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Amy Poehler will direct a documentary with the working title “Lucy & Desi” about the marriage between comedy icons Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz for Imagine Documentaries and White Horse Pictures, the two companies announced Monday.
Poehler is making her documentary feature directorial debut on the project, and she will also produce the film through her Paper Kite banner. The film has already begun production and will be financed by Imagine Documentaries.
“Lucy & Desi” will tell the story of the groundbreaking comedian Ball, who forever changed the way the world viewed comedy and paved the way for scores of women who followed in her footsteps. The film will utilize archival film and personal still photos, first-person narratives and examine how Ball evolved from a performer to a businesswoman and through “I Love Lucy” and more worked to break barriers for women in entertainment and beyond.
The documentary also looks at Hollywood’s great love story between Lucy and Desi, and how Ball’s relationship with Arnaz helped to transform the TV industry and has cemented Ball’s legacy long after her death in 1989.
Imagine and White Horse are partnering with Ball and Arnaz’s estate. Producing alongside Poehler are Imagine’s Justin Wilkes and Michael Rosenberg, White Horse’s Nigel Sinclair and Jeanne Elfant Festa, and Diamond Docs’ Mark Monroe. Imagine’s Brian Grazer, Ron Howard and Sara Bernstein will executive produce with White Horse’s Nicholas Ferrall and Cassidy Hartmann, and Diamond Docs’ Morgan Sackett. Mark Monroe also serves as writer.
The film is being produced with the full cooperation of Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz estate through their company Desilu, too LLC and Lucie Arnaz and Desi Arnaz, Jr. are consulting on the film.
“I am so excited to work with Imagine Docs to help present the incredible life and work of the brave and hilarious Lucille Ball, and her husband Desi Arnaz,” said Poehler.
“As television’s long-reigning ‘First Family’, Lucy and Desi blazed a revolutionary trail through the cultural landscape that laid the groundwork for so much of the entertainment industry as we now know it,” Imagine Documentaries’ president and producer Justin Wilkes said in a statement. “They created so many television firsts – not only in their portrayal of a multi-ethnic marriage or Lucy’s on-air pregnancy but as the first woman to head a studio and the creators of television syndication. It’s such an incredibly rich, inspiring and entertaining story and we’re honored to bring it to the screen.”
“Jeanne and I are thrilled to be reuniting with Ron, Brian, Michael, Justin, Sara and the Imagine team, and Mark Monroe to tell this extraordinary story about Lucille Ball and the way she transformed all of television while capturing the hearts of the nation. We are proud that Lucie Arnaz and Desi Arnaz Jr., have trusted us with their legacy, and so excited to be going on this journey with the brilliant Amy Poehler at the helm,” producer Sinclair said in a statement.
Nearly two-thirds of the country tuned in to watch “I Love Lucy” at its height, and a famous episode in which Ball’s character went into labor on the show, which aired the same day she gave birth in real life to her second child Desi Jr., the episode drew 44 million viewers.
“Lucy & Desi” is the fourth collaboration between Imagine and White Horse, including the documentaries “The Beatles: Eight Days A Week” and “Pavarotti.”
47 Best TV Couples of All Time, From Lucy and Ricky to Jim and Pam (Photos)
This Valentine's Day, love is in the air yet again. And to mark the most romantic of occasions, TheWrap has rounded up the 47 best TV couples of all time. And while "best" is certainly a subjective term -- meaning we've probably left at least one of your favorite sets of lovers off this list -- we're sure readers who click through this gallery will find many a pairing that makes their hearts go pitter-patter. And just to be *extra* clear here, these couples are listed in no particular order.
Lily and Marshall, "How I Met Your Mother": Forget Ted and how he met his kids' mother, the true love story at the heart of this comedy was Marshmallow and his Lilypad.
CBS
Buffy and Angel, "Buffy the Vampire Slayer": Theirs is a forever love. (Shut your mouths, Spuffy shippers.)
20th Century Fox TV
Randall and Beth, "This Is Us": Listen, Jack and Rebecca are great -- and they are on this list, too -- but R&B are the real #CoupleGoals in this NBC family drama.
NBC
Jim and Pam, "The Office": "To waiting."
NBC
Lucy and Ricky, "I Love Lucy": We love Lucy -- and Ricky.
Eleanor and Chidi, "The Good Place": The definition of soulmates.
NBC
Archie and Edith, "All in the Family": Back when these two were on our screens, those were the days.
Sony Pictures TV
Snow White and Prince Charming, "Once Upon a Time": He will always find her -- and we will always stan.
ABC
Dwight and Angela, "The Office": Monkey and D were always meant to be, even if it took them until the series finale to finally tie the knot.
NBC
Jin and Sun, "Lost": Jin and Sun drowned us with their love. (Sorry, sorry, sorry.)
ABC
Kevin and Winnie, "The Wonder Years": What would we do if we didn't have these two?
ABC
Leslie and Ben, "Parks and Recreation": We love them and we like them.
NBC
George and Louise, "The Jeffersons": This married couple moved on up into our hearts in the '70s and have lived there ever since.
CBS
Homer and Marge, "The Simpsons": The only cartoon couple on this list, Marge and Homer have 31 seasons' worth of animated love under their belts and are still going strong.
Fox
Monica and Chandler, "Friends": Ross and Rachel may have kept us entertained with their drama, but Monica and Chandler taught us what a healthy, stable, loving relationship should look like.
Warner Bros TV
Stef and Lena, "The Fosters": Inspiring mothers, inspiring lovers.
Freeform
Coach Eric and Tami, "Friday Night Lights": Clear eyes, full hearts, these two can't lose.
NBCU
Tara and Willow, "Buffy the Vampire Slayer": An important couple both in-universe and for the LGBTQ community in general, as Tara and Willow famously shared their first kiss in one of the most heartfelt and yet casual of ways, a moment that helped humanize same-sex relationships on television before such acts were treated as commonplace.
20th Century Fox TV
Cory and Topanga, "Boy Meets World": From childhood best friends to high school sweethearts to happily married, Cory and Topanga taught us the meaning of commitment. Like, serious commitment.
Disney/ABC
Mitch and Cam, "Modern Family": Mitch and Cam's love gave us so many beautiful moments, and a few cringeworthy situations, sure. But mainly beautiful moments, yes.
ABC
Rory and Jess, "Gilmore Girls": Reading is sexy.
Warner Bros TV
April and Andy, "Parks and Recreation": He's an adorable goofball, she could not be more cynical if she tried -- and we couldn't be more obsessed.
NBC
Fran and Maxwell, "The Nanny": Marrying your nanny probably wouldn't be seen as adorable in this day and age -- but it definitely was for viewers of "The Nanny," who shipped these two hard for years.
CBS
Sam and Diane, "Cheers": TV writers owe a debt of gratitude to the couple that started the "will they or won't they?" dynamic that has been used time and again by so many shows since.
CBS TV Studios
Paul and Jamie, "Mad About You": We're still mad about them -- in an endearing way, of course.
Sony Pictures TV
Cece and Schmidt, "New Girl": Nick and Jess are cute for sure -- but Cece and Schmidt are the real alpha couple from Fox's "Friends"-esque sitcom.
20th Century Fox TV
Veronica and Logan, "Veronica Mars": We still hear the bells.
Warner Bros TV
Mike and Carol, "The Brady Bunch": Here's the story of a quintessential married couple whose biggest problems could be resolved in under 30 minutes.
CBS TV Studios
Martin and Gina, "Martin": On-set drama between the actors aside, Martin and Gina gave broadcast viewers something they desperately needed in the '90s and still don't have enough today: an African-American relationship at the center of a show.
Warner Bros TV
Piper and Leo, "Charmed": Obstacles both supernatural and everyday got in this couple's way throughout the show's entire eight-season run. But in the end, there was nothing they could not overcome.
CBS TV Studios
Seth and Summer, "The O.C.": Complete opposites that completely complemented each other in the cutest of ways.
Warner Bros TV
Mulder and Scully, "The X-Files": Proof that the truth is out there -- and that if you write enough fan fiction about a potential couple then they will eventually get together on screen.
20th Century Fox TV
Elaine and Puddy, "Seinfeld": We can't do this couple justice by summing them up in a few words -- so here's a video compilation that we think accurately sums up their charm and dysfunction.
Sony Pictures TV
Dre and Rainbow, "Black-ish": We got the very definition of "ride or die" right here.
ABC
Zack and Kelly, "Saved by the Bell": Arguably the most iconic high school sweethearts in the history of TV.
NBC
J.D. and Elliot, "Scrubs": What's meant to be will always find a way -- even if it takes many, many seasons.
ABC
Joey and Pacey, "Dawson's Creek": If you're a Joey-Dawson shipper, you definitely don't know chemistry when you see it, because these two had it bad for each other and deserved the happy ending they got.
Sony Pictures TV
Meredith and Derek, "Grey's Anatomy": He may have never been her person -- and isn't even alive anymore -- but Derek will forever be Meredith's one true love.
ABC
Carrie and Mr. Big, "Sex and the City": While you could say that Carrie and Mr. Big are far from a perfect -- or even healthy -- couple, they are clearly a perfect match.
HBO
Kurt and Blaine, "Glee": A stunning small-screen example of not just lovely young love -- but of a same-sex couple experiencing all the same firsts as any heterosexual first loves.
20th Century Fox
Nick and Jess, "New Girl": These roommates-turned-lovers turned us into mush when they finally got together.
20th Century Fox
Ross and Rachel, "Friends": There were a lot of problems with this pairing over the years, for sure -- but he *is* her lobster.
Warner Bros TV
Roseanne and Dan, "Roseanne": In this particular case, we're gonna ignore the behind-the-scenes drama that ended this on-screen couple's relationship in the revival and focus on the joy they brought us during the sitcom's original run.
ABC/Viacom
Jack and Rebecca, "This Is Us": An everlasting love that only a slow cooker could kill. (Too soon?)
NBC
Booth and Brennan, "Bones": A woman of science, a man of faith, but make no bones about it, this couple belonged together from the start.
20th Century Fox TV
Niles and Daphne, "Frasier": Sometimes pining pays off.
CBS TV Studios
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In honor of Valentine’s Day, TheWrap rounds up the most iconic small-screen lovers
This Valentine's Day, love is in the air yet again. And to mark the most romantic of occasions, TheWrap has rounded up the 47 best TV couples of all time. And while "best" is certainly a subjective term -- meaning we've probably left at least one of your favorite sets of lovers off this list -- we're sure readers who click through this gallery will find many a pairing that makes their hearts go pitter-patter. And just to be *extra* clear here, these couples are listed in no particular order.