In the 1950s, every Monday night nearly 16 million Americans throughout the country interrupted their daily schedules to tune in to the timeless family show, I Love Lucy. Lucille Ball and her crew explored the possibilities of television and its untapped potential that would forever alter America’s entertainment industry. Prior to Lucille Ball’s work, there were very few television shows in existence. The television business was risky, few people had a television within their home and even fewer people tuned in regularly to watch. Despite the risks, Lucille Ball pushed onward and in doing so, she became a pioneer of the television industry. Lucille Ball grew up taking risks and trying to make a name for herself, a struggle that began in her
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The news article entitled “America Still Loves Lucy” written by Brian Arthurs states, “The show struck a chord in American living rooms, with its comedic depictions of an everyday housewife and her hardworking musician husband” (Arthurs, 1). The show depicted the societal roles of men and women, showing Lucy’s subservience to her husband Ricky, which fit into society’s idea of a woman in her proper place. However, the show also challenged the roles of men and women set by their predecessors. Lucille Ball’s character appealed to many women of the time period who yearned for something more than being a housewife. The news article goes on to say, "Women identified with Lucy … She showed that (women) could be hungry to do more with their lives without it being too feminist (for the era)" (Arthurs, 1). I Love Lucy challenged racist views held by the audience and producers by casting Cuban Desi Arnaz as the husband to American Lucille Ball. Ball also went on to become the first pregnant woman shown on television, however because of the conservative time the writers were not allowed to use the word “pregnant,” rather they had to use words like “expecting”. Although the show remained respectful to the values of the time, it was also monumental in tearing down gender and racial barriers facing people in the 20th
The news article entitled “America Still Loves Lucy” written by Brian Arthurs states, “The show struck a chord in American living rooms, with its comedic depictions of an everyday housewife and her hardworking musician husband” (Arthurs, 1). The show depicted the societal roles of men and women, showing Lucy’s subservience to her husband Ricky, which fit into society’s idea of a woman in her proper place. However, the show also challenged the roles of men and women set by their predecessors. Lucille Ball’s character appealed to many women of the time period who yearned for something more than being a housewife. The news article goes on to say, "Women identified with Lucy … She showed that (women) could be hungry to do more with their lives without it being too feminist (for the era)" (Arthurs, 1). I Love Lucy challenged racist views held by the audience and producers by casting Cuban Desi Arnaz as the husband to American Lucille Ball. Ball also went on to become the first pregnant woman shown on television, however because of the conservative time the writers were not allowed to use the word “pregnant,” rather they had to use words like “expecting”. Although the show remained respectful to the values of the time, it was also monumental in tearing down gender and racial barriers facing people in the 20th