Unlike most sitcoms of the era, "The Lucy Show" was filmed before a live audience; standard practice at the time was to film an episode on a closed set and add a laugh track during post-production. However, a laugh track was still used to fill any gaps in audience reactions or missed punchlines. The live format was used for all "I Love Lucy" episodes, for all but a few "Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour" installments and on "The Lucy Show". Arnaz felt Ball performed better in front of a live studio audience. Carole Cook, Ball's long-time friend and protégée in a radio show "Great Lives" based on Lucille Ball said that three cameras were used so to capture everything in one go, and the best angles would be used. While Ball would ad-lib during rehearsals, she followed the script when filming the actual show.