FROM TV TO RADIO

FROM TV: I Love Lucy was the #1 show on television for four years in the 1950s. It was so popular that it drove many people to buy their first television.

TO RADIO: Producers thought a radio version would be an easy—and cheap—way to gain a larger audience. So they took the audio from a Lucy episode in 1952 and called it a pilot for a radio series. Ultimately, CBS Radio decided against airing it. (Bonus fact: I Love Lucy was itself inspired by a radio comedy called My Favorite Husband, starring Lucille Ball.)

Add the ads: In 1960, an hour-long show had about 9 minutes of commercial breaks. In 2010, about 18.

tags: trivia