Watch Here's Lucy

Here's Lucy was a popular American television sitcom that aired on CBS for six seasons from 1968-1974. The show starred legendary actress, comedian, and producer Lucille Ball as Lucy Carter, a widow who lived in Los Angeles with her two children Kim (played by her real-life daughter Lucie Arnaz) and Craig (played by Desi Arnaz Jr.), and her brother-in-law Harry (played by Gale Gordon).

The show was created by Lucille Ball and writers Bob Carroll Jr. and Madelyn Davis, who worked with Ball on her earlier series I Love Lucy, The Lucy Show, and The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour. Here's Lucy followed a similar format to these previous shows, featuring Lucy getting into various comedic hijinks and misadventures with her family, friends, and various celebrities who guest-starred on the show.

Each episode of Here's Lucy typically opened with a musical number featuring Lucille Ball, Lucie Arnaz, and Desi Arnaz Jr. performing a song and dance routine. The show also utilized a laugh track, which was a common practice in sitcoms of the era.

One of the hallmarks of Here's Lucy was the chemistry between Lucille Ball and her long-time co-star Gale Gordon. Gordon played Lucy's cantankerous brother-in-law Harry, who reluctantly went along with Lucy's schemes but often became exasperated with her hijinks. The banter between Lucy and Harry was a highlight of the show, with Gordon's deadpan delivery providing the perfect foil to Ball's zany antics.

In addition to Gordon, Here's Lucy featured a talented supporting cast, including Mary Jane Croft as Lucy's friend Mary Jane Lewis, Vanda Barra as Lucy's neighbor Vivian Jones, and Candy Moore as Lucy's daughter Kim's best friend, Mary Jane's daughter Jerry.

One of the unique aspects of Here's Lucy was the show's frequent use of celebrity guest stars playing themselves. Over the course of the series, numerous famous faces appeared on the show, including John Wayne, Carol Burnett, Liberace, Andy Griffith, Milton Berle, Johnny Carson, and more. These guest stars often became embroiled in Lucy's wacky schemes, leading to memorable comedic moments.

Aside from the celebrity guest stars, Here's Lucy also referenced contemporary pop culture and Hollywood trends of the time. For example, in one episode, Lucy and Harry attend a "Happening" where they encounter hippies and psychedelic art, while in another, Lucy becomes a hairdresser and competes in a hair fashion show.

Despite its lighthearted and comedic nature, Here's Lucy also tackled serious themes from time to time, such as women's rights, the environment, and the evolving social landscape of the 1960s and 70s.

Throughout its six-season run, Here's Lucy remained a popular and beloved sitcom, winning numerous Emmy nominations and cementing Lucille Ball's status as one of television's most iconic stars. While it may be most remembered as a nostalgic relic of the 1970s, the show's enduring popularity and cultural impact continue to be felt today, as new audiences discover it on streaming services and cable TV.

Here's Lucy is a series that ran for 6 seasons (145 episodes) between September 23, 1968 and on CBS