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Essentially a continuation of the familiar "I Love Lucy" series, THE LUCY-DESI COMEDY HOUR (originally "The Lucille Ball-Desi Arnaz Show" presented by Ford and later Westinghouse) extended the "Lucy" universe for three additional seasons. The hour-long episodes were more or less showcases for Lucy and a revolving door of sparkling guest stars (very much like the fourth season of "I Love Lucy" set in California). Desi Arnaz had been campaigning CBS, for years, to extend "Lucy" to an hour-long format, and the newly-revamped show gave him even greater creative control, with Desi in the director's chair for many of the episodes.
Because both Lucy and Desi were hands-on creative forces at their company Desilu, incredibly busy overseeing and working on many shows in which they didn't necessarily appear, the work schedule of THE LUCY-DESI COMEDY HOUR was organised so that the pair would only be obligated to film just a few episodes (or specials) per year. The first two seasons comprised of 5 episodes each; by the final year this had been reduced to just three episodes. According to sources there was to have been at least a fourth year of specials planned, but the daily working relationship of Ball and Arnaz was rapidly deteriorating - Ball filed for divorce the day after the broadcast of "Lucy Meets the Moustache", the final special from the third year.
With a few exceptions, the stories take place at the Ricardos' home in Westport, Connecticut. Lucy still meddles and schemes along with best pal, Ethel Mertz (Vivian Vance), but the interplay with Ricky (Desi Arnaz) and Fred (William Frawley) is somewhat diminished. Scripts often have Ricky and Fred away in New York, attending to the nightclub or checking up at the apartment building, respectively. This lessens the magic of the original "I Love Lucy" flavour which hinged heavily on the interplay of the 'Fabulous Foursome'. Perhaps tensions were becoming too much of an issue - in addition to the collapse of Ball's and Arnaz's marriage, it's no secret that Vivian and Bill Frawley weren't the best of chums off-screen.
The series opens with a spectacular "prequel" story, detailing how Lucy and Ricky met in Havana. On a cruiseliner we find Lucy McGillicuddy and her best pal, fellow secretary Susie MacNamara (Ball's dear friend Ann Sothern - reprising her role from the sitcom "Private Secretary"). Also on-board are the honeymooning Mertzes (Fred has hair!) in addition to dreamy Rudy Vallee. Of course, we know that Lucy will return to the States with Ricky in tow, but the charm in how their unlikely romance takes off is still a delight to see.
Divine Tallulah Bankhead becomes the Ricardos' newest neighbour in "The Celebrity Next Door" in which Lucy forces Ethel and Fred to act as reluctant domestics and attempts to upstage Ms Bankhead in a PTA benefit show. In "Lucy Makes Room for Danny", the entire cast of "Make Room for Daddy" crosses over into Lucy-Land. When the Ricardos' are called back to California so that Ricky can appear in a film, they lease out their home to the Williams clan (Danny Thomas, Marjorie Lord, Angela Cartwright and Rusty Hamer), but things turn nasty when the trip is cancelled and the Ricardos' find themselves homeless!
Feeling stuck in a rut with her country housewife role, Lucy re-enters the glamorous world of New York showbiz in "Lucy Wants a Career", becoming the co-host for a morning TV show with Paul Douglas. It seems to be a dream come true, until Lucy grows tired of the constant early mornings and a schedule which leaves little time for her family - but how will she manage to escape from her iron-clad contract with the sponsor?
The gang jets off to Japan in "The Ricardos' Go to Japan", where Lucy and Ethel strike up a friendship with their hotel neighbour - none other than Bob Cummings - and launch a crazy plan to buy an authentic pearl necklace, culminating in the pair going undercover as geishas in a male-only Geisha House! Even in B&W you may notice Lucy's eyes towards the end of this episode, which appear red and swollen from crying despite Lucy being almost buried under an elaborate costume of traditional Japanese kimono, makeup and Zolb wig; and Desi's voice often sounds worn and raspy. This was to be the penultimate show for the group and, I'm sure, tempers were fraying. The final show, "Lucy Meets the Moustache" has Lucy disguised as a chauffeur to TV comedian Ernie Kovacs and his wife, Broadway star Edie Adams. Ms Adams was asked to bring along a song of her own choosing to perform on the show, which turned out to be "That's All". It was a personal favourite for Adams and her husband, but she had no idea that the song was to have a heartbreaking double meaning for Lucy and Desi - the show (and their marriage) was over.
Episodes:
Lucy Takes a Cruise to Havana
The Celebrity Next Door
Lucy Hunts Uranium
Lucy Wins a Racehorse
Lucy Goes to Sun Valley
Lucy Goes to Mexico
Lucy Makes Room for Danny
Lucy Goes to Alaska
Lucy Wants a Career
Lucy's Summer Vacation
Milton Berle Hides Out at the Ricardos'
The Ricardos' Go to Japan
Lucy Meets the Moustache
Bonus features are highlighted by some very rare *colour* footage, taken by an audience member during the filming of an episode from the first season. Historically speaking this footage is priceless because it offers us the only known colour reference for the Ricardo apartment and Tropicana Nightclub. Guest cast profiles, additional lost footage and many other surprises are also included.
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Customer reviews
I bought this specifically for the Tallulah Bankhead episode, The Celebrity Next Door, one of the best episodes in the entire Lucy library. Guest stars on the other hour-long shows include Milton Berle doing one of his classic drag bits, Ann Sothern, Fred MacMurray, Ernie Kovacs and his wife Edie Adams. All are worth watching, although some are way better than others. When you stop to think that the series and the marriage that inspired it are pretty much over, it's kind of sad. Still, the Ricardos and Mertzes remain endearing to the bitter end.
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Top reviews from other countries
Kindle Customer
i really do love lucy
Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on May 6, 2014
Lynda Langdon
I recieved newer version when I had ordered older version. The older version matched my collection!
Reviewed in Canada 🇨🇦 on June 16, 2022
