** SET  6. **

*** Last updated - February 10, 2000 ***

Q.  Hello Lucie, I am 25 years old and I have seen the Lucy show from the 60's and I enjoyed it immensely! I have a question though...what was it like working with Desi Jr. and did you two ever argue on the set? Also are there any plans to work together again or would you like to persue that? Thank you!

Lucie:  It was so much fun playing "make believe" with my brother -- whether it was in our own backyard, or on the set of "Here's Lucy." He was/is a good actor, and he always had a wacky sense of humour. Unfortunately, he only stayed on the show of a couple of seasons before features stole him away. I'm sure we must have argued on the set -- we nibbled at each other all the time. That's what brothers and sisters do! But I can't remember one of them. Desi is my best friend today.

Q.  Lucie -- do you remember when you did They're Playing Our Song live on stage? I saw you in Chicago and I immediately bought the album and program.. I still have it and play it ---- it's wearing out... I thought you were fabulous in that play... did you enjoy doing it?

Lucie:  Do I remember??!! Senility hadn't set in yet!! Yes, of course. It was a mere two decades ago (ouch), and it feels like last summer. I loved every minute of that amazing gift of an experience. It just serves to remind me how blessed I have been in my life.

Q. I am in the middle of reading Kathleen Brady's book about your mother and I was wondering what you thought about it. It seems very different from other books I have read because it talks about a lot of other events that other authors and even Lucy did not mention in her autobiography. I think it's really interesting.

Lucie:  I do remember the Brady book. I recall it being very an interesting read, but not very accurate (for example she says Lucille did not have a single memory of her father [page 6]; the statement about the nice hats [page 8] I made up myself!; the topless photo is suspect and does not much resemble her, etc. etc.) Either she didn't check facts thoroughly, or people she interviewed made things up. The Brady book is better than some, however. The Jim Brochu , "Lucy in the Afternoon" book (which was released moments after her passing) is littered with inaccuracies, and totally fabricated stories. Skip THAT one!

Q.  Lucie- 1) If there was one role you could play what would it be?
2) Have you ever considered writing an autobiography?
3) How often do you write for the Westchester WAG magazine and what are your articles about?

Lucie:  1) Working mother of three well adjusted, happy children and a contented wife who lives to be very old with her spouse and grandchildren around her.

2) No. I'm not ready to make sense out of my life yet.

3) A few times a year. They have given me tremendous freedom to write about virtually anything that interests me. Articles have been about Jean Harris and her Children of Bedford Program and my 18 year old son deciding to move out. One time I printed some of my poetry. It's fun, and I wish I had more time to contribute these on a regular basis.

Q.  Hello Lucie, First of all I want to tell you how much of an honor it is to get the opportunity to write to you. I know you hear that all the time but I had to say it anyway. I have watched the movie "Lucy-Desi, A home movie" a million times and I feel as though I know you. You talk with great honesty and compassion when you talk about your mother and father. Even when you are talking about the bad things that people don't want to remember. They want to always remember them as Lucy and Ricky..happy and together. I have watched that video so many times (at least once a month) and I still cry every time. But I hear you in the video and see your dedication to them still. That is very loving. Thank you for the video. It is a treasure for any fan.  I knew I would get off on talking about your mother but it is impossible not to mention her. I apologize.
My question is... What work have you done that you are most proud of, whether it were a hit or miss? And why was it your favorite. I just want to know if you do things for the personal love of an idea.
Also, how is Desi Jr.? He is a real cutie. I love him playing his dad in "The Mambo King". I hope your site is going good and giving you the recognition that you deserve.

Lucie:   First of all, you needn't apologize for talking about my mother. You just gave me one of the nicest compliments I could receive, telling me how much my work on our Lucy-Desi documentary has touched and affected you. I'm so happy to hear that.

To answer your first question -- in reality, giving birth and raising three children, not running away to work as much as I'd sometimes like to, and continuing to try to strengthen our family's communication and connection is what I am most proud of. It's the only work that matters. The "show biz" work I do is my "play," and all of that is fun. I guess I'm most proud when I'm doing things I didn't think I could do, like tap dancing in My One And Only with Tommy Tune, or learning and performing "Master Class." I have been fortunate to be able to choose projects from time to time, and that's unusual in this business.

Desi is the best he's ever been. The most content, cutest and thinnest, and I'll bet happiest because he's back writing music again with longtime pals Billy Hinsche and Ricci Martin (Dino Martin's brother). Ricci, Desi and Billy just performed along with Beach Boys Family and Friends at the MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas, and they have a new CD on the way called, "My Old Friend." Desi is a very talented and compassionate guy. He just bought and renovated an old movie theatre in his town. He has a wife and daughter who always come first, and a very private and productive life. 

And yes, isn't this a wonderful site? Laura has given us all quite a nice gift. And now we have a great address so everyone can find us more easily. Thank you for visiting.

Q.  Lucie,  When I was a child, I used to be confused as to why Lucy Ricardo and Ethel Mertz looked so much like Lucy Carmichael and Vivian Bagley, and I couldn't figure out what happened to Ricky and Fred on THE LUCY SHOW. When HERE'S LUCY started, I could not understand where Chris and Jerry Carmichael went. It was hard enough for me, was it difficult for you growing up to figure out who Lucy and Ricky Ricardo were when you lived with the real Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz?

Lucie:  My therapist and I are still working on that one. When we unravel it, I'll fill you all in!

Q.  Lucie,  In the early years of Here's Lucy, did you do a toothpaste commercial, for Pepsodent, I think? I am having a flashback of you holding a script and talking about how the toothpaste got your teeth their whitest white. Seeing you holding a script I think was the first time I really realized that Lucie Arnaz was an actress, and Kim Carter was a fictional character. Thanks!

Lucie:  Boy, you do have a fantastic memory! Yes, I did do a Pepsodent commercial. Lever Brothers was our sponsor and I was very excited to be trusted to do that, I remember.

Q.  Lucie,  If you ever do a video of your forgotten television moments, you have got to include the song you sang to your mother the night she got inducted into the Television Hall of Fame. I think it was called "My Mother, The Star"? Did you write that yourself? I think Carol Burnett came on afterwards and inducted your mother. Your performance may be the only one in the history of television that neither Carol Burnett or Lucille Ball could top!

Lucie:  Thank you very much for remembering that. It was one of my favourite pieces and a very special moment. I didn't write all of it. It was composed by Larry Grossman (and Buz Kohan I think) and we very well may include is in an I Love Lucy 50th Anniversary TV special in 2001, or sing it again live.

Q.  Hi Lucie, Is that your mom singing "Breezing Along With the Breeze" in "The Long, Long Trailer?"

Lucie:   That is absolutely my mother's voice in "Breezin." I thought they sounded great together in that number. You can tell that when she wasn't having to pretend to have no talent (as Lucy Ricardo) and before all the years of vocal abuse ruined her voice, she was a lovely singer. That "Lucy" high-pitched, screamy caricature, and decades of smoking destroyed that ability though. Isn't that a shame?