IMDb calls this program "Mr and Mrs" however it aired as THE LUCILLE BALL COMEDY HOUR; "Mr and Mrs" is a show within the show (an adaptation of a play written by Sherwood Schwartz of Gilligan's Island fame). This special was broadcast in color in early 1964, one of Lucy's first major appearances in color on television.
Lucy stars as herself in a fictional setting, Lucille Ball the star-studio President whom nasty banker-investor Mr. Harvey (Gale Gordon) is trying to force out of her position as production head for reasons not quite clear on the show. Lucy hopes to keep her position by signing Bob Hope to star with her in a new television special and Lucy and Gale traipse all over the world trying to track Hope down. Bob Hope is finally located and signed and the program then switches to the "special" Lucy planned to produce: MR AND MRS. a comedy about an acting couple who are America's favorite TV sweethearts but off-screen a bickering duo. This program seems at times seems an uncomfortable roman a clef about Lucy and her ex-husband Desi Arnaz as the lovebirds bicker, the "hubby" has an apparent wandering eye and most outrageously, it is suggested by the sponsors that the duo have a baby to improve the show's ratings!
There are some funny bits in the program, many of them going to supporting players like John Dehner and a cameo by John Banner as a big German fan of Lucy's. Lucy is absolutely gorgeous here at 52 in some very becoming Edith Head fashions and she gives a very good performance; Bob Hope considerably less so, his delivery and his disconnection with the other actors suggest he may be reading from cue cards. There's really almost nothing "special" about this program (certainly not the quite mediocre script) other than seeing two great comedy legends working together one more time. A gorgeous color print of the full program is a bonus feature on THE LUCY SHOW SEASON TWO DVD set.
