Being the Ricardos

THANKS TO AARON SORKIN, WE NO LONGER LOVE LUCY

Finally got around to seeing Being the Ricardos and now we understand why the reviews are so varied. It’s all the fault of writer/director Aaron Sorkin. There’s no doubt he’s an intelligent and skillful writer, BUT he lacks empathy, and like most male writers, should NOT be writing female characters. His female characters behave and speak just like men and other women cannot identify with them. Nicole Kidman’s Lucy was impossible to even LIKE, much less love. (Was anybody else bothered by Lucy using the F word so frequently? in 1952, yet!) The film revealed NOTHING about her personality or private life that would make viewers connect with her. The actors in the film did a valiant job, especially with the lines they were given. Sorkin also jammed too many storylines and incidents into “one week” of Lucy and Desi’s life.The film not only made us not love Lucy but it made us wonder if Lucie Arnaz, who approved this film, suffered during her childhood and wanted to punish her mother with this…

By Janet / December 29, 2021

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Being the Ricardos Nicole Kidman Voice

WHAT’S WRONG WITH THIS “BEING THE RICARDOS” TRAILER?

Only one thing bothered us when we saw this seductive trailer for Being the Ricardos- it spoiled our enthusiasm just a little bit- can you guess what it was?

NICOLE KIDMAN’S VOICE sounds nothing like Lucy!

By Janet / October 20, 2021

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Being the Ricardos Hair! Lucille Ball Nicole Kidman

NICOLE KIDMAN ACTUALLY LOOKS A LOT LIKE LUCY

Everybody’s been talking about how Nicole Kidman bears little resemblance to Lucille Ball, the character she’s playing in Being the Ricardos. In fact, Nicole is a natural redhead with curly hair – just like Lucille. And she has the same tall model figure that Lucy had. In this photo she’s wearing a wig and we hope it looks real up close. A movie can be totally ruined right from the beginning if a character is wearing an obvious wig. If we spot a wig in a film we cannot get into the story- it’s all about the wig. THAT’s how important hair experts are on a set. We wonder if Nicole will have those strangely drawn on lips that Lucy had…

Photo Credit: BACKGRID-USA

By Janet / May 6, 2021

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Alia Shawkat I Love Lucy Lucille Ball Writer

ALIA SHAWKAT DOESN’T NEED BRAD PITT

You may not recognize this actress in her 1950’s wardrobe, but she abruptly became famous because she was seen in the company of Brad Pitt. She’s Alia Shawkat, and it turned out she and Brad are just friends, but it put her on the map. Alia is costarring in the Lucille Ball film (with Nicole Kidman) now called Being the Ricardos for Amazon. She plays Madelyn Pugh Davis. Madelyn and Bob Carroll Jr were the writers of the entire I Love Lucy 180 episode series. Madelyn was one of VERY few female writers in Hollywood – certainly it was her female point of view that made Lucille Ball so funny. Let’s face it, female writers are BETTER at writing female characters. Leave it to writer/director Aaron Sorkin to acknowledge the importance of these comedy writers.

Photo Credit: BACKGRID-USA

By Janet / May 2, 2021

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Fred Mertz JK Simmons

JK SIMMONS IS FRED MERTZ?

At first glance this casting seems HIGHLY improbable. JK Simmons is a physically fit, attractive man who in no way resembles the portly character on I Love Lucy. What we remember most about Fred Mertz was that he was chubby and wore his belted pants way up high on his chest. And he was a bit grumpy. Simmons is a skilled actor (remember the Oscar for Whiplash?) but THIS is a challenge. Actually, Simmons is playing William Frawley in the Amazon film Being the Ricardos opposite Nicole Kidman as Lucille Ball and Javier Bardem as Desi Arnaz. The story takes place behind the scenes of taping one episode of I Love Lucy. But since William Frawley WAS Fred Mertz, we wonder if Simmons will pack on a few pounds for the role to make it believable…

Photo Credit: BACKGRID-USA

By Janet / February 9, 2021

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Aaron Sorkin Being the Ricardos Desi Arnaz I Love Lucy Javier Bardem Lucille Ball Nicole Kidman

CASTING CALL FOR FRED AND ETHEL MERTZ

Nice to hear that Aaron Sorkin has written and is directing a feature film about Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz called Being the Ricardos and it looks like Nicole Kidman and Javier Bardem will be starring. Lucy and Desi filmed 180 episodes (that’s a LOT!) of the hit show I Love Lucy for the six seasons it ran in the early 50’s. It was one of the all-time most successful series on TV, and Aaron’s script deals with one production week of the show in which two devastating events occurred threatening the couple’s careers and their marriage. Interesting that Nicole and Javier are neither American or Cuban. What we want to know is: Who will play Fred and Ethel Mertz? Any suggestions?

Photo: I Love Lucy

By Janet / January 11, 2021

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