I Love Lucy: A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Sitcom

by Gregg Oppenheimer

The onscreen pairing of Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz is at the heart of one of the most popular TV shows in history. Who would have thought that to get on the air, they had to battle both a network and a sponsor who thought the show couldn't possibly succeed? Playwright Gregg Oppenheimer son of I Love Lucy's creator Jess Oppenheimer spins the hilarious true story behind America's beloved TV comedy. Directed by Michael Hackett. Includes an interview with playwright Gregg Oppenheimer. An L.A. Theatre Works full-cast production, starring (in alphabetical order): Ron Bottitta as William S. Paley, William Frawley, and others
Seamus Dever as Jess Oppenheimer
Sarah Drew as Lucille Ball
Abigail Marks as Vivian Vance, Betty Garrett, and others
Matthew Floyd Miller as Don Sharpe, Bob LeMond and others
Rob Nagle as Hubbell Robinson and others
Oscar Nunez as Desi Arnaz
and Nick Toren as Harry Ackerman
Music performed by Doug Walter. The "I Love Lucy" theme song used with permission of MPL Music Publishing and Songwriters Guild of America. Original music by Doug Walter. Sound Effects Artist, Aaron Lyons. Production Manager, Rick V. Moreno. Script Supervisor, Nikki Hyde. Senior Radio Producer, Ronn Lipkin. Associate Artistic Director, Anna Lyse Erikson. Editor, Mitchell Lindskoog. Recording Engineer, Sound Designer, and Mixer, Mark Holden for The Invisible Studios, West Hollywood Recorded before an audience at UCLA's James Bridges Theater.

Genres: Audiobook, Plays, History, Nonfiction, Comedy, Drama, Business

2 pages, Audio CD

Published September 15, 2018

Reviews

[Kristina Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! That was a lot of fun to listen to and it complimented the book I just finished, Love Lucy by Lucille Ball. This was a Theatre production and it captured a lot of Lucy and Desi. I was excited that this was written by Gregg Oppenheimer, the son of Jess Oppenheimer (the shows original creator). Now I want to go a watch the shows reruns all over again. It was great! A 5 star rating from me. Check out both books!

[JZ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Now, that was fun!!!

I was only one when 'I Love Lucy' hit the air, but this is a history of how the show got started, and then, if that weren't enough, there's an interview with the author as part 2.

Wonderful entertainment, about wonderful entertainment. Sweet.

Another LA Theatre Works production. Wow, they're good.

[Samantha Matherne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Listening to this play was a fun way to really picture how "I Love Lucy" came together. I knew it would be authentic, being written by the son of Jess Oppenheimer, the show's creator. Even the actors' voices matched closely to many of the real people, particularly Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz. I can only hope the new movie starring Nicole Kidman as Lucille comes close to this experience.

[Claudia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love 'I Love Lucy', I remember watching re-runs of the show when I was a kid and laughing out loud at Lucy's funny faces. Later, I got the DVDs because, seriously, I still love this show XD

So, I had to listen to this, and I have no regrets. It's funny, interesting, and a must to those who, like me, have really fond memories of the show :D

[Michelle "Champ" · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was simply adorable. I loved the actors playing Lucy and Desi. Not quite perfect, which is nice not to have an impersonation, but a portrayal of the actors we all know and love.


I thought the story of how we got the show was very interesting. I found it a bit wild to think of all the things the censors would NOT allow a married couple to do on television and some of this played out to be a typical Lucy/Ricky storyline but in real life.

This is a short audiobook but worth the time of any I Love Lucy fan.

[Heather McC · Rating 5 out of 5]

A dynamic listen from start to finish - my biggest quibble....it wasn't long enough, there was so much more to tell. Told from the perspective of Desi Arnaz, he recalls the very beginnings of his television show with his wife Lucy. From pitching the show to deciding who gets what credit first, there is plenty of natural comedy in the story, and it is read and acted so brilliantly, all against the homey music and cutaways of classic 'Lucy' episodes.

[Norma · Rating 4 out of 5]

( Format : Audiobook )
"No one would ever pay good money to watch old reruns of I Love Lucy."

I grew up with I Love Lucy on TV and have to admit to not particularly enjoying the programme. But many did and this intrigued me: how did a comedy about a dizzy woman and her husband become so popular? This play doesn't really answer that question but does trace how it reached our screens and continued to do so through the decades which followed. A fascinating play with an excellent cast, written by the son of one of the real life intimately involved characters.
Free to download through the Audible Plus programme: interesting and recommended.

[Caroline Brassard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun play, with interesting insider information given that it was written by the writer of the TV show, a labour of love as he says in the interview aired after the play on the audiobook. It’s light and sweet. The most interesting aspect is to realise what hurdles Desi Arnaz and Lucille Ball had to face in 1950 from so many angles: gender, race, social norms, internal power plays.

[Chantal · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adored reading this in the radio play version. I am on an I love Lucy kick after watching movies and documentaries. It was beyond fun read and the interview at the end was even more fun. It is definitely a fun light read and lifted my spirits.

[Ryan Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

For $4 from The LA Theatre Works I got to listen to the play “A funny thing happened on the way to the sitcom.” It’s about how I Love Lucy came to be. It was fantastic! If you’re a Lucy fan it’s a must.

[Denise · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was schmaltzy and I loved it! Oscar Nunez was a great Desi Arnaz! My only complaint is that I wish it was longer!

[Ron · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not a great play...but sweet and nostalgic.

[Relena_reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was fascinating, but almost entirely from the men's perspectives. I wanted more Lucy.

[Lauren Delaney · Rating 5 out of 5]

The audiobook version is awesome! Great insight into what went on behind the scenes to make one of the greatest TV shows ever

[Reving · Rating 4 out of 5]

https://revingsblog.blogspot.com/2018...