Santa Fred (Platinum Label) The Barbie® Collector I Love Lucy® series continues with its first-ever solo Fred Mertz doll. The “I Love Lucy Christmas Show” was filmed on November 22, 1956 and originally aired on television on December 24, 1956. The setting is Christmas Eve at the Ricardo apartment and Little Ricky, dressed for bed, grills his parents about Santa's nocturnal visit. This unique show featured flashbacks to scenes from favorite previous shows interspersed with new footage including the hilarious Christmas scene the next morning. Lucy, Ricky, Fred and Ethel are all dressed as Santa hiding in the kitchen. But the surprise is on them when the “real” Santa shows up, and they in turn, marvel at the magic of Christmas!