the idea for the series was actually from one of the Desilu executives in charge of Pilot Development. It was his job to come up with ideas for potential pilots which could then be pitched to the networks or into first run syndication (which was fairly common then).
The idea went as far as CBS (who most believe was actually where the original idea came from, having been broached in 1956 when Arnaz, over strong and serious objections from the network, decided he was going to the monthly one-hour format. CBS figured Arnaz was trying to back out of 'I Love Lucy' and thought a series with the Mertz' would be a strong replacement) who told Arnaz they would buy it after script approval. This got Arnaz buzzing.
Figuring the hour-format had not been well received by Frawley and Vance, and knowing it was his fault, Arnaz went to Frawley and the two discussed the idea at a nearby bar. Frawley said he'd do it, but said 'Cuban, you're going to need all your charm to get Vance to agree'. Arnaz reached her at home and had her come in on some pretext. There he proposed the series idea. Before he could finish she told Arnaz that she didn't care to work with Frawley anymore. He knew the two had issues but didn't believe she would turn down this kind of career offer. He tried to interest her by offering a great deal of money and billing plus other benefits (such as TBD specials and possibly film work at Desilu) but Vance held firm: no Frawley.
When that idea went south Arnaz tried to interest Vance in her own series sans Frawley. Even that proved difficult. Casting her to star in a new series, 'Guestward Ho', a show written almost custom made for her and based on the real Iife experience she had in New Mexico, Vance bombed during pre-filming rehearsals and had to be replaced. She never did manage to 'get out from under Ball's shadow' and have her own success. The idea of using her was dropped.
It was clear that Arnaz had no desire to offer Frawley his own series, as he did for Vance, and almost as soon as 'Comedy Hour' ended Frawley landed the role of 'Bub' on 'My Three Sons'. He stayed with the series until being removed for health reason mid-way thru season #5. After a brief cameo with Ball on 'The Lucy Show' he passed away in 1965.
Vance went on to star in that same series. However, her overall distaste for the business and her seeming failure to prosper away from Ball, led her to leave the series after season 3. From there out she would appear in a number of episodes each season with Ball, but never again to be under 'the Boss' full-time. She passed away in 1979, having been out of active acting since leaving Ball's series in 1965.
Arnaz firmly believed that a series about the Mertz' would have been a hit. The network was behind it as well, prepared to offer big bucks to have it on CBS. Writers were already working on outlines for possible plots. As someone noted here, the series would have to make a move. Since Ball and Arnaz had no plans to act together, the series would have to go on without their direct involvement. It would have to have some sort of connection to them but go on without their ever popping up in an episode. The Mertz' would probably have to leave the guest house in Connecticut and move back to the old building New York. There they would be able to reconnect with some of the tenants from the 'ILL' days as well as introduce new cast to round it out.
I don't see finding a series theme all that hard. However, the question hanging over it would always be 'where are Lucy, Ricky and Little Ricky?'. I can think of many ideas myself, such as having Ricky return to Hollywood and their deciding to keep Little Ricky in school back east. It would be a great plot arch to have Lucy and LR visit the Mertz in NY and, true to her character, decide to move back to NY and their old apartment. And so on...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AmlFlP-YIdY the idea for the series was actually from one of the Desilu executives in charge of Pilot Development. It was his job to come up with ideas for potential pilots which could then be pitched to the networks or into first run syndication (which was fairly common then).
The idea went as far as CBS (who most believe was actually where the original idea came from, having been broached in 1956 when Arnaz, over strong and serious objections from the network, decided he was going to the monthly one-hour format. CBS figured Arnaz was trying to back out of 'I Love Lucy' and thought a series with the Mertz' would be a strong replacement) who told Arnaz they would buy it after script approval. This got Arnaz buzzing.
Figuring the hour-format had not been well received by Frawley and Vance, and knowing it was his fault, Arnaz went to Frawley and the two discussed the idea at a nearby bar. Frawley said he'd do it, but said 'Cuban, you're going to need all your charm to get Vance to agree'. Arnaz reached her at home and had her come in on some pretext. There he proposed the series idea. Before he could finish she told Arnaz that she didn't care to work with Frawley anymore. He knew the two had issues but didn't believe she would turn down this kind of career offer. He tried to interest her by offering a great deal of money and billing plus other benefits (such as TBD specials and possibly film work at Desilu) but Vance held firm: no Frawley.
When that idea went south Arnaz tried to interest Vance in her own series sans Frawley. Even that proved difficult. Casting her to star in a new series, 'Guestward Ho', a show written almost custom made for her and based on the real Iife experience she had in New Mexico, Vance bombed during pre-filming rehearsals and had to be replaced. She never did manage to 'get out from under Ball's shadow' and have her own success. The idea of using her was dropped.
It was clear that Arnaz had no desire to offer Frawley his own series, as he did for Vance, and almost as soon as 'Comedy Hour' ended Frawley landed the role of 'Bub' on 'My Three Sons'. He stayed with the series until being removed for health reason mid-way thru season #5. After a brief cameo with Ball on 'The Lucy Show' he passed away in 1965.
Vance went on to star in that same series. However, her overall distaste for the business and her seeming failure to prosper away from Ball, led her to leave the series after season 3. From there out she would appear in a number of episodes each season with Ball, but never again to be under 'the Boss' full-time. She passed away in 1979, having been out of active acting since leaving Ball's series in 1965.
Arnaz firmly believed that a series about the Mertz' would have been a hit. The network was behind it as well, prepared to offer big bucks to have it on CBS. Writers were already working on outlines for possible plots. As someone noted here, the series would have to make a move. Since Ball and Arnaz had no plans to act together, the series would have to go on without their direct involvement. It would have to have some sort of connection to them but go on without their ever popping up in an episode. The Mertz' would probably have to leave the guest house in Connecticut and move back to the old building New York. There they would be able to reconnect with some of the tenants from the 'ILL' days as well as introduce new cast to round it out.
I don't see finding a series theme all that hard. However, the question hanging over it would always be 'where are Lucy, Ricky and Little Ricky?'. I can think of many ideas myself, such as having Ricky return to Hollywood and their deciding to keep Little Ricky in school back east. It would be a great plot arch to have Lucy and LR visit the Mertz in NY and, true to her character, decide to move back to NY and their old apartment. And so on...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AmlFlP-YIdY
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