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THE KENNEDY CENTER HONORS LUCY
December 1986
The Ninth Annual Kennedy Center Honors was taped at the John F. Kennedy Center
for the Performing Arts in Washington DC on December 7, 1986. It was
aired on CBS on December 26, 1986. The telecast earned an 11.1 rating share.
Hosted
by Walter
CronkiteHONOREES
Comedienne Lucille Ball is honored for her contributions to television and entertainment at large. Ball is 76 years old at the time. Her fourth and final sitcom “Life With Lucy” was in production when the honor was announced, but was canceled three weeks prior to the event. She was also still grieving the death of Desi Arnaz, who passed away on December 2, 1987, after a long illness. Ball herself would only survive two more years, dying on April 26, 1989.
Ray
Charles,
55 years old at the time, had already won 10 Grammys and two Emmys,
despite the loss of his sight at age 6, due to glaucoma. Charles
learned to read and write music in Braille and broke the barriers
between black and white pop, mixing soul, gospel, country, jazz,
blues and pop into a style all his own.Choreographer
Antony Tudor, 77, is credited with shaping the prestigious
American Ballet Theatre.Actors
Jessica Tandy, 77, and Hume Cronyn, 75, are the only
married couple ever to receive the honors. They made a hit on Broadway in
1951 in the two-character comedy The Fourposter and again
later in The Gin Game. They are both Tony award winners.Violinist
Yuhudi Menuhin, 70, launched his career at age 7 and was
instantly labeled a child prodigy. He debuted at Carnegie Hall with
the New York symphony at age 10 and at 12 began a distinguished
international career with the Berlin Symphony.
Others
In Attendance to Honor Lucy- Ronald
Reagan, President of the United States - Nancy
Reagan, First Lady of the United States -
Gary Morton, Lucille Ball’s husband
- Walter
Matthau, Introducing the Lucille Ball Tribute Film - Robert
Stack, Reading a message from the late Desi Arnaz - Beatrice
Arthur, Performer in Lucille Ball’s Tribute Medley - Pam
Dawber, Performer in Lucille Ball’s Tribute Medley - Valerie
Harper, Performer in Lucille Ball’s Tribute Medley
The
honor began at a
black-tie dinner in the State Department’s Benjamin Franklin Dining
Room. The citations were read by Helen Hayes, a former honoree. Hayes had guest starred on “Here’s Lucy” in 1972. The
evening’s festivities included a reception in the East Room of the
White House, performances at the Kennedy Center, and a post-show
dinner dance at the Kennedy Center where guests dined on a post
performance meal of cold roast sirloin and rice salad, and danced to
the music of Woody Herman.
Clips
of the White House reception were incorporated into the telecast.
President
Reagan, speaking to the honorees at the White House, said:“Tonight
we gather in this old grand house to pay tribute to six men and women
to to whom we Americans, and indeed millions around the world, find
ourselves deeply in debt. Others in the life of our nation have seen
to our material needs, built our roads, constructed our cities, given
us our daily bread. Still others have seen to the life of the mind,
founding our universities, expanding knowledge in every field. But
these six – these six – are artists and as such they performed a
different and singular task. To see to the deepest needs of the
heart.”
As
for Miss Ball, she could only nod her carrot-colored curls and, as
she looked about, and murmur, “I can’t believe it.”
~ The New York TimesTranscript of Reagan’s full remarks about Lucille Ball in the East Room:
When the first can of film arrived from California, it was taken by messenger from the airport to the offices of an advertising agency in Manhattan. An advertising executive, his friend, lyricist Oscar Hammerstein, and the chairman of Philip Morris entered the screening room together. And then the lights went down, and the pilot film began. When it was over, Oscar Hammerstein gave his advice: “Buy the show. It’s a winner, and that actress is terrific.” And the name of that program was ‘I Love Lucy.’
In childhood, Lucille Ball loved going to vaudeville shows and movies, then reenacting the performances she had just seen. At 15 she left upstate New York to enroll in a drama school in New York City. But compared to the star pupil, Miss Ball felt, in her own words, ‘terrified and useless.’ So, she went back home to high school. By the way, that star pupil happened to be named Bette Davis. [Laughter] In time, Miss Ball returned to Broadway, worked as a soda jerk, got bit parts, then landed a job as the Chesterfield cigarette girl that led to her selection for a bit part in the 1933 Eddie Cantor film, ‘Roman Scandals.’ For the next decade and a half, Miss Ball learned her craft, appearing in more than 30 films. And then came ‘I Love Lucy.’
When it went on the air in 1951, “I Love Lucy” became the number one show within 6 months. It says something about the show’s hold on the country that on the occasion of little Ricky’s birth more people turned on ‘I Love Lucy’ than watched the inauguration of Dwight Eisenhower. [Laughter] And I know that Miss Ball would want us to pay tribute tonight to the man who produced ‘I Love Lucy’ and starred in it with her, one who meant so much to Lucy and all of us, the late Desi Arnaz. [Applause] ‘I Love Lucy’ was followed by more movies, including the 1974 production of ‘Mame,’ and by three more television shows: ‘The Lucy Show,’ ‘Here’s Lucy,’ and this year’s ‘Life With Lucy.’
It’s no secret that Lucy is a friend of Nancy’s and mine, and as far as I’m concerned, this redheaded bundle of energy is perhaps the finest comedienne of our time. And if I seem to get carried away, you’ll have to excuse me. You see, after all these years, just like every American and millions more around the world, I still love Lucy. [Laughter]
At
the Kennedy Center show the honorees sat in the box tier adjacent to
the Presidential Box as Walter Cronkite, the master of ceremonies,
greeted a glittering audience of more than 2,000 people.Glenn
Close introduced the segment on Miss Tandy and Mr. Cronyn, and Quincy
Jones introduced the one on Mr. Charles, Agnes de Mille the one on Mr. Tudor, and
Peter Ustinov on Mr. Menuhin. Walter Matthau introduced the segment on Lucille Ball,On
the program were a pas de deux by Leslie Browne and Robert Hill from
a Tudor ballet, The Leaves Are Fading; a song from Les
Miserables by Colm Wilkinson, a number from Me and My Girl with
Robert Lindsay and Jane Summerhays; appearances by Jose Ferrer,
Rosemary Harris and Edward Albee; a Stevie Wonder tribute to Ray
Charles with special lyrics to the tune of “I Just Called to Say I
Love You.”
Walter
Matthau recalled when Lucille Ball and Joe Lewis came to entertain the
troops during World War II. “They did different things.” This was Matthau’s first awareness of Lucille Ball.
A film retrospective charts Ball’s journey from New
York model to Hollywood’s Queen of the B Movies, to radio star and
television pioneer. The film includes a clip from “Lucy Does a
Television Commercial” aka “Vitameatavegamin.” The line
“It’s so tasty, too! Just like candy”
leads artfully to a clip from “Job Switching” aka “The
Chocolate Factory” with Lucy and Ethel fighting the ever escalating
speed of the conveyor belt. A third clip is from “The Operetta”
with Lucy (and the Pleasant Peasant Chorus) singing “Queen of the Gypsies.” The birth of Little
Ricky is depicted with “Lucy Goes to the Hospital” (“This
is it!”) is
followed by a glimpse of Lucy Carmichael and Vivian Bagley dubbed in
a foreign language and a quick montage of stills from “The Lucy
Show” and “Here’s Lucy.” Wildcat and Mame
are seen at the film’s conclusion.
After
the film, the entire audience of 2,000 (including the President)
gives Lucille Ball a standing ovation. She seems genuinely moved by
this.
Robert
Stack enters to the theme music of “The Untouchables,” a Desilu
production. He reads a message from Desi Arnaz Sr., who had passed
away five days earlier. It ends with the words“I Love Lucy was never just a
title.”
Stack introduces Beatrice Arthur (“The Golden Girls”),
Pam Dawber (“Mork and Mindy”), and Valerie Harper (“Rhoda”). Arthur had co-starred in Mame
with Lucille Ball. Harper was in the chorus of Wildcat
on Broadway. Lucy is noticeably surprised by Arthur’s appearance. The
trio sing a song parody of the “I Love Lucy” theme expressing
their affection for Lucy. The medley continues with the title song
from Mame
now
extolling Lucy. It ends with a specially-tailored “Hey Look Me
Over” from Wildcat.
“I
don’t know what I would have done if I hadn’t had this thing to keep
me occupied. Desi died and my show got canceled. If I hadn’t had
this, if I hadn’t this reassurance that I was still wanted, I don’t
think that I could have gone on.”
~ Lucille Ball, speaking about the Kennedy Center Honors1986, Antony Tudor, Beatrice Arthur, CBS, Desi Arnaz, Gary Morton, Hume Cronyn, I love lucy, Jessica Tandy, Kennedy Center, Kennedy Center Honors, Lucille Ball, Mame, Nancy Reagan, Pam Dawber, Ray Charles, Robert Stack, Ronald Reagan, tv, Valerie Harper, Walter Cronkite, Walter Matthau, Wildcat, yehudi menuhin - Ronald
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LUCY on MERV
1971-1986
Mervyn Edward Griffin Jr. (1925 – 2007) was an American television host and media mogul. He began his career as a radio and big band singer who went on to appear in film and on Broadway. From 1965 to 1986, Griffin hosted his own talk show, “The Merv Griffin Show.” He also created the internationally popular game shows “Jeopardy!” and “Wheel of Fortune” through his television production companies, Merv Griffin Enterprises and Merv Griffin Entertainment. Both game shows are still airing as of this writing.
“The Merv Griffin Show” ran from October 1962 to March 1963 on NBC; May 1965 to August 1969 in first-run syndication; from 1969 to 1972 late night weeknights on CBS; and again in first-run syndication from 1972 to 1986. The show’s longtime bandleader was Mort Lindsey. Griffin frequently clowned and sang novelty songs with trumpeter Jack Sheldon. Griffin’s conversational style created the perfect atmosphere for conducting intelligent interviews that could be serious with some and light-hearted with others. Rather than interview a guest for a cursory 5- or 6-minute segment, Merv preferred lengthy, in-depth discussions with many stretching out past 30 minutes. In addition, Griffin sometimes dedicated an entire show to a single person or topic, allowing for greater exploration of his guests’ personality and thoughts. More than 25,000 guests appeared on “The Merv Griffin Show” including numerous significant cultural, political, social and musical icons including four U.S. Presidents. From 1974 to 1986 the show won twelve daytime Emmy Awards.
“The Merv Griffin Show: A Salute To George Marshall” ~ July 29, 1971
Guests: Lucille Ball, George Marshall, Edgar Buchanan, Glenn Ford, William Holden, Mort Lindsay & His Orchestra
Director George Marshall worked with Lucille Ball on Fancy Pants (1950), Valley of the Sun (1942) and 11 1969 episodes of “Here’s Lucy,” mostly location shoots.
“The Merv Griffin Show” ~ October 12, 1973
Guests: Lucille Ball, Gary Morton, Desi Arnaz Jr., Lucie Arnaz, Gale Gordon, Robert Lewin, Ronald Reagan (recorded voice message)
A Salute to Lucille Ball featuring her husband and children, and her two most famous co-stars. Ronald Reagan, then Governor of California, calls in.
Lucy says she has finished Mame which won’t be released for six months. Merv says the buzz is that the film is one of the best musicals in history. Lucy refutes the rumor that Lisa Kirk dubbed her singing voice. As for dancing, Lucy credits choreographer Ona White with getting her in shape after breaking her leg. Lucy says she wore eight to ten wigs in the picture.
Ball says she usually refers to the ‘Lucy’ character in the the third person.
Lucy says the Goldwyn Girls never wore costumes, only wigs [a slight embellishment]. She mentions Eddie Cantor and Roman Scandals (1933, above).
Merv: “Did a man one day say ‘Make her a star?’”
Lucy: “No, he said ‘make her.’”
Lucy references the “Here’s Lucy” episode in which Lucie Arnaz imitates Cher: “The Carters Meet Frankie Avalon” (HL S6;E11) aired a month after this interview, on November 19, 1973.
Lucy says that she met Gary Morton while doing Wildcat on Broadway. She says that she wasn’t feeling at her best at the time and had taken on too much. Merv says he knew Gary Morton before Lucy did. Morton jokes that Merv had one voice for speaking and another for singing; the ‘Jim Nabors’ of his time.
Lucy: “The one thing I’m very proud of is that I know my craft.”
Lucy says that her daughter is the more successfully independent. She says her son is independent, but not sure how successful it is.
They talk about their neighbor, Jimmy Stewart and how he walks his big dogs around the block. Lucy says that Jimmy and Gloria Stewart have a huge vegetable garden. A Romanian neighbor did not recognize Stewart and turned him away when he came to the door trying to give away some of their surplus crops.
Lucie and Desi Arnaz Jr. join the conversation. Lucie says that she sees her mother frequently because they work together. Desi and Merv talk about tennis, a sport they both played avidly. Once again, Desi says that he did not play Little Ricky on “I Love Lucy,” although they were born on the same day.
Lucie recalls her first appearance on her mother’s show: as Cynthia on “The Lucy Show.” Merv puts up the now familiar (but colorized as the original was in black and white) publicity photo of Lucy and her children taken during “Lucy is a Soda Jerk” (TLS S1;E23) when Lucie was eleven years old. Although this is her first ‘named’ character in the series, Lucie was an extra in “Lucy is a Referee” (TLS S1;E3) in 1962.
Desi Jr. says that he left “Here’s Lucy” during season three in order to do a film, but by the time the shooting was over, his contract had expired and he decided to move on to do other things. Desi Jr. went to college for a short period of time – a week and a half.
Lucie: “I think I’ve been to the best dramatic school by just being on her [Lucy’s] show for six years.”
Gary Morton tells how he and Lucy flew to Warrensburg, Ohio, to see Lucie do a summer stock production of Once Upon a Mattress. He then talks about how proud he is of Desi Jr.’s performance as Marco Polo in the film Marco (1973).The film wasn’t actually released until two months after this interview. Lucy hosted a home screening of the film.
Merv welcomes a surprise guest, Bob Hope. They talk about Bob Hope’s house, which was under construction in Palm Springs when it was engulfed by fire, allegedly through arson. Joking, Gary Morton holds out a lit cigarette lighter!
Hope mentions the four films he did with Lucy, even the one they consider the least memorable, Critic’s Choice (1963). Lucy calls it a flop. During the filming of The Facts of Life, Lucy was always asking Hope if she had successfully shed the ‘Lucy’ character. Bob tells the story (which he has told before) of when a Desilu stockholder interrupted the filming with her super 8 camera.
Hope: (about Lucy’s reruns) “She’s on so much, you can just flip the dial and see her raise her children.”
Lucy compliments her writers, Bob (Carroll) and Madelyn (Davis).
Hope jokingly says they shouldn’t talk about his political affiliations with Washington because he’s having enough trouble with his taxes as it is. Lucie says that the President [Richard Nixon] is having trouble with his, too! In late 1973, Nixon was in the headlines for mistakes on his tax returns.
Merv runs the first clip of Mame, despite it not being completely finished in post-production. Lucy says it will be released at Easter. Even Lucy hasn’t seen it! [The MPI DVD version of this interview does not include the clip.]
After a commercial break, Merv introduces “Uncle Harry himself” Gale Gordon. Gordon says that he just adores Lucy, even after fifty years in the business. Lucy claims that Gordon is just as good at the table reading as at the final filming. He tells Merv that his mother Gloria Gordon played the landlady on “My Friend Irma” both in the 1949 film and the 1952 television series.
They talk about about Gale Gordon’s on-set nickname, ‘Old Soggy Crotch’, because he was constantly getting wet during episodes of “Here’s Lucy.” The show actually bleeps out the nickname because the word ‘crotch’ would not pass the censors! Merv puts up a still from “Lucy Makes A Few Extra Dollars” (HL S4;E6) which depicts Gordon covered with food!
Gary Morton relates that when Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor guest starred on the show, he complimented Gordon on his performance, and assumed that he must have been born in England. Although raised in England, Gordon was actually born in New York City. Lucy says he is now the mayor of Borrego Springs, California.
After a break, Merv introduces the President of the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Robert Lewin, who presents Ball with a plaque of commemorating her 13 Emmy nominations since 1951. Lewin says the plaque has an ‘extension’ for her next 13!
Merv shows a clip of Lucy accepting her Emmy for Best Actress. He claims it is 1967, which Lucy questions: “67? I didn’t know I won one in 67.” Lucy is correct. The year was 1968.
“The Merv Griffin Show” ~ April 9, 1974
Guests: Lucille Ball, Bea Arthur, Gene Saks, Gary Morton
This show was taped on March 24, 1974, on location at the Hollywood premiere of Mame at the Cinerama Dome in Hollywood. Among those interviewed are Lucille Ball and husband Gary Morton; Beatrice Arthur and husband, director Gene Saks.
One of the many fans lining the red carpet for Merv’s interview with Lucy was Michael Z. Stern. He later wrote about the experience in his book I Had a Ball: My Friendship With Lucille Ball. Stern recounts that he made a large sign that read “WE LOVE LUCY” which (along with his arm) made it onscreen on “The Merv Griffin Show.”
“The Merv Griffin Show” ~ February 4, 1980
Guests: Lucille Ball, James Brolin, Michele Lee, Natalie Wood
Lucy talks about teaching comedy seminars in college, although the grading confounded her as it was solely a question and answer seminar. Lucy points out someone named Stuart (although he doesn’t appear on camera), one of her former seminar students who is in the studio audience.
Lucy compliments Merv as one of the best ‘listeners’ of all talk show hosts.
Lucy stresses that she’s not a funny person, but credits her daughter and Gary, her husband, with the attribute.
Merv begs Lucy to do the Lucy Ricardo “Waaaa” cry for him. Lucy is initially reluctant, but she does it for him.
Four days later, “Lucy Moves To NBC” was aired. Lucy’s visit is likely to promote that event.
In 2017, Get TV celebrated Lucille Ball’s birthday by airing this interview and the 1973 “Merv Griffin Show” interview of Lucy back to back, followed by a rare screening of Lucy’s appearance on “Van Dyke & Company.”
“The Merv Griffin Show” ~ June 24, 1982
Guests: Lucille Ball, Ethel Merman, Ginger Rogers
Lucy shares the stage with two powerhouse performers from her past. Merman guest-starred in two back-to-back episodes of “The Lucy Show” in 1964. Ball had done five films with Rogers during the 1930s. She guest-starred as herself on a 1971 episode of “Here’s Lucy” (S4;E11).
TRIVIA
Lucille Ball is responsible for Alex Trebek hosting “Jeopardy”! Lucy was a fan of the short-lived game show “High Rollers” hosted by Trebek. When Merv Griffin was looking to reboot “Jeopardy” Lucy suggested he consider hiring Trebek and the rest is history!
Alex Trebek, Bob Hope, Desi Arnaz Jr., Emmy Awards, Ethel Merman, Gale Gordon, Gary Morton, Get TV, Ginger Rogers, Here’s Lucy, Jeopardy!, Lucie Arnaz, Lucille Ball, Lucy, Mame, Merv Griffin, Michael Z. Stern, Robert Lewin, Roman Scandals, Ronald Reagan, Talk Show, The Lucy Show, The Merv Griffin Show, tv -
FROST / LUCY
1970-1971
“The
David Frost Show” was a syndicated America talk show hosted by
David Frost. It was produced from 1969 to 1972 and won Emmy Awards
in 1970 and 1971. During the course of the show’s run it featured
such high profile guests such as Gloria Steinem, Cesar Chavez, Huey
Newton, Vice President Spiro Agnew, Israeli Prime Minister Golda
Mier, former Nazi Party Official Albert Speer, and a 20-year-old
Prince Charles. There were many entertaining guests, comedians,
singers, actors and sports figures such as Johnny Carson, Groucho
Marx, 1936 gold medal Olympian Jesse Owens, Jackie Robinson, Norman
Rockwell, and playwright Tennessee Williams. Major music artists such
as the Rolling Stones, John Lennon, Barbra Streisand, Duke Ellington,
Stevie Wonder, and Carly Simon all made appearances as well.
Sir David Frost (Host) was a prominent English television host and journalist. His career began in the UK in 1962 hosting “That Was the Week that Was” which led to “Frost on Sunday” in 1968. He is best remembered for his US talk show “The David Frost Show” (1969-72). His 1977 interviews with former President Richard M. Nixon were eventually staged and filmed as Frost / Nixon by Peter Morgan. In 1993 he was knighted by the Queen. Frost died in 2013 while aboard a cruise ship in the Mediterranean. He was 74 years old.
“The
David Frost Show” (January 29, 1970)Guests: Lucille Ball, Harry Goz, Harry Lorayne,
Tom WolfeThree
days earlier Vivian Vance guest-starred on “Here’s Lucy” in “Lucy
and Viv Visit Tijuana” (HL S2;E19). Earlier that day, Lucy was a
guest on “The Mike Douglas Show.”
“The
David Frost Show” (May 26, 1970)Guests: Lucille Ball, Carol Burnett, George Burns
Six months earlier, Lucy made the third of her four appearances on “The
Carol Burnett Show.” Carol made her second of three appearances on
“Here’s Lucy” in March 1970. Burns will do a cameo appearance on
“Here’s Lucy” in November 1970.
“The
David Frost Show” (April 29, 1971)Guests: Lucille Ball, Arte Johnson, Jim Nabors,
Donald SutherlandA
week later, Lucille Ball was presenter at the 23rd Primetime Emmy Awards. “Here’s Lucy” was nominated for writing
and Gale Gordon for supporting actor. Arte Johnson would guest star
on “Here’s Lucy” in 1974. Jim Nabors did a cameo on a 1966
episode of “The Lucy Show.” His series “Gomer Pyle USMC” was
filmed at Desilu Studios.
“The
David Frost Show” (November
12, 1971)Guests: Lucille Ball, Gary Morton, Dr. Norman Vincent Peale
In
her 1977 interview with Barbara Walters, Lucy said she lives by the
‘think positive’ ideals of Dr. Norman
Vincent Peale.
Four
days earlier “Here’s Lucy” premiered “Won’t You Calm Down, Dan
Dailey?” (HL S4;E9) and the following Monday (November 15th) aired
“Lucy and the Celebrities” (HL S4;E10) featuring Rich Little.
“Lucy
Helps David Frost Go Night-Night” (HL S4;E12) November 29, 1971On “Here’s Lucy,” David Frost plays himself and Lucy Carter acts as his seat-mate on his business trip from LA to London. Lucy’s airplane antics prevent the pair from getting any sleep, and the next day jet lag sets in – on the air!
Complimenting
David Frost, Lucy Carter mentions that she saw him on “The Carol
Burnett Show.” In real life, Frost had been one of Burnett’s celebrity guests on
March 22, 1971 in return for Carol and Lucy’s appearance on his show
in May 1970 (see above). This “Here’s Lucy” episode is also ‘payback’ for that
appearance.
“The
David Frost Revue”
(November 7, 1971)
A
satirical sketch series in which Frost and his troupe of players
focus on one theme each show and are joined by guest stars. Unfortunately, there are no photo or video records of Lucy’s appearance on the show.
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LUCY on MIKE DOUGLAS
1968-1989
“The
Mike Douglas Show” was
a daytime television talk
show that
was hosted by Mike
Douglas.
Initially, it aired only in Cleveland during
much of its first two years, followed by expansion
to Philadelphia and
nationwide.It went into syndication in
1963 and remained on television until 1981. For much of its run, it
originated from TV stations in Cleveland and Philadelphia.
The
show helped introduce entertainers such as Barbra
Streisand and Aretha
Franklin.
After the move to Philadelphia, Douglas also attempted to revive his
own singing career, logging his lone Top 40 single as a solo artist,
“The Men In My Little Girl’s Life” in 1966. By 1967, “The
Mike Douglas Show” was
broadcast to 171 markets and 6,000,000 viewers each day, mostly women
at home. In
July 1978, the show’s home base was transferred to Los
Angeles,
where it remained until finally going off the air in 1981. The
show earned four Emmy Awards over its many years, both in Daytime and
Primetime.
Michael
Delaney Dowd Jr.
aka
Mike Douglas (1920-2006)
was
a big band singer, entertainer,
talk show host, and actor. Douglas joined the big band of Kay
Kyser as
a singer making his screen debut with them in 1944.
In 1950 he was the singing voice of Prince Charming in Disney’s
animated feature Cinderella
(“So This Is Love”). Douglas died on his 81st birthday in 2006. He was married to Genevieve Purnell from 1943 to
his death. They had three children.
March 29, 1968
Ozzie
& Harriet Nelson (co-hosts), Vivian Vance, Neil Diamond, Pearce
SistersTwo
weeks earlier, “The Lucy Show” ended after six seasons on the
air. Ball was busy re-formatting her show as “Here’s Lucy” for
the fall.
May 6, 1968
“Salute
to the Armed Forces Week”Peter
Dawkins (co-host), Omar Bradley (on telephone), Lt. General Stanley
LarsenLess
than two weeks later, Lucille Ball was seen at the 20th Annual Emmy Awards, where she won Best Actress in a Comedy for “The
Lucy Show.” The show itself lost to “Get Smart.”
January 29, 1970
Tony
Sandler and Ralph Young (co-hosts), Allen FuntThree
days earlier, Vivian Vance returned to work with Lucy on “Lucy and
Viv Visit Tijuana” (HL S2;E19). Allen Funt made an appearance as
himself and his evil impostor on “Lucy and Candid Camera” (HL
S4;E14) airing December 13, 1971.
November
6, 1975
Robert
Blake, Michael Caine, Roger Moore, War (musical guest)Three
days earlier, Lucy and Jackie Gleason starred in “Three for Two,”
one of the Lucille Ball specials.
November
19, 1976
Marvin
Hamlisch (co-host), Arte Johnson, Glenda Jackson, Tom Waits (musical
guest), taped interview with Lucy and Gary MortonTen
days after this appearance CBS feted Ball with “Lucy and CBS: The
First 25 Years” marking a quarter century since the premiere of “I
Love Lucy.” Douglas’s interview with Lucy and Gary was videotaped,
not in the studio. Arte Johnson appeared in “Lucy is a Bird-Sitter”
(HL S6;E15) in 1974.
December 9, 1976
Kevin
Dobson (co-host), Billy Fellows, Donny Most, Sam Summerlin, Joe
Dispenza, Blue Magic (musical guest)That
evening, Lucille Ball guest-starred on Dick Van Dyke’s short-lived
variety show “Van Dyke and Company.”
October 4, 1978
James
Stewart (co-host), Billy Crystal, Joyce DeWitt, David Copperfield, A
Taste of Honey (musical guest)A
week earlier, Ball had appeared on “General Electric’s All-Star
Anniversary” (above) on ABC. Joyce DeWitt was the star of one of Lucille
Ball’s favorite sitcoms, “Three’s Company.” She hosted the
show’s best-of retrospective in 1982. Although
Stewart was Ball’s friend and neighbor, the two never acted
opposite each other on film or television. They appeared together on
many award shows and specials. He presents Lucy with a plaque at the
end of “Lucy
and CBS: The First 25 Years.”
October 30–November 3, 1978
Lucille
Ball (week-long co-host)- October
30 – Desi Arnaz Jr., Natalie Wood, Dick Van Patten, Katherine
Helmond, Roger & Roger - October
31 – Sally Struthers, Senor Wences, Jan & Dean (musical guest) - November
1 – Gale Gordon, Gavin MacLeod, Bob Williams & Louis the Dog,
Florence Henderson - November
2 – Lucie Arnaz, Arthur Hill, Guy Hovis, Ralna English (musical
guest) - November
3 – Gary Morton, Bob Hope, Dick Martin, Joe Namath, Susan Anton,
Melissa Sue Anderson
In
addition to her husband (Gary Morton, not Garry Moore as the above ad asserts!) and children (Lucie and Desi
Arnaz Jr.), co-host Lucille Ball also recruits her frequent TV
co-star Gale Gordon, and friend and movie co-star Bob Hope. Dick
Martin was also a friend of Ball’s, having played Harry, Lucy
Carmichael’s boyfriend in the first season of “The Lucy Show.”
He would also frequently partner with her on “Password.” Joe
Namath made a guest appearance as himself on “Here’s Lucy” in
1972. Bob Williams and Louis the Dog also appeared on “Here’s
Lucy,” in a 1973 episode where Lucy Carter takes over a dog
grooming boutique.
“The
Mary Tyler Moore Hour” – March 4, 1979Mary
tries to get Lucille Ball to appear on her show on short notice when
her scheduled guest suddenly becomes ill. Although Lucy wants to do
the show, she must first get talk-show host Mike Douglas’ permission
to be absent the following day, as she is contracted to be his
co-host for the week. Mary and Lucy decide to ask Douglas for his
consent on live television. [This sitcom / variety show was taped
during Ball’s co-hosting gig on “The Mike Douglas Show” (above).]
February 7, 1980
Mariette
Hartley (co-host), Jim Bailey, David Letterman, Victoria Principal,
Patrick Boyriven, Morris Katz, Freda Payne (musical guest)Ball
was busy promoting “Lucy Moves To NBC” which aired the following
day. Jim Bailey appeared on “Here’s Lucy” as himself and as
Phyllis Diller on a 1972 episode.
July 2, 1980
Erik
Estrada (co-host), Gary Morton, Brodie Greer, Paul Linke, Randi
Oakes, Todd Rundgren & Utopia (musical guest), The Whispers
(musical guest)Lucy
appears with her husband Gary. During this period, Lucy was under
contract to NBC, but not doing very much. The photo above was taken one month later in Los Angeles.
Bob Hope, Desi Arnaz Jr., Dick Van Dyke, Emmy Awards, Gary Morton, Here’s Lucy, Jackie Gleason, Lucie Arnaz, Lucille Ball, Lucy, Lucy and CBS: The First 25 Years, Lucy Moves To NBC, Mary Tyler Moore, Mike Douglas, Talk Show, The Mary Tyler Moore Hour, The Mike Douglas Show, Three For Two, tv, TV Guide, Van Dyke & Company, Vivian Vance - October
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LUCY on TONIGHT
1960-1985
“The
Tonight Show” is a late night talk show first broadcast by NBC in
1954 and still airing as of this writing.
It
is the world’s
longest-running talk show,
and the longest running, regularly scheduled entertainment program in
the United States. It is the third-longest-running show on NBC, after
the news-and-talk shows “Today”
and
“Meet
the Press.”
It
has had seven official hosts, beginning with Steve
Allen (1954–57),
followed by Jack
Paar (1957–62),
Johnny
Carson (1962–92),
Jay
Leno (1992–2009,
2010–14), Conan
O’Brien (2009–10),
and Jimmy
Fallon (2014–present).
It has had several recurring guest hosts, a practice especially
common during the Paar and Carson years.
Carson
is the longest-serving host to date. “The
Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson” aired
for 30 seasons between October 1962 and May 1992.
The show currently
broadcasts from the NBC
studios
in Rockefeller
Center in
New
York City and
previously from various studios in the Los
Angeles area.
For
most of Johnny Carson’s run on the show, the show’s band was led by
Doc
Severinsen. Carson’s co-host / sidekick / announcer was Ed McMahon.The show’s iconic theme tune “Johnny’s Theme” was written by Carson and Paul Anka.
McMahon would traditional introduce Carson with the now familiar
“Heeeeeeeere’s
Johnny!”
“Tonight
Starring Jack Paar”- Jack
Paar (Host) - Hugh
Downs (Announcer) - Joe
Melis
(Bandleader)
December
29, 1960
– Hugh Downs (guest host), Lucie Arnaz, Desi Arnaz Jr., Chester
Morris, Kay ThompsonBall’s
first appearance on “The Tonight Show” is with guest host Hugh
Downs. Eight months after her divorce, she also brings along her
children. Lucy is in New York City appearing in the Broadway musical
‘Wildcat’. Later that week she appears on “What’s My Line” and
“The Today Show.”
January
12, 1961
– Arlene Francis (guest host), Betty JohnsonBall’s
second appearance is just two weeks after her first, but Jack Paar is
still on vacation. She was still in New York appearing in “Wildcat”.
January
26, 1961
– Vivian Vance, Cyril Ritchard, Arthur Treacher, Joan FairfaxIn
her third and final appearance on Paar’s incarnation of “Tonight”
she finally is interviewed by the host in the title. She is in the
company of her “I Love Lucy” co-star Vivian Vance. She was still
in New York appearing in “Wildcat”. Ten days later, “Wildcat”
went on a two-week hiatus due to Lucille Ball’s illness.
“The
Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson”- Johnny
Carson (Host) - Ed
McMahon (Announcer) - Doc
Severinson (Bandleader)
July
11, 1968
– James Garner, Richard PryorIn
July 1968 Lucille Ball had ended “The Lucy Show” and was
reformatting it as “Here’s Lucy.” Her film ‘Yours Mine and Ours’
was released in late April 1968.November
20, 1968 – Steve AllenFour
days earlier, Ball had appeared on ’The Tennessee Ernie Ford
Special.’ Although Ball and Steve Allen had appeared together on
panel shows, he wouldn’t act opposite Lucy until “Lucy Calls The
President” in 1977 in which he played himself.
November
26, 1968 –
Peter Lawford (guest host),
Ann-Margret, Richard Pryor, Bobbie Gentry (musical guest)The
previous evening “Here’s Lucy” first aired “Lucy Sells Craig to
Wayne Newton” (HL S1;E9, above). Ann-Margret would guest-star as herself
on “Here’s Lucy” on February 2, 1970. In September 1964, Lucy and
Peter Lawford played “Password” together, alongside Vivian Vance
and Gary Morton.
August
20, 1969
– Flip Wilson, Ricardo Montalban, Friends of Distinction (musical
guest)“Here’s
Lucy” was just about to kick off its second season with a four-part
story arc filmed on location at the Air Force Academy and the
Colorado River. In 1971, Flip Wilson played himself on “Here’s Lucy” (HL S4;E1). In 1972, Ricardo Montalban appeared as Prince
Phillip Gregory Hennepin of Montalbania
on
“Here’s Lucy” (HL S5;E12, above).
November
18, 1969
– Red Buttons, Louie Nye (sketch cameo), Ozzie & Harriet Nelson,
Della Reese & Trini Lopez (musical guests)The
previous evening “Here’s Lucy” premiered “Lucy
and the Used Car Dealer”
(HL S3;E9, above) starring Milton Berle as Cheerful Charlie. Ozzie Nelson
played himself in the Lucille Ball film ‘The Big Street’ (1942).
Harriet Nelson appeared with a young Lucille Ball in the 1934 film
‘Follow the Fleet.’
December 1, 1969 – “Lucy and Johnny Carson” (HL S2;E11)
An episode of “Here’s Lucy” in which Johnny Carson and Ed McMahon play themselves as Lucy Carter goes to see “The Tonight Show” and is picked to play Stump the Band.
February
23, 1970 – Buddy Hackett, Roger Miller (musical guest)Earlier
in the evening on CBS, “Here’s Lucy” premiered “Lucy Takes
Over” (HL S2;E23, above). Buddy Hackett had appeared as Harry Barton on
“The Lucy Show” in “Lucy and the Stolen Stole” (TLS S6;E19)
in January 1968.
November
16, 1970 – Doug McClure, Alan Sues, Della Reese and Roger
Miller (musical guests)Earlier
in the evening on CBS, “Here’s Lucy” premiered “Lucy
and the Diamond Cutter” (HL S3;E10, above)
featuring Wally Cox as a nervous jeweler. Also that same night
Lucille Ball did cameo appearances on Bob Hope and Jack Benny’s
specials, meaning that Lucille Ball was made four appearances on TV
that night. Two months earlier, Ball and Alan Sues both did cameos
on “The Dean Martin Show.”May
21, 1971 – Debbie Reynolds, Johnny BrownLucille
Ball was then preparing a fourth season of “Here’s Lucy.”
August
16, 1971 – Victor Buono, Broderick Crawford, Kaye Ballard
(musical guest)A
month later, the fourth season of “Here’s Lucy” premiered with
guest star Flip Wilson. Kaye Ballard had guest-starred as “Lucy and
Harry’s Italian Bombshell” (HL S4;E3, above) which aired on September 27,
1971. Ballard had starred with Eve Arden in the Desi Arnaz-produced
series “The Mothers-in-Law” (1967-69). Victor Buono had
guest-starred on “Here’s Lucy” in “Lucy Gets Her Man” (HL
S1;E21) in February 1969. He also did an uncredited cameo in “Like
Hep” which co-starred Dinah Shore, Lucille Ball, and Dinah Shore in
April 1969.
November
5, 1973 – “Lucy and Joan Rivers Do Jury Duty” (HL S6;E9)An
episode of “Here’s Lucy” starring frequent “Tonight Show”
guest host Joan Rivers as a no-nonsense juror sequestered with
a contentious Lucy Carter.
March
22, 1974 – Tommy Newsom (guest bandleader), Dom DeLuise,
Charleton Heston, Desi Arnaz Jr. (surprise cameo), Ace Trucking
Company (musical guest), Fred Willard (sketch cameo)Lucille
Ball had just finished her sixth and final season of “Here’s Lucy”
with “Lucy Fights the System” (HL S6;E24, above) airing four days
earlier. Her son makes a surprise appearance. She was also promoting her new musical film ‘Mame.’ Dom DeLuise had
appeared with Lucy on “The Dean Martin Show” in both 1968 and
1970.
November
15, 1974
– John Byner, John McKay, The Jackson Five (musical guests)This
appearance came just five days after “Happy Anniversary and
Goodbye” (above), the first of the Lucille Ball specials.
December
2, 1975 –
Sam Blotner, Johnny Matthis (musical guest)Lucy
was promoting her special “Three for Two” (above) with Jackie Gleason,
which aired the following evening.April
28, 1977 –
Jay Leno, Erma Bombeck, Joey HeathertonEarlier
in April 1977, Ball also appeared on “The Irv Kupcinet Show” (in
Chicago), and “Dinah!”.
November
18, 1977
– James Caan, Phoebe Snow (musical guest)Lucy
is promoting her special “Lucy Calls The President” (above) which aired
three days later. Her husband was played by “Tonight Show” announcer Ed McMahon, and Steve Allen played himself. James Caan would be in attendance at “An All-Star
Party for Lucille Ball” in 1984.
February
7, 1980
– Kelly Monteith, Dick EnbergBall
is promoting “Lucy Moves To NBC” (above), which aired the next day. The
all-star special included Johnny Carson. Lucy was now under contract
to the same network as “The Tonight Show.”
June
4, 1982
– Joan Rivers (guest host), Steve Guttenberg, Anthony Newley (musical
guest)Lucy
is reunited with Joan Rivers (subbing for Carson) who guest-starred
on a 1973 episode of “Here’s Lucy” titled “Lucy and Joan Rivers
Do Jury Duty” (HL S6;E9). Anthony Newley had appeared with Ball in
the 1966 special “Lucy Goes To London” (above) filmed on location in
England.
December
3, 1984
– Joan Rivers (guest host), Doc Severinson (guest announcer), Tommy
Newsom (guest bandleader), Sandy
Duncan, Morgan
Fairchild,
Betty
WhiteWith
Carson and McMahon both absent, Tommy Newsom is brought back to lead
the NBC Orchestra. On November 18, 1984, Lucille Ball was celebrated
with “An All-Star Party for Lucille Ball” (above) to honor her as Variety
Clubs Woman of the Year. The show would be aired a week after this
“Tonight Show” appearance. Lucy’s “Password” partner
Betty White is also a guest.
November
1, 1985
–
Joan Rivers (guest host), Steven
Wright, Dr. Ruth WestheimerLucy
is promoting her TV film “Stone Pillow” (above) which will air in five
days.
AND THERE’S ALSO…
Feuding
with Johnny Carson and NBC, Joan Rivers started her own late night TV
talk show on Fox in October 1986:
“The Late Show with Joan Rivers.”
Lucille Ball, promoting “Life With Lucy,” was one of her first
guests. Like Lucy’s show, Joan’s program was not a success and she
was criticized for even doing it.
Carson’s
predecessor also did a rival late night talk show on ABC titled “Jack
Paar Tonite” which
only ran from January to November 1973. His sidekick was Peggy Cass.
Lucy appeared on the show on May 28, 1973 along with Rich Little and
Florence Henderson.
In 1976, Johnny Carson was one of the celebrities who were featured on “Lucy and CBS: The First 25 Years.”
- Jack
-
LUCY on BODY LANGUAGE
September & December 1984
“Body
Language”
is a game
show
produced by Mark
Goodson
Productions which aired on CBS
from June 4, 1984 until January 3, 1986 and was hosted by Tom
Kennedy.
Kennedy had hosted “Password Plus” (on which Lucy made several
appearances) after the death of host Allen Ludden. Johnny
Olson
was the announcer until his death in October 1985.
The
gameplay centered on the party game charades,
in the same vein as the earlier Goodson-Todman program “Showoffs,”
but contestants also had to solve word puzzles to win money, making
“Body Language”
a
cross between “Showoffs”
and
“Password.”
All
episodes of “Body Language”
were
taped in studio 33 at CBS
Television City
in
Hollywood.
The
idea for the TV show
originated
with the Milton Bradley board game of the same name, which was
created by Dr. Cody Sweet, the first platform speaker on nonverbal
communication (body language), in 1974.
Lucille Ball was a long-time fan of charades, incorporating them into
many episodes of her television shows (see below).Ball was pictured on the box
of the home game and also did a television commercial for the game,
along with her “Here’s Lucy” co-star Mary Jane Croft, who used
their real / TV names in the spot.When
the game finally was made into a television show a decade later, Lucy
did two week-long guest appearances. Ten days after her first
appearances in September 1984, Lucy’s favorite game show “Password”
was reincarnated as “Super Password,” although she did not appear
on the revamped show until December 1986.
“Body
Language” generally had celebrity players teamed with ‘civilian’
partners to act out words that were part of a larger quote puzzle.
There were, however, often celebrity partners playing for charity, as
was the case with Ball’s second appearance.
Announcer: “It’s
the game for the uninhibited! Our stars this week are Lucille Ball
and Charles Nelson Reilly. Watch their bodies do the talking onnnnnnnn ’Body
Language’!”
“Body
Language” (September
10-14, 1984)Tom
Kennedy (Host)Johnny
Olson
(Announcer)Lucille
Ball (Celebrity
Guest)Charles
Nelson Reilly
(Celebrity Guest) guest-starred on “Lucy the Crusader” (HL S3;E5)
in 1970.In the show aired on September 12, 1984:
In the pre-interview Lucy says her daughter will give birth for the third time on Christmas Eve.
Lucy is partnered with returning champion, Dennis Lamour.
Charles Nelson Reilly says he is producing a play at the Westwood Playhouse in Los Angeles titled The Middle Ages by A.R. Gurney.
Charles is partnered with ‘civilian’ Renae Wilson, a counselor in Los Angeles.
In Lucy’s first time acting out the clues, one of them is “THE MARX BROTHERS” so she does her imitation of Groucho, stooped, holding a cigar. In Lucy’s December appearance on the show, the Marx Brothers will again be a clue, and Kennedy will remind Lucy that she worked with them in a film. Dennis solves the puzzle: “ANIMAL CRACKERS.”
Charles steals the next puzzle from Lucy and Dennis by guessing the word “STARCH.”
Lucy steals the next puzzle from Charles and Renae by guessing “COMMERCIALS.”
Dennis retains his championship by guessing the puzzle with just one clue: “CRAYONS.”
Dennis plays with Lucy giving the clues to earn $7,000, but only earns $700.
“Body
Language” (December
24, 26-28,
1984)Tom
Kennedy
(Host)Johnny
Olson
(Announcer)Lucille
Ball
is playing for the Orthopedic Wing of the Los Angeles Children’s
Hospital.Exercise
guru Richard
Simmons
is playing for The Reach Foundation, a group that builds exercise
equipment for the disabled in hospitals.Robert
Morse
is playing for the Arthritis Foundation of Southern California. In
1967 Morse and Ball were two of the many celebrities making cameo
appearances in the film A
Guide for the Married Man.Isabel
Sanford, star
of “The Jeffersons,” is playing for the Kwanza Foundation, who
feed the needy at Christmas.In
the show aired on December
26, 1984:
During
Lucy’s introduction someone in the audience holds up a sign saying
“Lucy Doesn’t Need Vitameatavegamin,” a reference to “Lucy Does
a TV Commercial” (ILL S1;E30). Tom Kennedy congratulates Lucy on
being chosen Variety Club’s Woman of the Year and says that the show
(“All Star Party for Lucille Ball”) will be broadcast on December
9.
That date had passed for home viewers, but was still in the future
during the taping.On
day two of the game show, Lucy had already won $275 for her charity.
Isabel Sanford won $750. Kennedy congratulates her on eleven
successful years on “The Jeffersons.” Richard Simmons’ one day
total is also $750. Morse is up to $175.
On
this day’s show Lucy is paired with Isabel and Richard is partnered
with Morse: The guys against the girls.Isabel
has trouble guessing “LIBERACE” and “FRANK SINATRA” – men
Lucille Ball knew well. Kennedy asks Lucy whose eyes are bluer; hers
or Franks? Sinatra’s nickname was “old blue eyes” and Lucy tries to convey that in her actions.After
getting seven out of ten words right and the three bonus words, Lucy
and Isabel win $7,000 for her charity.
In
the show aired on December
27, 1984:On
this day, Lucy is paired with Richard Simmons, and Sanford with
Morse.In
round one, Lucy acts out the clues, while Richard Simmons guesses. He
doesn’t know the word Flamenco, a Spanish dance. He calls it ‘Flamingo Dancing.’
Simmons guesses the first puzzle: “TEQUILA.”Isabel
Sanford guesses the second puzzle “SHAKE” with just three clues.Lucy
guesses the third puzzle “POTATO CHIPS” after all the clues are
revealed.Despite
repeated attempts by Isabel Sanford, Robert Morse doesn’t seem to
know that the generic name for Kleenex is “TISSUE.” Despite
this, Morse still solves the puzzle “MUSCLE” with only two words.
When
the clue is “TURKEY SANDWICH” Lucy guesses every other bird
including a penguin!Richard
Simmons wins the game by guessing “JINGLE” with only 3 of 7 words
in the phrase.To
act out the word “ATLAS,” Elizabeth Sanford strikes the
pose of Rodin’s The Thinker. Kennedy has Morse show her the pose of Atlas
(holding the world above his head) after the game is over.Simmons
says that after all the years of watching Lucy on television he
can’t believe he’s here doing this with her. Richard and Lucy play
the speed round getting 10 words in one minute. He is so happy he
leaps atop the podium stomach first to give Ball a kiss. She is
startled, to say the least.
In
the show aired on December
28, 1984:For
this show, Lucy partners with Robert Morse and Isabel Sanford plays
with Richard Simmons.Lucy
gets a standing ovation from the studio audience. Tom Kennedy then
asks all four of the celebrities to take a bow, probably noticing
that Lucy has gotten the lion’s share of the studio audience’s
appreciation all week.Tom
Kennedy asks Isabel Sanford about the time change for “The
Jeffersons.” Someone in the audience shouts “Yay for ‘The
Jeffersons!’ CBS moved the show due to sagging ratings halfway
through its final season.In
the final seconds of the first round, Lucy has to act out “MONA
LISA”. Coincidentally, Lucy had twice been the ‘Mona Lucy’ (he face stuck in the famous painting) on her
televisions shows. Morse, however, guesses Grandma Moses. Lucy
shrugs off the reference and says “What else?”
The
answer to a puzzle is “ROOM SERVICE” using the clue “THE MARX
BROTHERS” but Lucy can’t decipher the clues and guesses Animal
Crackers
instead (another Marx Brothers movie). Ball admits to being in the
film, but doesn’t remember much about it. The show projects a still
photo of Lucy with the Marx Brothers on the puzzle screen. Kennedy
adds that Ann Miller was also in it, which Lucy doubts.
Kennedy says “that’s what they told me” and the
audience confirms that she was and Ball says “Okay, she was in it.”Isabel
Sanford is the week-long money winner getting an extra $10,000 for
her charity. Kennedy pronounces it the “Kiwanza” Foundation and
Sanford corrects him. Her total is $18,2000. Lucy won $4,900 for
the Orthopedic Ward of the Children’s Hospital. Kennedy evens off
Robert Morse’s winnings to $2,000 for the Arthritis Foundation.
Richard Simmons makes $4,950 for Reach Foundation.This
is their final show of 1984 so balloons drop and Kennedy wishes
everyone a Happy New Year to the sounds of “Auld Lang Syne.”
1985
would be a quiet year for 74 year-old Lucille Ball. She only made four new
television appearances, her fewest since 1960. Restless without
working, in 1986 she was easily lured out of retirement by Aaron
Spelling for “Life With Lucy.”
LUCY PLAYS CHARADES!
“The Gossip” (ILL S1;E24 ~ March 24, 1952) Lucy Ricardo is forbidden by Ricky to gossip, so she tapes her mouth shut and indulges in an exuberant game of charades to tell Ethel a juicy story about neighbor Grace Foster running away with the milkman.
“Lucy’s Bicycle Trip” (ILL S5;E24 ~ April 23, 1956) While cycling through Italy, Lucy Ricardo encounters a farmer who speaks no English, so she uses pantomime to ask him if they can stay in his barn overnight.
“Lucy and Joan Rivers Do Jury Duty” (HL S6;E9 ~ November 5, 1973) While sequestered in a hotel overnight, the jury is forbidden from talking about the case, but Lucy reasons that they can still act it out!
1984, Board Game, Body Language, CBS, charades, Charles Nelson Reilly, Game Show, Here’s Lucy, I love lucy, Isabel Sanford, Joan Rivers, Johnny Olson, Lucille Ball, Lucy, Mark Goodson, Mary Jane Croft, pantomime, Richard Simmons, Robert Morse, Room Service, Showoffs, The Jeffersons, The Marx Brothers, Tom Kennedy, tv, Vitameatavegamin -
LUCY on PASSWORD ~ Part 3
1974-1988
[Click here for Lucy on Password Part 1 and Part 2]
After the CBS version of “Password” (daytime and evening editions) was canceled in 1967, Goodson-Todman Productions syndicated the show and sold the rights to ABC daytime, where a rebooted version ran from 1971 to 1975. The producers finally consented to having the show move to Hollywood, rather than taping from New York City. The network slated the new “Password” to replace the cult soap “Dark Shadows” on April 5, 1971. Some of the soap’s more devoted fans threatened ABC with physical disruption of the first tapings but nothing came to pass. The new game featured the “Password Puzzle” – passwords that when combined give clues to another mystery word of name.
Early on the ABC version, contestants played a single elimination game; the winning contestants could stay until either defeated or win a maximum of 10 games, thus retiring them as undefeated champions. Later on, the limit was dropped, and champions stayed on the show until defeated. Every three months, the four top winners during that period would return for a quarterly contest.
Lagging in the ratings, on November 18, 1974 the show ran an all-celebrity format called “Password All-Stars.” For two weeks in July 1974, the show tried out the new format and Lucille Ball participated. The lack of civilian contestants and significantly altered rules did not go over well with fans and the format was abandoned in February 1975. Lucille Ball returned for one last play of her favorite game in May 1975, before the show went off the air at the end of June.
Goodson-Todman tried again and successfully brought “Password” to NBC on January 8, 1979, meaning it spent time on all three major networks, just like Lucille Ball herself. Originally titled “Password ‘79,” celebrity guest Carol Burnett remarked during a run-through that with the various new elements the show had adopted, it was “Password Plus” (aka “Password +”), which became the new title. Allen Ludden returned as host, although stomach cancer forced him to leave the show in 1980 and took his life the following year.
In this iteration, the announcer’s whispering of the password for home viewers has been eliminated. An electronic scoreboard has been added above the players’ heads. Players are now given the option to pass or play. The lightning round has been replaced by ‘Alphabetics’ – where the passwords all start with sequential letters of the alphabet. Players have one minute to guess ten words.
Other versions of the game show included “Super Password” (1984-89) on NBC hosted by Bert Convy. The announcer’s whispering of the password has been restored. The Password Puzzle is still part of the game but an added feature is the “Ca$hword” where players get only three clues to guess the clue found in a small box Convy calls “the magic toaster.” Just like “Password Plus” the winners go to the Alphabetics game.
“Million Dollar Password” (2008-10) was a sporadic series hosted by Regis Philbin on CBS.
“Password” ~ July 15-19, 1974
The show tries out its ‘all-celebrity’ game format for two weeks, the first of which was taped on July 8, 1974. Tom Kennedy steps in to host while Allen Ludden plays with Lucille Ball. The all-stars also included Elizabeth Montgomery, Mary Tyler Moore, Betty White, Robert Foxworth, Greg Morris, Harvey Korman, and Robert Reed. The show returned to civilian contestants before switching over to “Celebrity Password” in November 1974, a format that did not last very long.
“Password” ~ May 3, 1975
Allen Ludden (Host)
- Lucille Ball (Celebrity Player)
[Nearly all copies of the ABC re-boot of “Password” were lost when they were taped over in a recycling effort. It is believed that most of the tapes were used for “Family Feud.” File photo from Getty Images.]
“Password Plus” ~ August 18-22, 1980
August 22, 1980
Allen Ludden (Host)
- Lucille Ball
- Dick Martin
[All week, Lucille Ball and Dick Martin take on ‘civilian’ players. One of those ‘civilians’ is interior decorator Kirstie Alley, before her television fame. Eight years later she would share the cover of TV Guide with Lucille Ball. This is the final day of a week starring Lucy and Dick Martin. It begins with the Alphabetics round not done the previous day. ]
RESULTS
- In the first game, Dick’s partner guesses the Password Puzzle from the words “CBS” and “SUNDAY” = “60 Minutes” (although Dick Martin was going to say “Archie Bunker’s Place.” He later mentions “Little House on the Prairie”.)
- After Lucy is stumped, her partner guesses the second Password Puzzle from the words “SMALL” “MOON” “JOHN” “FARM” “MOON” and “SHACK” = Outhouse.
- Dick’s partner guesses the third Password Puzzle from the words “EARS” “CORN” “CANDLES” = Wax. The unused passwords were “SLIPPERY” and “MATERIAL” although Lucy is somewhat confused by them.
- The Alphabetics round features the letters ’D’ through ’M’. Dick and his partner only get six of the words.
- Dick and his new partner guess the Password Puzzle from the words “PHONY” “QUACK” “ATTRACT” “FOWL” “INSTRUMENT” = Duck Call.
“Password Plus” All-Celebrity Week
March 2-6, 1981
Tom Kennedy (Host)
Lucille Ball – When Kennedy asks about Lucie Arnaz, Lucy says she was born before “I Love Lucy” began (although Kennedy calls it “The Lucy Show”) and for a long time people didn’t even know she had a daughter. Lucy is playing for the Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles Orthopedic Wing.
Betty White is playing for the Los Angeles Zoo to build an environment for koalas being given to them by Australia.
Desi Arnaz Jr. says he wants to destroy the myth that he played Little Ricky on “I Love Lucy,” and says that his counterpart’s name is Richard Keith and that he has his own band. Desi is playing for Therapeutic Riding for the Handicapped. Kennedy later notes that this is Desi’s first time playing “Password Plus.”
Dick Martin played Lucy Carmichael’s boyfriend on “The Lucy Show” but is best known as the co-host of “Laugh-In” with Dan Rowan. He is playing for the Josslyn Clinic Diabetes Foundation because Rowan is diabetic.
In the first half of the game Lucy and Betty are partnered. The partners switch after the Alphabetics round.
TRIVIA
- When the first password is “AIRPLANE” and Betty White guesses the Password Puzzle answer is “PILOTS,” Lucille Ball says “I made some of her pilots” punning on the word for a television program meant to lead to a future series. Lucy’s remark is taken as a sexual double entendre by her son.
- Instead of wearing her glasses to read the passwords, Lucille Ball holds them up to her face without putting them on.
- After the first commercial, apropos of nothing, Betty White says “I love this lady on my left. I just thought I’d announce that to America.”
- When Dick Martin gives the clue “Shhhh” for the password “SILENT” it is ruled an illegal clue. Kennedy says it is an utterance, not a word.
- Charades (the answer to the second puzzle) and pantomime were something Lucille Ball dearly loved and was quite adept at. Dick Martin chimes in with the name Mike Stokey and the early television show “Pantomime Quiz” (1947-59). Coincidentally, this game show was also Lucille Ball’s first television appearance in the late 1940s.
- Kennedy says that Lucy is a new grandmother of 9 week-old Simon [Luckinbill]. He was born to Lucie Arnaz and Laurence Luckinbill on December 9, 1980. This show was likely taped in mid-February 1981.
- To get the password “DOLLY” from Desi, Betty sings the word “HELLO” from the title song of Hello, Dolly.
- Before the end of the show, Desi promotes his upcoming TV film Advice to the Lovelorn starring Cloris Leachman. It aired on November 30, 1981 on NBC. This was a pilot that was not picked up for series.
RESULTS
- Betty solves the first Password Puzzle from the words “AIRPLANE” “OATH” “PRESIDENT” “TEXAS” and “PRESIDENT” = Lyndon Johnson.
- Lucy solves the second Password Puzzle from the words “BODY” “LANGUAGE” “SILENT” “PARLOR” “GAME” = Charades.
- Betty solves the third Password Puzzle from just three passwords: “SHY” “EMBARRASSED” “ROSY” = Blush.
- Lucy and Betty play ‘Alphabetics’ featuring letters ‘F’ through ‘O’. Betty guesses them all with 11 seconds still on the clock.
- Desi guesses the fourth Password Puzzle from just two words: “DOLLY” and “JANE” = Nine To Five. The unused passwords were “LILY” “FLICK” and “WORK.”
“Password Plus” All-Celebrity Week
March 2-6, 1981 ~ March 6, 1981
Tom Kennedy (Host) – At the start of the week, Kennedy said that his first successful game show was owned by Desilu: “You Don’t Say” (1963-75). Although Ball never appeared on the show, Betty White and Dick Martin did, as well as Lucy’s co-stars Vivian Vance and Gale Gordon.
Lucille Ball – throughout 1981 Lucy primarily does interviews and award shows. She has not been on “Password” since 1975.
Lucy’s first partner is Betty White, wife of the show’s founding host, Allen Ludden.
In the second game, Lucy is partnered with her son, Desi Arnaz Jr.
Dick Martin starred as Lucy’s boyfriend on the first seasons of “The Lucy Show.” He is probably best known as the host of TV’s “Laugh-In.”
Lucy’s son, Desi Arnaz Jr., is Dick Martin’s first partner.
In the second game, Dick Martin is partnered with Betty White.
TRIVIA
- Throughout the program, Lucille Ball looks grumpy and appears not to be enjoying herself.
- When the password is “HIDDEN” and Dick’s clue is “BEHIND” Betty says “Watch your mouth.”
- When the password is “CABINET” Betty White gives Lucy the clue “Calagari’s” which totally flummoxes Lucy. Betty is referring to the film The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari, a 1920 German silent horror film. When Lucy can’t moved past the obscure clue, White says “Don’t be sulky, Lucy, be sweet. You’re ruining your image.” Lucy paints on a big fake smile that makes her appear catatonic. Even Lucy has to laugh at herself.
- When the first password is “ODD” Betty guesses the puzzle answer is Tony Randall star of TV’s “The Odd Couple.”
RESULTS
- Lucy solves the first Password Puzzle from the words “BALD” “SMILE” “HIDDEN” and “CAMERA”: Allen Funt.
- Dick solves the second Password Puzzle from the words “PILGRIMS” “WINGS” “NOVEMBER” “HOLIDAY” and “BIRD” = Turkey.
- Dick solves the third Password Puzzle from the words “TRAVEL” “HAIG” “DIPLOMAT” “CABINET” and “JOB” = Secretary of State.
- Betty solves the fourth Password Puzzle from the words “ODD” “PIGS” “STRIKES” “STOOGES” “NUMBER” = Three.
- Dick and Desi Jr. win the first game and play Alphabetics featuring words with the letters ‘A’ through ‘J.’ They get 8 of the 10 words right.
Tom Kennedy gives the week-long winning totals:
Desi played for Therapeutic Riding for the Handicapped and earns them $1,000.
Lucy played for Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles Orthopedic Wing and earns them $3,300.
Dick played for the Josslyn Clinic Diabetes Foundation and earns for them $6,300.
Betty played for Greater Los Angeles Zoo Association (GLAZA) and earns $13,250 to bring koalas to the Zoo.
“Password Plus” All Celebrity Week
December 2-4, 1981
Tom Kennedy (Host)
- Lucille Ball
[No information about these programs was available.]
“Super Password”
December 1 & 2, 1986
Bert Convy (Host)
Gene Wood (Announcer)
Lucille Ball is introduced as the star of “Life With Lucy.” Ironically, by the time this pre-recorded program aired, the series had already been canceled. The final episode aired on ABC on November 15, 1886. Convy notes that Lucy got a standing ovation from the studio audience.
Lucy’s partner is Ann Dusenberry, who plays her daughter Margo on “Life With Lucy.” She and Lucy are playing for the National Committee for the Prevention of Child Abuse.
Estelle Getty was then in her second year of playing Sophia on “The Golden Girls.” Lucy and Convy praise Getty’s transformation into the elderly Sophia.
Getty is partnered with her fellow ‘Golden Girl’ and the Queen of Password, Betty White. White and Getty are playing for the ASPCA.
TRIVIA
Rather than wear her glasses for the whole game, Lucy merely holds them up to her eyes to read the passwords.
RESULTS
- Betty guesses the first Password Puzzle with three words: “CRASH” “BRASS” and “ROUND” = Cymbals. Un-played passwords were “ORCHESTRA” and “PAIR.”
- Estelle guesses the second Password Puzzle with three words: “DOROTHY” “DEEP” “VOICE” = Bea Arthur. The un-played passwords are “GOLDEN” and “GIRL.”
- Estelle and Betty play the Ca$hword, but are unable to guess that it is “RESERVOIR” from the clues “WATER” “PLACE” and “RESERVE.”
- Betty guesses the third Password Puzzle with three words: “RINSE” “MOUTH” and “THROAT= Gargle. The un-played passwords are “WASH” and “SOUND.”
- Betty and Estelle play Alphabetics using the letters ‘C’ through ‘L’. Betty gets all ten passwords in 20 seconds.
- Ann steals the Password Puzzle by guessing “BLACKBIRDS” from “BAKED” “PIE” “FOUR” “TWENTY” and “ANIMALS”. Estelle guessed “FOUR AND TWENTY BLACKBIRDS” but the judges were only looking for one word, allowing Ann the opportunity to guess it.
“Super Password”
January 16, 1987
- Lucille Ball
- Betty White
- Ann Dusenberry
- Estelle Getty
This episode was taped on December 2, 1986, the same day Desi Arnaz passed away. In the book Desilu (page 356), Betty White is quoted as saying:
“The day Desi died, she and I were doing ‘Password’ together. She was being real funny on the show, but during a break she said ‘You know, it’s the damnedest thing. Goddamn it, I didn’t think I’d get this upset. There he goes.’ It was a funny feeling, kind of a lovely, private moment.”
Add to that “Life With Lucy” had just been canceled.
“Super Password”
November 7-12, 1988
Bert Convy (Host)
- Lucille Ball – This would be Lucille Ball’s last game show appearance before her passing in 1989.
- Carol Channing
- Dick Martin
- Betty White
- Marsha Warfield (“Night Court”)
"The last time I saw this great lady was at a taping of ‘Super Password’ in September of 1988. When I peeked through her dressing room door at NBC to say, ‘hello,’ she charged across the room to give me a hug – and, believe me, she hugged like no one else! The photo accompanying this story (above) was taken that afternoon. I was so pleased with it that I gave Lucy a framed copy that year for Christmas. A few months later, after she had been admitted to the hospital, I stopped by her house to deliver some flowers – and was thrilled to see the picture sitting on the buffet in her dining room. The realization hit me that I really had become a part of her life.” ~ George Light
-
LUCY on PASSWORD ~ Part 2
1965-1966
[For “Password’s” backstory and Lucy’s previous appearances, click here.]
“Password”
~ January 7, 1965
Allen
Ludden
(Host)
Jack
Clark
(Announcer)The
program is sponsored by Clairol and Bufferin.
Thee
top prize is $500 and the consolation prize if $50.THE
PLAYERS
Lucille
Ball is
introduced as “the brilliant comedienne and fabulous star of motion
pictures and television.” Lucy says that lately she’s been playing
golf for relaxation.Lucy’s
first partner is James
Memet
from Thousand Oaks, California. He is a communications consultant for
Pacific Telephone Company.
Lucy’s
second partner is Carole
Cook.
Lucy
explained that Cook and Paul Kent had been students in an acting
class she had taught at Desilu Workshop and their winnings will go to a new
theater they were starting.
[The Melrose Theatre in West Hollywood.]Lucy’s
third partner is Donald
Butler
from Compton, California. He is a probation officer with Los Angeles
County.Lucy’s
fourth partner is David
Boyle
from Arcadia, California.
Gary
Morton is introduced as a “talented nightclub comedian and
television star.” Gary says his golf game is going well, too.Gary’s
first partner is Lois ‘San’ Nichol from Monteray Park,
California. In her spare time she is learning to fly helicopters.Gary’s
second partner is actor Paul Kent (above photo with Morton).
He is playing to win money to start a new theatre troupe.Gary’s
third partner is Jane Aubrey
from Woodland Hills, California. She is the mother of three sons.Gary’s
fourth partner is Sarah Mason
from Claremont, California.TRIVIA
- In
the first round, Lucy gives the clue to her partner while the
announcer is still whispering it to viewers. She is gently reprimanded by
Ludden. He backpedals by complimenting her eyes and hands. Lucy responds as seen in the above photo. - During
the third round, something happens to Gary’s chair and Ludden fixes
it without stopping the game. - After
the fourth round is over and the show has gone to commercial, Gary
tries to get Sarah Mason to guess the word “SHOW” which stumped
her during the lightning round. - All the contestants are from California because the program was recorded at CBS Television City in Hollywood.
- Although
not promoted on the show, the following Monday after this Thursday
night “Password” “The Lucy Show” aired its first new episode
of 1965: “Lucy and the Ceramic Cat” (TLS S3;E16).
THE
RESULTS- Lucy
and James Memet win the first game. - Gary
and Paul Kent win the second game. - Lucy
and Donald Butler win the third game. - Gary
and Sarah Mason win the fourth game.
In
closing, Ludden promotes next week’s guests, Barbara Rush and (making
his “Password” debut) Gene Kelly. Using the password “BETTER,”
Ludden gives a pitch for better local schools.
“Password”
~
August 26, 1965Allen
Ludden (Host)The
program is sponsored by Tame hair care products.
The top prize is
$500 and the consolation prize is $50.
Lucille
Ball
is introduced as “one
of your all-time favorite television stars.”
She promotes that “The Lucy Show” will be back in the fall, but
her character has moved out of Danfield and now lives in California. She
references her first episode shot at Marineland.Gary Morton is introduced as “the hilarious comedy, nightclub, and radio star.” Gary promotes that this season “The Lucy Show” will be aired in color. Upcoming guest stars include Danny Thomas, Clint Walker, Milton Berle, Ann Sothern, and Joan Blondell.
Lucy’s
first partner is John
McGovern
from Redondo Beach, California. He says he is a contract specialist
at an aerospace company “building
a rocket to the moon.”Gary’s first partner is Caroline Stafford from Los Angeles, California. She has three children, specifying that she has one of her own, and two are her husbands. “It’s one of those things” she says with a nervous laugh.
Lucy’s
second partner is her son, Desi
Arnaz Jr.
Desi says his band Dino Desi & Billy has been on tour with The
Beach Boys. He made a record called “I’m A Fool” that Ludden says
is selling well. Ludden mistakenly calls the band Dino Billy &
Desi.Gary’s second partner is his step-daughter Lucie Arnaz. When Ludden asks her plans for the fall she says she’s entering Immaculate Heart High School but, unlike her brother, has no plans to make a record.
Lucy’s
third partner is her daughter Lucie, while Desi Jr. plays with GaryLucy’s
fourth partner is her husband Gary. Lucie plays with Desi Jr. – the
parents versus the kids.TRIVIA
- The
opening shot of the studio audience reveals that Lucy’s mother, Dede
Ball is sitting in the front row, although she is not acknowledged. - This
program was pre-recorded at CBS Television City in Hollywood. - In
the first round, the password is “HAM” and Gary’s clue is
“ACTOR.” His partner gets it. - When
the password is “PUTT,” Lucy’s partner gives the clue “SHOT,”
and Ludden tells him to look at his clue again. Lucy and Gary are
both golf nuts. - After
winning the first round, Lucy turns to Ludden and says
“You’ve changed. You haven’t frightened me yet.”
She is referring to previous appearances where Ludden’s loud “YES!”
would startle Lucy, who generally had her back to him at the time. - The
Mortons are playing for National Easter Seals. Lucille Ball was their
national representative for a time. - When
the password is “SQUIRM” and Lucy’s clue is “WRIGGLE,” her
son inexplicably guesses “STARCH.” - When
the password is “BREAKFAST” and Lucie’s clue is “LUNCH,” Desi
Jr. says “I’ve gotta decide, right?” knowing it could
either be breakfast or dinner / supper. A similar thing happened to
him the last time he was on the show. He chose wrong both times! - Lucy
admits to cheating a little. Ludden says “Don’t
tell me if you cheated.” - When
Gary acts out the password “YAWN” and Ludden allows him to get
away with it, Lucy is noticeably annoyed. Desi Jr. gets it instantly
and Ludden backpedals a bit by reminding them they are all playing
for charity. Although she doesn’t say anything, Lucy shoots her
husband a quick disgusted look. When Gary cheats a second time,
stroking his cheek and giving the clue “HAIR” to indicate
“SIDEBURNS,” Ludden throws out the word and starts again. The
substitute word is “SPURS,” which stumps Gary and gets a bit of
applause from the studio audience for its level of difficulty.
THE RESULTS
- Lucy
and John McGovern win the first game. - Gary
and Lucie win the second game. - Gary
and Desi Jr. win the third game. - Gary
and Lucy are ahead in the fourth game when time runs out.
Ludden
promotes that Natalie Schaefer and Jim Backus of “Gilligan’s
Island” will be his guests on next week’s program. Using the
password “EXCITING,” Ludden promotes that the upcoming shows will
feature stars of the new television season on CBS.
“Password”
~ Lucy & Friends Week #1January 10 – 14, 1966
Allen
Ludden (Host)The
show is sponsored by Pepsodent.
Lucille
Ball
is introduced as the “sensational television comedy star.” Ludden
says that in the 15 years since “I Love Lucy” started, her shows
have been in the top ten, and this year she is number 3. Lucy says
she has an episode with Dean Martin coming up six to eight weeks
after it is filmed. Lucy says she is also doing a Carol Burnett
special [“Carol + 2”] and a Dean Martin special.Lucy’s
first partner is Vase
Hedrick
from Fullerton, California. He likes to travel around Latin America
and Mexico.In
the second game, Lucy’s partner is Kenda Hamm and Gary plays with
Vase Hedrick – ladies against the gentlemen.Lucy’s
third partner is her son, Desi
Arnaz Jr. Desi says his band Dino Desi & Billy has a new record out.
Gary
Morton
is introduced as “the witty and humorous nightclub comedian and
radio star.” Gary says he played quite well in the US Open. “I’m
quite proud of Lucy’s ratings. She’s number three in the country and
she’s number one with me.”Gary’s
first partner is Kenda
Hamm from
Van Nuys, California. She has two young girls.Gary’s
second partner is Vase Hedrick.Gary’s
third partner is his step-daughter Lucie
Arnaz.
Lucie says she is in the ninth grade.TRIVIA
- This
is one of the show’s trips to Hollywood where they filmed at CBS
Television City. This is the first week of their four-week stay. This was
one of the series’ daytime episodes. - Once
again, Lucy’s mother, Dede Ball, is seated in the first row of the
studio audience, and gets on camera in the opening shot, although not acknowledged. - Ludden
reminds Lucy of the popping up clues so she won’t be startled. Lucy
corrects him, “This doesn’t frighten me, you do.” In previous
appearances Ludden’s quick and loud “Yes!” when Lucy scores often
made her jump. Despite saying that, Lucy is startled by the pop-up
clue anyway. - When
the password is “PARADISE” and Kenda Hamm’s clue is “MILTON,”
Lucy naturally guesses Berle, not the 1667 novel “Paradise Lost”
by John Milton. Lucy later says that Hamm is “very erudite.”
Ludden says he’s trying to get Milton Berle to play “Password.” - The
Mortons play for Easter Seals. - In
the third game, Desi Jr. accidentally gives the password “MISTAKE”
as the clue. Gary takes this opportunity to do his imitation of Don
Addams (“Get Smart”) although no one is paying much attention to
him. - At
10:30am that morning (and every weekday morning), CBS aired a re-run
of “I Love Lucy.” Later that evening on CBS, “Lucy and Art
Linkletter” (TLS S4;E16) aired for the first time.
THE RESULTS
- Lucy
and Vase Hedrick win the first game (in 24 seconds). - Lucy
and Kenda Hamm win the second game. - Time
runs out before the third game can be completed.
“Password”
~ Lucy & Friends Week #2
September
19 – 23, 1966
Allen
Ludden
(host)
The
first half of the program is sponsored by Rinso, the second half is
sponsored by Sominex.Lucille
Ball
is introduced as “the fabulous Lucy, one of television’s greatest
stars.”
Lucy’s
first partner is her TV co-star, Gale
Gordon,
then playing Mr. Mooney on “The Lucy Show.” Later that night, he
would be seen in “Lucy and the Submarine” (TLS S5;E2) in which,
as usual, he got wet!
Lucy’s third partner is Dick Patterson (above) had made an appearance in “Lucy Helps Danny Thomas” (TLS S4;E7) but would go on to make four appearances on “Here’s Lucy.” Patterson says Lucy saw him in a play in 1960. He had previously been on “Password.”
Gary
Morton is
introduced as “the witty nightclub star and humorous television
star.”
Gary’s
first partner is Mary
Wickes
introduced as having just closed a production of the musical High
Spirits.
Although Wickes played a regular character (Frances) on “The Lucy
Show” during its first two seasons, after the show was re-set in
California, Wickes was only used occasionally as various characters.
In the show’s 1966-67 season, she appeared once, in “Lucy the
Babysitter” (TLS S5;E16). Wickes and Ball were personal friends,
even going on vacations together.In
the second game, Gary partners with Gale Gordon while Lucy plays with Wickes.
Gary’s
third partner is Gita
Patterson
(above) was married to Dick Patterson from 1964 to 1972. They
had one child. Gita was a former Miss Holland.TRIVIA
- This
week, the show is in Hollywood, pre-recorded at CBS Television City.
The show is now in color. [Note: Only a black and white copy was available for preview.]In the opening, Ludden, Lucy and Gary draw
attention to the colors they are wearing for the benefit of viewers
still watching on a black and white television set. Although “The Lucy Show”
had aired in color since September 1965, game shows and newscasts
were last to be transferred to color. Even then, black and white
kinescopes of the shows are often all that survive. - When
Mary Wickes learns they are playing for money, she says “We
have to give it to Lucy and Gary.”
Lucy says “That’s not true!” - When
the password is “BAWL” Lucy’s clue to Gale Gordon is “LUCILLE”
and he gets it right. Gary says “I forgot her last name.” - When
the password is “ZIPPER” Ludden warns Lucy not to use gestures.
The audience laughs just imagining what Lucy might pantomime. Gary
tells Ludden that he hopes his clue will make it on the air (past
censors): “FLY.” It does and Mary Wickes guesses the word and
they win the game. Lucy admits she was afraid to use the clue
herself. Later, Ludden points out that she’s gotten braver when she
uses the clue “KNOCKER” when the password is “GAVEL.” - When
changing partners, Mary Wickes struts across the set in time to the
theme music. - After
winning the lightning round in 28 seconds, Mary says she wanted to
beat Peter Lawford’s record. Although the time is not stated here, his record is five words in 12 seconds! - Ludden
does a live Geritol commercial mid-show, with Lucille Ball chiming in
with quips while he speaks. - Before
the Pattersons are introduced, Gary bangs his knee under the desk and
tells everyone about it. - Ludden
ends by promoting “The Lucy Show” using the password “GREAT”
because “Monday night is the night Lucy lights up our lives.”
THE RESULTS
- Lucy and Gale Gordon win the first game.
- Lucy and Mary Wickes win the second game (in 28 seconds).
- Gary and Gita Patterson win the third game. There is no time to play the lightning round, so it will be played on the following show.
In closing, Lucy
promotes that others joining her and Gary this week include:- Richard
Crenna
played Arthur Morton, who had a crush on Lucy Ricardo in “The Young
Fans” (ILL S1;E20) in 1952. - Carole
Cook
– Lucille Ball’s student and protege at the Desilu Workshop. Like
Mary Wickes, she had a regular character (Thelma Green) during “The
Lucy Show’s” first seasons, but when the show was re-set in
California, she played various characters. She made two appearances
during early 1967 (season five). - Tom
Troupe
– married Carole Cook in March 1964. Although he sometimes appeared
in Desilu-filmed shows, he never appeared on a “Lucy” sitcom. As of this
writing, the pair are still married. - Cleo
Smith
– Lucy’s first cousin, although they were raised as sisters. She
was married to Cecil Smith at the time, and produced “Lucy in
London” (1966). - Maury
Thompson
– director of “The Lucy Show,” who started as a camera
coordinator on “I Love Lucy.” - Tommy
Thompson
– producer of “The Lucy Show.” [The two Thompsons are not
related.] - Lucy
forgets to promote Ruth
Berle
aka Mrs. Milton Berle, would play herself in “Lucy Meets the
Berles” (TLS S6;E1). Her husband did a cameo in a November 1966
episode starring John Wayne.
Stay Tuned for Part 3!
- In
-
LUCY on PASSWORD ~ Part 1
1963-1964
“Password”
is
a game show created by Bob Stewart for Goodson-Todman Productions.
The host was Allen Ludden, who had previously been well known as the
host of the “G.E. College Bowl.” In the game, two teams, each
composed of a celebrity player and a contestant, attempt to convey
mystery words to each other using only single-word clues, in order to
win cash prizes.“Password”
originally
aired from 1961 to 1967 on CBS,
along with weekly prime
time airings.
An additional 1,099 daytime shows aired from 1971 to 1975 on ABC.
The show’s regular announcers
were
Jack
Clark and
Lee
Vines on
CBS and John
Harlan on
ABC.
Two
revivals later aired on NBC:
“Password
Plus”
(originally titled “Password ‘79”) from
1979 to 1982, and “Super
Password”
from
1984 to 1989, followed by a primetime version on CBS from 2008 to
2009 “Million
Dollar Password.”All
of these versions introduced new variations in game play.The
theme song used on
“Password” from
1961 to 1963 was called “Holiday Jaunt,” composed by Kurt
Rehfeld. That theme was followed later by “You Know the
Password,” composed by Bob
Cobert,
which was used from 1963 until the CBS version’s cancellation in
1967 (listen above). When the show returned on ABC in 1971, Score
Productions composed
“The Fun of It.” The theme used later in that version’s
run, beginning in 1974, was called “Bicentennial Funk,” which was used until the ABC version’s finale in 1975.“Password”
was
most often taped in New York at CBS-TV Studio 52 (later converted to
the Studio
54 disco)
and CBS-TV Studio 50 (the Ed
Sullivan Theater)
until the end of the daytime run in 1967. The original CBS version
made annual trips to CBS Television City during the 1960s. Mark
Goodson opposed a permanent move to Hollywood so the
network canceled the series.
The Milton Bradley Company introduced the first home version in 1962 and subsequently released 24 editions of the game until 1986. Owing to common superstition, these releases were numbered 1-12 and 14-25, skipping 13. It was tied with “Concentration” as the most prolific of Milton Bradley’s home versions of popular game shows. Milton Bradley also published three editions of a “Password Plus” home game between 1979 and 1981, but never did a version for “Super Password.” Lucille Ball was fond of playing the home game.
In
2013, TV
Guide ranked
it #8 in its list of the 60 greatest game shows ever.
“Password”
~ September 26, 1963Lucille
Ball (Celebrity Player)Gary
Morton (Celebrity Player)[Note: No video footage of this episode was available for preview]
“Password”
~ December 26, 1963Allen
Ludden (Host)The
program is sponsored by Tame hair care products.
The top prize is
$500 and the consolation prize is $50.
Lucille
Ball
says that next Monday on “The Lucy Show” she will conduct a 45
piece orchestra. She is referring to “Lucy Conducts the Symphony”
(TLS S2;E13) on on December 30, 1963.LUCY’S PARTNERS
- James
Waldo from Minneapolis, Minnesota. He is in a stock broker training
program. - Mary
Ellen MacInally from Tulsa, Oklahoma, is a student who plans to enter
the ministry. - William
Sexton from Evansville, Indiana, has been married for a year and a
half. - Ralph
Jones from Westfield, New Jersey, is studying mathematics at Union
Junior College.
Gary
Morton
says that he, too, will be on “The Lucy Show,” in an episode that
Lucy had written for him about his favorite sport, golf. He is
referring to “Lucy Takes Up Golf” (TLS S2;E17) airing on January 27,
1964. In it, Gary plays Gary Stewart, Lucy Carmichael’s ‘golf nut’ boyfriend.GARY’S PARTNERS
- Margery
Blom
from New Orleans, Louisiana, is a newlywed. - Robert
Davidson
from Rego Park, New York, has an insurance firm in Manhattan. - Jackie
Lane
from Nashville, Tennessee, is enjoying her trip to New York. - Sigrid
Newman
from New York City is a registered nurse at the New York Hospital.
TRIVIA
- In round four, the password “TINKLE” makes everyone giggle.
Ludden is relieved when Jones successfully guesses it in the second
try. - When
the password is “PROPOSAL” and the clue is “MARRIAGE,” Lucy’s
mind immediately goes to “DIVORCE.” Lucille Ball divorced Desi
Arnaz in the spring of 1960. - At
the end, Lucy says her son [Desi Jr.] beats both her and Gary when
they play at home. Ludden makes the usual mistake of guessing that
her son is named Ricky. Lucy corrects him, smiling. Ludden says
that Vivian Vance has challenged Lucy to a game. Vance appeared on
the game twice previously, once in 1961, and a second time in November 1963, where she likely issued the
challenge. A year later (September 24, 1964 – see below), the challenge was
accepted.
THE RESULTS
- Lucy
and James Waldo win the first round. - Gary
and Robert Davidson win the second round, despite Gary saying he’s not being sure of
what several of the words meant. - Lucy
and William Sexton win the third round. - Lucy
and Ralph Jones win the fourth round.
“Password”
~ May 7, 1964Allen
Ludden (Host)Bern Bennett (Announcer)
The
program is sponsored by Salem Filter Cigarettes.THE PLAYERS
Lucille
Ball
is introduced as the start of television, motion pictures, and the
Broadway stage. She had just finished her second season of “The
Lucy Show.” Allen Ludden implies that there was a question if it
would be renewed for a third season. Lucy reminds the audience that
the show will start at 9:00pm in the fall, a half hour later.
Gary
Morton is
introduced as the star of television and supper clubs. Ludden talks
with Gary and Lucy about golf, Gary’s favorite pasttime.
Lucie
Arnaz
is from Los Angeles, California. She is 13 (in July) and in seventh
grade. She doesn’t know what she wants to do when she grows up.
Desi
Arnaz Jr. is
from Los Angeles, California. He is 11 and in sixth grade and plays
little league baseball. He is a center fielder but would like to
play second base.- In round one, Lucy’s partner is Desi Jr. and Gary plays with Lucie.
- In
round two, Lucy’s partner is Lucie, and Gary plays with Desi Jr. - In
round three, Lucy’s partner is Gary, and Desi Jr. and Lucie play
together. The children are playing for their allowances; a quarter a
point.
TRIVIA
- This episode was taped in at CBS Television City in Hollywood.
- In
round one, the password is “LEOPARD” and Lucy’s clue is
“STRIPED.” She instantly realizes her mistake, as does the studio
audience. - When
the password is “HARP,” Desi Jr.’s clue is “MARX”, thinking of Harpo Marx, who made a guest appearance playing his namesake
instrument on an episode of “I Love Lucy.” The audience audibly
gasps at how clever Desi’s clue is. Gary gets it right. - In
the lightning round, the password is “THUNDER” and Gary’s clue is
“LIGHTNING,” to which Desi Jr. says “ROUND.” Ludden stops the
clock, momentarily confused if Desi is just repeating the name of the
game. In that same round, the password is “COWBOY” and
Gary’s clue is “GUNSMOKE.” Desi responds “CHESTER,” which is
the first name of one of “Gunsmoke’s” leading characters played
by Dennis Weaver. - In
the final round, the password is “CARROT” and Desi’s clue is
“RED.” He was probably thinking of his mother’s hair, not the
vegetable.
THE RESULTS
- Lucy
and Desi Jr. win the first round. - Gary
and Desi Jr. win the second round. - Lucie
and Desi Jr. win the third round.
All
their winnings will go to a summer camp for underprivileged children.In the final moments, Ludden says that Mr. and Mrs. Jimmy Stewart will be on the show next week. He gives a plea for helping the Peace Corps.
“Password” ~ September 24, 1964
Allen
Ludden (Host)Jack Clark (Announcer)
The
program is sponsored by Salem Filter Cigarettes.THE PLAYERS
Lucille
Ball
is introduced as the comedy star of television, motion pictures, and
the Broadway stage. Lucy says the new time slot for “The Lucy Show”
is 9 o’clock and that Vivian Vance is still with her on the show.
She also mentions future guest stars like Jack Benny, Bob Hope, Danny
Kaye, and Ann Sothern. The show’s third season premiered three days
earlier on CBS with “Lucy and the Good Skate” (TLS S3;E1).Lucy’s
first partner is James
Horn
from Hubbard City, Texas. A student, he spent the summer working at
the Texas Pavilion at the New York World’s Fair. Ludden says that
the most popular day at the fair was ‘Lucille Ball Day.’ The event
was held on Monday, August 31, 1964.
Lucy’s
second partner, Vivian
Vance,
is introduced as “a
housewife from Stamford, Connecticut.”
This is indeed where Vance was living at the time, commuting to Los
Angeles to do “The Lucy Show.” Vance’s appearance is obviously a
complete surprise to Lucy, and even to Morton, who is just as shocked
to see her. She is playing for a charity called Medi Help.In
round three, Lucy is partnered with Peter Lawford and Gary with
Vivian.Gary
Morton is
introduced as the star of television and supper clubs. Gary promotes
their 15-minute CBS radio show “Let’s Talk To Lucy.” As Lucy
tells listeners, “Don’t
boil water or you’ll miss it.”
Morton is the show’s producer and announcer. Dean Martin, Mrs. Dean
Martin, Red Skeleton, Mrs. Red Skeleton, Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye are
some of the upcoming guests.Gary’s
first partner is Kelly
Brummer from
Denver, Colorado. She is a student with a merchandising major and a
French minor, which confuses Lucy.
Gary’s
second partner is Mr. Peter
Lawford.
At the time, Lawford was married to President Kennedy’s sister,
Patricia. Lawford had an uncredited role (voice over) in the 1945
film
Ziegfeld Follies that
starred Lucille Ball. He often appeared on Goodson-Todman’s other
panel shows “What’s My Line?” and “To Tell the Truth.” His
winnings will go to the Kennedy Library.TRIVIA
- Trying
to get her partner to say “FRECKLE” Lucy is chastised by Ludden
to “watch her gestures.” Gary uses the clue “DAY” to get his
partner to guess it, to no avail. He is referring to the popular singer and actress Doris Day, who famously had freckles. - As
usual, Lucy is startled by Ludden’s “Yes!” when she gets it
right. - When
the password is “DRAPE” and the clue is “CURTAIN,” Lucy sings
a bit of “Everything’s Coming Up Roses” from the 1959 Broadway musical Gypsy: “Curtain
up, light the lights…” - During
Vivian’s entrance applause she and Lucy exchange some barely audible
chat:
Lucy: (to Vivian) “What a wonderful surprise. I was calling
and wondering why you weren’t home.”
Vivian: “I
wanted them to introduce me as Mrs. John R. Dodds.” [Vivian’s
husband at the time.]- When
the password is “PANTS,” Gary gives Lawford the clue “STRETCH”
and he guesses correctly. Lucy says she would have thought
girdle.
Ludden: (to Vivian) “Does Lucy have a lot
of stretch pants?”
Vivian: “Yeah.”
Lucy: (chiding Vivian) “Don’t tell him everything!”- As
usual with Lucy, Ludden has to admonish her for gesturing too much.
Ludden:
(to Lucy) “Watch those hands!”
Vivian: “Oh, she
cheats!” (laughs)- While
Lawford is thinking about a clue, he tuts at Lucy and Vivian,
thinking they are cheating.
Vivian:
“Oh, no! She said I look thinner. We didn’t say a word about
what was here.” (referring to the word card)- Ludden
stops the clock momentarily when Gary inadvertently says the password
during the lightning round.
When
the password is “FEMININE” and Lawford’s clue is “MASCULINE,”
Lucy guesses “VERILITY” and then makes a lewd gesture thrusting
forward her stiffened arm and clenched fist. She immediately softens
it. In a previous appearance she gave her husband the middle finger!THE RESULTS
- Lucy
and James Horn win the first round. - Gary
and Peter Lawford win the second round. - Gary
and Vivian win the second round.
Ludden
closes by promoting that Mr. and Mrs. Jimmy Stewart will be his next
celebrity guests.
“Password”
~ November 12, 1964Allen
Ludden (Host)The
program is sponsored by Clairol and Bufferin.THE PLAYERS
Lucille
Ball
says “The Lucy Show” is on at a new time, 9:00pm. She promotes
that later in the season, for three episodes, Ann Sothern will
appear. Lucy says that they are trying to get Jean Arthur to guest
star. [This never happened.]
Gary
Morton promotes
Lucy’s radio show, “Let’s Talk to Lucy.”
Lucie
Arnaz
is 13 years old and in the 8th grade.
Desi
Arnaz Jr.
is 11 and a half years old. He has a new record out for Reprise
Record with Dino Martin and Billy Hinsche.- For
round one, Lucy and Desi Jr. are partners against Gary and Lucie. - For
round two, Gary and Desi Jr. are partners against Lucy and Lucie. - For
rounds three and four, Lucy and Gary are partners against Desi Jr. and
Lucie.
TRIVIA
- When
the password is “FLEA,” Desi Jr. mistakenly thinks it means “RUN.”
He realizes his error in the second clue, which he gives as “DOG.”
Lucy says “We’re
going to have spelling lessons when we get home.”
Lucy and Desi Jr. win the round. - In the lightning round, Desi Jr. is
startled by the word popping up from the desk. It quickly goes back
in and pops back up again. - While Lucy and Desi are playing, Gary
unwittingly says the last clue “HUNGRY” even though he is not
playing. Ball momentarily shoots her husband the middle finger! [see above photo] - In
round two, Ludden starts with the wrong team and shouts “Cut!
Cut!” after hearing a voice from the booth. It is unclear whether
this was edited out for broadcast, but was left in for the syndicated
master print seen on the Game Show Network (GSN). - Mother
and daughter win round two. This time it is Lucille Ball who is
startled by the pop-up lightning round passwords. - In
round three, Lucie and Desi Jr. are playing for their allowance: 25
cents for each point they earn. Ludden says that they did this the
last time they were on. Lucy says if they win too much, they
can’t have it all at once. The youngsters prevail. - Time
runs out before the end of round four, but Lucy and Gary win $250 for
their charity anyway. Lucy announces that all the prize money will go to a Child Guidance Center in Los Angeles. - The
announcer promotes that Steve Allen and Jayne Meadows will be next week’s guests. Promoting Desi’s upcoming record Ludden says the titles are
“We Know” and “Since You Broke My Heart” although Ludden
mistakenly says “Your Heart”. Desi quickly corrects him. Although
Desi said earlier that the record due to be released soon, Desi
failed to realize that the program was pre-taped and would air ten
days after the single debuted.
Coming Next! LUCY on PASSWORD ~ Part 2 (1965-1987)
- James
-
INTERVIEW OF A LIFETIME: LUCILLE BALL
December 6, 1977
Barbara
Walters
(Host) was born in Boston in 1929. She first
became known as a television personality in the early 1960s, when she
was a writer of ‘women’s interest stories’ on “The
Today Show.”
In
1976, she became the first female co-anchor of a network evening news
on
the “ABC Evening News.” From 1979 to 2004, she worked as co-host
and a producer for the ABC news magazine “20/20.” In
1997, Walters created and co-hosted “The
View,”
a daytime talk show with an all-female panel. She retired as a
co-host in 2014, but still serves as executive producer. In 1996,
Walters was ranked #34 on the
TV
Guide “50
Greatest TV Stars of All Time” list. Lucille Ball was #1. In
2000 she received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the National
Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. In 2001, she appeared on “I
Love Lucy’s 50th Anniversary Special.”
Lucille
Ball was
born on August 6, 1911 in Jamestown, New York. She began her screen
career in 1933 and was known in Hollywood as ‘Queen of the B’s’
due to her many appearances in ‘B’ movies. With Richard Denning,
she starred in a radio program titled “My Favorite Husband” which
eventually led to the creation of “I Love Lucy,” a television
situation comedy in which she co-starred with her real-life husband,
Latin bandleader Desi Arnaz. The program was phenomenally successful,
allowing the couple to purchase what was once RKO Studios, re-naming
it Desilu. When the show ended in 1960 (in an hour-long format known
as “The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour”) so did Lucy and Desi’s
marriage. In 1962, hoping to keep Desilu financially solvent, Lucy
returned to the sitcom format with “The Lucy Show,” which lasted
six seasons. She followed that with a similar sitcom “Here’s
Lucy” co-starring with her real-life children, Lucie and Desi Jr.,
as well as Gale Gordon, who had joined the cast of “The Lucy Show”
during season two. Before her death in 1989, Lucy made one more
attempt at a sitcom with “Life With Lucy,” also with Gordon,
which was not a success and was canceled after just 13 episodes.Gary Morton was a comedian who worked the famed ‘Borscht Belt’ in the Catskills Mountains. He met Lucille Ball shortly after her divorce from Desi Arnaz and they married in November 1961. At her request, Morton gave up his nightclub career and became a producer of “The Lucy Show.” Morton also served as a warm-up comic for the show’s studio audience. He appeared in several episodes of both “The Lucy Show” and “Here’s Lucy.” Morton passed away in 1999.
Lucie
Arnaz (Archive
Footage)Desi
Arnaz Jr.
(Archive Footage)Desi
Aranz Sr.
(Archive Footage)
Earlier
in the evening of December 6, 1977, ABC aired new episodes of “Laverne and Shirley”
(a show often compared to the antics of Lucy and Ethel) and “Three’s
Company” (a show Ball admired, and hosted a retrospective of in
1982).When
the show was repackaged for the Lifetime Network, Barbara Walters
taped a new introduction and conclusion to the interview as well as
new voice-over narration, referencing events from 1977 to Ball’s
death in 1989. She introduces the show by telling viewers that Lucy
talked frankly about her failed marriage to Desi Arnaz, with her
second husband, Gary Morton, sitting beside her.Portions
of the interview were later incorporated into “Barbara Walters:
20 Years at ABC.”
The
interview starts in the living room of Ball’s Roxbury Drive mansion
in Beverly Hills, California.Lucy:
“There’s
always one room you live in. Play games in. The plants grow better
in.”
Lucy
tells Walters that they have 85,000 feet of home movies. She screens
one called “The Fat Little Cowboy” starring a two and a half
year-old Desi Jr. and a four year-old Little Lucie. While the film is
being screened in the living room, Lucy tells Walters that the two
are much closer now than they were as children.
Showing
stills of her children in “The Lucy Show” and “Here’s Lucy,”
Walters flashes back (again through still photos) to when Lucy met
Desi Arnaz and the creation of “I Love Lucy.”Walters: (voice over) “There
has never been a success like Lucy.”Walters’
narration talks about Lucy’s divorce from Desi in 1960.
The
interview moves outdoors to the patio, the narration noting that Lucy
was 66 at the time, Desi Arnaz was still alive, and the subject of
the divorce was still painful.Walters:
“When
you and Desi were married you had everything!”
Lucy:
“We
had nothing. He had his own band and was in a play in New York.”Ball
firmly tells Walters that while she was acting, Desi was building the
business, although nobody would believe it was him doing the
building. She says he didn’t deserve some of the names they called
him. Lucy asserts there was an anti-Latino bias against Arnaz.Walters:
“And
then it fell apart.”
Lucy:
“That
was his problem.”Walters
quotes Lucy as saying that with Gary Morton, she didn’t make the same
mistake twice.Lucy:
“He’s
not a loser. I married a loser. He could win, win, high stakes. He
worked very hard, but he had to lose. Everything he built, he had to
break down. He still claims he’s the same way.”Walters
asks whom takes care of whom. Gary says they take care of each other,
but Lucy insists it is all Gary.
When first marrying Gary,
she was cautious. She didn’t want to rob him of his individuality.
Lucy mentions that Gary finds solace in golf and that Lucy never
minded that.Walters
asks if it is true that Lucy doesn’t ‘think funny.’ Lucy agrees
saying she can do funny things other people write down in detail, but
she doesn’t think funny. She and Gary say they make each other laugh.
Gary says she’ll do ‘Lucy-isms’. Lucy gives an example of a
‘Lucy-ism’: when making a chopped chicken liver platter for guests,
the top came off the salt shaker creating a mound of salt atop the
food. To try to fix it, she rinsed it in the sink. They went out to dinner that night.
Gary
says Lucy’s best quality is her warmth. Gary is hard-pressed to come
up with her worst quality but Lucy says it is that she hates that he
takes naps.Lucy
says she lives by the ‘think positive’ ideals of Dr. Norman Vincent Peale.
Walters
asks Lucy what it was like when she stopped doing series television
in 1974. “Traumatic,” says Ball. She thinks she stayed on a bit
too long, but only stuck it out because her children were on the
show. She says she always prided herself on “when to get off.”
Walters wonders if the Lucy Ricardo character could work today as
well is it did 25 years ago. Lucy hints that people may be getting
tired of “the new stuff” and want what they know and want to see
again.Gary
Morton says that Lucy (the character) is seen all over the world and
there is no limit when something is funny. Lucy says she always felt
her audience needed a show that had a beginning, a middle, and a
happy ending.Lucy:
“They’re
trying to make entertainment out of newsreels. What we see in news,
which is not very happy these days. To me, that’s not
entertainment.”Walters
asks Lucy if she ever watches “I Love Lucy” Lucy
says no, but that she sometimes runs across one turning the dial. She
tells Walters about CBS’s reluctance to accept Desi as her husband on
TV. Lucy fully expected the show to end after a just year.Walters:
“They
say you’re very tough to work for. Are you? Are you a
perfectionist?”
Lucy:
“Perfectionist?
I have an attention to detail. That’s the way I learned my craft.”
Gary
says Lucy tends to be a protective mother. Walters says that Lucy’s
onscreen and off-screen pregnancy was big news, getting bigger
ratings than the inauguration of the President and the coronation of the Queen. Lucy says she wasn’t
aware of any of that because she was busy having the baby, but learned
about it afterwards.Walters
wondered if she was worried about having a baby so late in life.
Lucy says no one warned her about the risks. Her daughter was born
by by C-section, so Lucy was in pain after the birth and cried with
joy so much that holding her newborn child actually hurt.Prodded
by Walters, Lucy tells the story of first hearing that she was
pregnant on the radio. Apparently, in 1950, radio gossip columnist Walter
Winchell had spies in the lab and intercepted the results of Lucy’s
pregnancy test before the couple could be notified. Lucy lost the
child.
Walters
wonders how Lucie and Desi Jr. differentiated between their parents’ real
life and their television lives. Gary says they eventually grew up
and realized the difference. Lucy used the fantasy world of their
show as a form of escape from reality. She says “I had to pretend,
but it helped.”Walters
wraps up the interview (in the updated wrap-around segment) by saying
that Lucy died in 1989, but that her legacy is as one of the greats
of television history.
This
Date in Lucy History – December 6th
“Lucy
Wants to Move to the Country”
(ILL S6;E15) – filmed December 6, 1956
“Lucy
Saves Milton Berle”
(TLS
S4;E12) – first aired December 6, 1965
“Lucy
in the Jungle”
(HL S4;E13) – first aired December 6, 1971
-
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