The Mothers-in-Law: Difference between revisions - Wikipedia

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== Production ==

The majority of the episodes were written by series creators [[Madelyn Pugh|Madelyn Davis]] and [[Bob Carroll, Jr.]], who had worked with series producer Desi Arnaz on ''[[I Love Lucy]]''. Unlike most sitcoms of the era, ''The Mothers-in-Law'' was filmed before a live audience; standard practice at the time was to film an episode on a closed set and add a [[laugh track]] during post-production. However, a laugh track was still used to “sweeten” audience reactions or fill in gaps of missed punchlines.

When choosing the two lead roles, executive producer [[Desi Arnaz]] approached two longtime friends [[Eve Arden]] and [[Ann Sothern]]. Both actresses had been friends of Arnaz and his former wife [[Lucille Ball]] since the 1930s while working at [[RKO Pictures]] and [[M-G-M]]. Sothern, who had starred in two successful sitcoms: ''[[Private Secretary (TV series)|Private Secretary]]'' from 1953 to 1956 and the Desilu-produced ''[[The Ann Sothern Show]]'' from 1958 to 1961, had also guest starred in seven episodes of ''[[The Lucy Show]]'' as the Countess Framboise (née Rosie Harrigan). However, NBC found Sothern and Arden's comedic style too similar and passed on casting Sothern. Singer-comedian Kaye Ballard, another old friend, auditioned for and got the part of the neighbor, Kaye Buell.