#johnny olson

1980 Oldsmobile Toronado

1980 Oldsmobile Toronado, which was featured as a prize on the game show The Price is Right. 

September & December 1984

“Body Language” is a game show produced by Mark Goodson Productions which aired on CBS from June 4, 1984 until January 3, 1986 and was hosted by Tom Kennedy. 

Kennedy had hosted “Password Plus” (on which Lucy made several appearances) after the death of host Allen Ludden. Johnny Olson was the announcer until his death in October 1985. The gameplay centered on the party game charades, in the same vein as the earlier Goodson-Todman program “Showoffs,” but contestants also had to solve word puzzles to win money, making “Body Language” a cross between “Showoffs” and “Password.” All episodes of “Body Language” were taped in studio 33 at CBS Television City in Hollywood.

The idea for the TV show originated with the Milton Bradley board game of the same name, which was created by Dr. Cody Sweet, the first platform speaker on nonverbal communication (body language), in 1974. Lucille Ball was a long-time fan of charades, incorporating them into many episodes of her television shows (see below). 

Ball was pictured on the box of the home game and also did a television commercial for the game, along with her “Here's Lucy” co-star Mary Jane Croft, who used their real / TV names in the spot.  

When the game finally was made into a television show a decade later, Lucy did two week-long guest appearances. Ten days after her first appearances in September 1984, Lucy's favorite game show “Password” was reincarnated as “Super Password,” although she did not appear on the revamped show until December 1986.

“Body Language” generally had celebrity players teamed with 'civilian' partners to act out words that were part of a larger quote puzzle. There were, however, often celebrity partners playing for charity, as was the case with Ball's second appearance.

Announcer: "It's the game for the uninhibited! Our stars this week are Lucille Ball and Charles Nelson Reilly. Watch their bodies do the talking onnnnnnnn 'Body Language'!”

“Body Language” (September 10-14, 1984)

Tom Kennedy (Host)

Johnny Olson (Announcer)

Lucille Ball (Celebrity Guest)

Charles Nelson Reilly (Celebrity Guest) guest-starred on “Lucy the Crusader” (HL S3;E5) in 1970.

In the show aired on September 12, 1984:

In the pre-interview Lucy says her daughter will give birth for the third time on Christmas Eve.

Lucy is partnered with returning champion, Dennis Lamour.  

Charles Nelson Reilly says he is producing a play at the Westwood Playhouse in Los Angeles titled The Middle Ages by A.R. Gurney. 

Charles is partnered with ‘civilian’ Renae Wilson, a counselor in Los Angeles. 

In Lucy’s first time acting out the clues, one of them is “THE MARX BROTHERS” so she does her imitation of Groucho, stooped, holding a cigar.  In Lucy’s December appearance on the show, the Marx Brothers will again be a clue, and Kennedy will remind Lucy that she worked with them in a film. Dennis solves the puzzle: “ANIMAL CRACKERS.”  

Charles steals the next puzzle from Lucy and Dennis by guessing the word “STARCH.”  

Lucy steals the next puzzle from Charles and Renae by guessing “COMMERCIALS.” 

Dennis retains his championship by guessing the puzzle with just one clue: “CRAYONS.” 

Dennis plays with Lucy giving the clues to earn $7,000, but only earns $700. 

“Body Language” (December 24, 26-28, 1984)

Tom Kennedy (Host)

Johnny Olson (Announcer)

Lucille Ball is playing for the Orthopedic Wing of the Los Angeles Children's Hospital.

Exercise guru Richard Simmons is playing for The Reach Foundation, a group that builds exercise equipment for the disabled in hospitals.

Robert Morse is playing for the Arthritis Foundation of Southern California. In 1967 Morse and Ball were two of the many celebrities making cameo appearances in the film A Guide for the Married Man.

Isabel Sanford, star of “The Jeffersons,” is playing for the Kwanza Foundation, who feed the needy at Christmas.

In the show aired on December 26, 1984:

During Lucy's introduction someone in the audience holds up a sign saying “Lucy Doesn't Need Vitameatavegamin,” a reference to “Lucy Does a TV Commercial” (ILL S1;E30). Tom Kennedy congratulates Lucy on being chosen Variety Club's Woman of the Year and says that the show (“All Star Party for Lucille Ball”) will be broadcast on December 9. That date had passed for home viewers, but was still in the future during the taping.

On day two of the game show, Lucy had already won $275 for her charity. Isabel Sanford won $750. Kennedy congratulates her on eleven successful years on “The Jeffersons.” Richard Simmons' one day total is also $750. Morse is up to $175.  

On this day's show Lucy is paired with Isabel and Richard is partnered with Morse: The guys against the girls.  

Isabel has trouble guessing “LIBERACE” and “FRANK SINATRA” - men Lucille Ball knew well. Kennedy asks Lucy whose eyes are bluer; hers or Franks?  Sinatra’s nickname was “old blue eyes” and Lucy tries to convey that in her actions.

After getting seven out of ten words right and the three bonus words, Lucy and Isabel win $7,000 for her charity.

In the show aired on December 27, 1984:

On this day, Lucy is paired with Richard Simmons, and Sanford with Morse.

In round one, Lucy acts out the clues, while Richard Simmons guesses. He doesn't know the word Flamenco, a Spanish dance. He calls it ‘Flamingo Dancing.’ Simmons guesses the first puzzle: “TEQUILA.”

Isabel Sanford guesses the second puzzle “SHAKE” with just three clues.

Lucy guesses the third puzzle “POTATO CHIPS” after all the clues are revealed.

Despite repeated attempts by Isabel Sanford, Robert Morse doesn't seem to know that the generic name for Kleenex is “TISSUE.”  Despite this, Morse still solves the puzzle “MUSCLE” with only two words.

When the clue is “TURKEY SANDWICH” Lucy guesses every other bird including a penguin!  

Richard Simmons wins the game by guessing “JINGLE” with only 3 of 7 words in the phrase.

To act out the word “ATLAS,” Elizabeth Sanford strikes the pose of Rodin's The Thinker. Kennedy has Morse show her the pose of Atlas (holding the world above his head) after the game is over.  

Simmons says that after all the years of watching Lucy on television he can't believe he's here doing this with her. Richard and Lucy play the speed round getting 10 words in one minute. He is so happy he leaps atop the podium stomach first to give Ball a kiss. She is startled, to say the least.

In the show aired on December 28, 1984:

For this show, Lucy partners with Robert Morse and Isabel Sanford plays with Richard Simmons.

Lucy gets a standing ovation from the studio audience. Tom Kennedy then asks all four of the celebrities to take a bow, probably noticing that Lucy has gotten the lion's share of the studio audience's appreciation all week.  

Tom Kennedy asks Isabel Sanford about the time change for “The Jeffersons.” Someone in the audience shouts “Yay for 'The Jeffersons!'  CBS moved the show due to sagging ratings halfway through its final season.

In the final seconds of the first round, Lucy has to act out “MONA LISA”. Coincidentally, Lucy had twice been the ‘Mona Lucy’ (he face stuck in the famous painting) on her televisions shows. Morse, however, guesses Grandma Moses. Lucy shrugs off the reference and says “What else?”  

The answer to a puzzle is “ROOM SERVICE” using the clue “THE MARX BROTHERS” but Lucy can't decipher the clues and guesses Animal Crackers instead (another Marx Brothers movie). Ball admits to being in the film, but doesn't remember much about it. The show projects a still photo of Lucy with the Marx Brothers on the puzzle screen. Kennedy adds that Ann Miller was also in it, which Lucy doubts. Kennedy says “that's what they told me” and the audience confirms that she was and Ball says “Okay, she was in it.”

Isabel Sanford is the week-long money winner getting an extra $10,000 for her charity. Kennedy pronounces it the “Kiwanza” Foundation and Sanford corrects him. Her total is $18,2000. Lucy won $4,900 for the Orthopedic Ward of the Children's Hospital. Kennedy evens off Robert Morse's winnings to $2,000 for the Arthritis Foundation. Richard Simmons makes $4,950 for Reach Foundation.  

This is their final show of 1984 so balloons drop and Kennedy wishes everyone a Happy New Year to the sounds of “Auld Lang Syne.”  

1985 would be a quiet year for 74 year-old Lucille Ball. She only made four new television appearances, her fewest since 1960. Restless without working, in 1986 she was easily lured out of retirement by Aaron Spelling for “Life With Lucy.”  

LUCY PLAYS CHARADES!

“The Gossip” (ILL S1;E24 ~ March 24, 1952) Lucy Ricardo is forbidden by Ricky to gossip, so she tapes her mouth shut and indulges in an exuberant game of charades to tell Ethel a juicy story about neighbor Grace Foster running away with the milkman.

“Lucy’s Bicycle Trip” (ILL S5;E24 ~ April 23, 1956) While cycling through Italy, Lucy Ricardo encounters a farmer who speaks no English, so she uses pantomime to ask him if they can stay in his barn overnight.