30 Little-Known Facts About America's Favorite Sitcom I Love Lucy

Each week, 1950’s families would gather around their television sets to tune into one of pop culture’s most beloved sitcoms; I Love Lucy. We’re taking a nostalgic look back to discover the little-known facts about America’s favorite television show.

Casting Condition

When CBS first approached the beautiful and talented Lucille Ball with an offer to turn her popular radio show, My Favorite Husband, into a television show, she agreed on one condition: her real-life husband, Desi Arnaz, had to be cast as her onscreen spouse. Lucille was convinced they would make a stellar comedy team, with their natural chemistry and comedic timing.

Controversial Call

Despite Desi and Lucille’s offscreen charisma, CBS was hesitant to cast Desi Arnaz as the onscreen husband. The network was concerned that viewers would take issue with Desi’s Cuban heritage, and that they wouldn’t find the ‘mixed’ marriage believable. Producers were also hesitant to cast the actor because of his thick, ‘indecipherable’ accent. The network relented, and the actors became America’s first onscreen interracial couple.

On Set Feud

Vivian Vance and William Frawley played Ethel and Fred Mertz, the best friends and landlords of Lucy and Ricky. Despite their onscreen connection, the two actors loathed each other. Frawley was 22 years older than Vance, the actress resented the age gap saying that no one would believe she was married to such an “old poop.” Frawley responded in kind, often referring to his TV wife as “that old sack of doorknobs.” Needless to say, the relationship never quite recovered.

A Short Order

In most of his official biographies, Arnaz listed his height as 5’11 but in reality, the actor and musician was 5’9. Lucille stood at 5’7 in her stocking feet but appeared to tower over husband when she wore a pair of heels. Desi, with his fierce Latin American pride, insisted that he should appear taller than his wife, and so, the actor wore lifts in his shoes. His place on the family loveseat was also elevated with a plump cushion so that Desi would even appear taller than Lucy, while seated.