Lucy and Ethel: The Ultimate Ride-or-Die Friendship That Set the Sitcom Standard

Before Monica and Rachel, before Broad City or The Golden Girls, there was the original iconic duo: Lucy and Ethel. Brought to life by Lucille Ball and Vivian Vance, their on-screen friendship set the standard for sitcom besties for generations to come.

They were bold, chaotic, and endlessly entertaining. Whether they were cooking up wild schemes or getting into slapstick trouble (who could forget the time their bread dough took over the kitchen?), one thing never changed — they were always in it together. Ethel was the ultimate ride-or-die, sleeves rolled up and ready for whatever Lucy dreamed up next.

Behind the scenes, their dynamic was more nuanced. Vivian Vance was initially hesitant about playing Lucy’s dowdy sidekick — especially given that she was younger and, in reality, quite glamorous. But as the show went on, a genuine connection developed. They weren’t inseparable off-camera, but they shared a deep respect and trust in each other’s craft.

“They knew how to deliver a punchline without stepping on the other’s moment. That’s true professional chemistry,” noted one classic TV historian.

Lucy and Ethel showed a generation of women that friendship doesn’t have to be flawless — it just needs to be loyal. And hilarious. Exceptionally hilarious.