Inside Television's Greatest: I Love Lucy

Although this episode from the Inside Television's Greatest series calls I Love Lucy the “most successful situation comedy in TV history,” this claim for the prototypical sitcom rings less true as The Simpsons prepares to enter its 14th season. Still, there's no gainsaying the fact that I Love Lucy was the first great TV sitcom, creating many conventions that the genre (sometimes slavishly) continues to follow unto this day. Viewers will enjoy revisiting the classic clips assembled here, which include such famous bits as Lucy's Vitameatavegamin health drink gig, the birth of Little Ricky (“the biggest thing in television history”) and the grape stomping episode (and we are repeatedly treated to the hilarity of Lucy's signature mawkish crying, a thrill this aging observer could peacefully go to his grave without ever experiencing again). Chronicling the show's genesis, behind-the-scenes drama, and highlights of the series' phenomenal run (which, including syndication, spans over five decades), the "inside" secrets presented here are generally tame, although the profile does look at the domestic problems that broke up the Lucy-Desi partnership. A decent addition for television history collections and a good bet for general circulating collections, this sure to be popular title is recommended. The other titles in the series are: Cheers, The Mary Tyler Moore Show/The Bob Newhart Show, Hill Street Blues/L.A. Law and The Addams Family/The Munsters (one of "television's greatest"?!?!). Aud: C, P. (M. Tribby)