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The Peanuts Animation and Video Page

A Guide to Charlie Brown, Snoopy, and the Peanuts Gang on TV, Film, and Video
Compiled by Scott McGuire (smcguire at fivecentsplease dot org)
Last Updated: November 7, 2024

 

A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving will stream for free on Apple TV+ on November 23 & 24, 2024. (more info)

A Charlie Brown Christmas will stream for free on Apple TV+ on December 14 & 15, 2024. (more info)

The complete Vince Guaraldi soundtrack for You're Not Elected, Charlie Brown available now! (more info)

And also, the complete Guaraldi soundtrack for Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown is coming January 17, 2025! (more info)

 

Big List of Shows
(all the details)

Current TV Schedule

Where Can I Buy DVDs?

Short List of Shows
(titles only)

Music Questions & Answers

List of DVD & Video Releases

Latest News

If you're having difficulty finding the show you're thinking of, use your browser's "Find" command and search for a word or two relating to the show (such as "spelling bee", "flashbeagle", etc.)!

Table of Contents

Introduction

Welcome to one of the most comprehensive guide to the Peanuts television specials on the web! This page has detailed information about all the television shows, series, and movies starring Charlie Brown, Snoopy, and the rest of the gang that have ever been made.

There's also sections covering the latest news, video releases, where you can see the shows on TV now, the music from the shows, awards the shows have won, other web sites of interest, and miscellaneous questions and answers.

The Peanuts characters have also appeared animated in many commercials, but I haven't tried to list all of these. (See Miscellaneous Questions and Answers for some more details, though.)

I hope you enjoy the page and that it answers any questions you have! I continue to update and add to this page as time permits. Additional information, corrections, and suggestions for this list are always welcome! Please send them to smcguire at fivecentsplease dot org .

The latest copy of this guide can be found on the World Wide Web at:

<http://www.fivecentsplease.org/peanuts-tv.html>

Please use the above URL when linking to this website.

Latest News

Visit or subscribe to the FiveCentsPlease blog to keep up with the latest TV and DVD news, as well as other events in the Peanuts world: CD releases, book news, museum exhibits, interesting articles and more. (We'll continue to post the latest TV and DVD news here as well, but you may find that the blog makes it easier to keep up with the latest updates.)

New Shows - TV Broadcast Info - Video & DVD Releases - Music Releases - Other - News Archive

Latest updates are marked in red text.

New Shows

New show Camp Snoopy premiered June 14, 2024 on Apple TV+

Stock up on your marshmallows and roasting sticks... the Beagle Scouts are featured in Camp Snoopy, the latest Peanuts show from the subscription service Apple TV+.

Premiering June 14, 2024, Snoopy and his little bird friends, along with Charlie Brown and the rest of the gang, will have an "adventure-filled summer outdoors" in 13 episodes, each 21 minutes long.

Apple's description of the show:

After discovering their troop is in danger of disbanding, Snoopy and the Beagle Scouts set off to immerse themselves in nature and the Great Outdoors to earn their badges, with the Beagle Scout Manual as their guide. Meanwhile, Charlie Brown and friends enjoy their summer at Camp Spring Lake, crossing paths with Snoopy as they experience hiking, swimming, sitting around campfires and everything summer camp and the outdoors have to offer.

You can watch the trailer for Camp Snoopy on Youtube.

On July 25, 2024, Apple announced that Camp Snoopy would be returning for a second season.

For information on how to watch and subscribe to Apple TV+, visit tv.apple.com and this Apple support webpage. (Aug 30, 2024)

New special Snoopy Presents: Welcome Home, Franklin debuted February 16, 2024 on Apple TV+

On Friday, February 16, 2024, the subscription streaming service Apple TV+ premiered the new Peanuts special Snoopy Presents: Welcome Home, Franklin. The description of the special from Apple's press release is:

The origin story for one of Peanuts’ most beloved characters, the special follows Franklin as he moves to a new town and navigates new friendships. Franklin’s family is always on the move with his dad’s military job, and everywhere he goes Franklin finds support in a notebook filled with his grandfather’s advice on friendship. But when Franklin tries his usual strategies with the Peanuts gang, he has trouble fitting in. That’s until he learns about the neighborhood Soap Box Derby race – according to his grandfather, everyone loves a winner! He’s sure that winning the race will also mean winning over some new friends. All he needs is a partner, which he finds in Charlie Brown. Franklin and Charlie Brown work together to build a car and in the process become good buddies. But as the race nears, the pressure mounts – can their car and their newfound friendship make it to the finish line?

You can watch the trailer for the show at YouTube.

Welcome Home, Franklin was co-written by Robb Armstrong, author of the JumpStart comic strip, together with Craig Schulz, Bryan Schulz and Cornelus Uliano (the team behind 2015's The Peanuts Movie).

Robb Armstrong has a unique connection to the character of Franklin - Charles Schulz gave Franklin the last name of "Armstrong" in honor of the JumpStart cartoonist.

(Peanuts aficionados will note that Franklin's last name was never specified in the comic strip, only having been mentioned for the first time in the 1994 television special You're in the Superbowl, Charlie Brown. So while the last name is technically not canonical, it was decided upon by Schulz, and has since been accepted and used as official.)

For information on how to watch and subscribe to Apple TV+, visit tv.apple.com and this Apple support webpage. (February 5, 2024)

New 2023 Christmas-themed episode of The Snoopy Show premeiered December 1, 2023 on Apple TV+

Apple TV+ has released another new Christmas episode of The Snoopy Show for 2023. Titled "Happiness is Holiday Traditions," the special episode premiered on the subscription streaming service on Friday, December 1. In this year's outing, according to Apple, Snoopy searches for the perfect tree topper, Woodstock gets trapped in a window display, and Snoopy and Woodstock visit Spike for Christmas.

For information on how to watch and subscribe to Apple TV+, visit tv.apple.com and this Apple support webpage. (October 4, 2023)

New special Snoopy Presents: Marcie One-of-a-Kind premiered on Apple TV+ on August 18, 2023

Apple has announced another new Peanuts special, Snoopy Presents: Marcie One-of-a-Kind, coming to the Apple TV+ subscription streaming service on Friday, August 18, 2023. You can view the trailer on YouTube. The description from Apple's press release:

To train for the school golf championship, Marcie assists Peppermint Patty as her caddie, offering thoughtful and deliberate advice to help her win. Meanwhile, after coming up with brilliant solutions to her classmates’ problems – from hallway traffic jams to lunchtime pizza shortages – Marcie is unexpectedly elected as class president … a role she never wanted.

Suddenly thrust into the spotlight, Marcie struggles to cope with the expectations of her new job and retreats as far from the public eye as possible. As the golf championship begins, Marcie is still in hiding and Peppermint Patty is forced to tee off with Charlie Brown filling in as her caddie. But after some wise advice and a little introspection, Marcie realizes she can still make a difference for her friends and the school – she’ll just have to buck other people’s expectations and do it her own unique way.

For information on how to watch and subscribe to Apple TV+, visit tv.apple.com and this Apple support webpage. (August 2, 2023)

Season 3 of The Snoopy Show premiered June 8, 2023 on Apple TV+

In June 2023, subscription streaming service Apple TV+ announced that The Snoopy Show would be back for a third season, with 12 new episodes available starting June 9, 2023 . As with previous seasons, each episode runs about 22 minutes long, with three different story segments. You can watch the Season 3 trailer on YouTube. (August 2, 2023)

Series focusing on the Beagle Scouts and new special featuring Franklin coming to Apple TV+ in 2024

In June 2023, subscription streaming service Apple TV+ and Wildbrain announced that the were extending their partnership and previewed new Peanuts shows coming in 2023 and 2024.

The 2023 shows were season 3 of The Snoopy Show, premering June 8, 2023, and new special Snoopy Presents: Marcie One-of-a-Kind, arriving August 18, 2023 (see separate news items, above).

Looking forward to 2024, we can expect a new series titled Camp Snoopy, which Apple describes as:

After discovering their troop is in danger of disbanding, Snoopy and the Beagle Scouts set off to the Great Outdoors to earn their performance badges, with the Beagle Scout Manual as their guide. Meanwhile, Charlie Brown and friends enjoy their summer at Camp Spring Lake, crossing paths with Snoopy as they experience everything camp and the outdoors have to offer.

Finally, another new special, Snoopy Presents: Welcome Home, Franklin, is also due sometime in 2024:

The origin story for one of Peanuts’ most beloved characters, Franklin, follows how he approaches making new friends. Franklin’s family is always on the move with his dad’s military job, and everywhere he goes Franklin finds support in a notebook filled with his grandfather’s advice on friendship. But when Franklin tries his usual strategies with the Peanuts gang, he has trouble fitting in. That’s until he learns about the neighborhood Soap Box Derby race — according to his grandfather, everyone loves a winner! He’s sure that winning the race will also mean winning over some new friends. All he needs is a partner, which he finds in Charlie Brown. Franklin and Charlie Brown work together to build a car and in the process become good buddies. But as the race nears, the pressure mounts — can their car and their newfound friendship make it to the finish line?

(August 2, 2023)

New Christmas-themed episode of The Snoopy Show premiered December 2, 2022 on Apple TV+

On December 2, 2022, Apple TV+ premiered a new Christmas-themed episode of The Snoopy Show. According to Apple TV+: In “Happiness Is the Gift of Giving,” Snoopy adapts a Christmas poem to help Sally sleep, Charlie Brown makes gifts for his pals and Snoopy finds waiting to open his presents a challenge.

For information on how to watch and subscribe to Apple TV+, visit tv.apple.com and this Apple support webpage. (October 15, 2022)

New "back to school" special Lucy's School premiered August 12, 2022 on Apple TV+

A new Peanuts special - the third this year! - titled Lucy's School debuted on Apple TV+ on August 12, 2022. You can view the trailer on YouTube. Apple PR describes it as follows:

The Peanuts gang are anxious about starting at a new school in the Fall, inspiring Lucy to start her own school instead — but teaching isn’t as easy as it sounds. Lucy’s School is a love letter to teachers and an appreciation of what makes teaching such a noble and fulfilling profession. It explores the fear of change, and shows Lucy facing and overcoming her fears with the support of her friends.

For information on how to watch and subscribe to Apple TV+, visit tv.apple.com and this Apple support webpage. (August 10, 2022)

Apple TV+ becomes the exclusive home of new and classic Peanuts television series and speicals

On October 19, 2020, Apple and WildBrain Entertainment announced that the subscription streaming service Apple TV+ will "become the home for all things 'Peanuts,' bringing together new original series and specials, along with iconic beloved specials to fans around the world, all in one place."

In addition to being the new home of the classic Peanuts television specials, Apple and WildBrain have and continue to develop new series and brand-new Peanuts specials for Apple TV+.

(October 20, 2020)

Current TV Broadcast Information

A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving and other Peanuts holiday specials will stream free on Apple TV+ in 2024

Apple has announced that the big three Peanuts holiday specials - It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown; A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving; and A Charlie Brown Christmas - will once again be available for everyone to stream for free, without a subscription, for a short period before each holiday this year.

The free streaming window is just 2 days for each show, but it's better than no free option at all.

The free streaming dates for 2024 are:

To watch the specials for free, you don't need an Apple device. The Apple TV+ app is also available for a variety of streaming devices such as Roku and Amazon Fire, and on several different smart TV brands. You can also watch using a web browser on any computer by going to tv.apple.com . See this Apple support page for a more detailed list of supported devices and how to watch.

You won't need to subscribe to Apple TV+, but you will need to either have or create an Apple ID to sign in and watch. After you sign in, search for the name of the special if you don't see it right away.

(Of course, if you're already an Apple TV+ subscriber, you can watch the specials at any time, on any day.)

As has been the case since 2022, there will be no over-the-air broadcast of the Peanuts specials this year. The shows remain available to purchase on DVD and Blu-ray.

And don't forget that thanks to the hard work of our friends at Lee Mendelson Film Productions, you can now stream or buy the wonderful Vince Guaraldi soundtracks for all three holiday specials on CD, LP, or digital! (Oct 5, 2024)

A Charlie Brown Christmas streamed for free on Apple TV+ on Dec 16-17, 2023

A Charlie Brown Christmas was not shown on broadcast television in 2023. Instead the classic yuletide special was available to stream for free via the Apple TV app, without an Apple TV+ subscription, on Saturday, December 16 and Sunday, December 17, 2023 only. (November 16, 2022)

A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving streamed for free on Apple TV+ on Nov 18-19, 2023

A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving was not shown onbroadcast television in 2023. Instead the classic Thanksgiving special was available to stream for free via the Apple TV app, without an Apple TV+ subscription, on Saturday, November 18 and Sunday, November 19, 2023 only. (November 16, 2022)

No TV broadcast for It's The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown and other holiday specials in 2023; streaming for free for short periods on Apple TV+

First, the bad news: once again this year, the three classic Peanuts holiday specials - It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown; A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving, and A Charlie Brown Christmas - will not be shown on over-the-air broadcast television.

Instead they remain available only through the Apple TV+ subscription streaming service (or via DVD and Blu-ray).

However, the good news is that Apple has announced that also like last year, the three specials will be available for everyone to stream for free, without a subscription, for a short period before each holiday.

The less good news is that while last year Apple offered the free streams for 4 days each, this year, the free streaming window is down to just 2 days for each special.

But, it's better than no free streaming window at all...

The free streaming dates are:

To stream the specials for free, you don't need an Apple device. The Apple TV+ app is also available for a variety of streaming devices such as Roku and Amazon Fire, and on several different smart TV brands. You can also watch using a web browser on any computer by going to tv.apple.com . See this Apple support page for a more detailed list of supported devices and how to watch.

You won't need to subscribe to Apple TV+, but you will need to either have or create an Apple ID to sign in and watch. After you sign in, search for the name of the special if you don't see it right away.

(Of course, if you are an Apple TV+ subscriber, you can watch the specials at any time, on any day.) (October 4, 2023)

More classic Peanuts specials arrived on Apple TV+ on September 28, 2023

For those who enjoy the classic Peanuts specials, Apple added over a dozen more of them to the subscription streaming service on September 28, 2023. The list of new additions is:

These specials remains unavailable to watch or rent on other streaming services, however many of them were released on DVD (but you may have to look for used copies). (August 2, 2023)

Classic Peanuts holiday specials move to Apple TV+ streaming service, mostly

On October 19, 2020, Apple and WildBrain Entertainment announced that the subscription streaming service Apple TV+ will "become the home for all things 'Peanuts,' bringing together new original series and specials, along with iconic beloved specials to fans around the world, all in one place."

One major part of the announcement is that the three classic Peanuts holiday specials - It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown, A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving, and A Charlie Brown Christmas - will now be exclusively part of the Apple TV+ streaming service.

Originally it was thought that none of the specials would air on television in 2020; however, while It's the Great Pumpkin did not air, on November 18, 2020, Apple and PBS announced they had struck a deal for PBS to broadcast the Thanksgiving and Christmas specials.

(ABC rights to broadcast the Peanuts holiday specials expired earlier in 2020, paving the way for them to move to Apple TV+ and for the broadcasts to move to PBS.)

Besides the PBS broadcasts, each holiday special will be made available to view for free without a subscription via Apple TV+ for three days only. (Of course, if you have an Apple TV+ subscription, they will be viewable whenever you want.)

The Apple TV+ premiere and free streaming dates for the classic holiday specials will be as follows (all dates 2020):

The streaming service Apple TV+ costs $4.99 a month. You can watch it on Apple devices (including iPad, iPhone, Apple TV boxes, and Macs); on streaming devices such as Rokus, Amazon Fire boxes, and select smart TVs; or on the web at tv.apple.com . You do not need to subscribe to the service to install the Apple TV app on any of those devices and watch the holiday specials during the free periods; you may, however, need to sign in with an existing or new Apple account. See Apple's website for more information .

You can read today's full press release on either Apple or WildBrain's website.

It's not clear if other classic Peanuts specials will also become available as part of Apple TV+ or not, but based on other evidence, it seems likely that they will be, eventually - Happy New Year, Charlie Brown was added late in December 2020, even though it wasn't part of the original announcement.

And while the press release doesn't use the word "exclusive" when referring to the classic Peanuts specials, it appears that at least for now, they are no longer available for digital rental/digital purchase from other services such as Amazon Prime or Vudu. It's unknown if this is a temporary period of exclusivity, or a permanent one... time will tell.

The five theatrical Peanuts movies are not part of the Apple TV+ deal.

DVDs and Blu-rays of the classic specials remain available for purchase, however. (November 18, 2020)

Other Broadcast Info

Currently there is no over-the-air or television channel broadcasting the Peanuts television specials or series in the United States. (October 19, 2020)

DVD & Video Releases

Race for Your Life, Charlie Brown and Bon Voyage, Charlie Brown now available on Blu-ray as part of The Snoopy 4-Movie Collection

On May 18, 2021, Paramount Home Media released The Snoopy 4-Movie Collection on Blu-ray, containing all four classic Peanuts theatrical movies:

A Boy Named Charlie Brown (1969)
Snoopy, Come Home (1972)
Race for Your Life, Charlie Brown (1977)
Bon Voyage, Charlie Brown (1980)

This is the first time Race for Your Life, Charlie Brown and Bon Voyage, Charlie Brown have been released in high definition on Blu-ray discs. (A Boy Named Charlie Brown and Snoopy Come Home were released as individual Blu-rays a few years ago).

Digital copies of all four movies are also included.

No separate releases of Race for Your Life or Bon Voyage have been announced - so unfortunately if you want them on Blu-ray (and there are quite a few folks that do), you'll have to get this set and get duplicates of the first two films.

Even more unfortunately, the list price for this set is $44.99 - rather steep, especially considering most fans probably already own the previous two Blu-ray releases.

The set consists of four discs, one for each movie.

The aspect ratios of the films are 4:3 for A Boy Named Charlie Brown and Snoopy Come Home, and 16:9 widescreen for Race for Your Life and Bon Voyage.

A Boy Named Charlie Brown and Snoopy Come Home were previously released on Blu-ray in the 4:3 aspect ratio, so it's not surprising they will still be in that format for this new set (Paramount is simply reusing the previous discs). And Race for Your Life and Bon Voyage were released in 16:9 for their DVD releases, and most digital versions of them are also widescreen, so it's not a surprise that widescreen is what we'll get for them.

While you might expect all the movies to be in the widescreen 16:9 aspect ratio, the animation for all four Peanuts films was originally drawn in 4:3 and widescreen versions of these movies cut off the top and bottom of the image. At least for the first two films, this cropping makes them look quite cramped, so it's good that they will continue to be offered as 4:3 in this new set. While it would be nice to have 4:3 options for the 3rd and 4th films as well, widescreen isn't a bad choice for them and it's probably how most people saw them in the theater.

Bonus features include "Travels with Charlie: The Making of Bon Voyage, Charlie Brown" (a featurette that first appeared on the Bon Voyage DVD) and "theatrical trailers."

(Finally, we could gripe about the title Paramount has chosen for this collection... surely they should have included "Peanuts" or "Charlie Brown" in the title - it's not just Snoopy in these movies, after all!)

(March 20, 2021)

Music Releases

Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown soundtrack coming January 17, 2025

You'll love this news - on January 17, 2025, Lee Mendelson Film Productions will release Vince Guaraldi's complete soundtrack to the 1975 Peanuts animated special Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown, just in time for the 50th anniversary of the show.

Coming on CD, black vinyl, two colored vinyl variants, and digitally, the album will feature 30 tracks - 22 cues from the show, plus 8 alternate takes and mixes - and will be 42 minutes long in total.

Physical releases will include liner notes by producers Sean Mendelson and Jason Mendelson, plus Guaraldi historian Derrick Bang.

A few Be My Valentine tracks have appeared previously on compilation albums, but this is the first time the entire score will be available; most of it has never been released before.

Taken from the original recording session tapes, the music has been newly mastered and mixed in clear stereo sound. You can hear a few short previews on Soundcloud here.

Click here for purchase and streaming links to select stores and services (the album is available from many other retailers and digital services as well).

The album will be available on CD and regular black vinyl from all retailers. If you need something special for your vinyl-loving sweet babboo, the two colored vinyl variants of the Be My Valentine album will be a 'Heartburn Red", exclusive to independent record stores, and "Puppy Love Pink", available exclusively from Barnes & Noble. (Note that the link to independent record stores is not necessarily a complete list; check with your local store to see if they have the version of the album you want!)

Like this fall's You're Not Elected, Charlie Brown LPs, the Be My Valentine LP releases will be "BioVinyl," made from recycled cooking oil and industrial waste instead of raw petroleum, and the packaging will once again be made from sustainably forested trees and compostable plastic wrapping.

You can read the full press release with more details, including the full track list, on the Lee Mendelson Film Productions website.

(November 7, 2024)

You're Not Elected, Charlie Brown soundtrack released September 6, 2024

Here's election season news that everyone will be happy to hear: a new album with the complete Vince Guaraldi soundtrack for the 1972 Peanuts television special You're Not Elected, Charlie Brown was released on CD, vinyl, and digital on Friday, September 6, 2024, courtesy of the good folks at Lee Mendelson Film Productions.

Most of this soundtrack is previously unreleased - a few tracks appeared previously on compilation albums, but this is the first time the full score from the show will be available, joined by nine bonus tracks of alternate takes.

The music from You're Not Elected features a variety of styles, with new variations of classic themes, some 1970's funk, a dixieland jazz version of the show's title track, and an extended version of the signature "Joe Cool" song, featuring Vince Guaraldi on vocals. All in excellent, crystal clear stereo sound.

You can listen to four sample tracks on Soundcloud here.

Three physical releases of the soundtrack are available: a CD; a regular black vinyl LP, available at all retailers; and a "Woodstock Yellow" vinyl LP, exclusive to Independent record stores (see here).

All include detailed liner notes from co-producer Sean Mendelson and Guaraldi historian Derrick Bang.

The album is available on all streaming services and as a digital download for purchase.

Click here for purchase and streaming links to select stores and services (and the album is available from many other retailers and digital services as well).

The LPs are special in another way - they are made from "BioVinyl," made from recycled cooking oil and industrial waste. Chemically the end result is the exactly the same, so the records sound just as good and are just as durable as traditional vinyl, but they start from recycled material instead of new raw petroleum. Plus, the paper sleeve and booklet are made from sustainably forested trees, and even the plastic wrapping for the LP is made from compostable material.

You can read the full press release with more details about the music and packaging on the Lee Mendelson Film Productions website.

And be sure to check out the terrific interview about the You're Not Elected, Charlie Brown album from Cereal at Midnight, where producers Sean and Jason Mendelson are joined by bassist Seward McCain, who worked with Vince Guaraldi on the You're Not Elected soundtrack and many other 1970's Peanuts specials. Watch it on YouTube, or listen to the audio-only version.

You're Not Elected, Charlie Brown is the latest in a series of new Peanuts soundtrack releases. Vote for Vince Guaraldi by purchasing this album - if you've enjoyed his other Peanuts music, you'll surely like this too!

(August 30, 2024)

Complete Vince Guaraldi soundtrack for It Was a Short Summer, Charlie Brown released July 5, 2024

Initially released as a limited edition "camp green" vinyl release on Record Store Day in April, Vince Guaraldi's complete soundtrack to the 1969 Peanuts animated special It Was a Short Summer, Charlie Brown received a wide release on July 5, 2024.

The album is available in multiple formats - CD, digital, a regular black vinyl (available at all retailers), and a Record Store Day Indie Exclusive "summer night blue" vinyl.

The CD, digital, and black vinyl are available to pre-order now from Amazon and other retailers, and the RSD Indie Exclusive can be pre-ordered from record stores.

The album's 31 tracks are the complete original recording of Guaraldi's score from the special, plus six bonus alternate takes. This is the first time the score has been available (outside of last month's RSD exclusive).

In It Was a Short Summer, Charlie Brown and the gang recount their time at summer camp, where the "boys camp" and "girls camp" compete against each other in swimming, softball, and other events. After several poor showings, the boys get out their secret weapon - the "Masked Marvel" - to battle Lucy in an arm-wrestling contest.

The soundtrack features the first appearance of Vince Guaraldi's distinctive "Masked Marvel" theme, together with swinging new takes on familiar established Peanuts musical themes, performed by a larger jazz combo than in most other Peanuts TV specials.

The tracks are mastered from the original session tapes and sound terrific. You can stream three sample tracks here.

Physical copies of the album include liner notes with track-by-track analysis by Guaraldi historian Derrick Bang, and notes from Sean Mendelson and Jason Mendelson, sons of Peanuts special producer Lee Mendelson and co-producers of the record.

You can find the full press release and additional details, including the full track list, on the Mendelson Productions website.

If you'd like more background about the It Was a Short Summer, Charlie Brown soundtrack, check out these two new interviews with Jason and Sean Mendelson: WCB Jazz Vinyl and Cereal at Midnight (the latter also available as a podcast).

It may be a long summer for us while we wait for this release to come out - but it'll be worth it to have another complete, new Peanuts soundtrack in our hands!

(July 5, 2024)

Vince Guaraldi's A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving soundtrack to be released October 20, 2023

Break out the jelly beans and popcorn! The complete original soundtrack for the 1973 special A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving, composed by Vince Guaraldi, will be released by Lee Mendelson Film Productions on October 20, 2023, just in time for the 50th anniversary of the classic Peanuts holiday special.

In the show, Charlie Brown's plans for Thanksgiving go awry when Peppermint Patty invites herself and her friends to join him for dinner... and he has to come up with a meal for them, even though he doesn't know how to cook (and he is "helped" by Snoopy and Woodstock, of course). Almost every scene in the show is accompanied by Vince Guaraldi's music, and famously includes the song "Little Birdie," sung by Guaraldi himself.

While a few cues from the special have been released on previous Vince Guaraldi compilations (for example, "Thanksgiving Theme" on Charlie Brown's Holiday Hits), most of the tracks have never been available before.

This new album will feature the entire soundtrack for A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving in terrific stereo sound that showcases the music and instrumentation far better than in the broadcast show. And rest assured, the tracks - transferred in high resolution from the original studio session tapes - will all be sound-effects free.

Coming on CD, LP, and digitally, the 13 tracks of show score will be accompanied by 9 never-before-heard bonus and alternative tracks. The liner notes for the physical releases will have a track-by-track analysis by Sean Mendelson, musician, record producer and son of Peanuts producer Lee Mendelson.

After last year's release of the complete original soundtrack for It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown, it's exciting to get another high-quality album for another beloved Guaraldi score.

Currently you can pre-order the CD and regular black vinyl versions from the MVD Entertainment shop.

The LP will also be released in two color variants, "Jelly Bean Green" for Record Store Day and "Cranberry Sauce Red" from Target - you've got to love the color names!

You can see the official press release and additional details - such as the full track list for the album - on the Mendelson Productions website, and preview the alternate track "Is It James or Charlie? (Bonus Mix With Whistling)" on YouTube

Plus, be sure to check out Guaraldi historian (and FiveCentsPlease.org co-host) Derrick Bang's description of the Charlie Brown Thanksgiving soundtrack at his Impressions of Vince blog.

(August 2, 2023)

Five-disc deluxe edition of A Charlie Brown Christmas soundtrack now available, as of December 2, 2022

Craft Recordings has announced a 5-disc "super deluxe edition" of the A Charlie Brown Christmas soundtrack coming this fall. The digital version of the album was made available on October 14, and the CDs were released on December 2, 2022.

While the beloved holiday album has been reissued and rereleased numerous times over the years, nearly all those reissues have had the same content - just the original 11 album tracks, gussied up in some new packaging or with a sheen of slight remastering.

But this fall's deluxe edition of A Charlie Brown Christmas offers something truly different and new: more than 50 tracks of previously unreleased alternate performances, outtakes, and additional bits of music, all sourced from the original tapes of five different 1965 album recording sessions. There are 16 alternate versions of "Christmas is Coming" alone!

The primary release is a 5-disc "super deluxe edition" with four CDs and one Blu-ray Audio disc. The contents are:

(A Blu-ray Audio disc can be played in a regular Blu-ray video disc player.)

The discs come in a 56-page hardbound book with extensive new liner notes by Peanuts historian and Vince Guaraldi biographer Derrick Bang.

See Craft's press release for a complete, detailed track list.

Interestingly, the recording session tracks will not be edited to remove the discussions between Guaraldi and his fellow musicians, so along with hearing how the pieces evolved between takes, you'll also be able to hear their thoughts - and occasional frustrations when a performance didn't go as planned - as if you were in the studio with them.

For those who don't need every single alternate take, Craft has also released a separate, single CD "highlights" deluxe edition that contains just the new 2022 stereo mix of the original album tracks, plus a selection of the best 13 additional alternate takes/outtakes and a condensed version of Derrick Bang's liner notes.

There will also be a 2-LP deluxe edition with the same content as the single CD release, and a digital release matching the 4 CDs from the "super deluxe edition."

The digital version, and the 2-LP version, were released on October 14; the single disc CD version was released on November 4; and the 5-disc super deluxe edition was released on December 2.

Note that this new deluxe edition is based on recording sessions for the A Charlie Brown Christmas album, not the recording sessions for the television show, which were done separately. So despite the extensive content, not all the music from the television show is included (for example, you'll note the lack of "Air Music," aka "Surfin' Snoopy"). And for the most part the exact performances from the special's audio track will not be found here - although the differences are subtle enough that most people won't notice. Unfortunately, the recording sessions for the television soundtrack performances have yet to be found, despite the determined efforts that led to this release and the upcoming Great Pumpkin release. For more details, see Derrick Bang's blog post.

But don't let that take away from the fact that there's an amazing amount of new material for even the most devoted fan to delve into!

-----

In regards to the "new 2022 stereo mix"... if you're wondering, what's the deal with the "new stereo mix" vs "the original album mix?" How is a "new mix" different from a "new remaster?" Let me try to explain.

Typically, when music is recorded for an album, each instrument - or group of instruments - is initially recorded to a separate tape. Then a mixing engineer combines those separated recordings onto a single tape, balancing the volume level and adjusting the stereo placement of each instrument to create a pleasing listening experience. That final mixed tape is the "album master."

When an album is remastered, an engineer starts with the original album master tape - with all the instruments already combined - and tweaks or cleans up the sound based on the original mixing, trying to improve the sound while retaining the original balancing and placement of the instruments.

By contrast, when an album is remixed, the engineer instead goes back to the original separated tapes for each instrument, and creates a new combination of them, possibly with different volume choices for each instrument, or different stereo placement. New technology and techniques developed since the time of the original mixing means that a remix can sound cleaner, fuller, and "better" than the original, revealing subtleties hidden by the original mix. But a new mix can also be controversial, because the result will sound different from the original mix that fans have been listening to for decades. And many people - not unreasonably - want to enjoy the album as they remember it sounding.

With this new 5-disc A Charlie Brown Christmas deluxe edition, Craft has decided to try their hand at creating a new mix of the original album tracks. While some listeners may end up preferring the new mix, Craft is wisely also including the original album mix for those who prefer the original. (August 17, 2022)

New, much improved version of It's the Great Pumpkin soundtrack album released on August 26, 2022

Waiting in the sincere pumpkin patch has finally paid off!

Craft Recordings has released a new, improved version of the It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown soundtrack on August 26, 2022 - and this time they got it right.

To get straight to the point: all the tracks on this new version of the soundtrack are completely free of the special effects sounds and volume fluctuations that marred the previous 2018 release, have better sound quality in general, and in a few cases, do not have the abrupt edits found on the previous release.

Even better, along with the full, clean versions of the tracks from the 1966 television special, this new 2022 Great Pumpkin album also includes seven bonus tracks of alternate takes from the recording sessions.

You may recall I was not impressed with Craft's 2018 release.

But the new 2022 release is the version we were all hoping for the first time around.

The original recording session tapes for It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown had long been thought lost, but over the past couple of years, the good folks at Lee Mendelson Film Productions did a new, thorough inventory of their archives, and found the original recording reels.

You can read all the details in Craft's announcement, which you can find here.

The new release is available on CD, a regular LP, a pumpkin-shaped LP, and digitally. (A "Pumpkin Patch splatter design" LP was also announced, but is already sold out.) The physical releases feature new liner notes from fivecentsplease.org co-host and Guaraldi expert Derrick Bang.

Unfortunately, Craft has made a puzzling decision to give the new release a cover almost identical to the cover of the 2018 release; it would have been much less confusing if the covers were more distinct from each other. The sole difference between the covers is that the 2022 release says "Original Soundtrack Recording" at the top, whereas the 2018 release says "Music From The Soundtrack" at the top. Unfortunately the font, size, and coloring are all the same, making the difference easy to miss.

But rest assured, every single track on the new release is from a new, better source. The new album can be identified by the seven extra bonus tracks, the 2022 release date, and the slightly different cover text.

Tantalizingly, the Craft Recordings press release states that the team at Lee Mendelson Productions discovered "a treasure trove of materials from Vince Guaraldi," of which the Great Pumpkin tapes were only a part. So yes, it's possible that there may be more albums of other Guaraldi material to come; research is still ongoing, and of course, good sales of this new 2022 version of the album will be helpful in encouraging future releases. (August 17, 2022)

Other News

Original Coca-Cola Sponsorship Spots for A Charlie Brown Christmas on YouTube

An enterprising Peanuts fan has found copies of the original Coca-Cola sponsorship spots that aired as part of A Charlie Brown Christmas when it first aired in 1965, but that were edited out from subsequent broadcasts and home video releases. You can see both the opening Coca-Cola spot, and the ending Coca-Cola spot (while I have not verified the source of these, they appear authentic). For more information and background about these brief sponsorship bits, see the FiveCentsPlease blog post, A Charlie Brown Christmas Coca-Cola sponsorship spots: facts, myths and actual video. (December 27, 2012)

Vince Guaraldi at the Piano: Book About the Jazz Musician and Peanuts Music Composer

One of the key ingredients of the original Peanuts TV specials' success was their jazzy soundtrack music, written by Vince Guaraldi. Now fans can learn much more about the composer and his work - both Peanuts and non-Peanuts - from the book-length career study Vince Guaraldi at the Piano, by Guaraldi historian and expert Derrick Bang. (Note that Derrick is the co-proprietor of FiveCentsPlease.org.)

Vince Guaraldi at the Piano gives Guaraldi the long-overdue recognition that he deserves. In its 390 pages, the book chronicles his years as a sideman; his attraction to the emerging bossa nova sound of the late 1950s; his collaboration with Brazilian guitarist Bola Sete; his development of the Grace Cathedral Jazz Mass; his selection as the composer for the Peanuts animated specials; and his emergence as a respected veteran in the Northern California jazz club scene of the 1970s. The book also includes an extensive discography and index.

We think all aficionados of the original Peanuts music sound and jazz music will appreciate this in-depth look at Vince Guaraldi. Vince Guaraldi at the Piano is available now from the publisher, McFarland & Company; visit their site to see the book's table of contents, read an excerpt, and to place an order. The book can also be ordered from Amazon, but their stocking of has been erratic; you may get quicker service by ordering it directly from McFarland. A Kindle version of the book is also available at Amazon. You can also get a taste of Derrick's knowledge and research on Vince Guaraldi by visiting his Guaraldi pages here at FiveCentsPlease.org . (May 4, 2012)

For older news items, see the News Archive.

Recent Updates to This Page

November 30, 2023

Acknowledgments

Thanks to the following people for additional information, suggestions, and corrections:

Mark Astolfi, Derrick Bang, Jason Breslin, John Cassidy, Eugene Chan, Tim Chow, Jon Cooke, Andy Dursin, Craig Davis, Liz Fox, Nat Gertler, Ron Gomes, Michael Hagerty, Ray Hamel, Paul Hiscock, Mike Koegel, Cail Judy, Victor Lee, Jennifer Liao, Maureen McCarty, Ryan Mead, Lisa Monhoff, Leonardo Morán, Ted Nesi, Kaori Nishikida, Beth Prescott, Elisia Saam, Steve Swenson, Basil Wilson, Brian Young

Special thanks to the staff of Lee Mendelson Productions, Bill Melendez Productions, and the Charles M. Schulz Museum for additional material and answering numerous pesky questions.

The book Happy Birthday, Charlie Brown by Lee Mendelson (published by Random House, 1979) was a source of numerous trivia bits that I've included.

Current DVD/Video Availability Notes

Warner Home Video has an exclusive contract to distribute the animated Peanuts TV specials on DVD, Blu-ray, and as digital downloads (starting in October 2007). Some of their DVD releases feature remastered video and sound and new behind-the-scenes documentaries (previous DVD releases did not include any behind-the-scenes material). As of June 2014, the video distribution rights remain with Warner Home Video - contrary to some claims, the rights for the television specials are not changing to 20th Century Fox Home Video in 2015, and the DVDs and Blu-rays are not going out of print.

While some of the shows are currently not available on home video, Warner initially stated they planned to release all the shows on DVD. See DVD Releases for a list of currently available US Peanuts DVDs (and Blu-ray Discs).

All four classic theatrical movies, A Boy Named Charlie Brown, Snoopy Come Home, Race For Your Life, Charlie Brown, and Bon Voyage, Charlie Brown are available on DVD from Paramount. The 2015 The Peanuts Movie is out on DVD and Blu-ray.

Some shows are available as digital downloads from the iTunes Store and Amazon Instant Video, including shows that have not been released on DVD yet.

While nearly all of the animated TV specials and movies were released on VHS in the US by Paramount, these VHS releases are now out of print. Used copies can sometimes be found on eBay and Amazon.com.

Outside of the US, after many years of being unavailable, the a variety of shows were released on DVD and VHS in the UK, although those releases seem to have stopped and are now out of print. There was an extensive set of releases on DVD and VHS in Germany (also now out of print). Some shows, and a couple of the movies, are have been released on DVD in Australia.

A company named Pony Canyon had released 11 Japanese language videos and DVDs in Japan, but it appears these may be out of print. You may still be able to order them from Amazon.co.jp by searching for "Snoopy" in the DVD section. (Note that being able to read Japanese is useful.) Also, Paramount has released Snoopy Come Home on DVD in Japan and several other countries.

WARNING: Pretty much all "Asian" DVD box sets of the Peanuts specials being sold on eBay are illegal bootlegs, especially the ones that claim to be "50th Anniversary collections" (there was never a legitimate such collection) and the ones that cannot spell "Snoopy" correctly. There are even bootleg box sets that claim to come from legitimate companies, such as Pony Canyon, above - but they never released their DVDs in a box set. The video quality may be questionable and the original makers of the TV specials do not receive any money from bootleg sales. You should not purchasing any Japanese, Chinese, or other Asian DVDs of the Peanuts specials from eBay or other auction sites. You should purchase the properly licensed US or European DVDs, or as noted above, the authentic Japanese DVD releases are available from Amazon.co.jp.

Which Shows Aren't Available on DVD/Video?

Warner Home Video has released the majority of the Peanuts TV shows on DVD (although irritatingly, one may have to buy overlapping releases to get them all), but unfortunately a select few shows are still not available in the United States. See the Peanuts TV Checklist or the DVD Releases list to see which shows are available on DVD and Blu-ray.

DVDs of all four classic theatrical movies are available, and the 2015 The Peanuts Movie is out on DVD and Blu-ray.

Almost all of the TV shows and movies were released on VHS in the US, although they are long out of print. You may be able to find used or remaindered copies of the VHS tapes on eBay or from third-party sellers on Amazon.com.

Many of the shows listed under Documentaries and Live Action Shows have never been available on video. One exception is the unaired 1963 documentary, A Boy Named Charlie Brown (documentary), which is available on DVD from the Charles M. Schulz Museum.

History of US Video Releases

Warner Home Video is the current home video rights holder in the US as of October 2007. As of June 2014, they continue to hold the contract to release the Peanuts TV specials on DVD, Blu-ray, and as digital downloads. Contrary to some claims, the rights for the television specials are not changing to 20th Century Fox Home Video in 2015, and the DVDs and Blu-rays are not going out of print.

Warner took over from Paramount Home Entertainment, who held the home video rights from 1994 through early 2007. When they held the home video license, Paramount released 12 DVDs containing a variety of new and old Peanuts TV specials. They released the first two Peanuts theatrical movies on DVD in March 2006, and DVDs of This is America, Charlie Brown were released in June 2006. See the Out-of-Print DVD Releases for a complete list of Paramount's North American Peanuts DVD releases.

Paramount also issued the Peanuts TV shows on VHS home video in the United States and Canada, from 1994 to 2000. (See Video Releases.) Unfortunately, all of the VHS titles are now out of print, even though a few of the specials still have not been released on DVD.

The VHS titles were marketed under five banners: "Peanuts Classics" and "A Peanuts Special" (one episode per tape), "This Is America, Charlie Brown" (one episode per tape), "The Charlie Brown and Snoopy Show" (two episodes per tape), and "Snoopy Double Features" (two episodes per tape), although some of those banners were dropped as the tapes have been reissued. The prices varied from $7 to $15, depending on the tape.

Paramount also issued two direct-to-video releases; the first of these, It Was My Best Birthday Ever, Charlie Brown, was released in August, 1997. The second, It's the Pied Piper, Charlie Brown, was released in September, 2000. Both of these are now out of print.

Many, but not all, of the titles that were released on VHS were also released on laserdisc by Paramount, but these are now out of print. See Laserdisc Releases for a list.

Before Paramount, the home video license was held by Media Home Entertainment, and released under the brands Hi Topps and KVC. They released most of the prime-time specials and some compilations from The Charlie Brown and Snoopy Show on VHS; however the Paramount releases were of superior quality with better video. Any tapes from Hi Topps or KVS are from 1993 or before.

The very first release of a Peanuts show on home video was in June 1984, when Media Home Entertainment (Hi Topps) released You're The Greatest, Charlie Brown and Life Is A Circus, Charlie Brown.

The first two theatrical movies, A Boy Named Charlie Brown and Snoopy Come Home were originally available from CBS FOX video, but are now distributed by Paramount Home Video, and remain available on DVD. The latter two movies, Race For Your Life, Charlie Brown and Bon Voyage, Charlie Brown, are distributed by Paramount Home Video as well, and were finally released on DVD for the first time in 2015.

You're In the SuperBowl, Charlie Brown, was originally available on video from Shell gas stations, was not part of the Paramount reissue series and is currently not available on video. (You may be able to find copies on eBay or other auction sites, however.) It seems unlikely that Warner Home Video has the rights to release this special.

Where Can I Buy Peanuts DVDs and Videos?

The on-line book, music, and video store Amazon.com, has all the DVDs available, and you may be able to find used copies of the VHS tapes there. If you're having trouble finding the title you're looking for on Amazon, try searching for "Charlie Brown", "Peanuts", or "Snoopy" and look at the pictures of the boxes - sometimes Amazon doesn't list them by the proper titles. The DVDs are also available at other on-line retailers such as BarnesandNoble.com and Walmart.com .

Snoopy's Gallery and Gift Shop carries some of the videos and DVDs (and much more!). You can also phone them at 800-959-3385 to place an order.

Locally, your video store (if you still have one!) may be able to special order the DVDs for you. See the DVD Releases section for a complete list of titles.

Where Can I See Peanuts on TV Now?

The Peanuts television specials cannot be seen on any "regular" television channel, broadcast or cable, in the United States. As of October 2020, the classic Peanuts specials became exlusve to the subscription streaming service Apple TV+.

In 2020 and 2021, PBS broadcast It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown, A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving, and A Charlie Brown Christmas as part of a special agreement with Apple TV+ after an outcry and bad publicity resulting from the October 2020 "exclusive to AppleTV+" announcement. However, since 2022, there has been no over-the-air broadcast of the holiday specials.

From 2001 - 2019, ABC had the rights to show It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown, A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving, and A Charlie Brown Christmas, and they aired them regularly in the fall. ABC was also home to the new specials A Charlie Brown Valentine, Lucy Must Be Traded, Charlie Brown, and I Want a Dog for Christmas, Charlie Brown. ABC occasionally broadcast other classic specials as well, such as It's the Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown and Charlie Brown's All-Stars.

From 1965 - 2000, the specials aired on CBS, the network that originally commissioned A Charlie Brown Christmas.

In the United States, the last channel to have broadcast rights for the rest of the shows was the cable channel Nickelodeon, but those rights expired in May 2004.

Every once in a rare while, the theatrical movies are shown on a cable TV station, and can be found for rental from most online video-on-demand sources. The movies are not part of the Apple TV+ exclusive deal.

Current TV Schedule

Here's the schedule for upcoming classic Peanuts specials or movies on TV in the United States. All times Eastern/Pacific.

A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving - free stream on Apple TV+ on Saturday, November 23 & Sunday, November 24, 2024

A Charlie Brown Christmas - free stream on Apple TV+ on Saturday, December 14 & Sunday, December 15, 2024

Complete List of Shows and Movies

The list is divided into five categories:

In each of the sections, I've listed the original US broadcast date, a synopsis, a list of characters appearing in the show (if applicable), any interesting trivia or important notes, and amusing things to note about the episode.

If you are interested in just a list of the shows' titles, for example, to use as a checklist, see the Peanuts TV Show Checklist.

A "(b)" notation next to a character means the character appears briefly - in the background or only speaks one line; "(os)" means the character is only heard off-screen.

All shows are 30 minutes long unless otherwise noted. Original broadcast times are for the Eastern Time Zone; broadcast dates are for the United States.

Special thanks to Kaori Nishikida for providing the classical music information throughout the list.

Prime-Time Specials

These are shows that were originally broadcast during prime-time as specials and were predominantly new animation. (A few exceptions, "It's Spring Training, Charlie Brown" and the two direct-to-video specials, were never broadcast, but it made sense to put it here with the others).

A CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS

Broadcast Date: December 9, 1965 (Thursday), 7:30 - 8:00 PM (CBS)

Synopsis:

Charlie Brown, depressed by the commercialism of Christmas and because he doesn't get any Christmas cards, becomes the director of the gang's Christmas pageant. Can he overcome his gang's preference for dancing instead of acting, find a good Christmas tree, and the true meaning of Christmas?

Characters:

Charlie Brown, Frieda, Linus, Lucy, Patty, Pig-Pen, Sally, Schroeder, Shermy, Snoopy, Violet, 5, 3 & 4 (b).

Trivia & Notes:

Music:

Score Composed & Conducted by Vince Guaraldi

Songs:
Christmastime is Here
Hark the Herald Angels Sing

Classical Music Sources:
When Schroeder plays "Beethoven Christmas music": Beethoven, Bagatelle for piano in A minor, WoO 59, "Für Elise".

CD/Albums:
The original 1965 soundtrack for this special is available on A CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS (Fantasy Records #8431). This contains essentially all the music from the special, although most of the performances on the CD are slightly different from the ones in the TV show - the soundtrack was re-recorded for the album, as was customary at the time. One popular cue - the music while Snoopy decorates his doghouse - is not on the original album, but is available as "Surfing Snoopy" on the CHARLIE BROWN'S HOLIDAY HITS CD (Fantasy Records #9682). A remastered version of the soundtrack (Fantasy FCD-30066-2), that includes some alternate takes of the original tunes, was released in 2006; another remastered version was released in 2012, this time using the same takes as on the original album. For an extensive look at the various releases and history of the soundtrack see Derrick Bang's article A Charlie Brown Christmas Redux ... and redux and redux.

Several artists have released "cover" versions of the A Charlie Brown Christmas score - see this blog article, also from Derrick Bang, for a roundup.

CHARLIE BROWN'S ALL-STARS

Broadcast Date: June 8, 1966 (Wednesday), 8:30 - 9:00 PM (CBS)

Synopsis:

After losing 999 games in a row, Charlie Brown's baseball team threatens to quit and spend the summer like normal kids (swimming, skateboarding, and jumping rope) until he announces that Hennessey's Hardware store will sponsor them, meaning they can get uniforms and play in a real league - but only if he'll take the girls and Snoopy off the team.

Characters:

Charlie Brown, Frieda, Linus, Lucy, Patty, Pig-Pen, Sally, Schroeder, Shermy, Snoopy, Violet, 5 (b).

Trivia & Notes

Did You Notice?

Music:

Score Composed & Conducted by Vince Guaraldi

IT'S THE GREAT PUMPKIN, CHARLIE BROWN

Broadcast Date: October 27, 1966 (Thursday), 8:30 - 9:00 PM (CBS)

Synopsis:

While the gang goes trick-or-treating, Linus waits in the pumpkin patch for the Great Pumpkin, and Snoopy imagines the World War I Flying Ace is shot down over "no man's land."

Characters:

Charlie Brown, Linus, Lucy, Patty, Sally, Schroeder, Snoopy, Violet, Pig-Pen, Frieda (b)

Trivia & Notes:

Did You Notice?

Music:

Score Composed & Performed by Vince Guaraldi
Music Arranged & Conducted by John Scott Trotter

YOU'RE IN LOVE, CHARLIE BROWN

Broadcast Date: June 12, 1967 (Monday), 8:30 - 9:00 PM (CBS)

Synopsis:

On the last two days of the school year, Charlie Brown tries a variety of schemes to meet the Little Red-Haired Girl.

Characters:

Charlie Brown, Linus, Lucy, Peppermint Patty, Sally, Schroeder, Snoopy, Violet, Pig-Pen (b), Patty (b), 5 (b), 3 & 4 (b).

Trivia & Notes:

Did You Notice?

Music:

Score Composed & Performed by Vince Guaraldi
Music Arranged & Conducted by John Scott Trotter

"You're In Love" sung by West Hillsborough School Choir

HE'S YOUR DOG, CHARLIE BROWN

Broadcast Date: February 14, 1968 (Wednesday), 8:30 - 9:00 PM (CBS)

Synopsis:

Charlie Brown sends a disobedient Snoopy to the Daisy Hill Puppy Farm for an obedience refresher course, but on the way across town Snoopy decides to hide out at Peppermint Patty's house. Initially it's a vacation for him, but eventually she puts him to work cleaning house, and Snoopy must choose between it and Charlie Brown's leash.

Characters:

Charlie Brown, Linus, Lucy, Patty, Peppermint Patty, Roy, Schroeder, Snoopy, Violet, 5.

Trivia & Notes:

Did You Notice?

Music:

Classical Music Sources:
Snoopy listens and snaps his fingers as Schroeder plays a jazzy piece: despite the jazzy, Guaraldi sound, the music is an arrangement of the first movement of Mozart’s Symphony No. 40 in G minor, K550. (This music appears on Guaraldi's "From All Sides" album as "Choro.")

Score Composed & Performed by Vince Guaraldi
Music Arranged & Conducted by John Scott Trotter

IT WAS A SHORT SUMMER, CHARLIE BROWN

Broadcast Date: September 27, 1969 (Saturday), 8:30 - 9:00 PM (CBS)

Synopsis:

Returning to school, the gang has to write a 500-word essay about their summer vacation. They recall going to summer camp, where the "boys camp" and "girls camp" compete against each other in swimming, softball, and other events. After several poor showings, the boys get out their secret weapon - the "Masked Marvel," champion arm-wrestler.

Characters:

Charlie Brown, Frieda, Linus, Lucy, Patty, Peppermint Patty, Pig-Pen, Sally, Schroeder, Shermy, Snoopy, Violet, Roy (b), Clara (b), Shirley (b), unnamed boy (might be 5) (b).

Trivia & Notes:

Did You Notice?

Music:

Score Composed & Performed by Vince Guaraldi
Music Arranged & Conducted by John Scott Trotter

PLAY IT AGAIN, CHARLIE BROWN

Broadcast Date: March 28, 1971 (Sunday), 7:00 - 7:30 PM (CBS)

Synopsis:

Schroeder practices piano despite the distraction of Lucy, who tries to get his attention. Finally Lucy arranges a gig for him, playing in the PTA program at school. But Beethoven is too old-fashioned, they want rock and roll. Will Schroeder sell out?

Characters:

Charlie Brown, Frieda, Linus, Lucy, Peppermint Patty, Pig-Pen, Sally, Schroeder, Snoopy

Trivia:

Music:

Music Composed by Ludwig van Beethoven & Vince Guaraldi
Music Conducted by John Scott Trotter

Performed by:
Lillian Steuber (Beethoven Sonatas)
The Vince Guaraldi Trio (rest)

Classical Music Sources:
(In order of performance in the show; all composed by Beethoven.)

  1. Beginning of the show with the score on top; with Lucy leaning against the piano (after Snoopy and Linus dance): Piano sonata No. 3 in C major, Op. 2 No.3; 1st movement.
  2. The music that comes out of a spray can is: Symphony No. 5 in C minor, Op. 67; 1st movement.
  3. With Frieda at the piano, joined by Lucy: Piano sonata No. 4 in E flat major, Op. 7; 3rd movement.
  4. With Lucy leaning against the piano: Piano sonata No. 10 in G major, Op. 14 No.2; 1st movement.
  5. Lucy comes in with a feather duster in her hand: Piano sonata No. 14 in C sharp minor ("Moonlight Sonata"), Op. 27 No. 2; 3rd movement.
  6. Lucy kisses Schroeder on the nose: Piano sonata No. 21 in C major ("Waldstein"), Op. 53, 3rd movement.
  7. Lucy tells Schroeder she arranged a recital for him: Piano sonata No. 20 in G major, Op. 49 No.2; 1st movement.
  8. Schroeder says "Thank you" to Lucy: Piano sonata No. 25 in G major, Op. 79; 1st movement.
  9. With Lucy leaning against the piano, telling Schroeder that Beethoven wouldn't have made it in Nashville: Piano sonata No. 29 in B flat major ("Hammerklavier"), Op. 106; 1st movement.

YOU'RE NOT ELECTED, CHARLIE BROWN

Broadcast Date: October 29, 1972 (Sunday), 7:30 - 8:00 PM (CBS)

Synopsis:

Linus runs for election as school body president, and is on his way to victory until he makes a speech about the Great Pumpkin.

Characters:

Charlie Brown, Linus, Lucy, Russell Anderson (Linus's opponent), Sally, Schroeder, Snoopy, Woodstock, Frieda (b), Patty (b), Pig-pen (b), Shermy (b), Violet (b), 5 (b), various kids at school.

Trivia & Notes:

Did You Notice?

Music:

Music Composed & Performed by Vince Guaraldi
Music Supervision by John Scott Trotter

Songs:
Joe Cool (sung by Vince Guaraldi)

THERE'S NO TIME FOR LOVE, CHARLIE BROWN

Broadcast Date: March 11, 1973 (Sunday), 7:30 - 8:00 PM (CBS)

Synopsis:

The gang's schools plan a field trip to an art museum, and Charlie Brown must get an "A" on his field trip report to pass his class. Unfortunately, he, Peppermint Patty and Marcie mistake a supermarket for the art museum!

Characters:

Charlie Brown, Franklin, Linus, Lucy, Marcie, Peppermint Patty, Sally, Snoopy, Frieda (b), Violet (b).

Trivia & Notes:

Did You Notice?

Music:

Music Composed & Performed by Vince Guaraldi
Music Supervision by John Scott Trotter

Songs:
Joe Cool (additional lyrics)

A CHARLIE BROWN THANKSGIVING

Broadcast Date: November 20, 1973 (Tuesday), 8:00 - 8:30 PM (CBS)

Synopsis:

Peppermint Patty invites herself and friends to Charlie Brown's for Thanksgiving dinner, even though he's going over to his grandmother's for dinner. So with Snoopy and Linus's help, he decides to cook his own version of a Thanksgiving meal!

Characters:

Charlie Brown, Franklin, Linus, Marcie, Peppermint Patty, Sally, Snoopy, Woodstock, Lucy (b).

Trivia & Notes:

Music:

Music Composed & Performed by Vince Guaraldi
Music Supervision by John Scott Trotter

Songs:
Little Birdie (sung by Vince Guaraldi)

IT'S A MYSTERY, CHARLIE BROWN

Broadcast Date: February 1, 1974 (Friday), 7:30 - 8:00 PM (CBS)

Synopsis:

Woodstock's newly-built nest disappears, so Snoopy puts on his Sherlock Holmes outfit and investigates. Meanwhile, Sally worries about a science exhibit for school. Could these two events be connected? Lucy's court of law will have to decide.

Characters:

Charlie Brown, Linus, Lucy, Marcie, Peppermint Patty, Sally, Snoopy, Woodstock, Pig-pen (b).

Trivia & Notes:

Music:

Music Composed & Performed by Vince Guaraldi
Music Supervision by John Scott Trotter

IT'S THE EASTER BEAGLE, CHARLIE BROWN

Broadcast Date: April 9, 1974 (Tuesday), 8:00 - 8:30 PM (CBS)

Synopsis:

Peppermint Patty tries to teach Marcie how to decorate eggs, Snoopy gets a birdhouse for Woodstock, and Linus convinces Sally that she doesn't need to color eggs because the Easter Beagle will bring them.

Characters:

Charlie Brown, Linus, Lucy, Marcie, Peppermint Patty, Sally, Schroeder, Snoopy, Woodstock.

Trivia & Notes:

Music:

Music Composed & Performed by Vince Guaraldi
Music Supervision by John Scott Trotter

Classical Music Sources:

  1. The music boxes when Snoopy dances with Peppermint Patty and Marcie: J.S. Bach, minuet in G Major, BWV Anh. 116.
  2. Schroeder plays the piano: Beethoven, piano sonata No. 3, 1st movement.
  3. While the kids wait for the Easter Beagle: Beethoven, 7th Symphony in A major, Op. 92; 2nd Movement.
  4. When the Easter Beagle arrives: Beethoven, 7th Symphony in A major, Op. 92; 1st Movement.

BE MY VALENTINE, CHARLIE BROWN

Broadcast Date: January 28, 1975 (CBS)

Synopsis:

Charlie Brown hopes for Valentines cards in his mailbox and at the school Valentine's Day party, Linus buys a present for Miss Othmar, and Sally hopes Linus will notice her.

Characters:

Charlie Brown, Linus, Lucy, Sally, Schroeder, Snoopy, Violet, Woodstock, Franklin (b), Frieda (b), Marcie (b), Patty (b), Peppermint Patty (b), Pig-pen (b), Shermy (b), Miss Othmar (os).

Trivia & Notes:

Music:

Music Composed & Performed by Vince Guaraldi
Music Supervision by John Scott Trotter

Classical Music Sources:

  1. Schroeder plays piano while Lucy discusses the origin of Valentine cards and Valentine's Day: Beethoven, piano sonata No. 20 in G major, Op. 49 No. 2; 1st movement.
  2. Background music used in Snoopy's paw-pet show: an arrangement of Nocturne in E-flat major, Op. 9 No. 2 by Chopin.
  3. The music Snoopy's fancy cut-out valentine plays: J.S. Bach, "Minuet in G Major", BWV Anh. 116.

YOU'RE A GOOD SPORT, CHARLIE BROWN

Broadcast Date: October 28, 1975 (Tuesday), 8:00 - 8:30 PM (CBS)

Synopsis:

Snoopy plays tennis against an automatic ball machine and then Woodstock. Peppermint Patty convinces Charlie Brown (with Linus as his pit crew) to compete in a charity motocross race. Can they overcome the challenge of crashes, mud, and the strangely familiar Masked Marvel?

Characters:

Charlie Brown, Franklin, Linus, Lucy, Marcie, Peppermint Patty, Sally, Snoopy, Woodstock, referee kid (b), Schroeder (b), Roy (b), 5 (b), Patty (b), Violet (b), other racers (b), Motocross Queen Loretta (b)

Trivia & Notes:

Did You Notice?

Music:

Music Composed & Performed by Vince Guaraldi
Music Supervision by John Scott Trotter

IT'S ARBOR DAY, CHARLIE BROWN

Broadcast Date: March 16, 1976 (Tuesday) 8:00 - 8:30 PM (CBS)

Synopsis:

While researching a report on Arbor Day, Sally enlists the gang to turn Charlie Brown's ball field into a garden and orchard, complete with a tree on the pitcher's mound and scarecrow in the outfield. During the first game of the season against Peppermint Patty's team, the plants turn out to be an unexpected advantage.

Characters:

Charlie Brown, Franklin, Frieda, Linus, Lucy, Marcie, Peppermint Patty, Rerun, Sally, Schroeder, Snoopy, Woodstock, Jose Peterson (b), Patty (b), Violet (b), 5 (b), unknown kid on Peppermint Patty's team (b).

Trivia & Notes:

Music:

Music Composed & Performed by Vince Guaraldi

IT'S YOUR FIRST KISS, CHARLIE BROWN

Broadcast Date: October 24, 1977 (Monday), 8:00 - 8:30 PM (CBS)

Synopsis:

Charlie Brown must escort the Little Red-Haired Girl to the homecoming dance, even though he has trouble kicking the ball during the homecoming football game.

Characters:

Charlie Brown, Franklin, Heather, Linus, Lucy, Peppermint Patty, Pig-Pen, Schroeder, Snoopy, Woodstock, other football players, homecoming princesses, Frieda (b).

Trivia & Notes:

Did You Notice?

WHAT A NIGHTMARE, CHARLIE BROWN

Broadcast Date: February 23, 1978 (Thursday), 8:00 - 8:30 PM (CBS)

Synopsis:

Accused by Charlie Brown of being "overcivilized" and after eating too much pizza, Snoopy dreams of being a sled dog in the Alaskan frontier (including a side trip to a saloon).

Trivia & Notes:

Characters:

Charlie Brown, Snoopy, Arctic sled driver, sled dogs (huskies).

Music:

Music by Ed Bogas and Vince Guaraldi ("Linus & Lucy")
Music Supervision by Judy Munsen

Song Vocals by Larry Finalyson

Songs:
Overlycivilized, Underlydogified Dog

YOU'RE THE GREATEST, CHARLIE BROWN

Broadcast Date: March 19, 1979 (Monday), 8:00 - 8:30 PM (CBS)

Synopsis:

Charlie Brown competes against Freddy Fabulous from Fremont, the "Masked Marvel," and Marcie in the ten events of the Junior Olympics Decathlon.

Characters:

Charlie Brown, Linus, Lucy, Marcie, Peppermint Patty, Snoopy, Freddy Fabulous from Fremont, 5 (b), Pig-Pen (b), Sally (b), Schroeder (b), Woodstock (b).

Trivia & Notes:

Music:

Music by Ed Bogas and Judy Munsen

The traditional Olympic fanfare ("Bugler's Dream" by Leo Arnaud) occasionally plays as part of the background music.

SHE'S A GOOD SKATE, CHARLIE BROWN

Broadcast Date: February 25, 1980 (Monday), 8:00 - 8:30 PM (CBS)

Synopsis:

Snoopy coaches Peppermint Patty for a skating competition, Marcie sews her dress.

Trivia & Notes:

Music:

Music by Ed Bogas and Judy Munsen

Classical Music Sources:

LIFE IS A CIRCUS, CHARLIE BROWN

Broadcast Date: October 24, 1980 (Friday) 8:00 - 8:30 PM (CBS)

Synopsis:

The circus comes to town and Snoopy falls for Fifi, one of the poodles in an acrobatic act. Following her, he is accidentally whisked away with the circus when it leaves. While Charlie Brown worries about him, Snoopy becomes "Hugo the Great" and performs highwire and trapeze stunts. When the carnival owner decides his color scheme is wrong and orders him dyed pink, Snoopy faces the difficult choice of continuing or returning home.

Characters:

Charlie Brown, Linus, Lucy, Marcie, Peppermint Patty, Schroeder, Snoopy, Fifi the Poodle, Miss Polly, other poodles (b).

Trivia & Notes:

Music:

Music by Ed Bogas and Judy Munsen

IT'S MAGIC, CHARLIE BROWN

Broadcast Date: April 28, 1981 (Tuesday), 8:00 - 8:30 PM (CBS)

Synopsis:

Snoopy puts on a magic show. Although most of his tricks are failures, he successfully makes Charlie Brown invisible. While Snoopy works to make him visible again, Charlie Brown realizes this may be his golden opportunity to kick Lucy's football.

Characters:

Charlie Brown, Franklin, Linus, Lucy, Peppermint Patty, Marcie, Sally, Snoopy, Woodstock, heckler in audience, Schroeder (b), Patty (b)

Did You Notice?

Music:

Music by Ed Bogas and Judy Munsen

SOMEDAY YOU'LL FIND HER, CHARLIE BROWN

Broadcast Date: October 30, 1981 (Friday), 8:00 - 8:30 PM (CBS)

Synopsis:

Charlie Brown falls for a girl he sees in the audience of televised football game, and he and Linus go across town on a door-to-door search for her.

Characters:

Charlie Brown, Linus, Snoopy, Woodstock, Mary Jo (girl with blanket), Wrong Girl #1, Wrong Girl #2, Evil Cat.

Trivia & Notes:

Music:

Music by Ed Bogas and Judy Munsen

Songs:
(When I Feel Most) Alone - performed by Becky Reardon

A CHARLIE BROWN CELEBRATION

Broadcast Date: May 24, 1982 (Monday), 8:00 - 9:00 PM (CBS)

Synopsis:

Charles Schulz talks about Peanuts and introduces animations based on newspaper strips, including:

Trivia & Notes:

Music:

Music by Ed Bogas and Judy Munsen

IS THIS GOODBYE, CHARLIE BROWN?

Broadcast Date: February 21, 1983 (Monday), 8:00 - 8:30 PM (CBS)

Synopsis:

Linus and Lucy move away from the neighborhood when their Dad is transferred to a new job. Once they're gone, Sally wonders why her "Sweet Babboo" stood her up, Snoopy enjoys Linus's blanket, Peppermint Patty tries to cheer up a depressed Charlie Brown, and even Schroeder misses Lucy. Can the gang cope if their friends have really gone forever?

Characters:

Charlie Brown, Linus, Lucy, Marcie, Peppermint Patty, Sally, Schroeder, Snoopy, Franklin (b), Patty (b), Pig-pen (b), Roy (b), Shermy (b), Violet (b), moving men (b).

Did You Notice?

Music:

Music Composed by Judy Munsen
Music Arranged by Steve Riffkin

IT'S AN ADVENTURE, CHARLIE BROWN

Broadcast Date: May 16, 1983 (Monday), 8:00 - 9:00 PM (CBS)

Synopsis:

Vignettes based on newspaper strips. Includes:

Trivia & Notes:

Music:

Music Composed by Ed Bogas and Desirée Goyette
Music Arranged and Conducted by Ed Bogas

WHAT HAVE WE LEARNED, CHARLIE BROWN?

Broadcast Date: May 30, 1983 (Monday), 8:00 - 8:30 PM (CBS)

Synopsis:

After leaving the chateau where they stayed as exchange students in France, the gang visits Omaha Beach in Normandy (where the Allies landed on D-Day in World War II) and Ypres (a World War I battle site), and Linus talks about the significance of the sites and gives tribute to the veterans who fought in both wars.

Characters:

Charlie Brown, Linus, Marcie, Peppermint Patty, Sally, Snoopy, Woodstock.

Trivia & Notes:

Music:

Music Composed by Judy Munsen
Music Arranged by Dawn Atkinson

IT'S FLASHBEAGLE, CHARLIE BROWN

Broadcast Date: April 16, 1984 (Monday), 8:00 - 8:30 PM (CBS)

Synopsis:

Charlie Brown wishes he had a normal dog while Snoopy dances the night away as "Flashbeagle," but Sally finds Snoopy's dancing skills an asset during show and tell at school. Also, Peppermint Patty has trouble with her binder; the gang attends a party where they play "Simon Says" and dance.

Characters:

Charlie Brown, Franklin, Linus, Lucy, Marcie, Pig-pen, Peppermint Patty, Sally, Schroeder, Snoopy, Woodstock, 5 (b), Frieda (b), party host kid (b), kid with George the chameleon (b), other birds (b)

Trivia & Notes:

Did You Notice?

Music:

Music and Lyrics by Desiree Goyette and Ed Bogas

Songs:
Flashbeagle
Peppermint Patty's PE Program (I'm In Shape)
Lucy Says (Listen to Lucy)
Pig-Pen Hoe Down
(Talkin' About) Snoopy

Albums:
An LP of the songs from this special was made in 1984, but is now out of print and there is no CD version. The other songs on the "Flashbeagle" album are from the documentary/celebration show "It's Your 20th TV Anniversary, Charlie Brown."

SNOOPY'S GETTING MARRIED, CHARLIE BROWN

Broadcast Date: March 20, 1985 (Wednesday), 8:00 - 8:30 PM (CBS)

Synopsis:

Snoopy decides to get married to a poodle he meets in the dark while he's guarding Peppermint Patty's house. At first alarmed, the Peanuts gang gets into the swing of things making preparations for the wedding. Meanwhile, Snoopy invites Spike to be his "Best Beagle," and Spike does odd jobs to pay for his bus fare. Finally all is set - but where's the bride?

Characters:

Charlie Brown, Lucy, Marcie, Peppermint Patty, Sally, Schroeder, Snoopy, Spike, Woodstock, Genevieve, Franklin (b), Patty (b), Pig-pen (b), Violet (b), other birds (b).

Trivia & Notes:

Did You Notice?

Music:

Music by Judy Munsen

Songs:
Oh Let Me Be the One

Classical Music Sources:
After Sally finishes her song, Schroeder plays the ending bars of the 1st movement of Beethoven's Symphony No. 5 in C minor, Op. 67.

YOU'RE A GOOD MAN, CHARLIE BROWN

Broadcast Date: November 6, 1985 (Wednesday), 8:00 - 9:00 PM (CBS)

Synopsis:

Animated version of the 1967 musical.

Characters:

Charlie Brown, Linus, Lucy, Sally, Schroeder, Snoopy, Woodstock, Peppermint Patty (b), Marcie (b)

Trivia & Notes:

Music:

Book, Music, and Lyrics by Clark Gesner
Orchestra Conductor - Ed Bogas
Music Director - Desiree Goyette

Songs (in the animated adaptation; a few from the original are omitted):

You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown
Schroeder (Someday We'll Get Married)
The Kite
Snoopy (They Like Me)
The Book Report
Little Known Facts
T-E-A-M (The Baseball Game)
Glee Club Rehearsal
Suppertime
Happiness
You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown (reprise)

Classical Music Sources:

  1. Song "Schroeder" (sung by Lucy): Beethoven's "Moonlight sonata" (piano sonata No. 14 in C-sharp minor, Op. 27 No. 2; 1st movement).
  2. Schroeder plays piano; Lucy comes in and starts talking about their future life together (the "Saucepans?" scene): J. S. Bach's Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 1, Prelude and Fugue No. 11 in F major, BWV 856.

CD/Albums:

No album of the songs as presented in the animated special is available, but:

HAPPY NEW YEAR, CHARLIE BROWN

Broadcast Date: January 1, 1986, 8:30 - 9:00 PM (CBS)

Synopsis:

Peppermint Patty hosts a New Year's Eve party, while Charlie Brown struggles to read "War and Peace" over Christmas break.

Characters:

Charlie Brown, Linus, Lucy, Marcie, Peppermint Patty, Sally, Schroeder, Snoopy, Woodstock, Franklin (b), Heather (b), Patty (b), Pig-pen (b), Rerun (b), Violet (b).

Music:

Music by Desiree Goyette and Ed Bogas

Songs:
Slow Slow Quick Quick
If You Want To Be a Winner at Musical Chairs

Classical Music Sources:
When Lucy asks Schroeder to take her to the party: Beethoven, Piano sonata No. 21 in C major, Op. 53 ("Waldstein"); 1st movement.

SNOOPY: THE MUSICAL

Broadcast Date: January 29, 1988 (Friday), 8:00 - 9:00 PM (CBS)

Synopsis:

Animated special based on the 1974 musical.

Trivia & Notes:

Music:

Music by Larry Grossman
Lyrics by Hal Hackady
Musical Director - Desirée Goyette
Music Conducted by Lenny La Croix and Ed Bogas

Songs (in the animated adaptation; a few from the original are omitted):

Don't Be Anything Less Than Everything You Can Be
Snoopy's Song ("Sit up! Lie down! Roll over!")
Woodstock's Theme
Edgar Allan Poe
I Know Now
The Vigil (The Great Pumpkin Song)
Clouds
The Great Writer (It Was a Dark and Stormy Night)
Poor Sweet Baby
The Big Bow Wow
Just One Person

Albums:

Two CD's of the songs from this musical are available:

  • SNOOPY!!! - ORIGINAL CAST (San Francisco) (DRG 6103)
  • SNOOPY - ORIGINAL LONDON CAST (Jay Records CDJAY 1073)

The London cast album contains several songs not on the San Francisco cast album; the San Francisco cast album contains one ("Friend") not on the London cast album.

IT'S THE GIRL IN THE RED TRUCK, CHARLIE BROWN

Broadcast Date: September 27, 1988 (Tuesday), 8:00 - 9:00 PM (CBS)

Synopsis:

An unusual combination of live-action and animation where Spike's life in the desert makes an unexpected turn when he falls for Jenny, a girl in an old red truck. He travels to town with her, eats good food and goes roller skating. But Jenny's boyfriend Jeff wants her to move to Los Angeles, and Spike's not sure city life is for him. Both Spike and Jenny must choose between the desert or the city - and meanwhile Spike runs into a dangerous coyote hunt.

Characters:

Spike, Jenny (girl in the red truck), Molly, Jeff, hobo beagles in jug band (b), Charlie Brown (b), Snoopy (b)

Trivia & Notes:

Music:

Music by Paul Rodriguez

WHY, CHARLIE BROWN, WHY?

Broadcast Date: March 16, 1990 (Friday), 8:00 - 8:30 PM (CBS)

Synopsis:

Charlie Brown and Linus become concerned when their friend Janice develops leukemia (a form of cancer) and has to go to the hospital. Discusses the treatment of leukemia and how other children might feel when a friend becomes seriously ill.

Characters:

Charlie Brown, Linus, Lucy, Sally, Snoopy, Woodstock, Janice, bully at school, Franklin (b), Marcie (b), Peppermint Patty (b), Schroeder (b), 5 (b), Janice's sisters (b), other birds (b).

Did You Notice?

Music:

Music by Judy Munsen
Vocals ("Farther Along") - Becky Reardon

Song:
Farther Along

SNOOPY'S REUNION

Broadcast Date: May 1, 1991, 8:00 - 8:30 PM (CBS)

Synopsis:

Charlie Brown decides to cheer up Snoopy by hosting a reunion party with his brothers and sisters; we learn about their first days at the Daisy Hill Puppy Farm and how they came to leave it.

Characters:

Charlie Brown, Linus, Sally, Snoopy; farmer who owns the Daisy Hill Puppy Farm, Lila, Lila's mother, bus driver (b); Andy, Belle, Marbles, Missy (Snoopy's mom), Molly, Olaf, Rover, Spike.

Trivia & Notes:

Did You Notice?

Music:

Music by Judy Munsen

IT'S SPRING TRAINING, CHARLIE BROWN

Broadcast Date: Never aired on network television; show's copyright date is 1992; first released on video January, 1996; first TV broadcast February 23, 1998 on Nickelodeon

Synopsis:

Charlie Brown's team can get uniforms if they win the first game of the season. Will an early round of spring training in the snow and new team member, the tiny Leland, be enough help?

Characters:

Charlie Brown, Franklin, Leland, Linus, Lucy, Pig-pen, Schroeder, Snoopy, Leland's sister (looks like Frieda)(b), Patty (b), Shermy (b), visiting baseball team.

Trivia & Notes:

Did You Notice?

Music:

Music - Judy Munsen
"Peanuts Time" and "Baseball" (instrumentals) performed by D'Cuckoo
"That's What It's All About" performed by Jessica Nwafor

Songs:
Hokey-Pokey
That's What It's All About (Franklin's rap song)

Classical Music Sources:
When Schroeder comes up to bat: Beethoven, Symphony No. 5 in C minor, Op. 67; 1st movement.

IT'S CHRISTMASTIME AGAIN, CHARLIE BROWN

Broadcast Date: November 27, 1992 (CBS) (released on video first, approx. Sept. 1992)

Synopsis:

A collection of Christmas-themed vignettes, including: Charlie Brown tries to sell wreaths; Peppermint Patty worries about her Christmas book report; Charlie Brown tries to buy gloves for Peggy Jean; and the gang is in a Christmas play, where Sally worries about her single line and Peppermint Patty plays a sheep.

Characters:

Charlie Brown, Franklin, Linus, Lucy, Marcie, Peppermint Patty, Sally, Snoopy, Woodstock, Frieda (b), Harold Angel (b), Patty (b), Peggy Jean (b), Violet (b), other unnamed kids, other birds.

Trivia & Notes:

Music:

Music Composed by Vince Guaraldi
Music Arranged and Performed by David Benoit

YOU'RE IN THE SUPERBOWL, CHARLIE BROWN

Broadcast Date: January 18, 1994 (NBC)

Synopsis:

Snoopy coaches a football team of birds to the championships; the gang competes in a punt-and-pass contest to win a new bike and a trip to the Super Bowl; Charlie Brown and Linus try to win the affections of Melody-Melody.

Characters:

Charlie Brown, Linus, Lucy, Marcie, Peppermint Patty, Snoopy, Melody-Melody, Franklin (b), Pig-Pen (b), various birds.

Trivia & Notes:

Did You Notice?

Music:

Music Composed by Vince Guaraldi
Music Arranged, Conducted, and Performed by David Benoit

IT WAS MY BEST BIRTHDAY EVER, CHARLIE BROWN

Broadcast Date: None (direct-to-video release on August 5, 1997)

Synopsis:

Linus meets Mimi, a girl with a passion for gardening and singing, while in-line skating. He invites her to his birthday party which the gang is preparing... but will she show up?

Characters:

Charlie Brown, Linus, Lucy, Pig-pen, Sally, Snoopy, Woodstock, Mimi, Franklin (b), Marcie (b), Patty (b), Shermy (b).

Trivia & Notes:

Music:

Music Composed by Vince Guaraldi
Music Arranged, Conducted, and Performed by David Benoit

Classical Music Sources:
Mimi sings "O mio babbino caro," from Puccini's opera "Gianni Schicchi."

Albums:
Two pieces of music from this special appear on David Benoit's CD "Here's to You, Charlie Brown: 50 Great Years."

IT'S THE PIED PIPER, CHARLIE BROWN

Broadcast Date: None (direct-to-video release on September 12, 2000)

Synopsis:

Charlie Brown tells Sally a somewhat modified version of the legend of the Pied Piper, as Snoopy plays the title character who tries to rid the Peanuts' gang's hometown of sports playing, loudly dancing mice by playing his accordion in return for a year's supply of dog food.

Characters:

Charlie Brown, Linus, Lucy, Sally, Snoopy, the Mayor, the Mayor's secretary, town councilmen, sports mice, Franklin (b), Peppermint Patty (b), Pig-Pen (b), Marcie (b), Schroeder (b), Violet (b), townspeople (p), reporters (b).

Trivia & Notes:

Music:

Music Arranged, Conducted and Performed by David Benoit.

Classical Music Sources:
Schroeder is bothered by the mice: Beethoven, piano sonata No. 8 in C minor, Op. 13 ("Pathetique"); 2nd movement.

A CHARLIE BROWN VALENTINE

Broadcast Date: February, 14, 2002 (Thursday), 8:00 - 8:30 (ABC)

Synopsis:

Valentine and love-themed special based on material from the Peanuts comic strip: Charlie Brown is jealous of Snoopy's many valentines cards; Charlie Brown tries to impress the little red-haired girl with a sharp pencil and gets caught in the pencil sharpener; Peppermint Patty asks Charlie Brown to a dance.

Trivia & Notes:

Music:

Music Arranged, Conducted and Performed by David Benoit, based on themes by Vince Guaraldi.

Classical Music Sources:
The music Schroeder plays during his scene: Beethoven, piano sonata No. 18 in E-flat major, Op. 31 No. 3, 2nd movement.

CHARLIE BROWN'S CHRISTMAS TALES

Broadcast Date: December 8, 2002 (Sunday), 8:30 - 9:00 (ABC)

Synopsis:

A collection of five Christmas-themed animated shorts based directly on stories from the Peanuts comic strips, each focusing on a specific Peanuts character - Charlie Brown, Snoopy, Linus, Lucy, and Sally.

Trivia & Notes:

LUCY MUST BE TRADED, CHARLIE BROWN

Broadcast Date: August 29, 2003 (Friday), 9:00 - 9:30 PM (ABC)

Synopsis:

Charlie Brown trades Lucy to Peppermint Patty's baseball team in hopes of getting a better player and winning a few baseball games. Based on stories from the Peanuts comic strip.

Trivia & Notes:

I WANT A DOG FOR CHRISTMAS, CHARLIE BROWN!

Broadcast Date: December 9, 2003 (Tuesday), 8:00 - 9:00 PM (ABC)

Synopsis:

It's Christmas vacation and Rerun (Linus and Lucy's little brother) is wishing he had a dog, so he turns to Snoopy for amusement and holiday cheer. Then Rerun asks Snoopy to invite his Spike for a visit. When Spike shows up, it looks like Rerun will have a dog for Christmas after all... but things don't turn out as expected.

Trivia & Notes:

HE'S A BULLY, CHARLIE BROWN

Broadcast Date: November 20, 2006 (Monday), 8:30 - 9:00 PM (ABC)

Synopsis:

This special tells the story of a game of marbles that becomes too fiercely competitive for some of the children. When Charlie Brown is called upon for help, he finds that the only way he can finally prove himself to be a neighborhood hero is to match wits with the marble-playing bully. Is he up to the challenge? The show is based on Peanuts comic strips from April 1995.

Trivia & Notes:

HAPPINESS IS A WARM BLANKET, CHARLIE BROWN

Broadcast Date: November 24, 2011 (Thursday), 8:30-9:30 PM (FOX)

Synopsis:

Based solely on material from the original comic strip, the show focuses on Linus and his blanket.

Warner Home Video's description of the show is as follows:

"Linus and his blue blanket go together like peanut butter and jelly, sunny days and baseball games, Snoopy and Woodstock. But when Linus discovers hid Grandma disapproves of his childish attachment, he wonders if it's time to ditch the blanket. Linus enlists the help of best buddy charlie Brown to keep the blanket away from him. When that doesn't work, he turns to his older sister, amateur psychiatrist Lucy, for some tough love. Can Linus kick his habit once and for all?"

Trivia & Notes:

This Is America, Charlie Brown

This eight-part series advertised as "the first animated miniseries ever," broadcast in prime-time on CBS during the 1988-89 season. Meant as both education and entertainment, the shows find our friends witnessing and participating in historic events and discoveries. In addition to the usual animation, historical pictures and footage are used.

The series started airing weekly on Friday evenings at 8 P.M. in the fall of 1988 during a Hollywood screenwriter's strike. When the strike was resolved, the TV series "Beauty and the Beast" took over "This is America"'s slot, and it did not return until February, and then as a monthly show. The entire series was also repeated as a weekly series on CBS in the summer of 1990.

(While the volume numbers on the Paramount VHS release of this series do not match the original broadcast order, the DVD release presents the shows in the correct order.)

THE MAYFLOWER VOYAGERS

Broadcast Date: October 21, 1988 (Friday), 8:00 - 8:30 PM (CBS)

Synopsis:

The gang is part of the Mayflower's crew as Linus narrates the story of the Mayflower's trip from England to America in 1620, including the dangerous voyage across the Atlantic Ocean; the ship's arrival and disappointment in Provincetown Harbor; their relocation to Plymouth and the trials of the first winter; and the first Thanksgiving.

Trivia & Notes:

Characters:

Charlie Brown, Linus, Marcie, Peppermint Patty, Pig-Pen, Sally, Schroeder, Snoopy, Woodstock, worried kid (b), Captain Myles Standish, Samoset, Squanto, Massaquoit, other Mayflower Voyagers.

Music:

Music by Ed Bogas

THE BIRTH OF THE CONSTITUTION

Broadcast Date: October 28, 1988 (Friday), 8:00 - 8:30 PM (CBS)

Synopsis:

The gang attends the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, 1787 with notables such as George Washington and Ben Franklin.

Trivia & Notes:

Music:

Piano and Harpsichord Solos by George Winston
(at least partially based on themes by Vince Guaraldi)

THE WRIGHT BROTHERS AT KITTY HAWK

Broadcast Date: November 4, 1988 (Friday), 8:00 - 8:30 PM (CBS)

Synopsis:

Charlie Brown and Linus visit Linus's cousin Dolly at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, just in time to witness and help out with Orville and Wilbur Wright's historic first flight. Meanwhile, Snoopy makes his own, less successful, attempts to fly.

Characters:

Charlie Brown, Linus, Marcie, Peppermint Patty, Snoopy, Woodstock, Dolly (Linus's cousin), Wilbur and Orville Wright, other Wright Brothers helpers (b), early flight pioneers and balloonists (b), other birds (b).

Music:

Music Written and Performed by Wynton Marsalis.

CD/Album:
The music from this special is available on Wynton Marsalis's album "Joe Cool's Blues" (Columbia CK-66880).

THE NASA SPACE STATION

Broadcast Date: November 11, 1988 (Friday), 8:00 - 8:30 PM (CBS)

Synopsis:

Linus dreams that he and the gang are the first crew to live on the new NASA Space Station. Can a spacewalking Charlie Brown and Snoopy repair the station when it's damaged by meteorite?

Characters:

Charlie Brown, Franklin, Linus, Lucy, Peppermint Patty, Pig-pen, Sally, Snoopy, Woodstock, Jason Welker (TV reporter), Mission Control Operator

Trivia & Notes:

Did You Notice?

Music:

Music by Dave Brubeck.

CD/Albums:
The music from this show, composed and performed by Dave Brubeck, is available on the CD "Quiet as the Moon" (MusicMasters #01612-65067-2).

THE BUILDING OF THE TRANSCONTINENTAL RAILROAD

Broadcast Date: February 10, 1989 (Friday), 8:00 - 8:30 PM (CBS)

Synopsis:

The gang learns about the building of the first transcontinental railroad and sees the completion of the railroad in Promontory, Utah.

Music:

Vocals by The Winans
(no "music by" credit)

THE GREAT INVENTORS

Broadcast Date: March 10, 1989 (Friday), 8:00 - 8:30 PM (CBS)

Synopsis:

The gang gives reports and imagines they witness the development of important inventions created in America from 1870 - 1900. Linus talks about the Alexander Graham Bell's invention of the telephone; Peppermint Patty talks about Edison's development of the phonograph; Marcie describes the excitement surrounding Edison's first light bulb; Charlie Brown gives a report on the first "horseless carriage" (automobile) race (in which Lucy and Snoopy compete); and Sally and Snoopy give a show and tell demonstrating less significant inventions such as roller skating and pizza.

Characters:

Charlie Brown, Linus, Lucy, Marcie, Peppermint Patty, Sally, Snoopy, Franklin (b), Alexander Graham Bell, Thomas Watson, Mrs. Holliday (b), Thomas Edison, Maryann Edison, John Krusei, other Edison assistants (b), horseless carriage racers (b), other kids (b).

Music:

Music by David Benoit

THE SMITHSONIAN AND THE PRESIDENCY

Broadcast Date: April 19, 1989 (Friday), 8:30 - 9:00 PM (CBS)

Synopsis:

The gang visits the Smithsonian Institution museums in Washington, DC, and discuss three famous presidents. First, Charlie Brown and Linus are newspaper boys who meet Lincoln on the eve of his trip to give the Gettysburg Address, and dramatizes the address. Next, they talk about Theodore Roosevelt and the conservation movement, especially the protection of Yosemite Valley. The final topic is Franklin D. Roosevelt, the Depression, and the New Deal, including footage of bread lines and FDR's inaugural speech.

Characters:

Charlie Brown, Franklin, Linus, Lucy, Marcie, Peppermint Patty, Sally, Snoopy, Abraham Lincoln, Samuel (b), Theodore Roosevelt, John Muir. (Franklin Roosevelt shown in historical footage.)

Trivia & Notes:

Music:

Music by Dave Grusin

CD/Album:
Two pieces of music, the main theme of the episode ("History Lesson") and "Breadline Blues" appear on the album HAPPY ANNIVERSARY, CHARLIE BROWN (GRP Records GRD-9596).

THE MUSIC AND HEROES OF AMERICA

Broadcast Date: May 23, 1989 (Tuesday), 8:30 - 9:00 PM (CBS)

Synopsis:

Schroeder and Franklin try to give a school report about great American musicians from ranging from Stephen Foster to John Phillip Sousa to rock'n'rollers (see song list below), but is interrupted by both the antics of Snoopy and Lucy, who decides to give her report on famous American heroes--including Susan B. Anthony, Amelia Earheart, George Washington Carver, and Martin Luther King--on the same stage at the same time.

Characters:

Charlie Brown, Franklin, Linus, Lucy, Marcie, Peppermint Patty, Pig-Pen, Sally, Schroeder, Snoopy, Woodstock, other kids dressed as immigrants (b)

Trivia & Notes:

Music:

Music Directors - Ed Bogas and Desirée Goyette
Vocals - Lou Rawls, Cameron Clarke, and Desirée Goyette

Musical Pieces/Songs:
"I Dream of Jeannie with the Light Brown Hair" - Stephen Foster
"O Susanna" - Stephen Foster
"America the Beautiful" - Katherine Lee Bates & Samuel Ward
"Stars and Stripes Forever" - John Phillip Sousa
"I'm a Yankee Doodle Dandy" - George M. Cohan
"Alexander's Ragtime Band" - Irving Berlin
"Maple Leaf Rag" - Scott Joplin
"St. Louis Blues" - W.C. Handy
"When The Saints Go Marching In"
"Where Have All the Flowers Gone"
"You Ain't Nothing But a Hounddog"
"Linus and Lucy" - Vince Guaraldi

 

The Charlie Brown & Snoopy Show

"The Charlie Brown and Snoopy Show" was a half-hour CBS Saturday morning cartoon show. Episodes consisted of unconnected sketches, many of them adapted from the newspaper strips. It aired from September 17, 1983 to August 23, 1986 at the following times: Saturday 10:30 - 11:00 AM (9/83 - 1/84); Saturday 8:00 - 8:30 AM (2/84 - 8/84); 1:30 - 2:00 PM (9/84 - 12/85); unknown (1/86 - 8/86). However, since there were only 18 original episodes, there must have been a lot of repeats!

There are two "seasons" of shows, 13 from Fall 1983 and 5 from Fall 1985. The 1985 ones have different opening and ending credits, with words sung to the music in the opening titles.

The theme song was written and sung by Desiree Goyette, who created music for many Peanuts shows in the 1980's. The song actually first appeared on the "Flashbeagle" LP record and was titled "Let's Have a Party."

An important note: sometimes broadcasters, such as the Disney Channel, mixed both the prime-time specials listed above and the Saturday morning shows together under the heading when they were showing "The Charlie Brown and Snoopy Show," but in this list it refers only to the Saturday morning shows.

Each episode was given an umbrella title by Creative Associates for easier identification, and those umbrella titles are used for the video releases and in various television listings. The sketches in each episode also have titles, but the umbrella title is almost never among them. The Paramount videos each feature a title card for each show, with the umbrella title and listing all the sketches - these title cards were not part of the original broadcasts.

In the list below, first the umbrella title is given, then initial broadcast date and production order, a list of sketches in the show (numbered by their order of appearance), along with synopses for each sketch, character information, and music sources (incomplete for some episodes).

Note that the Paramount VHS releases did not follow the original broadcast order (instead they follow original production order); the shows are listed in broadcast order below.

Sketches with the same title in different shows are not the same; also, sketches that sound similar in their descriptions are different.

A big thank you to Glenn Mendelson and Basil Wilson, who provided much of the information for this section.

1983 Season

SNOOPY'S CAT FIGHT (Episode 1)

First Broadcast: September 17, 1983 (Production Order: 3)

Sketches:

  1. "Woodstock" - Woodstock build a swing and deals with basketballs that intrude in his nest.
  2. "Baseball" - Scenes from the baseball field - Snoopy and Linus demonstrate a play; Schroeder worries that a finger injury may keep him from playing piano; Snoopy wants to be scratched during a game; Charlie Brown is nervous when the Little Red-haired girl comes to watch the game.
  3. "Sally" - Sally shows a picture of a cow chasing mice, gives a report on the "Bronchitis," and tries to put some life into show & tell.
  4. "Peppermint Patty" - Peppermint Patty has to share a desk with Charlie Brown in school.
  5. "Piano" - Lucy tells Schroeder what sort of men make the best husbands. Frieda accidentally kisses Snoopy and Lucy continues to criticize Schroeder.
  6. "Blanket" - Linus give his blanket to Eudora, who gives it to the Cat Next Door. Linus and Snoopy try to get it back and end up in a big fight with the cat.

Music:

Classical Music Sources:

Skit "Baseball":

  1. When Schroeder is worried he's injured a finger: Beethoven, piano sonata No. 3 in C major, Op. 2 No. 3, 1st movement.

Skit "Piano":

  1. Lucy discusses what kind of men make good husbands; Lucy says "may your stupid piano be devoured by termites": Beethoven's piano sonata No. 1 in F minor, Op. 2 No. 1; 1st movement.
  2. Frieda thinks "Beethoven" is something to drink: Beethoven's piano sonata No. 3 in C major, Op. 2 No. 3; 1st movement.
  3. Frieda and Lucy talk: Beethoven's piano sonata No. 21 in C major, Op. 53 "Waldstein"; 1st movement.
  4. Lucy says "you musicians are something else": Beethoven's piano sonata No. 10 in G major, Op. 14 No. 2; 1st movement.
  5. Lucy says "Beethoven wasn't so great!": Beethoven's piano sonata No. 23 in F minor, Op. 56 "Appassionata"; 1st movement.

SNOOPY: TEAM MANAGER (Episode 2)

First Broadcast: September 24, 1983 (Production Order: 7)

Sketches:

  1. "Shoveling" - Linus and Snoopy try to help Lucy plant her garden.
  2. "Rerun" - Rerun sings and recites poetry while he rides on the back of his mother's bicycle.
  3. "Lost Blanket" - When Lucy invites the "blanket-hating grandma" over, Linus puts his blanket in an envelope and mails it to himself. The blanket is accidentally delivered to Snoopy instead, and Linus tries to get it back.
  4. "The Manager" - Charlie Brown makes Snoopy the new manager of the baseball team.

LINUS AND LUCY (Episode 3)

First Broadcast: October 1, 1983 (Production Order: 4)

Sketches:

  1. "Sally and Snoopy" - Sally takes Snoopy to school for "Show & Tell," and rewards him with an ice cream cone.
  2. "Football" - Linus tries to get Sally to kick the football but it hisses at her. Lucy pulls the football away from Charlie Brown once again.
  3. "Beads" - Lucy makes "lovebeads" for Schroeder, but he doesn't appreciate them so she gives the Snoopy.
  4. "Love" - Lucy asks Schroeder if he might love her and not know it.
  5. "Snowballs" - Linus thinks he's found two snowflakes exactly alike; Linus and Lucy make snow sculptures; Linus thinks his snow fort makes him invincible; Linus uses his blanket as a sling for throwing snowballs; Lucy makes a huge snowball.
  6. "Kite Flying" - Charlie Brown gets his kite string caught on a picket fence and people's noses; he sits in school tangled in string; he tries to take up flying paper airplanes instead with little success.
  7. "Linus and Lucy" - Linus draws an unflattering picture of Lucy; Lucy demands appropriate thanks from Linus for a piece of toast; Lucy tries to take out Linus and Snoopy's slivers.
  8. "Baseball" - Lucy stands on the pitcher's mound to see if she can see the ocean; Charlie Brown shows Lucy how to "keep a stiff upper lip and a firm jaw"; Lucy wants Schroeder to give her a kiss if she hits a home run.

LUCY VS. THE WORLD (Episode 4)

First Broadcast: October 8, 1983 (Production Order: 10)

Sketches:

  1. "Straws" - Charlie Brown and Lucy sip lemonade while having a discussion. Charlie Brown starts making funny faces as Lucy sips - could it be that the neighborhood dog took a sip from her cup when she wasn't looking?
  2. "Lucy Baseball" - Lucy drives Charlie Brown crazy as a reporter for the school paper after Charlie Brown kicks her off the baseball team.
  3. "Peppermint Patty" - Peppermint Patty mistakes Snoopy's doghouse as the guest cottage when she invites herself to stay at Charlie Brown's house while her father is out of town.
  4. "Daisy Hill Puppy Cup" - Snoopy forces everyone to write recommendation letters for him when he's nominated for the Daisy Hill Puppy Cup.
  5. "Linus and Lucy" - Lucy attempts to set a world record for being crabby 1000 days in a row; Lucy criticizes Linus for patting birds on the head; Linus moves in with Snoopy after Lucy throws him out of the house, but Lucy isn't alone for long because she discovers that her mom has just had a new baby boy!

LINUS' SECURITY BLANKET (Episode 5)

First Broadcast: October 15, 1983 (Production Order: 2)

Sketches:

  1. "Snoopy and Woodstock" - Snoopy gets into a fight with the Cat Next Door when he believes the cat has gotten Woodstock, but the visit to the vet's afterwards might be even worse.
  2. "Sally" - Sally tries to tell jokes in front of her school class.
  3. "Piano" - Lucy bugs Schroeder while he plays the piano and Snoopy plays the fiddle and dances.
  4. "Baseball" - Charlie Brown starts to float out to see on his pitcher's mound after a rain storm.
  5. "Sunsets" - Lucy gives Charlie Brown psychiatric advice based on whether he prefers sunrises or sunsets.
  6. "Football" - Lucy pretends to fall asleep while Charlie Brown tries to kick the football.
  7. "Security Blanket" - Linus tries to kick his blanket habit by giving it to Snoopy, who makes a sports coat out of it; Linus is just about "cured" when Charlie Brown gives him an unexpected gift.
  8. "Kite" - Charlie Brown puts up with humiliation after he ends up hanging upside from a tree when he tries to fly his kite.
  9. "Woodstock" - Sleepy Snoopy and Woodstock try to share the doghouse for a nap.
  10. "Clinging Snoopy" - Snoopy becomes a nuisance to the gang when he starts clinging to people who say they love dogs.

Music:

Classical Music Sources:

Skit "Piano":

  1. Schroeder plays piano while Lucy talks: Beethoven, piano sonata No. 10 in G major, Op. 14 No. 2; 1st movement.
  2. Schroeder says "Today is the 200th anniversary of the birth of Beethoven..." while he plays Beethoven's piano sonata No. 3 in C major, Op. 2 No. 3, 1st movement.

SNOOPY: MAN'S BEST FRIEND (Episode 6)

First Broadcast: October 22, 1983 (Production Order: 5)

Sketches:

  1. "Kiss" - Lucy complains that no one loves her, walking away as Snoopy tries to kiss her.
  2. "Peppermint Patty" - Peppermint Patty hires Snoopy to be her guard dog because she's afraid to sleep at night. But the house is burglarized anyway when Snoopy, Peppermint Patty, and Marcie can't get off the very bouncy waterbed.
  3. "Charlie Brown Lost!" - Snoopy takes the Beagle Scouts on a hike and doesn't come back, and Charlie Brown gets lost trying to find them. Peppermint Patty and Marcie go on a rescue mission.
  4. "Snoopy" - Skits involving Snoopy, including Linus tells the story of the "Three Little Pigs" and Snoopy begins to "huff and puff" knocking Linus over; Frieda tries to get Snoopy to hunt for rabbits; Snoopy pretends he's the Flying Ace and stalks Charlie Brown as he brings out supper; Sally uses Snoopy to espouse her new philosophy "speak softly and carry a beagle."

SNOOPY THE PSYCHIATRIST (Episode 7)

First Broadcast: October 29, 1983 (Production Order: 9)

Sketches:

  1. "Charlie Brown & Lucy" - Charlie Brown has difficulty getting good advice from Lucy the psychiatrist and her replacement Snoopy.
  2. "Kite" - Charlie Brown keeps losing his cap and crashing his kite; the kite explodes into little pieces; the kite encounters the "kite-eating tree."
  3. "The Dance" - Peppermint Patty asks Snoopy to go to a dance with her and ends up slugging a kid who jokes about Snoopy's "big nose."
  4. "Thiebault" - Peppermint Patty lends Charlie Brown's baseball glove to Thiebault and he won't give it back; Thiebault refuses to play with Marcie on Peppermint Patty's team.

YOU CAN'T WIN, CHARLIE BROWN (Episode 8)

First Broadcast: November 5, 1983 (Production Order: 1)

Sketches:

  1. "Shaking" - Snoopy demonstrates the "shaking" method of training puppies.
  2. "Spaghetti" - Woodstock comments on Snoopy's dinner.
  3. "Football" - Sally learns the danger of kicking a football near a bird's nest.
  4. "Baseball" - With Rerun's help, Charlie Brown's baseball team wins their first game ever - but there's trouble when the league discovers someone was gambling on the game!
  5. "Toast" - Linus offers his burnt toast to Woodstock.
  6. "Snow Sculpture" - Lucy and Linus make snow sculptures honoring George Washington's birthday.
  7. "Sit" - Charlie Brown tries to teach Snoopy to "heel" and "sit".
  8. "School" - The school ceiling springs a leak over Peppermint Patty's desk.
  9. "Kite" - Lucy helps Charlie Brown fly his kite.
  10. "The Blanket" - Linus tries to live without his blanket for two weeks.
  11. "Sally" - Sally tries to answer math questions with humor and charm.

Characters:

Charlie Brown, Linus, Lucy, Marcie, Peppermint Patty, Rerun, Sally, Snoopy, Woodstock.

Trivia & Notes:

Music:

Classical Music Sources:

Skit "Kite":

  1. Lucy helps Charlie Brown with kite-flying: Mendelssohn, "Song without words" Vol. 5, Op. 62 No. 6 in A major, "Spring Song".
  2. Charlie Brown, Snoopy, Linus, and Lucy get tangled up in kite string: J. S. Bach, Two-part invention No. 8 in F major, BWV 779.

THE LOST BALLPARK (Episode 9)

First Broadcast: November 12, 1983 (Production Order: 6)

Sketches:

  1. "Crawl" - Lucy tries to correct Charlie Brown's walk.
  2. "Marcie" - Marcie is bothered by a boy at summer camp who keeps calling her "lambcake."
  3. "Truffles" - While hunting for truffles, Linus and Snoopy met a little girl named Truffles and compete for her affection.
  4. "The Lost Ballfield" - Charlie Brown tries to figure out what to do when the owner of the vacant lot won't let his baseball team play there anymore.

SNOOPY'S FOOTBALL CAREER (Episode 10)

First Broadcast: November 19, 1983 (Production Order: 11)

Sketches:

  1. "Gold Stars" - Peppermint Patty goes undercover to find her teacher's missing box of gold stars.
  2. "Blanket" - Snoopy steals Linus's blanket, and Linus tries tricks to get it back.
  3. "Piano" - Lucy throws Schroeder's piano up into the kite-eating tree.
  4. "Teaching" - Peppermint Patty tries to teach Marcie and Charlie Brown to play football; Linus tries to teach Sally football; and Snoopy tries to play football with Woodstock. Lucy pulls the football away from Charlie Brown - again.

Characters:

Charlie Brown, Franklin, Linus, Lucy, Marcie, Peppermint Patty, Schroeder, Snoopy, Woodstock, Miss Tenure (off-screen).

Music:

Classical Music Sources:

Skit "Piano":

  1. Snoopy starts dancing on Schroeder's piano: Beethoven's piano sonata No. 10 in G major, Op. 14 No. 2; 1st movement.
  2. Lucy comes in and starts talking: Beethoven's piano sonata No. 1 in F minor, Op. 2 No. 1; 1st movement.
  3. Schroeder pauses for a moment, says "I don't know. It's kind of hard to tell off hand" and plays Beethoven's piano sonata No. 3 in C major, Op. 2 No. 3; 1st movement.
  4. Lucy and Schroeder discuss flowers: Beethoven's piano sonata No. 1 in F minor, Op. 2 No. 1; 1st movement.
  5. Lucy says "you can't bluff a musician" and then gets frustrated: Beethoven's piano sonata No. 21 in C major, Op. 53 "Waldstein"; 1st movement.
  6. Lucy says "if we were married...": Beethoven's piano sonata No. 1 in F minor, Op. 2 No. 1; 4th movement.
  7. The Kite-Eating Tree eats Schroeder's piano; Schroeder and Lucy talk in the living room: Beethoven's symphony No. 5 in C minor, Op. 67; 1st movement.
  8. Schroeder plays his new piano, Lucy leans on it: Beethoven's piano sonata No. 21 in C major, Op. 53 "Waldstein"; 1st movement.
  9. Snoopy dances on Schroeder's new piano: Beethoven's piano sonata No. 10 in G major, Op. 14 No. 2; 1st movement.
  10. Snoopy leaves and Lucy walks in with a glass of lemonade: Beethoven's piano sonata No. 21 in C major, Op. 53 "Waldstein"; 1st movement.

Skit "Teaching":

  1. Lucy talks Charlie Brown into kicking a football; Charlie Brown misses the football: Mendelssohn's "Song without words" Vol. 5, Op. 62 No. 6 in A major, "Spring Song"

CHAOS IN THE CLASSROOM (Episode 11)

First Broadcast: November 26, 1983 (Production Order: 12)

Sketches:

  1. "Sally at School" - Sally shows how some numbers can't be trusted; Sally takes Woodstock's nest to school for "Show & Tell"; Sally is afraid to walk home alone after she borrows a kid's ruler and breaks it.
  2. "Football" - Linus tries to teach Sally to play football; Lucy pulls the football away from Charlie Brown again; Marcie and Peppermint Patty play football.
  3. "School Patrol" - Peppermint Patty is jealous when Marcie is picked to be a traffic patrol person at school. After Marcie falls asleep in class, Peppermint Patty gets the job, but will her unique style allow her to keep it?
  4. "Blanket" - Linus's blanket keeps attacking Lucy.
  5. "The Team" - Baseball skits, including Snoopy's dish is used for second base; Charlie Brown tries to teach Lucy to bat; Lucy refuses to slide because of her designer jeans.

IT'S THAT TEAM SPIRIT, CHARLIE BROWN (Episode 12)

First Broadcast: December 3, 1983 (Production Order: 13)

Sketches:

  1. "Vulture" - Snoopy pretends he's a vulture and swoops down on passer-bys.
  2. "Blanket" - Snoopy steals Linus's blanket while Lucy tries to get Linus to kick his blanket habit. Linus steals Snoopy's supper dish in retaliation.
  3. "Peppermint Patty" - Peppermint Patty refuses to go to school because of her "Z" average, so Marcie gets Snoopy to "helicopter" her to school.
  4. "Rerun" - Rerun observes the world while riding on the back of his mother's bicycle.
  5. "Rainy Day" - Charlie Brown's team plays baseball while Charlie Brown gives a speech on baseball signals, and tries to promote team spirit; when it beings to rain, Lucy uses an umbrella as a bat.

LUCY LOVES SCHROEDER (Episode 13)

First Broadcast: December 10, 1983 (Production Order: 8)

Sketches:

  1. "Kite-Eating Tree" - Charlie Brown goes to Lucy's psychiatry booth for advice on fighting the kite-eating tree.
  2. "Sally" - Snoopy pretends to be the World War I Flying Ace and steals important enemy papers - that is, Sally's report for school.
  3. "Camp" - Charlie Brown gets sent home from camp for being a trouble-maker.
  4. "Lucy Loves Schroeder" - Lucy bugs Schroeder at the piano, including taking the piano and putting it in the washer and dryer.
  5. "Scared Snoopy" - Snoopy refuses to pay his psychiatry bill after consulting Lucy about noises he's been hearing at night.

Music:

Classical Music Sources:

Skit "Lucy loves Schroeder":

  1. Schroeder plays piano while Lucy and he talk: Beethoven, piano sonata No. 4 in E flat major, Op. 7; 1st movement.
  2. While Lucy walks over to Schroeder's to tell him they are through: Beethoven, piano sonata No. 10 in G major, Op. 14 No. 2; 1st movement.
  3. Lucy says "If I told you that we were through... ": Beethoven, piano sonata No. 21 in C major, Op. 53 ("Waldstein"); 1st movement.
  4. Schroeder says "If I told you it didn't matter to me one way or the other..." and plays: Beethoven, piano sonata No. 1, Op. 2 No. 1; 3rd movement.
  5. BGM when Lucy takes the piano out of the drier: Beethoven, Bagatelle in A minor, WoO 59 ("Für Elise").

1985 Season

SNOOPY AND THE GIANT (Episode 14)

First Broadcast: September 14, 1985 (Production Order: 14)

Sketches:

  1. "Snoopy's Foot" - Snoopy tries to play baseball with his foot in a cast.
  2. "Giant" - Snoopy and Woodstock grow a giant beanstalk and meet a giant.
  3. "Rerun" - Rerun meets a little girl in the supermarket.

SNOOPY'S BROTHER SPIKE (Episode 15)

First Broadcast: September 21, 1985 (Production Order: 15)

Sketches:

  1. "The Pelicans" - Peppermint Patty makes Charlie Brown dress up in a pelican costume to be her baseball team's mascot.
  2. "Great Pumpkin" - Peppermint Patty and Charlie Brown compete in a bowling tournament while Linus and Sally wait for the Great Pumpkin in a nearby pumpkin patch.
  3. "Spike" - Lucy attempts to "fatten up" Snoopy's brother Spike in preparation for a fight with the Cat Next Door.

SNOOPY'S ROBOT (Episode 16)

First Broadcast: September 28, 1985 (Production Order: 16)

Sketches:

  1. "Snoopy's Robot" - The gang goes to computer camp, where Snoopy has an unpleasant run-in with an unusual robot.
  2. "Linus and the Blanket" - Linus tries to give up his blanket.
  3. "Friends" - Charlie Brown wonders what to do when he discovers that both Marcie and Peppermint Patty have a crush on him.

PEPPERMINT PATTY'S SCHOOL DAYS (Episode 17)

First Broadcast: October 5, 1985 (Production Order: 17)

Sketches:

  1. "School Days" - The trials and tribulations of Peppermint Patty in school. Marcie tries to advise her on how to get better grades.
  2. "Snoopy's Trick" - Charlie Brown tries to get Snoopy to "shape up" when he gets tired of Snoopy's tricks and demands.
  3. "Snoopy's Flight" - Schroeder takes a plane flight to music camp - but he may never get there since he's flying on "Ace Airlines" whose plane looks suspiciously like a doghouse!

Music:

Classical Music Sources:

Skit "Snoopy's Trick":

  1. Snoopy dances while Schroeder plays piano: Beethoven, piano sonata No. 23 in F minor ("Appassionata"), Op. 57; 1st movement.

Skit "Snoopy's Flight":

  1. Woodstock whistles and flies away on a musical note while Schroeder plays piano: Beethoven, piano sonata No. 21 in C major, Op. 53 ("Waldstein"); 1st movement.
  2. After Schroeder gets off the plane he plays piano at home: Beethoven, piano sonata No. 10 in G major, Op. 14 No. 2; 1st movement.

SALLY'S SWEET BABBOO (Episode 18)

First Broadcast: October 12, 1985 (Production Order: 18)

Sketches:

  1. "The Play" - Charlie Brown writes a term paper about what happened at the previous year's disastrous Christmas play.
  2. "Sweet Babboo!" - Everyone in the gang is hoping for valentines from their favorite sweeties on Valentine's Day.
  3. "Snoopy's Story" - Peppermint Patty writes an essay about Snoopy and then is chosen to read it in front of the whole school.

Music:

Classical Music Sources:

Skit "Sweet Babboo!":

  1. Schroeder plays piano while Lucy leans on it: Beethoven, piano sonata No. 21 in C major, Op. 53 ("Waldstein"); 1st movement.

 

Boomerang/Normaal Animation Shorts

In 2016, the cable channel Boomerang aired a series of shorts based directly on comic strips by Charles Schulz. The show was titled simply "Peanuts," and was drawn in a traditional 2D animation style.

The shorts, created by French animation studio Normaal Animation, first aired in France in 2014 and 2015. According to the PR, the shorts were designed to feel like the comic strips they are based on, with "watercolor art style, textured backgrounds and framing." Normaal created approximately 500 of these shorts, each about 1-2 minutes long.

For the United States broadcast, the shorts were grouped together into 104 different 7-minute "episodes" and newly re-dubbed in English. The United States voice track was performed by child actors who auditioned for parts in 2015's The Peanuts Movie, and who were rated highly, but didn't quite make the cut for the movie. As a result, the United States English audio track is different from English tracks used in Europe for the shorts; and the US voices are much closer to the "tradional" sound of the voices as heard in the TV specials in the US.

Back in December 2014, the Los Angeles Times ran a nice article about the shorts, which you can read here.

The first US run of the episodes on Boomerang went from May 9 through December 24, 2016, with new episodes mixed together with repeats. Below is a list of all the episodes, with their US title and initial broadcast date.

Note that the episodes aired in a different order in France, and in some cases were given different titles. The shorts have been released on DVDs in several European countries, also in different orders and with different titles.

So far, 103 of the episodes have been released on DVD in the United States (although to get 23 of those, you need to buy DVDs that include repeats):

All but one of the shorts remain unreleased (and that short is "A Strong Personality"). However, to get all them, you have to buy an awful lot of repeats.

The order of the episodes on the DVDs does not match the original Boomerang broadcast order.

1 - Come On Snoopy - 5/9/2016
2 - Don't Worry, Charlie Brown - 5/9/2016
3 - Have a Nice Day, Linus - 5/10/2016
4 - The Little Red Haired Girl - 5/10/2016
5 - Good Sports - 5/11/2016
6 - Sound & Sensibility - 5/11/2016
7 - The Mysteries of Love - 5/12/2016
8 - Frieda - 5/12/2016
9 - A Day With Snoopy - 5/13/2016
10 - Technical Difficulties - 5/13/2016
11 - A Strong Personality - 5/16/2016
12 - The Eye of the Beholder - 5/17/2016
13 - Miss Othmar - 5/18/2016
14 - The School of Hard Knocks - 5/19/2016
15 - My Blanket! - 5/20/2016
16 - Novel Idea - 5/23/2016
17 - No Strings Attached - 5/24/2016
18 - A Friend Indeed - 5/25/2016
19 - Crazy Mutt - 5/26/2016
20 - Doing it Right - 5/27/2016
21 - Like Skates on Ice - 5/30/2016
22 - Tennis - 5/31/2016
23 - A little nap - 6/1/2016
24 - Word of mouth - 6/2/2016
25 - Good dog - 6/3/2016
26 - Snoopy the Superstar - 6/6/2016
27 - Show Dog - 6/7/2016
28 - Train Your Dog - 6/8/2016
29 - A Pretty Picture - 6/9/2016
30 - Leave Me in Peace - 6/10/2016
31 - The Last of the Bunch - 6/13/2016
32 - Philosophy - 6/14/2016
33 - Too Cold - 6/15/2016
34 - It's Raining, It's Pouring - 6/16/2016
35 - Woodstock - 6/17/2016
36 - School Chums - 7/18/2016
37 - True or False - 7/19/2016
38 - Nobody Likes Me - 7/20/2016
39 - Even-ing the Score - 7/21/2016
40 - Black and White - 7/22/2016
41 - Beauty Contest - 7/25/2016
42 - A New Best Friend - 7/26/2016
43 - Telling Stories - 7/27/2016
44 - Being Nice - 7/28/2016
45 - School is Out - 7/29/2016
46 - Not Your Day - 8/1/2016
47 - A Little Love - 8/2/2016
48 - Love is in the Air - 8/3/2016
49 - A Clean Sweep - 8/4/2016
50 - Brothers and Sisters - 8/5/2016
51 - Marcie - 8/8/2016
52 - Good for Nothing - 8/9/2016
53 - Man's Best Friend - 8/10/2016
54 - The Great Outdoors - 8/11/2016
55 - Off-Key - 8/12/2016
56 - Not My Day - 8/15/2016
57 - It's Only Love - 8/16/2016
58 - Best Friend - 8/17/2016
59 - Strike Out - 8/18/2016
60 - Beware of the Dog - 8/19/2016
61 - Going My Way - 8/22/2016
62 - Call of the Wild - 8/23/2016
63 - Security - 8/24/2016
64 - It's Just No Good - 8/25/2016
65 - A Bad Mood - 8/26/2016
66 - Back to School - 8/29/2016
67 - Go to School! - 8/30/2016
68 - Go for It, Charlie Brown - 8/31/2016
69 - Amateurs - 9/1/2016
70 - School Anxiety - 9/2/2016
71 - Autumn is Here - 10/3/2016
72 - A Fascinating Friend - 10/4/2016
73 - Keep Your Chin Up Charlie Brown - 10/5/2016
74 - Misunderstanding - 10/6/2016
75 - Too Cute - 10/7/2016
76 - Team Spirit - 10/10/2016
77 - Just for Love - 10/11/2016
78 - That Day - 10/12/2016
79 - Colors - 10/13/2016
80 - Trust Me - 10/14/2016
81 - School Tomorrow - 10/17/2016
82 - Nice Doggy - 10/18/2016
83 - Company - 10/19/2016
84 - Reach for the Stars - 10/20/2016
85 - Creepy Crawlies - 10/21/2016
86 - Kind of Spooky - 10/24/2016
87 - Fly - 10/25/2016
88 - Feeling Insecure - 10/26/2016
89 - Always Right - 10/27/2016
90 - Out of Order - 10/28/2016
91 - Problems - 11/1/2016
92 - Classic - 11/2/2016
93 - Even the Score - 11/3/2016
94 - Birds of a Feather - 11/4/2016
95 - Sally - 11/12/2016
96 - A Hard Winter - 11/12/2016
97 - The Winter Games - 11/12/2016
98 - On Campaign Trail - 11/25/2016
99 - Christmas Is On Its Way - 12/24/16
100 - Winter Wonderland - 12/24/16
101 - Let it Snow - 12/24/16
102 - Get Lucky - 12/24/16
103 - Weird Little Brother - 12/24/16
104 - Do Not Watch Until Xmas - 12/24/16

 

 

Documentaries and Live-Action Shows

Although definitely part of the Peanuts television canon, these shows are either not primarily animated, or are a blend of interviews, archival footage and retrospectives that incorporate sequences from earlier specials.

This is not necessarily a complete listing (although I think it's pretty close). Please send in any additional information you have!

A BOY NAMED CHARLIE BROWN

Broadcast Date: Originally created in 1963, never aired. (30 minutes)

Synopsis:

A gentle and informative examination about Charles Schulz and the comic strip. It featured these segments:

In between the live-action segments were a series of color stills from the strips illustrating each character's personality and quirks, and the animations. These animations were simple and short, and based on popular elements of the comic strip--the gang playing baseball; Lucy pulling away the football when Charlie Brown tries to kick it; Charlie Brown flying a kite and ending up dangling from a tree; Snoopy pretending to be a vulture and then stealing Linus's blanket--but they easily illustrated the possibilities for Peanuts in the medium.

Characters (in the animated segments):

Charlie Brown, Frieda, Linus, Lucy, Patty, Schroeder, Shermy, Snoopy, Violet (b), Pig-pen (b)

Trivia & Notes:

Music:

Original Music Composed and Conducted by Vince Guaraldi

CD/Albums:
Some of the music from this special shows up on the A BOY NAMED CHARLIE BROWN (Fantasy FCD-8430-2) CD.

CHARLIE BROWN AND CHARLES SCHULZ

Broadcast Date: May 24, 1969 (Saturday), 8:30 - 9:00 PM (CBS)

Synopsis:

Documentary about Charles Schulz, the comic strip, and its spinoffs in other media, showcasing the world of Peanuts at the height of its popularity. It incorporated segments from the unaired documentary "A Boy Named Charlie Brown", although much of the show is new material. Segments included:

Once again the segments were separated by short animated sequences. Some were from the unbroadcast 1963 documentary, but they are supplemented by new and more polished animations based on daily strips (since by this time six animated shows had been produced and shown).

Characters (in animated segments):

Charlie Brown, Linus, Lucy, Pig-pen, Sally, Schroeder, Snoopy, Violet (b), Patty (b)

Music:

Original Music Score Written and Performed by Vince Guaraldi

CD/Albums:
Some of the music from this special shows up on the A BOY NAMED CHARLIE BROWN (Fantasy FCD-8430-2) CD.

SNOOPY AT THE ICE FOLLIES

Broadcast Date: October 24, 1971 (Sunday), 7:30 - 8:30 PM (NBC)
rebroadcast: January 14, 1977 (Friday), 8:00 - 9:00 PM (CBS)

Synopsis:

(Live-action/Variety) The following description is from TV Guide. Snoopy, the George Plimpton of the "Peanuts" set, grabs the spotlight at the season's first ice show. The Shipstads & Johnson Ice Follies features Snoop & his creator Charles Schulz in an ice-hockey mismatch, and the glitter of pros... graceful solos by Karen Kresge ("You've Made Me So Very Happy") and Ricky Inglesis ("Spinning Wheel"); duets by Ron & Cindy Kaufman ("Early in the Morning"), and Richard Dwyer & Susan Berens ("Promises, Promises"); comedy with Mr. Frick and the Scarecrows; and production spots with the Ice Follies.

SNOOPY'S INTERNATIONAL ICE FOLLIES

Broadcast Date: November 12, 1972, 8:00 - 9:00 PM (NBC)

Synopsis:

(Live-action/Variety) The following description is from TV Guide. A larger-than-life Snoopy takes to the ice in search of top skaters... it's the Shipstads and Johnson Ice Follies, featuring the Peanuts canine on the prowl in Denmark, England, France, Italy, Norway, Switzerland, and California. Comedy skaters: Mr. Frick, hobo Kevin Bubp, and Buddy and Baddy. "Peanuts" creator Charles Schulz is the host of the festivities.

Songs & Skaters: "If I Ruled the World" - Richard Dwyer; "Joy to the World" - Ricky Inglesi; "What About Today?" - Jill Shipstad; "People" - Richard Dwyer & Kathy Miller; "Down on the Bayou" - Ricky Inglesi & Karen Kresge.

YOU'RE A GOOD MAN, CHARLIE BROWN

Broadcast Date: February 9, 1973 (Friday), 8:30 - 10:00 PM (NBC)

Synopsis:

(Live action) Broadcast as a "Hallmark Hall of Fame" special, this faithful live-action production of the 1967 stage musical is complete with minimalist sets, all the songs, and only one scene edited from the script. The presentation is mostly traditional shots of the stage or close up of the characters, although a few TV innovations are use, such as fancy scene transitions using cutout shapes, and overlaying shots of the different character's heads on screen at once during "The Book Report".

Trivia & Notes:

Music:

Book, Music, Lyrics by Clark Gesner
Music Arranged and Conducted By Elliot Lawrence

Songs:
You're a Good Man, CB
Schroeder
Snoopy (They Like Me)
My Blanket and Me
The Kite
The Doctor is In
The Book Report
T-E-A-M (The Baseball Game)
Glee Club Rehearsal
Little Known Facts
Suppertime
Happiness
You're a Good Man, CB (end title reprise)

Albums:
An LP of the songs from as presented in this production was produced, but is no longer in print. No CD of this version is available; however, two other CDs with music from the musical are available - the 1967 off-Broadway version, and the 1999 Broadway version. See the entry for the animated You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown or the Music section for more details.

SNOOPY DIRECTS THE ICE FOLLIES

Broadcast Date: November 13, 1973 (Tuesday), 8:00 - 9:00 PM (NBC)

Synopsis:

(Live-action/Variety) The following description is from TV Guide. Snoopy is in the director's chair as the skating "Peanuts" canine leads the Shipstads and Johnson Ice Follies. With beautiful outdoor sequences filmed in Colorado Springs, and behind-the-scenes shots of the great director at work. "Peanuts" creator Charles M. Schulz hosts the festivities which include comic maneuvers from Mr. Frick and the skating Funsters.

Songs & Skaters: "Pieces of Dreams", "Cabaret", "You're My World" - Richard Dwyer; "Ain't No Sunshine, "You Are My Sunshine" - Atoy Wilson; "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" - Karen Kresge; "For All We Know", "Yakety Axe" - Richard Dwyer & Susan Berens; "Love Story" - Nancy and Leadre; "Saturday Night U.S.A." - all.

Snoopy "directs" the this special staring himself, the Shipstads & Johnson Ice Follies, Richard Dwyer, Atoy Wilson, Karen Kresge, and Susan Berens, and comedy routines by Mr. Frick and the Funsters. Includes outdoor sequences filmed in Colorado Springs and behind-the-scenes segments. Hosted by Charles Schulz.

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY, CHARLIE BROWN

Broadcast Date: January 9, 1976 (Friday), 8:00 - 9:00 PM (CBS)

Synopsis:

(Documentary/Retrospective) A salute to Charles Schulz on the 25th anniversary of the "Peanuts" comic strip.

Trivia & Notes:

SNOOPY'S MUSICAL ON ICE

Broadcast Date: May 24, 1978 (Wednesday), 8:00 - 9:00 PM (CBS)

Synopsis:

(Live-action/Variety) The following description of the show is from TV Guide. Snoopy (skated by Judy Sladky) is joined by "Peanuts" creator Charles M. Schulz, 1968 Olympic champion Peggy Fleming, performers from the Ice Follies, and singers Becky Reardon and Larry Finlayson. Taped in San Francisco.

Skating highlights: "Canon", "So Into You", Peggy Fleming medley, Snoopy & skaters, "My Heart Belongs To Me" - Karen Kresge, "Mr. Bojangles" - Atoy Wilson

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, CHARLIE BROWN

Broadcast Date: January 5, 1979 (Friday), 8:00 - 9:00 PM (CBS)

Synopsis:

(Documentary/Retrospective) Phyllis George hosts an hour-long salute to "Peanuts".

CHARLES M. SCHULZ... TO REMEMBER

Broadcast Date: October 8, 1980 (30 minutes, PBS)

Synopsis:

Documentary starring Charles Schulz with reflections on his youth and on parenthood, and how they inspired events and characters in the comic strip, especially including his recollections of Spike, his real-life childhood dog that inspired the cartoon character of Snoopy. Also partially filmed in France and the places that inspired the movie "Bon Voyage, Charlie Brown." Includes clips from that movie.

THE BIG STUFFED DOG

Broadcast Date: February 8, 1981 (Sunday), 7:00 - 8:00 PM (NBC)

Synopsis:

(Live-action, not animation.) Young Petey's prized 5-foot stuffed Snoopy doll gets misplaced at the airport and comes into the life of a variety of characters before returning to his original owner.

Trivia & Notes:

IT'S YOUR 20TH TELEVISION ANNIVERSARY, CHARLIE BROWN

Broadcast Date: May 14, 1985 (Tuesday), 8:00 - 9:00 PM (CBS)

Synopsis:

(Documentary/Retrospective) Highlights from the 26 "Peanuts" TV specials to date.

Music:

Songs (new to this special):
Let's Have a Party
Snoopy's Big Debut
Someday, Charlie Brown
Don't Give Up, Charlie Brown

Albums:
The new songs from this special appear on the 1984 "Flashbeagle" record album, but is now out of print and there is no CD version.

YOU DON'T LOOK 40, CHARLIE BROWN

Broadcast Date: February 2, 1990 (Friday), 8:00 - 9:00 PM (CBS)

Synopsis:

A documentary/retrospective featuring:

Music:

CD/Albums:
Most of the songs in this special are available on HAPPY ANNIVERSARY, CHARLIE BROWN (GRP Records GRD-9596).

A&E BIOGRAPHY: CHARLES SCHULZ - A CHARLIE BROWN LIFE

Broadcast Date: December 25, 1995 (60 minutes, A&E)

Synopsis:

(Documentary/Retrospective) An overview of Charles Schulz's life and career, including snippets from animated shows.

Trivia & Notes:

GOOD GRIEF, CHARLIE BROWN: A TRIBUTE TO CHARLES SCHULZ

Broadcast Date: February 11, 2000 (Friday), 8:00 - 9:00 PM (CBS)

Synopsis:

(Documentary/Retrospective) A tribute to Charles Schulz and his comic strip as the final Peanuts strip approaches, hosted by Walter Cronkite. Features mostly clips from the animated specials intercut with footage from Charles Schulz's interview with "60 Minutes" from October 31, 1999. Also commentary and congratulatory messages from cartoonists Cathy Guisewite (Cathy), Matt Groening (The Simpsons), Scott Adams (Dilbert), and Jim Davis (Garfield).

Segments include:

Trivia & Notes:

NIGHTLINE: GOOD GRIEF, CHARLES SCHULZ

Broadcast Date: February 11, 2000 (Friday), 11:35 - 12:05 PM (ABC)

Synopsis:

(Documentary/Retrospective) An analysis of the Peanuts comic on the eve of the last strip, hosted by Christopher Bury with interviews with many celebrities.

Topics discussed include the characters of Charlie Brown, Lucy, Linus, and Snoopy; sports and losing and perseverance; insecurity and emotions; the essence of the strip; lack of parents of the strip; the music of Vince Guaraldi; how Peanuts phrases and scenes have become cultural icons; and the legacy of Peanuts/life after Peanuts.

Commentary provided by: Jim Davis (Garfield creator), Michael Feinstein (Pianist), Joe Garagiola (former Major League catcher), Joe Torre (Manager, New York Yankees), Matt Groening (Simpsons creator), Cheryl Miller (Head Coach/General Manager of the Phoenix Mercury), Bob Mankoff (The New Yorker Cartoon Editor), Oscar the Grouch (Sesame Street), Dr. Alvin Poussaint (Professor of Psychiatry, Harvard University), Pets.com Sock Puppet, Cathy Guisewite (Cathy creator), Commander Ken "Snoopy" Ryan (US Navy pilot), Colonel Paul "Snoopy" Schafer (US Air Force pilot), and George Winston (Pianist).

HERE'S TO YOU, CHARLIE BROWN: 50 GREAT YEARS

Broadcast Date: May 10, 2000, 8:00 - 9:00 PM (CBS)

Synopsis:

(Documentary/Retrospective) This special hosted by Whoopi Goldberg, featured highlights from past shows as well as 10 minutes of new animation, country music star Faith Hill singing "Poor Sweet Baby" to Charlie Brown; sports figures Willie Mays, Joe Montana and Joe Torre giving advice to Charlie Brown; and six segments focusing on some of the strip's major themes: "Unrequited Love", "Sports", "Everyday Life", "Music of Charlie Brown", "Snoopy", and "Happiness."

Trivia & Notes:

Music:

A Peanuts tribute album to accompany this special, also titled Here's To You Charlie Brown: 50 Great Years, has been released by GRP Records. Despite the similarity in titles, most of the music on this album did not appear in the documentary. Two of the tracks, "Linus Tells Charlie" and "Getting Ready", are from It Was My Best Birthday Ever, Charlie Brown.

Featuring mostly rerecordings of Peanuts standards and a couple of new pieces, the track list includes: (1) Linus And Lucy, (2) Charlie Brown Theme, (3) Pebble Beach, (4) Linus Tells Charlie, (5) Frieda (With Naturally Curly Hair), (6) Christmas Time Is Here, (7) Getting Ready, (8) Blue Charlie Brown, (9) Red Baron, (10) Happiness.

The primary artist is jazz pianist David Benoit, the musical director for the special. Other performers on the album include Al Jarreau, Take 6 (vocals); Michael Brecker (tenor saxophone); Chris Botti (trumpet); Vince Guaraldi (piano); Marc Antoine, Russell Malone (guitar); Christian McBride (bass); and Peter Erskine (drums).

THE MAKING OF A CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS (2001)

Broadcast Date: December 6, 2001 & December 16, 2001, 8:30 - 9:00 PM (ABC)

Synopsis:

(Documentary) Produced by Lee Mendelson Productions, who created the original A Charlie Brown Christmas special, this 17-minute documentary hosted by Whoopi Goldberg focuses on the creation of the first Peanuts TV special, including interviews with some of the original voices; an example of the earliest Peanuts animation, a Ford Falcon TV commercial; and a tribute to Vince Guaraldi.

Trivia & Notes:

AMERICAN MASTERS: GOOD OL' CHARLES SCHULZ

Broadcast Date: October 29, 2007 (Monday), 9:00 - 10:30 PM (PBS)

Synopsis:

(Documentary) Description from the producer's website:

"Charles M. Schulz always insisted he was ordinary and boring. But his ordinary life—like those of the Peanuts characters he created—was in fact chock-full of drama: mundane cruelties, transcendent hopes, and the daily collisions of insiders and outsiders. Interviews with those who knew him best (including the real-life Linus and Little Red-Haired Girl) will propel this feature-length documentary, the first American Masters tribute to a comic-strip artist."

IT'S YOUR 50TH CHRISTMAS, CHARLIE BROWN

Broadcast Date: November 30, 2015, 9:00 - 10:00 PM (ABC)

Synopsis:

(Documentary/Retrospective) Commemorating the 50th anniversary of A Charlie Brown Christmas. Hosted by Kristen Bell and produced by Lee Mendelson, who also produced the classic special 50 years previously. According to the ABC press release, the show will feature "spectacular live performances of Vince Guaraldi’s classics from acclaimed musical guests" and "Hollywood notables reminiscing about their most treasured A Charlie Brown Christmas moments."

Movies

There have been four feature-length movies that were released and shown in movie theaters; a fifth theatrical movie will be released in 2015.

A note about opening dates: the dates the movies opened varied widely around the country, by as much as 4-5 weeks. I have searched through the newspapers of all major US cities to come up with the earliest opening date for each movie, however, it may not be the date a movie opened in one particular spot.

A BOY NAMED CHARLIE BROWN

Theatrical Release Date:

December 4, 1969

First Television Broadcast:

April 16, 1976 (Friday), 8:00 - 10:00 PM (CBS)

Synopsis:

After winning local competitions, Charlie Brown competes in a national spelling bee.

Characters:

Charlie Brown, Frieda, Linus, Lucy, Patty, Pig-pen, Sally, Schroeder, Shermy, Snoopy, Violet, Peppermint Patty (b), 5 (b), kite-eating tree (b), other school kids (b), other spelling bee contestants (b).

Trivia & Notes:

Music:

Credits:

Albums:

An LP with the songs was released (Columbia OS 3500), but is long out of print. In addition to the songs, it includes dialog from the movie and additional narration from Linus and Charlie Brown not in the movie. It's really a "storybook" album than a music soundtrack. The album was also released on 8-track tape.

A CD of the movie's complete score and songs, all dialog-free, was finally released by specialty soundtrack label Kritzerland in March 2017. However, it was a limited edition of 1000 copies, and sold out in a week.

(Note that the Concord/Fantasy CD with the title of the same name is not the movie soundtrack; it's the soundtrack from the unaired 1963 documentary of the same name.)

Songs:

A Boy Named Charlie Brown
Failure Face
I Before E
Champion Charlie Brown

Classical Music Sources:

  1. Lucy asks Schroeder if he thinks Charlie Brown could win the spelling bee: Beethoven, piano sonata No. 8 in C minor, Op. 13 ("Pathetique"); 3rd movement.
  2. Schroeder's solo: the 2nd movement of the same sonata.

Video Release Info:

Running time: 86 minutes (DVD, Blu-ray, original movie) / 79 minutes (VHS releases, older TV broadcast)

(While the original movie runs 86 minutes, previously most TV airings and the VHS releases have been a shorter, edited version that ran 79 minutes.)

SNOOPY COME HOME

Theatrical Release Date:

July 14, 1972

First Television Broadcast:

November 5, 1976 (Friday), 8:00 - 10:00 PM (CBS)

Synopsis:

Snoopy decides he must return to his previous owner.

Trivia & Notes:

Music:

Songs Written by Richard M. and Robert B. Sherman

Songs:

Snoopy Come Home
Lila's Theme (Do You Remember Me)
At the Beach
No Dogs Allowed!
The Best of Buddies
Fundamental-Friend-Dependability
Gettin' It Together
It Changes

Albums:

An LP with the songs was released (Columbia S 31541), but is long out of print.

Video Release Info:

Running time: 80 minutes

RACE FOR YOUR LIFE, CHARLIE BROWN

Theatrical Release Date:

June 3, 1977

First Television Broadcast:

Premium cable: as early as May 12, 1978 (HBO)
Network television: November 3, 1979 (Saturday), 8:00 - 10:00 PM (CBS)

Synopsis:

The gang goes to summer camp and competes in a whitewater race.

Trivia & Notes:

Video Release Info:

Running time: 76 minutes

BON VOYAGE, CHARLIE BROWN (AND DON'T COME BACK)

Theatrical Release Date:

June 13, 1980

First Television Broadcast:

Premium cable: as early as June 6, 1981 (HBO)
Network television: May 7, 1985 (Tuesday), 8:00 - 10:00 PM (CBS)

Synopsis:

Charlie Brown, Linus, Peppermint Patty, Marcie, and Snoopy travel to France as exchange students and confront a mystery surrounding their hosts.

Trivia & Notes:

Music:

Songs:

I Want To Remember This, written and performed by Judy Munsen and Ed Bogas

Other:

The music played on the jukebox in the pub Snoopy visits is (listed in order):

Pinetop's Boogie Woogie - Clarence Smith
Sentimental Journey - Les Brown, Ben Homer, and Bud Green
It's Been a Long Long Time - Julie Styne and Sammy Cahn
Pinetop's Boogie Woogie - Clarence Smith
Rum & Coca Cola - Morey Amsterdam, Paul Baron, and Jerri Sullivan
I'll Be Seeing You - Sammy Fain and Irving Kahol

Video Release Info:

Running time: 76 minutes

THE PEANUTS MOVIE (2015)

Theatrical Release Date:

November 6, 2015

Synopsis:

Charlie Brown, Snoopy, and the gang return to the big screen in a 3D CGI animated movie. When a cute red-haired girl moves into town, can Charlie Brown ovecome his tendency to failure and impress her? Meanwhile, Snoopy and his Sopwith Camel pursue his arch-enemy, the Red Baron.

Music:

Songs:

"Better When I'm Dancin'", performed by Meghan Trainor; written by Meghan Trainor and Thaddeus Dixon
"That's What I Like", performed by Flo Rida featuring Fitz; written by various

Score:

Written by Christophe Beck; several classic Vince Guaraldi tracks were also used in the film

 

Emmy, Peabody, and Academy Awards

Emmy Awards

This is a listing of all Emmy awards and nominations earned by Peanuts television specials. I believe this to be a complete and correct list.

A Charlie Brown Christmas

Charlie Brown's All-Stars

It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown

You're In Love, Charlie Brown

He's Your Dog, Charlie Brown

Play It Again, Charlie Brown

You're Not Elected, Charlie Brown

A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving

It's the Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown

Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown

You're a Good Sport, Charlie Brown

Happy Anniversary, Charlie Brown

It's Arbor Day, Charlie Brown

You're the Greatest, Charlie Brown

Happy Birthday, Charlie Brown

She's A Good Skate, 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?

What Have We Learned, Charlie Brown?

It's Flashbeagle, Charlie Brown

Snoopy's Getting Married, Charlie Brown

The Charlie Brown and Snoopy Show

Why, Charlie Brown, Why?

You Don't Look 40, Charlie Brown

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

Good Grief, Charlie Brown: A Tribute to Charles Schulz

The Making of A Charlie Brown Christmas

Peabody Awards

The following two shows were awarded the Peabody Award for excellence in broadcasting (sometimes said to be the equivalent of the Pulitzer Prize):

A Charlie Brown Christmas

What Have We Learned, Charlie Brown?

Academy (Oscar) Awards

The movie "A Boy Named Charlie Brown" was nominated in 1971 for a "Best Music, Original Song Score" Academy Award (equivalent today to "Original Musical or Comedy Score"). Vince Guaraldi, Rod McKuen, Bill Melendez, Al Shean, and John Scott Trotter were named in the nomination.

Peanuts TV & Video Links

This is a far from comprehensive list of Peanuts web sites! But here are a few which are related to Peanuts video and animation.

Peanuts.com

The "official" Peanuts web site, includes daily strips and news.

Bill Melendez Productions, Inc.

Website for the folks who have animated all the Peanuts TV shows and commercials. Includes many short clips from the TV shows and even some of the rarely seen commercials! Warning - the site is completely Flash-based and probably won't work well on dial-up Internet connections.

Vince Guaraldi

Derrick Bang has tons of information about the man who composed music for the classic Peanuts specials. His pages include a Guaraldi discography, an analysis of the many different releases of the A Charlie Brown Christmas soundtrack, the latest news via the Impressions of Vince blog, and much more.

David Benoit

Jazz pianist David Benoit has written and performed the music for the most recent TV specials, produced an album of Peanuts music, and gives concerts of Peanuts music too. Check out this web site, with photos, background information, and a history of his association with Peanuts, written by Derrick Bang.

Lee Mendelson

Stanford's Nov-Dec 97 alumni magazine has an article about Lee Mendelson (who has produced all the TV shows to date) which discusses his background and current projects.

How Did The Specials Get Started?

In 1963, Lee Mendelson, an independent television producer, contacted Charles Schulz with the idea of producing a documentary about Schulz and Peanuts. While Schulz had received several offers from Hollywood for a feature film or TV series, none of the offers had appealed to him. But he'd seen and enjoyed Mendelson's 1963 documentary on Willie Mays, so he agreed to meet with Mendelson.

They decided to include some short trial animations in the documentary (titled "A Boy Named Charlie Brown," a title that was later reused for the 1969 theatrical movie). These sequences were created by Bill Melendez, a friend of Schulz's who had done the animation for some Ford commercials starring the Peanuts gang. Unfortunately, Mendelson and Schulz were unable to convince any network or sponsor to buy the documentary when they were done.

But in May 1965, Coca-Cola, remembering the animated sequences from the documentary when it had been shopped to them, expressed an interest in sponsoring an animated Peanuts Christmas special. In the next six months, Schulz, Mendelson, and Melendez worked hard to create the special which became "A Charlie Brown Christmas."

Several important choices were made during the first show's development that have influenced all shows to come.

Schulz, Melendez, and Mendelson decided to have real children perform the voices of the show's characters, instead of the customary practice of adults pretending to be children. They also decided, with the exception of Charlie Brown and Linus, to use amateurs with no previous experience.

(Charlie Brown was voiced by Peter Robbins, and Linus by Christopher Shea, who were both established child actors, although arguably they are now both best known for their voices on the first five Peanuts specials.)

Since the children's voices change as they grow, every few years a new set of voices needs to be found. Melendez tries to match the original voices as closely as possible. New voices have been siblings of the previous actors, children of the production staff, and children chosen from auditions held at schools near the production offices in Northern California.

Snoopy presented something of a problem. Originally the animators considered showing thought bubbles with words, as in the strip, but they realized young children would be unable to read these. They considered using a "funny voice" to verbalize the thoughts, but it didn't seem right either. In the end, they decided to play Snoopy in pantomime, "emulating the great Harpo Marx." When Snoopy does make a noise -- a bark, a howl, a grunt -- he is performed by Bill Melendez in all shows so far. (Melendez also performs Woodstock's "voice.")

Schulz, Melendez and Mendelson also decided to hire jazz pianist Vince Guaraldi to write the music for the show, and this was so successful that he wrote and performed the music for the first 14 specials (until his death), and his music has greatly influenced the music for shows after that.

Once "A Charlie Brown Christmas" was complete, CBS previewed it, and expressed apprehension. The show's slow pace (compared with other cartoons), the religious message, and the amateur voices didn't sit well with them. But when "A Charlie Brown Christmas" was aired, it was an immediate critical and popular success - it received a 45 share (meaning almost half the televisions on that night tuned in to it)! Four months later the show received the Peabody Award for "outstanding children's and youth's program," and another month after that, an Emmy award.

Thus a whole series of specials was launched, each written by Charles Schulz, produced by Lee Mendelson and Bill Melendez, and animated by Melendez's studio.

The original documentary ("A Boy Named Charlie Brown") was updated and broadcast in 1969.

For a more detailed history, see the book "A Charlie Brown Christmas - The Making of a Tradition", by Lee Mendelson, HarperCollins, 2000.

[Most of this section was adapted from the book "Charlie Brown & Charlie Schulz," by Lee Mendelson, published by The World Publishing Company in 1970.]

Snoopy's Flights of Fancy

One of the most frequently asked questions I get is "which special did Snoopy do this in?" So here's a list of the many roles he takes on, or imagines he takes on, or unusual activities that he does in each special.

Below, "CB&SS" before a title means it's an episode of "The Charlie Brown & Snoopy Show."

This is definitely not a complete list, I'm still working on it.

A Charlie Brown Christmas

Skates; plays guitar; a penguin (briefly); a vulture (briefly).

Charlie Brown's All-Stars

Surfboarder; plays baseball; tailor.

It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown

World War I Flying Ace.

You're In Love, Charlie Brown

Wears the WWI Flying Ace gear (briefly).

He's Your Dog, Charlie Brown

Scuba diver; World War I Flying Ace; imagines he's in a French Cafe; sunbathes; dives off divingboard; dishwasher; does laundry; window-washer; seeps; vacuums; mops; lawnmower; wears a disguise (mustache). (Most of these are brief.)

It Was a Short Summer, Charlie Brown

Bus driver; the Masked Marvel (arm-wresting champion).

Play it Again, Charlie Brown

Floats on air to Beethoven, psychiatrist at Lucy's booth (to Lucy!), plays cello.

You're Not Elected, Charlie Brown

Cooks a breakfast; Joe Cool; student in class; campaign volunteer (makes posters); radio show producer.

There's No Time for Love, Charlie Brown

Joe Cool (briefly); grocer; supermarket clerk.

A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving

Plays basketball; plays ping-pong; fights with a chair; chef; pilgrim.

It's a Mystery, Charlie Brown

Detective (Sherlock Holmes); dusts for fingerprints; attorney/lawyer; Pavlov's dog.

It's the Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown

Tries on funny hats with Sally; dances with bunnies; gets his nose stuck in a birdhouse; dances with Peppermint Patty & Marcie; the Easter Beagle.

Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown

Cupid; ticket taker; usher; performs Pawpet show; makes fancy valentines.

You're a Good Sport, Charlie Brown

Plays tennis (against automatic ball machine and Woodstock); the Masked Marvel (motocross racer); hospital patient; wrestles with bike chain.

It's Arbor Day, Charlie Brown

Visits library, uses copy machine; gardens; attacked by vine (twice); cow (briefly); plays baseball; swims dogpaddle.

It's Your First Kiss, Charlie Brown

Helicopter; football referee; member of pep squad; doctor; plays flute (very briefly).

What a Nightmare, Charlie Brown

Drives Charlie Brown on a sled; bakes a pizza & makes shake; Alaskan sled dog; saloon piano player; tap dances on stage; makes sundae.

You're the Greatest, Charlie Brown

The Masked Marvel (decathlon athlete); runs track; lifts barbell; dances (b); jumps the high jump; jumps the broad jump; drops shot put on his foot; shot put; jumps hurdles; chased by/rides discus; gets collar stuck on pole during pole vault; throws javelin.

She's a Good Skate, Charlie Brown

Skating coach; tailor; drives zamboni.

Life is a Circus, Charlie Brown

Hugo the Great (balancing and trapeze acts).

It's Magic, Charlie Brown

Visits library; gives a magic show as "The Great Houndini;" levitates Lucy; makes Charlie Brown invisible; wears a wizard's hat.

Someday You'll Find Her, Charlie Brown

Plays football; uses exercise/gym equipment; kung fu fights.

Is This Goodbye, Charlie Brown?

Disguises himself as bush and old man (briefly); holds blanket and sucks thumb in imitation of Linus; psychiatrist (with goatee & glasses); "Joe Cool Catering" - drives truck, sets up tables, serves food.

What Have We Learned, Charlie Brown?

Drives car; World War I Flying Ace.

It's Flashbeagle, Charlie Brown

Plays football; disco dancer (Flashbeagle); serves drinks; plays violin.

Snoopy's Getting Married, Charlie Brown

Groom.

Happy New Year, Charlie Brown

Wears top hat & tails; plays trumpet.

Why, Charlie Brown, Why

Plays harmonica (on back of school bus); swings on school swingset; world famous surgeon; sleds down hill with birds in dog bowl.

Snoopy's Reunion

Plays guitar; (all rest occurred briefly) sits in reclining chair; stands at podium giving speech; plays baseball; makes Charlie Brown pull him along in sled; surfboarder; plays tennis; World War I Flying Ace.

It's Spring Training, Charlie Brown

Rides ski lift; plays baseball; gets stuck in paint mixing machine; fights with drinking hose.

It's Christmastime Again, Charlie Brown

Bell-ringing sidewalk Santa.

You're In the Superbowl, Charlie Brown

Football coach.

It Was My Best Birthday Ever, Charlie Brown

DJ; breakdances; chef (briefly).

The Mayflower Voyagers

Ship's lookout with telescope; part of first exploration group; plays drum.

The Wright Brothers at Kitty Hawk

Drives horse-drawn buggy (in top hat); tries several schemes to fly.

The NASA Space Station

Space station operator; eats dog food in zero gravity; wears spacesuit on EVA; fights with remote control arm; repairs solar panel.

The Great Inventors

Flips pizza dough; roller skates; plays basketball; plays baseball; fiddles with and drives old car; drives "Snoopmobile" in first "horseless carriage" race.

The Smithsonian and the Presidency

World War I flying ace (briefly); drives fancy 1930's car; wears top hat and tails and holds "Vote Snoopy for Head Beagle" sign.

The Music & Heroes of America

Plays banjo; plays piano; plays drum; dresses up as Theodore Roosevelt; dresses up in Uncle Sam hat and cane and dances to "Yankee Doodle Dandy"; dresses up as Russian immigrant (with hat and mustache); dresses up as a peanut; dances with Lucy; plays flute in tricorn; dresses as a 50's rock n roller.

CB&SS: You Can't Win, Charlie Brown

Dances; files a kite; fights with Linus for blanket.

CB&SS: Snoopy's Football Career

Attorney (briefly); disguised as Peppermint Patty; firefighter (captain of rescue squad); plays football.

CB&SS: Peppermint Patty's School Days

The Cheshire Beagle; airplane pilot.

Movie: A Boy Named Charlie Brown

Swings Linus on blanket (briefly); vulture in tree (briefly); flies kite (briefly); plays baseball; does suppertime dance; dreams of Flying Ace fighting Red Baron; plays jawharp; figure skates; plays ice hockey; pretends to be lion; plays bull to Linus's blanket as the cape; flirts with girl at Spelling Bee.

Music Questions and Answers

Who wrote the music for the television specials?

The music most people identify with the Peanuts TV specials was written by jazz pianist Vince Guaraldi, who wrote the music for the first 15 shows (from A Charlie Brown Christmas in 1965 through It's Arbor Day, Charlie Brown in 1976), plus the music for the 1964 and 1969 documentaries A Boy Named Charlie Brown and Charlie Brown and Charles Schulz, and finally the music for the movie A Boy Named Charlie Brown.

For more information about Vince Guaraldi, see Derrick Bang's excellent Vince Guaraldi pages.

The music for late 1970's and early 1980's specials was written by Ed Bogas, Judy Munsen, and Desiree Goyette.

For the mini-series This is America, Charlie Brown, a variety of well-known jazz musicians (such as Wynton Marsalis, Dave Brubeck, George Winston, and David Benoit) contributed, often reworking themes by Guaraldi.

David Benoit has performed and written the music for the specials broadcast in the 1990's and 2000's.

Finaly, Mark Mothersbaugh composed and performed the music for 2011's Happiness is a Warm Blanket, Charlie Brown.

What's the name of the Peanuts theme?

The "Peanuts theme" is really titled "Linus and Lucy," and was composed by Vince Guaraldi.

Where can I get Peanuts music on CD?

Numerous CD's with music from the TV specials have been released. While some of these albums are out of print on CD, most are still available for digital download or streaming.

A CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS (Fantasy FCD-8431-2)

A CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS 2006 Remastered Version (Fantasy FCD-30066-2)

A BOY NAMED CHARLIE BROWN (Fantasy FCD-8430-2)

CHARLIE BROWN'S HOLIDAY HITS (Fantasy FCD-9682-2)

IT'S THE GREAT PUMPKIN, CHARLIE BROWN (Craft Recordings)

A CHARLIE BROWN THANKSGIVING (2023, Lee Mendelson Film Productions)

IT WAS A SHORT SUMMER, CHARLIE BROWN (2024, Lee Mendelson Film Productions)

YOU'RE NOT ELECTED, CHARLIE BROWN (2024, Lee Mendelson Film Productions)

BE MY VALENTINE, CHARLIE BROWN (2025, Lee Mendelson Film Productions) (coming January 17, 2025)

OH GOOD GRIEF (Warner Bros. 1747-2)

VINCE GUARALDI AND THE LOST CUES FROM THE CHARLIE BROWN TELEVISION SPECIALS VOL. 1 (D&D VG 1118)

VINCE GUARALDI AND THE LOST CUES FROM THE CHARLIE BROWN TELEVISION SPECIALS VOL. 2 (D&D VG 1119)

OAXACA (D&D VG 1125)

THE CHARLIE BROWN SUITE & OTHER FAVORITES (Bluebird 82876-53900-2)

PEANUTS PORTRAITS (Concord Music FAN-32033)

LINUS & LUCY: THE MUSIC OF VINCE GUARALDI (Windham Hill 01934 11184)

LOVE WILL COME: THE MUSIC OF VINCE GUARALDI, VOLUME 2 (RCA)

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY, CHARLIE BROWN! (GRP Records GRD-9596)

JOE COOL'S BLUES (Columbia CK-66880)

QUIET AS THE MOON (MusicMasters 01612-65067-2)

HERE'S TO YOU, CHARLIE BROWN: 50 GREAT YEARS (GRP Records 314543 637-2)

JAZZ FOR PEANUTS (Peak Records PD-30454)

CYRUS CHESTNUT & FRIENDS - A CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS (Atlantic 83366-2)

JASON SERINUS, WHISTLER EXTRAORDINAIRE

While the following CD's don't contain music from the TV shows, they do contain related material of interest:

SCHROEDER'S GREATEST HITS (RCA 09026-61240-2)

YOU'RE A GOOD MAN, CHARLIE BROWN (Decca Broadway 012 159 851-2)

YOU'RE A GOOD MAN, CHARLIE BROWN (RCA 09026-63384-2)

SNOOPY!!! - ORIGINAL CAST (San Francisco) (DRG 6103)
SNOOPY - ORIGINAL LONDON CAST (Jay Records CDJAY 1073)

Unfortunately, the soundtracks from the animated movies aren't available on CD and are long out of print on LP.

There are also many other CD's which contain versions of "Linus and Lucy" and "Christmastime is Here." See section 8 of Derrick Bang's Peanuts FAQ.

Which specials did the music on those CDs come from?

Derrick Bang has a web page that lists the names of all the pieces of music used in each show, and tells which CD they appear on. See his Vince Guaraldi's Peanuts Song Library page.

Where can I get sheet music of Peanuts music?

For information on Peanuts sheet music, read Derrick Bang's Peanuts Sheet Music article.

Also see section 8 of Derrick's Peanuts FAQ.

What is the classical music played during the MetLife Peanuts promos at the beginning and end of "Live from Lincoln Center"?

Some broadcasts of "Live from Lincoln Center" from 2001 onwards have featured short animated Peanuts promos for MetLife at the beginning and end of the show.

The classical music played by Schroder and an orchestra in the beginning promo is the very end of the third movement of Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 4. Thanks to Eugene Chan for identifying this piece.

The distinctive classical music played by Snoopy and Schroeder in a short animated Peanuts promo at the end is from the fourth movement of the Sonata in A for Piano and Violin, by Cesar Franck. Thanks to Beth Prescott for identifying this piece.

Miscellaneous Questions and Answers

Here are some questions and answers that I've been asked since I started maintaining this list. It's kind of a random assortment, but you never know, the answer you're looking for might be here.

Where else have animated Peanuts characters appeared?

The very first animated appearance of the Peanuts characters was for a black-and-white Ford Falcon commercial in 1960, and they continued to advertise for Ford for several years. They also appeared in the introductions for the "Tennessee Ernie Ford Show" (sponsored by the Ford Motor Co.) not too long afterwards.

They have also appeared in commercials for Dolly Madison, Chex cereal, Weber's Bread, Knott's Berry Farm, Friendly's Family Restaurants, Regina Vacuums, and most recently Met Life Insurance. An article in the March 10, 2001 Los Angeles Times about Bill Melendez said he had done "372 commercials" featuring the Peanuts gang.

In the late 70's and early 80's, the Peanuts gang starred in three short public service films, produced by the Mendelson and Melendez team. Two were sponsored by the American Dental Association, titled Toothbrushing with Charlie Brown and It's Dental Flossophy, Charlie Brown, both teaching about good dental hygiene. (The dental videos are no longer available from the ADA or other sources, unfortunately.) Then the American Lung Association sponsored Charlie Brown Clears the Air, about pollution.

Unfortunately, these videos were withdrawn from circulation many years ago, and are no longer available from any source, even for health professionals.

How were the adults' (teachers') "mwa-mwa-mwa" voices made?

With a trombone. Leonardo Morán of Bill Melendez Productions says: "Composer John Scott Trotter directed his trombonist to 'enunciate' the teacher's dialog as though it were a trombone riff. Trotter did a great job... he would read the teacher's line, e.g., 'Linus, where's your homework?' then direct the trombonist to repeat Trotter's inflection through his instrument."

The first special to feature the adult (teacher) speaking with the "mwa-mwa-mwa" (or "wah-wah-wah") voice was You're In Love, Charlie Brown (in 1967; the fourth Peanuts special).

What is the name of Charlie Brown's teacher?

The name most people remember as the teacher from the Peanuts comic strip and TV shows is "Miss Othmar," since she is the most frequently mentioned teacher.

However, Miss Othmar was actually Linus's teacher, not Charlie Brown's. Charlie Brown's teacher was only named once in the comic strip, and that name was Mrs. Donovan. (Charlie Brown isn't in Linus's class, although he has visited it few times.) Mrs. Donovan was mentioned in a series of strips where Charlie Brown volunteers to be in the school spelling bee, the exact date being the February 17, 1966 daily strip, which is reprinted in "The Unsinkable Charlie Brown" and the relevant volume of The Complete Peanuts.

Other teachers named in the strip and TV have been "Mrs. Hagemeyer" (Miss Othmar's married name), "Miss Halverson" (who replaced Miss Othmar temporarily during a strike), and "Miss Swanson" and "Miss Tenure" (both have been named as Peppermint Patty's teacher).

What are the names of Snoopy's brothers and sisters?

Andy, Belle, Marbles, Molly, Olaf, Rover, and Spike. Snoopy's mother's name is Missy.

However, only Spike, Belle, Marbles, Olaf, and Andy appeared in the newspaper strip; Molly and Rover only ever appeared in the TV special Snoopy's Reunion.

See the entry for Snoopy's Reunion in Prime-Time Specials.

Who are those twin girls in A Charlie Brown Christmas (particularly noticeable in the dance scene)?

Those are "3" and "4", "5"'s twin sisters. "5" is a character who appeared in the comic strip in the 1960's. His father gave everyone in the family a number instead of a name. "3" and "4" also appeared briefly in the comic strip (in the October 17, 1963 strip, which can alsobe found in the relevant volume of The Complete Peanuts). "3" and "4", along with "5," also make a brief appearance in a playground scene in You're In Love, Charlie Brown.

What special did Snoopy fight the Red Baron in?

This actually happens in two TV specials and one of the movies.

It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown is probably the one most people remember. It has a sequence where Snoopy gets on his Sopwith Camel (his doghouse), fights the Red Baron, is shot down behind enemy lines, escapes through no-man's land, and eventually reappears at Violet's Halloween party.

The movie A Boy Named Charlie Brown has a very similar scene to Great Pumpkin of Snoopy imagining he's in a dogfight, but it's shorter and doesn't have the crawl through No Man's Land.

He's Your Dog, Charlie Brown also has an extended World War I flying ace theme; Snoopy fights the Red Baron in the beginning, and later imagines he's on leave in Paris, is a prisoner of war, and throws a grenade.

What specials did Joe Cool appear in?

You're Not Elected, Charlie Brown, very briefly in There's No Time for Love, Charlie Brown, and in He's a Bully, Charlie Brown.

In the 1990 retrospective documentary/special You Don't Look 40, Charlie Brown, B.B. King sings "Joe Cool" and is accompanied by new animation of Snoopy doing things that match the lyrics of the song. However, this is not really an animated speical - mostly it is interviews and commentary from real people with a few animated clips.

The Joe Cool theme is also played in several other specials, usually when Snoopy takes on another persona (but not Joe Cool). See also Snoopy's Flights of Fancy.

What special did Snoopy play the Jaw Harp in?

Actually, it was in a movie, A Boy Named Charlie Brown. It is most prominently featured in the "I before E except after C" song.

He also plays it briefly in the movie Snoopy Come Home.

What was the name given to Snoopy by his previous owner in Snoopy Come Home?

Snoopy's name has always been Snoopy - that's also what Lila called him (the name was given to him by the proprietor of the Daisy Hill Puppy Farm, according to Snoopy's Reunion).

Maybe you were thinking of the scene where a little girl nabs Snoopy, thinking he's a stray, and decides to call him "Rex," and dresses him up for a tea party.

Also, in Life is a Circus, Charlie Brown, Snoopy performs in the circus under the alias "Hugo the Great."

What was Linus's speech in A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving?

Many people like to give Linus's dinner speech from A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving as part of their Thanksgiving celebration. Here is some background on the speech and its text.

Linus says that he is quoting Elder William Brewster, "who was a minister, [and] said a prayer that went something like this."

Elder William Brewster was the spiritual leader of the Pilgrims at Plymouth, although he wasn't actually ordained in any way, and thus not officially a minister or pastor, although he served in that capacity when needed. While we know that he did offer a prayer at the first Thanksgiving dinner, the actual text is unknown - in fact, the only primary source document about the first dinner is a letter that one of the pilgrims wrote to a relative in England, which mentions the prayer in passing.

I'm unclear on where the text that Linus speaks in the special came from - whether there's a best guess in secondary historical documents somewhere, or it's just something Schulz, Mendelson, and Melendez thought sounded good (judging from its popularity, they were right). Linus does indicate that he's paraphrasing ("a prayer that went something like this").

Anyway, what Linus says is:

"In the year 1621, the Pilgrims held their first Thanksgiving feast. They invited the great Indian chief Massasoit, who brought ninety of his brave Indians and a great abundance of food. Governor William Bradford and Captain Miles Standish were honored guests.

Elder William Brewster, who was a minister, said a prayer that went something like this:

'We thank God for our homes and our food and our safety in a new land. We thank God for the opportunity to create a new world for freedom and justice.'"

To which Peppermint Patty adds, "Amen."

What other countries have the Peanuts TV specials been shown in?

According to a sign that was once displayed at "Snoopy's Gallery and Gift Shop" in Santa Rosa, California:

Argentina, Australia, Austria, Azores, Belgium, Belorussia, Bermuda, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Columbia, Costa Rica, Crete, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, El Salvador, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Greenland, Guatemala, Honduras, Hong Kong, Iceland, Iran, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Kenya, Korea, Kwajalein, Lesotho, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Mauritus, Mexico, Nambia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Phillippines, Portugul, Russia, Singapore, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, Trinidad, Turkey, Uganda, United Kingdom, Ukraine, Venezuela, Yugoslavia, Zambia, Zimbabwe

(I imagine the shows have been translated into some of the languages of these countries as well, but the sign didn't say that.)

List of Current US DVD & Blu-ray Releases

This lists the currently in print US DVD & Blu-ray releases in roughly alphabetical order. Unless otherwise noted, the discs are released by Warner Home Video.

Note that Warner has released an increasing number of "new" releases that are just repackaings of previously released shows or DVDs; customers should be careful that they aren't purchasing something they've already bought befre. I have noted which sets/DVDs are repackagings.

Bon Voyage, Charlie Brown (DVD) (released by Paramount Home Video)

A Boy Named Charlie Brown (theatrical film) (DVD) (86m) (released by Paramount Home Video)

A Boy Named Charlie Brown (theatrical film) (Blu-ray) (86m) (released by Paramount Home Video)

A Boy Named Charlie Brown (unaired 1963 documentary) (DVD) (27m) (available only from the Charles M. Schulz Museum)

Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown / You're In Love Charlie Brown / It's Your First Kiss, Charlie Brown (Deluxe Edition DVD) (75m)

Charlie Brown's All Stars / A Charlie Brown Celebration (DVD)

The Charlie Brown and Snoopy Show: The Complete Series (DVD) (all 18 episodes) (402m) (available from Warner Archive)

A Charlie Brown Christmas / It's Christmastime Again, Charlie Brown (Deluxe Edition DVD) (50m)

A Charlie Brown Christmas / It's Christmastime Again, Charlie Brown (Blu-Ray + DVD) (50m)

Charlie Brown's Christmas Tales / Is This Goodbye, Charlie Brown? (DVD) (41m)

A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving / This is America, Charlie Brown: The Mayflower Voyagers (Deluxe Edition DVD) (50m)

A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving / This is America, Charlie Brown: The Mayflower Voyagers (Blu-ray + DVD) (50m)

A Charlie Brown Valentine / Someday You'll Find Her, Charlie Brown (DVD)

Happiness is... Peanuts: Friends Forever - The Charlie Brown and Snoopy Show Ep. 13: Lucy Loves Schroeder / You're In Love, Charlie Brown (DVD) (47m)

Happiness is... Peanuts: Go Snoopy Go - It's Spring Training, Charlie Brown / The Charlie Brown and Snoopy Show Ep. 12: It's that Team Spirit, Charlie Brown (DVD) (47m)

Happiness is... Peanuts: Snoopy's Adventures - Snoopy's Getting Married, Charlie Brown / The Charlie Brown and Snoopy Show Ep. 14: Snoopy and the Giant (DVD) (46m)

Happiness is... Peanuts: Snow Days - She's a Good Skate, Charlie Brown / The Charlie Brown and Snoopy Show Ep. 18: Sally's Sweet Babboo (DVD) (47m)

Happiness is... Peanuts: Team Snoopy - Lucy Must Be Traded, Charlie Brown / The Charlie Brown and Snoopy Show Ep. 15: Snoopy's Brother Spkike (DVD)

Happiness is a Warm Blanket, Charlie Brown (DVD) (45m)

Happiness is a Warm Blanket, Charlie Brown (Blu-ray+DVD) (45m)

He's a Bully, Charlie Brown / It Was a Short Summer, Charlie Brown (edited - 4 minutes missing) / The Charlie Brown and Snoopy Show Ep. 2: Snoopy, Team Manager (DVD)

He's Your Dog, Charlie Brown / Life is a Circus, Charlie Brown (Deluxe Edition DVD)

It's the Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown / It's Arbor Day, Charlie Brown (Deluxe Edition DVD) (50m)

It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown / It's Magic, Charlie Brown (Deluxe Edition DVD) (50m)

It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown / It's Magic, Charlie Brown (Blu-ray + DVD) (50m)

I Want a Dog for Christmas, Charlie Brown / Happy New Year, Charlie Brown (Deluxe Edition DVD)

Peanuts 1960's Collection Box Set: A Charlie Brown Christmas / Charlie Brown's All-Stars / It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown / You're In Love Charlie Brown / He's Your Dog, Charlie Brown / It Was a Short Summer, Charlie Brown (unedited) (DVD box set) (150m)

Peanuts 1970's Collection, Vol. 1 Box Set: Play It Again, Charlie Brown / You're Not Elected, Charlie Brown / There's No Time for Love, Charlie Brown / A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving / It's a Mystery, Charlie Brown / It's the Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown (DVD box set) (150m)

Peanuts 1970's Collection, Vol. 2 Box Set: Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown / You're a Good Sport, Charlie Brown / It's Arbor Day, Charlie Brown / It's Your First Kiss, Charlie Brown / What a Nightmare, Charlie Brown / You're the Greatest, Charlie Brown (DVD box set) (150m)

Peanuts 4-Movie Collection (repackaging; contains A Boy Named Charlie Brown / Snoopy Come Home / Race for Your Life, Charlie Brown / Bon Voyage, Charlie Brown) (DVD box set)

Peanuts by Schulz: Snoopy Tales (Volume 1) (2 DVDs) - includes 32 of the Boomerang/Normaal Animation shorts (DVD)

Peanuts by Schulz: Go Team Go! (Volume 2) (2 DVDs) - includes 19 of the Boomerang/Normaal Animation shorts (DVD)

Peanuts by Schulz: School Days (Volume 3) (2 DVDs) - includes 29 of the Boomerang/Normaal Animation shorts (DVD)

Peanuts by Schulz: It's Only Love (Volume 4) (1 DVD) - includes 18 of the Boomerang/Normaal Animation shorts (10 new, 8 repeats from previous volumes) (DVD)

Peanuts by Schulz: Springtime (Volume 5) (1 DVD) - includes 15 of the Boomerang/Normaal Animation shorts (only 3 new, 12 are repeats from previous volumes) (DVD)

Peanuts by Schulz: Lucy & Friends (Volume 6) (1 DVD) - includes 16 of the Boomerang/Normaal Animation shorts (only 6 new, 10 are repeats from previous volumes) (DVD)

Peanuts by Schulz: Happy Holidays (Volume 7) (1 DVD) - includes 26 of the Boomerang/Normall Animation shorts (only 4 new, 22 are repeats from previous volumes) (DVD)

Peanuts Deluxe Holiday Collection (repackaging; contains It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown; A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving; and A Charlie Brown Christmas DVDs)

Peanuts Deluxe Holiday Collection Blu-ray version (repackaging; contains It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown; A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving; and A Charlie Brown Christmas Blu-rays)

Peanuts Holiday Collection Deluxe Edition 4K UltraHD Blu-ray set (contains It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown / It's Magic, Charlie Brown / Charlie Brown's All-Stars / A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving / The Mayflower Voyagers / Play It Again, Charlie Brown / A Charlie Brown Christmas / It's Christmastime Again, Charlie Brown / It's Flashbeagle, Charlie Brown )

Peanuts 70th Anniversary Holiday Collection Limited Edition Blu-ray set (contains It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown / It's Magic, Charlie Brown / Charlie Brown's All-Stars / A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving / The Mayflower Voyagers / Play It Again, Charlie Brown / A Charlie Brown Christmas / It's Christmastime Again, Charlie Brown / It's Flashbeagle, Charlie Brown ) (coming October 1, 2019)

Peanuts Double Feature: Snoopy Come Home & A Boy Named Charlie Brown (DVD) (repackaging) (released by Paramount Home Video)

Peanuts Double Feature: Snoopy Come Home & A Boy Named Charlie Brown (Blu-ray) (repackaging) (released by Paramount Home Video) (forthcoming November 1, 2016)

Peanuts: Emmy Honored Collection: You're a Good Sport, Charlie Brown / You're the Greatest, Charlie Brown / She's a Good Skate, Charlie Brown / Life is a Circus, Charlie Brown / It's Magic, Charlie Brown / Someday You'll Find Her, Charlie Brown / Is This Goodbye, Charlie Brown? / What Have We Learned, Charlie Brown? / It's Flashbeagle, Charlie Brown / Snoopy's Getting Married, Charlie Brown / Why, Charlie Brown, Why? (DVD)

The Peanuts Movie (2015) (DVD, Blu-ray & 3D Blu-ray)

Peanuts Motion Comics Collection (DVD) (70m) (available from WBShop.com )

Race for Your Life, Charlie Brown (DVD) (76m) (released by Paramount Home Video)

The Snoopy 4-Movie Collection (Blu-ray) - includes: A Boy Named Charlie Brown (1969); Snoopy Come Home; Race for Your Life, Charlie Brown; Bon Voyage, Charlie Brown (released by Paramount Home Video)

Snoopy Come Home (DVD) (80m) (released by Paramount Home Video)

Snoopy Come Home (Blu-ray) (80m) (released by Paramount Home Video)

Snoopy's Holiday Collection (repackaging; contains I Want a Dog for Christmas, Charlie Brown Deluxe Edition, Charlie Brown's Christmas Tales, and Happiness is Peanuts: Snow Days DVDs)

Snoopy's Reunion / It's Flashbeagle, Charlie Brown (DVD) (50m)

This is America, Charlie Brown (2 DVDs) - includes: The Mayflower Voyagers, The Birth of the Constitution, The Wright Brothers at Kitty Hawk, The NASA Space Station, The Building of the Transcontinental Railroad, The Great Inventors, The Smithsonian and the Presidency, The Music and Heroes of America

Touchdown, Charlie Brown - repackages material from other DVDs, contains It's Your First Kiss, Charlie Brown / The Charlie Brown and Snoopy Show Ep.1: Snoopy's Cat Fight / The Charlie Brown and Snoopy Show Ep. 4: Lucy vs. The World / The Charlie Brown and Snoopy Show Ep. 11: Chaos in the Classroom (DVD)

You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown (animated adaptation) (DVD) (50m)

You're a Good Sport, Charlie Brown / You're the Greatest, Charlie Brown (Deluxe Edition DVD) (50m)

You're Not Elected, Charlie Brown / He's a Bully, Charlie Brown (Deluxe Edition DVD) (50m)

4 Kid Favorites: Happiness is... Peanuts (repackaging; contains Happiness is... Peanuts: Snoopy's Adventures; Happiness is... Peanuts: Go Snoopy Go!; Happiness is... Peanuts: Team Snoopy; Happiness is... Peanuts: Snow Days DVDs)

List of Out of Print US DVD Releases

This lists the US DVD releases from Paramount Home Video in roughly alphabetical order. These versions of the DVDs are now all out of print, but most of the episodes have been re-released on new DVDs from Warner Home Video. The Paramount DVDs were released between 2000 and 2006.

A Charlie Brown Christmas / It's Christmastime Again, Charlie Brown (Paramount edition) (50m)

A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving / This is America, Charlie Brown: The Mayflower Voyagers (Paramount edition) (50m)

A Charlie Brown Valentine / There's No Time For Love, Charlie Brown / Someday You'll Find Her, Charlie Brown (75m)

Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown / You're In Love Charlie Brown / It's Your First Kiss, Charlie Brown (Paramount edition) (75m)

It's the Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown / It's Arbor Day, Charlie Brown (Paramount edition) (50m)

It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown / You're Not Elected, Charlie Brown (Paramount edition) (50m)

It's the Pied Piper, Charlie Brown (24m)

I Want a Dog for Christmas, Charlie Brown / Charlie Brown's Christmas Tales / The Making of A Charlie Brown Christmas (75m)

Lucy Must Be Traded Charlie Brown / Charlie Brown's All-Stars / It's Spring Training, Charlie Brown (75m)

This is America, Charlie Brown (2 DVDs, 194m)

(includes: The Mayflower Voyagers, The Birth of the Constitution, The Wright Brothers at Kitty Hawk, The NASA Space Station, The Building of the Transcontinental Railroad, The Great Inventors, The Smithsonian and the Presidency, The Music and Heroes of America)

List of iTunes Releases

As of October 19, 2020, the Peanuts specials are no longer available for purchase on iTunes, as they have (at least temporarily) moved to being available exclusively on the Apple TV+ subscription streaming service. It's unknown if they will be available for digitial purchase again in the future. This section remains here for now for historical purposes.

In addition to the DVD releases, the Peanuts specials were also made available as digital downloads in several different ways.

You can now purchase a variety of Peanuts shows from Apple's iTunes Store, using the iTunes software for Macintosh and Windows. Once purchased, you can watch the shows on your computer's monitor, or transfer them to an iPod, iPhone, iPad or AppleTV for viewing. Shows sold on iTunes are "near DVD quality," and having downloaded a couple and viewed them, I agree that the video quality is close to the DVD releases, although there are more compression artifacts.

Note that videos purchased from iTunes cannot be burned to a DVD or viewed on a DVD player.

Some specials are only available as bundles; others are available both in bundles and individually. While some of the bundles are similar to the Warner DVDs, they are not identical. Differences are noted below.

The shows currently available on iTunes (as of October 17, 2013) are:

A Charlie Brown Christmas

I Want a Dog for Christmas, Charlie Brown

Charlie Brown's Christmas Tales

It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown

A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving

Peanuts Holiday Classics

It's the Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown

You're Not Elected, Charlie Brown

Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown

You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown

Happiness is a Warm Blanket, Charlie Brown

Race For Your Life, Charlie Brown

Bon Voyage, Charlie Brown

The Peanuts Movie

Peanuts Specials, Vol. 1

The Charlie Brown and Snoopy Show

This is America, Charlie Brown

Peanuts Motion Comics, Vol. 1

List of Amazon Prime Video Releases

As of October 19, 2020, the Peanuts specials are no longer available for digital purchase on Amazon, as they have (at least temporarily) moved to being available exclusively on the Apple TV+ subscription streaming service. It's unknown if they will be available for digitial purchase again in the future. This section remains here for now for historical purposes.

Amazon Prime Video (formerly known as Amazon Instant Video, Amazon Video on Demand, orAmazon Unbox) — another digital video service, run by the giant on-line retailer Amazon.com — also offered Peanuts TV shows for on-line viewing as well.

Note that videos purchased from Amazon Prime Video cannot be burned to a DVD or viewed on a DVD player.

The offerings on Amazon used to be similar to the iTunes offerings and some of the Deluxe Edition DVDs, but because a variety of Peanuts specials are no longer available on Amazon, the organization of the specials is now rather confusing and nonsensical.

Some specials are only available as bundles (or "seasons" as Amazon calls them, even though that terminology doesn't really apply to the Peanuts specials that aired over a period of 40 years); others are available both in bundles and individually.

The shows currently available on Amazon Prime Video (as of February 12, 2015) are:

Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown

A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving

A Charlie Brown Christmas

I Want a Dog for Christmas, Charlie Brown

Charlie Brown's Christmas Tales

It's the Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown

It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown

You're Not Elected, Charlie Brown

You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown

Happiness is a Warm Blanket, Charlie Brown

Race For Your Life, Charlie Brown

Bon Voyage, Charlie Brown

The Peanuts Movie

Peanuts Specials "Season 1"

Peanuts Summertime Specials

The Charlie Brown and Snoopy Show

This is America, Charlie Brown

Peanuts Motion Comics, Vol. 1

List of Video (VHS) Releases

This lists the Paramount VHS reissues in roughly alphabetical order. All of the VHS releases are out of print.

The number in parenthesis following each title is the length of the video in minutes, as given on the video box. (For two-episode tapes, this is the total length of the tape.) Length isn't listed for every title because I don't own every video release.

A Boy Named Charlie Brown (79m)

Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown (25m)

The Big Stuffed Dog (live-action) (48m)

Bon Voyage, Charlie Brown (movie) (76m)

Snoopy Double Feature: (48m)

Charlie Brown's All-Stars
It's Spring Training, Charlie Brown

A Charlie Brown Celebration (48m)

A Charlie Brown Christmas (25m)

A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving (24m)

A Charlie Brown Valentine

Happy New Year, Charlie Brown (24m)

Snoopy Double Feature: (50m)

He's Your Dog, Charlie Brown
It's Flashbeagle, Charlie Brown

Is This Goodbye, Charlie Brown? (24m)

It's An Adventure, Charlie Brown (47m)

It's Arbor Day, Charlie Brown (25m)

It's Christmastime Again, Charlie Brown (23m)

It's the Girl in the Red Truck, Charlie Brown (48m)

It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown (25m)

It's the Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown (25m)

It's a Mystery, Charlie Brown (25m)

It's the Pied Piper, Charlie Brown (36m)

I Want a Dog for Christmas, Charlie Brown (41m)

It Was My Best Birthday Ever, Charlie Brown (25m)

Snoopy Double Feature: (48m)

Life's a Circus, Charlie Brown
Snoopy's Getting Married, Charlie Brown

Lucy Must Be Traded, Charlie Brown

Snoopy Double Feature: (50m)

Play It Again, Charlie Brown
She's A Good Skate, Charlie Brown

Race for Your Life, Charlie Brown (movie) (76m)

Snoopy, the Musical

Snoopy Come Home (80m)

Snoopy Double Feature: (49m)

There's No Time For Love, Charlie Brown
Someday You'll Find Her, Charlie Brown

What Have We Learned, Charlie Brown? (23m)

Snoopy Double Feature: (49m)

What a Nightmare, Charlie Brown
It's Magic, Charlie Brown

You Don't Look 40, Charlie Brown (documentary) (47m)

You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown (animated) (49m)

You're a Good Sport, Charlie Brown (25m)

Snoopy Double Feature: (48m)

You're the Greatest, Charlie Brown
Snoopy's Reunion

Snoopy Double Feature: (50m)

You're In Love, Charlie Brown
It's Your First Kiss, Charlie Brown

Snoopy Double Feature: (49m)

You're Not Elected, Charlie Brown
It Was a Short Summer, Charlie Brown

Why, Charlie Brown, Why? (25m)

This is America, Charlie Brown Vol. 1 - The Great Inventors

This is America, Charlie Brown Vol. 2 - The Wright Brothers at Kitty Hawk

This is America, Charlie Brown Vol. 3 - The Transcontinental Railroad

This is America, Charlie Brown Vol. 4 - The Mayflower Voyagers

This is America, Charlie Brown Vol. 5 - The NASA Space Station

This is America, Charlie Brown Vol. 6 - Birth of the Constitution

This is America, Charlie Brown Vol. 7 - The Smithsonian and the Presidency

This is America, Charlie Brown Vol. 8 - The Music and Heroes of America

The Charlie Brown and Snoopy Show, Vol. 1:

You Can't Win, Charlie Brown
Linus' Security Blanket

The Charlie Brown and Snoopy Show, Vol. 2:

Snoopy's Cat Fight
Linus and Lucy

The Charlie Brown and Snoopy Show, Vol. 3:

Snoopy: Man's Best Friend
The Lost Ballpark

The Charlie Brown and Snoopy Show, Vol. 4:

Lucy Loves Schroeder
Snoopy: Team Manager

The Charlie Brown and Snoopy Show, Vol. 5:

Snoopy the Psychiatrist
Lucy vs. the World

The Charlie Brown and Snoopy Show, Vol. 6:

Snoopy's Football Career
Chaos in the Classroom

The Charlie Brown and Snoopy Show, Vol. 7:

It's That Team Spirit, Charlie Brown
Snoopy and the Giant

The Charlie Brown and Snoopy Show, Vol. 8:

Snoopy's Brother Spike
Snoopy's Robot

The Charlie Brown and Snoopy Show, Vol. 9:

Peppermint Patty's School Days
Sally's Sweet Babboo

List of Laserdisc Releases

Below is a list of the laserdiscs that have were released by Paramount and CBS Fox. They are now all out of print.

The discs contain two episodes each, although often the combination of episodes is different than they are on videotapes. Not all episodes have been released on laserdisc.

The discs with television episodes from Paramount are all CAV. The CBS Fox movie discs were CLV.

The laserdisc releases of the feature films were all full-frame (aka pan-and-scan), not widescreen, so the picture was cropped some.

The numbers following each title in brackets are the Paramount "part number" for that laserdisc. I believe these are correct but I'm just relying on what I've read in some catalogs.

Sorry for the sketchy information; I don't own a laserdisc player. Any more information is appreciated!

Paramount Laserdiscs

A Charlie Brown Christmas / You're The Greatest, Charlie Brown [LV83716]

A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving / You're Not Elected, Charlie Brown [LV83714]

Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown / You're In Love, Charlie Brown [LV83742]

Charlie Brown & Snoopy Show Vol. 1: [LV83703]

You Can't Win, Charlie Brown
Linus' Security Blanket

Charlie Brown & Snoopy Show Vol. 2: [LV83704]

Snoopy's Cat Fight
Linus and Lucy

Charlie Brown & Snoopy Show Vol. 3: [LV83705]

Snoopy: Man's Best Friend
The Lost Ballpark

Charlie Brown & Snoopy Show Vol. 4: [LV83702]

Lucy Loves Schroeder
Snoopy: Team Manager

Charlie Brown & Snoopy Show Vol. 5: [LV83721]

Snoopy the Psychiatrist
Lucy vs. the World

Happy New Year,Charlie Brown / Snoopy's Reunion [LV83715]

He's Your Dog, Charlie Brown / It's Flashbeagle, Charlie Brown [LV83738]

It's The Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown / It's Your First Kiss, Charlie Brown [LV83741]

It's The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown / It Was A Short Summer, Charlie Brown [LV83718]

There's No Time For Love, Charlie Brown / Someday You'll Find Her Charlie Brown [LV83737]

This Is America Charlie Brown Vol. 1: [LV83709]

The Great Inventors
The Wright Brothers at Kitty Hawk

This Is America Charlie Brown Vol. 2 (two episodes) [LV83708]

The Building of the Transcontinental Railroad
The Mayflower Voyagers

This Is America Charlie Brown Vol. 3 (two episodes) [LV83707]

The NASA Space Station
The Birth of the Constitution

This Is America Charlie Brown Vol. 4: [LV83719]

The Smithsonian and the Presidency
The Music and Heroes of America

You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown / Why, Charlie Brown, Why [LV83730]

Bon Voyage, Charlie Brown (and Don't Come Back!) [movie] [LV1158]

Race For Your Life, Charlie Brown! [movie] [LV8850]

CBS Fox Laserdiscs

A Boy Named Charlie Brown [movie] [#7121-80]

Snoopy, Come Home [movie] [#7125-80]

Really Old Video Compilations

Several compilations of sketches from "The Charlie Brown and Snoopy Show" were released on video previously, but are now out of print. While not exactly in the same order, their contents are duplicated by later home video releases. If you have the "Charlie Brown and Snoopy Show Complete Series" DVD set from Warner Archives or the Paramount VHS tapes you do not need these. Shows with these titles were never shown on television.

Good Grief, Charlie Brown
She Likes You, Charlie Brown
Very Funny, Charlie Brown
What Next, Charlie Brown
You Can't Win, Charlie Brown
It's Three Strikes, Charlie Brown

RCA issued four sets of shows on Select-a-Vision (Capacitance Electronic Disc), an early videodisc system that is incompatible with the modern laserdisc standard. They were:

A CHARLIE BROWN FESTIVAL - contained:

There's No Time For Love, Charlie Brown
You're In Love, Charlie Brown
It's Your First Kiss, Charlie Brown
You're the Greatest, Charlie Brown

A CHARLIE BROWN FESTIVAL II - contained:

Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown
He's Your Dog, Charlie Brown
It's the Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown
Life is a Circus, Charlie Brown

A CHARLIE BROWN FESTIVAL III - contained:

It Was a Short Summer, Charlie Brown
It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown
You're Not Elected, Charlie Brown
A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving

A CHARLIE BROWN FESTIVAL IV - contained:

Charlie Brown's All Stars
Play It Again, Charlie Brown
It's a Mystery, Charlie Brown
What a Nightmare, Charlie Brown

At least three of the movies were also released on CED:

A Boy Named Charlie Brown
CBS/FOX 7121-90
Dual language tracks: English/Spanish

Snoopy Come Home
CBS/FOX 7125-90
Dual language tracks: English/Spanish

Race For Your Life Charlie Brown
Paramount CM11E V105101

Disclaimers and Copyright

I have no formal association with United Media, WildBrain, Peanuts Worldwide, Paramount, Warner Home Video, Charles Schulz, Bill Melendez Productions, Mendelson Productions, or any other commercial enterprise mentioned in this article.

This article is provided as is without any express or implied warranties. While every effort has been taken to ensure the accuracy of the information contained herein, the author assumes no responsibility for errors or omissions, or for damages resulting from the use of the information contained herein.

Copyright 1995-2024 by Scott McGuire.

This article may not be reproduced or included in part or in full in any print or electronic collections, compilations, or publications without express permission from the author.

Last updated 11/7/24 - Scott McGuire (smcguire at fivecentsplease dot org) - Vers 5