LUCY v LUCY!

November 5, 1973

Almost six months before it’s premiere, Lucy talks about her upcoming movie musical Mame. Although Lucy says the buzz has been good, she sounds cautious about the hype. 

In hindsight, Ball did not re-sign for a seventh season of “Here’s Lucy” choosing to end her sitcom with season six, just like her previous two shows. 

Lucy spoke too soon. After “Here’s Lucy” she did a series of specials for CBS: 

• “Happy Anniversary and Goodbye” ~ November 19, 1974
• “Lucy Gets Lucky” ~ March 1, 1975
• “Three for Two” ~ December 3, 1975
• “What Now, Catherine Curtis?” ~ March 30, 1976
• “Lucy Calls the President” ~ November 21, 1977

Although a script was written, the Diamond Jim Brady project never came to pass.  Gleason did, however, perform with Lucy in “Three for Two”. 

Despite her disdain for Las Vegas, Ball did join Shirley MacLaine for “Gypsy in My Soul” on January 10, 1976, although only for the television broadcast, not the full engagement or subsequent tour.  Ball doubtless remembered that her run on Broadway in Wildcat (8 performances a week), did irreparable damage to her health in 1961. 

Lucille Ball counts “Maude” as one of her favorite shows, primarily due to the fact that it starred her Mame bosom buddy Bea Arthur. In fact, the show was far more topical than Lucille Ball ever dared to be.  It was a spin-off of “All in the Family,” a controversial CBS show that Lucy often cited as being the antithesis of her kind of comedy. 

“Alistair Cooke’s America” was a 13-part television documentary series based on his best-selling book. 

Ball wonders what will be programmed opposite Mame when it comes to television. The film made its TV debut on December 12, 1976, a Saturday night, on NBC. 

The film was programmed opposite episodes of “All in the Family” and “Alice” and “The Carol Burnett Show” on CBS; and “Wonder Woman” “Starsky & Hutch” and “Most Wanted” on ABC.  

Yours, Mine and Ours (1968) was based on the book Who Gets The Drumstick? by Helen Beardsley. 

In addition to facing off with herself on CBS and NBC at 9pm, Lucille Ball also was seen several times throughout the day. 

Morning re-run of “I Love Lucy”…

Afternoon movie Sorrowful Jones (1949)…

Evening re-run of “The Lucy Show”…

Evening re-run of “I Love Lucy”…

Capped off with a double dose of Lucy at 9pm. In the days prior to VCR and DVD, this must have created a quandary for inveterate Lucy-lovers!

The episode of “Here’s Lucy” programmed opposite Yours, Mine and Ours was “Lucy and Joan Rivers Do Jury Duty” (HL S6;E9).