Their best friends are Fred and Ethel Mertz, who are also their landlords. The two couples were almost inseparable, whatever the Ricardos did, so did the Mertzs. Usually, Ethel becomes Lucy's less-than-willing partner in crime. Ricky and Lucy welcomed little Ricky in 1953, whose birth was a national TV event. Later in the show's run, the Ricardos (and the Mertzes) moved to Hollywood, where Ricky tried to become a movie star.

Cast & Characters

• Lucille Ball as Lucy Ricardo
• Desi Arnaz as Ricky Ricardo
• Vivian Vance as Ethel Mertz
• William Frawley as Fred Mertz
• Richard Keith as Little Ricky Ricardo (1956-1957)
• Jerry Hausner as Jerry , the agent
• Elizabeth Patterson as Mrs. Mathilda Trumball
• Doris Singleton as Caroline Appleby
• Kathryn Card as Mrs. MacGillicuddy
• Mary Jane Croft as Betty Ramsey (1957)
• Frank Nelson as Ralph Ramsey (1957)

Broadcast History

First Telecast: October 15, 1951
Last Telecast: September 24, 1961
Original Network: CBS
Number of Seasons: 9
Number of Episodes: 179
I Love Lucy Episode Guide
Original Primetime TV Schedule:

• October 1951- June 1957, CBS, Monday 9:00-9:30pm
• April 1955- October 1955, CBS, Sunday 6:00-6:30pm
• October 1955- April 1956, CBS, Saturday 6:30-7:00pm
• September 1957- May 1958, CBS, Wednesday 7:30-8:00pm
• July 1958- September 1958, CBS, Monday 9:00-9:30pm
• October 1958- May 1959, CBS, Thursday 7:30-8:00pm
• July 1959- September 1959, CBS, Friday 8:30-9:00pm
• September 1961, CBS, Sunday 6:30-7:00pm

Theme Song & Opening Credits

Theme by Harold Adamson and Elliot Daniel

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