What's My Line? - Desi Arnaz (Nov 9, 1952)

[@osvaldonoda4368]

My father met Desi in the Midwest while he was vacationing here in the US from Cuba. This was pre “ I love Lucy “ in 1949. He invited him to his trailer and the two of them shared a bottle of rum. Per my father, Desi was unpretentious, friendly and down to earth. This was after Desi had performed and was late into the night. A great evening

[@Zorro9129]

My father worked as a beer distributor and had the chance of meeting Andy Griffith in the 70's. They played cards and had some beers with Andy's friends, and similarly Andy was described as a "great guy." It's awesome to hear a similar story!

[@dh3279]

Love to hear when celebrities are relatable.

[@brookehanley3659]

Desi to me always seemed that way and very nice.

[@saran3214]

Lucy and Desi went into a restaurant after their show was on for a few weeks. The people eating there applauded them. The two of them looked behind them to see who had come in, not realizing it was they the people were clapping for. Their humbleness was one reason the show succeeded. They really worked on it and never took the audience for granted.

[@sstavsky]

Actually, the story that I heard is that they had gone into a theater for a show shortly after their show had gone on the air, people applauded, and they looked around only to find that they were being applauded. (I guess it's possible that both these things happened.)

[@saran3214]

@@sstavsky This was a story Lucy herself said happened. But I think the same thing happened at a theatre too. It's just a sweet story.

[@scotwirth6228]

I love the glee with which John Daly gives the panel a "no" answer.

[@MichaelJMetz]

I was thinking the same thing.

[@Rayn215]

I was born in the mid-50s. And looking back I'd rather have been born then than now it was a different world but to me was much better back then.

[@shuroom57]

Me, too! I don't mind being old if it means I was born in 1957, grew up in the '60's and '70's, and lived through all the experiences I had then. I can't relate to this modern day attempt to turn us all into cyborgs.

[@princeharming8963]

John Daley always seemed like such good sport when trying to get the contestants the most prize money possible.

[@erenunal]

It really came across that they were less interested in winning than in playing the game.

[@kg4wwn]

@@erenunal It wasn't commonly know, but contestants all got a $500 appearance fee on top of any prize money, to the $50 prize wasn't that huge of a difference.

[@mrcoiganable2988]

@@kg4wwn Thats not true though is it, you literally just made that up.

[@January.]

*such a good sport

[@lemorab1]

@@mrcoiganable2988Yes, it is true!

[@jadezee6316]

Desi arnaz..had a joy for life which made him very attractive....its actually a rare gift,,,,,

[@michaelgasiciel9317]

Dorothy Kilgallen was incredible. So insightful.❤️😢

[@mrcoiganable2988]

meh, stuck up busy body, cant stand the woman. Selfishness was oozing out of her in her years.

[@evalynlopez4698]

Loved her!! My Favorite 🌳. 💘 love 💘 ❤ 💕

[@JefferyBogue]

Yep until she crossed the deep state And a woman who never had taken drugs had overdosed very sad

[@yvonnerocchio8445]

What's My Line was innovative & had a regular following....so glad we can enjoy this delightful TV again....

[@yeahnoonecaresifyouarefirst]

Better than today's trash

[@Etnalleb]

Arlene Man, you just couldn't fool her. She was amazing and to pass on with Alzheimer's is tragic.

[@vivavoice7211]

Arlene lived the longest. Indeed so sad she lost her cognitive functioning.

[@stephaniemccoy9602]

You don't know how much I laughed when Desi said "righto" and then right after that "right". Arlene did not pick up on that which is unusual for her.

[@ToddSF]

That was actually not only funny -- I, too, laughed out loud -- but brilliant. At that point, his natural Cuban accent was the last thing the panel would have considered.

[@jonnychingas5757]

These people seem to be having so much fun. It must have been a fun show to do.

[@frenchjr25]

Watching this in 2020 and wondering what they'd all say if 1) they knew this is still being watched and 2) that 'I Love Lucy' still makes CBS tens of millions of dollars a year.

[@LarsRyeJeppesen]

Once again, Arlene amazes with her sharp mind

[@donnacook8994]

Desi was very funny....oui oui.....😂 Oh how I love these shows! Thank you for airing this! 👏🥰👏🥰👏

[@soulierinvestments]

Most celebrities are happy to be good in one area. Desi was a landmark in the history of Latin music. He helped develop the American TV sitcom format and was executive producer of the biggest sitcom of the 1950s. And he and his wife founded what eventually become the biggest Hollywood production company, so his producer skills went into variety and drama as well. Three landmarks marked "Desi."

[@WhatsMyLine]

soulierinvestments He was somewhat underappreciated by the public because he was willing to let Lucy take the spotlight. His production skills are evident when you see the drastic change in tone in Lucy's material after he stopped producing her shows (after the first season of "The Lucy Show").

[@soulierinvestments]

It's no exaggeration to describe the first season of "The Lucy Show" as the tenth season of "I Love Lucy." and pretty much the same writing teams from start to finish.

[@jvcomedy]

He's a young guy too. Only 35 years old when this show was made.

[@ToddSF]

It was sad, actually, that Lucy and Desi's marriage had to end, due to his alcoholism and his philandering. Later on, Desi wrote a book and freely admitted the mistakes he'd made. Really too bad, because they two of them were hilarious together. Desi was really smart -- Lucy always said so, even after their divorce. He came with the technique of filming _I Love Lucy_ with three cameras running simultaneously from three different viewpoints in the studio, with a live audience present for the filming. They then edited the three different films for the best angle for each scene, cutting and splicing to produce the episode, and they could distribute copies of the film to each region of their TV network, so the film could be played on the same night at the appointed time for each time zone. No more live broadcasts at 10:30 on the east coast to be watched at 7:30 on the west coast, or a live broadcast on the east coast, with kinescopes being sent to the Mountain and Pacific time zones for airing on a different night later on. It worked so well, Desi's new method became the standard way to produced sitcoms in the U.S. As you've mentioned, Desi and Lucy founded Desilu, which became a huge success at producing TV dramas and comedies, including the original _Star Trek_. Lucy ran the studio herself after the divorce and she was no slouch in that capacity. (Eventually Desilu was bought by Paramount and the name Desilu disappeared.) Of course, before any of the TV work, he appeared with Lucy on a radio sitcom called _My Favorite Husband_. At first, her producers wanted Lucy to work with someone else, because they didn't think the American audience would accept her Cuban husband and his foreign accent, but she insisted. They used his accent for comedic purposes and audiences loved them together. I have to say that even as a teen, I never thought _The Lucy Show_ was even half as funny as _I Love Lucy_. As you say, before radio and TV, Desi was a success as a band leader, popularizing Latin big band music in the U.S., and audiences loved that, too, in no small part because he was handsome and personable. Even as a kid when I used to watch _I Love Lucy_ in syndication on weekday mornings during summer vacations from school, I totally liked Lucy and Desi together. I remember an episode of _What's My Line?_ (probably the syndicated version from the late 1960's and early 70's) where Desi was a guest panelist and showed just how smart he was with incisive questions that made a very effective logical progression. I remember seeing that over 40 years ago and thinking, "That man is really smart!" I also remember seeing on TV the 1953 comedy film _The Long Long Trailer_, starring Lucy and Desi -- actually quite funny.

[@MrThesper]

Desi wasn't in the radio show My Favorite Husband.

[@HigherPowerWorldWide]

Desi Arnaz did a great job. I am sure he enjoyed his visit.

[@juanettebutts9782]

The Edna Gladney Home in Fort Worth, Texas, became the Gladney Center for Adoption. Edna dedicated her life to the welfare of children and their mothers. She initiated/changed laws to benefit children. An incredible woman! The movie "Blossoms in the Dust" was about her. Greer Carson won the Academy Award for her role (if I recall). Thank you, Mr. Block, for supporting the Edna Gladney Foundation!!

[@yeahnoonecaresifyouarefirst]

Garson* I loved him too

[@energyasylum997]

Desi was a handsome dude! He was probably slaying them ladies left and right! Rip D.A🙏🏼

[@JonBlondell]

This show always had class.

[@TimelordR]

What a shame that Game Show Network doesn't show classic episodes of game shows form the 50's 60's on late nights anymore.

[@euniceluna8534]

It reminds me of my mom’s dresses.

[@terencedove5047]

Are you saying that GSN doesn't show 50s/70s game shows right now? Hmmm... But at least a lot of them are seen on KZbin...like WML...

[@paulbradley5842]

I can’t get enough of this show. I love it.

[@stanmaxkolbe]

A lot of people don't know well we Star Trek fans do. It was Desilu Productions that saved Star Trek.

[@CAP198462]

🖖

[@tejaswoman]

Specifically Lucy!

[@latsnojokelee6434]

She also was instrumental in revamping Mannix, so they could keep it on the Air by focusing only on him, and not that ensemble detective group they had.

[@bgdavenport]

In five more days, I will have been born. I have to catch these shows on KZbin. By the time I was old enough to stay up late on a Sunday nite, the show was in its last season.

[@michaelgasiciel9317]

I’m 62 and didn’t get to see this show in its original format till I was10,11... A great history lesson.

[@Concetta20]

I'm surprised that Ms. Diamond didn't get whistles, she's pretty enough in looks and dress to be a movie star. I love that she's a marine.

[@greenapplelane]

+Anna Ferrara agreed. She is very lovely. Maybe we are judging her looks by today's standards? I too don't understand why there were no whistles.

[@henrywyche]

Barbi is cute too!

[@bookwoman53]

Anna Ferrara A few years ago one of the Miss Americas was an officer in the U.S. Army.

[@chuckendweiss4849]

Anna Ferrara Semper Fi

[@bbncc8170]

I think that the whistling stopped altogether a few episode earlier, and maybe whistling is not a compliment to some!

[@mzapa]

John was having a lot of fun with Desi. What a joy to watch

[@savethetpc6406]

What a great episode! I was sure that I'd seen it before, but so much of it seemed new to me. I guess that's partially because it may be over a year since I first watched it, but anyway, it was a lot of fun! Desi was terrific -- his "Right-o" just cracked me up!

[@grimaceispurple]

Coincidentally watching this on the night it premiered seventy years ago 😮

[@VERYTRUEFACTS]

Desi's was a cool dude , i seen all of the shows !

[@VERYTRUEFACTS]

%oh ,I May Have Seen %Um All ? , Close But...

[@soulierinvestments]

In 1956, when Desi sat on the panel, he introduced Dorothy by noting that they had been friends for many years. They probably met around 1940, which was also the year he met Lucille Ball in "Too Many Girls."

[@neilmidkiff]

Desi had also appeared as Manuelito in the 1939-40 Broadway musical Too Many Girls, in which Marcy Wescott played the role taken by Lucille Ball in the 1940 RKO film version. If looking for a mention of Desi in Dorothy's column, check around Oct. 18, 1939, the opening date of the musical. The film is seen from time to time on Turner Classic Movies, and is very enjoyable. Lucy and Desi would later buy the RKO studio lot in 1957 for their Desilu production company.

[@reno1uest]

One of the other actors in the original stage production of Too Many Girls that Desi Arnaz performed in was none other than Richard Kollmar, Dorothy Kilgallen's husband.

[@rambleonfromhere8780]

Desi Arnez was so good looking. !!!!!!

[@chuckendweiss4849]

The Corps and I have the same birthday. 10 November. I am a third generation Marine. My grandfathers father mother even my step father. Semper Fi

[@11redlions]

Everybody liked Desi, he had no enemies. He was a happy, successful man.

[@zekezacker9449]

CBS apparently wanted the Desi and Lucy TV show. The couple apparently wanted to work in California, and not New York. CBS thought filming, as opposed to the technology typically then used, was too extravagant. Desi supposedly offered to fund the film if Desi and Lucy could retain rights to their filmed shows. CBS apparently agreed to this offer. A result is I Love Lucy was filmed, and was then shown on reruns for decades with Lucy's and Desi's Desilu production company reaping the monetary benefits (at least until subsequent business realignments). By comparison, the technology then used on live shows (which was not film) was not as conducive to use as reruns compared to film - hence, we did not grow up with endless reruns of the TV shows of Milton Berle or Sid Caesar, or with reruns from several of the other early TV shows.

[@ToddSF]

I can think of few things as funny as when Lucy did her "Vitameatavegemin" skit. That was one of the funniest examples of comedic acting (and writing) ever.

[@loissimmons6558]

My favorite Lucy sketch was actually not by her, but a take off on one of her I Love Lucy skits. It was on Saturday Night Live with Gilda playing the Lucy role, and Dan Ackroyd as an officious Gale Gordon type who gives her the instructions. The original was when Lucy and Ethel are working a conveyor belt at a candy factory and all the things they do when the belt speeds up beyond their ability to keep up. In the take off, the big difference is that instead of candy, it is a nuclear warhead factory. Of course at some point, Gilda does the Lucy wail, but not for long ...

[@sandrageorge3488]

My favorite episode.

[@mxmxpr]

John Daly used the word "honest" in describing "I Love Lucy," and that is 100% the reason why it is still popular and funny today.

[@paulamiles9559]

Acting and PRODUCING( Untouchables as well as Star Trek).. He is certainly a comedian but it's that sexy conga playing/ dancing/ singing that always knocks me out.

[@asteverino8569]

Loved seeing Dezi Arnaz . He was great and so was the panel.

[@vistaestrada]

Desi reminds me a little of Matt LeBlanc here. Great big Cuban eyes!

[@Jerseybytes2]

I actually believe he was funnier than Lucy. I mean anyone can act the goofy part. But to be able to witness it, be funny, and keep a straight face is much harder. trying to think of my favorite I love Lucy episode. Can't chose just one :( tho a couple I'd like to mention is the train one when they go back to NY, the tutor one where Lucy tries to have everyone speak proper English, the one will William Holden (another man who was so absolutely delicious to look at), the one Lucy gets arrested in France for trying to pass fake money ,,, ok I love the whole series. And Desi is a reason why.

[@orgonkothewildlyuntamed6301]

vistaestrada interesting theory considering Matt had zero Latino heritage

[@hilarygrant4351]

That's interesting.... because LeBlanc played Desi Jr. in a bio TV movie about Patty Duke.

[@erichanson426]

Arlene Francis question to Deszi, are you a solo performer, had me laughing in stitches.

[@ih82r8]

Arlene really saves their bacon

[@davidthomas8258]

I like the comedy with the second guest on this episode. It was just soooo funny.

[@akrenwinkle]

Dorothy swooned! Who wouldn't?

[@yeahnoonecaresifyouarefirst]

Oh I'm very willing to say there was cheating on both parts there

[@loissimmons6558]

No fourth challenger because so much had run long, though presumably one was waiting in the wings. Hopefully that person was able to come back the following week.

[@Rosarium2007]

I wonder what Miss Diamond’s rank in the USMC was? Found it interesting that they didn’t mention her rank.

[@fenwaypark1725]

Looking her up, in 1954 Captain Diamond married Lieutenant Colonal L.A. Gilson.

[@kristabrewer9363]

I like Dorothy's cross necklace

[@MarthaReynolds]

Desi Arnaz - my first crush. I was 6. 🧡🧡🧡🧡🧡

[@danielminutilli5372]

When people were well spoken

[@davidsanderson5918]

I seriously checked to see if Arlene Francis did the voice for Wilma Flintstone. Her upturned intonations are so reminiscent of her. She didn't. :)

[@donaldmanthei1224]

She didn't, no kidding!

[@BlackIjs]

Live game shows. What a concept!

[@lydiamclaughlin7100]

I really like Dorothy's necklace in this episode! First thing I noticed.

[@leesher1845]

That “lady marine” was so charming.

[@cheowteetan3762]

16:28 17:28 19:06 20:40 21:19 I love Desi Arnaz’s reaction

[@aphrabenn3233]

Oh ny, the stir in the audience when they envisioned someone getting married and already expecting a baby!! Around 14:20

[@tejaswoman]

John got the explanation of the game backward again on contestant #2!

[@ih82r8]

I love watching Hal Block scratch his head when he's stumped, and when the guests win the game.

[@chuckendweiss4849]

Jennifer Bugs

[@sandrageorge3488]

I think it was a nervous habit.

[@jerrylee8261]

@@sandrageorge3488 Very unattractive nervous habit. He was no dummy so it's strange that he had those unattractive mannerisms on tv. He should have tied his hands under the desk. If not for that and his 7th grade randiness, he would have been an enjoyable panelist.

[@sdgakatbk]

Awesome episode!! Desi is just having a lot of fun, though I would like to know what he was saying to John Daly that was cracking John up. I had heard that Desi would crack up on the set of I Love Lucy.

[@soulierinvestments]

Speaking of maternity outfits, about a month later, Desi and Lucy started the landmark pregnancy of Lucy Ricardo in "I Love Lucy." The CBS censors would not allow the program to use the word "pregnant."

[@WhatsMyLine]

soulierinvestments And if you know what the word "enceinte" means, it can only be because you're aware of the official title of that episode. I don't think anyone alive has ever heard that word used in any other context, ever.

[@soulierinvestments]

I know I have not. I wonder if the CBS censors wanted to leave the impression that characters on that network budded asexually.

[@jvcomedy]

Although oddly enough the very next episode is entitled "Pregnant women are unpredictable" so they did use the word in the title.

[@WhatsMyLine]

Jeff Vaughn And another strange thing is, the episode titles were never even seen by the public at large! Why they bothered to avoid using the word "pregnant" in the first ep's title, I don't understand at all.

[@ToddSF]

On "The Tonight Show" in his latter days as host, Johnny Carson used to talk about how restrictive things were on TV once upon a time, including the prohibition of the word "pregnant", saying that they had to use other terms such as "expectant" or "expecting", "in the family way", or "with child". Just prior to Carson's stint on "The Tonight Show", Jack Paar was the host and walked off the air when he was telling a funny story in 1960 that used the term "WC", which was absolutely essential to the joke. They bleeped him out when he said "double-you-see" and that so offended Jack Paar that he refused to appear on the program for three weeks. He finally returned after the network apologized and he was then allowed to tell the joke on TV. Honestly, censoring the term "WC"? But that's how it was back then.

[@rvpdeals7415]

this show was on at 10:30 P.M. at night??? That was LATE for watching a gameshow.

[@ohwell94]

Not sure but I think it was because of some of the double meaning of some of the answers?

[@sdacj]

It was 10:30 live in New York - the rest of the country was adjusted for time zones. In other words, 7:30 on the West Coast, etc.

[@DaRozeman]

It was very late for most network television in those days, as most stations went off air around midnight.

[@brookehanley3659]

Desi looks like he had a couple drinks before the show.

[@dianepowers9643]

My mom's dearest friend was married to a man that looked just like Desi. I never met the man. But after a visit with her friend I asked mom why Doris had a picture of Desi Arnaz on her wall. Mom said that was not Desi but Doris' late husband Johnny

[@accomplice55]

So many people seem to be on this show because they are female chiropractors, marines, miners, and so on....one was even called a "Lady Iceman"!

[@markgiardina1303]

His hair was even gray in the early 1950s.

[@scotnick59]

Shared that (and hair dye) with George Brent.

[@Steezey7]

19:07 - Love how Mr. Daly reacted!

[@WhatsMyLine]

Today's KZbin Rerun for 5/26/15: Watch along and join the discussion! ----------------------------- Join our Facebook group for WML-- great discussions, photos, etc, and great people! facebook.com/groups/728471287199862/ To stay up to date with postings, please consider supporting the WML channel by subscribing. The WML channel already contains the complete CBS series, with new videos still being added on the weekends. kzbin.info/door/hPE75Fvvl1HmdAsO7Nzb8w

[@WhatsMyLine]

***** Thanks, Bonnie! And if you want to jump ahead so you're in synch with the daily "reruns", we'll be getting to the following show on Monday: kzbin.info/www/bejne/ep_ZdIaFmbCBeaM

[@maremacd]

I've not read the Gil Fates book that many cite in comments, and a quick google search tells me it could be rather difficult to find. Are there any other books about the show that you would recommend? I find myself wondering how the panelists got along behind the scenes. Did they socialize outside the show?

[@WhatsMyLine]

maremacd The book by Fates is the only one on the series, long out of print. Used copies range from $30 to $100, depending on when you look. It's not hard to find listings for it on Amazon or eBay, it's just that it's pretty pricey.

[@SuperWinterborn]

maremacd The Gabels (Arlene Francis and Martin Gabel) and the Cerfs (Phyllis and Bennett Cerf) were socializing outside the show. Arlene and Martin's son Peter and Jonathan Cerf were childhood friends. The latter are still friends, and even, besides their regular jobs, play in a band together, called "The Central Park Zoo". :) Here's a link to their website: cpzoo.com/

[@maremacd]

SuperWinterborn That's pretty cool. Thanks.

[@amybrown7723]

maremacd I know that in an interview after she died, Bennett Cerf said that the other panelists, him especially, didn't particularly care for Dorothy. He said that all the panelists used to share a dressing room and she would use the information they told her in her weekly column, she had a more conservative view point than the other panelists and unlike the other panelists, she was more interested in getting a right answer than getting a laugh. Because of this she would ask questions that should already knew the answer was yes too just to extend her time on camera. You can find the transcripts and audio for the different interviews at www.columbia.edu/cu/lweb/digital/collections/nny/cerfb/audio_transcript.html

[@sandwichman100]

has anyone noticed dorothys mask is never on right, its allways got a small space on the right side of her nose where I believe she can see out if she tilts her head just right.

[@robertholman8730]

They had no reason to cheat😮

[@ScottAbrams-ur3lk]

Desi was one of the best.....

[@scotnick59]

Always felt a bit sorry for Desi; he seemed to have been cheated somehow

[@gregh7400]

A little bit of Hal Block goes a long way.

[@peternagy-im4be]

You can't beat Hal Block

[@gregh7400]

@@peternagy-im4be It was a different time.

[@brookehanley3659]

One of my fave appearances.

[@Bigbadwhitecracker]

Too bad Desi didn't come back in 1966 to promote my personal favorite of his shows (and unfortunately his swan song), The Mothers in Law!! :)

[@shuroom57]

Absolutely, Kaye Ballard and Eve Arden, I remember that!

[@Beatles0223]

Desi was a f'ing genius!

[@norelcopc2431]

Hal Block: "Next time be more 'splicite".

[@Orange-Jumpsuit-Time]

Back then society thought being a wolf was cute.

[@gizzydillespie9695]

It was.

[@519djw6]

I think Barbi Nierenberg was absolutely gorgeous!

[@debbigray1752]

Lucy was at home probably because she was 7 months pregnant with Desi Jr

[@SuperWinterborn]

I have never understood the difference in between The U.S Navy, and The U.S Marine Corps, which military units the panel apparently once agreed to define as being two different categories? (Phew! Long sentence. C'mon with your *Obs!* TPC! ;)

[@savethetpc6406]

SuperWinterborn Well, to be honest, I'm not quite sure what you were trying to say here, but here's my best attempt at rephrasing it more grammatically. Please let me know if any of your original intent was lost in the editorial process. ;) I know I left out the question mark, but I wasn't exactly sure you were really asking a question! *Obs*: "I have never understood the difference between The U.S Navy and The U.S Marine Corps. The panel apparently agreed to define these military units as being two different categories." And as far as the answer to the implicit question, I'm no expert, but check out what Wikipedia has to say on the subject: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Marine_Corps.

[@SuperWinterborn]

SaveThe TPC I understand why you left out the question mark in your edition. It was half and half a question and a statement. Thanks for the grammatical correction! :) As for the link; I _think_ I understood what I read, but I don't feel much wiser! ;)

[@savethetpc6406]

SuperWinterborn Me neither! (And _that_ is definitely *NOT* grammatically correct, but it's colloquially understood. ;) ) Actually, I had always assumed that the Marines and the Navy were two completely separate divisions of the U.S. Armed Forces. When I heard John's reference to some connection between them, I assumed perhaps that was a connection that existed in the 1950s but had since changed. So, if nothing else, the Wikipedia article taught me that I was wrong about that. They _are_ connected in some way, but I'm still not really clear on how...

[@chuckendweiss4849]

SuperWinterborn The Corps fights on Sea Land and in the Air

[@emilyaustralis]

Oh was it filmed live ?

[@robertholman8730]

All shows were live in the early 50s 😊

[@zekezacker9449]

Not much, if any, mention of the presidential election held during the week since the prior show.

[@VERYTRUEFACTS]

the problem is the vol , I turn it up all the way an still is bad , i love this show but i think thay can fix this prob*....

[@thesweeples3266]

Who’s “they”? I hear them talked about frequently these days.

[@philipdickey6460]

Ricky..you got some’ splaining to do

[@utbr963]

❤❤❤

[@stanmaxkolbe]

Wow just looking at those hats the ladies wore in the 1950s.

[@DandyDon1]

If Miss Ruth Marie Diamond were a marine today then yes she would indeed be working for a "profit making" organization.

[@chuckendweiss4849]

DandyDon Not when I was in the Corps 1963 -1969

[@orgonkothewildlyuntamed6301]

the 1st contestant was cut her head-wear notwithstanding

[@ChrisHansonCanada]

UNITED STATES MARINE MATERNITY DRESS BUYER

[@Frederick-t8t]

WHY DIDN'T HAL BLOCKHEAD JUST SHUT UP? HE OFFERED NOTHING.

[@davidspedding8349]

very early for i love lucy?

[@sandrageorge3488]

Sarcastic No's lol

[@antonmarino6568]

What is the attraction of women to this man?

[@BrittneyCooper-yb3td]

Confidence.🥰

[@usforsarah]

He was sweet, funny, had good looks and was charismatic.

[@Sokx41]

I can see why they "fired" Hal Block from this show. His behavior and words are often outrageous.

[@RichardHannay]

What does Dorothy mean "Do you ever use a straight man in your act?"??

[@neilmidkiff]

In this context, a "straight man" is a comedian's stage partner who plays a relatively normal or non-comic role, helping to set up jokes, such as by asking questions that will have funny answers, and generally providing a contrast to the comedian's personality. The word "straight" here has nothing to do with sexual orientation.

[@ToddSF]

A classic example of a straight man would be George Burns working with Gracie Allen. George's lines were not what provoked laughter when the two of them worked together. George would say something that was not funny, but designed to give Gracie the opportunity to make a hilarious response. A lot of comedy teams had a "straight man" and a funny man. Abbott & Costello come to mind, with Bud Abbott setting up the funny responses made by Lou Costello. If you've every seen their hilarious routine "Who's on First?", you'll see what I mean.

[@SithGoddess07]

In the case of I Love Lucy, Desi WAS the straight man. :)

[@loissimmons6558]

I found it extremely interesting that when George and Gracie first started their Vaudeville act, Gracie was given the straight lines and George the funny lines. This was most likely due to comediennes being very rare at that time. But Gracie was getting more laughs from the audience with the straight lines than George was with the supposed funny lines. So they switched roles. Of course George was also great in his reactions after some of the things Gracie would say, both with his face and with his cigar. My favorite one on their TV show was when Gracie thought she was pregnant (excuse me ... expecting) and George asked her what color she wanted the nursery painted. Gracie paused for a moment and replied, "Plaid." Her capacity for comedy was so extensive that she actually had other people feeding the straight lines to her for her to knock out of the park. Harry Von Zell did a good job, but Bea Benaderet was fabulous. I especially loved her famous giggle (she was also Betty Rubble for many years) in response to some of the things Gracie would say, not to mention the schemes Gracie involved her in. In fact, Bea played a similar role opposite Lucille Ball on the radio and was Lucy's first choice to play Ethel. But Bea was already too busy with Burns & Allen and occasional appearances on Jack Benny's program to take the role. Getting back to George & Gracie, they would come out at the end of their TV show and do a bit before their famous way of saying good night. This is my favorite: GEORGE: You got a letter from your cousin Bessie. What does she say? GRACIE: She's just fine .. But her son Willie-- GEORGE: That's the one with the high blood pressure. He sleeps on the floor to keep his blood pressure down. Smart kid. What does she say? GRACIE: He broke his back. GEORGE: He broke his back? How did it happen? GRACIE: You see, he had a doughnut in his right-hand pocket, and he reached to get it with his left hand and-- GEORGE: He broke his back? GRACIE: Yeah. GEORGE: Well, you tell Bessie to tell Willie the next time he's carrying a doughnut in his right-hand pocket to try to take it out with his right hand. GRACIE: Yeah ... But that's hard to do when you've got your pants on backwards. GEORGE: He had his pants on backwards ... GRACIE: You see, he had two pairs of pants .. And he put one pair on frontwards and one pair on backwards -- GEORGE: So that he could go either way? GRACIE: That's when the truck hit him. GEORGE: The truck -- what truck? GRACIE: The truck that didn't have its lights lit. GEORGE: Why didn't the truck have its lights lit? GRACIE: He didn't have to .. It was daytime. GEORGE: ... But the fella in the truck .. Didn't he see Willie coming? GRACIE: He didn't know it was Willie ... He saw two pairs of pants coming and he drove between 'em!

[@loissimmons6558]

+SithGoddess07 I have a feeling that's exactly what Desi mentioned to John when he leaned over and whispered in John's ear.

[@Lava1964]

I thought Desi's voice was very recognizable. Maybe it was just a little too early in the run of I Love Lucy to be instantly recognizable.

[@michaelfsmith3208]

Block was the most prolific comedy writer of the 1940’s but the others treat him like a drifter off the street. Cerf, on the other hand, is the answer to the question “what’s wrong with capitalism?” and they love him. Also, Desi doesn’t know that “Monsieur” only applies to a male. Dummy.

[@ripleb6261]

Agreed about Block and Cerf-- though I believe Desi said "mon cheri"

[@MarthaReynolds]

Knowing that Hal’s days are numbered doesn’t make me sad.

[@dinahbrown902]

Wow

[@robertholman8730]

Hal was a bright adult, with a teenager mindset 😅

[@hiyapal7719]

The panel must really hate putting on a blindfold when they have alcohol in their system, lol.

[@dinahbrown902]

🤣

[@burns1210]

I'm pretty sure women didn't appear on this show to get relentlessly hit on by creepy Hal Block. Thank God he didn't last long.

[@taniaaranamatus8884]

ohh.. those good ol' days when being horny was a synonymous to comedy. No but seriously, Hal Block was particularly nasty this episode, you know.. with the ring thing.

[@WhatsMyLine]

ah, well, i'd have to rewatch this to know what you're specifically referring to, but in the case of anyone claiming harry block was being a boob, i don't need to see the evidence to back it up. i'm sure you're being accurate. :)

[@marywebb9127]

I think you are over thinking things. Hal was fun in this episode.

[@JehanineMelmoth]

Hal was awful. It’s embarrassing.

[@marywebb9127]

@@JehanineMelmoth I disagree but you have a right to your opinion.

[@TheBigMclargehuge]

I just can't deal with block

[@peternagy-im4be]

Oh well. Never mind.

[@thesweeples3266]

Who says you have to?