Professor Popinjay's Compendium of Perspicacity

A Non-Review by Professor Popinjay

(1997)

Yeah, it was manufactured in 1997 but the 7 or so clips from 1955, used in this multi-hour long “special” documentary were clearly dug out of the bottom of the cutting room refuse barrel scheduled for disposal. I assume this reel fell out as they were dumping it and the janitor in charge got an idea to make a quick buck.

I watched this all the way through because I’m a lunatic. The first time I saw each clip was interesting enough and the narrator had some information previously unknown to me about Desi and Lucy. After about the 27th time I saw these clips and heard this info, my brain was beginning to slip into a catatonic state.

Most of the footage was centered around promotional work Desi and Lucy did for Westinghouse. That’s probably where the footage came from actually. Someone at Westinghouse probably found the footage (which would be owned by Westinghouse) and they were like “Cha-ching! I’M GONNA BE RICH!!!”

As far as promos go, I certainly came away remembering the name Westinghouse. There was a bit where Lucy explains to Desi that Westinghouse was only interested in her promoting the name because they took issue with the way he said “Westinghouse” (He pronounced the ‘G’ like “Westing-Gowz). I’m sure this was just a funny way to say they didn’t like him because he was Cuban. Seems like, so long as they made that perfectly clear, he could be in the show.

Research shows that Westinghouse is a completely different company today after multiple mergers and buy-outs and has made numerous strides in promoting racial diversity and equality in the workplace. Way to go guys.

Meanwhile, back at the documentary, at one point the entire production started over. It was all a different format with new graphics and music but it was all the same information and clips again. It was like they stuck two different half-assed documentaries together and called it an amazing 5 vhs set, chock full of info and entertainment! Boo!

Next thing you know, a five vhs set of sub-par Lucy and Desi Westinghouse promotions were in Walmart dollar bins everywhere.

And my friend fell for it. He handed over his hard earned dollar to the Wal-mart and they thanked him feverishly for simultaneously defraying the cost of this garbage and physically removing it from their store so they could fill the newly acquired space with something that might actually make money: a dvd collection of 50 “Never before watched” horror movies all made by Ed Wood.

I’m not sure if my friend ever actually watched this I Love Lucy documentary. I’m not sure if I ever returned it after he loaned it to me. I think I tried to return it and he wasn’t interested in getting it back. Such was the fee for the lend. Now I was charged with getting rid of it. Totally not worth it.

What a legacy of entertainment this product has had: watched once by a halfway interested guy who didn’t even pay for it (me) and then disowned by the person who actually paid for it. To the second-hand store it goes to be up-charged 500%! I donated it in 2017. I was at the second-hand store yesterday. This vhs set is still there.

Lucy and Desi’s story is an interesting one. Maybe just read about it on Wikipedia. It would be faster and cheaper. Give Wikipedia your dollar.