the loud bassoon guide to television: i love lucy

I Love Lucy (CBS)
1951-1957

Lucy (Lucille Ball) has frequent panic attacks stemming mostly from her relationship with verbally abusive husband Ricky (Desi Arnaz), who is secretive about his work and dismissive of Lucy's ability to accomplish anything. Desperate to prove herself in possession of any human value, she schemes with her bickering neighbors Ethel (Vivian Vance) and Fred (William Frawley), who do not seem to like her or each other very much, on an endless series of hairbrained ideas sure to result in personal failure and public humiliation.

Ricky invariably cleans up Lucy's messes, enabling her to keep the pattern of degradation going and ensuring his position of power over her. Without fail, she is reduced to tears, pleading for forgiveness, affection, and sometimes just tolerance.

This show is funny or classic why? If you saw the same situation on Oprah, you'd bawl your eyes out. Fuck I Love Lucy.