The Peanuts 75th Anniversary Ultimate TV Specials Collection gathers 40 TV specials from A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965) to Happiness Is a Warm Blanket, Charlie Brown (2011). Omitted from within that time period are Snoopy: The Musical; It’s the Girl in the Red Truck, Charlie Brown; You’re in the Super Bowl, Charlie Brown; and direct-to-video programs It Was My Best Birthday Ever, Charlie Brown and It’s the Pied Piper, Charlie Brown. Over the years, Cinema Sentries has covered many past Peanuts releases so I will be linking to past reviews for more extensive coverage of a title.
Buy Peanuts: Ultimate TV Specials CollectionFor those not in the know, the Peanuts strip, which debuted on October 2, 1950 in seven newspapers, deals with a group of children managing life’s many disappointments, both realistically, as seen in the unrequited loves of Lucy and Sally for Schroeder and Linus, and fantastically, as seen by a kite-eating tree spoiling the windy afternoons of Charlie Brown. While the contemplations of the children frequently seem beyond their years, anything is plausible in a world with frequent flights of fancy, such as Snoopy the dog playing baseball or pretending he is a WWI ace battling the Red Baron from atop his doghouse.
The first Peanuts TV special, A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965) “deals with Charlie Brown not understanding the holiday because he’s put off by the commercialization and selfishness, especially in his own family.” He ends up directing the Christmas play and has trouble focusing the gang. That is until he unites them in their response to the underwhelming Christmas tree he bought. Linus then speaks to what Christmas is about. It’s a great introduction to the cast of characters and is thoughtful look at Christmas. Shawn Bourdo found Charlie Brown’s All Stars! (1966) “still really endearing…[and] saw much more of the spirit of the comic strips in this special.” Charlie Brown’s team has a chance to earn uniforms, but then they find out the league doesn’t allow girls or dogs. “It’s the typical Charlie Brown dilemma to feel like everything is going right and then to be faced with a decision between success and his friends.”
It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown (1966) “focuses on Linus as he anticipates the arrival of The Great Pumpkin, a magical creature similar to Santa Claus, who brings toys to children. The main difference is that The Great Pumpkin only shows up at sincere pumpkin patches.” He stays firm in the face of ridicule from family and friends, but to what end? In You’re in Love, Charlie Brown (1967), he “desperately wants to meet the little red-Haired girl whom he is smitten with. He only has two days of school before summer break, but his shyness and fear are holding him back…Schulz ideas of young love are universal as is his sense of humor.”
“He’s Your Dog, Charlie Brown (1968) is the refrain as Snoopy drives the gang crazy with his antics.” On his way to obedience school, Snoopy first stays at Peppermint Patty’s, who doesn’t realize he’s a dog. Snoopy learns how good he had it at Charlie Brown’s after being assigned chores by Peppermint Patty. It Was a Short Summer, Charlie Brown (1969) sees the kids reflecting “on their summer camp experience, which found the girls clobbering the boys at every game. The boys have one final shot at redemption as the Masked Marvel (Snoopy) takes on Lucy in arm wrestling.”
Play It Again, Charlie Brown (1971) “focuses on Lucy trying to win Schroeder’s affections although he has no interest in her. To get on his good side, she volunteers him to play a recital for a PTA benefit show, which he is thankful for until it turns out Beethoven isn’t allowed on the program,” as nothing can ever run smoothly in a Schulz story. You’re Not Elected, Charlie Brown (1972) sees Linus run for class president and fans who know Schulz’s worldview by this point know what the result will be. “Standout sequences are Sally’s use of Charlie Brown in show and tell, Linus’ attempt at talk radio shows, and Lucy providing a little muscle to ensure Linus’ high-approval rating.”
In There’s No Time for Love, Charlie Brown (1973), “an upcoming report on an art museum field trip will determine if Charlie Brown passes or fails the term. Unfortunately, he and some others get lost from the rest of the students and end up in a supermarket, which they assume contains Pop Art exhibits, so Charlie Brown only has Linus’ photos to rely on.” These three “specials are very funny due to creator Charles Schulz’ great wit and insight into human nature.”
A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving (1973) “was the first from an original script as opposed to being based on Charles Schulz’ comic strips.” Peppermint Patty invites herself and friends over to Charlie Brown’s, even though he is headed to his grandmother’s. Not knowing how to cook he does his best, but Peppermint Patty lets it be known how disappointed she is. “The special presents a good message, explaining that people should be thankful for what they have. It is also very funny, especially the mishaps of Snoopy and Woodstock as they set up the dinner table and make toast.”
Two specials aired in 1974. Snoopy dons his Sherlock Holmes outfit and comes to the aide of his pal Woodstock whose nest turns up missing after a storm in It’s a Mystery, Charlie Brown while It’s the Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown (1974) “finds Linus once again trumpeting an alternative holiday figure that no one else believes in, but this time he has better luck.” Romance is in the air during Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown (1975) as he “anticipates getting his first Valentine’s Day card, Linus tries to figure out what gift to get for his teacher Miss Othmar, Sally mistakenly thinks Linus’ gift is for her, and Lucy tries to get Schroeder’s attention. Charles Schulz appears to be a pessimist because everyone’s feelings end up being unrequited.”
You’re a Good Sport, Charlie Brown (1975), winner of an Emmy for Outstanding Children’s Special, is reminiscent of Aesop’s The Tortoise and the Hare with Peppermint Patty, Charlie Brown, and the Masked Marvel competing in a charity motocross race. Plenty of laughs throughout. It’s Arbor Day, Charlie Brown (1976) finds Sally and Linus “learn[ing] the holiday is about the future rather than the past like so many others, [so] they decide to build a garden.” However, the lot they choose is where Charlie Brown and Peppermint Patty are set for their baseball teams to play, leading to “very funny results as the plants have an effect on the game.”
I was surprised to find out Schulz was involved with the Homecoming-themed It’s Your First Kiss, Charlie Brown (1977) “since it misses the mark widely. It is as if someone who didn’t understand the material got their hands on it..[because] a number of things happen that don’t ring true to Schulz’ worldview,” including Charlie Brown kissing the little red-Haired girl. What a Nightmare, Charlie Brown! (1978) is something Snoopy likely thought in this special. “After a dinner of pizzas and a milkshake he made for himself, Snoopy dreams he is a member of a pack of Alaskan sled dogs…This special is different from the others because it only features Snoopy in the lead and Charlie Brown appears in a limited role, yet that makes it no less enjoyable.”
In another retelling of Aesop’s The Tortoise and the Hare, You’re the Greatest, Charlie Brown (1979) sees him get “signed up to represent his school in the decathlon at the junior Olympics…Unfortunately, the decathlon and the training for it are all this special deals with, so many characters have reduced roles.” She’s a Good Skate, Charlie Brown (1980) is another sports-related special with Peppermint Patty practicing for a figure-skating competition. “I was freaked out a bit hearing adults speak…rather than the familiar trombone wah-wahs.” “Snoopy leaves the neighborhood after he falls for an attractive poodle named Fifi” in Life Is a Circus, Charlie Brown (1980). Snoopy “learns the life of a circus animal isn’t all it’s cracked up to be in this amusing special.”
The next two specials fail to match the quality associated with the brand. “It’s Magic, Charlie Brown (1981) finds Snoopy turn Charlie Brown invisible, which allows him to finally get to kick the football. Schulz tries to explain it away by having Lucy say it doesn’t count because no one saw Charlie Brown do it, but that’s complete rubbish.” In Someday You’ll Find Her, Charlie Brown (1981), he claims to have found “his only true love, apparently no longer infatuated with the little red-Haired girl.” Different plot points make no sense, including “an out-of-character choice Linus makes.”
A Charlie Brown Celebration (1982) is a collection of vignettes presented in the first hour-long special. Highlights are “Peppermint Patty going to dog obedience school thinking it is an alternative school,” and a love triangle between Linus and Truffles and Sally. Is this Goodbye, Charlie Brown? (1983) deals with a serious issue for children as “the gang, particularly Snoopy and Schroeder, deal with Linus and Lucy moving away.”
It’s an Adventure, Charlie Brown (1983) is another collection of vignettes. Charlie Brown’s obsession with baseball leads to a rash on his head that looks like baseball stitching. He hides his head under a paper bag. While at camp, he impresses people, and considers taking off the bag but worries about losing his popularity. In “Caddies,” Peppermint Patty and Marcy help out at the course, but Marcy struggles carrying a bag. “Kite” sees Charlie Brown leaving town after a battle with a kite-eating tree. He encounters a group of kids in need of a baseball coach. Another episodes feature Lucy, Schroeder, Sally, Snoopy and Woodstock. It’s a funny special that captures the feel of strips.
Schulz honors the Allied Forces of D-Day in What Have We Learned, Charlie Brown? (1983) as “Linus visualizes WWII through rotoscoped archival footage, bringing to mind the work of animator Ralph Bakshi.” It’s Flashbeagle, Charlie Brown (1984) is a musical special that “capture[s] that moment in time instead of being timeless like the classic Peanuts specials…Peppermint Patty…sings a song reminiscent of Toni Basil’s ‘Mickey’…[while] Snoopy goes to a disco dressed like Olivia Newton John from her “Let’s Get Physical” video and takes to the dance floor a la Saturday Night Fever.”
Snoopy’s Getting Married, Charlie Brown (1985) is another letdown. “Snoopy meets Genevieve,…[but] it seems like Schulz didn’t know how to conclude the story because the bride runs off with a never-before-seen/mentioned golden retriever.” “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown (1985) is not your typical Peanuts special. Rather than being written by the strip’s creator Charles Schulz, this is an adaptation of Clark Gesner’s musical of the same name.” It “is an interesting interpretation of Peanuts that stays close to Schulz’s vision…but it’s not a must-see.”
Happy New Year, Charlie Brown! (1986) sees the teacher assign Charlie Brown “to read War and Peace and write book report over winter vacation.” However, Peppermint Patty and Marcy invite him to their New Year’s Party, which the Little Red-Haired Girl might attend. Charlie Brown has to juggle his responsibilities with his heart’s desire. It’s one of the better specials of the decade. Why, Charlie Brown, Why? (1990) is a very touching story about a new character named Janice, who has leukemia. Linus befriends her and has to deal with some serious facts of life.” The subject matter is handled very well and seems like it should help explain to children what’s not easily explained.
Snoopy’s Reunion (1991) “plays out like a cheap knock-off whipped up to capitalize on the Peanuts brand by people that know nothing about the comic strip.” In addition to having adult characters speak intelligibly, the continuity of how Charlie Brown and Snoopy met is changed and Snoopy’s relatives treat Charlie Brown poorly even though he organized the reunion. Also falling flat is It’s Christmastime Again, Charlie Brown (1992). This revisiting of the holiday “falls far short of the original’s quality, and Schulz appears to be coasting on his legacy. The insight is insignificant and there’s very little humor in part because the pacing of the jokes is flat.”
It’s Spring Training, Charlie Brown (1996) returns the gang to the baseball diamond as the hardware store owner offers to buy team uniforms if they win their first game. The diminutive Leland might prove to be what the teams needs. A Charlie Brown Valentine (2002) is a second look at the holiday and the first after Schulz’s death in 2000. Charlie Brown wants to help the Little Red-Haired Girl but other kids step up in his place. He wants to give her a Valentine while Peppermint Patty and Marcy are interested in him.
Joe Garcia III called Charlie Brown’s Christmas Tales (2002) “a cute little (and I do mean little as it clocks in at only 18 minutes) collection of vignettes featuring various members of the Peanuts gang in different Christmas themes.” It has funny bits with Rerun asking Snoopy dressed as Santa “about some gifts that he never got.” And sees the gang being thoughtful as Linus writes a letter to Santa, Sally writes a list for “Samantha Claus,” and Charlie Brown tries “to write the perfect card to the Little Red-Haired Girl.”
Lucy Must Be Traded, Charlie Brown (2003) but Peppermint Patty is only interested in Snoopy in exchange for five players. Manager Charlie Brown makes the deal in the hopes of winning, but rest of team is dispirited by his decision. There’s also a trade between Lucy and Marcy, which doesn’t work out for either team. The fourth Christmas-related special is I Want a Dog for Christmas, Charlie Brown (2003). It focuses on Rerun, who would like a puppy for Christmas. When Snoopy proves unavailable, his brother Spike tries to fill the bill.
He’s a Bully, Charlie Brown (2006) sees Rerun learn what playing “for keeps” means when he loses his grandfather’s marble to the titular, Joe Agate. “Charlie Brown is mad that Agate took advantage of a little kid and wants to win them back…luckily, Joe Cool (Snoopy) is there to offer training. “Being children’s entertainment, the ending is expected, but it goes against the grain of what usually happens in Peanuts. Even Lucy didn’t believe what happened when they told her.”
After a 15-year hiatus, Happiness Is a Warm Blanket, Charlie Brown (2011) is the first special that doesn’t involve producer Lee Mendelson or director Bill Melendez on the production team. It feels like an introduction to a new generation as much of the material has already been covered in past specials. Lucy and their grandmother want Linus to give up his blanket. Fans should enjoy the creative decision of using an older look as well as characters not seen in a while.
Many of the specials present in The Peanuts 75th Anniversary Ultimate TV Specials Collection are so humorous and insightful, they are worth revisiting repeatedly and worth showing to new generations. While there are some clunkers in the bunch, when the team got it right, as they often did, there are specials here that are some of the best animated shows in the history of the medium. A great gift for any current or soon-to-be Peanuts fan.
