Seventy years ago today, on October 15, 1951, the Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) introduced Lucy Ricardo to the world. The first of 180 half-hour episodes of “I Love Lucy” appeared on television sets across America. During its initial six-year run, the show was the nation’s most-watched. Many deem this sitcom series one of the greatest and most influential, with an ABC/People Magazine voters’ poll in 2012 declaring it “the best TV show of all time.”
The show featured former model Lucille Ball and her real-life husband, Desi Arnaz. Lucy, played by Ball, was a young housewife living in a New York City apartment with her bandleader/musician Cuban-born husband Ricky (Arnaz). Joining Ricky and Lucy in each episode were their best friends and landlords, Fred (William Frawley) and Ethel (Vivian Vance) Mertz.
The public enjoyed watching Lucy’s antics week after week as she ambitiously tried to work her way into the spotlight. But, yearning for center stage, she would often instead find herself and her castmates falling into trouble. Lucy did not have the show business acumen of her husband Ricky nor the experience of Fred and Ethel, who were former vaudevillians. Yet, the lack of understanding and necessary talents never seemed to dissuade her comical efforts to be front and center.
Lucille Ball’s physical comedy and humor have endured throughout the years. The entertainment she and the rest of the “I Love Lucy” ensemble provided continues to bring joy.
This Sunday, October 17, the Gospel lesson spotlights Zebedee’s boys seeking positions on the big stage. James and John ask to sit at the right and left hand of Jesus. Although this scene lacks any iconic humorous Lucy machinations, our Lord reassures our proper positioning. Will you join us for either our 9:15 AM or 10:30 AM worship liturgies to learn the outcome of this episode? Rest assured, it ends with Good News. Ricky will not be saying, “Lucy, you got some ‘splainin’ to do.”