A year earlier, Desi Arnaz had appeared on "Donny & Marie" for a salute to the pioneers of television. In January 1978, Lucy and Desi's son, Desi Jr., appeared on the show.
Of the writers, Paul Pumpian would co-write "Lucy Moves to NBC" in 1980. Bill Dana was the producer of "The Milton Berle Show" (1966), which had Lucille Ball on its very first episode.
Director Art Fisher would also direct "Cher...And Other Fantasies" (1979) which guest-starred Lucille Ball.
During the song "Leading Lady" Lucy sings "I could be Mame or Dolly, Camille or Miss Mae West. Ethel Merman or Madame Butterfly..." Lucille Ball played Mame in the 1974 film adaptation of the Jerry Herman Broadway musical.
On a 1965 episode of "The Lucy Show" she dressed up as Dolly Levi from "Hello Dolly," even singing the title song. Camille, the central character of the novel and 1938 film about a consumptive courtesan, was mentioned by Lucy Ricardo on several episodes of "I Love Lucy." Later in this "Donny & Marie," Lucille Ball will play Mae West to Paul Williams' W.C. Fields. Ethel Merman was a guest-star on two episodes of "The Lucy Show" in 1964. Madame Butterfly, the heroine of the opera by Puccini, seems to be the only woman mentioned that Lucy does not have a distinct connection to. In fact, when singing her name, Lucy incongruously flaps her arms like a butterfly.
In front of a marquee that reads "Annie Get Your Gun" Lucille Ball sings "There's No Business Like Show Business," which was written by Irving Berlin for the musical in 1949, introduced by Ethel Merman. In "Lucy Has Her Eyes Examined" (S3;E11), Lucy Ricardo and the Mertzes burst into an a capella rendition of the show business anthem. It would also be quoted by Lucy Ricardo in "Baby Pictures" (S3;E5). Merman herself sang the song on "The Lucy Show" in "Ethel Merman and the Boy Scout Show" (S2;E19).