Buzz
On October 15, 1951, I Love Lucy debuted, and few could have foreseen its rise to become one of TV's most cherished and timeless shows. Thanks to groundbreaking filming methods, Lucille Ball's relentless pursuit of perfection, exceptional writing, the crew's unwavering determination, and Desi Arnaz's sharp business acumen, the show dominated the Nielsen ratings for four of its six seasons and earned multiple Emmy Awards. Despite the lead actors' real-life divorce in 1960 after two decades of marriage, Lucy and Desi maintained a close friendship. As Desi often said, “I Love Lucy was more than just a title—it was a reflection of their bond.”
1. CBS DOUBTED AUDIENCES WOULD ACCEPT LUCY MARRIED TO A MAN WITH A FOREIGN BACKGROUND.
When CBS proposed adapting Lucille Ball's radio hit My Favorite Husband for television, she agreed on one condition: her real-life husband, Desi Arnaz, would play her on-screen spouse (a role originally voiced by Richard Denning on radio). The network resisted, convinced that viewers wouldn't believe an ordinary American housewife like Liz Cooper (her radio character) could be married to a man with a foreign accent and heritage. Despite Lucy and Desi's decade-long marriage, CBS deemed such a “mixed” relationship implausible for the era.
2. LUCY AND DESI TOOK THEIR SHOW ON THE ROAD TO WIN OVER NETWORK EXECUTIVES.
Desi Arnaz was well-known for touring with his rhumba band, and Lucille hoped casting him as her TV husband would keep him closer to home. To prove to the network and potential sponsors that they could succeed as a comedic duo, they developed a vaudeville-style skit. This skit was performed during Desi’s orchestra tour in the summer of 1950. Audiences loved Lucille’s hilarious antics and her playful interactions with Desi, especially when she disrupted his concert with a cello, mistaking it for an audition. The “Professor” skit not only convinced network executives of their chemistry as a married couple but also became so popular that it was adapted into the sixth episode of I Love Lucy’s first season.
3. THE SHOW PIONEERED INNOVATIONS BECAUSE THE ARNAZES REFUSED TO RELOCATE TO NEW YORK.
Lucille and Desi preferred to work in Los Angeles, close to their home and their newborn daughter, Lucie. However, in 1951, most TV shows were produced in New York, and sponsor Philip Morris wanted the show to originate there as well. At the time, the U.S. lacked coast-to-coast television infrastructure, so live broadcasts had limited reach. Shows were often recorded on kinescopes—low-quality films of TV monitors—and sent to distant stations.
Philip Morris opposed filming I Love Lucy in California and sending kinescopes to New York, as their primary cigarette market was on the East Coast, and they demanded the best picture quality for that region. Desi Arnaz proposed filming the show with three cameras, similar to a stage play, ensuring consistent quality across all markets. This multi-camera setup was unprecedented for sitcoms and posed numerous challenges, including accommodating a live studio audience—a crucial element for Lucille’s performance, as she thrived on immediate audience reactions.
Desi enlisted renowned cinematographer Karl Freund to tackle the challenge. Collaborating with writer-producer Jess Oppenheimer and director Marc Daniels, they designed a set and arranged the necessary filming equipment. CBS resisted the added costs, so Arnaz negotiated a deal: he and Lucille would reduce their salaries, and their company, Desilu Productions, would retain full ownership of the films. The exceptional quality of the 35mm film contributed to I Love Lucy’s success in reruns, and Desilu’s complete ownership turned Lucille and Desi into television’s first millionaire stars.
4. LUCY WAS THE ONLY ONE PERMITTED TO JOKE ABOUT RICKY’S BROKEN ENGLISH.
As filming progressed, an unspoken rule emerged: only Lucy could tease Ricky about his mispronunciations. Initially, other characters made similar remarks, but these attempts fell flat, met with silence from the studio audience. For some reason, it felt harsh when anyone but Lucy mocked Ricky’s English, making her the sole exception.
5. ON-CAMERA SMOKING WAS MANDATORY.
I Love Lucy nearly didn’t air due to CBS’s struggle to find a sponsor. At the last minute, tobacco company Philip Morris stepped in. This led to frequent smoking scenes in each episode, with “Philip Morris” subtly woven into the dialogue when possible. However, there was a minor issue: Lucille Ball was a Chesterfield smoker. To resolve this, a stagehand discreetly replaced Philip Morris packs with Chesterfield cigarettes for on-camera use.
6. WILLIAM FRAWLEY WAS NOT THE INITIAL PICK FOR FRED MERTZ.
Lucille Ball wanted Gale Gordon, her co-star from the My Favorite Husband radio show, to play the gruff neighbor and landlord Fred Mertz. However, Gordon, who was already committed to the Our Miss Brooks radio series, demanded a higher salary than Desilu could afford. William Frawley, a character actor who had briefly met Ball in the 1940s, reached out to her after reading about her new TV project in industry publications. Despite concerns from CBS and Philip Morris about Frawley’s drinking habits, Desi Arnaz saw his grumpy demeanor as perfect for Fred Mertz. Arnaz offered Frawley the role during a lunch meeting at Nickodell’s, with the condition that he’d be removed from the show if he missed work for anything other than genuine illness.
7. DORIS ZIFFEL NEARLY BECAME ETHEL MERTZ.
Lucille Ball initially wanted Bea Benaderet, her former radio colleague, to play Ethel Mertz. However, Benaderet was already cast as Blanche Morton on The Burns and Allen Show. Barbara Pepper, a close friend of Ball’s and her former film co-star, was the next choice. Pepper fit the age and physical profile for Ethel, but her struggles with alcoholism led the network to reject her, especially after hiring Frawley. Two heavy drinkers in the main cast were deemed too risky. Vivian Vance was eventually cast after director Marc Daniels saw her perform in a play at the La Jolla Playhouse. Pepper later appeared in minor roles on I Love Lucy and eventually played Doris Ziffel on Green Acres.
8. THE “MERTZES” HAD A MUTUAL DISLIKE OFF-SCREEN.
Vivian Vance, who was 22 years younger than her on-screen husband, disliked being paired with someone she called an “old poop.” Frawley reciprocated her disdain, often referring to her as “that sack of doorknobs” or simply “b*tch.” However, their animosity was kept hidden from the public and was mostly known only to the show’s writers and directors. Both actors were professional enough to avoid jeopardizing their roles on television’s most popular program by openly displaying their mutual dislike. Even castmates like Keith Thibodeaux (Little Ricky) and Roy Rowan (the announcer), who were on set daily, remained unaware of the tension between the two until years after I Love Lucy ended.
9. DESI ARNAZ WORE LIFTS IN HIS SHOES (AND HIS LOVESEAT).
Arnaz often claimed to be 5’11” in official bios, but those close to him knew he was actually 5’9” and relied on four-inch lifts in his shoes. Lucille Ball, standing at 5’7” without heels, often appeared taller than him when wearing them. Desi Arnaz Jr. later explained that his father, a proud Cuban man, valued being taller than his wife. To maintain this illusion, a discreet cushion was added to the Ricardos’ loveseat, ensuring Ricky appeared taller than Lucy while seated and helping him rise smoothly onto his elevated shoes.
10. ARNAZ REFUSED TO FILM A SCENE WHERE RICKY CHEATED ON HIS TAXES.
Desi Arnaz was a staunch believer in the American Dream and deeply patriotic toward his adopted country. At 17, he fled Cuba with his family after Fulgencio Batista’s coup, arriving in Miami with little more than the clothes on their backs. They lived in a warehouse with other refugees, and Desi worked cleaning birdcages. During his 1954 acceptance speech on Ed Sullivan’s Toast of the Town, he expressed gratitude for the opportunities America provided. This pride led him to reject a scene in “Lucy Tells the Truth” where Ricky falsified his tax return. Arnaz insisted the writers remove it, not wanting audiences to think his character would cheat the U.S. government.
11. THE CANDY LADY WAS A REAL-LIFE CHOCOLATE DIPPER.
The episode “Job Switching,” often called “The Candy Factory Episode,” remains a fan favorite, especially the iconic scene where Lucy and Ethel frantically stuff chocolates into their mouths and clothes while struggling to keep up with a fast-moving conveyor belt. In the preceding scene, Lucy hand-dipped chocolates using a real dipper that stage manager Herb Browar sourced from See’s Candies on Santa Monica Boulevard.
Amanda Milligan, who had never seen I Love Lucy (preferring wrestling on Monday nights), was hired by Browar for her stoic demeanor, which he thought would perfectly contrast Lucille’s comedic reactions. During rehearsals, Lucille worried the scene wouldn’t translate well on film because Milligan seemed reluctant to slap her as the script required. However, during filming, Milligan delivered such a forceful slap that Lucille feared her nose was broken. Despite the pain, Lucille didn’t call for a retake, determined to avoid another attempt. During a break, Lucille asked Milligan how she liked working in show business. Milligan, who had spent 30 years hand-dipping chocolates, replied, “I’ve never been so bored in my life.”
12. LUCILLE WAS TOO STRESSED TO ENJOY ONE OF HER MOST BELOVED EPISODES.
Ironically, one of the most popular episodes, “Lucy Does a TV Commercial,” wasn’t a favorite of Lucille Ball’s. It wasn’t until years later, after the episode consistently topped viewer polls, that she acknowledged its humor. During filming, she was too focused on delivering her lines flawlessly—particularly the tongue-twisting “Vitameatavegamin” spiel—to appreciate the comedic brilliance of the scene.
Lucille Ball was renowned for her physical comedy, but she wasn’t known for improvising or speaking off-the-cuff. Every word of her famously slurred Vitameatavegamin commercial was meticulously scripted. To ensure she didn’t forget her lines, she had script supervisor Maury Thompson stand off-camera, holding up her script like a real commercial setup, as cue cards weren’t used on the I Love Lucy set.
Incidentally, the liquid Lucy poured onto the spoon during the commercial was apple pectin.
13. FILMING IN FRONT OF A LIVE AUDIENCE MADE RESHOOTING SCENES DIFFICULT.
Because the show was filmed live in front of an audience, the crew avoided yelling “cut” and reshooting scenes whenever possible. This led to some bloopers being left in and cleverly covered up. A notable example occurs in “Redecorating the Mertzes’ Apartment,” where Lucy accidentally says, “paint the furniture and reupholster the old furniture.” Watch how Desi smoothly rescues the scene.
14. LUCILLE’S PREGNANCY CAUSED BACKSTAGE CHAOS.
During the second season, Lucille Ball found out she was pregnant. While she and Desi were thrilled (after three previous miscarriages and the birth of their daughter Lucie in July 1951), they were also worried about the impact on their hit show. No TV series had ever featured a visibly pregnant lead actress, except for the late 1940s sitcom Mary Kay and Johnny. Concealing Lucille’s pregnancy wasn’t an option, as Desi explained to the network, “she gets as big as a house when she’s pregnant.”
Eventually, the network agreed to incorporate Ball’s pregnancy into the storyline. Desi hired a Catholic priest, a minister, and a rabbi to review each episode for appropriateness. CBS considered the word “pregnant” too vulgar, so it was replaced with “expecting” (or Ricky’s version, “‘spectin’”). The emotional scene at the Tropicana, where Lucy reveals the news to Ricky, brought real tears from both actors. Desi had to be reminded to “sing the baby song!” Director William Asher reshot the scene but ultimately chose the original take for its raw, heartfelt emotion.
15. LITTLE RICKY AND DESI ARNAZ JR. SHARED THE SAME BIRTHDAY.
The Arnazes knew Lucille would deliver via Caesarean section, as she had with Lucie, and her doctor scheduled all C-sections for Mondays. Coincidentally, I Love Lucy aired on Monday nights, so the pregnancy storyline aligned perfectly. Lucille went to the hospital the same night Lucy Ricardo did.
However, the Arnazes didn’t know the baby’s gender beforehand. I Love Lucy head writer Jess Oppenheimer had decided the Ricardos would have a boy. When Desi Arnaz Jr. was born, Desi Sr. excitedly called Jess, saying, “Lucy followed your script! Isn’t she amazing?!” (That night, a record-breaking 71.7 percent of American TVs tuned in to see the Ricardo baby, surpassing the audience for Dwight D. Eisenhower’s presidential inauguration the next day.)
16. LUCILLE ENDURED REAL HARDSHIP FOR THE FAMOUS GRAPE-STOMPING SCENE.
The episode “Lucy’s Italian Movie” faced several challenges. First, securing a vineyard willing to donate grapes for stomping required a script mention that foot-pressing was outdated in Italy. Next, the local extra, Teresa Tirelli, who didn’t speak English, misunderstood the scene’s instructions. Instead of a staged waist-up fight, she held Lucille’s head under the grape mush, nearly drowning her. Additionally, despite the show being in black and white, the team insisted on realistic details, creating a purplish-blue dye to tint Lucille’s skin and hair without causing irritation or affecting her henna-colored curls.
17. LUCILLE FRUSTRATED GUEST STAR HARPO MARX.
Lucille Ball greatly admired Harpo Marx but struggled with his improvisational comedy style. During the Hollywood episode, where she had to mimic his actions, she demanded extensive rehearsals to perfect the scene. Harpo, however, felt his decades of experience made excessive practice unnecessary. This disagreement led to multiple retakes after the live audience left, with editor Dann Cahn piecing together the final version.
18. THE LONGEST LAUGH IN THE SHOW’S HISTORY LASTED 65 SECONDS.
When Lucy concealed dozens of eggs and danced the tango with Ricky, leading to a blouse full of scrambled yolks, the audience’s laughter lasted so long that some had to be cut from the final edit. Neither Ball nor Vance rehearsed with eggs to ensure their reactions to the cracking shells and slimy albumen were authentic.
19. ARNAZ INSISTED ON MAXIMUM REALISM, REGARDLESS OF COST OR EFFORT.
Arnaz believed that the audience would find humor more believable if the actors did too, so he pushed for realism in every scene. For example, in “Pioneer Women,” an eight-foot-long loaf of bread was specially baked by a New York bakery for a scene where it popped out of the oven. (It was rye bread and later served to the audience.) Similarly, in “Deep Sea Fishing,” two 100-pound tunas were bought from San Francisco’s Fisherman’s Wharf, packed in ice-filled child-sized coffins, and flown to Hollywood for filming.
20. THE “UH-OH” VOICE IN THE AUDIENCE WAS LUCILLE’S MOTHER.
Often, when Lucy Ricardo found herself in a tricky situation, a woman in the audience could be heard saying “uh-oh.” That was Dede Ball, Lucille’s mother, who attended every taping and became deeply engrossed in the show. I Love Lucy sound engineer Glen Glenn, co-founder of Glen Glenn Sound, later used laughter from the show, including Dede’s “uh-oh,” in laugh tracks for other sitcoms in the 1960s and ‘70s. This is why her voice could be heard on shows she never watched or attended.
Additional Sources: A Book by Desi Arnaz; The Lucy Book by Geoffrey Mark Fidelman; Meet the Mertzes by Ron Edelman and Audrey Kupferberg; The “I Love Lucy” Book by Bart Andrews; Lucy & Ricky & Fred & Ethel: The Story of I Love Lucy by Bart Andrews; Laughs, Luck….and Lucy by Jess Oppenheimer
