The TV studio Desilu was founded in 1950 by Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz, which you can probably tell by the name. The famous performing couple initially pitched a TV adaptation of the marriage-based radio sitcom "My Favorite Husband" to the execs at CBS, but that show eventually mutated into "I Love Lucy," more explicitly sold as a vehicle for Ball. To this day, "I Love Lucy" remains one of the most popular sitcoms of all time, and every modern comedy show contains traces of its DNA. The series ran for 180 episodes over six seasons, ending its run in 1957. Lucy and Desi divorced a few years later, and Ball became the sole owner of Desilu.
Desilu oversaw a wide spectrum of shows, from sitcoms like "Our Miss Brooks" and variety shows like "Shower of Stars," but also Westerns like "The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp" and adventure programs like "Whirlybirds.
Desilu oversaw a wide spectrum of shows, from sitcoms like "Our Miss Brooks" and variety shows like "Shower of Stars," but also Westerns like "The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp" and adventure programs like "Whirlybirds.
- 8/13/2023
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
Along with rival NBC, CBS found success in radio before adding on the new medium of television in the 1940s. With the creation of ABC a few years later, the “Big Three” networks dominated the small screen for half a century before receiving competition from Fox network, cable stations and, later, streaming services. In the earliest days of TV, CBS and NBC vied for top spots in the ratings; by the mid-1950s, CBS commanded the lead with pioneering and groundbreaking programs across multiple genres — a trend that would continue for decades.
Like NBC, CBS transitioned radio programs over to television. One successful radio series they wanted to convert was “My Favorite Husband,” but the star refused to commit unless her real-life husband was allowed to be her lead. However, her husband was from Cuba, and CBS executives didn’t think Americans would believe an American woman would marry a hispanic.
Like NBC, CBS transitioned radio programs over to television. One successful radio series they wanted to convert was “My Favorite Husband,” but the star refused to commit unless her real-life husband was allowed to be her lead. However, her husband was from Cuba, and CBS executives didn’t think Americans would believe an American woman would marry a hispanic.
- 6/14/2023
- by Susan Pennington and Chris Beachum
- Gold Derby
Along with rival NBC, CBS found success in radio before adding on the new medium of television in the 1940s. With the creation of ABC a few years later, the “Big Three” networks dominated the small screen for half a century before receiving competition from Fox network, cable stations and, later, streaming services. In the earliest days of TV, CBS and NBC vied for top spots in the ratings; by the mid-1950s, CBS commanded the lead with pioneering and groundbreaking programs across multiple genres — a trend that would continue for decades.
Like NBC, CBS transitioned radio programs over to television. One successful radio series they wanted to convert was “My Favorite Husband,” but the star refused to commit unless her real-life husband was allowed to be her lead. However, her husband was from Cuba, and CBS executives didn’t think Americans would believe an American woman would marry a hispanic.
Like NBC, CBS transitioned radio programs over to television. One successful radio series they wanted to convert was “My Favorite Husband,” but the star refused to commit unless her real-life husband was allowed to be her lead. However, her husband was from Cuba, and CBS executives didn’t think Americans would believe an American woman would marry a hispanic.
- 6/13/2023
- by Susan Pennington, Chris Beachum and Misty Holland
- Gold Derby
“I Love Lucy” writers Madelyn Pugh Davis and Bob Carroll Jr. thought the seminal CBS comedy series starring Lucille Ball, her husband Desi Arnaz, William Frawley and Vivian Vance would last three months. When I chatted with the duo, who wrote 181 episodes of the classic, in 2001 for the L.A. Times, Davis recalled watching the premiere Oct. 15, 1951 at the home of series director Marc Daniels. “Emily, his wife, was the camera coordinator. She was a good cook. She had dinner and watched the show.” Ball, Davis noted, “was terribly funny and wonderful. We had hopes for the show. We hoped it would be on for 13 weeks.
How about 71 years and counting?
The series ended in 1957 never below No. 3 in the ratings. It was followed by “The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour” specials from 1957-60, “I Love Lucy” continued in reruns on CBS on primetime for two more years and ran on the...
How about 71 years and counting?
The series ended in 1957 never below No. 3 in the ratings. It was followed by “The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour” specials from 1957-60, “I Love Lucy” continued in reruns on CBS on primetime for two more years and ran on the...
- 1/5/2022
- by Susan King
- Gold Derby
Oscar winner Aaron Sorkin (“The Social Network”) deserves every award he has won in theater, television, and film, but it also means he’s often perceived as an old-school establishment player. And he’s so gifted at writing that it’s hard to remember that he’s still learning how to direct movies. Sorkin wrote “Being the Ricardos” for someone else to direct, but ended up taking the helm of this pandemic production. His third directing gig presented a real dive off the high board.
Yet again, like his second film “The Trial of the Chicago 7” (which earned six Oscar nominations and won none), he’s shaping a true story into something dramatic, without worrying about total verisimilitude. As usual, he fretted over producer Todd Black’s idea of fictionalizing the life of “I Love Lucy” married producer-stars Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz, ingesting tons of research until a...
Yet again, like his second film “The Trial of the Chicago 7” (which earned six Oscar nominations and won none), he’s shaping a true story into something dramatic, without worrying about total verisimilitude. As usual, he fretted over producer Todd Black’s idea of fictionalizing the life of “I Love Lucy” married producer-stars Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz, ingesting tons of research until a...
- 12/15/2021
- by Anne Thompson
- Thompson on Hollywood
On the 50th anniversary of the first Bond film, it may pay to reflect that the British spy was almost played by an American
Fans across the globe are celebrating James Bond's 50 years in film on Friday, as part of Global James Bond Day, but they might reflect that no matter how quintessentially British 007 is, the filmed Bond franchise nearly began with an American in the role.
Hollywood idol Cary Grant was urged to take the role by his close friend, the Bond producer Albert "Cubby" Broccoli – who had Grant as the best man at his wedding.
Grant's English birth and upbringing – he became a Us citizen in 1942 – might have helped to soften the blow of a "possible American Bond", but the deal was kiboshed by Grant, who would only commit to one film. He would also have been 58 – Roger Moore's age when he played Bond for the final time,...
Fans across the globe are celebrating James Bond's 50 years in film on Friday, as part of Global James Bond Day, but they might reflect that no matter how quintessentially British 007 is, the filmed Bond franchise nearly began with an American in the role.
Hollywood idol Cary Grant was urged to take the role by his close friend, the Bond producer Albert "Cubby" Broccoli – who had Grant as the best man at his wedding.
Grant's English birth and upbringing – he became a Us citizen in 1942 – might have helped to soften the blow of a "possible American Bond", but the deal was kiboshed by Grant, who would only commit to one film. He would also have been 58 – Roger Moore's age when he played Bond for the final time,...
- 10/5/2012
- by Amanda Holpuch
- The Guardian - Film News
Filed under: TV News
Sol Saks, the creator of 'Bewitched,' has died. He was 100.
The TV writer and playwright got his start in radio with gigs on 'Duffy's Tavern,' 'The Baby Snooks Show' and 'The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet.'
On the TV side he wrote for 'My Favorite Husband' and 'Summer Playhouse.'
The writer is said to have drawn inspiration for 'Bewitched' from the movies 'I Married a Witch' and 'Bell, Book and Candle.' Saks' 'Bewitched' ran on ABC from 1964-1972. The series is still enjoying a long life in syndication.
Besides 'Bewitched,' Saks published a book, 'The Craft of Comedy Writing' in 1985 and plays such as 'A Dream of Butterflies.' Saks also wrote Cary Grant's last film, 'Walk, Don't Run.'
According to Variety, Saks died of respiratory failure, a result of a pneumonia.
Sol Saks, the creator of 'Bewitched,' has died. He was 100.
The TV writer and playwright got his start in radio with gigs on 'Duffy's Tavern,' 'The Baby Snooks Show' and 'The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet.'
On the TV side he wrote for 'My Favorite Husband' and 'Summer Playhouse.'
The writer is said to have drawn inspiration for 'Bewitched' from the movies 'I Married a Witch' and 'Bell, Book and Candle.' Saks' 'Bewitched' ran on ABC from 1964-1972. The series is still enjoying a long life in syndication.
Besides 'Bewitched,' Saks published a book, 'The Craft of Comedy Writing' in 1985 and plays such as 'A Dream of Butterflies.' Saks also wrote Cary Grant's last film, 'Walk, Don't Run.'
According to Variety, Saks died of respiratory failure, a result of a pneumonia.
- 4/22/2011
- by Chris Harnick
- Aol TV.
Screenwriter Sol Saks, who created iconic TV show Bewitched, has died at the age of 100.
The TV producer passed away in Los Angeles on Saturday.
Saks came up with the idea of a nose-twitching witch who marries a mortal for the pilot episode of Bewitched, entitled I, Darrin, Take This Witch, Samantha.
Elizabeth Montgomery played the lead role of Samantha until the show ended in 1972, and it was later revamped into a movie starring Nicole Kidman in 2005.
Saks also wrote a series of radio comedies and TV shows including I Married Joan and My Favorite Husband.
Additionally, he wrote the screenplay for the 1966 comedy Walk Don't Run, starring Cary Grant.
The TV producer passed away in Los Angeles on Saturday.
Saks came up with the idea of a nose-twitching witch who marries a mortal for the pilot episode of Bewitched, entitled I, Darrin, Take This Witch, Samantha.
Elizabeth Montgomery played the lead role of Samantha until the show ended in 1972, and it was later revamped into a movie starring Nicole Kidman in 2005.
Saks also wrote a series of radio comedies and TV shows including I Married Joan and My Favorite Husband.
Additionally, he wrote the screenplay for the 1966 comedy Walk Don't Run, starring Cary Grant.
- 4/20/2011
- WENN
Bob Carroll Jr., a pioneering television writer who worked for three decades on many of Lucille Ball's TV shows, including every episode of I Love Lucy, has died. He was 87.
Carroll died Saturday at his Laurel Canyon home in Los Angeles. He had been suffering health reversals due to old age for the past month, Madelyn Pugh Davis, his writing partner of more than 50 years, said Monday.
With Davis, Carroll also wrote and produced Alice, which ran from 1976-85 on CBS, and won a Golden Globe. The duo also collaborated on the 1968 film Yours, Mine and Ours, starring Ball and Henry Fonda; the Desi Arnaz-produced late-'60s sitcom The Mothers-in-Law; and TV specials that starred Dinah Shore and Debbie Reynolds.
Carroll was nominated twice for Emmy Awards.
"Working with Bob was great fun because we shared the same sense of humor," Davis said. "We never got into an argument about what we were going to do. All the pictures I have of us, I'm always laughing."
Carroll and Davis were working on comedian Steve Allen's radio show in the 1940s when they learned Ball was looking for writers for her radio show, My Favorite Husband.
"They actually conned Steve Allen into writing his own show one week and took the time off to write a spec script for Lucy," longtime family friend and fellow TV writer Thomas Watson told the Associated Press.
Carroll died Saturday at his Laurel Canyon home in Los Angeles. He had been suffering health reversals due to old age for the past month, Madelyn Pugh Davis, his writing partner of more than 50 years, said Monday.
With Davis, Carroll also wrote and produced Alice, which ran from 1976-85 on CBS, and won a Golden Globe. The duo also collaborated on the 1968 film Yours, Mine and Ours, starring Ball and Henry Fonda; the Desi Arnaz-produced late-'60s sitcom The Mothers-in-Law; and TV specials that starred Dinah Shore and Debbie Reynolds.
Carroll was nominated twice for Emmy Awards.
"Working with Bob was great fun because we shared the same sense of humor," Davis said. "We never got into an argument about what we were going to do. All the pictures I have of us, I'm always laughing."
Carroll and Davis were working on comedian Steve Allen's radio show in the 1940s when they learned Ball was looking for writers for her radio show, My Favorite Husband.
"They actually conned Steve Allen into writing his own show one week and took the time off to write a spec script for Lucy," longtime family friend and fellow TV writer Thomas Watson told the Associated Press.
- 1/30/2007
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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