Some of the best moments in pop culture arise when we get to see the entertainers we love confident in their own skin. Patti LaBelle is known for her ability to connect with fans because of her no non-sense attitude that, to many, is reminiscent of a very special and highly respected mother figure.
One example of that is found in a clip from the now ended daytime talk show, The Tyra Banks Show, when a guest chef had the opportunity to experience the unwittingly sassy and funny LaBelle on sight!
During the cooking segment, LaBelle alerted the audience that a cupcake she was holding from the chef’s cooking presentation was wrapped in paper. The chef informed LaBelle that she couldn’t eat the paper around the cupcake. The audience cracked up in laughter after LaBelle made a series of funny facial expressions and comments to the audience. LaBelle’s response to the chef was shade infamous of a southern belle and notorious of a tough parent schooling a child.
Beyond the actual incident, LaBelle’s talented ability to outwardly express herself reminded me of the antics of Lucille Ball, who would often have the best facial expressions, especially in an awkward situation. So my mind began to churn and there it was!
What if LaBelle had her very own sitcom inspired by the popular black-and-white show I Love Lucy, a fan favorite in the 1950s? The world could use a laugh and at the same time, it would be great to see how the character would evolve to match the current social tides of female empowerment and expression.
It’s a thought, and if Hollywood is interested, as they have been with my other ideas, I got a story for you. Or, you can take the traditional route and steal the concept, but compromise the core idea and messaging with a whole bunch of embellishments, polluted concepts, and misguided casting decisions to make the idea seem to be your very own. At the very least, it won’t be Hollywood legend, just a quick buck.
For those who missed the “epic-ness” of I Love Lucy during its reign, the CBS show went into syndication enabling generations of people to catch up to the comedic genius of the great Lucille Ball. Backed by actors Desi Arnaz, Vivian Vance, and William Frawley, I Love Lucy broke barriers as the first scripted show shot in front of a studio audience with a 35mm film using the multi-camera technique.
The premise of the sitcom focused on the disaster-prone Lucy who desired the fame and notability that comes with show business. Married to bandleader Ricky Ricardo (Arnaz), Lucy would often try to infiltrate her husband’s musical act at his nightclub, leading to a series of comical failures that would often get on Ricky’s nerves.
Written by talented scribe cohort Jess Oppenheimer, Madelyn Pugh Davis, Bob Carroll Jr., and later, Bob Weiskopf and Bob Schiller, I Love Lucy would last six seasons until 1957 before going into syndication. A one-hour version of the show titled The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour aired from 1957 to 1960.
Could you see it, the great Patti LaBelle in all of her wittiness and charm, encountering everyday idiots and awkward situations in a way no other diva could? I definitely can.
