Ethel and Fred,,,,,why?

William Frawley was 20 years older than Vivian Vance and she HATED that. It really is a part of I Love Lucy lore.

As to the casting, Desi Arnaz pretty much called the shots (I think), and despite the age difference, and Frawley's rep as a difficult, grumpy, heavy drinker, it worked! Well I guess not everyone thinks so :)

Supposedly Vance made a cutting remark about him that got back to him, and he never forgave her.

They were perfect. For one, they looked like "normal" people. And Ethel is a legend.

Seriously, it would have not been the same if Betty Ramsey had been the neighbor.

It was a great idea because they were hilarious. The episode where they are fighting over train tickets especially, William Frawley owned that episode.

Call me crazy but I always thought Ethel and Fred looked close to the same age, particularly with the black and white- I assumed she had white hair a la Mr and Mrs Wilson. While yes they are older than the Ricardos it helps to keep all the characters separate from each other with their own distinct personalities; the show imo wouldn't have worked with another couple the same age as Lucy and Ricky as the third and fourth lead. Imagine Ricky's agent Jerry and Carolyn Applebee as Fred and Ethel and it just doesn't work. Because Ricky is Cuban and Fred is old, and Ethel is dumpy and Lucy is insane, the show is without a stereotypical stock male and female 'type' if that makes sense, to its benefit. Everyone has such particular and idiosyncratic personalities, which is why Seinfeld worked also and would not have had it been say the more traditional friends from Friends in the roles.