Bob Carroll

On May 20, The Camelot Theatre in Palm Springs previewed an incredible new documentary, 'The Show Goes On', about the life and career of Broadway, Film and Television Icon Kaye Ballard to a 'more than full house'. In fact, two theatres were opened for the screening since demand far exceeded the number of seats in the main house. With her typically self-deprecating humor, Ms. Ballard proclaims herself 'The Greatest Star You Hardly Knew', and the beautifully constructed 90 minute film details her extraordinary accomplishments from Broadway's 'Carnival', 'The Golden Apple', 'Molly' and 'Pirates Of Penzance' to her stellar nightclub, film and television career including 'The Doris Day Show' and the beloved and  iconic 'Mother's In Law' with Eve Arden. It highlights the extraordinary talents of Ms. Ballard and doesn't shy away from the disappointments and challenges along the way, featuring interviews with Woody Allen, Carol Channing, Hal Prince, Carol Burnett, Michael Feinstein, Joy Behar and more. Hal Prince boldly states 'if Kaye Ballard had been cast as the mother in 'Gypsy,' 'she would have made history.' I had the chance to visit with Ms. Ballard at her home on 'Kaye Ballard Lane' in Rancho Mirage (the home formerly owned by her friend and TV director, Desi Arnaz) to talk about the film and more. Here are a few excerpts from the conversation:

For over five plus decades Linda Lavin has enraptured audiences on stage, screen and television. She won the triple crown- Tony, Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Awards for her heart -breaking performance in Neil Simon's 'Broadway Bound'. She is known to million of fans as 'Alice' on her 9 -year ground breaking TV Series for which she won two Golden Globes. Celebrated playwrights Nicky Silver, Donald Margulies, Richard Greenberg and Charles Busch have written memorable and award winning roles for her. This renaissance woman does everything.

When I was growing up, I Love Lucy was a morning television staple, even though it had been off the air for many years. Reality shows have since replaced pretty much all of the stuff I grew up on, at least on the major networks, but you can still find the re-runs on stations like Me TV, which cater to the boomer generation with their lineup of classic programs. If you were lucky enough to be at the Peabody Opera House this weekend (April 17-19, 2015), you had the opportunity to see a recreation of two episodes of this iconic show with their presentation of I LOVE LUCY LIVE ON STAGE. This touring production is one you should definitely check out if you're into nostalgia, or just need a good laugh.

More than six decades after their television debut on CBS, Lucy and Ricky Ricardo have had quite a run. Named by People Magazine as the 'Best TV Show of All Time' and the 'Greatest TV Comedy,' I LOVE LUCY receives the stage treatment in an adaptation by Kim Flagg and Rick Sparks. Their two choices to replicate, from the canon of 181 episodes, leave something to be desired, but they give it their all to honor a legend.

I Love Lucy Live takes the stage in Toronto next week - and marks the first time these iconic characters have been tackled live on stage. The foursome you know and love - Lucy, Ricky, Fred and Ethel, comes to life at The Royal Alex Theatre (which will become the Desilu Playhouse soundstage) and they're backed by the Ricky Ricardo Orchestra and the Crystaltone Singers.

For the I LOVE LUCY enthusiast, this show will entertain.

Recognizing the essential role that writers have played in creating and elevating the medium of television since its inception, the Writers Guild of America, West (WGAW) and the Writers Guild of America, East (WGAE) tonight announced the list of the 101 Best Written TV Series

Live from The Playhouse, it's Comedy Night! Playhouse on Park's Comedy Night is back for a no-holds-barred, night of laughs tonight, November 21st.

Live from the Playhouse, it's Comedy Night! Playhouse on Park's Comedy Night is back for a no-holds-barred, night of laughs on Wednesday, November 21st.

No one can duplicate the brilliance of Lucille Ball, Vivian Vance, Desi Arnaz and William Frawley, the original stars of I Love Lucy on CBS from 1951-1957; they are irreplaceable. But...oh what fun it is to see what they did and a glimmer of how they did it at the Desilu Studio in 1952 as presented by Rick Sparks in 'I Love Lucy' Live on Stage now at the Greenway Court Theatre. Like the setup of last year's runaway stage hit Hoboken to Hollywood, the audience is the live audience for the taping, in Lucy's case - filming - with announcer, jingle singers and commercial actors all gearing up to put on a show in between actual takes of filming the episodes. This is a very entertaining evening thanks to the entire cast and crew whose merry mood/antics throughout create more than ample sparks.

In celebration of Lucille Ball's 100th birthday and the 60th anniversary of I Love Lucy, The Hollywood Museum, CBS Home Entertainment and Paramount Home Entertainment pay tribute to Lucy - America's Queen of Comedy, with a reception and the largest 'I Love Lucy' reunion in a decade on Thursday, August 4, 2011 6:00 -9:00 p.m.

Saturday, October 24, 2009, 12-3pm Sunday, October 25, 2009, 11am-4pm Meet the AJA XXII Artists

Thursday, October 15, 2009, 2pm & 8pm Kabuki: Backstage to Hanamichi A Behind the Scenes Look at the Color, Magic and Drama of Kabuki