LUCY: 40 YEARS OF TELEVISION

1981

Lucille Ball’s first full year under contract to NBC yields very little: one failed pilot and a Bob Hope special. 1981 also marks the 30th anniversary of “I Love Lucy.” 

“Bob
Hope’s 30th Anniversary Television Special” ~ January 18, 1981

A
retrospect of Bob Hope’s first 30 years on TV. Celebrating with Bob are
guests Lucille Ball, Milton Berle, Danny Thomas, George
Burns, Glen Campbell, Sammy Davis Jr., Douglas Fairbanks Jr., Eydie
Gorme, Steve Lawrence, Marie Osmond, Martha Raye, Brooke Shields, Tanya Tucker and Robert Urich.

“Password
Plus” ~ March 2-6, 1981

Tom Kennedy hosts Celebrity Week with Lucille Ball, Betty White, Desi Arnaz Jr., and Dick Martin. 

“The
Tomorrow Show” ~ April 5, 1981

Lucille Ball and Lucie Arnaz are interviewed by Tom Snyder. Lucy complains about modern train travel and Lucie talks about the less than stellar reception to her first major film
The Jazz Singer.

“The
33rd Annual Emmy Awards” ~ September 13, 1981

Lucille Ball is both a presenter
and an honoree for her 30 years in television. The ceremony was held at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium and was hosted by Ed Asner and Shirley MacLaine. This is the only time this year Ball appeared on CBS TV. 

“The
Magic of the Stars” ~ September 20, 1981

Lucille Ball and Milton Berle make their first foray into cable television with this HBO special starring Jack Lemmon, Walter
Matthau, Dick Van Patten, Dick Shawn, Glen Campbell,
Tanya Tucker, Melissa Gilbert, and Ruth Buzzi. Lucy
executed feats of levitation.

“Entertainment
Tonight” (S1;E23) ~ October 14, 1981

The now iconic news magazine show is just one month old when Lucille Ball is featured. 

“High
Hopes: The Capra Years” ~ December 24, 1981

A
look back at the career of director Frank Capra.
Lucille Ball had starred in his 1934 feature Broadway Bill. Ten
years later he produced the short film “G.I. Journal” in which Ball played herself.

Also in 1981…

“Bungle Abbey” ~ May 31, 1981

Lucille Ball’s only directing credit (outside of a shared credit on one episode of “Here’s Lucy”) was for this failed NBC pilot about a group of bungling monks. Gale Gordon played the head Friar. Also starring Charlie Callas, Graham Jarvis, and Gino Conforti.