Charlie Brown Television Specials

 

One of my favorite things about the holidays is that there is a Peanuts/Charlie Brown special to go with all seasons. Yes I am a HUGE Charlie Brown fan and have been since I was a little kid and was able to read the “funnies” in the Sunday paper, in fact that was the one thing I looked forward to EVERY Sunday. There are some specials where I still know most of the words and I still look forward to these specials every year. The things about these specials that I like the most are the music, the dancing because I love the way all the characters dance and the way the parents talk, it makes me wonder if that is what my kids hear when I talk to them.

I was fortunate enough to meet the man behind Charlie Brown when I worked in a bookstore in Santa Barbara, California. I did not realize it was him until I looked at his check and his signature. He was very unassuming and I was surprised that he was buying his own books. Charles Schulz did not disappoint me that day even though I was gushing over his creation he talked to me for a bit and then went about his merry way and I continued to gush as I went to back of the store to get one of his books to again read the funnies. So who is the man, the music, and the characters behind these great television specials?

Creator:

Charles Schulz was born November 26, 1922 in Minneapolis, Minnesota and died February 12, 2000 in Santa Rosa, California. Schulz is best known for his Peanuts Comic Strip (1950-2000) whose characters were loosely based on people from his life including himself as the main character; Charlie Brown.

Music:

The music for these television specials is amazing something that I can immediately identify with Charlie Brown and Peanuts. Vince Guaraldi did most of the jazz scores for the Charlie Brown Television specials. Others who have also contributed have been Ellis Marsalis, Jr., Wynton Marsalis, George Winston, David Benoit, and Cyrus Chestnut who mainly used Guaraldi’s work.

Characters:

Charlie Brown: the main and lovable character

Sally Brown: Charlie Brown's sister

Snoopy: Charlie Brown's dog

Snoopy’s Altered Egos: Joe Cool - Snoopy with sunglasses and World War I Flying Ace – Snoopy as a Fighter Pilot

Snoopy’s Siblings: Andy, Marbles, Spike, Olaf and Belle

Woodstock: Snoopy's best friend

Linus van Pelt: Charlie Brown's best friend

Lucy van Pelt: Linus' older sister

Marcie: The girl with glasses

Peppermint Patty: Marcie's best friend

Schroeder: The piano-player

Franklin: The African-American boy

Pig-Pen: The dirty boy

Violet Gray: Patty's best friend

Television Specials:

My top ten Charlie Brown Specials in no particular order are:

A Charlie Brown Christmas

Charlie Brown is depressed because he feels his friends have forgotten the true meaning of Christmas. Lucy as the Psychiatrist helps him by having him direct the Christmas Play Charlie Brown looks for the perfect Christmas tree but the tree is less than stellar. The Peanuts gang decides to help Charlie Brown out by decorating the tree.

It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown

It’s Halloween and Charlie Brown has been invited to a costume party, Snoopy as the World War I flying ace is after the Red Baron while Linus is waiting for the Great Pumpkin who rises ever Halloween night from the pumpkin patch.

A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving

After a bungled Thanksgiving dinner at Charlie Brown’s house, the peanuts gang learns the true meaning of Thanksgiving when they all go to Grandma’s house for a Thanksgiving feast.

Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown

Charlie Brown hopes to get a Valentine in the mail from the Little Red Haired Girl. The Peanuts Gang celebrates Valentine’s Day.

It's Arbor Day, Charlie Brown

The Peanuts gang celebrates Arbor Day to show Sally, Charlie Brown’s sister the true significance of Arbor Day.

A Charlie Brown Valentine

Another Valentine special where Charlie Brown still pines for the little red-haired girl and Peppermint Patty tries to help him out so that he can get over her.

A Boy Named Charlie Brown

Charlie Brown attends the National Spelling Bee while the gang cheers him on to the finals while he also manages the worst baseball team in history. Even though Charlie Brown loses the spelling bee the Peanuts gang welcomes him back.

It's the Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown

The Peanuts is ready to celebrate the coming of spring while Linus waits for the Easter Beagle to bring gifts to the children.

She's a Good Skate, Charlie Brown!

Snoopy becomes Peppermint Patty's trainer for an ice-skating contest and Marcie tries unsuccessfully to sew Peppermint Patty a skating outfit.

Happy New Year, Charlie Brown!

Marcie and Peppermint Patty prepare to throw a New Years’ Eve party but Charlie Brown would rather stay home.

Some of the other Charlie Brown Television Specials:

Happy Anniversary, Charlie Brown

You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown

Charlie Brown's All-Stars

You're in Love, Charlie Brown

He's Your Dog, Charlie Brown

Charlie Brown and Charles Schulz

It Was a Short Summer, Charlie Brown

Play It Again, Charlie Brown

You're Not Elected, Charlie Brown

There's No Time for Love, Charlie Brown

It's a Mystery, Charlie Brown

You're a Good Sport, Charlie Brown

It's Your First Kiss, Charlie Brown

What a Nightmare, Charlie Brown

Happy Birthday, Charlie Brown

You're the Greatest, Charlie Brown

Life Is a Circus, Charlie Brown

It's Magic, Charlie Brown

Someday You'll Find Her, Charlie Brown

A Charlie Brown Celebration

Is This Goodbye, Charlie Brown?

It's an Adventure, Charlie Brown

What Have We Learned, Charlie Brown?

It's Flashbeagle, Charlie Brown

Snoopy's Getting Married, Charlie Brown

It's Your 20th Television Anniversary, Charlie Brown

Snoopy!!! The Musical

It's the Girl in the Red Truck, Charlie Brown

You Don't Look 40, Charlie Brown

Why, Charlie Brown, Why?

Snoopy's Reunion

It's Spring Training, Charlie Brown

It's Christmastime Again, Charlie Brown

You're in the Super Bowl, Charlie Brown

It Was My Best Birthday Ever, Charlie Brown

Good Grief, Charlie Brown: A Tribute to Charles Schulz

Here's to You, Charlie Brown: 50 Great Years

It's the Pied Piper, Charlie Brown

The Making of "A Charlie Brown Christmas"

Charlie Brown's Christmas Tales

Lucy Must Be Traded, Charlie Brown

I Want a Dog for Christmas, Charlie Brown

He's a Bully, Charlie Brown

The television specials are only a small part of the Peanuts legacy there is so much more to Peanuts and Charlie Brown. Charles Schulz created a wonderful cartoon with the peanuts gang something that can live on forever. So if you get a chance take a look and see what you are missing; enjoy Charlie Brown today.