This special 75th Anniversary edition of I Love Lucy: The Complete Series celebrates the legendary comedy that changed television forever, starring the incomparable Lucille Ball. This complete collection includes every episode from the classic series that defined sitcom humor for generations. Packed with iconic moments and timeless laughs, it’s an essential addition for fans and classic TV collectors.

In October 1951, Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz debuted the first episode of what was to become one of the best-loved and most watched TV shows of all time. Zany redhead Lucy and her Cuban bandleader husband Ricky Ricardo, along with their neighbors and comic foils Ethel and Fred Mertz (Vivian Vance and William Frawley), got into the most hilarious predicaments ever imaginable. This must-own collection contains all the classic episodes from the six seasons of I Love Lucy (1951-1957) plus three iconic seasons of The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour (1957-1960). Overflowing with notable guest stars and escapades that never lose their entertainment value, it’s no wonder everyone still loves Lucy. (from Amazon.com)

Widely considered the greatest sitcom of all time, I Love Lucy releases in an all-new Blu-Ray box set (and a new separate DVD set), assembling all 194 episodes into one massive case containing 33 discs. First off, the packaging isn't my favorite. Over the years, packaging as evolved into a less-is-more approach, with one gigantic case featuring stacked discs on multiple plastic "pages" instead of each season split up into its own separate volume. This condensed approach will undoubtedly save you shelf space, but it's a pain in the tush when it comes to handling the nested discs. For a set as big as this one, it's almost mind-numbing. As you page through the flippable dividers, there are two disc slots on each side and multiple discs stacked on top of each other. You may have to go hunting for the start or end of a season. Thankfully, some of them seem to be able to hold an extra disc than is presented, so you may be able to rearrange them however you'd prefer. (But this ability is still limited.)

The episodes look really good in HD. The original film grain is still there, so it's not overly softened with the high definition presentation. But the muddly look of old TV screens or VHS has been replaced with crisp visuals. We were first sent the DVD release of this set and I checked out the unaired pilot for the first time. It looked decent, but there's a noticeable clarity on the Blu-Ray that DVD just can't give you. Also, the disc menus are definitely nicer and offer more options. I didn't notice if the DVD's also offered this, but on the Blu-Ray discs, you can often choose to watch the originally-aired version of the show. This means that the heart-shaped opening credits that appeared on its syndicated run are replaced with the original simplified opening and original episode sponsors. In this case, given the era in which the show aired, you get a commercial for cigarettes and even additional footage of Lucy and Ricky promoting the cigarettes. It's cute, but the discs even come with a disclaimer saying, due to later health discoveries, they don't promote or endorse smoking anymore.

Some discs also include little mistakes, called "flubs," in the episodes that you can view independently from the episode. One example is how Lucy claims her apartment number is "3D" instead of the usual "3B" just so a joke about Lucy appearing in "3D" - the third dimension - could be made. Another highlighted "flub" shows how a newspaper Lucy reads had reused a paper about typography, causing the subtitle on an article about Ricky to be an odd choice. They're minor little trivia bits, but still kind of neat. The set even features alternate editions of some episodes, like the famous "Job Switching" (where Lucy and Ethel go to work at a candy factory and Ricky and Fred try to be homemakers), which offers a colorized version, the original broadcast version (29:27), the regular syndicated episode (24:59), the original broadcast with commentary, and even the French Canadian version. It's kinda crazy, but really cool to have such a variety of options.

As for the show itself, I remember watching reruns on daytime TV sometimes when I was growing up. It was never a favorite show, but it was still fun to watch on occasion. Revisiting it in 2026, however, I think it's one I'd really have to be in the mood for. Some of musical numbers and physical comedy is fantastic, but the setups are often predictable, and some of the comedy relies on the characters to be kind of dumb at times. Things like seeing Fred and Ricky slipping and sliding around the kitchen floor as cooked rice spills everywhere, or trying to clean a chicken with soap and a scrub brush just feels more painfully dopey than funny. Lucy can seem equally over-the-top at times, but she also knows how to deliver a well-timed good gag, too. The chemistry between Ball, Desi Arnaz, Vivian Vance, and William Frawley remains the show's greatest strength, even when the writing may not be at its strongest. Ultimately, though, the show is a rather harmless, family-friendly outing that is a breath of fresh air compared to most modern TV programs. You shouldn't have to worry about what your kids are going to see and hear when you watch this one.

If you're already a fan of I Love Lucy and don't own the series on disc yet, I Love Lucy: The Complete Series (75th Anniversary) is a no-brainer must-buy. If you're looking for some wholesome classic family entertainment, maybe sample a few episodes online to see if you like it, and if you do, check out this set. The picture is solid, the show is a classic, and the features are plenty!

- John DiBiase (reviewed: 7/25/26)

I LOVE LUCY: COMPLETE SERIES (75TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION)
FEATURES:

• Special 75th Anniversary Edition with collectable embossed and gold foil o-sleeve.
• Original I Love Lucy Pilot 
• Select Original Opening/Closing Credits
• Production Notes
• Photo Galleries
• Select My Favorite Husband Radio Episodes 
• Flubs
• Audio Commentaries on Select Episodes
• Vintage Sponsor Spots
• Original Broadcast Versions of Select Episodes
• Select Colorized Episodes
• Slide Show
• I Love Lucy: The Movie
• Christmas Rebroadcast Footage
• "Eye on CBS" 1959 Segments
• Blu-Ray | 33 DISCS
• And More!