Publication Date:April 1999 Availability:Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.com Review Laughs indeed as Jess Oppenheimer charts his rise from radio station gofer to inventor of the sitcom, as he winds up writing--then producing--Lucille Ball's show, first on radio, then on television. Luck, too, as the author recounts the good fortune that has him, within minutes of arrival in Hollywood, sitting down at a lunch counter and getting a tip that secures a job within days and a career for life. Ironic, too, that this inveterate TV writer had to be cajoled for years to set down these Hollywood heyday memoirs. He never finished, and it was left to son Gregg to complete the book. All this, plus a reproduced Lucy script, and a CD-ROM filled with famous sketches!
Product Description The man Lucille Ball called "the brains" of "I Love Lucy" gives us an inside view of television history as it was being made. Jess Oppenheimer's famous sitcom was the most popular and influential television phenomenon in the history of the medium. Forty-five years after its debut, it remains a favourite the world over. Oppenheimer's book, written with his son, Gregg, is not only a record of how this groundbreaking comedy was conceived and executed, but an insider's account of the broadcasting industry's development from the early days of radio and television's golden age. Hollywood aficionados should enjoy his entertaining stories of stars such as Douglas Fairbanks, Edgar Bergen, Fred Astaire, and, of course, Lucille Ball. It contains two previously unpublished scripts, dozens of previously unreleased photos and a compact disc full of rare "Lucy" performances.
Light, engaging, informative!January 26, 2009 Gam 3 out of 3 found this review helpful
I was initially a little concerned because Jess' book didn't really get to the very personal aspects of the "Desi and Lucy" relationship. But soon I found his writing style to be fresh, engaging, and full of interesting facts and anecdotes about the early days of Hollywood and TV. And it merged nicely with the facts related to the evolution of the Desilu phenomenon. I had already read 3 other books about the Arnazes and so had had my fill of info about their relationship. This book was a surprising and very pleasant departure from those other books. The title of the book and positive look of the picture on the cover of this book is just what you get on the inside!
A very pleasant read. And Jess writes very well!
Great book and cd!!!March 14, 2007 Susan W. Sager(Atlanta, Ga) 2 out of 2 found this review helpful
This is an excellent informative book about the "I Love Lucy" show and a must have for any Lucy fan! The cd that is included is worth the price of the whole set alone. In the cd it includes hours of hilarious episodes from I Love Lucy and My Favorite Husband starring Lucille Ball, you will also receive lost scenes from the shows on the cd. I am not much of a reader but this book you just can't put down because it is so good and of course I love Lucy! The book doesn't look thick on the picture shown on Amazon but it is a nice thick paperback book and includes lots of wonderful pictures of the cast of I Love Lucy and fun information that you may have not of known about I love Lucy and how it became to be produced.
Good bargainSeptember 26, 2005 constant reader(USA) 0 out of 3 found this review helpful
Out of print book came quickly and condition was very good, service was quick. I will be back.
COULDNT PUT IT DOWN!August 9, 2005 2 out of 3 found this review helpful
I THOUGHT THE BOOK WAS VERY INTERESTING AND INFORMTIVE! IT WAS HILARIOUS AND I JUST COULDNT PUT IT DOWN. IT ONLY TOOK ME THREE DAYS TO READ IT. I THOUGHT IT WAS INTERESTING HOW IT TOLD ABOUT THE LIFE OF JESS OPPENHEIMER AS WELL AS THE LIFE OF LUCILLE BALL AND OTHER CAST MEMBERS FROM THE SHOW I LOVE LUCY. I REALLY LOVE THIS BOOK AND I THINK EVERY I LOVE LUCY FAN SHOULD READ IT!!!
Behind the Scenes of the Best TV Show EverMay 2, 2004 E. Warner(Long Beach, CA United States) 12 out of 12 found this review helpful
I'd like to start with a clarification: this book is not a biography of Lucy, it is the creator's (Jess Oppenheimer) memoir. As such, there are many parts of the book that have nothing to do with Lucy, including episodes from Oppenheimer's childhood and young adult life.
However, this is still a GREAT book! It is well-written and full of entertaining annecdotes. "Laughs, Luck, and Lucy" follows Oppenheimer's slow rise to the top in the Hollywood radio industry. He describes Lucille Ball's program, "My Favorite Husband," which became the basis for "I Love Lucy." The book also includes some behind the scenes information about the making of "I Love Lucy."
The included audio cd is fun because it has clips from both "I Love Lucy" and "My Favorite Husband."
If you are only interested in information specifically about Lucille Ball, this might not be the book for you (try her autobiography, "Love, Lucy"). However, if you (like me) are fascinated with everything surrounding "I Love Lucy" and the Hollywood entertainment industry of the 1940s and 1950s, this is a great read!
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