Friday, Aug. 27, 2010
Loving Lucy, Not Desi
I Love Lucy was nominated for a slew of Emmys during its run from 1951 to 1959. Stars Lucille Ball, Vivian Vance and William Frawley were often nominated, with Ball, Vance and the show itself taking home trophies. But Desi Arnaz, who played bandleader Ricky Ricardo, went ignored year after year. Sure, it wasn't the biggest acting stretch — Arnaz was Ball's real-life husband and an actual bandleader before the show. But it's striking that the man behind iconic catchphrases like "Lucy, you've got some 'splaining to do" was never up for a statuette. Arnaz's real legacy, though, was as a producer: he headed production studio Desilu and ensured himself a financial windfall through the show's endless reruns.