Number one on my list would be Desi Arnaz. It was Arnaz who came up with the idea of using three cameras to film "I Love Lucy". It was Arnaz who insisted on a live studio audience. Most importantly, it was Arnaz who wanted the rights to the show, which of course made him and Lucy very rich.
Once Desi and Lucy split, Arnaz was considered for many years just being the ex-husband of a famous TV star, when in fact he developed television comedy into a format still in use today.
On the subject of "I Love Lucy" I would also have to include William Frawley in this category.
Frawley was a down-on-his-luck actor when Desi Arnaz brought him on board as Fred Mertz.
Frawley's portrayal of Merz has to be one of TV's best second bananas.
Gail Gordon by far is one of televisions best "second bananas" ( I can't think of another term).
I truly feel that Gordon helped make the other "Lucy" shows entertaining. Without Gordon I don't believe those shows would have lasted as long as they did. Lucy must have felt the same way because she managed to get Gordon out of retirement to star in her ill-fated (and last) TV show on ABC.
Barry Morse's Lt. Gerard is another TV classic. At the start of "The Fugitive" I think most of the audience despised Gerard knowing that Dr. Kimble was innocent and the Lt. would not give up trying to put the good doctor in the electric chair. However as the series progressed Morse's character changed to the point that Gerard started to believe that 'perhaps' Kimble might be innocent. The final two episodes of "The Fugitive" truly highlighted Lt. Gerard from being the obsessed cop to someone who realized that the man he tried to catch all of those years was indeed innocent; thus helping Kimble at the end by killing the one-armed man and convincing Kimble's neighbor to testify of the good doctor's innocence.
Can't leave out George Reeves. He will be remembered as Superman, but in fact he was a fine stage and movie actor before getting the role that would make him famous. It's a shame that Reeves wasn't allowed to showcase his acting talents on other TV shows. I believe, and correct me if I'm wrong, but his contract precluded him, and the other cast members, from taking acting roles on television while the Superman series was on the air.
Once Desi and Lucy split, Arnaz was considered for many years just being the ex-husband of a famous TV star, when in fact he developed television comedy into a format still in use today.
On the subject of "I Love Lucy" I would also have to include William Frawley in this category.
Frawley was a down-on-his-luck actor when Desi Arnaz brought him on board as Fred Mertz.
Frawley's portrayal of Merz has to be one of TV's best second bananas.
Gail Gordon by far is one of televisions best "second bananas" ( I can't think of another term).
I truly feel that Gordon helped make the other "Lucy" shows entertaining. Without Gordon I don't believe those shows would have lasted as long as they did. Lucy must have felt the same way because she managed to get Gordon out of retirement to star in her ill-fated (and last) TV show on ABC.
Barry Morse's Lt. Gerard is another TV classic. At the start of "The Fugitive" I think most of the audience despised Gerard knowing that Dr. Kimble was innocent and the Lt. would not give up trying to put the good doctor in the electric chair. However as the series progressed Morse's character changed to the point that Gerard started to believe that 'perhaps' Kimble might be innocent. The final two episodes of "The Fugitive" truly highlighted Lt. Gerard from being the obsessed cop to someone who realized that the man he tried to catch all of those years was indeed innocent; thus helping Kimble at the end by killing the one-armed man and convincing Kimble's neighbor to testify of the good doctor's innocence.
Can't leave out George Reeves. He will be remembered as Superman, but in fact he was a fine stage and movie actor before getting the role that would make him famous. It's a shame that Reeves wasn't allowed to showcase his acting talents on other TV shows. I believe, and correct me if I'm wrong, but his contract precluded him, and the other cast members, from taking acting roles on television while the Superman series was on the air.
