It's a name you probably know well - Desi Arnaz (aka Ricky Ricardo) and he starred opposite his wife, Lucille Ball, in the world's first huge hit sitcom, "I Love Lucy." 

Every medium or form needs an innovator who tries something others said was impossible. In the case of "Lucy," that was her husband. She often gets credit for being the star and she was. But he made it all possible. 

It was Arnaz and his crew who conceived of the idea for the three camera shoot - and a live audience. And it was Arnaz who insisted it be shot on film and not the old "off a TV screen" concept (called a kinescope) so a poor quality version could be seen in other time zones. And that accidentally gave birth to the rerun. 

"Desilu owned the episodes after they were broadcast. In an age before people knew the commercial potential of reruns, no one figured the episodes would have much value. Not that Arnaz had such amazing foresight—he just figured he might be able to sell them to foreign nations. Today, it's understood that repeated showings of a hit are where the real money is made."

There's not really a lot new in the story at the link below. But it's nice to be reminded how the second banana on what may be television's most impactful TV show was one of the reasons it bore fruit in the first place. And why he doesn't have a lot of 'splainin to do. 

Desi Arnaz's Revolution Was Televised