Long-running television sitcom I Love Lucy was first telecast on October 15, 1951. For almost ten years, Lucile Ball and Desi Arnaz made people look forward to the next episode because they were always ensured a good laugh. After 180 episodes, the cast called it quits. Despite the fact that there were no new episodes to anticipate, I Love Lucy was long from being retired from the airwaves. Independent stations picked up the sitcom and it was translated into many different languages and broadcast all over the world. The show was a pioneer--all sitcoms that came after I Love Lucy eventually shifted their production from being live to being filmed for rebroadcast. With reruns still being aired, generations of people who weren't around when I Love Lucy was being filmed still get the opportunity to enjoy it. Keeping the sitcom alive has also been possible because of the endless marketing of products that surround it. While there are VHS and DVD recordings to be had, there are also more creative items such as dolls. Mattel created a Barbie in Lucy's image starting in 1996. The dolls come out annually and always have a theme based on a particular episode. There were more companies that jumped on the doll bandwagon as well. Stanton Arts created a vitameatavegamin doll to celebrate the 50th anniversary of that episode. Another favorite episode--the famous grape stomping show--was commemorated with a doll by Franklin Mint. Most of the dolls that are created--by any company--end up selling out due to the demand for Lucy collectibles. Even more 50 years since the show began, people are still looking to I Love Lucy for laughs and smiles.
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