When the “I Love Lucy” episode featuring the birth of little Ricky Ricardo aired twelve hours after Lucille Ball gave birth to her son Desi Arnaz Jr
When the “I Love Lucy” episode featuring the birth of little Ricky Ricardo aired twelve hours after Lucille Ball gave birth to her son Desi Arnaz Jr ., nearly 75% of American households were tuned in, making it one of the most-watched television shows in history. The decision to allow pregnancy and childbirth to be featured in a television show was controversial in 1953. Lucille Ball had already given birth to her daughter Lucie Arnaz by the time the show began to air. When she became pregnant with Desi Jr. the show had become a major hit and the studio executives wrestled with the question of what to do about a pregnant Lucy. One option was to conceal her pregnancy under baggy clothes and keep it out of the story line—an option favored by many. But Lucy and Desi insisted that Lucy’s pregnancy should be written into the storyline. In the end they prevailed, but only on the condition that the word “pregnant” could not be used. Whenever that condition was mentioned, the character was sai...