October 19, 2026
Personal Reflections
I could probably write an entire book about Lucille Ball: her history, her lasting legacy, her charm, and the remarkable woman she was. Perhaps I will one day, but today, in honor of I Love Lucy's 75th anniversary, I want to share a few ways this beloved show and Lucille Ball herself have shaped my life and the way we enjoy entertainment today.
My appreciation for this little world began during my first Warner Bros. Studio Tour, when our tour guide shared a story about Desi Arnaz and the creation of the live studio audience for I Love Lucy. According to our guide, Desi understood that Lucille felt more comfortable and came alive as a performer when she could hear the audience laughing, rather than performing in front of a silent set. He loved her so deeply that he seemed to understand what she needed, both as a person and as an artist, and did what he could to help her shine.
Fast-forward a couple of years, and my mom bought an old Christmas television special DVD. My favorite episode is the I Love Lucy special that looks back on some of the show's most significant moments. My favorite moment came from the iconic episode pictured above, “Lucy Is Enceinte” (pregnant). The love between Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz in this episode feels so genuine that it always brings me to tears. This episode also feels incredibly magical. Perhaps it is the courage it took to make television history by incorporating Lucy’s real-life pregnancy into the storyline, even when the word “pregnant” itself was considered too controversial to say on television. Once again, Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz helped change television forever!
Fast-forward once again to my time at Pacific Lutheran University. In my free time as a history major, I loved learning more about Lucille Ball and her remarkable life. No wonder her last name was Ball, because that woman had some serious balls! When CBS proposed turning her radio show, My Favorite Husband, into a television series, Lucille insisted that her real-life husband, Cuban-born Desi Arnaz, play her on-screen husband, too. Speaking of My Favorite Husband, I’ll be curating some old-time radio programs for a Dare to Love Project event in November, and you can bet this show will be among them! Stay tuned to social media for more details!
Rather than accept the network’s reluctance, Lucille and Desi took their act on the road, performing together for live audiences to demonstrate their chemistry and prove that audiences would embrace them as a team. Their efforts paid off, and the rest, as they say, is television history!
I love My Favorite Husband and still listen to it occasionally, but I have to admit that Desi was always the superior husband! I mean come on, I Love Lucy has one of the best ensembles in TV history and is one of the best shows because of it! This would not be the last time Ball made powerful decisions for the betterment of Television.
Naturally, Lucille Ball was a woman with extraordinary power and ambition during an era that often disapproved of women who dared to wield either. Rather than celebrate her strength, the world too often labeled her a “bitch," but everything I have learned about Lucille, from the way she stood up for the underdog to the way she supported and collaborated with other women in entertainment, showed me a very different side of her. So, when I watched Aaron Sorkin’s film Being the Ricardos, which I felt portrayed Lucille in an unfairly unflattering light, I was livid. Naturally, I took my frustrations to social media. What started as my very first film review quickly became something more: people wanted an encore! So, I began writing more film reviews, which eventually led to social media performance reviews.
Then, when I was laid off from my state job, I decided to do what I imagine Ball might have done in my position: put myself out there. I reached out to local news stations and pursued opportunities rather than waiting for someone to come knocking on my door. The rest, as they say, is history!
Here's the point: pay attention to your passions and the things that spark your interest. Take them seriously and follow their lead because you never know where they will lead you.
Cheers to the incredible show and the amazing woman!
I really do love Lucy!
This Week in the Arts
I will be publishing three pieces in my JOLT Column including:
Review: Olympia Family Theater’s ‘Luna Sisters of Element’
Review: SRO Theater’s ‘Little Shop of Horrors’
Pug Bujeaud discusses upcoming show: ‘A Spirited Manor’
I will be publishing these articles under Rachel’s Choice:
None this week that I am currently aware of
To read my articles as they come out, I invite you to subscribe to The JOLT News and follow me on Instagram and Facebook, then invite a friend to do the same! :)
If you read a story that inspires you, I invite you to share it with others and help spread the word about the incredible things happening in the Thurston County Arts Community.
Other Fun Things This Week
For the Record: Mariah Carey’s debut album
Getting in ‘The Zone’: ‘It’s a Good Life,’ Season 3, Episode 8. Watch in advance.
Event: Intentional Vinyl with Rachel Benton and The Dare to Love Project
Coming Up:
Word searches, fidgets, and coloring available during listening session. Post vinyl discussion will follow.
More event information can be found here.
Another Special Event
I’m partnering with The Dare to Love Project for a special one-night-only Halloween event: Live - In the Zone!
Come watch a specially curated selection of spooky Twilight Zone episodes on Halloween starting @ 6pm!
Click here to view more details.
Tip Jar
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