Lucy and Desi credited each other when asked who was responsible for their success

"We both believe you have to give a little and take a little to make a go of it."

CBS Television Distribution

A good marriage is based on mutual respect. You can't love someone that you're not capable of respecting. Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz, marital partners as well as professionals, had the rare gift of admiring each other in more ways than one.

The two loved each other very much, both as spouses and as entertainers.

"No — of course not," said Ball, when asked if the success of their careers ever got to be overwhelming during an interview with the Quad-City Times. "I'd rather the rush, for I still remember those long years of being lonely — when Desi was on tour."

Both Arnaz and Ball were incredibly humble and were quick to credit their significant other when asked who was responsible for their success. "It is all Lucy," said Arnaz.

"No," Ball said, "it is Desi. I am no businesswoman. I can't even add up a gin rummy score and make the total come out the same way twice."

Both Ball and Arnaz held each other in high esteem, but they were also incredibly realistic about what they expected to get out of their successes in the entertainment industry and concentrated on diversifying themselves in order to retain that success.

"It is overwhelming — and sometimes terrifying, but we don't expect to stay on top, career-wise, forever," Ball said. "Desilu is producing other films now besides ours."

"The one thing we are most grateful for is our success," said Arnaz.

"We try to do everything together," Ball said. "Whether it is the discipline of our children, problems in our home, or our hobbies — we both believe you have to give a little and take a little to make a go of it."

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9 Comments

Lillyrose 22 days ago
It's wonderful and sweet that Lucy and Desi each thought that the other was responsible for their success. I think that they are both responsible for I Love Lucy's success. So are Fred and Ethel. I can't imagine "I Love Lucy" without those four. The best cast ever!
deltadart 24 days ago
They were a great team that produce a timeless Classic!
Runeshaper 26 days ago
"We try to do everything together," Ball said. "Whether it is the discipline of our children, problems in our home, or our hobbies — we both believe you have to give a little and take a little to make a go of it." This concept is absolutely beautiful.
CoreyC 26 days ago
Desi deserved a lot of credit benind the scenes. He introduced the three camera filming and the rerun.
Wiseguy70005 CoreyC 21 days ago
Desi didn't invent the rerun. Anything on film can be rerun. Jackie Gleason's Life of Riley and Amos n Andy were both filmed and premiered before I Love Lucy. This series introduced filming a series in front of an audience.
Antenna2 Wiseguy70005 20 days ago
I think it's this site that mentioned Leave it to Beaver's producers were the first to have a series finale, not sure if that also lead to reruns but they were the first to close a series with a final episode.
CoreyC Wiseguy70005 18 days ago
It might have been the clip show. Desi used it when Lucy gave birth to Desi Jr.
cperrynaples CoreyC 18 days ago
Actually, the "clip show" of Lucy happened in Season 6! That's the one with 5 Santas,and it's not on MeTV or Catchy Comedy!
WordsmithWorks 26 days ago
"(Y)ou have to give a little and take a little to make a go of it." That's good advice for a number of situations.
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