Stars and fans will celebrate television's most popular and groundbreaking television show on I LOVE LUCY'S 50TH ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL, a new entertainment presentation to be broadcast Sunday, Nov. 11 (9:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network, the home of the original series.
Participants include Antonio Banderas, Cher, Richard Crenna, Dick Van Dyke, Andy Garcia, Whoopi Goldberg, Larry King, Jorge Moreno, Paul Rodriquez, Roseanne, Arturo Sandoval, Lily Tomlin, Barbara Walters and Henry Winkler. Desi Arnaz Jr. and Lucie Arnaz serve as executive producers and perform on the special in honor of their parents, Desi Arnaz and Lucille Ball. As a special element of the show, the audience will hear stories from original "I Love Lucy" writers Madelyn Pugh Davis, Bob Carroll Jr. and Bob Schiller, editor Dann Cahn, director Bill Asher (who directed more than 100 episodes of "I Love Lucy") and Gregg Oppenheimer, son of "I Love Lucy" producer and creator Jess Oppenheimer.
Currently, on CBS.com, fans are invited to vote for and rank their favorite "I Love Lucy" episodes of all time. The Top Ten episodes will be revealed during the broadcast. The episodes listed on the online ballot were selected by a distinguished group of "I Love Lucy" experts, including "Lucy" scholars, authors and members of the creative team for the original series. They judged the episodes based on timeliness, defining classic comic and musical moments, creative elements (including story, characterization and artistic craftsmanship), general audience and critical response and popular recognition throughout the years.
The two-hour special will celebrate the "I Love Lucy" phenomenon - what made the show unique and timeless and as fresh and funny today as when it first premiered on CBS in 1951. Stars will share stories about how "I Love Lucy" influenced them and how they feel the show impacted television and their lives. The original "I Love Lucy" creative team, as well as other "Lucy" experts, will be interviewed. Television lovers will get some fun insight into how "I Love Lucy" was created and how it changed the way television shows were produced from then on. They will get an entertaining look at their favorite "Lucy" characters, the relationship between the Ricardos and the Mertzes, the genius of comedy used in the series and exceptional guest stars. The special will include clips of the original series and some never-before-seen footage and will touch on the success of "I Love Lucy" around the world, including broadcasts in foreign languages, fan clubs and memorabilia.
Desi Arnaz Jr. and Lucie Arnaz invite viewers to share in an emotional trip they made to Lucille Ball's birthplace and hometown of Jamestown, N.Y. They also explore their father's Cuban background and his influence upon Latin music in the United States. and on television production, including the three-camera technique. Latin music sensation Jorge Moreno performs a version of Desi's beloved "Babalu" on a stylized set reminiscent of Ricky Ricardo's nightclub, The Tropicana. Additionally, Desi and Lucie sing "Patria" ("Homeland"), an original song written for the special by Billy Hinsche, part of Desi's musical group Ricci, Desi & Billy, with multi Grammy Award-winner Arturo Sandoval on trumpet.
I LOVE LUCY'S 50TH ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL is being produced by Desilu too, L.L.C., Smith-Hemion Productions, Inc. and The Fred Rappoport Company, Inc. Desi Arnaz Jr., Lucie Arnaz, Gary Smith ("AFI's 100 Years...100 Thrills") and Fred A. Rappoport ("AFI's 100 Years...100 Thrills") are the executive producers. Smith is directing the special from a script by Rappoport and Marty Farrell.
