This section serves as a summary of the many characters central to the That Wacky Redhead timeline.

That Wacky Redhead.

Has worked at Desilu since 1964; promoted to Vice-President in Charge of Production in 1965, replacing his boss, Oscar Katz, in the position. Since that time, has become known as the right-hand man of Lucille Ball. From his promotion to Senior Executive Vice-President and Chief Operations Officer in 1971, has exercised significant control over the company's creative decisions; he is fettered only by the veto power that Ball continues to hold over him - though, rather like the Royal Prerogative, it is seldom used, and never without good reason.

Second husband of Lucille Ball; the two were married in 1961. A comedian of marginal talent, but with a particular gift for self-promotion, he has always shown a keen interest in spending the studio's money. None of his fellow top-level executives - including his wife - think much of him or his abilities, but he remains involved with the company largely because he would not likely find success beyond it, or the long shadow cast by his wife.

A wunderkind television producer from the East Coast, not even 30 when he became a top executive at the studio. Known for his big ideas.

First husband of Lucille Ball; the two were married for two decades, from 1940 to 1960. Co-founder of Desilu, with Ball, in 1950; he served as first studio chief until he sold his share of the company to Ball in 1962. The two remain close friends and memorably appeared together on-screen in the series finale of The Lucy Show in 1968 - also the first time since 1960 that three stars from I Love Lucy (Ball, Arnaz, and Vivian Vance) shared the screen.

Hired by Lucille Ball in 1964 to select high-potential pitches and develop them into new pilots; his tenure with Desilu was short, but he green-lit Star Trek and Mission: Impossible, beginning the phase during which the studio was known as “The House that Paladin Built”. Resigned in 1965.

A close associate of Gene Roddenberry, and a key member of the production staff for Star Trek from the very beginning of the show's production. When it began running as a series in 1966, he was made Associate Producer; he was promoted to full Producer for the fourth season in 1969. Known for his frugality and efficiency, he was hired by his close friend Herb Solow to replace him in the position of Vice-President of Production for Desilu, giving him the responsibility of overseeing all series produced by the studio. Unlike Solow, he had little passion for working in television “on the other side”, thinking more highly of his time in active production, and vacated the position in 1976.

Austrian-American industrialist and mogul. Founder and head of Gulf+Western Industries, which joined the entertainment industry through its acquisition of Golden Age studio Paramount Pictures in 1966; as Paramount was the only major studio which did not have a television division, Bluhdorn sought to acquire one; however, plans to purchase Desilu Productions fell through in late 1966, forcing Paramount to create its own television division, which required a rather large initial outlay of resources. Bluhdorn, a notorious miser, was most displeased.

President of Paramount Television since 1968. Previously worked at NBC, and in that capacity approved and supervised the production of the original Star Trek pilot. Married to Mary Tyler Moore, and one of his conditions for joining Paramount was the creation of a sitcom to star her.

Vice-President in Charge of Production for Paramount Television.

38th President of the United States, from January 20, 1981; third American man in space (after Alan Sheppard and Gus Grissom), but the first to orbit the Earth, and popular imagination tends to conflate the two (to the ire of Sheppard). Elected to the U.S. Senate from the state of Ohio as a Democrat in 1970. Ran as a moderate, “third alternative” candidate for President in 1980 (with the slogan “invest in America”), coming up the middle and defeating the Republican incumbent, Ronald Reagan.

39th Vice-President of the United States, from 1969, under Hubert H. Humphrey; previously a Senator for Maine. In his role as President of the Senate, broke a great many ties in the upper house during the 93rd Congress (1973-75), as both sides were tied. Named Acting President of the United States under the terms of Amendment XXV to the US Constitution, serving during the summer of 1975. Ran for and won the Democratic Party nomination for President in 1976, after a tough contest with Sen. “Scoop” Jackson, but lost the general election in a landslide to the Republican candidate, Ronald Reagan, largely due to the great unpopularity of the lame-duck Humphrey administration.

Governor of Alabama and founder of the American Party. Ran for President on that ticket in 1968 and 1972; however, he passed on the 1976 contest.

Senator for the state of Washington from 1953; previously a Congressman. In terms of domestic policy, a typical Great Society Democrat; however, his foreign policy is hawkish and staunchly anti-Communist. He is the effective leader of those Democrats who share his ideology, and naturally has proven a thorn in the side of the Humphrey administration, whom he has vocally opposed. Ran for the Democratic nomination for President in 1976, losing to Vice-President Muskie, but he endorsed his opponent in the general election, purportedly in exchange for a promise to be named Secretary of State.

Democratic Senator for Wisconsin, and vocal opponent of NASA and funding for space exploration in general. Ran for President on the independent Earth Party ticket in 1980, in reaction to John Glenn winning the candidacy of his party.

37th President of the United States, from 1969 to 1977; previously the 38th Vice-President, from 1965 to 1969, under Lyndon B. Johnson; before that, a Senator for Minnesota. Ran for, and won, the Presidential races in both 1968 and 1972, on the Democratic ticket. His term in office has been known for his staunch advocacy of desegregation, support for the space program, and promoting detente with the Soviet Union. Never in the best of health, became infirm in his lame-duck term, resulting in the first-ever invocation of the fourth section of Amendment XXV to the US Constitution after a severe heart-attack prevented him from carrying out his duties. He died on March 16, 1977, just months after his term expired.

36th Vice-President of the United States, from 1953-61, under Dwight Eisenhower. Previously a Congressman, then a Senator, for his home state of California, after having served as a naval officer during World War II. Ran for President of the United States on the Republican Party ticket in 1960 and 1968; narrowly lost both times. His 1968 run had been seen as a comeback after his decisive defeat in his run for Governor of California in 1962, in which he famously informed his bete noire, the press, that they would not have him to kick around anymore. After his 1968 Presidential loss, he appeared to finally mean it, retiring to private life (even though he was considered a prime contender for the Presidential nomination in 1972).

Governor of New York from 1959 to 1975. Ran for President of the United States on the Republican ticket in 1972; attempted to run for same in 1960, 1964, and 1968. Socially liberal and economically moderate; the left-wing faction of the Republican Party is named for him.

38th President of the United States, from January 20, 1977, to January 20, 1981. Previously the 33rd Governor of California, from 1967 to 1975. A champion of fiscally conservative ideals, modeled on those of his political mentor, Sen. Barry M. Goldwater, Sr., and a staunch anti-communist. Could not combat the stagflation of the late-1970s with his laissez-faire policies (also known as Reaganomics) and was defeated in his bid for re-election; has since retired to his residence in Bel-Air.

HM Elizabeth II, by the Grace of God, of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and of Her other Realms and Territories Queen, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith. Queen of the United Kingdom and all Commonwealth Realms since 1952. Former Head of State of many current republics. Supreme Governor of the Church of England. Celebrated her Silver Jubilee in 1977.

HRH The Prince Charles, Prince of Wales, Duke of Cornwall and Rothesay, et al. Heir Apparent to the throne of all Commonwealth Realms since the accession of his mother to same in 1952. Married The Honourable Amanda Knatchbull, his second cousin, in a lavish, well-attended, and widely-viewed ceremony in 1980.

HRH The Princess of Wales, Duchess of Cornwall and Rothesay, et al. Nee Amanda Knatchbull, daughter of the Baron Brabourne, maternal granddaughter of the Earl Mountbatten of Burma. Second cousin to her husband, both descended from their great-grandfather, Prince Louis of Battenberg (the 1st Marquess of Milford Haven).

Second-in-line to the throne of all the Commonwealth Realms, after his elder brother, since his birth in 1960. Displaced his elder sister, Princess Anne. Presently unmarried, though at the time of his wedding he is likely to be created Duke of York, the customary title granted to the second son of the Sovereign.

Third-in-line to the throne of all the Commonwealth Realms, after his elder brothers, since his birth in 1964. Displaced his elder sister, Princess Anne. Still an adolescent, though when he matures and eventually weds, he is likely to be given a Dukedom of his own, as is standard among sons of the Sovereign.

Only daughter of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip. Struck from the line of succession in 1973 (at which time she was fourth-in-line to the thrones of all the Commonwealth Realms), upon marrying a Catholic (in violation of the Act of Settlement 1701). However, her wedding to Major Andrew Parker-Bowles was very popular with the masses, and the newlyweds agreed to raise any children in the Protestant Church of England, to secure their place in the succession.

Agnatic descendant of the Parkers of Macclesfield; his maternal line belongs to a prominent aristocratic recusant family, resulting in his being raised in the Roman Catholic faith. Dated, and then married, Princess Anne, in the early 1970s, and was created Earl of Crewe (and Viscount Ampleforth) on the day of their wedding.

First grandchild of Queen Elizabeth II, presently fourth-in-line to the thrones of all the Commonwealth Realms.

Prime Minister of the United Kingdom since 1974. Head of the Conservative Party since 1971.

Note that the Canadian Head of State is HM Queen Elizabeth II, and the British Royal Family is also the Canadian Royal Family.

Leader of the Progressive Conservative (PC) Party (also known as the “Tories”) since 1967; Prime Minister of Canada since 1972; formed a majority government from 1974. Represents the electoral district (or “riding”) of Halifax, in the province of Nova Scotia. An advocate of the “Red Tory” tradition, analogous to “One Nation” or “Rockefeller Republican” policies elsewhere, Stanfield maintains an economically liberal, socially moderate (though conservative in the traditionalist sense) government. Perhaps the most strongly pro-British PM since Arthur Meighen in the 1920s. A sturdy, dependable type: essentially the exact opposite of his predecessor. A passionate enthusiast of Canadian sport.

Leader of the Liberal Party (also known as the “Grits”) from 1968 to 1975; Prime Minister of Canada to 1972. Represented the riding of Mount Royal, in Montreal, Quebec. A member of his party's left wing, disdainful of the Western Allies and an admirer of the Communist bloc, particularly Red China and Cuba (he is a close, personal friend of Fidel Castro). Married a much-younger woman. Retired from politics after his defeat in the 1974 election.

Nicknamed “Dief” (or “Dief the Chief” during his tenure as PM). Leader of the PCs from 1956 to 1967; Prime Minister of Canada from 1957 to 1963. Formed the largest majority government in Canadian history (208 seats out of 265) after the 1958 election. Cancelled funding on the Avro Arrow program in 1959. With the resignation of Trudeau, is the only former Prime Minister who continues to sit in the House of Commons. Has also been the longest-serving MP, or Dean of the House, since 1968; he first took his seat of Prince Albert, in the province of Saskatchewan, in the election of 1940.

Pontiff from June 21, 1963 to February 28, 1978, succeeding John XXIII. Generally seen as a modernizer and a promoter of inter-faith dialogue.

Previously Cardinal Sebastiano Baggio, pontiff from March 15, 1978. Described as affable and smiling; primarily an administrator.

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That Wacky Redhead