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GaryMrMets
05-02-2003, 03:54 PM
http://wcbsfm.com/watercooler/watercooler_story_122065720.html

Lucy Returns To CBS!
Catch The Special On Sunday, May 4th At 8PM (ET/PT), Only On CBS

May 2, 2003 6:42 am US/Eastern
(CBS) (NEW YORK) LUCY, a new three-hour television movie event starring theater actress Rachel York ("Kiss Me, Kate") and Danny Pino ("The Shield"), will be broadcast as the "CBS Sunday Movie," Sunday, May 4 (8:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network.

The drama, based on a true story, is an inside, little-known account of the celebrated, complex, passionate and tumultuous relationship between Lucille Ball (York) and Desi Arnaz (Pino), as well as a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at the creation of one of television’s most groundbreaking and beloved shows, "I Love Lucy."

Craig Zadan and Neil Meron, executive producers of the Academy Award, Golden Globe and SAG Award winning "Chicago," are executive producers. The pair were also executive producers of "Martin and Lewis," on the Network, "Life with Judy Garland: Me and My Shadows," "The Three Stooges," "Cinderella," "Annie" and "The Music Man."

Fifty years ago, the magical union of Ball and Arnaz enthralled American audiences who couldn’t get enough of the fiery redhead or her sexy Cuban husband. But off-camera, the situation couldn’t have been less comedic. Backstage battles, oversized egos, infidelity and the demands of phenomenal success undermined what was once a storybook romance.

In 1920 at her home in Jamestown, N.Y., young Lucy and her brother Fred enjoyed playacting for their mother, DeDe, and grandfather, Fred. While the loving family experienced its share of heartache and pain, a lively and spirited Lucy endured each disappointment and ambitiously forged ahead with her dream of becoming an actress. A mixture of fate and perseverance led Lucy to modeling in Manhattan and movies in Los Angeles, but neither allowed the future legend’s comedic genius, which she herself was yet to discover, shine through.

Sparks immediately flew when the pretty actress met a young, charismatic Latin musician from an aristocratic Cuban family. It wasn’t long before the passionate couple was married – and Desi began to stray. But despite the heartache – his constant and public philandering and their individual struggles to make it Hollywood – the fervor between them wouldn’t die. The two needed each other and went on to build a family with the birth of daughter Lucie, and later, son Desi Jr.

It was during Lucy’s mid-30s, at the end of a disappointing movie career that never quite got off the ground, that her former MGM movie co-star Red Skelton and his friend Buster Keaton encouraged her comedic sensibilities and suggested a career in television. Although TV was considered a dead-end for an aspiring movie actress, Lucy, who had passed her prime in film, considered it an opportunity to extend her career – and keep her husband under her watchful eye. While network executives were fervently opposed to casting the Latin Desi as her husband on a sitcom based on the radio show "My Favorite Husband," Lucy eventually got her way and the rest, as they say, is history.

"I Love Lucy," with its revolutionary three-camera approach, shot live from Los Angeles (as opposed to New York) in front of a studio audience, starring an aging B-movie actress and her foreign husband, and covering formerly taboo subjects such as pregnancy, broke every imaginable barrier and paved the way for the modern sitcom. Despite continued personal challenges, including Lucy’s investigation by the House Un-American Activities Committee and a perpetually turbulent marriage, Lucy and Desi continued to break ground with their enormously successful television series and eventually their own studio. Though their marriage didn’t last, their impact on comedy, television and their legions of viewers continues to live on.

Rachel York recently completed the national tour of "Kiss Me, Kate." Her theater credits include "City of Angels," "Les Miserables," "The Scarlet Pimpernel," "Little Me" and "Victor/Victoria" on-Broadway and "Putting it Together," "Where’s Dick?" "Lost in the Stars," "They Shoot Horses, Don’t They?" and "A Minor Incident" off-Broadway. Her film credits include "Billy Bathgate" and "Dead Center." York’s television credits include "Diagnosis Murder" on the Network, as well as "Frasier," "Reba," "Spin City," Arli$$," "The Naked Truth," "L.A. Law" and the television movies "Second Honeymoon" on the Network, "Taking the Heat" and "Au Pair II."

Danny Pino’s theater credits include "Up for Grabs," "Measure for Measure," "The Winter’s Tale," and "Thou Shalt Not." His television credits include a recurring role in "The Shield," as well as "Baseball Wives," "Men, Women and Dogs" and the television movie "Point of Origin." He will soon star in the upcoming series, "NYPD 2096."

LUCY was produced by Storyline Entertainment in association with Sony Pictures Television. Zadan and Meron are executive producers along with Emmy Award-winner Glenn Jordan ("The Long Way Home," "Barbarians at the Gate"). Jacobus Rose ("Blonde") is the co-executive producer and Dave Mace ("Brian’s Song") is the producer. Jordan directed the movie, which was written by Katie Ford ("Miss Congeniality") and T.S. Cook ("China Syndrome" and "High Noon").

(MMIII, Viacom Internet Services Inc. , All Rights Reserved)

http://images.viacomlocalnetworks.com/images_sizedimage_122064211/xl
http://images.viacomlocalnetworks.com/images_sizedimage_122065152/lg/
Rachel York (Ball) and Danny Pino (Arnaz) the stars of LUCY.

http://wwwimage.cbs.com/specials/lucy/images/home_main.jpg

Some I Love Lucy websites:
http://www.cbs.com/specials/lucy/
http://www.lucyfan.com/
http://www.officiallylucy.com/
http://www.lucilleball.com/
http://www.luciearnaz.com/
http://www.desiarnazjr.com/

GaryMrMets
05-02-2003, 03:56 PM
http://wwwimage.cbs.com/specials/lucy/images/home_lft_pic.jpg
Fifty years ago, the magical union of Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz enthralled American audiences, who couldn't get enough of the fiery redhead or her sexy Cuban husband. But off-camera, the situation couldn't have been less comedic. Backstage battles, oversized egos, infidelity and the demands of phenomenal success undermined what was once a storybook romance.

In 1920, at her home in Jamestown, New York, young Lucy and her brother Fred enjoyed playacting for their mother, DeDe, and grandfather, Fred. While the loving family experienced its share of heartache and pain, a lively and spirited Lucy endured each disappointment and ambitiously forged ahead with her dream of becoming an actress. A mixture of fate and perseverance led Lucy to modeling in Manhattan and movies in Los Angeles, but neither allowed the future legend's comedic genius, which she herself was yet to discover, shine through.

Sparks immediately flew when the pretty actress met Desi Arnaz, a young, charismatic Latin musician from an aristocratic Cuban family. It wasn't long before the passionate couple was married, and Desi began to stray. But despite the heartache--his constant and public philandering and their individual struggles to make it in Hollywood--the fervor between them wouldn't die. The two needed each other and went on to build a family with the birth of daughter Lucie, and later, son Desi Jr.

During Lucy's mid-30s, at the end of a disappointing movie career that never quite got off the ground, her former MGM movie co-star Red Skelton and his friend Buster Keaton encouraged her comedic sensibilities and suggested a career in television. Although TV was considered a dead-end for an aspiring movie actress, Lucy, who had passed her prime in film, considered it an opportunity to extend her career and keep her husband under her watchful eye. While network executives were adamantly opposed to casting the Latin Desi as her husband on a sitcom based on the radio show "My Favorite Husband," Lucy eventually got her way. The rest, as they say, is history.

"I Love Lucy," with its revolutionary three-camera approach, shot live from Los Angeles (as opposed to New York) in front of a studio audience, starring an aging B-movie actress and her foreign husband, and covering formerly taboo subjects such as pregnancy, broke every imaginable barrier and paved the way for the modern sitcom. Despite continued personal challenges, including Lucy's investigation by the House Un-American Activities Committee and a perpetually turbulent marriage, Lucy and Desi continued to break ground with their enormously successful television series and eventually their own studio. Though their marriage didn't last, their impact on comedy, television and their legions of viewers continues to live on.


Remembered as a dizzy sitcom redhead with show business aspirations, Lucille Ball was, in fact, a show business powerhouse and television pioneer. What many people don't know is what Lucille did prior to becoming "Lucy" on her series "I Love Lucy" with her husband, Desi Arnaz. Following are some important dates in both Lucy's and Desi's lives.

August 6, 1911 - Lucille Desiree Ball is born in Jamestown, New York.

March 2, 1917 - Desiderio (Desi) Alberto Arnaz y de Archa III is born in Santiago de Cuba to wealthy Cuban landowners. He emigrates to the United States at the age of 16.

1930 - Lucy becomes a Chesterfield cigarettes poster girl under the name "Diane Belmont."

1933 - Lucy signs a movie contract with Samuel Goldwin, who brings her to Hollywood to be one of the 20 original Goldwyn Girls.

1933-40 - Lucy plays bit parts in 43 films and becomes known as "Queen of the B Movies."

1935 - Lucy signs her first promotional agreement with Max Factor. She does so again in 1942. Of all the stars, Lucy had the longest association with the Max Factor company.

1936 - Desi signs up to work in Xavier Cugat's band in New York City. Six months later, he moves to Miami to lead a combo of his own. It is there he introduces the Conga Line to American audiences.

1938 - Lucy meets the Marx Brothers while working on the feature film "Room Service" and receives the first of her many instructive experiences with such legendary laugh-makers as Buster Keaton, Bert Lahr, Red Skelton and Bob Hope. From these masters of slapstick, Ball learns double takes, pratfalls and perfect timing, as well as her repertoire of goofy expressions.

1940 - Lucy meets Desi on the set of the musical "Too Many Girls" and immediately falls for the musician, six years her junior, playing the part of a football star hired to protect her.

Nov. 30, 1940 - Lucy and Desi marry after a whirlwind courtship.

1942-43 - Lucy acts in the movies "The Big Street," with Henry Fonda and Agnes Moorehead, "Du Barry Was a Lady," with Red Skelton, and "Thousands Cheer," with Gene Kelly.

1948 - "My Favorite Husband," the radio show, premieres, and Lucy's true comedic genius appears. The show, which paves the way for "I Love Lucy," is a situation comedy about a housewife who is always getting into trouble.

1950 - Lucy and Desi come up with the idea for a TV series that they hoped would save their troubled marriage. However, television executives don't think the show will work with Desi being Cuban, so Lucy and Desi produce a pilot with their own savings of $5,000 under their own production company, Desilu Productions. Together, they pioneer the three-camera technique that is now the standard in filming TV sitcoms.

July 17, 1951 - Lucie Arnaz, Lucy's and Desi's first child, is born.

Oct. 15, 1951 - "I Love Lucy" premieres on CBS.

1952 - Lucy wins her first Emmy Award for Best Comedienne, and Lucy and Desi sign an $8 million deal with CBS for continuation of the series.

1953 - Little Ricky is born on "I Love Lucy," making front-page headlines. While the episode is being broadcast, Lucy gives birth to Desi, Jr. Forty-four million people watch the episode.

1953 - Lucy is steeped in scandal when she's called before the House Un-American Activities Committee, which revealed that she had registered to vote as a Communist in 1936 at the insistence of her grandfather. Lucy is absolved of Communist ties.

April 3, 1954 - Lucy and her newborn son appear on the very first cover of TV Guide. Lucy appears on TV Guide's cover a record 35 times.

May 6, 1957 - "I Love Lucy" ends its run after 179 episodes. At its peak, the series averaged an incredible 67.3 rating, meaning that on a typical Monday night, more than two-thirds of all homes with TV sets were tuned to "I Love Lucy."

May 4, 1960 - Lucy and Desi divorce after 20 tumultuous years of marriage.

Dec. 2, 1986 - Desi Arnaz dies of lung cancer.

April 26, 1989 - Lucille Ball dies following heart surgery.

GaryMrMets
05-02-2003, 03:57 PM
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Nanner
05-02-2003, 05:52 PM
Okay, I'm probably the only one here who actually watched most of the episodes when they were originally broadcast. Yes, I'm that old! :D I revere Lucille Ball..... she truly was a comic genius. I still laugh at the episodes.... some of which I have seen so many times I can't count. And I still laugh at her stuff.

So I know I'll find it vaguely dissatisfying watching this, because to me no one.... and I mean no one can touch her. On the other hand, these guys, and the crew that worked on this, all have a pretty good track record.

So even though it's not Lucy I'm watching, I know I'll watch, because it'll probably be good.

Nanner
05-02-2003, 05:53 PM
And say...... who's that playing William Frawley and Vivian Vance?