About Me
Lucille Desiree Ball was born in Jamestown, New York, on August 6, 1911. Her father died before she was four years old while her mother worked several jobs. She and her younger brother were raised by their grandparents. As a teenager, she entered dramatic school in New York, but was later sent home for being "too shy". She found work modeling for Hattie Carnegie's and in 1933, she was chosen to be a "Goldwyn Girl" and appear in the film Roman Scandals.She was put under contract at RKO and several small roles, including one in Top Hat in 1935 followed. She continued acting in movies like Stage Door (1937) and The Big Street (1942). In 1940 while filming Too Many Girls, she met and fell madly in love with a young Cuban actor/musician named Desi Arnaz. After a passionate romance, they eloped and were married in November 1940. Lucy soon switched to MGM, where she landed better roles in films such as Best Foot Forward (1943) and Without Love (1945). In 1948, she took a starring role in the radio comedy "My Favorite Husband", in which she played the scatterbrained wife Liz of George Cooper a Midwestern banker.
In 1950, CBS offered to turn it in a television series. After much persuading to the network to let Desi play her husband and to sign over the rights and creative control over the series to them, work began on the most popular and beloved sitcom of all time.
The series also starred a stage actress Vivian Vance (Ethel Mertz) and movie character William Frawley(Fred Mertz). The series ran from October 15, 1951, to May 6, 1957. It featured 180 episodes, including the "lost" Christmas episode. I Love Lucy was ranked #2 on TV Guide's top 50 greatest shows of all time in 2002 behind Seinfeld and ahead of The Honeymooners. Episodes of I Love Lucy are still syndicated on television in dozens of languages across the world.
The program was filmed at Desilu, a production studio jointly owned by Ball and Arnaz. Studio heads were worried that American audiences would not believe in such a "mixed marriage", and were concerned about Arnaz's heavy Cuban accent. But Ball was adamant, and to help sway their decision, Ball and Arnaz put together a vaudeville act featuring his music and her comedy, which was well received when taken on tour in several cities. In the end CBS agreed. They did however refuse to let Arnaz's role be part of the show's title and after lengthy negotiations, Arnaz gave in and agreed to I Love Lucy.I Love Lucy is the first of only three shows to end it's run as the #1 TV show in America and it has since had a significant impact on popular culture.
1952: Nominated - Best Comedian or Comedienne
1953: Nominated - Most Outstanding Personality
1953: Won - Best Comedienne
1954: Nominated - Best Female Star of Regular Series
1955: Nominated - Best Actress Starring in a Regular Series
1956: Nominated - Best Comedienne
1956: Won - Best Actress - Continuing Performance
1957: Nominated - Best Continuing Performance by a Comedienne in a Series
1958: Nominated - Best Continuing Performance (Female) in a Series by a Comedienne, Singer, Hostess, Dancer, M.C., Announcer, Narrator, Panelist, or any Person who Essentially Plays Herself
SEASON 1
The Girls want to go the Nightclub, Be A Pal, The Diet, Lucy thinks Ricky is trying to murder her, The Quiz Show, The Audition, The Seance, Men are messy, Drafted, The Fur Coat, Lucy is jealous of girl singer, The Adagio, The Benefit, The Amateur Hour, Lucy plays Cupid, Lucy fakes illness, Lucy writes a play, Breaking the Lease, The Ballet, The Young Fans, New Neighbors, Fred and Ethel fight, The Moustache, The Gossip, Pioneer Women, The Marriage License, The Kleptomaniac, Cuban Pals, The Freezer, Lucy does a commerical, The publicity agent, Lucy gets Ricky on the radio, Lucy's schedule, Ricky thinks he's going bald, Ricky asks for a raise.
SEASON 2
The Anniversary present, The Handcuffs,The Operetta, Job Switching, The Saxophone, The Vacation from Marriage, The Courtroom, Redecorating, Ricky looses his voice, Sales Risistance, The Inferiority Complex, The Club Election, The Black Eye, Lucy changes her mind, Lucy is Enciente, Pregnant woman are inpredictable, Lucy's showbiz swan song, Lucy hires an English tutor, Ricky has labor pains, Lucy becomes a sculptress, Lucy goes to the hospital, No children allowed, Lucy hires a maid, The Indian Show, Lucy's last birthday, The Ricardos change apartments, Lucy is matchmaker, Lucy wants new furniture, The Camping Trip, Ricky's life story, Ricky and Fred are TV Fans, Never do business with friends.
SEASON 3
The Girls go into business, Lucy and Ethel buy the same dress, Equal Rights, Baby pictures, Lucy tells the truth, The French Revue, Redecorating the Mertzes' Apartment, Too Many Crooks, Changing the boys wardrobe, Lucy has her eyes examined, Ricky's old girlfriend, The Million Dollar Idea, Ricky minds the baby, The Charm School, Sentimental Anniversary, Fan Magazine Interview, Oil Wells, Ricky looses his temper, Home Movies, Bonus Bucks, Ricky's Hawaiian Vacation, Lucy is Envious, Lucy writes a novel, Lucy's club dance, The Diner, The Black Wig, Tennessee Ernie Visits, Tennessee Ernie Hangs on, The Golfgame, The Sublease.
SEASON 4
Lucy cries wolf, The Matchmaker, The Business Manager, The Mr and Mrs TV Show, Mertz and Kurtz, Ricky's movie offer, Ricky's screen test, Lucy's Mother In Law, Ethel's Birthday, Ricky's Contract, Getting Ready, Lucy learns to drive, California Here We Come, First Stop, Tennessee Bound, Ethel's Hometown, LA at last, Don Juan and the Starlets, Lucy gets in pictures, The Fashion Show, The Hedda Hopper Story, Don Juan is shelved, Bull Fight Dance, Hollywood Anniversary, The Star Upstairs, In Palm Springs, Lucy and Harpo Marx, The Dancing Star, Ricky needs an Agent, The Tour.
SEASON 5
Lucy Visits Grauman's, Lucy and John Wayne, Lucy and the Dummy, Ricky sells the Car, The Great Train Robbery, Homecoming, The Ricardo's are interviewed, Lucy goes to the Rodeo, Nursery School, Ricky's European Booking, The Passports, Staten Island Ferrey, Bon Voyage, Second Honeymoon, Lucy Meets the Queen, The Foxhunt, Lucy goes to ScotLand, Paris at last, Lucy meets Charles Boyer, Lucy gets a Paris Gown, Lucy in the Swiss Alps, Lucy gets homesick in Italy, Lucy's Italian Movie, Lucy's Bicycle Trip, Lucy goes to Monte Carlo, Return Trip from Europe.
SEASON 6
Lucy and Bob Hope, Little Ricky learns how to play the drums, Lucy meets Orson Welles, Little Ricky gets stage fright, Visitor from Italy, Off to Florida, Deep Sea Fishing, Desert Island, The Ricardo's visit Cuba, Little Ricky's School Pageant, Lucy and the Loving Cup, Little Ricky gets a dog, Lucy and Superman, Lucy wants to move to the Country, Lucy hates to leave, Lucy misses the Mertzes, Lucy gets chummy with the neighbors, Lucy raises chickens, Lucy does the Tango, Ragtime Band, Lucy's Night in Town, Housewarming, Building a barbecue, Country Club Dance, Lucy raises Tulips, The Ricardo's dedicate a statue. SPECIAL EPISODES: I Love Lucy Christmas Special which aired 12-24-1956 and I Love Lucy 50th Anniversary Special which aired 11-11-2001
