Comments on: I Love Lucy – Unaired Pilot Episode http://www.tvobscurities.com/2008/12/i-love-lucy-unaired-pilot-episode/ Keeping Obscure TV From Fading Away Forever Mon, 06 Sep 2010 12:53:07 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Barry I. Grauman http://www.tvobscurities.com/2008/12/i-love-lucy-unaired-pilot-episode/comment-page-1/#comment-8477 Barry I. Grauman Sat, 06 Jun 2009 17:57:17 +0000 http://www.tvobscurities.com/?p=289#comment-8477 The original pilot was "kinescoped" on March 2, 1951, at CBS' "Columbia Square" radio/TV facilities ["Television City" wouldn't be completed and opened until November 1952]. The idea was, if and when the series was sold to a sponsor, it would be produced as a "live" series on the network, as almost all of CBS' programs were at the time. It was because Lucy & Desi didn't want to commute to New York to appear "live", and sponsor Philip Morris' insistance they appear "live" because they didn't want their commercials "kinnied" west of Chicago (the coaxial cable which allowed live TV shows to be telecast from coast-to-coast wasn't completed until September of '51) that prompted Desi to suggest film- which was okay with Philip Morris, as they had previously sponsored a weekly filmed version of "TRUTH OR CONSEQUENCES" starring Ralph Edwards in the 1950-'51 season. But unlike the network's filmed "AMOS 'N' ANDY" series, which used pre-recorded audience reactions on their soundtracks, CBS wanted Lucy to appear before a live audience. Somehow, Desi got in touch with Al Simon, who produced the filmed "TRUTH OR CONSEQUENCES" series before a live audience, using multiple cameras, for Edwards, and discussed the possibilities of using the same technique for "I LOVE LUCY"...and the rest is history. The original pilot was “kinescoped” on March 2, 1951, at CBS’ “Columbia Square” radio/TV facilities ["Television City" wouldn't be completed and opened until November 1952]. The idea was, if and when the series was sold to a sponsor, it would be produced as a “live” series on the network, as almost all of CBS’ programs were at the time. It was because Lucy & Desi didn’t want to commute to New York to appear “live”, and sponsor Philip Morris’ insistance they appear “live” because they didn’t want their commercials “kinnied” west of Chicago (the coaxial cable which allowed live TV shows to be telecast from coast-to-coast wasn’t completed until September of ’51) that prompted Desi to suggest film- which was okay with Philip Morris, as they had previously sponsored a weekly filmed version of “TRUTH OR CONSEQUENCES” starring Ralph Edwards in the 1950-’51 season. But unlike the network’s filmed “AMOS ‘N’ ANDY” series, which used pre-recorded audience reactions on their soundtracks, CBS wanted Lucy to appear before a live audience. Somehow, Desi got in touch with Al Simon, who produced the filmed “TRUTH OR CONSEQUENCES” series before a live audience, using multiple cameras, for Edwards, and discussed the possibilities of using the same technique for “I LOVE LUCY”…and the rest is history.

]]> By: S. A. K. http://www.tvobscurities.com/2008/12/i-love-lucy-unaired-pilot-episode/comment-page-1/#comment-5812 S. A. K. Mon, 02 Mar 2009 16:54:35 +0000 http://www.tvobscurities.com/?p=289#comment-5812 Because I do not know you, I do not feel it would be fair to the deceased Joanne and Pepito to tell you some of the intimate details regarding the pilot. I do know a lot about the pilot; however, I just can't release the info right now. Who are you? Because I do not know you, I do not feel it would be fair to the deceased Joanne and Pepito to tell you some of the intimate details regarding the pilot.
I do know a lot about the pilot; however, I just can’t release the info right now. Who are you?

]]> By: RGJ http://www.tvobscurities.com/2008/12/i-love-lucy-unaired-pilot-episode/comment-page-1/#comment-5756 RGJ Sat, 21 Feb 2009 01:04:46 +0000 http://www.tvobscurities.com/?p=289#comment-5756 S.A.K., I assure you, I am very interested in anything you can share about the original pilot. And I apologize for getting the story wrong; I can only go with the sources I'm able to find. S.A.K.,

I assure you, I am very interested in anything you can share about the original pilot. And I apologize for getting the story wrong; I can only go with the sources I’m able to find.

]]> By: S. A. K. http://www.tvobscurities.com/2008/12/i-love-lucy-unaired-pilot-episode/comment-page-1/#comment-5755 S. A. K. Fri, 20 Feb 2009 19:12:14 +0000 http://www.tvobscurities.com/?p=289#comment-5755 This article has incorrect facts. I originally read about the search for the pilot episide in the TV guide and called Joanne (a long time dear friend and personal dance instructor). Joanne stated that Desi had said that he wanted Pepito to keep it, not ever give it to anyone. Desi GAVE it to Pepito after he was done with it. It was not under Pepito's bed. It was on a shelf in Pepito's closet. Joanne kept a very neat and clean house. She did not store anything under beds. When I first took dancing from Pepito and Joanne, Pepito showed the classes the "pilot" numerous times. It was a fun time. Pepito and Joanne were very special people. Everyone seems to get the "Pilot" story wrong. Amazing that noone prints the truth. I know even more facts about the pilot but you probably do not care. This article has incorrect facts. I originally read about the search for the pilot episide in the TV guide and called Joanne (a long time dear friend and personal dance instructor). Joanne stated that Desi had said that he wanted Pepito to keep it, not ever give it to anyone. Desi GAVE it to Pepito after he was done with it. It was not under Pepito’s bed. It was on a shelf in Pepito’s closet. Joanne kept a very neat and clean house. She did not store anything under beds. When I first took dancing from Pepito and Joanne, Pepito showed the classes the “pilot” numerous times. It was a fun time. Pepito and Joanne were very special people. Everyone seems to get the “Pilot” story wrong. Amazing that noone prints the truth. I know even more facts about the pilot but you probably do not care.

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