Lucille Ball was a headstrong actress.
When she was doing "I Love Lucy" she always yielded to Desi Arnaz because of her love for him and her respect for his management of the show.
When she did "Lucy Show" everything changed: she was divorced, her voice had changed because of doing the Broadway show "Wildcat" (it wrecked her vocal chords), she got Desilu Studios as part of the divorce settlement and she became a big time b!tch.
Her on screen technique changed changed as a result.
Her presence became totally mechanized: mugging and groaning through every scene.
Her insecurity at not having Desi meant she ruled the set, firing one actor when he stood up to her, using salty language to make people cringe and, finally, making uber-b!tch guest star Joan Crawford cry.
I think the real nadir of the series (and of all of Broadcast TV, really) came when she did that horribly, awful show where she gets drafted because a letter arrives for "Lou C. Carmichael" and her name in the series is "Lucy Carmichael".
The Army insists she be drafted nevertheless, and she gets her hair dutifully buzzed off while sporting a private uniform. Then they put her through boot camp.
STOOOOPID and actually UNCOMFORTABLE TO WATCH.
But it was "Lucy" - so I did.
Thus was the currency of Lucille Ball: even if they were pennies, they were pennies from Heaven.
I LOVE/MISS LUCY RICARDO!!!
