I Love Lucy is perhaps one of the most recognized and beloved TV shows of all time. Some may even say that it is better than modern sitcoms. It made household names out of Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz and helped Ball become one of the most powerful women in show business. A definitive part of American culture, some of the show’s iconic moments, such as Lucy’s Vitameatavegimen commercial, have become timeless examples of TV comedy.
While I Love Lucy often focused on the relationship between Lucy and Ricky Ricardo, the Ricardos’ neighbors, Ethel and Fred Mertz, also were essential to the show’s longevity. While the Mertzs had comedic chemistry on screen, actors Vivian Vance and William Frawley had a profoundly different experience behind the scenes. In this article, we discuss why Vivian Vance and William Frawley hated each other, as well as how Vance and Frawley impacted the show’s success.
Why Did Vivian Vance And William Frawley Have A Complicated Relationship Off-Screen?
For six seasons, Vivian Vance and William Frawley played Ethel and Fred Mertz respectively on I Love Lucy. Ethel and Fred were not only Lucy and Ricky’s neighbors in the show, but critical components of the sitcom’s overall story. Ethel and Lucy were best friends, and would often get in trouble together. Furthermore, Ethel and Fred would comedically, but innocently bicker, adding to the show’s humor.
While Vivian Vance and William Frawley portrayed a convincing couple on-screen, their off-screen relationship was more akin to a furious feud, according to Grunge. In fact, Vance and Frawley eventually loathed each other. Reportedly, their heated relationship was fueled by Vance hating the fact that Frawley was quite a few years her senior. When I Love Lucy first aired, Frawley was already in his mid-sixties when Vance was in her early forties, according to BestLife.
Gregg Oppenheimer, the son of I Love Lucy’s producer, Jess Oppenheimer, spoke candidly about Vance and Frawley’s relationship in his I Love Lucy biography, “for one thing, Vivian Vance couldn’t stomach Bill Frawley. Actually, they got along quite well at first. Viv became upset at the fact that people so readily accepted her lovely young self as the wife of ‘that old man’, as she called him.” Vance reportedly said that “no one will believe I’m married to that old coot”, according to Country Living.
Age certainly played a key role in Vance’s hatred for her co-star, but that’s not where the story ends. Far from it. Frawley reciprocated the feelings towards Vance, and despised her comments about his age. Oppenheimer elaborated, “when Bill got wind of her complaints, he was offended, and retaliated by suggesting lines for himself that characterized Ethel as having ‘a figure like a sack of doorknobs’ or some other of a long list of insults.” Vance also desired to insult Frawley on camera, and would call his character “ol’ fat Freddy” in episodes of the sitcom, according to BestLife. As a result, a full out insult war began between the two actors.
Frawley allegedly went as far as to say that “she’s one of the finest girls to come out of Kansas, but I often wish she’d go back there.” When Vance and Frawley were offered a spin-off series, Vance vetoed the idea immediately, according to Best Life.
Vance’s feelings towards Frawley were so strong, that she reportedly even celebrated his death. When Frawley passed in March 1966, Vance was at a dinner and once she learned of his passing, she allegedly proclaimed “champagne for everybody!”, according to Outsider.
How Did Vivian Vance And William Frawley Impact I Love Lucy’s Success?
While I Love Lucy originally aired between 1951 and 1957, the beloved sitcom found a new audience in every generation that followed. The show’s innocent, clean humor struck a chord with fans. The main characters, Lucy Ricardo, Ricky Ricardo, Ethel Mertz, and Fred Mertz, became a treasured part of American popular culture. Lucy and Ricky’s TV son, Little Ricky, only furthered the show’s popularity. Richard Keith, who portrayed Little Ricky, remains the last surviving member of I Love Lucy’s cast.
For two entertainers who made millions of people laugh together, it is disappointing to imagine Vivian Vance and William Frawley’s real life relationship. The characters they brought to life are legendary and are still beloved by fans young and old today. Despite their hatred for each other, Vance and Frawley were able to let their acting abilities shine. They performed to the best of their abilities even while feuding. As a result, their characters added significant comedic value to the show. Without the Mertzs, I Love Lucy would have been very different. Perhaps not as critically and commercially acclaimed.
When Lucille Ball passed away in April 1989, after battling a private heart condition, her passing impacted multiple generations. I Love Lucy gave her worldwide recognition. Not only was Ball one of her era’s finest comedians, but she was also a trailblazing businesswoman, according to ToughNickel.
Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz photographedVia: Instar
The success of I Love Lucy, which was produced by her own production company, Desilu Productions, allowed it to become one of the most prolific television production companies in the 1950s and 1960s. Desilu even produced the original Star Trek and Mission Impossible series.
Vivian Vance and William Frawley, despite their hatred towards each other, helped Lucille Ball develop one of the most beloved sitcoms in entertainment history.
