WOMEN COMICS: WHY THEY TRY HARDER

November 21, 1971

Lucille Ball was on the cover and profiled in the November 21, 1971 issue of Parade, the national Sunday Newspaper Magazine supplement. The inside article was titled “Women Comics: Why They Try Harder” by associate editor Linda Gutstein. 

The cover photo was taken from “Lucy and the Indian Chief” (HL S2;E3) in 1969. 

The day after this article was published, “Here’s Lucy” premiered “Ginger Rogers Comes To Tea” (HL S4;E11) which was filmed in mid-July on an abbreviated schedule due to an impending actors’ strike.  

“You’ve got to believe in what you do. There are actors and reactors. My forte has always been reacting. My writers put in longer and longer reactions.” ~ Lucille Ball

“Lucy is an exaggeration of the everyday housewife, and a happy exaggeration.” ~ Lucille Ball

The other female comics profiled in the article include:

Carol Burnett ~ one of Lucille Ball’s favorite funny ladies. Ball and Burnett took turns appearing on each others’ programs. Lucy lovingly referred to Burnett as “Kid”. Ball died on Burnett’s birthday and, as usual, flowers arrived at Burnett’s door that morning with love from Lucy.

“I play characters in my sketches. Men accept that humor.” ~ Carol Burnett

Joan Rivers ~ was a stand-up, and actress who Lucy encountered several times as a talk show host and once as actress on an episode of “Here’s Lucy” titled “Lucy and Joan Rivers Do Jury Duty” (HL S6;E9) in 1973.

“If a woman’s halfway good-looking, she’d rather be a singer.” ~ Joan Rivers

Phyllis Diller ~ was best known for her eccentric stage persona, her self-deprecating humor, her wild hair and clothes, and her exaggerated, cackling laugh. Diller and Lucille Ball never acted together, but did appear on various TV specials and talk shows together.  In a 1972 episode of “Here’s Lucy,” female impersonator Jim Bailey ‘did’ Diller to a tee!

“You have to allow for some exaggerated qualities.” ~ Phyllis Diller

Nancy Walker ~ was a pint-sized musical comedy dynamo of stage and screen. Walker and Ball were both in the film Best Foot Forward (1943). On sitcoms, she is best remembered as Rhoda’s mother on “Rhoda” (1974-78).

Jayne Meadows ~ was known for her infectious laugh and her extensive work in stage plays, teleplays, and in books. Her younger sister was Audrey Meadows, of “The Honeymooners” (1955) TV fame. She was married to host and raconteur Steve Allen. In 1970, she appeared on “Here’s Lucy”.

Audrey Meadows ~ sister of Jayne, was best known for playing long-suffering housewife Alice Kramden opposite Jackie Gleason on “The Honeymooners.” In 1986, she played Lucy’s sister on an episode of the short-lived series “Life With Lucy.”  

Anne Meara ~ was part of a comedy team with her husband Jerry Stiller. She also appeared on sitcoms, films, and television commercials. Towards the end of her career, she appeared on “Archie Bunker’s Place.” Meara appeared with Ball on a March 1968 episode of Ed Sullivan’s “Talk of the Town”.

“You know, women and comics have a quality of vulnerability.” ~ Anne Meara

Totie Fields ~ was a stand-up comedian often compared to Don Rickles (because of her insult comedy) and Jackie Gleason (due to her size). She played Poopsie Bubkiss on a 1972 episode of “Here’s Lucy.”

“They didn’t know so they called me the female Jackie Gleason.” ~ Totie Fields

Kaye Ballard ~ was a musical comedy performer and sitcom star best known for playing one of “The Mothers-in-Law” in the Desi Arnaz sitcom opposite Eve Arden. She appeared on “Here’s Lucy” in 1971 in “Lucy and Harry’s Italian Bombshell” (S4;E3).

Eve Arden ~ was one of RKO’s ‘drop gag girls’ along with Lucille Ball appearing together in Stage Door (1937) and Having Wonderful Time (1938).  She made a guest appearance as herself on “I Love Lucy” in 1955.  She is best known for playing the title role in “Our Miss Brooks” and one of “The Mothers-in-Law” in the Desi Arnaz sitcom opposite Kaye Ballard.

Imogene Coca ~ was best remembered for playing opposite Sid Caesar on “Your Show of Shows”, which ran on NBC from February 1950 to June 1954. She only appeared together with Lucille Ball once, on Bob Hope’s “Women I Love: Beautiful But Funny” in 1982. 

Nanette Fabray ~ was a beloved stage and screen performer who won two Emmy Awards for her work with Sid Caesar in 1956 (beating Audrey Meadows, Art Carney’s co-star) and in 1957 (beating Lucille Ball herself). Fabray had severe hearing loss and was an advocate for disability rights. She appeard opposite Lucy in “Happy Anniversary and Goodbye” in 1974.

Peggy Cass ~ was an actress best known for her Oscar-nominated performance in Auntie Mame (1949) opposite Rosalind Russell. Her only appearance with Lucille Ball was when she was Jack Paar’s sidekick on “Jack Paar Tonight” in May 1973. 

Mary Tyler Moore ~ was best known as the star of “The Dick Van Dyke Show” (filmed at Desilu) and “The Mary Tyler Moore Show.”  In March 1979 Lucille Ball guest-starred on her short-lived variety show “The Mary Tyler Moore Hour”. 

Valerie Harper ~ was best known for her role as Rhoda Morgenstern on “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” and “Rhoda”. She got her start on the Broadway stage, singing in the chorus of Wildcat (1960) starring Lucille Ball. 

Carol Channing ~ originated the title role in the Broadway musical Hello, Dolly! In January 1964 and played the part until August 1965. She won a Tony Award for her portrayal and would re-visit the role many times during her career. Lucille Ball produced an episode of “The Lucy Show” in which Lucy Carmichael goes undercover as Carol Channing.

Jo Anne Worley ~ was best known for her regular appearances on “Rowan and Martin’s Laugh-In,” which was programmed opposite “Here’s Lucy” in the late 1960s and early ‘70s.  Unlike some of “Laugh-In” co-stars, she never worked with Lucille Ball. 

Ruth Buzzi ~ like Worley, was one of the break-out stars of “Rowan and Martin’s Laugh-In”.  She made an appearance on “Here’s Lucy” in 1972.

In 1986, Ruth Buzzi guest-starred (with John Ritter) on the second episode of “Life With Lucy.” She was nominated for five Emmy Awards and won a Golden Globe in 1973.