Luuuuuuucy, I'm hooooome!
It is one of the most recognizable quotes of any sitcom ever. This comes from the 1950s sitcom "I Love Lucy." In 1951 Cuban-born producer Desi Arnaz produced and starred as Enrique "Ricky" Ricardo in one of the first successful television sitcoms of television history. Playing the role of his wife, Lucy, was his real-life wife Lucille Ball.
The plot was simple Ricky was the struggling band leader while Lucy was the ditzy housewife that got herself into some crazy situations. It seems like a simple show, but, it blazed the way for many other sitcoms. It set the standard for how other sitcoms would be made. It was also the first sitcom to be taped on film in front of a live audience, using a three-camera technique.
Along with setting the standard of sitcoms for years to come, "I Love Lucy" was helpful in bringing women into the spotlight. In a time where women were stay at home mothers and wives in the shadow of men, it was a new concept watching a television show with a woman as the lead.
Another thing that was put in the spotlight was an interracial couple. Every episode featured the Latino Ricky and the Caucasian Lucy. It was a time where interracial couples were much less common. It was revolutionary to see that couple showing that they love eachother every week.
One more ground breaking thing shown on "I Love Lucy" was Lucy's pregnancy. Whoops! I mean "expectant" (CBS decided to call Lucy "expectant" rather than "pregnant" because "expectant" was a nicer word). Lucille Ball was pregnant in real-life and producers wrote it into the show. This was never before seen on TV.
"I Love Lucy" lasted six seasons. Television enthusiasts love "Lucy." It has lasted through time as one of the favorite sitcoms as all time. Little did Desi Arnaz and Lucille Ball know, they were pioneering the way sitcoms were to be made from then on.
Yes, Desi and Lucy were pioneers in many ways. For example, their show was the first show to use the three camera system. Before then, just one camera was used. Imagine the shots they had to choose from with three cameras positioned a different places in the studio! Desilu studios taped many different television shows, focusing just on television and not movies, too. This was a new idea at the time. Amazingly, too, even though the two divorced part way through the run of their show, they still were able to pull of two more seasons. Yes, Desi Arnez and Lucille Ball saw the power of what television could be.
ReplyDeleteI definitely agree with you that "I Love Lucy" was revolutionary in the many ways you mentioned. And it's quite amazing to see how sitcoms have grown since then. Not only is the word pregnancy being used, but there are far worse word and content being used on sitcoms and other types of shows.
ReplyDeleteOne thing that has changed is that women are not just housewives on sitcoms anymore; most sitcoms I can think of show women holding at least a part-time job. Though, it still seems that the woman is in charge of the cleaning, etc. I guess some things never change... ;)
I just saw my first entire "I Love Lucy" episode within the last year (I know, I'm un-American).
ReplyDeleteThe first thing I noticed was that Rick wasn't Caucasian, which you talked about in your blog. He had a very distinguishable accent, and on a couple occasions, they made a few cracks about it (Lucy would imitate him,in a loving way). Interracial couples were really unusual at the time the show was filmed.
And I agree with Heidi. The women may be working outside the home, but in the world of sitcoms, they still are in charge of the cleaning. On Two-and-a-Half men, for instance, the guys have a female housekeeper instead of cleaning up after themselves.
I never knew they shot "I Love Lucy" using a three camera technique! That's pretty neat. I also was unaware that it was filmed infront of a live studio audience. It definetly set its place in history. It was quite a ground breaking show.
ReplyDeleteI have three favorite episodes; Vitameatavegamin, the chocolate factory one, and little Ricky's birth. I know ricky's birth was controversial but I wonder if her Vitameatavegamin was as well? I wonder this because in that episode she gets "drunk" while filming a commercial. Its still good though.
Your blog was interesting to read considering that this is a classic show that (i think?) is still on television today.
ReplyDeleteI think that this television sitcom was popular because it gave something for many housewives to relate to and take something like everyday life and make it worth watching. I also learned a few new things about the show that I was unaware of such as that Lucy really was “expecting” and that the couple was really married!
YAY for sitcoms!
Very good job Zach, could not have done it better my self. I dint know some of the stuff you talked about, but glad you did because no I do. I new that Lucy was old but I did not know it was that much of a sitcom bedrock. Also the stuff about how she was pregnant I did not know that you couldnt say pregnant. Thanks for the update on sitcoms.
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