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

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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 [[MGM]]. Arden had starred in the hit CBS-TV sitcom [[Our Miss Brooks]] from 1952 to 1956 and won an Emmy for Best Actress in a Comedy Series. The show was produced by [[Desilu]]. 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.

Actress Kay Cole, who would later appear on Broadway in the original cast of ''[[A Chorus Line]]'', portrayed the role of Suzie Hubbard in the unaired [[Television pilot|pilot]]; however, after the series was picked up, Cole was replaced by actress [[Deborah Walley]] who would remain with the series for its entire two-year run. The scenes featuring Cole were re-filmed for the aired version of the pilot, “On Again, Off Again, Lohengrin”. Cole can be briefly glimpsed in the final shot before the end credits.