The "I Love Lucy" Book: Including a Revised, Expanded, and Updated Version of Lucy & Ricky & Fred & Ethel

THE "I LOVE LUCY" BOOK by Bart Andrews is a wonderful resource for fans of the Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz television show.It gives you an insider's view into how much effort it took to get the show off the ground and how some of the more popular episodes like "Job Switching," where Lucy and Ethel work in a candy factory, and "Lucy Does A TV Commercial," Lucy hawks Vitameatavegamin, among others, came about. The book also discusses the people behind-the-scenes like costume designer Elois Jenssen, director of photographer Karl Freund, and head writers Jess Oppenheimer (also producer), Madelyn Pugh, and Bob Carroll, Jr., and introduces the reader to other cast members who would appear throughout the show's run--including some extras. And it gives you a brief background of Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz's career and how they met, as well as the other two actors who made the series the perfect combination: William Frawley and Vivian Vance who played the Ricardo's best friends and side-kicks "Fred and Ethel Mertz."Black and white photographs of behind the scenes, award ceremonies, and episodes appear throughout the book. And if that weren't enough, Andrews includes an episode guide complete with title, cast, film and air date information, synopsis, and side-note trivia for that particular show, broken down by season, and also includes  I Love Lucy - The Complete Seasons 7-9  (the hour long shows retitled "The Lucy & Desi Comedy Hour") at the end. This is not a big deal in the present day because you can get the information on IMDb or on the  I Love Lucy: The Complete Series  DVDs, but this book was published in 1985 way before that information was available.Although the book doesn't really go into the juicy urban legends like the alleged contract clause that stated Vance was to look frumpy and unglamorous -- as to not upstage Ball -- or Arnaz's womanizing and affairs, it does talk about issues like Frawley's alcoholism and the fact that Vance couldn't stand him; costumer Jenssen being replaced after several seasons because she wanted a pay raise (by a man who was hired at the pay rate she wanted to be raised to); and it talks about the time when, during the height of "I Love Lucy" shows, Ball was outed as a communist during the McCarthy Hearings and could've brought an end to the show and Ball's career. It also discusses the animosity Ball and Arnaz had toward each other in the last season when they would only talk to each other during scenes (or they'd end up arguing), and what happened after "I Love Lucy" (touching on Ball's other TV shows  The Lucy Show: The Official First Season  and  Here's Lucy: Season One ), the Arnaz's divorce, and Ball buying out Aranz's share in Desilu Studios.Of course, if you want explicit details of what was going on in the personal lives of Ball and Arnaz you'll have to look elsewhere ( Lucy and Desi: A Home Movie  is a good place to start) because this will only give you a taste. But for an expanded knowledge of the classic and beloved television show, Andrew's book is all you'll need.

I noticed how, in our PC culture, people go to very long lengths to avoid saying anything that could be construed an insult how now we can't say; 'the good old days', or 'died'. Now it's only 'back in the day' (notice how many times you hear it on the media) and 'passed away'. That, and the past 20 years change of inflection, or 'tone' in our speech.But, I actually met this guy (author) back 'in the old days' as he was flying to Chicago from LA. He talked a lot about Lucy and said he was writing a book on her. So, I guess he did, even made it his career.That said, this book is pretty good if your a big Lucy fan. He goes all the way here in detailing the show, and some special backstage things. Recommend you get the book if you are a big fan of the show. And, it certainly passes as history now that everyone on the show has 'passed away'. Hard to believe, but the last on-air show with the I Love Lucy cast entact, was broadcast 50 years ago (April 1, 1960).

Love it

I am a HUGE I Love Lucy fan! This is an excellent book. There is so much behind the scenes information. I like to follow along with the book while watching my DVD collection. I got together with a college friend of mine to write Lucy a get well card, but she died on that same day. She is still my favorite funny lady. This is the best collection I have ever purchased (book and DVD's). I laugh out loud every time I watch it. I enjoy sharing it with my husband and daughter. Buy this book! It's well worth the money if you are as big a fan as I am.

This is THE "I Love Lucy" reference book for every Lucy lover's library. Not only does the book reveal a lot of behind-the-scenes stories of cast and crew, but it also lists a synopsis and broadcast details of every episode.Cudos to Amazon for its delivery policies. Not only did this book arrive very early, but it was delivered on a Sunday (not at my request) via USPS.

I purchased this book to read on a 14 hour flight. I started the book and it was everything I had hoped for. It had the backround of the people on the show and a great review of each episode with added behind the scenes information.Great read for any Lucy fan.

Great !!!!I just took a "I Love Lucy " class at the university and it was of great help. It reads well with a lot of back ground information.

Although written in 1985, it has almost all the relevant info. Lucy and Desi died in the next 4 years, so not too much updating was needed. Great background info, bios and very detailed episode guide. I've reread it to death. Trumps all other I love Lucy books and guides.

I bought it as USEDDescription was: The book has been read, but is in excellent condition. Pages are intact and not marred by notes or highlighting. The spine remains undamaged. From World of Books LtdThis was NOT trueSpine was completely damaged and marked. Also discoloured.Very tatty copy.Not excellent condition.Very annoyed that World Books Lied in their discriptionBook itselt not read yet.I am going through the episode guide as I watch the episodes. About 60 eps in. You can tell it was written pre DVD/VHS. As the author was writing the synopsis using memory. A large number of them are incorrect. He misremembers how episodes actually happened. Most the time it's small mistakes [like character morivation/or order/or endings]. There are very little 'notes' but they are the interesting bit as they give further info/background info on epsiodes. There is a few lines for most the first series. Not many for the 2nd series. And that is all I have read so far [60-ish eps]I'm sure the main book [I will read after watching the show] is the meat / best part.Low score is purely for the quality/condition of the copy I was sent and that is bears no relation to how it was discribed by World of Books Ltd. Don't buy off of them - they lie about condition to make a sale. I wish I bought it off another supplier.

I treated a friend to this he loved it just as much as the tv show one happy chap ! Pleased with my choice yay !

Para quienes amamos a Lucy y esta legendaria 'sitcom', madre de todas las que vinieron después y que no ha perdido un ápice de su atractivo original, sin dejar de emitirse hasta el día de hoy -en contínuas reemisiones- en las cadenas norteamericanas, este libro es la biblia. Aquí se encuentra todo lo que podríamos desear conocer de la serie, su concepción, producción y desarrollo, sus personajes y un recuento total de todos sus episodios. Un libro bien investigado y plagado de información y anécdotas. Las fotos, numerosas y fascinantes, por desgracia no se reproducen con toda la calidad deseable, sin embargo. Para los seguidores de la serie (disponible en DVD y ahora tambien empieza a estarlo en BD) un libro de cabecera. Pena que no se traduzca para beneficio de quienes no leen inglés.

子供の頃、テレビで、見ていた、番組（吹き替え）で、懐かしくて、購入しました。大変楽しく読みました。

Great book! Thank you so much.