She would proceed with their idea only under the condition that Arnaz would play the role of her television husband. CBS balked at the idea and didn’t know how to respond. Who would tune in to watch an interracial couple- an all-American red-headed woman with a Cuban? This was the early 50s and discrimination against the Latino-American community was high. They couldn’t see how a Cuban singer with an accent would appeal to an audience. However, Ball was unwilling to budge and back down.
Lucille thought that if Arnaz was to star with her on the show, he would come to settle down in Hollywood and leave behind his life on the road. She had grown tired of “meeting in the Sepulveda tunnel.” She was hoping that by acting together on the show, he would be in close proximity and it would also be a boost to his career. In order to convince the TV network that her husband would be a good fit, she went on an “I Love Lucy” vaudeville act.
She Was Acting, He Was Performing
Their marriage was anything but easy. Ball was at the peak of her career. While she wasn't yet at the place where she was being swarmed by fans and paparazzi, she was making a name for herself in Hollywood. While she was busy taking Hollywood by storm, Arnaz was busy traveling around the country, attaining fame for himself through his music.
Arnaz was seldom home. He could often be found playing with his band until two or three in the morning. While he and Ball were starting to create a life together, Arnaz started to develop the habit of drinking and flirting with other women. The strong connection that Ball once felt for her husband was starting to dissipate and her feelings of loneliness were becoming more present.
She Took a Big Risk
While Arnaz was busy touring the country, Ball threw herself into the world of radio. She got a spot as a lead in the radio show "My Favorite Husband," an audio program for CBS radio. She originally starred alongside Lee Bowman. The two played the characters of Liza and George Cugat. Thanks to positive reviews, CBS decided to turn the show into a series. Bowman wasn't able to commit to the series, so Richard Denning replaced him. The series was based on the novels 'Mr. and Mrs. Cugat: The Record of a Happy Marriage' and 'Outside Eden', which were written by Isabel Scott Rorick.
It was discovered that Lucille performed much better when she was in front of an audience. She would deliver her iconic facial expressions which would have the audience falling off the edge of their seats in laughter. The team at CBS was very impressed with her performance and saw its potential. They suggested making a live version of the show which would depict the ups and downs of a married couple. Ball agreed to it, under one condition.
They Were Too Good to Pass Up
The boys at CBS were unable to overlook the high ranking of the "I Love Lucy" Vaudeville. Thanks to the rave reviews, the network gave in and agreed to Ball's demands. There was no way they could continue the show without Lucille Ball. She was funny, she was clumsy, and Arnaz was charismatic and good looking. Together, the pair became America's most loved couple.
Ball, along with her beau and the crew at "I Love Lucy", could not gauge how successful the show would be after the first episode. While shooting the episode and seeing the audience crack up in laughter, it was clear that the outcome was going to be a good one. The best part of it all was that Ball was the only one who could give such a performance. This definitely gave her some weight and power in the studio. The show not only made Lucy's career, but it also salvaged her relationship, which was falling apart due to different schedules and Desi's attraction to other women.
Ball Understood the Show's Influence on American Culture
While the show was clearly destined for success, it would not have been possible without the redheaded actress. She was very careful about what she portrayed on the show and aware of the influences of Hollywood on American culture. The show portrayed positive female friendships and the first pregnancy that was ever shown on TV. Ball's uncanny facial expressions and the way in which her body language perfectly depicted her personality is what made the show so epic, funny, and mesmerizing.
Besides Ball's sense of humor, her facial expressions and body language were a significant part of her role. Shooting the show was not all fun and games. Once, a fight even broke out on set with an Italian grape stomper!