Matrixston Wow! Such a good movie.

Merolliv I really wanted to like this movie. I feel terribly cynical trashing it, and that's why I'm giving it a middling 5. Actually, I'm giving it a 5 because there were some superb performances.

Abbigail Bush what a terribly boring film. I'm sorry but this is absolutely not deserving of best picture and will be forgotten quickly. Entertaining and engaging cinema? No. Nothing performances with flat faces and mistaking silence for subtlety.

Tayyab Torres Strong acting helps the film overcome an uncertain premise and create characters that hold our attention absolutely.

earlytalkie "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".

jensnanny ITA that the first years w/Vivian Vance were the best. She & Lucy must have been off-screen friends because they worked so well together and had such great chemistry.I haven't seen the b/w episodes in many years but a local station airs the colour episodes on Sunday mornings. Basically I remember it consisted of Lucy scheming to meet various celebrities. At least in "I Love Lucy" there was an excuse for her to meet celebrities b/c Ricky was in showbiz.Plus, how did she explain her children disappearing? One season she had Chris and Jerry and the next they were gone with nary a mention. I believe the actor playing her son did one or two extra appearances in the colour years but still...I have nothing against Mary Jane Croft but she had little of the chemistry Ms.Ball had with Vivian Vance.And contrary to the above poster, Lucy wasn't a divorcée, Vivian was.Lucy was widowed.Esp. silly were episodes w/the Countess. I remember one where she, The Countess, and Mr.Mooney were trapped overnight in a house that I think the Countess wanted to buy.They had no food and were fighting over a clay apple.Also, Lucy's voice grew harsh and grating due to excessive cigarette smoking.

BumpyRide Add my opinion to the others...Vivian Vance added a great deal of class to all the "Lucy" shows. None was more evident than in "The Lucy Show" when she departed (much too soon). After Vivian left the show it was apparent that Lucy needed a sidekick and various guest stars tried to fill Vivian's shoes but none came close. Once the show was broadcast in color, Lucy doing too much (such as running Desilu) started acting with too many broad strokes thinking that whatever she did would be funny. It wasn't. Some of the later shows were actually embarrassing to watch and you realized that not only were the writer's out of ideas but Lucy should have ended this show years before.

dmorse I just caught this version of the various Lucy shows this morning, and had not realized that our UPN cable station was even carrying it, as the cable summary was of the old "I Love Lucy" show.... This was the show that premiered in the Fall of 1962, and I remember watching it so well, when I was in high school!! It is in black and white and UPN showed back to back episodes from 9:00 to 10:00 A.M; and I have to say they were probably two of the best of that incarnation of the show; the first concerned Lucy and Viv (Vivian Vance) putting in a shower, and the second concerned their trying to start a carmel corn business using a recipe of Viv's....both were just hilarious, and as they say there is nothing like the old situation comedies of the 50's and 60's...I hope UPN continues to carry it for awhile...I do agree with the others that you CANNOT beat the combination of Lucy and Vivian Vance..they are magic together; when Viv is talking on the phone conveying the recipe of the carmel corn to a friend and Lucy is trying to make a batch by herself is fannntastic!!!I am sorry to hear the DVD versions are not very good as far as transfer of film....hopefully they will redo these for future generations...