I Couldn’t Resist…
On December 11, 2013
- TV History
I Couldn’t Resist…
After looking at hundreds of shots, I’ve come to the conclusion that at least half the visual magic on ‘I Love Lucy’ is in the faces of the characters. It seems about a quarter of the fun is in big pay off ‘reveal’ shots like this, and the final quarter is in the movement and body language of the cast. There is a huge dose of animation throughout each episode that borders on cartoonish, but usually doesn’t cross that line. For my money, the cast of Lucy, Desi, Fred and Ethyl is the best ensemble of characters ever to appear on television.
This is true with a lot of great female comedians. Lucille Ball, Eve Arden and Carol Burnett knew how to use their faces to make people laugh. Martha Raye, Kay Ballard, Fanny Brice, the list goes on and on. And even today Melissa McCarthy, in more subtle way’s, uses her face. Mayim Bialik does the same on The Big Bang Theory.