http://entertainment.time.com/2013/10/23/cbs-to-colorize-i-love-lucy-episodes-for-holidays/

This... is interesting. Apparently, CBS is going to re-air I Love Lucy on December 20th for a special holiday airing. Commercial free and in color. Yes, these two episodes are being shown in color.

The first episode they will air is the rarely-shown Christmas special. It was first aired in 1956, and was not seen again until 1990, when CBS aired a special color presentation of it. It was colorized during the 1990 airing, however, CBS stated that they plan on keeping the flashback sequence in black and white to give it that "vintage feel".

The second episode they'll air is Lucy's Italian Movie. An earlier episode from Season 5, but aired the same year as the Christmas episode. It is also being shown in color as well.

So, how do you feel about I Love Lucy being shown in color on CBS?

I'll have to check this out.

Welcome back to CBS, Lucy.

I think it's a wonderful thing. In fact, I wish networks would dig up old sitcoms for re-airing in primetime on a regular basis. It'd be a nice change from all the new garbage that gets aired.

I don't mind it.  I'll be interested to see.  I don't like when Ted Turner was colorizing everything under the sun and not very carefully.  Messing up the picture, removing detail and subtlety.  Hopefully this is done better.

But, I really don't understand why the xmas episode is followed with one completely unrelated to the holiday(s).  What's the point, why would that episode be picked?  Also, the article doesn't make clear, but it sounds like the flashbacks are just clips from previous shows and not new footage shot for the xmas episode. 

OK, I think I've talked myself out of wanting to see this.  I guess I'll watch anyway, if I have nothing else going on.

Yes, the X-mas episode is a clip show where they look back at some of their past memories (such as Lucy's pregnancy and Little Ricky's birth) as they're getting ready to surprise Little Ricky. It was because of that being a clip show episode (and it being a "special episode") that CBS didn't include it in the syndicated package, and therefore, didn't reair until 1990.

Here's a news segment about it:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nwn9A-1dhMU

I remember watching the special in 1990. I think I asked my mom about why it is in color. 

I saw that DVD at Target recently. It seems that CBS is using the content included on that DVD release as Lucy's Italian Movie is included on that DVD release as well as a few others.

I had the pleasure of seeing the colorized special tonight.

Lucy's loss is Ethel's gain.

Once again, they're going to show the Christmas special tonight.

And in addition, the classic chocolate factory episode will be shown, but in color.

Another good reason to watch tonight's special.

http://www.insideedition.com/entertainment/9360-i-love-lucy-lost-footage-surfaces-for-holiday-special