Life with Lucy is a 1986 sitcom starring Lucille Ball in her final television role. Ball plays Lucy Barker, a widow who inherits a half-interest in a hardware store co-owned by her late husband and his business partner Curtis McGibbon (Gale Gordon). Lucy takes an active role in running the store with Curtis despite having never been involved in it previously, leading to numerous physical comedy set pieces. Their situation is complicated by the fact that they also live together with Lucy's daughter, Margo, who is married to Curtis' son, Ted, and their two children.
This show provides examples of:
- 555: The number of the moving company is 555-1234.
- 10-Minute Retirement: Curtis retires in one episode, but quickly gets bored and depressed.
- As Himself: John Ritter appears as himself in the second episode.
- Butt-Monkey: When John Ritter visits South Pasadena, he gets hurt multiple times thanks to Lucy.
- Courtroom Episode: When Kevin's teddy bear is accidentally sold, Lucy offers a $50 reward for it. The woman who bought it demands $500 and Lucy takes her to small claims court.
- Discreet Drink Disposal: None of Lucy's family members want to drink her newest health shakes, so they pour them into a flowerpot.
- Doting Grandparent: Lucy and Curtis spoil the grandkids, much to Margo and Ted's annoyance.
- Elopement: Margo and Ted eloped because Lucy wanted the wedding to be extravagant and they wanted something simple.
- Foul Waterfowl: When Lucy buys a goose to guard the store, the goose attacks everyone in the family.
- Garage Sale: When Lucy's family has a sale, someone accidentally sells Kevin's teddy bear.
- Multigenerational Household: At the beginning of the first episode, Lucy moves in with her daughter and her family. At the end of the episode, her son-in-law's father Curtis moves in.
- Obnoxious In-Laws: Lucy is on good terms with her son-in-law Ted, but she doesn't get along well with Ted's father Curtis.
- Red Sock Ruins the Laundry: When Ted does the laundry, he accidentally turns his white underwear pink.
- Reports of My Death Were Greatly Exaggerated: When Lucy buys a computer for the store, she accidentally makes the bank think Curtis died.
- Right Behind Me: Curtis badmouths the cops while a cop is standing right behind him.
- The Show Must Go On: When John Ritter is performing in a local play and his costar quits, Lucy takes over her role.
- Sticky Situation: Lucy becomes stuck to Curtis after a mishap while trying to glue a lamp back together on a local talk show. Then they get stuck to the hosts.
- Studio Audience: Everyone in the audience applauded whenever Lucille Ball or Gale Gordon entered a room.
- Talent Contest: The final episode has Lucy participating in a talent show.
- Talk Show Appearance: In one episode, Curtis and Lucy appear on a local talk show for the "Mr. Fix-It" segment.
