MovieChat Forums > I Love Lucy (1951) Discussion > Ricky's Contract

Ricky's Contract

posted 3 years ago by Garyandfilm (513)
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Just read a new online article which stated "Ricky's Contract", which aired December 6th, 1954, was supposed to be filmed and aired in color. CBS was going to foot the bill, which would've doubled the budget. It also would've meant repainting the sets for both the Ricardo and Mertz apartments, as the gray/purple hues needed for the striking black-and-white photography would've looked awful in front of color film cameras. Wardrobe and makeup would have also needed to be adjusted. In the end, CBS balked at the idea (thank God).

This was another in Desi's increasingly ego-driven ideas. He felt if the show didn't totally transition to color, certain episodes should be shot in color (??). He also tried to get the series to a full HOUR by season five! Fortunately, he lost that battle, as well. He did finally get his way by season seven's Lucy/Desi Comedy Hour.

As dumb as I think all this was, WHY would he pick as bland an episode as "Ricky's Contract?" It's not a bad episode, but you think he'd pick something like "California Here We Come."

In any case, I'm glad he didn't get his way. It would've been jolting and disruptive to suddenly see ILL in color - for a single episode!!

[–] steven1660 (140) 3 years ago

I read the same article recently! CBS did go ahead and film Burns and Allen in color, I think you can find it on youtube, it's not remastered, but the color was OK. I think that would have been a strange episode also. Why wouldn't they have done a California episode. The California set was a different color anyway, probably would have looked fine in color without re painting. It would have been interesting to see, but it would have been strange! I can't believe that most TV shows weren't filmed in color until 1966. It should have been years earlier. It was all politics. But I Love Lucy is gorgeous in black and white.

[–] Garyandfilm (513) 3 years ago

Can't say I agree. First, it had nothing to do with politics; it was the expense.

Everyone seems to agree that "The Andy Griffith Show" looked much better in black-and-white than color. And I'm personally grateful that "Bewitched" was in black-and -white its first two seasons.

ILL looks gorgeous in black-and-white. And, yes, the California eps would've required different art direction, as the sets here would've required different lighting and hues to be photographed correctly in black-and-white.

[–] steven1660 (140) 3 years ago

Well it was partly politics. NBC owned RCA which was one of the only companies to put out color TV sets. CBS banned all of their shows from filming in color because they didn't want to give NBC the business! Of course it was more expensive which is the other reason.

And I love Bewitched, the black and white or color episodes, it looks great in both.

And as a side note, a few years back my grandmother lived in the same retirement village as Elizabeth Montgomery's best friend, Liz Sheridan, who played Seinfeld's mother. She told me quite a few wonderful stories about Elizabeth. She seemed like a wonderful person.

[–] Garyandfilm (513) 3 years ago

Yes, NBC and RCA had a contract to push the sale of color TVs. NBC did its part by PREMIERING "Bonanza" in color in 1959!! VERY expensive, as most people still owned black-and-white television sets. The idea was that as more color sets were sold, more networks would increase color production. NBC was always ahead here. But it wasn't until 1965 that all but a few shows were in color.

ABC, always the "third" network, was the slowest. "Bewitched" was the biggest hit new show for the 1964-65 season, yet it remained in black-and-white for its second season (1965-66). ABC just didn't want to foot the bill.

[–] steven1660 (140) 3 years ago

Those networks were so cheap! haha. And I'm surprised ABC didn't want to film 'Bewitched' in color for its second season, seeing as it was a big hit.

[–] [email protected] (5497) 3 years ago

I love the first two Bewitched seasons in black-and-white even though the third season when they went to color was something I looked forward to a lot.
I still remember Elizabeth Montgomery saying, "Stay tuned for Bewitched, next, in color."
Color was still so new that they announced it. Remember The NBC peacock, "Next, in living color."

I'm glad Lucy remained in b&w. It has a certain charm all its own which would have been lost if they went to color. The only Hollywood eps that I would've liked to see in color were "Lucy Gets in Pictures" and "The Fashion Show". No surprise there! Fashion Show is one of my favorites.

[–] Garyandfilm (513) 3 years ago

I watched "Fashion Show" recently and still cannot get into it. I find it ho-hum in story and rather lean in laughs. And as much as I like old Hollywood, I couldn't give a rat's petoot about women like "Mrs. Dean Martin" or Sheila Macrae. And Lucy is just so belittling of Ethel in the Loper salon (and Ethel tolerates it - not something she'd put up with in the first three seasons, which further robs the scene of good old-fashioned Lucy/Ethel sparks).

That said, I do howl when Ricky (lightly) touches Lucy after her sunburn. Her shriek of agony is hilarious.

[–] [email protected] (5497) 3 years ago

I know that's been an episode that you never enjoyed. That's just the way it goes. I don't know why. I just like it.

Regarding other shows like The Dick van Dyke Show, for example, there are a few episodes which I cannot even sit through and I love that show. It seems like no matter how much you love a show, there will always be a few episodes that you don't like.

[–] Garyandfilm (513) 3 years ago

So true. I don't even enjoy every "Honeymooners" ep, and there are only 39 (filmed) shows. I tend to dislike the offerings that lean too heavy and long on the dumb club Ralph and Norton belong to.

As for "All in the Family", I don't watch it past season five.

[–] [email protected] (5497) 3 years ago

You mean you don't enjoy the episodes with THE Brotherhood of the RACCOONS? LOL