Lucy and Friends
Sitcoms, or situation comedies, were first developed for radio, but today they are typically
found on television. They feature a group of characters in humorous situations, which
normally take place in the home or workplace. Situation comedies originated in the
United States, but today they are some of the most popular programs around the world.
The sitcom that revolutionized television in the 1950s in the United States was I love lucy,
starring Lucille Ball and her husband, Cuban band leader and sometime actor, Desi Arnaz.
It was the first scripted program ever to be performed in front of a studio audienee, and to be
recorded rather than broadcast live. I love lucy set the pattern for situation comedies for years
to come. Ball and Arnaz played a married couple similar to themselves, but Lucy always got
involved in crazy, comic situations. These often involved slapstick and physical humor.