On the 100th anniversary of her birth Saturday and 60 years since " I Love Lucy " first aired, Lucille Ball's legacy remains remarkable — and her talent remarkably fresh and watchable.
Consider other popular sitcoms that aired alongside Ball and Desi Arnaz's show during its 1951-to-1957 life span on CBS."The Adventures of Ozzie & Harriet" and "Father Knows Best," among others, are period Americana that evoke sweet nostalgia far more than laughs.
But "I Love Lucy," in all its black-and-white glory, remains a draw worldwide for viewers who certainly weren't around for its debut. Over the past five decades the sitcom has wonnew audiences — and introduced Lucy to younger generations — over and over through TV syndication and video sales.
Lucie Arnaz , Ball's daughter, was asked by a Chinese interviewer to explain why her mother and the show are so popular in China. It's a "phenomenon," Arnaz offers.
"I think of her as mom most of the time. Then I switch ... and try to see her as the rest of the world does. It's almost too big," Arnaz said Friday.
Who could have predicted that the most timeless and international of all TV talents would be a fortysomething woman who, taking the structured role of a homemaker in mid-century New York City, stretched into it the stuff of classic comedy?
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