The I Love Lucy Christmas Show

Christmastime with the Ricardos, the Mertzes and Little Ricky. Little Ricky wants to see Santa. Naturally Lucy dresses as him to surprise the little boy.

Basically this isn't a new episode--it contains plenty of flashbacks to previous seasons. I heard this was considered lost and was found under Desi Arnazs' bed after his death. It was restored and aired (just once) on CBS in 1989. It's not great but just seeing the old gang in a somewhat "new" episode was plenty of fun. This is probably still out of syndication because of the flashbacks but worth catching if you're a Lucy fan.

The Ricardos and the Mertzes reminisce as they trim the tree on Xmas Eve.

This episode is one of those cop-out clip shows. We see clips from when Ricky finds out Lucy's pregnant, the panic bit before she leaves for the hospital, and the barbershop quartet performance. None of the flashbacks are especially funny or among the show's best/most iconic.

The wraparound scenes are more chuckle-to-yourself than hilarious, so there is not much to recommend here. The final scene has all four main characters in Santa suits - until Fred enters from the kitchen door. So, who's the fifth Santa? Could it be?....

I was never impressed with this one. You're better off watching either of the two LUCY SHOW Xmas episodes, which are at least more original and funnier. 5/10.