"I Love Lucy: 75 Years of Laughter" Broadcast Special
Nov 13, 2026 01:47PM ● By Kelsey Swire
“I Love Lucy: 75 Years of Laughter,” an “Entertainment Tonight” Special, Honors the Enduring Legacy of Television’s Most Beloved Comedy, Featuring New Interviews with Carol Burnett, Paul W. Downs, Lucia Aniello, Andy Garcia, Carrie Preston, Amy Poehler and More
Two Classic Colorized Episodes of “I Love Lucy” to Air Following the Special
Paramount+ Celebrates with Curated Collections of Iconic Episodes
And Pluto TV’s “I Love Lucy” Channel Keeps the Laughs Going
CBS presents a special night of programming celebrating the groundbreaking series I LOVE LUCY, beginning with I LOVE LUCY: 75 YEARS OF LAUGHTER, an ENTERTAINMENT TONIGHT special, Thursday, Dec. 17 (7:00-8:00 PM, CT), followed by back-to-back colorized episodes of the classic series: “The Christmas Show” (8:00-8:30 PM, CT) and “Never Do Business with Friends” (8:30-9:00 PM, CT) on the CBS Television Network, and streaming live on Paramount+ (Premium) and next day. In addition to the special evening of programming on CBS, fans can enjoy the beloved series on Paramount+, which features six seasons of I LOVE LUCY, including an Iconic Episodes collection with “Lucy Does a TV Commercial” and “Lucy’s Italian Movie,” among others, as well as on Pluto TV’s dedicated I LOVE LUCY channel and on-demand.
I LOVE LUCY premiered on Oct. 15, 1951, and over six seasons delivered 180 episodes that helped define the television sitcom. An unprecedented ratings phenomenon, it became the first sitcom to top the Nielsen charts and pioneered the traditional multi-camera format that continues to shape comedy production today. With four Emmy® Awards, 20 nominations and two honors from the Television Academy, I LOVE LUCY remains one of the most influential and beloved series in television history.
To commemorate the landmark anniversary, I LOVE LUCY: 75 YEARS OF LAUGHTER brings together exclusive footage from the ET Vault, memorable moments and new interviews with Carol Burnett, Paul W. Downs, Lucia Aniello, Andy Garcia, Carrie Preston, Amy Poehler and more to celebrate the beloved series that continues to make audiences laugh 75 years later.
Following the special, viewers can revisit two fan-favorite episodes, newly colorized with a palette inspired by the era in which they were originally filmed.
In “The Christmas Show,” the Ricardos and Mertzes decorate Lucy and Ricky’s Christmas tree and reminisce about the life-changing moments surrounding the arrival of Little Ricky (Keith Thibodeaux). Through a series of memorable flashbacks, the episode revisits some of the series’ most cherished moments, including Lucy’s pregnancy reveal, her surprise appearance in a barbershop quartet and the family’s preparations for Little Ricky’s birth.
In the newly colorized “Never Do Business with Friends,” the Ricardos sell their old washing machine to the Mertzes after purchasing a new one. When the machine breaks down before payment is made, a simple transaction quickly escalates into a classic battle between friends.
I LOVE LUCY stars Lucille Ball as Lucy, Desi Arnaz as Ricky Ricardo, Vivian Vance as Ethel Mertz and William Frawley as Fred Mertz.