Lucie Arnaz

When Rosalind Russell starred in "Wonderful Town," she made Ruth, the wisecracking writer from Ohio, a role indelibly her own. Lucie Arnaz--who will play Ruth in a concert version of the 1953 Tony Award-winning musical opening Thursday at the Orange County Performing Arts Center--modestly figures she's a match for Russell.

Doris Singleton, an actress on "I Love Lucy" who played one of Lucy and Ricky Ricardo's neighbors and called her character "Lucy's nemesis," has died. She was 92. Singleton died Tuesday in Los Angeles from complications of cancer, according to her nephew Henry Isaacs.   Lucie Arnaz, the daughter of Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz , posted on Facebook that Singleton died the same day that writer-director Nora Ephron passed away, according to the Associated Press.

Congratulations to KTTV for the "We Love Lucy" special. Lucie Arnaz was a great hostess, and it was terrific to see the popular redhead in some additional misadventures. I hope the station continues to bring these types of Lucy specials into our living rooms for years to come. Gail Schulman, Sherman Oaks

Lucille Ball would have turned 100 on Aug. 6, and it would seem that Americans have loved her for nearly that long. But in fact, it took years for audiences to love Lucy. She had been kicking around Hollywood for nearly two decades before her performance in the seminal CBS sitcom "I Love Lucy," which celebrates its 60th anniversary this year. Her portrayal of the sweetly daffy redhead Lucy Ricardo, whose slapstick antics and schemes exasperated her Cuban bandleader husband, Ricky (real-life hubby Desi Arnaz)

At Eastman Kodak's Second Century Award luncheon coming up Monday in Beverly Hills, Lucille Ball was scheduled to be honored for her "extraordinary support" in developing young talent. But with Ball hospitalized after undergoing emergency heart surgery this week, the luncheon will be turned into a huge get-well bouquet. Many of the 300 guests--friends and industry leaders--on hand will videotape personal get well wishes to send to her. She'll also receive a complete tape of the luncheon where her daughter, Lucie Arnaz, will accept the award on her behalf.

Doris Singleton, an actress on "I Love Lucy" who played one of Lucy and Ricky Ricardo's neighbors and called her character "Lucy's nemesis," has died. She was 92. Singleton died Tuesday in Los Angeles from complications of cancer, according to her nephew Henry Isaacs.   Lucie Arnaz, the daughter of Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz , posted on Facebook that Singleton died the same day that writer-director Nora Ephron passed away, according to the Associated Press.

Television sends a Valentine to viewers this weekend, with romantic specials and movies scheduled. Ricky loved Lucy on TV, and at home, Desi loved Lucy, too. Hosted by Lucie Arnaz, NBC's "Lucy and Desi: A Home Movie," features a look through home movies at the couple's personal memorabilia and interviews with family and friends Sunday at 9 p.m. (4)(36)(39). Also, PBS presents "Nelson & Jeanette: America's Singing Sweethearts," Sunday at 1 p.m. on KCET Channel 28, and at 4 p.m.

Lucie Arnaz says her mother, Lucille Ball, kept her television on almost all the time but preferred game shows to situation comedies. "I don't think she liked sitcoms very much in general after a while," Arnaz said in the May 7 issue of People magazine. "But she did like to watch 'Wheel of Fortune.' Every night. Whenever we were eating dinner, it was always on. I guess that's a sitcom in itself." Miss Ball died in April, 1989.

Lucille Ball's husband, Gary Morton, said today he and his late wife's two children bade a solemn, informal farewell to television's first lady of comedy at a private memorial over the weekend. "There were just the three of us," Morton said. "That's what Lucy asked us to do. You couldn't really call it a service. There was no clergyman present." Morton and Ball, who had two children by her previous marriage to Desi Arnaz, were married in 1961. The children, Lucie Arnaz and Desi Arnaz Jr., joined Morton "to say goodby," Morton said.

Lucie Arnaz criticized as distorted a forthcoming CBS movie about her parents, Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz, that includes scenes of her father's reputed infidelity. "Lucy & Desi: Before The Laughter," scheduled to air Sunday also focuses on the couple's career conflicts. "This is not their lives," Arnaz, 39, says in the Feb. 9 issue of TV Guide. "This is as much a cartoon of their lives as any unauthorized fiction."

Bart Andrews, a prolific author of TV trivia tomes who wrote "The 'I Love Lucy' Book," an early definitive appreciation of the classic sitcom, has died. He was 64. Andrews died Dec. 26 at Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center following a heart attack, said his sister, Cathy LaGreca. After a series of strokes, he had moved four years ago from West Hollywood to a nursing home in Los Angeles. "He was the first guy to ever write a history of the 'Lucy' show. It was the first book," said Lucie Arnaz, daughter of the program's stars, Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz.

Following in the career steps of a famous parent can be both hazardous and rewarding. And when, as with Lucie Arnaz, there are two high-visibility, high-achiever parents from the same career field -- in her case, entertainment -- the risks become even more pronounced. To her credit, Arnaz has managed to step beyond the looming shadows of her parents, Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz, in a 35-year career reaching from the Broadway stage to television, films and recordings.

When Rosalind Russell starred in "Wonderful Town," she made Ruth, the wisecracking writer from Ohio, a role indelibly her own. Lucie Arnaz--who will play Ruth in a concert version of the 1953 Tony Award-winning musical opening Thursday at the Orange County Performing Arts Center--modestly figures she's a match for Russell.

Two sisters share a bargain-basement apartment in busy Greenwich Village in 1935. And they do this within a musical, "Wonderful Town," that requires a big, brassy band. At many musical theater venues nowadays, the band would be radically reduced or simply squeezed into the pit, while the designers think of ways to make the oversized stage look cramped. No problem for the team at Reprise!, however.

For all of you who catch yourselves saying wistfully, "They just don't write songs like they used to," ASCAP begs to differ. ASCAP--the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers--brings its Songwriters' Showcase to the Alex Theatre on Wednesday, another step toward proving that there is musical life after Cole Porter and Irving Berlin. "We want to make you aware of the fact that there is talent still coming out, and still around," said Lucie Arnaz, the showcase's host.

Lucie Arnaz always wondered if her famous parents, Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz, continued to love each other even after their stormy 20-year marriage ended in divorce in 1960. "Did they really love one another ever ?," Arnaz said. "Was she bitter at the end? Was she angry?" When her parents, who each remarried, were still alive, Arnaz attempted to talk to them about their feelings toward each other.

Following in the career steps of a famous parent can be both hazardous and rewarding. And when, as with Lucie Arnaz, there are two high-visibility, high-achiever parents from the same career field -- in her case, entertainment -- the risks become even more pronounced. To her credit, Arnaz has managed to step beyond the looming shadows of her parents, Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz, in a 35-year career reaching from the Broadway stage to television, films and recordings.

Lucille Ball "was not funny off stage" and Desi Arnaz "ended up a drunk," but daughter Lucie Arnaz said she doesn't resent her parents. Her mom was "a control freak," Arnaz said on "The Joan Rivers Show" taped Tuesday. The show will be telecast Monday. "She had to be in charge 24 hours a day," Arnaz said. "She loved us in her own way. I'm sure she loved us in the only way she knew how."

Television sends a Valentine to viewers this weekend, with romantic specials and movies scheduled. Ricky loved Lucy on TV, and at home, Desi loved Lucy, too. Hosted by Lucie Arnaz, NBC's "Lucy and Desi: A Home Movie," features a look through home movies at the couple's personal memorabilia and interviews with family and friends Sunday at 9 p.m. (4)(36)(39). Also, PBS presents "Nelson & Jeanette: America's Singing Sweethearts," Sunday at 1 p.m. on KCET Channel 28, and at 4 p.m.

The family and friends of Lucille Ball, as well as lots and lots of press, turned up at Universal Studios on Monday night for a cocktail reception honoring the late comedienne. It was the official unveiling of "Lucy: A Tribute," a studio tour exhibit that daughter Lucie Arnaz called "tasteful, and fun, and forever."