I Love Lucy and Its Place in Latino Television History

I Love Lucy debuted on CBS on October 15, 1951. That makes this Thursday the show's 75th anniversary. I Love Lucy numbers among the most influential shows of all time, from it being shot on 35 mm film in front of studio audience to Lucille Ball's real life pregnancy being written into the show's storylines. Among other things, I Love Lucy occupies a unique place in the history of Latinos on television. For those few of you who are not familiar with I Love Lucy, it centred on Lucy Ricardo (Lucille Ball) and her husband, Cuban bandleader Ricky Ricardo (Lucy's real life husband Desi Arnaz). They lived in an apartment in New York City that they rented from Ethel and Fred Mertz (Vivian Vance and William Frawley). Many of the show's plots centred on Lucy trying to break into show business or various other schemes.Of course, in Lucy being married to Ricky, I Love Lucy was the first ever show to feature a multiethnic marriage. While Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz were married in real life and no…