The other day I used a line in a comment on lilrant’s blog that seemed second nature to me. She had some splainin’ to do about something or other.
Huh? was the basic response, and so I went on to explain to my friend LR, the 24-year-old from India who of course shouldn’t have an idea about what Ricky Ricardo said to his wife Lucy in a sitcom here in the United State in the 1950s that I watched in reruns as a kid a decade later.
Nicely, she responded, oh, yeah, her uncle loved Lucille Ball.
I wondered if my own 25-year-old daughter or anybody from that generation would catch such a reference from such an old TV show.
Then last night deep down on my DVR I came across the “I Love Lucy Superstar Special” recorded a few Sundays ago when broadcast on CBS, the network that first aired the two half-hour shows in 1956, with Lucy, Ricky, Fred and Ethel first in Los Angeles and then back home hosting the original Superman, George Reeves, for Little Ricky’s birthday party.
While watching with my dear wife Karen, I took out my iPhone 6 for some shots of Lucy and Ricky because this show was colorized, and Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz looked so darn good.
Lucy … (From my flat screen)
… Ricky, (From my flat screen)
Of course, after these little encounters of ‘splainin’, sometimes poor Lucy was left to ponder just what went wrong with buddy Ethel.
Thank goodness for the Mertzes. (From my flat screen)
During this hour, I did not find one instance of that famous line to shoot on video.
So I had to settle for this lame-ish clip already out there.
Did you watch the latest Lucy and Ricky special, and what do you think about the colorization? Do you remember the original shows, and what are your favorite episodes if you do? What are your favorite older sitcoms, and why?
Mark Bialczak 
Oh, dear. If I were older, my movie star crush would have been Bill Holden, so his setting fire to Lucy’s putty nose was a highlight.
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That was pretty fiery for you, huh? 🙂
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I absolutely loved “I Love Lucy,” as did my parents and one of my brothers. My artist brother, fellow ’57 born guy, did not like how Lucy would cry. This meant he left the room at least a few times. I liked the movie, as I think you did, with Cameron Diaz, in “The Other Woman.” The episode where the character has a ‘melt down’ in an office building made my brother turn a fantastic comedy off. I could not get him to try it “a little longer.” I liked the episode where Lucy and Ethel make wine out of grapes and when they worked at the candy factory. I feel this was a great show, along with “Petticoat Junction,” “Andy of Mayberry,” and “Leave it to Beaver.” I have always liked, “Dennis the Menace” and used it to defend the modern version, “Bart,” in the show, “The Simpsons.” I also like the guests on the present show. This was FUN, Mark!
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I’m glad you liked going back with your memories, Robin. You have a great list of shows, too, my friend. Your brother missed a good one by not giving “The Other Woman” a chance.
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I can see how LR’s response showed that she was seasoned – I do not know many folks under 30 that know the show!!
I did not really know the show that well but because it was so popular while growing up – I did know the candy factory line scene and a few others. I also had the chance to watch bunch of I love Lucy’s one season – back to back – thanks to the DVR as you noted. I noticed a few things – first – the writing in the last season(s) was not as good – maybe like they were “jumping the shark” – and then second, it became annoying how they played up her stupidity and became a little too much near the end. I say that very carefully – for her comedic brilliance and for the wonderful gift of the show – but there beam that put down spirit and it almost modeled this belittling – make fun of – air head behavior that made my counselor side cringe. we also have an elderly family member who’s sometimes would pout very similar to Lucy – and I never knew it was similar to the show until I watched the show – and when I brought it up – other family members were like “yeah….” – because this particular lady – now in her 70’s – sometimes was the drama queen seriously Mark -= I know this sounds cheesy – but a few of us were talking about how that show could have impacted her – and sometimes there is a subtle modeling going on. we mention fit to her (it was more than 5 years ago) and she started thinking about it and she even said she could sort of see it – and she did watch the show a lot. anyhow, I love this extended family member and she is a great example of someone willing to grow and improve at any age. She comes from a much different generation and then her family of origin was not always about self-awareness and growth – so she was late working at that – but never too late…
and your pics of the show are real nice- esp. for those who do not know the show. and whew- some episodes are truly fantastic –
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I can see how they pushed Lucy the character’s silliness too much toward the end of the show’s run, Y, because that’s what America’s collecdtive consciousness had ran with at that point. Unfortunate, because Lucillle Ball was so much more, from what I’ve read. And that is also very illustrative how your family member forever internalized one of these non-finer behaviors. So much for these arguments now in the role model debate: “It’s only the movies. It’s only a TV show. They’re only sports stars.” Thanks for bringing these thinking points to this page, my friend. ❤
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well thanks for the reply – and isn’t it nice to live at a time where we can see reruns of some shows – 🙂
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It’s an interesting time when we can on demand see anything we want, Y. I’ll throw this at you: Do you miss the time not so long ago when America sat around their TVs at the same time each night to watch shows and then actually, in person, talked about them around the proverbial water coolers of the country the next day?
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well I like how you put that Mark – Well I do recall watching some of the Christmas cartoons or specials – and if we missed them – that was it for the year – and I recall “Hee-haw” with my grandmother – and this may sound crazy – but I never really watched TV for much of my life – and really only started watching around 2008…. anyhow, did your family have a favorite show?
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I remember watching “Star Trek” and “Man from U.N.C.L.E.” with my father, his favorites, Y. And “The Brady Bunch” with my mother and sisters!
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yes, I remember the Brady Bunch = but I recall it more just being on and then later seemed like I knew so many episodes – oh another I remember – Gilligan’s Island! and Love Boat!!!
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Yes, Y, Gilligan and the Love Boat were both on my watch list as a kid for sure. 🙂
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about 6 or 7 years ago my hubs and I were telling our boys all about certain shows – and that is how we ended up recording the I Love Lucy one. It was hard to find Love Boat – but we did get some misc. shows so they could have a feel for it. Also, we “tried” to tell them what it was like to have 3 channels.
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NBC, CBS and ABC. Down in the New York City area we lucked out with a couple indies and PBS, When I started taking Spanish in high school, I started watching the Spanish-speaking channel to learn more, Y. But boy, the choices were slim.
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oh yeah – I forgot about pbs – and funny but this post has reminded me of so many other shows – just thinking about it as i went on my day – (isn’t this another sweet perk of blogging…)
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We spur each other on to think and remember, my friend Y. That is very good.
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🙂
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Love Lucy! I also have been in her hometown Jamestown,NY. several times. My lake house is not too far away in Pa.
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You’re that close by, Nancy?! That’s a day trip.
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Yuuupp! Have you heard of Edinboro,Pa.? I grew up in that little town and went to college there as well.
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Of course I’ve heard of Edinboro, Pa., Nancy. So you went to Edinboro State. I remember the Maryland Terps playing them in some sports like women’s basketball and wrestling and gymnastics when I was in college there. We were neighbors. 😉
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Though some people love Lucy, I really DO LOVE LUCY, Mark! So, because of that love, no I didn’t watch the colorized specials. I prefer to remember them in their original black and white. And, yes, my kids know and love Lucy, too, though not as much as I. 😉
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The red hair, you have to LOVE Lucy, Rachel. You are a natural match. 🙂 No colorization? You deserve one peak. her hair matched your. Just saying.
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When I first moved out to L.A., I was in one of my diabetic phases the lupus could throw me into, so I had to buy all sugar-free. Way back then, finding SF stuff was tougher than now. The only SF chocolate store in the city was “way up” in Los Feliz–this little tiny store. I’m standing in it, and it looks familiar…
The actual store. I ask. Yup. And they were getting ready to CLOSE it–PERMANENTLY. I could see the tiny assembly line and everything. In another week or two, it would be no more. I’m glad I got to see it, but sad it went away. (I forget the company name, but it started with an A.)
Favorite old show? Golly. Dick Van Dyke?
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That is great that you got to see the actual store, Babe, but sad that somebody with some dollars didn’t have the foresight and opportunitu to purchase it and make it another Lucy museum. You know?
Dick Van Dyke is a great old show, too, my friend.
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Now that you said that, Mark, I think they said someone had bought the actual conveyor belt, so maybe there was an effort at preservation. I don’t know where it would have been headed, if so–a private home?
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Maybe to the Lucy museum right here in upstate New York, where she was born, Babe! It’s in Jamestown, near Buffalo. I’ve never been.
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They may have an online virtual tour you could check.
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i used to love this show, but didn’t see the special. i like the colorization as a novelty, but also loved the bw format. so funny, i’ve used phrases with younger people that clearly make no sense to them and then think about how they have no frame of reference for what i’ve said. my fav episodes are the chocolate factory, the summer camp cooks and the italian wine making ones. so many fun memories )
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I guess we feel young be can look otherwise, Beth. We can’t help what sticks in our head as special, and we love to share it! I like your favorite episodes, too, my dear friend. 🙂
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The show was already 30 years old when I was watching it on reruns as a kid, and now it’s (gulp!) sixty years old! Wow… I wonder how many stations still air Lucy reruns. Seems like all the good, classic TV shows from the 50’s and 60’s have been banished to late late nights on the high-numbered digital TV channels…
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It is amazing to think how old they are, and that they still hold up in humor and human behavior, Bill. I’m glad my cable gets those high numbers, you know?
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Yes, they make for nice viewing when there’s nothing else on… especially during baseball’s offseason.
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You know it.
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I absolutely adore ‘I Love Lucy’ – and will often annoy friends and family with my take on Ricky Ricardo’s funny accent. I love the specials (in color) that have lately been popping up. My sister and I began this year’s theater season by seeing a production of ‘I Love Lucy’ on stage at the Hippodrome. It was great!
I’ll always have a soft spot in my heart for Lucy and Ricky, and Fred and Ethel. 🙂
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Wow, that must have been interesting seeing others portray your favorites Ricky and Lucy and Fred and Ethel live on stage, Kate. I’m mulling over how I’d feel about it. Sort of like a remake of a favorite movie … No, better than that. 🙂
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I did watch the original shows. A fact about Fred and Ethel Merz. In real life they despised each other. “Fred” was a real monster a very cruel and abusive person and made things miserable on the set in particularly “Ethel.”
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That’s an awful fact about William Frawley, Gibberina. Freaking guy! How dare he be cruel to Vivian Vance?! Now I’m pissed.
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Sorry Mark. It is awful. You can find it on You Tube.
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OMG great post, DL!:)
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See what I was telling you about, LR? Perfect illustration, right in front of my nose on my DVR.
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Oh yes.
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I’ve seen very few episodes in my lifetime Mark, but I think my parents have a bunch on DVD. Sure was a lot of physical humour back in the day! ❤
Diana x
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There was a lot of slapstick going on in Lucy’s repertoire, Diana, for sure. 🙂
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My grandmother must have watched every episode when I was a kid, I hated it LOL
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Oh, well, Gary. Too old-fashoned for you, I guess.
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That makes me sad that you have to explain that quote, but we’ll blame it on youth and India. My grandfather was a contemporary of Desi’s and also born in Cuba, but he never used the word ‘splain. Last night on TV, a talk show guest said he looked like “Grizzly Adams” and I wondered if anyone under 40 would understand that reference (although much more recent) as well. Next, you should reference the “peanut gallery” and see who goes blank.
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Yes, my references are getting more and more dated, Kerbey. Don’t think for a second I don’t know it.
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I don’t think I’ve ever seen the actual clip until now, but I’ve known that phrase for more than half my life!
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It’s a famous saying all over our continent, Paul! We can’t avoid it. 🙂
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Loved ‘I Love Lucy’. My favorites are the chocolate factory and when she taught that fellow to box. 😀 😀
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Two great episodes there, Tess! The boxer. Hahaha!
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Can’t remember the actor’s name but he had this small voice. Didn’t she teach him to ‘dance’ to “I can’t give you anything but love, baby…”
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Yes, TEss, and I think the actor was Richard Crenna.
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Maybe. I thought it was a huskier guy, kind of baby face and a surprisingly small voice for a big guy. Anyway, doesn’t matter. They were fantastic weekly shows to look forward to. 🙂
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I love them in color and missed the show too. I must watch for them. Cute post, Mark. We are starting to show our age. 😀
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We are at that, Colleen. You look really good in color on your blog, I must say, though. 😉
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Ha Ha Mark. You crack me up! Thanks. 😀
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I forgot it was coming on. I have to look for it on demand. They look good in color.
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Find it there and watch it, Kim, because I think you’ll love the color for a added treat!
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OH MBM!!!! I love love love love love this show!!!! I was not even a thought in anyone’s world when this show first aired. But the ruruns have rerunned in my life and hope to continue. Fabulous show. I love these peeps. 🙂 I don’t know if I have a favorite ‘one’ show. I can’t think of one I didn’t like….if that helps narrow it down. 🙂
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They have a way about them, don’t they, MBC? Good neighbors like that could show up in any time period, I say!
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Great point MBM. We need a little bit of this brought back to our main stream media now. That’s what I like about the ‘good’ old fashioned sitcoms of tv. Family and neighbor/friend based. Solid stuff we can all relate to.
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Agreed. It’s what I loved about the NBC show ‘Parenthood,’ which was a project from THE Ron Howard, who lived through several of those great old shows as an actor. I shed a tear at the series finale earlier this spring, MBC.
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I never did get to see that MBM, but thank goodness for syndication and reruns. Since we “did away” with cable and have just been using the internet for our TV, when I do watch TV I don’t even look for the new stuff, I go right to the old stuff. All In THe Family is a current favorite. I think ILL may be revisited again now. 🙂
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That’s a way to watch just what you want, MBC. 🙂
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Thank you so much, Carol!
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Oh my goodness. I watched that show from the beginning to end a multitude of time.
I loved the show and the dynamic b/t the mertz’ and the Ricardo’s
Awesome post
Took me bank a long back too.
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I’m glad to help bring back a good memory, Teela. Yeah, the Ricardos and the Mertzes had it going on. If all neighbors were like that, the world would be a better place. 🙂
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Oh, come on Mark, do you even have to ask me?? The chocolate episode of course!! Yeah, the colorization is kind of cool. I’ve seen a few episodes of different shows that were colorized and it never looked quite natural but the ones you photographed look pretty good. Maybe they got it down by now.
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Of course the chocolates for you, Marissa, and Shortie and the Man, too! 😉 Yes, I think they are getting better at the colorization nowadays.
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Yeah, totally makes sense. What’s your favorite?
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I’d say my favorite old sitcoms are cartoons, ‘The Flintstones’ and ‘The Jetsons.’ Real life I’d say ‘Gilligan’s Island’ for my little kid, ‘The Brady Bunch’ for my junior high and then ‘Happy Days’ for my high school days. I can’t make a call on my favorite colorization, though. 🙂
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Oh yeah, those are some goodies. I’ll take Happy Days for sure! Do you know that I had friends in a punk rock band who did a song about Gilligan the started with the line “I wear a white hat, I wear a red shirt,” and ended with the singer screaming “I’m Gilligan, I’ll kill again,” over and over?? Well, you do now.
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Yeah, I do now, Marissa. That’s a wild one!
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So many favorites…I still laugh. But I could relate to the candy factory; worked 3 summers at a Pepperidge Farm assembly line. People forget about the other half of this episode that is equally funny…when Ricky and Fred take over the household chores. So much rice !! ☺ Van
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I forgot about that half of it, Van. You’re right. The men could not do their part!
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I watch ‘I Love Lucy” about 4-5 mornings a week. I don’t care for colorization.
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I kind of liked the colorization as a special event, Rose. I wouldn’t want it for every rerun, either.
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I preferred “Leave it to Beaver.” Not that I saw either one during their original runs, mind you.
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You are not as vintage as I, Scott, who has originals and reruns all in a blur!
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I missed the colorized bit!
I recorded 20 episodes of an I Love Lucy marathon a few years ago, because I love it, and #2 liked it quite a bit, even though she was probably only 9.
As a kid, I loved The Munsters, Leave it to Beaver, I Love Lucy, and Perry Mason 🙂 (all in syndication, but love, nonetheless!)
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Perry Mason! Right now the great theme song is running through my head. Thanks for reminding me, Joey. And it is great thatn #2 could enjoy the classic ILL with you.
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One of my very favorite lines!
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Thanks, Lisa. Me, too!
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Oh, Mark, this perked me up just now! I highly recommend a trip to the Lucy Museum in Jamestown–lots of fun, and you can record or photograph yourself on the Vitametavegemen set. Lucy and Ricky were brilliant visionaries as I learned when I visited. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have to go stomp on some grapes! 🙂
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The grape episode! Another classic from our New York state native Lucille Ball. I loved the posts at your place about her, Ermine. 🙂
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Shoot I remember when these were first run. I still watch them as reruns. I think the candy episode and the Vitametavegeman one are two of my favorites as a kid. As I got older I learned to appreciate more what they did as real folks and not just actors.
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The candy episode is another great one, reminding me of the conveyor belt of life, Benson. You were lucky to enjoy first runs, reruns and the way they conducted themselves in real life as well, my friend.
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I Love Lucy! I think I’ve seen every episode. My favorite is the Vitametavegemen. “Hello friends! Are you tried, run-down, listless? Do you poop out at parties?”
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You picked a true classic, Hollie. We can talk like that ourselves after some wine, right? 😉
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Yes I do that all the time!
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Me too, my friend. 🙂
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Blast from the past Mark.
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You know it, Paul.
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I Love Lucy! No…I mean…I as in ME, I Love Lucy and Ricky. My favorite episode is when she tells Ricky she’s pregnant during his show and he sings We’re having a baby, my baby and me. It’s just sweet. 🙂
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Yes, there is a lot of sweetness between Lucy and Ricky, Rachel, and America loved them for it! Thanks, my friend. 🙂
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Do I got to ‘splain why I like your ‘splaining so much, Mark? Also, it’s splain that your Lucy and Ricky captions are reversed. Do I got more ‘splaining to do?
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Not reversed, the captions, Ann, though they could use quotation marks, is my ‘splanation.
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