In 1986, just three years before her own passing, Lucille Ball sat down with Gary Collins on Hour Magazine for what would become one of the most heartfelt interviews of her later years. Lucy had done thousands of interviews throughout her career — but this one struck a chord with fans because of the moment when Collins asked her a simple question:
“Would you ever consider doing another show with Vivian?”
What happened next wasn’t played for laughs, wasn’t scripted, and wasn’t part of any nostalgic setup. Lucy paused. Her face softened. Her voice changed. Anyone who watched it could feel the shift. For a woman known for her explosive comedic energy and razor-sharp timing, it was one of the rare times she allowed the world to see something deeply private: the grief of losing not just a co-star, but a best friend.
Lucy’s reply was tender, emotional, and profoundly honest. She said Vivian was “the best,” and the way she said it left no doubt that she meant the best partner, the best friend, the best collaborator. It was a statement loaded with twenty years of memories, laughter, fights, tears, and a bond that weathered both fame and heartbreak.
❤️ A Partnership Written in Television History
When I Love Lucy premiered in 1951, no one could have predicted that the chemistry between Lucille Ball and Vivian Vance would become one of the most iconic comedic pairings in the history of entertainment. Lucy was the impulsive dreamer, forever chasing wild schemes; Vivian’s Ethel was the skeptical but loyal voice of reason — unless, of course, Lucy dragged her into one of those schemes anyway.
FULL INTERVIEW HERE ⬇️
What audiences didn’t initially know was that the warmth between their characters came from something real. Behind the scenes, Vivian became Lucy’s confidante, her sounding board, and sometimes the only person on set who could stand up to her. They had a relationship built on honesty — sometimes brutally so — and that honesty helped shape the show’s timing, energy, and emotional grounding.
Vivian gave Lucy something even more precious than comic backup:
she made Lucy better.
Lucy often said that comedy is not a solo sport, and Vivian was the living proof of that.
Feeling nostalgic? Read about Desi Arnaz’s heartfelt final love letter to Lucille Ball.
💔 A Friendship Tested by Distance and Illness
After The Lucy Show began, Vivian eventually stepped away due to health issues and personal reasons, though she and Lucy remained close. Even when life took them in different directions — different cities, different projects, different marriages — their connection never faded.
When Vivian was diagnosed with cancer, Lucy was one of the first to know. And she was one of the last people Vivian spoke to before passing in 1979. Lucy often said that Vivian’s death left a hole in her life that never truly healed.
That grief, usually kept private, surfaced again during the Hour Magazine interview.
😢 “She was the best” — Why That Line Still Hurts Fans Today
In the clip, you can see Lucy trying to keep her composure. She wasn’t just recalling a coworker; she was remembering a partner who made her shine, supported her, challenged her, and loved her in a way few people ever have the privilege to experience.
Lucy had lost Desi in 1986, Vivian in 1979 — two people who understood her in ways no one else ever could. When she said “the best,” she wasn’t talking about sitcom ratings or awards.
She was talking about love.
📺 Why This Moment Still Matters
Fans return to this interview clip again and again because it feels real.
Lucy wasn’t performing; she wasn’t doing shtick; she wasn’t “Lucy Ricardo.”
She was simply Lucille Ball — a woman remembering someone who shaped her life.
In a world that often focuses on the glamorous or comedic parts of celebrity, moments like this remind us that behind the characters were two real women who relied on one another, fought for one another, and made history together.
Vivian Vance didn’t just play Ethel Mertz — she helped build one of the most beloved legacies in television, and Lucy never forgot that.
Even decades later, the mention of Vivian’s name could bring tears to her eyes.
And that says everything.
