“I Love Lucy” changed the face of television. At the same time, it elevated Lucille Ball to the status of legend. Even decades after her death, the stunning redhead is a television icon. She still brings laughter to generations of fans around the world.
The “I Love Lucy” star was many things. She was hilarious, courageous, tenacious, and humble. Ball was a star, a comedian, and a mother. One thing she was not was a businesswoman, according to her daughter, Lucie Arnaz. Arnaz told “Yahoo! Life” that her mother didn’t have a great business mind in a 2019 interview.
The “I Love Lucy” Star Wasn’t a Great Business Woman
Lucille Ball gets a lot of credit for being the first woman to lead a major TV studio. After she and her “I Love Lucy” co-star Desi Arnaz divorced, she became the head of Desilu Productions. So, many people think that she was a phenomenal businesswoman. However, her daughter says that it flat out isn’t true. In fact, she hated running the business end of things.
It wasn’t because he didn’t have the mind for it, though. She just didn’t want to do it. The “I Love Lucy” star had no interest in being a businesswoman. Ball was happiest when she was acting. She loved being in front of a camera or on a stage. That is where she found the most joy.
Not only did she not have an interest in being a businesswoman she also wasn’t very good at it, according to Arnaz. However, her instincts were on point. Her daughter said that Lucille Ball made her best business decisions when she was following her gut. For instance, she liked “Star Trek,” and “Mission: Impossible,” so she made the call to keep them on the air. They went on to be almost as iconic as “I Love Lucy.”
Lucille Ball may not have had the best business mind in the game but no one can deny that she was hilarious. While she would always give the credit for her comedy to the writers working behind the scenes, she brought the scripts to life. She was a master of physical comedy and her timing was flawless.
Arnaz noted that “I Love Lucy,” is timelessly funny and endearing. She added that it wasn’t just the humor that made the show so great. Instead, it was the message of unconditional love and forgiveness. Arnaz said that they could have called the show, “I Love Lucy Anyway.” and it would have been just as fitting. The titular character always had some ‘splaining to do. However, by the end of the episode, everything was fine in their home.
Great business mind or not, we will always love what Lucile Ball brought to the table.
