This is How Movies Should Be Made

a film so unique, intoxicating and bizarre that it not only demands another viewing, but is also forgivable as a satirical comedy where the jokes eventually take the back seat.

This is a coming of age storyline that you've seen in one form or another for decades. It takes a truly unique voice to make yet another one worth watching.

It is encouraging that the film ends so strongly.Otherwise, it wouldn't have been a particularly memorable film

"The Lucy Show" which debuted in 1962 was Lucy's comeback series after her legendary "I Love Lucy" went off the air following her divorce from Desi Arnaz. Many felt that Lucy, by herself could not sustain the momentum from her previous hit, but, with the aid of longtime "Lucy" co-star Vivian Vance, she successfully put forth a different "take" on the Lucy character. While Lucy Ricardo was the very essence of a 1950's character, Lucy Carmichael puts her firmly in the 1960s. She and Viv tackle the problems that single women and mothers faced in the 60s (albeit relatively simple and benign ones). When Vivian Vance tired of doing the show, it took a different direction, transplanting Lucy's character from, Danfied, New York to Los Angeles. There, without Viv or her on-camera children, but still with the impeccable Gale Gordon, she managed to entertain viewers with the help of some high-powered guest stars. "The Lucy Show" would continue through the 1968 season as a ratings winner for CBS. At this time, she sold her beloved Desilu studios to Paramount and ended "The Lucy Show". But there would be six more years of the beloved "Lucy" character in her reconstituted "Here's Lucy".

I think that "The Lucy Show" should be brought to DVD and released by individual seasons. Paramount Home Video owns the rights to "The Lucy Show" and it would be great if we can have season 1 sometime in 2006. "The Lucy Show" was an excellent sitcom. It ran for six seasons on CBS-TV in the 1960's (1962-1968). It was never out of the top 10 shows during its six-season run. It was the number two show during the 1967-68 season. It earned Lucille Ball four Emmy nominations and two wins for Best Actress In A Leading Role In A Comedy Series during the 1966-67 and 1967-68 TV seasons. I will say that the first three years with Vivian Vance were the best; but the remaining three seasons were just as good. This show established Lucille Ball as the Queen of Comedy and the First Lady of Television. There were 156 episodes produced and when Lucy sold Desilu to Paramount; "The Lucy Show" went with it along with two outstanding TV specials: The Lucille Ball Comedy Hour (1964) w/Bob Hope as guest and "Lucy In London" (1966) which I think was Lucy's best TV special. (I hope that these specials eventually make it to DVD) Unfortunately, the episodes of "The Lucy Show" that are out now on DVD are bootleg copies. There are 30 episodes that are public domain and the quality of the DVDs are not that great. Two episodes are from season one, 21 episodes from season five and seven episodes from season six. I would love to see an officially authorized release of "The Lucy Show" released season by season just like the way Paramount released "I Love Lucy." I love "I Love Lucy" but fans of Lucille Ball would love to see all her shows on DVD. She was one of a kind and a great comedy actress. Till today, there is not one actress on TV or in the movies that can doe what she did on television for over 23 years. PLEASE PUT THE LUCY SHOW ON DVD!

As many others have stated, the early years of this reincarnation of "I Love Lucy" are the ones worth watching. The show mutated over the years, with the deletion of her children and Vivian Vance, and the increased presence of the annoying Gale Gordon.Recently, I rented a DVD of some "Lost Episodes" that obviously came later in the series. They are painful to watch, with Lucy basically hamming it up with guest stars. The sets are garish, and the performances grating. Mary Jane Croft simply isn't a substantial substitute for Vance. Throughout Lucille Ball's career, Croft popped up in various roles. While Vance was still in this series, Croft played one character. Then, once Vivian left, Croft suddenly became another, more prominent, supporting player.Gale Gordon, of course, acted in every single radio/TV project in which Ball was involved. However, he only guested on "I Love Lucy," strangely enough. (He WAS her first choice for Fred Mertz, however.)This show was totally transformed into "Here's Lucy" in 1968, with Vance returning sporadically. It fares a bit better than the last seasons of "Lucy Show."

I agree with the other commenters that Vivian Vance made this show. As with Andy Griffith and Don Knotts, Lucy needed Vivian to be at her funniest. They did play off each other. I was so excited when I found a 4-disc DVD box set of this show over the weekend. I was very disappointed to learn that of the 28 episodes, only 3 has Vivian Vance. The post-Vivian years leaves a little to be desired. I'm glad I found this show so I can share it with my kids. I remember being so saddened as a kid to learn of Vivian's death in the late 1970's. She was taken from this earth too soon.