MGS 4/11: Lucille Ball Watching "I Love Lucy"

[pupyup12]

her voice is so different from i love lucy voice 

[TheClam88]

@pupyup12 smoking

[bestdealdoors]

wow that was great!



[gcharlottefan1]

handsome william holden :))

[paulyvi]

OMG i cant stop laffin!

[whewfan]

Oh no, I'm a big Lucy fan, I just thought it was interesting to point out that Lucy tried to make it sound like Holden lit her putty nose by mistake. If you look at the book "Laughs, Luck and Lucy", there's a picture of Lucy getting the nose placed on her face, with a thin candle wick at the end of it. Lucy WAS concerned however that the flame would burn through to her real nose so she blew it out as quick as she could.

[whewfan]

Lucy tried to create an urban legend by saying in one interview that the nose wasn't supposed to catch fire. However, some pictures surfaced of make up artists fitting a candle wick at the end of the false nose. However, one thing that Lucy DID do that wasn't in the script was to dip her false nose into a coffee cup. She was supposed to take it off but she left it on. She said she was worried the flame would burn through to her REAL nose and wanted to put it out ASAP.

[ILUVLUCYDESI]

@whewfan mmm sounds like ur not a fan

[laggie24]

I am aware it sounds so flat... but yet ... from the bottom of my heart I LOVE LUCY!!!

She meant so much for me in my girlish years.

Ahhhhhh ... when seeiing her I wish I was born earlier and somewhere close to her to give her a BIG HUG... she sure fulfilled my time when I was in my loneliness.

@Richii2 ...Thank you so much for uploading my love ... I could have taken her as my sister with such a pleasure :)))

[fran9860]

MERV GRIFFIN WAS A CLOSETED HOMOSEXUAL! HE USED TO HANG OUT WITH ZSA ZSA GABOR AS A COVER. PROBABLY A POWER BOTTOM!

[JubalCalif]

@fran9860

Even if that's true, what in the world does that have to do with his interview with Lucille Ball ???

[skudaarkaat1]

@13WitchWay And she'll always have some 'splainin' to do!

[LovinxoxoLife]

I laughed so hard!!! Oh my gosh!!! :( I Miss Lucy! I LOVE YOU LUCY!!!!

[ShockDoc]

Regarding her voice, Id bet it had more to do with smoking than screaming in a car..

[BonVoyageKitty]

Great to see Lucy on Merv Griffin show - and the clip from I Love Lucy was fab. Thanks for posting.

[blancface]

one of my fav. episodes

[ChandlerandMonica83]

Agree with Muffy. :(

Hehe I love this video so much, Lucy and Desi should have been buried next to each other. They were always meant to be!

[xanadu77]

A true legend...I've seen this episode a thousand times and I still crack up seeing it again...Lucy was amazing, a real comedic genius........as was Desi. May they both rest in piece as there artistry continues to entertain millions.....

[57babyboomer]

Classic!!!

[FireYourJOB]

Mitt Will be the Next PresiDent of the U S A.......

[endora721]

hmm i wonder if william asher produced this episode? see 3:18 all bewitched fans will understand what i'm saying. But other than that i love lucy she was so amazing at being a clown!

[gordondelma]

She was a comedic genius!

[4MaryAnna]

yes indeedy!

[MrTomleeds]

LOve this eposide

[zebrakiss100]

i would have love to meet her

[sddweller]

Hmmm, she acted suprised that they were showing this clip yet she seemed to know exactly which scene (there were a couple good ones) of this episode with Bill that they were going to show.

[yankeepunk3000]

I think she wouldnt forget her best show ever written

[michaeljester]

yeah, but that one scene is the best one of the episode....one of my favorites :)

[sddweller]

Seems as if Merv is a bit intimidated by her.  I'm sure she had a very powerful presence.

[hardrein101]

lucy was the head of one of th biggest studio in hollywood for many years so she established alot of confidence early on and intimidated alot of people...moreover, they never spoke about her wealth but she and desi amassed a worth of over $300 million dollars which at that time was a fortune.

[yankeepunk3000]

holy fuck I didnt know that

[jess7faith]

Lucy was a star in every sense of the word and I bet she stared at desi the whole time during that clip they had true love.

[PopCulture1980]

I love Lucille Ball!

[LisaMajor827]

As funny as Lucy is, I love the expressions on Desi's face in this scene. Hilarious!

[mytubejm]

I love lucy!

[78Godsgirl]

This is one of my favorie I love lucy episodes!

[vidayverdad2]

Comment cont'd (7th part): Lucy was known to endlessly rehearse her shows. That was a bad in those episodes that involved screaming, because it meant she's spend hours rehearsing the screaming. There's an episode of "Here's Lucy" called "Lucy's Safari" that had a screaming scene. She rehearsed this screaming scene so much that by the end of the week when the episode was filmed, her voice was completely hoarse throughout the episode.

[Tiffanynicolina]

does anyone know why Lucys voice got so deep as she aged? the differnce in her voice is astounding

[vidayverdad2]

That's actually a complicated question because a lot of things changed her voice. First, note that her voice on "I Love Lucy" was NOT her natural speaking voice. She spoke in an unnaturally high pitch to play Lucy Ricardo. To hear how the real Lucille Ball sounded in 1954, search "What's My Line" (w/ guest Lucille Ball, Deborah Kerr) 3/3, then skip to about 4:37. As for what changed her voice, I'll have to continue with that explanation in subsequent comments.

[vidayverdad2]

Comment cont'd: Years before "I Love Lucy" she did have a high voice, but as csi3willows and OohcoolProductions explain below, in the early '40s performed vocal chord-damaging exercises to intentionally lower it. But when "I Love Lucy" came along, she decided the character should have a more girlish voice, so she spoke in an unnaturally high pitch. Ironically, the long-term effect of speaking in a high pitch is vocal chord damage that further damages the voice.

[vidayverdad2]

Comment cont'd (3rd part): Keep in mind, she not only spoke in the high pitch while filming "I Love Lucy" but also all week long during rehearsals. So she was further damaging her voice all those years on "I Love Lucy." Besides that, the vocal projection required to perform to the back rows of her studio audience also is damaging to the voice, and she compounded it by projecting and speaking in a high pitch at the same time.

[vidayverdad2]

Comment cont'd (4th part): Lucy's "Wildcat" co-star, Keith Andes, claimed Lucy damaged her voice in that show because she did not use the proper singing techniques required of singers who perform before an audience. Search "I've Got A Secret with Johnny Carson & Lucille Ball (3 of 3)" which is a clip from the time she was on Broadway in that show and you can tell she's worn out her voice. This is in stark contrast to how her voice sounded just months earlier on the last Lucy-Desi Hour.

[warriorkoala]

I'm reading a book about her and I saw they were talking about "Wildcat" a lot. Wow, you know a lot about her!

[vidayverdad2]

Comment cont'd (5th part): People who talk incessantly cause damage to their vocal chords. If you don't believe it, compare Hillary Clinton today to the way she sounded prior to her first political campaign in 2000. During most of her years on "The Lucy Show," Lucy was running Desilu, performing on her show, and basically running and directing it as well. I have no doubt she was talking constantly.

[vidayverdad2]

Comment con'td (6th part): It's noteworthy that in early episodes of her show each season her voice sounded rested and okay. But after a few episodes, it would become hoarse, apparently from the non-stop talking and projection. Search "MGS 11/11: Lucille Ball Emmy Win for Lucy Show" and listen to her Emmy acceptance speech. This is from April 1967, several months after her show went on hiatus and her voice was well rested. It's in stark contrast to her hoarse voice on her show months earlier.

[vidayverdad2]

Comment cont'd (8th part): In addition to all the things I've written in the previous seven comments, she also smoked and was known to enjoy scotch. (Please note: family and friends say she liked the taste of scotch, but was not an alcoholic because, as one family member put it, she was too much of a control freak to let alcohol control her). Smoking and alcohol dry out the lubricant in the vocal chords and cause damage. Bottom line: everything known to damage the vocal chords, Lucy did it.

[warriorkoala]

I think the most was the chain smoking.

[iluvbookz]

She smoked and cigarettes can do that.

[midtownjohn]

So funny. Desi was a great sidekick as well. This is timeless comedy.

[OohcoolProductions]

Lol whenever I eat spaghetti alone, I sometimes re-enact the spaghetti part of this episode :P

[calalilygirl]

That's great!

[prckay]

if lucille ball did not have a heart attack

she would be 92 this year

[colaianne]

She would actually be 98...she was born on aug, 6, 1911

[laurac555]

Whole generations of people have grown up watching Lucy.

I love her!!

[justholli]

This is what real acting is.

[VLNevada]

4:26 to 4:31 Bill's and Ricky's expressions are priceless.

[kay2be2]

It's so cool to see lucille ball watching an I love Lucy clip

[ccpekingese]

I Love Lucy wasn't just a title! as Desi said, but Lucy, i love u, we all do, gosh her voice, so, deep, so low, she changed from i love lucy to then, i think she even HAD to talk in a high voice. but lucy, i love u! everyone does! we miss u!

[prckay]

what happend to her voice after i love lucy ended and she started in her next series her voice was deeper

[Born2bRedeemed]

All those years of smoking

[RandaMoody]

her voice is naturally lower. she changed it to a higher voice to play Lucy Ricardo, but this is how she speaks normally.

[laron214]

i thought so, but you now i think those cigarettes had a bad effiect on her voice too.

[csi3willows]

she actually used to have a really high squeky voice but when she moved to Hollywood I think it was Katharine Hepburn who told Lucy she needed to lower the pitch of her voice and Kate told Lucy she could do so by screaming at the top of her lungs and she did, plus smoking

[OohcoolProductions]

That's true. In "A Book" by Desi Arnaz, he said that when he and her first started dating, they were driving somewhere and she suddenly started screaming and it scared the crap out of Desi and she had to explain to him what the heck she was doing lol.

[julieandrews9]

@OohcoolProductions what was she screaming about? LOL

[OohcoolProductions]

@julieandrews9 She was told that if she screamed while driving with the windows down, the wind would go at her throat and deepen her voice. Apparently she had a very light and bubbly voice before she did that.

[julieandrews9]

@OohcoolProductions desi told her that?

[OohcoolProductions]

@julieandrews9 No, Desi didn't. Another actress did. I can't think which one. But she was driving with Desi one day shortly after they first met, and she started doing that, and it about gave him a heartattack when she did. She had to explain and he laughed and said, "Ok, you do the screaming. I'll do the driving."

[julieandrews9]

@OohcoolProductions curiousty kills the cat....what was she screaming about though? and desi's reply is funny...haha

[OohcoolProductions]

@julieandrews9 She was screaming b/c another actress told her it would make her voice deeper. Apparently, she had a very light and airy voice, almost like the voice she used for Lucy Ricardo's "But Rickkyyyyy" voices, but lighter. So, this actress informed her that if she screamed while wind rushed down her throat as she drove, it would make it deeper. So she tried it :P

[julieandrews9]

@OohcoolProductions oh! i see now. thanks oohcolproductions

[rachelazw]

@OohcoolProductions , I think it was Katharine Hepburn to told her her voice was too high, but I'm not sure who gave her idea to do that screaming thing in the car to lower it.

[Jerrysharo]

I love this video, Lucy could always make me laugh. Well Thank-you You Tube

[oldedrum]

Ricky's expressions are hilarious!

[calalilygirl]

Desi really was a superb actor in his own right with great timing----essential to a good actor.

[oldedrum]

Right you are!...I agree.

[frieda406]

an absolutely classic episode. and while desi may not have been an A lister as an actor, he was a brilliant innovator in television.

[inkey2]

Trivia: Did you know Lucille Ball was in a Three stooges episode??? yes!!! It was called :three little pig skins". Her hair was dyed blond. It was probably from the late 1930s.

[RememberingLucy]

"Three Little Pigskins" was from 1934. Someone has uploaded a clip on Youtube.

[inkey2]

Desi Arnez was not a great actor but I always enjoyed watching "Ricky's reactions" to the crazy things Lucy did. His facial reactions were really funny. He was the perfect "straight man" for lucy

[Muffy2314]

Desi was a great actor with great timing, but underrated.

[Cathie8791]

Regarding the so-called reunion show that never took place, I don't see how it ever could have. Even if Desi hadn't gotten cancer, I'm not sure anyone wanted to see Lucy and Desi appear as Lucy and Ricky Ricardo 35 years later. It would have been startling at best and ridiculous at worst. Not only did neither one of them age very well, you'd also have the sad spectre of their real life divorce, not to mention the fact that these two characters were really meant to stay eternally youthful.

[summertime11111]

I know you're right, but I would still have liked to see it. They could have worked their aging into a theme, and with a good script, who knows? People want to see Lucy and Desi together no matter the time or circumstances. Guess I'm no exception. Still, I know you're right, but I would have loved to have seen it all the same!

[JustinSosa]

It's amazing that Lucy is setting up the scene from I Love Lucy! Every episode of this show is burned in every person's brain around the world!...it's common knowledge and it's like knowing the words to the song....."Happy Birthday"....it's so natural. What a legend, Lucille Ball.

[stevedalepetworld]

To my knowledge, never that close to a reunion special. At least Lucy insisted that was so in conversations I had with her. She'd tear up - comment without Viv, and Bill she'd never....and for some time Desi's health was too questionable - never really close to happening. What was close - when Lucy was honored at Kennedy Center, Desi was to introduce her. He passed just before then. Robert Stack did it.

[Ilovelucyclassics]

No Matter what I love Lucy shes amazing and funny and original

[26mae1987]

yes your right she's the best i love lucy x

[Angelabethany]

I wonder why Lucille Balls voice changed so much when she got older it is so deep here maybe it was because she was a smoker.

[rachelazw]

It was because she was a smoker in part. But more than that, she did major damage her voice in her TV performances. First of all, that Lucy Ricardo voice was fake. Her natural speaking voice at that time was not that high, but she forced her voice much higher than natural, all the while projecting to an audience. And no doubt, she used that voice all week in rehearsals. That practice is very bad for the vocal chords. Colleagues also claim she used bad technique when she sang, like in Wildcat.

[yippy010]

omg if i cud just meet her i wud fante she is such an ispiration omg im getin gitty just her she is amazinly beautiful

[apekkapoika]

Why did Lucy acting so surprized about showing the clip when she went right into setting it up! I Love Lucy, though!!!

[coffield26]

Vivian Vance was amazing.

[SHRINA17]

That's why Merv Griffin, Johnny Carson--shows of that caliber were so great---the guests were allowed to stay on so long and imagine showing a clip that long on tv today? Never..but then again...there isn't much stuff around today that I would want to watch that long on a talk show....I LOVE LUCY. What a great show...still one of my favorites : )

[carlmays]

my favorite

[Amystika67]

That episode is my absolute favourite out of the ones where they first arrive into Hollywood.

[luvlyladeerm]

I've seen that episode like 45 million times

[CascadaandYunaRocks]

no one wants to hear that lol thats why the rated this comment down. Everybody loves lucy

[SHCkeyboardist]

ok simply because i said "SHE IS SO OLD" doesn't mean i was sayin' it in a bad way it's just i've never seen a piece of footage with her at that age learn to read the rest of the comment

[CascadaandYunaRocks]

well yea but everyone doesnt like it cuz everyone loves lucy and they see it as an insult i guess lol

[SHCkeyboardist]

w.e

[brianasap]

I still love lucy - timeless.

[cgs8806]

i love lucy is still running on tv land everyday at various times

[annidez]

That understated look of disgust and horror on Holden's face when her nose is pinched super long just slays me. Lucy is irreplaceable!

[JohnnyCashIsGod]

what a man

[Richii2]

tlf243, you wrote the following message: "Nice video Richii2, thank you, and also for the info. about a reunion show, I didn't know that. Too bad it didn't happen." I accidentally deleted your comment, so I'm posting it here. Regarding the reunion show, CBS was interested in the idea, but Lucy claimed at the time it got nixed because CBS insisted on killing off the Mertzes (since Viv & Bill had passed on). I think Lucy was just covering for the real reason -- Desi's cancer -- to protect him.

[april20051]

Omg I laugh  so hard when her nose when on fire so funny I love lucy she the best of the comedy

[allieree]

Now that was funny! As a kid, I loved Lucy and Desi. When they traveled to California and to Europe, I mentally went with them. After 50+ years, this series is still one of the funniest ever made.

[rtususian]

After The Lucy Desi Hour ended in 1960 and they divorced in '60, it was very very unusual to have Lucille Ball and clips of I Love Lucy with Desi Arnaz Sr. on together, at the same time. Notice how she never had a Tv husband after I Love Lucy?

[Richii2]

She said she never had another TV husband (or regular boyfriend) because she didn't think audiences would accept her with anyone but Desi. Even when her later TV characters had dates, there were never any romantic kissing scenes. In 1985, Lucy and Desi came close to reviving their characters in an I Love Lucy reunion special, but Desi became ill with cancer. After Vivian Vance left her show, Lucy avoided having anyone on the show playing a similar character, saying "nobody can replace Vivian."

[rtususian]

Dick Martin kind of played her boyfriend during the first season of the Lucy Show (1962), but he disappeared when the 2nd season started. She occasionally had dates but that was about it. I really would have liked her to get back into domestic situations in later Lucy Shows and Here's Lucy, but I applaud her original writers, Bob Carroll Jr. and Madelyn Pugh, who retruned in 1970 on Here's Lucy and de-emphasized Harry yelling at her. They seemed to get along much better in these later HL's.

[Richii2]

You're right, Dick Martin "kind of played her boyfriend." They never made it clear exactly what their relationship was, and they were never shown kissing or being affectionate with one another. And that was the closest her TV character ever had to being involved in a relationship after "I Love Lucy."

[rtususian]

Lucy looks really good in this appearance in 1973 (I have this show on DVD too), her face doesn't really look "old"....she kind of almost has her "Lucy Ricardo face".

[zimmervan0088]

Lucy did however have a similar character

to the one Vivian Vance played

in her TV shows by the name of "Mary Jane."

It wasn't the same though--Vivian Vance

was one of a kind also.

[jackboxx]

Oh boy, I don't think I've ever laughed so much for so long. Never seen that clip. Thar is Lucille Ball at her best. What a gal!