I Love Lucy was one of the most watched television sitcoms of the 1950s, running on CBS from 1951 to 1957, at which time it was renamed The Lucille Ball-Desi Arnaz Show. The show continued to air new episodes until 1960. As a result of the show’s continuous high ratings, I Love Lucy earned five Emmy awards as well as many other awards and nominations. The show was written by Jess Oppenheimer, Bob Carroll Jr., and Madelyn Davis and was directed by Marc Daniels and William Asher.

I Love Lucy captured the attention of viewers all across America as on and off screen married couple Ricky Ricardo (Dezi Arnaz) and Lucy Ricardo (Lucille Ball) dealt with unusual day to day situations, often brought about by Lucy herself.

Lucy’s best friend and landlord, Ethel Mertz (Vivian Vance), married to Fred Mertz (William Frawley), attempted to keep Lucy out of trouble, but her efforts failed time and time again as the hardheaded redhead’s obsession with becoming a show star often superseded her common sense. Life became even more interesting for the Ricardo’s after Lucy gave birth to the couple’s first child, Little Ricky.

The show ended in 1960, the same year that Arnaz and Ball divorced. Decades later, reruns of the show still manage to captivate and entertain audiences around the world.  Several shows starring Lucille Ball followed I Love Lucy. Such shows include The Lucy Show, which ran from 1962 until 1968, as well as Here’s Lucy, which ran from 1968 to 1974. An attempt at a third show in 1986 titled Life with Lucy fell short and the show was canceled because of poor ratings. However, none of these shows compare to the original classic that lives on in our memories forever. There has never been another housewife quite like Lucy Ricardo, nor will there ever be. Lucille Ball will always be remembered as one of Hollywood’s greatest.