‘The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour’

‘The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour’

After the long run (1951-1957) of half hour episodes of ‘I Love Lucy’, the production team wanted to go one hour shows that aired monthly instead of weekly. As part of the setup, Ricky and Lucy moved to Connecticut in the final season of ‘Lucy’ and Fred and Ethel followed shortly after.

Desi wanted to do 10 one hour shows a year, but Comedy Hour show production costs estimated to be $340,000 per episode became only 5 shows per year in the 1957-1958, 1958-1959 seasons and only 3 in the final season (1959-1960). Part of that expense was the many guest stars the program was to feature because the old formula of Lucy and Ethel’s tricks was giving way to Lucy using the guest stars in a way she once used Ethyl. Although Vivian Vance and William Frawley were still in the regular cast, Ricky did not have as much a presence as he once did as he was more focused on running the Desilu studios and the friction with Lucile Ball. Their marriage ended in 1960.

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