thefilmarchive.org DVD: www.amazon.com There were further changes to the series. Vance reduced the number of episodes she appeared in to spend more time on the East Coast with her new husband, literary editor John Dodds. Lucille Ball's friend Ann Sothern made a number of appearances during 1964 and 1965 as the "Countess Framboise" (née Rosie Harrigan) to fill Vance's absence. The Countess, who had been widowed by the death of her husband, "who left her his noble title and all of his noble debts," was always trying to get some money to pay off said debts. So she also did battle with Mr. Mooney, whom she called "Mr. Money." Because it was known that Vance would be leaving the series, Sothern was proposed as the new co-star, but it did not come to be. Apparently Sothern wanted to share top billing with Ball. She did not want to be an under-billed co-star. This was not acceptable to Ball and, though Sothern did make three more guest appearances during the following (1965-66) se! ason, the idea of her becoming a series regular was abandoned. Even though Candy Moore, Jimmy Garrett, and Ralph Hart were still contracted to the series, they were used minimally during the third year. In the spring of 1965, Vance wanted to quit the show. Ball desperately hoped she would change her mind, but Vance remained adamant and left the sitcom. As a result, the 1965-66 season saw the format of The Lucy Show change dramatically. In the first episode of the season, Lucy and Jerry Carmichael and Mr
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