I LOVE LUCY
70TH ANNIVERSARY
If the melodic tune of the I Love Lucy theme song floated through your living room at any point over the past year-and-a-half, you were not alone. Viewership of the classic comedy jumped 8% during the pandemic as people hunkered down in their homes to stay safe during the pandemic. As we head into the fall, I Love Lucy will celebrate the 70th anniversary of its debut on October 15, 1951. The show starring Lucille Ball and her real-life husband Desi Arnaz always brought laughs, but also left us with some iconic moments that have become part of our cultural lexicon. For instance, hilarious moments like Lucy and her best friend Ethel going to work in a chocolate factory; when the two of them can’t keep up with the speed of the conveyor belt, they begin shoving chocolates frantically into their mouths instead. Or the episode where Lucy pitches what she thinks is a health drink called Vitameatavegamin (try saying that ten times fast!), only it’s really a boozy drink and Lucy ends up drunk on set where shenanigans and hilarity ensue. I Love Lucy was on air for six gut-bustingly funny seasons during which it was often the most watched TV show in the country. In recognition of how well-loved I Love Lucy continues to be, in 2007 the show was added to the “Time” Magazine list of 100 Best TV Shows of All-Time. So, whether you were there at the beginning or have learned to love Lucy somewhere along the way, wishing you each a Happy National I Love Lucy Day on the unforgettable show’s 70th Anniversary.
Submitted by Mindy Taylor, Chair
