I Love Lucy: The Complete Picture History of the Most Popular TV Show Ever (Paperback)

by Michael McClay (Author) "Lucy. Few people have a monopoly over a name, and Lucille Ball was one of them..." (more)
Key Phrases: Love Lucy, Little Ricky, Lucille Ball (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review
"Lucy, you got some splainin' to do!" Fans of comedic genius Lucille Ball and mambo king Desi Arnaz won't want to miss I Love Lucy, the complete compendium to one of the most popular TV shows in history. Beginning with an introduction by their daughter, Lucie Arnaz, the text follows a thorough chronological outline of her parents' careers. Almost overwhelming in detail, the book contains synopses of the show's six seasons and 179 episodes, as well as telling tidbits about cast members, family, and friends. For example, the show helped heal Vivian Vance: "When she accepted the role of Ethel Mertz, she would later admit that, along with her continuing analysis, [the show] was what had provided her with the glue she needed to keep her alive and her mental health intact." More than just a collection of '50s factoids, I Love Lucy is an insightful, loving tribute to one of the most loved duos in broadcasting history. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review
"A definitive array of images that cumulatively confirms Lucy's unsurpassed agility and grace." -- -People

"Michael McClay captures the comic genius of this great lady." -- -Bob Hope

"Revelatory...never less than epic.... Embrace this guide." -- -Entertainment Weekly

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Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Warner Books; Reprint edition (September 1, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0446674206
• ISBN-13: 978-0446674201
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 8.9 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (25 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #203,926 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic, August 31, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: I Love Lucy: The Complete Picture History of the Most Popular TV Show Ever (Hardcover)

This book was wonderful! It has a LOT of pictures. I learned about all of the stars(Lucille Ball, Desi Arnez, Vivian Vance, William Frawley). For example: Vivian Vance and William Frawley didn't like eachother. They hardly said anything to each other on the set. I didn't know that! But at the end it has all the episodes. And it has a wonderful selection of pictures! PLEASE get this book. If you're a fan of Lucy you'll love this!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An essential reference for any lover of Lucy., July 26, 1998

By	Frank Dunnigan (Santa Rosa, CA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: I Love Lucy: The Complete Picture History of the Most Popular TV Show Ever (Hardcover)

I received this book as a Christmas gift in 1996, and I go back to it again and again. McClay was an insider in the I LOVE LUCY family, the son of Lucille Ball's long-time publicist. The thoroughly written and illustrated volume was prepared in cooperation with Lucille Ball's family, and carries an introduction by her daughter Lucie Arnaz. I thought that I had seen and read all there was about my favorite 1950s TV program, but this book contains many new photos, from both on and off the sets, including several original color photos of the family at home. McClay's narrative contains many interesting anecdotes about the cast. The summaries of every single plot are well-written, and accompanied by numerous photos. See if your favorite episodes are contained in The Classic 35 Episodes (I'm glad that McClay did not limit it to something like 10 or 25--remember that there were 179 shows altogether!) Also included is a summary of the 13 hour-long Lucy-Desi Comedy Hours ! programs. A must-have for any Lucy fan!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Through McClay You Get the Complete Picture, August 13, 2003

A Kid's Review

AMAZING!! This is one of the best books written about "I Love Lucy." Michael McClay certainly knew what he was doing when he gave us this great book on the best show in picture history. Through many pictures (many in color) and words, McClay is able to tell you ALL about "I Love Lucy" and the great people that made it so great. He tells not only about the people at the time of the show, but gives, not much but accurate, information about the four wonderful people that made the show so successful before and after the shows were made. He gives you thirty-five classic episodes that are the hits in the "I Love Lucy" shows. And also a TV-ography of the 179 "I Love Lucy" shows in the order that they went on the air. And the "I Love Lucy" Theme Song music given at the beginning of the three parts that are in this book has been played many times on my piano.

This is truely the best book there is on the show "I Love Lucy" (but no "I Love Lucy" book can beat Lucille Ball's book "Love, Lucy;" it covers her whole life as well as the "I Love Lucy" shows.Get that one too because both are both greatly recommended). Some books don't give very much or very accurate information on this show. But this one gives you all of the information, accurately, about the show.

I greatly encoutrage you top get this book especially if you are a Lucy fan (and if you are not, reading this book will give you a great start). You will NOT be disappionted. You will have too much trouble putting it down that when you finish it, you will want to read it again--you will never get tired of it. Get yours TODAY and you WILL enjoy!