Here's Lucy - Cancellation

Cancellation

Here's Lucy ceased production at the end of the 1973–74 season, thus ending nearly 23 years of Ball appearing regularly on television. Though it was widely reported at the time that it was Ball's decision not to continue (as she wanted to pursue other projects), a number of sources through the years have stated that it was CBS that chose not to renew the series for the following season. The ratings had fallen, yet Here's Lucy finished in the top thirty in the spring of 1974. The network was also in the process of reinventing its image, having already replaced much of their "old guard" television product with more contemporary fare such as The Mary Tyler Moore Show, All in the Family, The Bob Newhart Show, and M*A*S*H. Except for Gunsmoke, which would remain for one more season, Ball was the last performer from TV's classic age who still had a weekly series at the beginning of 1974.