Legendary comedienne Lucille Ball co-starred with some equally legendary co-stars in some comedy specials for CBS in the 1970s. Great ones Dean Martin and Jackie Gleason join the redheaded funny lady, but the results are dated though it’s good to see them being released from the vaults.
Lucille Ball is nothing short of a legend. I Love Lucy is a comic wonder and just mentioning the name of that show will illicit fond and funny memories from those that have watched it (much the same with the Andy Griffith Show). She had just finished her CBS show Here’s Lucy (1968-1974) and next on her plate was a series of “one-off” specials for the network.
In the first one, Lucy gets Lucky (1975), Lucy wants to go to the MGM Grand and attend Dean Martin’s concert. She’s lied to get tickets and when it’s discovered she’s out of luck. However, the conniving redhead finds out that Deano is giving a concert for Grand employees and she has several comedic bits trying to work at the hotel and attend Dean’s concert.
The second special, Two for Three (1975), finds her teaming up with Jackie Gleason in three comedy/drama bits about marriage. In the first one she and Gleason is husband and wife wanting to recapture the magic with a trip to Rome, the second has her trying to find her date (Gleason) in a dark restaurant, and the final has the couple trying to talk their kids into spending New Year’s Eve with them.
Lucy seems to be taking a page from Bob Hope’s book in that Hope would yearly (or more) do NBC specials with guest stars and it would turn into an event for the network. In some ways I bring up Hope because of my experience with his specials.
I recall enjoying them and laughing, but when I had a chance to catch up with them again in a DVD best of set I sat in stony silence (well, except for a bit with Sammy Davis Jr. saying he only had one good eye and it wasn’t watching the cue card) and the jokes were dated. If you’re a Lucy fan then you’ll be delighted that these specials are finally making their way to DVD, but the comedy is a bit worn.
Even with old pros like Martin and Gleason the shows seem to lack the comedy that we’ve come to expect from Lucy. Perhaps it’s the specter I Love Lucy that we judge all of her vehicles against. Against such a comedy juggernaught flavored with nostalgia, any project beyond I Love Lucy would surely pale in comparison. There are some laughs, but they’re few and far between sometimes.
The Gleason special is more of a drama with very few comedic moments. Dean Martin is his boozy best, but all the performers look like they’re reading off cue cards (those Hope specials also suffered from this too). I’m happy to have them but the shows will be judged harshly by current television audiences.
Lucy gets Lucy and Two for Three are presented in fullscreen. Special features include a 10 minute clip from Art Linkletter’s House Party featuring Ball. There are also two episodes of Lucy’s radio show (totaling 20 minutes) where she interviews Martin. There’s also a 14 minute interview with Lucy gets Lucky costar Gino Confronti and 5 minutes of bloopers from the same show.
Lucille Ball was a comedic genius, but neither special really shows her at her best. She’s given opportunity to interact with some legends, but the shows are hampered with some traits of 1970s television. It’s grand to have them though.
The Lucille Ball Specials: Lucy Gets Lucky/Three for Two is now available at Amazon . As of yet, there is not a release date for the UK. Visit the DVD database for more information.
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