December 31, 2008

New Lucy U.S. Postal Stamp for 2009


As reported by the Associated Press, Lucy and Ethel lose their struggle with a chocolate assembly line. Joe Friday demands "just the facts" with a penetrating gaze. A secret word brings Groucho a visit from a duck.

Folks who grew up as television came of age will delight in a 20-stamp set included in the Postal Service's plans for 2009 recalling early memories of the medium.

Besides commemorating black-and-white TV, the service's 2009 postage stamp program ranges from commemorating President Abraham Lincoln to the Thanksgiving Day parade, civil rights pioneers, actor Gary Cooper, poet Edgar Allan Poe, Supreme Court justices and Alaska and Hawaii statehood.

Most of the commemorative stamps are priced at 42 cents, the current first-class rate. However, a rate increase is scheduled in May and the size will depend on the consumer price index.

The Early TV Memories stamp set is scheduled for release Aug. 11 in Los Angeles.

One recalls the quiz show "You Bet Your Life," on which the unflappable Groucho Marx awarded prizes to contestants who answered questions. If they said a secret word, a toy duck dropped down with a cash reward.

In a memorable scene from "I Love Lucy," Lucille Ball and sidekick Ethel Mertz work at an assembly line that speeds up and they can't wrap the candy quickly enough, causing panic.

In the stamp commemorating the cop show "Dragnet," star Jack Webb as detective Joe Friday gives his "just the facts, ma'am," stare, while on another stamp sweetheart singer Dinah Shore throws the audience a kiss.

Other shows featured are "Adventures of Ozzie & Harriet," "Alfred Hitchcock Presents," "Ed Sullivan Show," "George Burns & Gracie Allen Show," "Hopalong Cassidy," "The Honeymooners," "Howdy Doody," "Kukla, Fran and Ollie," "Lassie," "The Lone Ranger," "Perry Mason," "Phil Silvers Show," "Red Skelton," "Texaco Star Theater," "Tonight Show" and "Twilight Zone."

For more information on these stamps, visit the U.S. Postal Service website.

December 10, 2008

TVLand Celebrates New Years with Lucy Marathon

TV Land Celebrates the New Year with 'Lucy's New Year's Eve Countdown,' a Marathon of Viewers Favorite 'I Love Lucy' Episodes. Visitors Can Log Onto TVLand.com Throughout December To Vote For Their Favorite Episodes.

TV Land viewers are ringing in 2009 with "Lucy's New Year's Eve Countdown" on Wednesday, December 31 from 8AM to 9PM ET/PT, a hilarious showcase of "I Love Lucy" episodes specially voted on by them. Throughout the month of December, TVLand.com has been inviting viewers to vote for their all-time favorite madcap episodes of this series. Tune in on New Year's Eve day to see which episodes made the cut, from Lucy's "Vitameatavegamin" commercial to Lucy and Ethel's candy factory debacle to the legendary episode of Lucy crushing grapes. As an added bonus, visitors to the Web site can also watch classic episode clips, view a photo gallery of iconic pictures from the series and play an "I Love Lucy" trivia game.

Lucille Ball stars as the screwball redhead Lucy Ricardo in the timeless comedy "I Love Lucy." The sitcom revolves around her obsession with breaking into showbiz, her relationship with her Cuban bandleader husband, Ricky (Desi Arnaz) and the crazy antics that she gets them into with their best friends, Fred and Ethel Mertz (William Frawley and Vivian Vance). The situation comedy remains an enduring classic and continues to resonate with every generation. Lucille Ball was posthumously awarded the Legacy of Laughter Award at the TV Land Awards in 2007 for her groundbreaking career and body of work including her hilarious portrayal of Lucy.

About TV Land PRIME and TV Land
TV Land PRIME is TV Land's prime time programming destination designed for people in their mid-forties and the exclusive home to the premieres of the network's original programming, contemporary television series acquisitions and movies. TV Land PRIME is part of TV Land, a network dedicated to presenting the best in entertainment on all platforms for consumers in their 40s and 50s. Consisting of original programming, acquired shows, hit movies and full-service web site, TV Land is now seen in over 93 million U.S. homes. For up-to-the-minute and archival press information including releases and photographs, please visit TV Land's press-only Web site at www.tvland.com.

About MTV Networks
MTV Networks, a division of Viacom (VIA, is one of the world's leading creators of entertainment content, with brands that engage and connect diverse audiences across television, online, mobile, games, virtual worlds and consumer products. The company's portfolio spans more than 150 television channels and 350 digital media properties worldwide, and includes MTV, VH1, CMT, Logo, Harmonix, Nickelodeon, Nick at Nite, Noggin, The N, AddictingGames, Neopets, COMEDY CENTRAL, Spike TV, TV Land, Atom, GameTrailers and Xfire.

December 09, 2008

Lucy's Personal Assistants Revisit "Stu's Show" on Shokus Internet Radio

Wanda Clark, Lucille Ball's personal secretary for 27 years, and Frank Gorey, Lucy's "major domo" at her Roxbury home for 30 years, will be Stu Shostak's in-studio guests LIVE this Wednesday, December 10th beginning at 4:00 p.m. PST (7:00 p.m. EST) on Shokus Internet Radio.

Both will share their memories of working behind the scenes with television's favorite redhead. Topics this time will include Lucy asking her children to join her as supporting players on "Here's Lucy", the transition from weekly TV to occasional specials and then returning with "Life With Lucy", as well as Lucy's thoughts on Desi Jr. dating Liza Minelli and Patty Duke. In addition, Frank will recount the moments leading up to Lucy's aorta rupturing and her fateful trip to Cedars hospital, which led to her ultimate passing the following week. In addition, listeners will be invited to call in on the station's toll free phone number with questions and comments.

"Stu's Show" airs live each Wednesday at 4:00 p.m. PDT on Shokus Internet Radio, with rebroadcasts at the same time daily. Access to the station's feed is free, with no registration required, and is available either by clicking on the ENTER SITE button on the home page ( www.shokusradio.com), by choosing one of the audio player links on the main page, via iTunes by selecting Radio/Eclectic and then locating the station's name alphabetically in the list, and now via iPhone by installing the WunderRadio program available from the iTunes online store.

Shokus Internet Radio is a service of Shokus Video, and is "TV on the radio for baby boomers", with live call-in talk shows featuring TV celebrities, classic stand-up comedy from the great comedians, and big band, easy listening, and 50s/60s golden hits during the morning and afternoon drive times.