The success of I Love Lucy is often credited to Lucille Ball's comedic talent, but biographer Todd Purdum says Desi Arnaz was more than just "second banana" to Lucy. He also helped shape the modern sitcom. Also, TV critic David Bianculli reviews a documentary about John Lennon and Yoko Ono.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy
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This is Fresh Air. I'm Terry Gross.
Lucy, I'm home.
That's a phrase Desi Arnaz was known for in the sitcom I Love Lucy.
I love you.
That was one of his signature songs. The conga was the rhythm he helped popularize in the U.S., beating out on his conga drum as people danced to the beat of 1-2-3-Kick. Arneza's movie career didn't go far, but playing Ricky Ricardo, husband of Lucille Ball's character Lucy Ricardo, made him a star.
Just getting a major TV role was quite a feat because networks and sponsors were skeptical that a Cuban refugee with an accent would be accepted by American viewers. I Love Lucy premiered in 1951, when TV was young, and ended its run of new shows in 1957. It became the first show in TV history to reach 10 million people. For years, it was the most popular show on TV.
A lot of that is credited to Ball's comedic talent and to the work Arnaz did in front of the camera and behind the scenes... creating what became standard procedures for producing, shooting, lighting, and broadcasting TV sitcoms, and led to the possibility of reruns and syndication.
He also founded Desilu Productions, which kept expanding and for a while was the largest creator of TV content in the world. Our Miss Brooks, December Bride, The Andy Griffith Show, The Untouchables, and The Dick Van Dyke Show were among the programs produced by Desilu and or filmed in its studios.
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