, and ended with a pie in the face!
“The
Dean Martin Celebrity Roast: Jimmy Stewart” ~ May 10, 1978
Lucille Ball and Jimmy Stewart were neighbors in Beverly Hills. Lucy talks about his vegetable garden, a subject she has mentioned on other programs. Lucy jokes about what a respectful neighbor he is. She also ribs Stewart about his somewhat prudish reputation.
“Happy
Birthday, Bob: A Salute to Bob Hope’s 75th Birthday” ~ May 29, 1978
Bob Hope celebrates his 75th Birthday at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. with guests Lucille Ball, John Wayne, Red Skelton, Dorothy Lamour, George Burns, Ann-Margret and David Soul.
Lucille speaks about her friendship with Hope and sings “Hey Look Me Over” with the lyrics re-written to honor Hope.
“General
Electric All-Star Anniversary” ~ September 29, 1978
John Wayne hosted this program which recalls the music, song, and comedy of the past 100 years and marked the one-hundredth anniversary of the General Electric Company. Lucille sang, danced, and chatted with the host.
“The
Mike Douglas Show” ~ October 4, 1978
Mike and his co-host James Stewart welcome Lucille Ball, Billy Crystal, Joyce DeWitt, David Copperfield, and A Taste of Honey (musical guest).
“The Mike Douglas Show” ~ October 30–November 3, 1978
Lucille Ball is Mike’s co-host for the week. They welcome guests from Lucy’s life
Gary Morton,
Desi Arnaz Jr., Lucie Arnaz,
Gale Gordon, and Bob Hope as well as Natalie Wood, Dick Van Patten, Sally Struthers, Gavin MacLeod, Florence Henderson, Joe Namath, and Susan Anton.
“America
Alive!” ~ November 10, 1978
“America Alive!” was a short-lived hour-long NBC daytime show. This episode was videotaped live on location at UCLA, where Lucille Ball took questions from an audience of theatre arts students.
“Lucy
Comes to Nashville” ~ November 29, 1978
Lucille Ball plays hostess at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville. Featuring Barbara Mandrell, Mel Tillis, The Oak Ridge Boys, and Ronnie Milsap.
“Bob Hope Salutes the Ohio Jubilee” ~ December 3, 1978
In Ohio, Bob Hope is joined by Lucille Ball, Ginger Rogers, Donny & Marie, and Vic Damone. A sketch has Lucy in a flimsy negligee to get her husband’s (Hope) attention during a football game. Lucy also returns to talk about her experience in Nashville (see above). Ball’s segments were taped in Hollywood and inserted into the broadcast.
Also in 1978…
“Alice” – “The Cuban Connection” (S2;E17) ~ February 26, 1978
Desi Arnaz guest-stars as the skirt-chasing husband of one of Flo’s friends. Alice (Linda Lavin, above) tries to reconcile the couple. Produced by Bob Carroll Jr. and Madelyn Davis and directed by William Asher (all of ”I Love Lucy”). Written by Arthur Marx (”Life With Lucy”). On CBS TV.
“CBS on the Air: A Celebration of 50 Years” ~ April 1, 1978
The final night of specials included archival stills of CBS shows that included “I Love Lucy.” On a reverse chronological timeline,
“Lucy Visits Grauman’s” (ILL S5;E1) overlaps 1954 and 1953 despite the fact that the actual episode date was 1955! Lucille Ball does not appear live in this final evening of the celebration.
Papermoon Loves Lucy 
Leave a comment