In addition to the 50 Funniest Moments and a nostalgic Lucy timeline which takes fans from her birth in 1951 all the way to her last public appearance at the 1989 Academy Awards, TV Guide will celebrate the 50th anniversary with eight collector's covers this week (plus a ninth exclusive to online buyers), each of which features memorable Lucy shots and a "classic" TV Guide logo. After partnering with TV Guide to select the 50 moments, TV Land will telecast an I Love Lucy marathon October 15th-19th showcasing the episodes in which the "50 Funniest Moments" are featured. I Love Lucy fans and collectors can order the complete set of the eight I Love Lucy covers, plus a special cover exclusive only to online buyers, beginning October 11 at the TV Guide Store (800-525-6255 or www.tvguide.com/store. The limited-edition online exclusive covers will be individually numbered and feature a photo of all four primary characters in the episode, "Lucy Gets A Paris Gown." The TV Guide Store will also be offering cover sets suitable for framing and other Lucy memorabilia.

TV Land's marathon will also feature fully restored episodes, replete with animation not seen in years, beginning Monday, October 15 at 9:00 PM, ET/PT - the exact moment the show debuted a half century earlier. The TV Guide Channel will also join in the golden anniversary celebration with two "Insider" segments featuring interviews with the children of Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz, Desi Jr. and Lucie Jr., as well as scenes from an I Love Lucy reunion in Jamestown, NY, the birthplace of Lucille Ball. The segments will run from October 8-20 at the top of every hour, in conjunction with the TV Guide issues and the TV Land marathon.

WE LOVE LUCY! MORE FEATURES ON LUCY'S 50TH ANNIVERSARY INCLUDE:

LUCY TIMELINE: When did the first episode air? What was Lucy's modeling name in 1926? TV Guide's Lucy timeline is full of dates and facts for all Lucy fans and trivia buffs.

THE COMEBACK: An exclusive excerpt from Lee Tannen's new book about Lucy's final return to TV in 1986. Tannen recounts Lucy's decision in 1986 to return to TV after a 12-year absence. The series, ABC's short-lived Life With Lucy, was a failure - critics hated it, audiences ignored it, and everyone wondered why Lucy did it.

TV's FIRST SON: Catching up with Desi Arnaz Jr., TV Guide's inaugural cover boy. Desi Jr., who sobered up nearly 20 years ago, talks about his bouts with drugs, alcohol and his tabloid life of excess: "There were times when I was irresponsible in my life, and I learned how much that would hurt me. It didn't happen overnight, but I learned."

FUNNY STUFF: From Little Ricky dolls to Monopoly, Lucy memorabilia is big business. In fact, Lucie Arnaz was initially loath to get involved in merchandising, but today there are almost 900 Lucy products. "I decided I better get my a-- in gear and make sure it's run right," she said.

Find out more at TV Land and TV Guide.