My Favorite Esposo

Directors Note

I grew up watching “I Love Lucy”. As a kid I had no idea about how ground breaking the series was. I loved seeing a Latino on my TV in a major role in a funny sitcom. Especially in black and white! When I discovered that the original inspiration for I Love Lucy were a series of radio plays called “My Favorite Husband” I was on pins and needles to listen to it! When I did however, I was shocked because Ricki Ricardo (Desi Arnez) was not in it. Upon further research I discovered that Lucille Ball had to fight very hard to just get Desi Arnez to be the husband on the “I Love Lucy”  TV show, because executives didn’t think america was ready for a mixed race couple on TV. They even made Desi’s character to be in the entertainment industry because it was not seen as believable that a hispanic imigrant  would work at a bank. I can’t imagine “I Love Lucy” without the both of them. Their chemistry, timing, and hilarious antics would not exist without each other on that show. They were a creative force, that not only were innovative in creating the modern day sitcom, but also becoming part of American pop culture. “My Favorite Esposo” is my love letter to Lucille Ball and Desi Arnez. A reimagining of the original My Favorite Husband radio show if they had Desi Arnez. What would it had been like to have had that spice in the original seed of what became the I Love Lucy show. The second act is a modern day imagining of the radio show. How a fun family radio show might be like in 2022. This show is dedicated to Lucille Ball. A woman that fought to get her husband, an immigrant, a performer on a show she was the lead of. A woman who unknowingly helped pave a path, for latino entertainers like me in the film and television industry. Thank you Lucille Ball. I will always love Lucy. ~ Alberto Bonilla