Everett Collection
You might be wondering why the show I Love Lucy wasn’t called I Love Lucille, since the star was the iconic Lucille Ball. Before his death in 1986, Lucille’s ex-husband Desi Arnaz explained why they chose the name I Love Lucy for their show.
The show aired from 1951 until 1957 and was groundbreaking television. The show had the first interracial couple on television and showed a pregnant woman on TV, which was still considered controversial in the ’50s. Lucille played Lucy and Desi played Ricky.
So, why wasn’t it called I Love Lucille? Desi explained that he wanted to call her Lucy because he was the only man that did. He once said, “I had started calling her Lucy shortly after we met; I didn’t like the name Lucille. That name had been used by other men. ‘Lucy’ was mine alone. That’s how eventually our television show was called I Love Lucy, not I Love Lucille.”
RELATED: This ‘I Love Lucy’ Photo Can’t Be Unseen, Plus Other Crazy ‘Lucy’ Facts
Lucille and Desi’s turbulent relationship is being explored in the new film Being the Ricardos. Nicole Kidman plays Lucille in the film while Javier Bardem portrays Desi. The film shares a week in their lives filming I Love Lucy but mainly focuses on the relationship off the set between Lucille and Desi.
What do you think? Were they right to call it I Love Lucy or would you have preferred the alternative?
RELATED: Why Lucille Ball Wanted To Play The Opposite Of Lucy Ricardo After ‘I Love Lucy’
Tom Hanks grew up watching the Star Trek series and once he got headway in…
Mindy Cohn is setting the facts of life straight. After guiding youthful watchers throughout most…
After nearly a decade of dealing with breast cancer, talented actress Shannen Doherty passed away at…
Vera Wang is a month into 75 and she has continued to generate waves. The…
Christie Brinkley entered into the seventh decade of her life recently, and took to Instagram…
Shannen Doherty, best known for her roles in Beverly Hills, 90210, and Charmed, passed away on July 13,…