The changing of Desi’s character’s name wasn’t the only change that was made to the pilot. There was also the decision to add neighbors Fred and Ethel Mertz. As a previous post stated, Lucy originally wanted Gale Gordon and Bea Benaderet in the roles of Fred and Ethel, but they had prior commitments.
CBS and Desi and Lucy rounded up lists of potential actors and actresses and began sorting through them.
Bill Frawley (64), who had heard about the casting call, called Lucy personally and asked if there was possibly a role for him on her show. They barely even knew one another before the phone call, but it was the beginning of a close nine-year association.
She promised him that she’d discuss it with the others. Desi and Lucy were all for the idea, but the studio warned them about Frawley’s instability and insobriety.
Desi met with Bill and laid the rules out to him – the job was his but if he missed work for any reasons other than illness, he was off the show. Bill agreed and Fred Mertz was in place.
Joi
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