(INFO FROM WWW.TVTOME.COM)
Airs Next: ABC at Saturday 8:00 PM (30 min.)
Status: Ended Premiered: September 20, 1986
Twelve years after Lucille Ball's show Here's Lucy left the air, she was coaxed back to television for a new sitcom on ABC. ABC had to promise Lucy a truckload of money, complete creative control, no pilot or testing before a preview audience, and a guaranteed time slot on the fall schedule. ABC, however was less than thrilled with the result, as was the general public.
75-year-old Lucy was still in good shape for her age, but many of the scripts were rehashes of episodes of previous series, and the whole show had a sugary-sweet Brady Bunch feel that seemed more like it should have been done in the '60s rather than the '80s. During Lucy and Gale's entrance, each would get an overblown canned applause. In traditional Lucy style, many episodes were jam-packed with physical comedy and sight gags -- Lucy even got a chance to to chase a celebrity when John Ritter came to town.
Lucy again played a widow in this series, only now she was a grandmother. Her late husband, Sam Barker, died leaving her half-ownership of M&B Hardware, which was co-owned by her son-in-law's father, Curtis McGibbon (played by long-time Lucy cohort Gale Gordon). To complicate matters, Curtis and Lucy had to move in with their children; his son, Ted, a law student; Lucy's daughter Margo; and their "two adorable grandchildren" Becky and Kevin, who rounded out the Barker/McGibbon clan. Working at the hardware store was bumbling assistant Leonard Stoner.
The theme song was sung by Eydie Gorme, and was written by Martin Silvestri, Jeremy Stone, and Joel Higgins.
After a two-month run, the show was yanked from the airwaves, though only 8 of the 13 episodes had aired. A 14th episode titled "Twas the Flight Before Christmas," was written but never filmed.
With the exception of the first episode, which was run twice on Nick-at-Nite a few years ago, none of the episodes have been broadcast since 1986. Due to the series brief exposure, Executive Producer Aaron Spelling donated every episode to Lucille Ball's museum, where they are proudly showcased. Low quality copies of the 13 episodes, organized in production order, are also circulating in fandom.
In 2002, Life with Lucy was named the 26th "Worst Show of All-Time" by TV Guide.
Many people have expressed interest in getting episodes of the show on video or DVD. Since masses of series are now getting a DVD releases, go to TV Shows on DVD (www.tvshowsondvd.com), register and vote on the show (and any other series you want to see on DVD). Support from TV fans does make a difference in getting the studios to release series on disc.
Vote for The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour, The Lucy Show, Here's Lucy, and Life with Lucy on DVD!
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sigmapi30
18 years ago
Life with Lucy - Episode List
Season 1
1. 20-Sep-1986 One Good Grandparent Deserves Another
2. 27-Sep-1986 Lucy Makes a Hit with John Ritter
3. 04-Oct-1986 Love Among the Two-by-Fours
4. 18-Oct-1986 Lucy Gets Her Wires Crossed
5. 25-Oct-1986 Lucy is a Sax Symbol
6. 01-Nov-1986 Lucy Makes Curtis Byte the Dust
7. 08-Nov-1986 Lucy, Legal Beagle
8. 15-Nov-1986 Mother of the Bride
9. UNAIRED Lucy and the Guard Goose
10. UNAIRED Lucy and Curtis Are Up a Tree
11. UNAIRED Lucy's Green Thumb
12. UNAIRED Breaking Up is Hard to Do
13. UNAIRED World's Greatest Grandma
14. UNTAPED Twas the Flight Before Christmas
Vote for The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour, The Lucy Show, Here's Lucy, and Life with Lucy on DVD!
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