I Kinda Like Lucy

lucydesi01

Twelve years ago, BBC Radio did a nice half-hour documentary telling the story of the romantic (and business) relationship of Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz. For the month of July, you can hear it at this site.

Two or three of my good friends are devout Lucy aficianados who knew her and loved her personally and professionally. This has occasionally made for awkward conversations since I was never a huge fan of the lady. I certainly respected her accomplishments but never really saw the comedic greatness that others saw.

It was not her gender. I adored Imogene Coca, Carol Burnett, Phyllis Diller, Thelma Todd, Mabel Normand, Joan Davis, Totie Fields and many others. I even liked I Love Lucy, though mostly because of Desi Arnaz, William Frawley and the writing. I think part of my problem with Lucy was that I rarely liked the character she played on-screen. I thought Lucy Ricardo — as with the later Lucies she played on her subsequent shows — was a non-adorable troublemaker who usually caused unnecessary problems for her friends and loved ones. But I'm sure mine is a (tiny) minority viewpoint.

Hey, did I ever tell the story of the one time I met Lucy? This would have been around 1978 or so. I took my friend Kristine to see another very funny woman — Lily Tomlin, who was doing her one-woman show at the Huntington Hartford Theater in Hollywood. I don't know how but I got great seats — third row on the aisle, as I recall. I was on the aisle in Seat 1, Kristine was in Seat 2…then just as the lights dimmed before the show started, two security guards escorted in Lucille Ball and her husband Gary Morton. We got up and moved out into the aisle briefly so they could get to Seats 3 and 4.

Ms. Tomlin was wonderful…truly wonderful. If you've never seen a full performance by this woman, you can't begin to understand how good she is. And that's all I think I need to say about her.

At intermission, Kristine, Mr. and Mrs. Morton and I all remained in our seats. An employee of the theater came down the aisle, leaned across us and told Lucy, "Miss Tomlin asked me to find out if it's all right with you if she introduces you in her curtain speech." Gary in Seat 3 said it would be fine and Lucy in Seat 4 scolded him a bit for answering for her. Then she told the theater employee that it would be fine and the employee departed.

I'd been looking for an opening to speak to them so I leaned over and said to Lucy and Gary, "That's not because you're a legendary star. Lily Tomlin has this custom in her shows. She introduces all the heterosexual couples in the audience."

Gary and Lucy both laughed, then Lucy glanced about at the audience and said, "That won't take long."

After the formal part of the show was over, Lily Tomlin introduced a number of celebrities in the audience, saving Rip Taylor for next-to-last and Lucy and Gary for the final and biggest bow. Lucy got a tremendous ovation and I also liked that Gary got some love.

I also recall the shocked look on the face of the man in Seat 5 who had been sitting next to Lucille Ball for the entire show and somehow not noticed. He had, however, noticed Rip Taylor a few rows back. Then again, Rip Taylor had done everything short of throwing confetti and hauling out an electronic megaphone to announce, "HEY, IT'S ME, RIP TAYLOR!!!"

Immediately upon the final curtain, the security guards were back to escort Lucy and Gary out. Kristine and I tried to get out first but the guards for some reason insisted that we stay seated even though that meant Gary and then Lucy had to climb out over us. As she stumbled over me, Lucy said, "She didn't introduce you two."