"I Love Lucy" has become an iconic show of the 50s, to the point where almost everyone has heard of it, even if they haven't seen it. It featured the adventures of Lucy and Ricky Ricardo, and well as their close friends Fred and Ethel Mertz, who often got into strange and hilarious situations together.
Lucille Ball, who played her character of the same name, was one of the best female comedians of her day, in an era where women often were stereotyped as "not funny" and often sidelined. Lucy's on-screen husband Ricky Ricardo was played by her real-life husband, Dezi Arnaz, who was of a Latino background. These days, an on-screen interracial relationship would rightfully not be seen as a big deal at all, but in the 50s, it most definitely was. In that way, "I Love Lucy" was very much an unconventional show at the time.
On top of that, it was known for its humor. The iconic scene, in which Lucy and her friend Ethel (played by Vivian Vance), were packaging chocolates in a chocolate factory, and trying desperately to keep up with the rolling conveyor belt, is an iconic one which has been idolized in entertainment. In some instances, it has even been repeated, such as the sushi scene in Drake and Josh.
I was pretty young the first time I saw the show, and in a way I very much grew up with it. Even though it was first produced over 60 years ago, and all the actors had passed away long before I was even born, in some ways it is such a timeless show that it can be enjoyed by many generations.
For the era it was produced in, the show did have good representation, showcasing actor Desi Arnaz's talent in his various skits and performances that were on the show. Additionally, Lucy's (which included many things, such as trying to use a wooden board to cross between two rooftops several stories high, becoming trapped on a high ledge and having to be rescued by Superman, and kidnapping and holding a woman hostage), often resulted in hilarity.
The show is very much a product of its times, and when one looks at what went on behind the scenes, like the real-life hatred between actors Vivan Vance and William Frawley,, who played Fred and Ethel, as well as the struggles in Lucille Ball's and Desi Arnaz's marriage, you can appreciate the effort behind making the four iconic, loveable characters that people still watch today.