About
"The most important thing I came away with from 'Here's Lucy' was how to behave with other people to get the job done in a timely manner. There were so many professional people that worked on that set. Really smart, good people who did their job well. Sometimes a guest star would come in and you'd say, 'How come it's taking us so long?' It was because somebody was making it all about them: coming in unprepared... any number of things that really upset the applecart. My way of acting with other people has set a very high standard and I don't screw around, 'cause I like to get to Matteo's by 9:30."
In her three-hour interview, Lucie Arnaz talks about her early life with her famous parents, comedy stars Desi Arnaz and Lucille Ball. She describes her unconventional home life and the effect her parents' celebrity had on her family. She recalls making several guest appearances on Lucille Ball's second series, The Lucy Show, and describes the production schedule for the show. She remarks on her mother's professionalism running Desilu Studios at the time. Arnaz discusses playing the character of "Kim Carter" on her mother's third series, Here's Lucy, alongside her brother, Desi Arnaz, Jr. She recounts her later career in the theater and her appearances on several made-for-television movies and television dramas, such as Murder, She Wrote and Law and Order. She recalls her short-lived series The Lucie Arnaz Show and offers advice to aspiring actors. She also outlines her parents' legacy and explains her efforts to preserve it. Stephen J. Abramson conducted the interview on December 9, 2011 in North Hollywood, CA.
Highlights
Lucie Arnaz on what she learned about show business and comedy from her mother, Lucille Ball
Lucie Arnaz on getting into acting
Lucie Arnaz on the divorce of her parents Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz
Lucie Arnaz on Here's Lucy and her character, "Kim Carter"
Lucie Arnaz on her name
Lucie Arnaz on advice given to her by Vivian Vance
Full Interview
Chapter 1
On her name; on her early life with her parents; on close friends of her family
On television she watched as a child; on fans and her friends' reactions to her famous parents; on I Love Lucy
On CBS's problems with Desi Arnaz being Cuban; on growing up in Hollywood; on her relationship with the rest of the cast of I Love Lucy and her parents' divorce
On appearing on The Lucy Show; on the Desilu Studios
Chapter 2
On the end of The Lucy Show and the start of Here's Lucy; on Here's Lucy and her character, "Kim Carter"; on various guest stars on the show and the writing on the show
On going on location for and her dance numbers on Here's Lucy; on her Grandmother Dee Dee Ball and her father Desi Arnaz; on her stage and feature film career
On appearing on various other series; on appearing in made-for-television movies
On her feature film "The Jazz Singer"; on her CBS pilot, One More Try
Chapter 3
On starring in The Lucie Arnaz Show; on guest-starring on various series
On the death and legacy of her parents, Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz; on producing the documentary Lucy and Desi- A Home Movie
On the 60th Anniversary of I Love Lucy; on her efforts to preserve the legacy of I Love Lucy
On doing live theater; on then-current projects; on advice to aspiring actors
Shows
Dean Martin Show, The
Lucie Arnaz on appearing on The Dean Martin Show
Here's Lucy
Lucie Arnaz on the end of The Lucy Show and the beginning of Here's Lucy
Lucie Arnaz on Here's Lucy and her character, "Kim Carter"
Lucie Arnaz on the premise of Here's Lucy
Lucie Arnaz on Desi Arnaz, Jr. leaving Here's Lucy
Lucie Arnaz on what she learned from her time on Here's Lucy
Lucie Arnaz on various Here's Lucy guest stars
Lucie Arnaz on the storylines and writing of Here's Lucy
Lucie Arnaz on Gary Morton's role on Here's Lucy
Lucie Arnaz on Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton guest-starring on Here's Lucy
Lucie Arnaz on going on location for Here's Lucy
Lucie Arnaz on the song and dance numbers on Here's Lucy
Lucie Arnaz on her father, Desi Arnaz's, reaction to her on Here's Lucy
Lucie Arnaz on her planned spin-off from Here's Lucy
I Love Lucy
Lucie Arnaz on I Love Lucy
Lucie Arnaz on how "Lucy" and "Ricky Ricardo" differed from Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz
Lucie Arnaz on problems faced on I Love Lucy due to her father, Desi Arnaz, being Cuban
Lucie Arnaz on visiting the set of I Love Lucy
Lucie Arnaz on Keith Thibodeaux who played "Little Ricky" on I Love Lucy
Lucie Arnaz on the 60th Anniversary of I Love Lucy
Lucie Arnaz on the the legacy of I Love Lucy and her efforts to preserve it
Lucie Arnaz on the future of I Love Lucy
Kraft Music Hall, The
Lucie Arnaz on appearing on Kraft Music Hall
Law & Order
Lucie Arnaz on guest-starring on Law and Order
Life With Lucy
Lucie Arnaz on her mother's final series, Life with Lucy
Lucie Arnaz Show, The
Lucie Arnaz on starring in The Lucie Arnaz Show
Lucy Show, The
Lucie Arnaz on The Lucy Show
Lucie Arnaz on playing various characters on The Lucy Show
Lucie Arnaz on The Lucy Show's grueling production schedule
Lucie Arnaz on appearing in The Lucy Show episode "Lucy at Marineland"
Lucie Arnaz on the end of The Lucy Show and the beginning of Here's Lucy
Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour, The
Lucie Arnaz on her first television appearance, on The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour
Marcus Welby, M.D.
Lucie Arnaz on appearing on Marcus Welby, M.D.
Murder, She Wrote
Lucie Arnaz on guest-starring on Murder, She Wrote
Password
Lucie Arnaz on appearing on Password
Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In
Lucie Arnaz on appearing on Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In
Sons and Daughters (1991)
Lucie Arnaz on starring in Sons and Daughters
Topics
Characters & Catchphrases
Lucie Arnaz on Here's Lucy and her character, "Kim Carter"
Classic TV Series Episodes
Lucie Arnaz on Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton guest-starring on Here's Lucy
Historic Events and Social Change
Lucie Arnaz on problems faced with I Love Lucy due to her father, Desi Arnaz, being Cuban
Pop Culture
Lucie Arnaz on Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton guest-starring on Here's Lucy
Lucie Arnaz on Here's Lucy and her character, "Kim Carter"
Representation on Television
Lucie Arnaz on problems faced with I Love Lucy due to her father, Desi Arnaz, being Cuban
Studio and Network Management
Lucie Arnaz on the Desilu Studios
Television Industry
Lucie Arnaz on the Desilu Studios
Underrepresented Voices
Lucie Arnaz on problems faced with I Love Lucy due to her father, Desi Arnaz, being Cuban
Professions
Actress
Lucie Arnaz on the craft of acting in different media and advice to aspiring actors
Performers
Lucie Arnaz on the craft of acting in different media and advice to aspiring actors
Genres
Comedy Series
Lucie Arnaz on I Love Lucy
Lucie Arnaz on The Lucy Show
Lucie Arnaz on co-starring on Here's Lucy
People
Desi Arnaz
Lucie Arnaz on Desi Arnaz
Lucie Arnaz on the divorce of her parents Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz
Lucie Arnaz on the Desilu Studios
Lucie Arnaz on her father, Desi Arnaz's, reaction to her on Here's Lucy
Lucie Arnaz on the death of her father, Desi Arnaz
Lucie Arnaz on the legacy of her father, Desi Arnaz
Lucie Arnaz on producing the NBC special Lucy and Desi - A Home Movie
Lucille Ball
Lucie Arnaz on what Lucille Ball was like as a mother
Lucie Arnaz on how Lucille Ball got into show business
Lucie Arnaz on the divorce of her parents Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz
Lucie Arnaz on the Desilu Studios
Lucie Arnaz on the death of her mother, Lucille Ball
Lucie Arnaz on the legacy of her mother, Lucille Ball
Lucie Arnaz on producing the NBC special Lucy and Desi - A Home Movie
Jack Benny
Lucie Arnaz on various Here's Lucy guest stars
Milton Berle
Lucie Arnaz on various Here's Lucy guest stars
William Frawley
Lucie Arnaz on her relationship with William Frawley and Vivian Vance
Eva Gabor
Lucie Arnaz on various Here's Lucy guest stars
Jackie Gleason
Lucie Arnaz on various Here's Lucy guest stars
Desi Arnaz, Jr.
Lucie Arnaz on Desi Arnaz, Jr.
Lucie Arnaz on Desi Arnaz, Jr. leaving Here's Lucy
Gary Morton
Lucie Arnaz on Gary Morton's role on Here's Lucy
Ginger Rogers
Lucie Arnaz on various Here's Lucy guest stars
Elizabeth Taylor
Lucie Arnaz on Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton guest-starring on Here's Lucy
Keith Thibodeaux
Lucie Arnaz on Keith Thibodeaux who played "Little Ricky" on I Love Lucy
Vivian Vance
Lucie Arnaz on her relationship with William Frawley and Vivian Vance
Lucie Arnaz on advice given to her by Vivian Vance
Flip Wilson
Lucie Arnaz on various Here's Lucy guest stars