Lucille Ball would have been 100, which is a pretty great reason for several networks to celebrate with marathons of her work this weekend.
I remember being sad when the red headed comedienne died at age 77 in 1989; I loved Lucy that much. She was married to my Cuban role model, Desi Arnaz.
One of my favorite episodes of "I Love Lucy," the groundbreaking 1951-57 series she did with her husband, Desi Arnaz, was called "Lucy Does a TV Commercial." In it, "Lucy Ricardo" does what she always did by trying to take a little bit of the spotlight that shone on her celebrity hubby, Ricky (Arnaz). She talks her way into a gig as the spokesperson for a health elixir called Vitameatavegamin in a commercial that will air during Ricky's TV special.
She will always be the Queen of Comedy as she went on to other shows, including "The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour," "The Lucy Show" and "Here's Lucy." I even enjoyed the short-lived "Life with Lucy" in 1986. She also did quite a few big-screen films, which will be part of the marathons this weekend.
LUCY MARATHONS
ME-TV
Hallmark Channel
Turner Classic Movies