You Got Some ‘Splainin To Do! Fun And Crazy “I Love Lucy” Facts

Stick to the Script

Lucille Ball was a perfectionist. I Love Lucy, known for Ball’s goofy antics and clever quips, was a huge success due to its humor. Although Ball was a seasoned actress and comedian, the show was meticulously written, with no ad-libbing. Lucille read from cue cards during every episode, as did most of the cast.

Desi Arnaz, though difficult to understand sometimes, was so good at memorization, he rarely needed to utilize the cards. The show was also filmed in order of scenes, from beginning to end, so episodes were recorded quickly. Ball confirmed this, stating that they never had to ad-lib because “it was there.”

Larry and Lucy?

When the show was first developed, writers toyed with the idea of renaming Desi to be named Larry instead. While they thought this name flowed better, the intentional alliteration was too much for them. They decided that Lucille would be Lucy, and Desi would just be Ricky, rather than having a cutesy way of naming the couple.

The show went on without a hitch, and Lucy and Ricky became household names. And funnily enough, when Lucy and Desi started a family, they named their daughter Lucy, and their son, Desi, Jr. They loved their names just as much as the American public did, it would seem.