Surprising Stories from the Set of I Love Lucy

When Lucille Ball was pregnant with Little Ricky, who was played by her real-life son Desi Arnaz Jr., the storyline broke major ground for television. However, CBS network censors still had strict rules about what could be said on air, especially when it came to pregnancy.

The word “pregnant” was considered too forward for audiences at the time, so Lucy was never allowed to say it. Instead, the show carefully used phrases like “expecting” or “having a baby,” a reminder of just how cautious early television had to be.