CBS is going to bring back I Love Lucy for the modern generation and, much to fans’ chagrin, it will be colorized.
In a statement on Tuesday, the network said that the I Love Lucy Christmas Special will be a one-hour show with newly colorized versions of “The Christmas Episode” and “Lucy’s Italian Movie” (the one with the famous ‘grape stomping’ scene). The network said that the shows will be seamlessly combined, with no interruptions.
However, Deadline reports that there will still be commercials. “No interruptions” just means that the opening and closing credits won’t air between the two episodes.
The controversial aspect of the announcement is that the episodes will be colorized with a “vintage look,” which doesn’t make too much sense, since the shows were black and white when they aired.
“The Christmas Episode” hasn’t been seen on TV very often, since it was once thought lost, until its rediscovery in 1989. It originally aired in December 1956. According to EW, the episode aired in 1989 and drew 29 million viewers. In 1990, a colorized version aired and drew over 18 million viewers.
“Lucy’s Italian Movie” is considered one of the show’s best episodes. It aired in March 1956.
The I Love Lucy Christmas Special airs on Friday, Dec. 20 at 8 p.m.
image: CBS