Jump to content

LIFE WITH LUCY Coming to DVD Oct. 8 2019


Shemp
 Share

Recommended Posts

16 hours ago, mickie said:

another review of Life With Lucy: https://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/74063/life-with-lucy-the-complete-series/

and not a bad review. 

"more sophisticated comedy in shows like Mary Tyler Moore, Maude, The Bob Newhart Show, Taxi, Cheers, etc."  Yes, but only ONE of these was still on the air in 1986.  "Cheers" and "Golden Girls" could make me laugh. Hits circa 1986  "Cosby" "Who's the Boss", so many other etc's: NO. 

As fair a look back as could be expected.  Reviewer makes good points, some I hadn't thought about.  Like how The Lucy Show set up the premise, then found the kids incidental to the plots, seen less and less until they disappeared.  (Ditto the narcoleptic Little Ricky, rarely seen until his dose of Gigantigrow between seasons 5 and 6).   Grandma Lucy interacting with the little ones was cute but maybe having them all live together, appearing in every episode, was a mistake..    Reviewers assessment of Ted and Margo "competent, but unmemorable": apt. They should have learned from The Mothers In Law that casting the young adults with bland actors, giving them really no discernible character would add nothing to the show.   Larry and Ann just didn't have the comedy acting chops to forge their own characters, as actors from a previous generation might have.   Donovan Scott did.  Maybe he should have played Ted.  With a Ruth Buzzi as Margo?  They needed some sort of character clash at home other than Lucy and Gale. 

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 hour ago, Neil said:

"more sophisticated comedy in shows like Mary Tyler Moore, Maude, The Bob Newhart Show, Taxi, Cheers, etc."  Yes, but only ONE of these was still on the air in 1986.  "Cheers" and "Golden Girls" could make me laugh. Hits circa 1986  "Cosby" "Who's the Boss", so many other etc's: NO. 

As fair a look back as could be expected.  Reviewer makes good points, some I hadn't thought about.  Like how The Lucy Show set up the premise, then found the kids incidental to the plots, seen less and less until they disappeared.  (Ditto the narcoleptic Little Ricky, rarely seen until his dose of Gigantigrow between seasons 5 and 6).   Grandma Lucy interacting with the little ones was cute but maybe having them all live together, appearing in every episode, was a mistake..    Reviewers assessment of Ted and Margo "competent, but unmemorable": apt. They should have learned from The Mothers In Law that casting the young adults with bland actors, giving them really no discernible character would add nothing to the show.   Larry and Ann just didn't have the comedy acting chops to forge their own characters, as actors from a previous generation might have.   Donovan Scott did.  Maybe he should have played Ted.  With a Ruth Buzzi as Margo?  They needed some sort of character clash at home other than Lucy and Gale. 

Maybe later episodes would've cut back the kids' appearances like TLS did, with more plots taking place with them at school or already in bed, or off visiting friends. Or, maybe they would've gone the boarding school route, turning Grandma Heaven into Grandma Hell (MARGO: "I'VE LOST MY BABIES!")

You're right that more conflict in the home could've given them more possibilities. Lucy getting along perfectly well with Ted and Margo is lovely and all, but friendly isn't necessarily funny. Perhaps an Endora/Durwood type relationship between Lucy and Ted could've livened things up a bit. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

22 hours ago, Freddie2 said:

Although brief, the reviewer makes some good points. I love that he refers to criticisms of Lucy's Mame as "atypical". When he hypothesizes the show actually being a hit, he brings up something that I've never thought of. If the show had continued, how long would Lucy and Gale be able to keep up the physical comedy? I really do believe that if LWL had continued Lucy would have made it past '89, and maybe (like with the broken leg arc on HL) the scripts would actually start to acknowledge her age. The gals on Grace and Frankie are now older than Lucy and Gale were in 1986, and even though the physical comedy bits aren't nearly as constant, they still pull them off without critics bitching about their age and mobility. 

This is an interesting point. In 1990 or so, Gale said had successfully auditioned to join the cast or an established sitcom (reading between the lines, my unconfirmed theory is the role that eventually went to John Hillerman on The Hogan Family) but lost out in the end because either the network or producers were unable to ensure him due to his age. 

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Wow, that's unbelievable about the insurance issue. Even in his 80s (and he didn't look it), he was so robust and full of life. Multiple sources say he was still sharp as a tack, and never once flubbed a line on the LWL set. Such a pity he lost out on that 1990 role.

In my opinion, Gale would've made a great guest-star on Wings as Roy's father, had they chosen to go that route. He had it until the end.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 11/2/2019 at 2:36 PM, Brock said:

This is an interesting point. In 1990 or so, Gale said had successfully auditioned to join the cast or an established sitcom (reading between the lines, my unconfirmed theory is the role that eventually went to John Hillerman on The Hogan Family) but lost out in the end because either the network or producers were unable to ensure him due to his age. 

I’d never heard that before and The Hogan Family is an excellent theory. As a fan of Valerie Harper and Jason Bateman, I enjoy the show and would have loved to see Gale on it. However, if it really was the role that Hillerman got, that was after the show had switched networks and only lasted for an additional 13 episodes- same as LWL!

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 11/2/2019 at 2:16 PM, Luvsbway said:

According to Tom on Stu's Show this week they could not get insurance for Gale for LWL. They were able to for Lucy.

I wonder why they couldn't get insurance on Gale.  He seemed in tip-top form to me.  So strictly because of his age?  In that case, no actors who are 80 (or whatever the cutoff age) can work on TV unless uninsured?  What does this type of  insurance cover and why it is necessary on individual people?  I can only guess there's some compensation if 

--they become incapacitated and it covers the expense (?) of replacing them in the cast; or

-they have an accident on the set?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

44 minutes ago, Neil said:

I wonder why they couldn't get insurance on Gale.  He seemed in tip-top form to me.  So strictly because of his age?  In that case, no actors who are 80 (or whatever the cutoff age) can work on TV unless uninsured?  What does this type of  insurance cover and why it is necessary on individual people?  I can only guess there's some compensation if 

--they become incapacitated and it covers the expense (?) of replacing them in the cast; or

-they have an accident on the set?

At the very least he should've qualified for goose insurance!

  • Haha 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 11/2/2019 at 12:32 AM, Mot Morenzi said:

Instead of cancelling it outright, they should've tried moving it to a different time slot to see if it performed any better. 

Yes, Saturday night at *pm was the worst night. I guess they couldn't do Monday night as they Macgyver on that night. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

46 minutes ago, mickie said:

Yes, Saturday night at *pm was the worst night. I guess they couldn't do Monday night as they Macgyver on that night. 

With Monday Night Football on ABC starting at 9 eastern time, the ABC 8:00 (eastern) show was at a severe disadvantage.  Football was played live across the country so we on Pacific time got it at 6:00.  The official schedule had the game running until 9 Pacific.  But it (followed by all that post-game BLATHER) ended whenever it ended.  I think the 8:00 series shown in the east was either scheduled for 9:00 (or 10:00?)  on the west coast or started whenever the pundits finished analyzing the game and many times they didn't seem to be in ANY rush.    Or later if God forbid, the game went into overtime.  There were many times the football game ran 3-hours-plus so the last part aired opposite Here's Lucy on the west coast.  You can imagine the resistance I faced trying to commandeer the set at 9:00 especially if that was part of a nail-biting overtime conclusion.   Monday Night Football/Here's Lucy: not exactly the same fan base.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 3 weeks later...

Having now seen all 13 episodes in high quality, I've reevaluated my opinion of the show. I feel the way many nowadays do: it needed work, but it was hardly a disaster.

True, the premise could've been better constructed, and some of the roles given stronger personalities, but there was plenty of room to work with what they had. The last four episodes shot were considerably stronger than many that preceded them, and that growth would've likely continued.

I see a show that had a good heart and was genuinely eager to please. It may not have consistently succeeded, but it did often enough to bestow it with significant charm. For the first time, I was genuinely disappointed there weren't more episodes to enjoy. I'm already looking forward to re-watching them all. 

The series can only be considered lacking compared to Ball's past TV outings (although personally, I think the weakest LWL episodes are still stronger than a number of Here's Lucy offerings). Since 1986, there have been countless sitcoms that have come and gone which were genuinely lousy, far worse than anything this show provided, and had there been more "bad" shows to compare it to at the time, people might've reacted differently. LWL may have been considered a dud when newly minted, but I think time has been kind to it, and I truly feel it deserved more of a chance (and a better time slot).

At least we'll always have these 13 as the cherry on top of her preceding episodes.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

For those interested in the alternate Lucie Arnaz & Cy Coleman theme song, I found some information and lyrics that Lucie shared years ago. Not sure if these have been circulated recently or not:

Quote

...I wrote a theme song for [Life With Lucy] with famed composer Cy Coleman (Sweet Charity, See Saw, Little Me, City of Angels, Wildcat, among others) that ABC optioned and then abruptly dropped.  They eventually used a song that a friend of Aaron Spelling (the producer) had written.  Too bad.  Our tune was adorable.  It was called "She Keeps Gettin' Better All The Time."  I wrote a few clever lyrics (if I do say so myself) that I really felt captured my mother's antics through the years, and Cy gave it a terrific upbeat melody.  I ended up performing it during my show at the Feinstein's at Regency Nightclub in New York in 2000, just before I left for London to do The Witches of Eastwick.  Maybe I'll record it with Cy someday.  Who knows?  Here's a bit of it:


Here she comes, the lady fair,
Stoppin' traffic everywhere.
On the ground.  In the air.
Bless her heart, I do declare.

She's a nut, she's a case,
But everybody wants to pay to see that face.
On the town or out in space,
She keeps gettin' better all the time.

(Chorus)
She's a lady, she's a clown,
A comic with a crown.
You'll love her when she's up
Or upside down.

Amazing grace, a lusty laugh,
A lotta guys would like to change her autograph
Weird and wise she's half and half
And keeps getting better
And once you've met her
You won't forget her
She keeps getting better all the time.

 

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 3 weeks later...

I don't know if anybody else has pointed this out but there are 2 dubbed words in the premiere episode.

The bald customer looking at the pasta maker.  His word "browse" is dubbed in---from another take, I guess.  Not sure why.  Ted actually said "these bowling balls" and not "these boxes".   In the opener, Ted seems to actually have the beginnings of a character, a little nerdy and annoyed at  Mom moving in.  All of that would be gone (including his glasses) in subsequent episodes.   Mom driving him nuts might have added something to the show.   Ted, Margo, Kevin and Becky could have been any actors from any sitcom of any decade from the 70s on.  The 70s seems to be the turning point for employing sitcom actors based on their looks alone, who didn't have a strong acting or comedic backgrounds.   So many from the 50s and 60s had that great and invaluable radio sitcom experience.   I STILL say Ted and Margo should have been played by RG Brown and Ruth Buzzi!  Another idea: think of how much different the show would have been with the characters modeled after George Costanza and Elaine Benes.....and KRAMER as Leonard!  Having 4 of the 7 regular characters so BLAND puts a lot of pressure, too much, on Lucy.  (I think Donovan was fine.)

  • Like 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 hour ago, Neil said:

I don't know if anybody else has pointed this out but there are 2 dubbed words in the premiere episode.

The bald customer looking at the pasta maker.  His word "browse" is dubbed in---from another take, I guess.  Not sure why.  Ted actually said "these bowling balls" and not "these boxes".   In the opener, Ted seems to actually have the beginnings of a character, a little nerdy and annoyed at  Mom moving in.  All of that would be gone (including his glasses) in subsequent episodes.   Mom driving him nuts might have added something to the show.   Ted, Margo, Kevin and Becky could have been any actors from any sitcom of any decade from the 70s on.  The 70s seems to be the turning point for employing sitcom actors based on their looks alone, who didn't have a strong acting or comedic backgrounds.   So many from the 50s and 60s had that great and invaluable radio sitcom experience.   I STILL say Ted and Margo should have been played by RG Brown and Ruth Buzzi!  Another idea: think of how much different the show would have been with the characters modeled after George Costanza and Elaine Benes.....and KRAMER as Leonard!  Having 4 of the 7 regular characters so BLAND puts a lot of pressure, too much, on Lucy.  (I think Donovan was fine.)

Good catch on the loop lines. I re-watched "Wires Crossed" this morning - an overall decent installment, but that awful fly sound effect ruined whatever realism that scene was going for. It's moments like that which make the show feel hokey. As well, after Lucy gets out of the lounge chair all wobbly-legged, the camera captures the edge of the set, and you can even see a crew member sitting to the side (perhaps a technician who was operating the chair's movements?). I can understand incidents like that happening during the early days of I Love Lucy, but it just comes across sloppy at this point.

I love your idea of modeling the kids after George and Elaine! That would've been brilliant. There's nothing wrong with what Larry and Ann did given what they had to work with, but there were so many directions those roles could've been taken in that would've made them more interesting. Better developed characters with flaws and quirks would've given greater dimension to the home subplots. Nice isn't necessarily funny. You're right that the premiere set up Ted to be the constantly exasperated, put upon son-in-law who's always having to deal with his family's antics. That pretty much went out the window afterwards, and Larry Anderson has acknowledged it himself.

Ann Dusenberry has probably received the most criticism over the years, especially for her tendency to shout her lines, which I think is a tad unfair. She'd never done a multi-camera sitcom before and clearly received coaching that was outdated. You don't have to "play to the back row" with enhanced sound technology. What funny moments Margo did have (mostly in 2x4s) showed she had comedic potential. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

15 hours ago, Mot Morenzi said:

Here's a full-length TV spot. Pity this couldn't be found for the DVD. 

 

Great find! Still get a kick out of hearing my hearty "guffaw" (@20 second mark) at Gale's priceless delivery of "You --you--you moved a few things???!" line. (Normally kinda embarrasing but kinda fun to hear on a fave sitcom's soundtrack! ;) )

If only the episodes had been as briskly/sharply edited as this wundaful promo, the show might actually have really been something. :HALKING:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

2 hours ago, Neil said:

I don't know if anybody else has pointed this out but there are 2 dubbed words in the premiere episode.

The bald customer looking at the pasta maker.  His word "browse" is dubbed in---from another take, I guess.  Not sure why.  Ted actually said "these bowling balls" and not "these boxes".   In the opener, Ted seems to actually have the beginnings of a character, a little nerdy and annoyed at  Mom moving in.  All of that would be gone (including his glasses) in subsequent episodes.   Mom driving him nuts might have added something to the show.   Ted, Margo, Kevin and Becky could have been any actors from any sitcom of any decade from the 70s on.  The 70s seems to be the turning point for employing sitcom actors based on their looks alone, who didn't have a strong acting or comedic backgrounds.   So many from the 50s and 60s had that great and invaluable radio sitcom experience.   I STILL say Ted and Margo should have been played by RG Brown and Ruth Buzzi!  Another idea: think of how much different the show would have been with the characters modeled after George Costanza and Elaine Benes.....and KRAMER as Leonard!  Having 4 of the 7 regular characters so BLAND puts a lot of pressure, too much, on Lucy.  (I think Donovan was fine.)

...and there may have been at least one more: I distinctly remember (unless time is messing with my memory, which I admit is entirely possible given it was 30 years ago!!) that when Mrs. Barker realized she forgot to pick up her grandkids from their early release and was doing the whole putting out the cigarette bit (ironic to me to this day!), she actually said "Damn it", not "darn it" as I believe she said -- or rather, is heard to say -- in the scene. 

I find the whole "art" of looping and dubbing fascinating, interesting, impressive etc. etc. Amazing! 😉😁😘

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Cool! I show up in a couple of spots but I didn't want to brag! Guess it happens when you sound like a hyena:HALKING:

Funny of all the shows I've been to over the decades the only two I can think of that I can actually hear my sticks-out-a-bit-much laugh on the soundtrack are two "Lucy"-related shows, this first episode (and first filmed) "Life With Lucy" and "The Mary Tyler Moore Hour" which guest-starred La Ball (and where I briefly (thanks, Gary! Dumbass!) got to meet for the first and only time our Redhead right after the end of the taping at CBS Television City.  Awww, memories! 😍

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 3 weeks later...

Here's a promo for the premiere episode. This one's interesting for a few reasons:

1. We get another brief look at the deleted bedroom scene, this time a different shot of Lucy spreading her arms. There's also a sneak peek at "Guard Goose" from an alternate camera angle than what was used in the final edit.

2. Yet again, the "I Love Lucy" theme song is used as underscoring. I wonder if this prevented some promos appearing on the DVD due to additional licensing costs?

3. This illustrates why the DVD promos were so abrupt, as they were indeed paired with promos for other shows. 

 

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

2 hours ago, Luvsbway said:

Looks like Allen Thicke interviewed other shows too. I wonder why the ones he did with Lucy weren't on the DVD. From what I saw Lucy seemed very scripted in them. I like the more genuine ones on the dvd.

The "Home Magazine" segments in particular were brilliant inclusions. So glad those have been preserved.

I also loved the ET clips for their pure 80s aesthetic. The big hair, the music, the insipid questions Lucy was asked...

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Seeing the snippet of the deleted bedroom scene makes me wish they'd included it -- even if they couldn't remaster it to the quality of the full episodes -- so at least we could see them; plus, there must be others cut for time, etc. (certainly wasn't for laughs! :HALKING:)  I don't even remember her doing that sort of "twirl" move on the bed! 😲

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

Loading...
 Share

×
×
  • Create New...