I Love Lucy: Age Of Media
Case Study: I Love Lucy
In order to illustrate the theory that the distinguising feature of consumer consumption is an age of media overlap, is the experiece that each medium offer - it is important to consider a few examples. I love Lucy' was one of the most popular shows on television, and even today it is still being shown on certain channels like TV Land in the USA. In 2002, TV Guide's 50 Best Shows of All Time' ranked it at number 2 (TV Guide Top Shows. http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2002/04/26/entertainment/main507388.shtml). The I love Lucy' show struck a chord with its audience. The comic genius of Lucille Ball managed to keep the viewers wanting more at its peak, in 1952-53, it averaged an incredible 67.3 rating, meaning that …show more content…
on a typical Monday night, more than two-thirds of all homes with TV sets were tuned to Lucy' (First Lady of Comedy. http://www.time.com/time/time100/artists/profile/lucy.html).
Although television was fairly novel at the time, the I love Lucy' show offered the post war generation an opportunity to escape.
At a time when competition with Hollywood was stiff, the producers of this show also realized that they needed to give the viewers what they wanted. It is this experience of being able to laugh and put aside worries that helped to make it a success.
In addition to this Lucy explored universal themes: the tensions of married life, the clash between career and home, the meaning of loyalty and friendship' (First Lady of Comedy). By dealing with such timeless themes, I Love Lucy' ensured that it would never be far from the hearts of viewers, regardless of the day and age. It continues till today to give the audience a place to escape to and the ability of laughter.
It is important to note the principle idea behind this show seems to be the relationship between husband and wife. She portrays the oddball wife character opposite tall, dashing Desi Arnez's showbiz character. Ball's slapstick humor and comical expressions add to the hilarity of the show (Lucille Ball. http://www.museum.tv/archives/etv/B/htmlB/balllucille/balllucille.htm). Over the course of the show, she also developed a few distinctive traits such as her Wahhhhhhh' crying, her penchant for getting into trouble, her constant search for her big showbiz break and her nutty schemes to make it big gave a humanistic level to her …show more content…
character.
What also struck a mark with the audience of the time, was Lucy's position as bored housewife eager to change her lot.
She was always up for anything, if it would help her find success. Some of the most famous episodes are the ones where she is trying out new career opportunities. For example the Vita-meata-vege-min' episode where she tries to film a commercial to sell this potion. However, the potion in question contains a hefty percentage of alcohol which leads her to get drunk on the job. Another classic episode is the Job Switching' one, where Lucy gets herself a job in a candy factory ("I Love Lucy" Turns
50. http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1272/is_2676_130/ai_78256901 )
Another unusual aspect of this show was the inclusion of Desi Arnez. Considered to be a man of color, the fact the he was on one of TV's top rated shows, demonstrates that I Love Lucy' was indeed ahead of its time. This enables the show to reach all sorts of audiences. People of color that watched, tended to identify in whatever small way they could, with Arnez's character Ricky Ricardo. Once again we see the show being able to keep in tune to the audiences, and enhance their experiece of the show through familiarity.
Behind the scenes, there were other firsts. This TV show was one of the earliest of its kind to be shot on film instead of kinescope. This momentous decision has enabled the show to continue to be seen on TV screen today in the form of reruns. They were also one of the first to film before a live studio audience with three cameras making their laugh track real, and pioneering the method of filming used even in today's sitcoms. Perhaps the most beneficial decision that the real life couple made was to take a cut in salary in order to keep the rights of ownership with them. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I_Love_Lucy#Episodes). Because of these decisions, I Love Lucy' continues to be viewed by audiences today. The remarkable part is that Ball and Arnez managed to create a show that gave their viewers an experience that does not look like it will ever go out of style. Indeed, it helped television become an integral part of the household. For it to be named second on TV Guide's '50 Best Shows of All Time', shows the timelessness of the issues, humor and experience it provided its viewers.
In order to illustrate the theory that the distinguising feature of consumer consumption is an age of media overlap, is the experiece that each medium offer - it is important to consider a few examples. I love Lucy' was one of the most popular shows on television, and even today it is still being shown on certain channels like TV Land in the USA. In 2002, TV Guide's 50 Best Shows of All Time' ranked it at number 2 (TV Guide Top Shows. http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2002/04/26/entertainment/main507388.shtml). The I love Lucy' show struck a chord with its audience. The comic genius of Lucille Ball managed to keep the viewers wanting more at its peak, in 1952-53, it averaged an incredible 67.3 rating, meaning that …show more content…
on a typical Monday night, more than two-thirds of all homes with TV sets were tuned to Lucy' (First Lady of Comedy. http://www.time.com/time/time100/artists/profile/lucy.html).
Although television was fairly novel at the time, the I love Lucy' show offered the post war generation an opportunity to escape.
At a time when competition with Hollywood was stiff, the producers of this show also realized that they needed to give the viewers what they wanted. It is this experience of being able to laugh and put aside worries that helped to make it a success.
In addition to this Lucy explored universal themes: the tensions of married life, the clash between career and home, the meaning of loyalty and friendship' (First Lady of Comedy). By dealing with such timeless themes, I Love Lucy' ensured that it would never be far from the hearts of viewers, regardless of the day and age. It continues till today to give the audience a place to escape to and the ability of laughter.
It is important to note the principle idea behind this show seems to be the relationship between husband and wife. She portrays the oddball wife character opposite tall, dashing Desi Arnez's showbiz character. Ball's slapstick humor and comical expressions add to the hilarity of the show (Lucille Ball. http://www.museum.tv/archives/etv/B/htmlB/balllucille/balllucille.htm). Over the course of the show, she also developed a few distinctive traits such as her Wahhhhhhh' crying, her penchant for getting into trouble, her constant search for her big showbiz break and her nutty schemes to make it big gave a humanistic level to her …show more content…
character.
What also struck a mark with the audience of the time, was Lucy's position as bored housewife eager to change her lot.
She was always up for anything, if it would help her find success. Some of the most famous episodes are the ones where she is trying out new career opportunities. For example the Vita-meata-vege-min' episode where she tries to film a commercial to sell this potion. However, the potion in question contains a hefty percentage of alcohol which leads her to get drunk on the job. Another classic episode is the Job Switching' one, where Lucy gets herself a job in a candy factory ("I Love Lucy" Turns
50. http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1272/is_2676_130/ai_78256901 )
Another unusual aspect of this show was the inclusion of Desi Arnez. Considered to be a man of color, the fact the he was on one of TV's top rated shows, demonstrates that I Love Lucy' was indeed ahead of its time. This enables the show to reach all sorts of audiences. People of color that watched, tended to identify in whatever small way they could, with Arnez's character Ricky Ricardo. Once again we see the show being able to keep in tune to the audiences, and enhance their experiece of the show through familiarity.
Behind the scenes, there were other firsts. This TV show was one of the earliest of its kind to be shot on film instead of kinescope. This momentous decision has enabled the show to continue to be seen on TV screen today in the form of reruns. They were also one of the first to film before a live studio audience with three cameras making their laugh track real, and pioneering the method of filming used even in today's sitcoms. Perhaps the most beneficial decision that the real life couple made was to take a cut in salary in order to keep the rights of ownership with them. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I_Love_Lucy#Episodes). Because of these decisions, I Love Lucy' continues to be viewed by audiences today. The remarkable part is that Ball and Arnez managed to create a show that gave their viewers an experience that does not look like it will ever go out of style. Indeed, it helped television become an integral part of the household. For it to be named second on TV Guide's '50 Best Shows of All Time', shows the timelessness of the issues, humor and experience it provided its viewers.