In one scene, Katy (Sothern) calls Lucy (Ball) "Madame Du Barry". Ball had portrayed the character, in Du Barry Was a Lady (1943). Sothern was originally scheduled to play the role, but had to drop out of the film when she discovered she was pregnant.
About her good friend, Lucy once remarked, "The best comedienne in this business, bar none, is Ann Sothern."
Director James V. Kern began directing "I Love Lucy" in 1957 at the end of the Hollywood episodes and did a total of 40 episodes. He died in 1966 and his place of death is listed as Desilu Studios.
James Gershe wrote a baker's dozen of episodes of "Private Secretary" and half a dozen of "The Ann Sothern Show." He also wrote two episodes of "The Lucy Show," one of which featured Ann Sothern.
Unlike most Desilu shows, "The Ann Sothern Show" was not filmed before a live studio audience. Sothern reportedly did not like to play comedy in front of an audience while Lucille Ball thrived on it. A laugh track was used throughout the run. For a time, some episodes featured a disclaimer during the end credits reading "Audience Reaction Technically Produced."