Produced (and often directed by) Desi Arnaz, and from the writers of I Love Lucy. Despite an obviously different theme, there was a clear attempt at a variation on I Love Lucy. In the Mothers-in-Law, the basic problem is that none of the stars are particularly funny. Kaye Ballard stands out only because of her big mouth. She is almost always shouting. Nothing she said was very funny-and her shouting didn't make it any more funny. Eve Arden was a nice-looking lady and a good actress, but comedy wasn't quite her bag. The other problem here was that tired, overplayed premise of mothers-in-law meddling in their children's lives. Why is that automatically funny? No matter what the husbands say, the wives just refuse to "let go." Who really cares? The show has some good moments, but works mostly in spite of its own premise. Ironically, the best actor here was the one who got replaced. Roger C Carmel was a standout. At one point, he is suddenly gone and we have Richard Deacon. Deacon was a fine actor, but not suited to this role. In closing, I must mention an episode in which Deborah Walley wears a short, short skirt. Best thing in the whole series! Her pretty legs made up for everything I've criticized!
Review of The Mothers-In-Law
