Product Description
Meet the Mertzes is an expansive dual biography chronicling the lives of two of America's most popular situation-comedy actors, William Frawley and Vivian Vance, who portrayed Fred and Ethel Mertz on I Love Lucy. This meticulously researched book contains interviews with Frawley's and Vance's colleagues, friends, and relatives, and explores their personal and professional lives before, during, and after I Love Lucy. With a complete filmography and videography of each, Meet the Mertzes finally sets the record straight on the lives and legacies of these compelling stars who detested one another.You'll learn about:-Vance's successful Broadway career prior to I Love Lucy-Frawley's vaudevillian roots and his passion for baseball-Vance's nervous breakdown after the collapse of her first marriage-Frawley's drinking and carousing-Lucille Ball's caustic relationship with both of her costars-Vance's hatred of being known to the world as Ethel Mertz ... Read more

Customer Reviews (29)

A Little Dry
This book is a bit on the dry side.Plus, I didn't notice - until I received it - that the book isn't an authorized biography in any way.(Yes, I'm aware it says a statement to that effect on the front of the book, but I didn't think to read the small print.)As an avid "I Love Lucy" fan, I've read a bunch of biographical books on Lucille Ball.I was excited to find something about Viv and Bill.What a disappointment.First of all, you question everything you read (since it's not authorized or endorsed).Second, it reads a lot like a dry news article.I found it to be a disappointment.

Second Bananas
A good overall look at what it means to be a second banana in the world of show business

A Very Good Read!
I have to admit that I skimmed over their early years, but this is a good book!!I laughed so hard at one point with William Frawley in his escapades as "Bub" in "My Three Sons".He was hilarious.Learning more about Vivian Vance made me really admire and come to like her.As usual, anything about Lucille Ball was negative.Apparently she could be a real B%^&#$h in real life and I learned nothing new about her, but essentially the book isn't about her life anyway.I learned a lot and received a real appreciation of William Frawley and Vivian Vance and learned things about each of them I didn't know before.This is one for my library.

Interesting read
I haven't read all the book yet but what I have read is very interesting. The only thing I wish was different about this book is that it had more pictures within it. Other than that...I like the book and I have been a I love Lucy fan for many years.

Disappointed
Meet the Mertzes: The Life Stories of I Love Lucy's Other CoupleNot what I was expecting.The book mostly contains information easily found on the internet.Goes into way too much detail in listing Bill and Vivian's movie credits, etc. and doesn't have a whole lot of info about their personal lives. ... Read more