TCM’s Hit Podcast The Plot Thickens Returns October 12th Celebrating Lucille Ball
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TCM’s Hit Podcast The Plot Thickens Returns October 12th Celebrating Lucille Ball

The Plot Thickens

Turner Classic Movies (TCM) announced today that its award-winning podcast The Plot Thickens will premiere season three on Oct. 12, 2021, diving into the life and work of the indelible Lucille Ball. Episode one drops just three days before the 70th anniversary of the pilot episode of I Love Lucy, which premiered on CBS Oct. 15, 1951.

Featuring newly uncovered audio from Lucille Ball herself, plus more than 40 new interviews, The Plot Thickens, Season 3: Lucy covers Ball’s full story, from her hardscrabble childhood to her early days as a model, her triumphant takeover of television through her later years as an icon and Hollywood’s first female studio head. Host Ben Mankiewicz talks to Ball's friends and closest colleagues about the triumphs and tragedies of the most famous funny woman in Hollywood history, with surprising revelations at every turn.

“There was so much more to Lucille Ball than the eternal magic of I Love Lucy,” says TCM host Ben Mankiewicz. “We toss around the word ‘iconic’ so often that it has lost much of its meaning. But Lucy is a legitimate icon, a defining sit-com star to be sure, but few know the profound impact she had on the entertainment industry, not only during the 50s, 60s, and 70s, but even today, as TV shows and movies continue to pay homage to her.”

In conjunction with the launch of season three, Lucille Ball will be TCM’s Star of the Month for October, featuring her movies every Thursday in October. More than 40 of her films will be shown, spanning from 1935 to 1974.

The first trailer for The Plot Thickens Season 3: Lucy can be downloaded on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

Interviews, press assets, and episode 1 are available upon request.

Learn more at tcm.com/Podcast.

Lucy Tile


About The Plot Thickens

The Plot Thickens is the first official podcast from Turner Classic Movies (TCM) about movies and the people who make them. Season one launched in May 2020 and dove into the life and work of Oscar®-nominated director, writer, and actor Peter Bogdanovich. Season two, “The Devil’s Candy,” premiered in June 2021 and chronicled the tumultuous production of the 1990 film The Bonfire of the Vanities. The podcast has garnered more than two million downloads and several industry awards: it was named a Webby Honoree; won best podcast website from the 2020 Adweek Podcast Awards; and was nominated for best entertainment podcast at the inaugural Ambie Awards. Season three, “Lucy,” premieres in October 2021.


About Turner Classic Movies

Turner Classic Movies (TCM) is a two-time Peabody Award-winning network that presents classic films, uncut and commercial-free, from the largest film libraries in the world highlighting “where then meets now.” TCM features the insights from Primetime host Ben Mankiewicz along with hosts Alicia Malone, Dave Karger, Jacqueline Stewart and Eddie Muller, plus interviews with a wide range of special guests and serves as the ultimate movie lover destination. With more than two decades as a leading authority in classic film, TCM offers critically acclaimed series like The Essentials, along with annual programming events like 31 Days of Oscar® and Summer Under the Stars. TCM also directly connects with movie fans through popular events such as the annual TCM Classic Film Festival in Hollywood, the TCM Big Screen Classics screening series, and the TCM Classic Cruise. In addition, TCM produces the wildly successful podcast “The Plot Thickens,” which has had more than 2 million downloads to date. TCM hosts a wealth of material online at tcm.com and through the Watch TCM mobile app. Fans can also enjoy a classic movie experience on the Classics Curated by TCM hub on HBO Max.

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