ENGLISH LIT 344 / COMEDY & SATIRE

Who's Who in American Comedy

After a fairly successful film career, "Lucy" was cast in My Favorite Husband, a successful radio show which CBS then asked her to move to television; however, they balked when she insisted that her real-life husband, Desi Arnaz, be cast as well. The fear was that the public would reject a 'mixed marriage.' To prove it would work the couple produced the concept as a vaudeville act and toured with it. The result was the TV show I Love Lucy which resulted in a number of groundbraking "firsts." Lucy was the first woman to head a TV production company and later as a studio head. The show itself pioneered a number of methods still used today. The show was shot 'live' and filmed as it was broadcast, with Lucy's company retaining the rights to the film, resulting in high profits from reruns. This clip is from one of the shows where Lucy is auditioning for a role as pitchwoman for "Vitameatavegamin," a vitamin supplement with a large alcohol content.