The Lucy Show: The Official Sixth and Final Season

Thank you CBS/Paramount Home Entertainment for releasing the sixth and final season of "The Lucy Show." I never thought that this series would ever get a release. Now that I have all six seasons I need only season six of "Here's Lucy" (which MPI Home Video will be putting out probably before the end of 2012.) The sixth season of "The Lucy Show" has to be one of the best seasons of the series. My favorite episodes include: Lucy Meets the Berles, Lucy Gets Trapped, Lucy and the French Movie Star (Lucy getting drunk is classic), Lucy Gets Her Diploma, Lucy Gets Jack Benny's Account (Emmy Nominated for Best Writing in a Comedy Series), the two-part Carol Burnett episodes, Lucy and the Lost Star (w/Joan Crawford and Vivian Vance - a classic), Lucy and the Stolen Stole (w/Buddy Hackett), Lucy and Sid Casesar, Lucy and Viv Reminise and the final episode number 156 Lucy and the Boss of the Year. Season six was a very good year for Lucille Ball not only did the series finish #2 in the Nielsen Ratings with a whopping 27.0 rating; it also received 4 Emmy Nominations including Best Comedy, Best Writing, Best Supporting Actor In A Comedy (Gale Gordon) and a win for Lucille Ball (her 4th Emmy Award) and 4th nomination for The Lucy Show for Best Actress In A Leading Role In A Comedy Series. In total Lucy received 13 Emmy Nominations during her television years. Lucy also received a Golden Globe Nomination for best television actress. It was the highest nielsen ranking for the series and it killed the competition - The Man From U.N.C.L.E., The Rat Patrol and Rowan And Martin's Laugh-In (although Laugh-In will be a major competitor of Lucy for the next three seasons. Again, I can't thank CBS/Paramount Home Entertainment for putting such loving care in the releases of this show. The Lucy Show is pure comedy classic and now I can throw away the 30 public dromain copies I have in my closet.

Mark your calendars as on October 9th, 2012 "The Lucy Show-The Complete Sixth and Final Season" comes to DVD! Thank you CBS/Paramount Home Video for giving us "Lucy Show" fans what we have waited so desperately for: to own all the episodes to enjoy for years to come. Word also has it we will see "Here's Lucy-The Sixth and Final Season" available before year's end so look for that title too.

The final season of "The Lucy Show" (1967-1968) showed how popular Lucille Ball continued to be with her legions of fans as she won her second Emmy that year for Outstanding Performance By an Actress in a Comedy Series and the show itself was a Top 10 mainstay finishing the year at a whopping #2 making this season the sitcom's most popular. At this time Paramount bought the rights to the "Lucy Show" so instead of renegotiating for another season Lucy decided to try her hand at another sitcom for the fall of 1968 with a whole new premise and alas "Here's Lucy" was born.

The final year consisted of some of the biggest names in Hollywood gracing "The Lucy Show" including Robert Goulet, Milton Berle, Jack Benny and most astonishing the wonderful and Oscar-winning actress Joan Crawford! In one of the last episodes entitled "Lucy and the Lost Star" both Lucy and Viv's (played by the wonderful Vivian Vance who continued to guest-star on the series) car breaks down a few miles from some Hollywood mansion. They walk to the house only to discover some woman who looks very familiar to them scrubbing the stairs with the house devoid of furniture. They soon realize it is none other than Joan Crawford. The episode is hilarious, funny and Joan proved she was as good at comedy as she was at drama. The dramatics wasn't so much on the screen as it was off in that Joan, terrified of performing in front of a live audience, starting drinking. Lucy, a severe perfectionist, noticed through rehersal Joan would forget her cues and lines and Lucy started to panick. On the side of the stage Joan heard Lucy exclaim "What are we going to do? Get Gloria Swanson!". Immediately, Joan went to her dressing room, studied her lines more, put the 100 proof vodka away and went to work. That night during the taping as soon as the camera panned on Joan she became the actress everyone knew and loved. Not only did she know her lines and stage direction without missing a beat she stole every scene she was in even from Lucy herself. After the taping was a smashing success Lucy went to Joan and stated "Joan...you were fantastic! Join me and Gary (Lucy's husband) for dinner and drinks. Unknown to Lucy Joan had reserved tables at a restaurant for all the members of the cast and crew leaving Lucy out of the invitation. Joan simply remarked to Lucy's request..."Sorry, but I have other engagements for this evening" and walked away and went into her limo leaving Lucy speechless. As much as I love Lucille Ball even she couldn't get one up on Joan Crawford!

The bonuses for this final box set (that features 24 shows on 4 dics) include cast biographies, production notes and more to come.

Following is a complete list of all the episodes of season 6 along with their airdates:

1. "Lucy Meets the Berles", Sept. 11, 1967
2. "Lucy Gets Trapped", Sept. 18, 1967
3. "Lucy and the French Movie Star", Sept. 25, 1967
4. "Lucy, the Starmaker", Oct. 2, 1967
5. "Lucy Gets Her Diploma", Oct. 9, 1967
6. "Lucy and Jack Benny's Account", Oct. 16, 1967
7. "Little Old Lucy", Oct. 23, 1967
8. "Lucy and Robert Goulet", Oct. 30, 1967
9. "Lucy Gets Mooney Fired", Nov. 6, 1967
10. "Lucy's Mystery Guest", Nov. 13, 1967
11. "Lucy, the Philanthropist", Nov. 20, 1967
12. "Lucy Sues Mooney", Nov. 27, 1967
13. "Lucy and the Pool Hustler", Dec. 4, 1967
14. "Lucy and Carol Burnett-Part 1", Dec. 11, 1967
15. "Lucy and Carol Burnett-Part 2", Dec. 18, 1967
16. "Lucy and Viv Reminise", Jan. 1, 1968
17. "Lucy Gets Involved", Jan. 15, 1968
18. "Mooney's Other Wife", Jan. 22, 1968
19. "Lucy and the Stolen Stole", Jan. 29, 1968
20. "Lucy and Phil Harris", Feb. 5, 1968
21. "Lucy Helps Ken Barry", Feb. 19, 1968
22. "Lucy and the Lost Star" (with JOAN CRAWFORD), Feb. 26, 1968
23. "Lucy and Sid Caesar", March 4, 1968
24. "Lucy and the Boss of the Year"-the final episode, March 11, 1968

The end of The Lucy Show came as a shock to both CBS and audiences at the end of Season 6, as the show received the highest Nielsen ratings ever for The Lucy Show coming in at #2. CBS originally never thought The Lucy Show would make it past one season, as they thought without the magic foursome of Lucy, Desi, Vivian and Bill, that Lucy and Vivian as a pair could never replace such magical talent. CBS was stunned when audiences turned on The Lucy Show week after week for six seasons and learned that Lucy with or without any particular co-stars or guest stars had her own magic and genius that us audiences loved and couldn't get enough of. The news of Lucy ending The Lucy Show at it's peak of popularity was quite a shock to CBS. The reason Lucy ended The Lucy Show at the peak of popularity was due to one reason only. In this last 1967-1968 season, Lucy sold Desilu Productions, which owned and produced The Lucy Show to Gulf+Western Industries. Lucy was reluctant to sell Desilu, which she considered a family enterprise. However, Lucy sought advice from second husband Gary Morton, advisor Art Manella and was in Florida with Jackie Gleason, when the decision to sell was finalized. This meant for the first time ever, Lucy did not own her own television series. When Lucy no longer owned the series The Lucy Show, she ended it and decided immediately that she would create a new company- Lucille Ball Productions with Gary Morton as vice-president. She then created her new series Here's Lucy, where she would showcase her talented children as well.

For this 6th and final season, The Lucy Show was nominated for 3 Emmy's: Best Comedy, Best Actress In A Comedy Series and Best Supporting Actor In A Comedy Series. Only Lucy walked away with an Emmy again, as Best Comedy went to Get Smart and Best Supporting Actor went to Werner Klemperer from Hogan's Heroes. This Season 6 showcased an unbelievable amount of great talented stars. Starting with Milton Berle and his wife Ruth with Ruta Lee and going onto Frankie Avalon, Lew Parker (That Girl's dad), Jack Benny, Dennis Day, Robert Goulet, Jack Carter, Dick Shawn, Carol Burnett, Buddy Rogers and Richard Arlen (from Wings with Clara Bow), Vivian Vance, Jackie Coogan (Uncle Fester), Edie Adams, Buddy Hackett, Phil Harris, Ken Berry, Joan Crawford, Sid Caesar and more. Of course the usual talent of Gale Gordon and Mary Jane Croft are in almost every episode with the addition of Carole Cook, Gary Morton and Mary Wickes bringing laughter into an episode or two.

The great guest stars really made this Season 6, as Dick Shawn is in drag as a pool hustler, Milton and wife Ruth are fabulous with Ruta Lee, who Lucy thinks is a homewrecker, Jacques Bergerac as the suave frenchman (in real life was married to Ginger Rogers and Dorothy Malone), Frankie Avalon's singing is over the top, Jack Benny is always a showstopper, Dennis Day plays a 90 year old girl chaser, Robert Goulet is a truck driver who enters a Goulet look alike contest, Jack Carter plays a great money hungry lawyer, Carol Burnett and Lucy pass their stewardess flight test with the help of Buddy Rogers and Richard Arlen- the original Wings (1927 first Academy award movie about the pilots in WWI) stars, Vivian Vance and Lucy reminisce, Jackie Coogan is Lucy's Car Hop boss, Edie Adams plays a gold digger, Buddy Hackett is a crook, Phil Harris sings and plays piano, Ken Berry and Lucy's singing and dancing has to be one of the best performances ever doing Steppin Out With My Baby and Lucy's Back In Town, Daughter Lucie Arnaz is a classmate for Lucy, Sid Caesar plays a look alike forger and the star who made headlines for weeks in the movie magazines on The Lucy Show- the one and only Joan Crawford, whose Flapper dance brought back memories to her fans as Joan was THE Flapper in her first movies in Hollywood.

The third to last episode Lucy And The Lost Star was originally written for Gloria Swanson. When Gloria Swanson had health issues, it was decided to ask another big star from the flapper days Joan Crawford to replace Miss Swanson. Lucy was excited as Joan Crawford was THE BIG star when Lucy first came to Hollywood. That excitement didn't last long, when Miss Crawford came in late, couldn't remember her lines, snuck vodka into the water glasses in the cafe scenes and unbelievably couldn't remember how to do the Charleston dance- the dance she made famous all over the world in her early flapper films.

After wasting film for a week, Lucy asked Miss Crawford to stop drinking and put some effort into her performance. Of course, Joan was devastated being told what to do by Lucille Ball- a lowly B actress in Miss Crawford's opinion, and so she didn't come into work the next day. When Lucy had a staff member call her and ask her to return to work, Joan of course did not respond. Lucy personally called Miss Crawford, and although no one knows what words were said between them, Joan showed up- remembered her lines, had some lessons on the Charleston so she could do the dance, and if she did have her vodka with her, no one saw it. At the end of filming the episode, Joan told every person on the set except Lucy, I'm treating you all to dinner, as I can't believe you all go through this every week. Joan said, after the ordeal, And They Call Me A Witch (only she used witch with a B instead of a W). Lucy was so pleased Joan finally got her act together, she asked Joan if she would like to have dinner with her and Gary. Joan said NO, I HAVE OTHER PLANS, all the time Lucy had no idea that Joan was treating her entire crew to dinner to celebrate never having to work with Lucy again.

This season ends with Lucy nominating Mr. Mooney as Boss Of The Year and doing a number from The Music Man and singing Thanks For The Memories- truly fitting for a great Show with a great ending. After viewing so many great performances in this last Season 6, you feel the same way CBS and the audiences felt, shocked that it had to end at it's peak and wanting more. Of course, at the end of this final Season 6 of The Lucy Show being put on DVD, I have to give THE BIGGEST THANKS IN THE WORLD to Paramount, CBS and especially Desilutoo! (Lucie and Desi Jr.)!! Through all your hard work and efforts, you have given us Lucy fans an eternal gift of laughter as we can pop in a dvd after a stressful day in this stressful world and relive another simpler time of happiness! We are forever grateful to you all!!! Paramount always includes fantastic bonus features, so it will even be more exciting to own this final season!

One last final note, at the end of every episode of The Lucy Show, you always see in the credits that this series is based on Life Without George by Irene Kampen. When Irene Kampen had the opportunity to visit Los Angeles, she repeatedly tried to meet Miss Ball, but to no avail. She was so disappointed, that she wrote an article titled How Not To Meet Lucille Ball. It would have been nice if the two of them had met, as together they created one of my favorite television series of all time!

Here Are The Final Episodes Of The Lucy Show Season 6:
01.) 09-11-1967 LUCY MEETS THE BERLES- Lucy thinks Ruta Lee is breaking up Milton and Ruth's marriage. (Milton & Ruth Berle, Ruta Lee guest)
02.) 09-18-1967 LUCY GETS TRAPPED- Lucy calls in sick to shop at a 50% off sale, but gets caught when she makes the news being the 10 millionth customer.
03.) 09-25-1967 LUCY AND THE FRENCH MOVIE STAR- Lucy's champagne lunch doesn't help her to land an account for the bank. (Jacques Bergerac guests)
04.) 10-02-1967 LUCY AND THE STAR MAKER- Lucy helps Mr. Cheever's nephew become a singer instead of a banker (Frankie Avalon, Lew Parker guest)
05.) 10-09-1967 LUCY GETS HER DIPLOMA- Lucy goes back to school getting taunted by the young students (Lucie Arnaz guests)
06.) 10-16-1967 LUCY GET'S JACK BENNY'S ACCOUNT- It isn't easy getting Jack Benny to keep his money where it will never be stolen. (Jack Benny guests)
07.) 10-23-1967 LITTLE OLD LUCY- Lucy must dress up old to be the 90 year old bank founder's escort to the 50th Anniversary. (Dennis Day guests)
08.) 10-30-1967 LUCY AND ROBERT GOULET- Lucy convinces a truck driver to enter a Goulet look alike contest for a $5,000.00 prize. (Robert Goulet guests)
09.) 11-06-1967 LUCY GETS MOONEY FIRED- Cheevers fires Mooney over a 48 cent mistake.
10.) 11-16-1967 LUCY'S MYSTERY GUESS- Lucy's health nut Aunt Agatha comes to stay with threats of cutting people out of her will if they don't take her in, only she's not as wealthy as they think. (Mary Wickes guests)
11.) 11-20-1967 LUCY, THE PHILANTHROPIST- Mooney thinks the bum Lucy found on a park bench is really a millionaire who gives away $20,000.00.
12.) 11-27-1967 LUCY SUES MOONEY- Mary Jane sends Lucy to her lawyer when she trips on Mooney's ottoman. (Jack Carter guests)
13.)12-04-1967 LUCY AND THE POOL HUSTLER- The Ladies Pocket Billiard Tournament offers a $1,000.00 prize, only Lucy's competition may not be a lady. (Dick Shawn guests)
14.) 12-11-1967 LUCY AND CAROL BURNETT: PART 1- In stewardess school, Carol has a fear of flight to overcome. (Carol Burnett guests)
15.) 12-18-1967 LUCY AND CAROL BURNETT: PART 2- Lucy and Carol pass their flight tests and put on a show. (Carol Burnett, Buddy Rogers and Richard Arlen guest)
16.) 01-01-1968 LUCY AND VIV REMINISCE- Lucy is stuck inside after breaking her leg, when Viv comes to take care of her and they reminisce. (Vivian Vance guests)
17.) 01-15-1968 LUCY GETS INVOLVED- Lucy borrows Mr. Mooneys tv, breaks it and gets a job as a car hop to replace it. (Jackie Coogan guests)
18.) 01-22-1968 MOONEY'S OTHER WIFE- When an Atlantic City Convention Gold Digger puts the squeeze on Mooney, Lucy plays Mooney's wife to get rid of her. (Edie Adams guests)
19.) 01-29-1968 LUCY AND THE STOLEN STOLE- Mr. Mooney spends $250.00 for a fur for Mrs. Mooney. (Buddy Hackett guests)
20.) 02-05-1968 LUCY AND PHIL HARRIS- Lucy gets Phil to finish a beautiful song. (Phil Harris guests)
21.) 02-19-1968 LUCY HELPS KEN BERRY- Lucy and Ken dance and sing and Ken's athletic dancing is Fabulous! (Ken Berry guests)
22.) 02-26-1968 LUCY AND THE LOST STAR- Lucy and Viv find Joan Crawford by accident when their car breaks down and ask her to do a benefit. (Joan Crawford, Vivian Vance and Lew Parker guest)
23.) 03-04-1968 LUCY AND SID CAESAR- Sid Caesar look alike Frankie the Forger keeps stealing from the bank. (Sid Caesar guests)
24.) 03-11-1968 LUCY AND THE BOSS OF THE YEAR AWARD- Lucy praises and sings to her Boss Of The Year Mr. Mooney. (Gary Morton guests)