Customer Reviews

The Lucy Show: The Official Second Season

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After releasing "The Lucy Show-Season 1" on DVD last summer, CBS/Paramount is releasing the second season on July 13th, 2010. This fabulous and entertaining sitcom began its second year on September 30th, 1963, and although the series was broadcast in black and white on CBS, the shows themselves were filmed in glorious color to take advantage of huge syndication sales in the years to come. In this 4 DVD boxset 28 wonderful color episodes are included along with the following bonuses: the original "Lucille Ball Comedy Hour Special with Bob Hope"; clips from the "Opening Night" and "CBS: The Stars Address" programs; newly recorded interviews; cast commercials; and more. "The Lucy Show" finished its second year at #6 on the all-important Nielsen Ratings chart cementing itself as a television hit. This season also marks Gale Gordon's first year in his co-starring role as Mr. Mooney.

The following are "The Lucy Show's" episodes from season 2 along with their airdates:

1. Lucy Plays Cleopatra (Sept. 30,1963)
2. Kiddie Parties, Inc. (Oct. 7,1963)
3. Lucy and Viv Play Softball (Oct. 14,1963)
4. Lucy Gets Locked In The Vault (Oct. 21,1963)
5. Lucy and The Safe Cracker (Oct. 28,1963)
6. Lucy Goes Duck Hunting (Nov. 7,1963)
7. Lucy and The Bank Scandal (Nov. 11,1963)
8. Lucy Decides to Redecorate (Nov. 18,1963)
9. Lucy Puts Out A Fire At The Bank (Dec. 2,1963)
10. Lucy and The Military Academy (Dec. 9,1963)
11. Lucy's College Reunion (Dec. 16,1963)
12. The Loophole in The Lease (Dec. 23,1963)
13. Lucy Conducts A Symphony (Dec. 30,1963)
14. Lucy Plays Florence Nightingale (Jan. 6,1964)
15. Lucy Goes To Art Class (Jan. 13,1964)
16. Chris Goes Steady (Jan. 20,1964)
17. Lucy Takes Up Golf (Jan. 27,1964)
18. Lucy Teaches Ethel Merman To Sing (Feb. 3,1964)
19. Ethel Merman and The Boy Scout Show (Feb.10,1964)
20. Lucy and Viv Open A Restaurant (Feb. 17,1964)
21. Lucy Takes a Job At The Bank (Feb. 24,1964)
22. Viv Moves Out (Mar. 2,1964)
23. Lucy Is Her Own Lawyer (Mar. 9,1964)
24. Lucy Meets A Millionaire (Mar. 16,1964)
25. Lucy Goes Into Politics (Mar. 23,1964)
26. Lucy and The Scout Trip (Mar.30,1964)
27. Lucy and The Process Server (April 20,1964)
28. Lucy Enters A Baking Contest (April 27,1964)

So glad the 2nd season of THE LUCY SHOW is coming. I am anxious to see them in near pristine condition. My understanding was that Lucille ordered all the color episodes of this series to be filmed with some sort of "soft filter" lens to smooth out her wrinkles!!!! Hence the reason why they may never be razor sharp visuals. But they should be free of dirt, scratches, splices and other imperfections visible on broadcast TV (and unofficial DVDs).

I will be picking this series up straight away, and yes, I certainly hope that Paramount will release the remaining 4 seasons in the near future.

The inclusion of the Lucille Ball/Bob Hope special is quite important on this set as it probably means that the later 1966 LUCY IN LONDON special will be included on whatever season set it is part of (it features Lucy Carmichael in London, but without Gale Gordon).

So, finally, with all the I LOVE LUCY episodes now on disc, and MPI releasing all the HERE'S LUCY (plus her later TV specials), and Paramount giving us THE LUCY SHOW, all that will remain is her LIFE WITH LUCY series - not really sure who would own the DVD rights to this.

The Lucy Show is Lucille Ball's follow up series to I Love Lucy. It was a very funny series, especially the years with Vivian Vance. This is a top ten series and Lucy won two Emmy awards for her work on this show. The laughs continue with the second season of the is wonderful series. This season also marks the first of any 'Lucy' series to be filmed in Color! The remastering they did with this set is spectacular! It looks as if it was filmed yesterday. The episodes are so funny, and if you want to laugh you must buy this set. If you enjoyed season one and enjoyed I Love Lucy over the years then you will love The second season of The Lucy Show. And if this DVD does well, the third season will be released quickly, so everyone go out and buy this wonderful series, and laugh along with Lucy and Vivian in living Color!

CBS has done it again! After the fantastic DVD Set they made of The Lucy Show Season 1 last year, they have again taken their time to make this Season 2 Set every bit as pristine as the first one with absolutely fantastic bonus materials, that we will all get to own on July 13, 2010! It just doesn't get any better than this!

There were several changes happening for this second 1963-64 Season of The Lucy Show. The first and most important change was Desi Arnaz resigning as President of Desilu Studios. Lucille Ball took over as President of Desilu Studios and the first thing she did as it's new President was to film The Lucy Show in beautiful color. Even though CBS wouldn't broadcast or pay for the color version until the 1965-66 Season, Lucy knew the power of syndication from I Love Lucy, and made the decision to film the rest of the seasons in color for future syndications that would command more money in color.

The second big change was replacing Charles Lane who played Mr. Barnsdahl as Lucy's banker, with Gale Gordon. Lucy didn't like Mr. Lane's forgetting his lines in front of a live audience, and so Theodore J. Mooney was the new banker in Danfield played by Gale Gordon. (Gale had been Lucy's first choice anyway, but was under contract on The Dennis The Menace Show). The third change was a new color opening that replaced the stick figures from Season 1, with photos of Lucy dressed as Cleopatra and other characters. With these 3 main changes, Season 2 began.

CBS has again cleaned up the original color films of the 28 episodes to make them absolutely pristine and said they are including the following bonus materials: The Lucille Ball Comedy Hour:Mr.& Mrs.. This one hour comedy special was made during The Lucy Show's third season's contract negotiations with CBS in the spring of 1964. It co-starred Bob Hope and Gale Gordon and featured Lucy as a tv studio boss who wants Hope to star in a tv show about a perfect married couple. This wonderful Lucy special was sponsored by Lever Brothers and aired on CBS on April 19, 1964. CBS is including this one hour treasure cleaned up, just as pristine as these 28 shows, in this wonderful 4 disc set. (I have not seen this Mr. & Mrs. Special since it premiered in 1964- What a TREAT to see it again! Wait until you see the gorgeous set and Lucy's elegant clothes- Lucy never looked lovelier!) Also included will be clips from the specials, Opening Night-shows rare Lucy and Phil Silvers clips, and CBS The Stars' Address- Lucy and Viv clip, Newly Recovered Cast commercials, Sponsor's openings and closings of the shows featuring their products, plus new Tony Maietta interviews with Carole Cook and Barry Livingston, Written Film Bios on all the guest cast members from this second season, Production notes on flubs and trivia, Photo Gallery and more!

The regular cast of Lucy, Viv, Chris, Jerry and Sherman would now include the new President of Danfield Bank- Theodore J. Mooney, played by Gale Gordon who would remain with Lucy to the end of The Lucy Show and even into her next series Here's Lucy.

The guest stars for Season 2 are, as always great, and include William Schallert, Ellen Corby, Barry Livingston, Eddie Applegate, Alan Hale, Leon Ames, Jackie Coogan, Wally Cox, Bernie Kopell, John Carradine, Robert Alda, Michael J. Pollard, Gary Morton, golfers Jimmy Demaret and F.G. Bo Winninger, Ethel Merman, Jack Albertson and Desi Arnaz, Jr.

After waiting for so very many years in hopes of someday owning all these beloved Lucy Shows, CBS has more than made up for our patience with these pristine clean ups and absolutely wonderful bonus materials!

I have heard rumors that The Lucy Show Season 3 may include the wonderful Lucy In London special from 1966 and is so far, scheduled for release on October 12, 2010! (I am keeping my fingers crossed!) THANK YOU AGAIN CBS for bringing our Lucy Shows back to us in such perfect condition with so many fantastic rarities!

Here are the following Season 2 Episodes:
01. ( 09-30-63) LUCY PLAYS CLEOPATRA- For their fundraiser, the Danfield Women's Volunteer Fire Fighters put on a Shakespeare play, Antony and Cleopatra, directed by Professor Glitterman (Hans Conried), only the death scene at the end takes longer than expected, when Viv's Marc Antony tries to outdie Lucy's Cleopatra.
02. ( 10-07-63) KIDDIE PARTIES, INC.- Lucy and Viv decide to make easy money putting on children's parties, only it's not as easy as they thought.
03. ( 10-14-63) LUCY AND VIV PLAY SOFTBALL- The Women's Volunteer Fire Department play a charity softball game, but Lucy is so bad that the manager benches her, until she gets her chance to play when another player faints. (William Schallert guest stars)
04. ( 10-21-63) LUCY GETS LOCKED IN THE VAULT- After the new bank president, Theodore J. Mooney refuses to give Lucy an advance on her allowance, Lucy practices her hair cutting skills, to earn the money she needs, on Mr. Mooney's son Arnold, only the inexperienced Lucy's haircut turns into a disastrous mohawk on little Arnold Mooney. Lucy goes to the bank to apologize to Mr. Mooney and accidentally locks them both in the bank's vault. (Ellen Corby and Barry Livingston guest star)
05. ( 10-28-63) LUCY AND THE SAFE CRACKER- When Lucy accidentally locks Mr. Mooney in the bank vault again, she gets the help of a candy store owner, who used to be a safe cracker, to get him out. (Ellen Corby guest stars)
06. ( 11-07-63) LUCY GOES DUCK HUNTING- When Lucy enjoys the company of her rich, handsome blind date, she agrees to go duck hunting with him, only she scares off all the ducks, and has to bring them all back with her own original duck call.
07. ( 11-11-63) LUCY AND THE BANK SCANDAL- Lucy thinks the bank's books not balancing is a result of the new Mr. Mooney burying the money in his back yard, so she spends the night digging with Viv. (Eddie Applegate guest stars)
08. ( 11-18-63) LUCY DECIDES TO REDECORATE- Lucy can only redecorate her house with the little amount of money Mr. Mooney gives her, if she does most of the work herself.
09. ( 12-02-63) LUCY PUTS OUT A FIRE AT THE BANK- Mr. Mooney and the town's finance committee no longer want to fund the Danfield Women's Fire Department Volunteers because of their incompetence, so Lucy plants a smoke bomb in the bank, so they can save the day. (Alan Hale guest stars)
10. ( 12-09-63) LUCY AND THE MILITARY ACADEMY- When Lucy misses her son Jerry while he's at the military academy, she sneaks in disguised as a cadet to see him. (Leon Ames and Jackie Coogan guest star)
11. ( 12-16-63) LUCY'S COLLEGE RE-UNION- Lucy shows Chris how they have an old tradition of hiding the statue of her college's founder, only there will be trouble if the statue isn't returned, and in the process, Lucy and Viv get trapped in the bell tower.
12. ( 12-23-63) THE LOOPHOLE IN THE LEASE- Sherman lets the bathtub overflow, damaging Lucy's ceiling and Mr. Mooney says Viv must pay or be evicted, until Viv reads a clause in the lease that says she has the rights to buy the house and evict Lucy, making Lucy and Mr. Mooney try to steal Viv's copy of the lease.
13. ( 12-30-63) LUCY CONDUCTS THE SYMPHONY- Harold, Viv's highly strung cousin stays with Lucy and Viv, as he will be performing as a percussionist in a New York orchestra and when Lucy tries to help him relax by hypnotizing him into a deep sleep, she can't wake him, having to take his place in the orchestra. (Wally Cox guest stars)
14. ( 01-06-64) LUCY PLAYS FLORENCE NIGHTINGALE- When Mr. Mooney breaks his leg and ends up in the hospital, Lucy needs to get him to sign a check for a new dress for Chris, but finds it hard to get near him with the nursing staff around. (Bernie Kopell guest stars)
15. ( 01-13-64) LUCY GOES TO ART CLASS- Lucy and Viv both take an art class to get close to a handsome bachelor, but when Viv gets a date with him, jealous Lucy sneaks into his apartment to ruin the pie Viv baked for him. (John Carradine and Robert Alda guest star)
16. ( 01-20-64) CHRIS GOES STEADY- When Lucy finds out daughter Chris is going steady with Mr. Mooney's son Ted, Lucy and Mr. Mooney team up to break up the young union, only to have it backfire on them. (Michael J. Pollard guest stars)
17. ( 01-27-64) LUCY TAKES UP GOLF- Lucy's new golfing boyfriend Gary asks Lucy to be his partner in a golf tournament, only Gary doesn't know that Lucy doesn't golf, until she learns it all in a day, shocking the pros on the course. (Gary Morton and pro golfers Jimmy Demaret and F.G. Bo Winninger guest star)
18. ( 02-03-64) LUCY TEACHES ETHEL MERMAN TO SING- When Lucy spots Ethel Merman, who's moving nearby, with Mr. Mooney at the bank, Mr. Mooney protects Ethel from Lucy by saying she's Agnes Schmidlapp, an Ethel Merman look alike. While Ethel is looking for a house to buy, she rents a room from Lucy and Viv, and gets singing lessons from Lucy. (Ethel Merman guest stars)
19. ( 02-10-64) ETHEL MERMAN AND THE BOY SCOUT SHOW- Ethel Merman agrees to sing in the local boy scouts show, but feels sorry for Lucy and Viv who get stuck making all the costumes and are depressed that they can't be on stage with her, so she invites them and Mr. Mooney to do a number with her. (Ethel Merman guest stars)
20. ( 02-17-64) LUCY AND VIV OPEN A RESTAURANT- Lucy talks Viv into being partners in a small restaurant, but even with no customers, Mr. Mooney wants to be a partner when he learns a freeway is being built nearby. (Jack Albertson guest stars)
21. ( 02-24-64) LUCY TAKES A JOB AT THE BANK- Mr. Mooney gives Lucy a job of getting new bank accounts by offering customers free toasters, but Lucy finds it easier to have her friends close their existing accounts and open a new one with the free toaster, causing a run on the bank.
22. ( 03-02-64) VIV MOVES OUT- Viv moves out after she and Lucy have a fight, and Mr. Mooney immediately has a new paying tenant move in, who is a singer, and practices her songs with her son all day and night, making Lucy want Viv back more than ever.
23. ( 03-09-64) LUCY IS HER OWN LAWYER- One dog starts the whole neighborhood of dogs barking every night and when Lucy finds out the main dog that won't let her get any rest is Mr. Mooney's, she decides to sue him.
24. ( 03-16-64) LUCY MEETS A MILLIONAIRE- Lucy accidentally spills spaghetti sauce on her millionaire date's tuxedo and when she and Mr. Mooney break into the dry cleaner's to get his other tuxedo, Lucy has a terrible mishap.
25. ( 03-23-64) LUCY GOES INTO POLITICS- When Mr. Mooney runs for City Comptroller, Lucy and Viv decide to run his campaign, but Lucy as usual forgets to book the talent for his campaign rally.
26. ( 03-30-64) LUCY AND THE SCOUT TRIP- When the scout leader can't make the scout trip, Lucy and Viv replace him, but get lost in the woods. (Desi Arnaz, Jr. and Barry Livingston guest star)
27. ( 04-20-64) LUCY IS A PROCESS SERVER- Lucy takes a temporary job for an attorney's office as a process server when she must serve a subpoena on Mr. Mooney, who is going on vacation. After chasing him all the way onto an ocean liner, she misses getting off ship and ruins his vacation.
28. ( 04-27-64) LUCY ENTERS A BAKING CONTEST- Lucy enters a baking contest after Viv makes a smart comment about Lucy's baking abilities, but when Lucy switches her entry with Viv's to win the contest, a fight ensues where the pies could be used as weapons.

I am so glad that the second season, that's the official second season has been released. Although I found the episodes overall not as funny as the first season there are still many a laughs to be had with these episodes. I would recommend it to anyone - young or old. The main thing that makes this DVD better than the first season is the COLOUR! It just pops right out at you, it's like looking at a rainbow. So clear, so crisp and SO BRIGHT! Especially Lucy and Viv's eyeshadow haha! If you love I Love Lucy and Here's Lucy I would not hesitate in thinking twice about purchasing this.

I received my video set of The Lucy Show - The Complete Second Season two days after its release. It's wonderful to finally see a clear and non-faded version of the color episodes. All I have ever seen since the it first entered syndication was pink colors where the red colors were and lime green where dark green colors were. Now I see that the colors were very rich for its time and the early days of color television cameras. I'm not sure what the difference is but the second season's episodes are even funnier that the first season's episodes. Gale Gordon, as Theodore J. Mooney, doesn't appear until the 4th episode but when he enters as a permanent cast member then the hilarity factor goes way up. The extras such as the interview with Barry Livingston are great additions. Lucy's bonus special with Bob Hope is crystal clear with vibrant colors. I have to admit The Lucille Ball Comedy Hour bonus did not have the best script I have seen her deliver but just seeing the vintage sets and actors in their prime was worth watching. Of course, the vintage cast commercials were great fun to watch. And although they give you the generous option to watch the vintage opens and closes with the sponsors, since those were shot in black and white (yes you still get the show itself in color) I opted for the color opens and closes without the sponsors showing. One last thing, because the picture and colors are so good, in the episode where Lucy is a process server, in the last scene look around Gale Gordon's eyebrow on the left side if you are looking at him, and you can see they couldn't get all of the mustard off from a previous scene. Just more proof they really did a great restoration to this season.

Thanks again CBS/Paramount for not disappointing us by delivering a first rate quality and fun filled product. Please get out the next one as soon as you can. I'll be waiting to pre-order it.

Seeing The Lucy Show in color is a truly amazing experience! The picture quality of this dvd set is exceptional and the extra bonus features are excellent. I can tell that this is a first rate package and this would be worth twice the price. I grew up watching reruns of this show on TV in the afternoons after school and never knew that th second season was filmed in color but broadcast in black and white. The comedy is classic and never gets old. After watching several shows I noticed that Vivian Vance gets alot of the funny lines that bring the laughs. She was one really underrated performer. But I wouldn't take away from Lucille Ball's talent and the addition of Gale Gordon as Mr. Mooney is priceless! His comic talent was great and the character of Mr. Mooney provided a great foil for Lucy Carmichael. I can't wait to get the next season when it comes out. I have the first season and watched all of the shows in just a few days. If you are a Lucy fan you will want this set so order it now.

I finished watching the entire collection of "THE LUCY SHOW: The Official Second Season" a short time ago and may I say, "Bravo!" This is a superb presentation of the first season of Lucy in color. I knew the 16mm original openings, cast commercials, and closings would have to be in black and white, because CBS did not present the show in color until the fourth season, so it makes it a little confusing when you watch them in the vintage mode, but just as enjoyable. The episodes are beautifully remastered and presented perfectly. The extras are terrific as well. I'm sure the third season will be produced in this same manner and I can hardly wait to see those episodes. Thank you CBS. Be sure to buy "HERE'S LUCY: Season Three" and "THE MOTHERS-IN-LAW: The Complete Series," both out by MPI Home Video at this time.

This is Carol Butler's son writing this review. I just got this set for my birthday on Friday. I have loved Lucy ever since I was five years old. That was 15 years ago. Not a day goes by where I don't watch, read, or listen to something by or about Lucy! This set of all 28 season 2 episodes is wonderful. The shows look as though they were filmed in this decade. They're all wonderful. I've only seen four episodes of this set so far, but I just know that the rest of the episodes will be awesome! And although the shows were filmed in color, they were broadcast in B&W. However, for this set, all the episodes are in glorious color. Not washed out color, but pristine, beautiful color.

I love all the special features, such as the original openings and closings (they are in B&W). However, after the original B&W opening, the show goes back to color. And after the last scene of the color episode, it goes to B&W, but that's just fine with me! Just make sure that you have the DVD set to "vintage". I just hope that Paramount/CBS decides to release the remaining four seasons. I'm tired of all the budget companies releasing the California episodes unofficially and in very bad quality. Lucy deserves much better than that! I also own the Official First Season, and love it as well. If you love Lucy, and let's face it, everyone does, please purchase this set. And if you haven't purchased the first season, then please do so ASAP.

Since last year's Season 1 official Lucy Show release, I've been waiting for Season 2, knowing the color episodes would start. I've never seen the color episodes until the reruns on Nick-At-Nite and TV Land of Season 2. Until studying up on Lucy, I also did not know that CBS broadcasted them in Black & White when first aired. Not having a color set until 1972, I didn't know the difference. This set is superb not for just the great remastering, but for also giving a taste of the past. Using the "vintage" choice on the DVD, you get the original network openings, sponsor tags, any available cast commercials, closing tags & credits in black & white as broadcast, while watching the actual show in color. The "normal" option allows a full color view of titles on both ends, plus the show. Very clever way of packaging the shows for this season. The interviews with Carole Cook and Barry Livingston are very informative, and Carole Cook's interview is to die for. She is so funny. The ultimate extra is including "The Lucille Ball Comedy Hour" with guest Bob Hope aired as a special in April 1964, and not seen since that time. I remember seeing a portion of this show, which stuck in my mind, but I did not remember the entire program. It is a great bonus to have. You will not be disappointed with this set, be it that you are mega Lucy fan or the casual viewer of classic television. Highly recommended.