We're all here for a while, have all the good laughs you can. –- Will RogersThe rise in popularity of television during the 1950s saw the emergence of situation comedy, a style that captivated audiences by presenting a story with a beginning, a middle, and a happy ending. One of the most popular of these shows, I Love Lucy, continues to appeal to both young and old some forty years later - and continues to grow. For most people, the response to the way I Love Lucy continually and effectively draws viewers to the screen is that "It's fun." There's more to this entertaining show than meets the eye. To 1950s television viewers, Lucy and Ricky might have been familiar neighbors from the street. People could identify with this young couple, the Ricardos, who were experiencing the trials and tribulations of marriage as typical Americans were. They lived in a modest brownstone in Manhattan with common concerns like paying rent and affording new household goods. The humor came when ordinary situations were exaggerated as Lucy managed to get into trouble time and time again and proceeded to extricate herself from the mess. Ricky, her husband, often discovered - and thwarted - her numerous plans, and even best friends, Fred and Ethel Mertz, somehow managed to get involved. The zany redhead and the thickly accented Cuban were an oddly matched couple, not only as a comedy team but also as a married couple. The combination of these factors produced a television show that depicted situations that the average American could relate to. The luck of having talent is not enough; you also have to have a knack for luck. -- Hector Berlioz Undoubtedly, Lucille Ball has carried the show with her impeccable comedic timing and... middle of paper... it will be a "fun" show. Since we said, “I do,” there are so many things we don't do. –- Lucy Ricardo Bibliography Andrews, Bart and Watson, Thomas. LOVING LUCY: AN ILLUSTRATED TRIBUTE. New York: St. Martin's Press, 1980. Andrews, Bart. THE BOOK "I LOVE LUCIA". New York: Doubleday & Company, 1985. Brady, Kathleen. THE LIFE OF LUCILLE BALL. New York: Hyperion Publishing, 1994. Halberstam, David. THE FIFTY YEARS. New York: Fawcett Columbine, 1993. Marc, David and Thomson, Robert. PRIME TIME, PRIME MOVERS. Boston: Little, Brown and Company, 1992. Morella, Joe and Epstein, Edward. FOREVER LUCIA. New Jersey: Lyle Stuart, Inc., 1986. Oppenheimer, Jess. LAUGHTER, LUCK...AND LUCIA. New York: Syracuse University Press, 1996. Sanders, Coyne Steven and Gilbert, Tom. DESILU: THE STORY OF LUCILLE BALL AND DESI ARNAZ. New York: William and Morrow Company, Inc., 1993.