Desi Arnaz explained how he and Lucille Ball created I Love Lucy
Let's not mince words: A show like I Love Lucy is the best thing since sliced bread, maybe better. The invention of that series feels like a strike of lightning, a bright spot in television history, brought to you by Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz.
During an interview with the Clovis News-Journal, Arnaz revealed the only reason the series even began to take shape was because he and his wife were looking to do a comedy that viewers of every age could enjoy.
"Lucy and I got to the idea for the show," Arnaz said. "We wanted to do a family comedy series. We tried to make the show something the entire family would enjoy."
But in order to produce a lot of laughs, Arnaz and Ball had to put in a lot of effort, acting as captains at the helm of the series.
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"It takes a lot of work to do the show," he said, "but as long as the public wants Lucy, we'll keep producing it."
While Arnaz was a businessman at heart, Ball originally pitched I Love Lucy as a way to spend more time together as a couple. The two worked together both on-screen and off.
"If I didn't like it I wouldn't be in it," said Arnaz. "Probably the toughest part of the business for Lucy and I is getting ideas for thirty-nine shows a year. But pity the scriptwriters, they have an even tougher time."
The effort, however, was well worth it to Arnaz, who considered it a joy to be able to make others laugh.
"In show business, you have a chance to create something that you hope others will enjoy," he said. "You can't just walk in and get a job or a top spot. It takes work and determination and often a lot of time. But most important you have to show people you have something."
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