The 1960’s was an awesome decade for the Holiday TV Special. The Grinch and the majority of the Rankin/Bass specials came along in the ‘60s - establishing seasonal television traditions that remain with us to this day. Another Christmas special that came to us in the ‘60s was one that every executive at CBS believed would fail. Although it was filled with established, popular characters by a writer who was much read and loved, these executives thought the animation was too stilted. That the voice acting was too amateurish, and the show itself was too far too earnest. It was in this atmosphere of expectant failure that on December 9th of 1965 Charles Schulz and producer Bill Melendez gave us A CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS.
More below the squiggle!
A CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS tells the story of everyone’s favorite sad-sack, Charlie Brown, as he navigates the ups and downs of the holiday season. At the beginning of the show, Charlie Brown confides in his friend, Linus, that no matter how hard he tries, he just can’t get into the Christmas spirit. Despite all of his peers enjoyment of the holiday, his depression simply deepens as he feels isolated from the rest of the modern Christmas culture of commercialism and an emphasis on the holiday’s trappings. When Linus’ sister Lucy invites Charlie Brown to direct the school Christmas play, the rehearsals, though disastrous, set Charlie Brown on the path to discovering what Christmas is.
One of the things that so horrified the suits at CBS was the decision to cast children to do the voice acting in the show. Schultz and Melendez decided to depart from the accepted practice of casting adults to mimic kid voices and simply cast age-appropriate kids in the roles. The protest once CBS saw the show was that these kids sounded like they were simply reading their dialogue - that they couldn’t act. This was true. That these kids were not acting was entirely the point. There is an earnestness in the delivery of their lines that simply can not be faked. You believe that these are kids going through this journey because they ARE kids. Because of this, the show possesses an innocent wisdom that captures the appeal of the Peanuts cartoon strip in a way that would have been impossible with adult actors.
Another part of the show that made the suits nervous was the climactic moment of the show when Linus, in spotlight, recites the Gospel of Luke to show Charlie Brown the true meaning of Christmas. Though the popular interpretation is that the suits didn’t want to offend or alienate any segment of the viewing populace, the real reason is because they believed that the moment felt too much like church; and that once Bible verses started coming, TV sets would start turning off. Charles Schultz fought tooth and nail to keep the scene in and won. Far from bringing the show ’down’, the moment actually perfectly matches the innocent, earnest nature of the show. And because it fits the rest of the show so well, it is enough to make even the crustiest of non-believers smile.
As is very often the case , these executives (non-creative people, mostly) could not have been more wrong. The show was an utter smash. 50% of all televisions in America tuned into the initial broadcast. It went on to win an Emmy and a Peabody, and was re-broadcast by CBS every Christmastime until 2000, when the rights moved over to ABC. The success of A CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS gave rise to ten more Peanuts holiday specials (even Arbor Day), almost all of them still airing to this day. Charles Schultz and Bill Melendez, staying true to their vision for the show and not giving in to pressure from those who really could have pulled the plug at any time, created a Holiday special for the ages. One that tells us that a little bit of innocence and earnestness can see us through.
A CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS fun facts - Product placement was heavier in the original broadcast. There was a moment in the beginning of the show where Linus crashes into a Coca-Cola sign. The footage was excised a few years later and never put back in.
The little girl who played Sally was too young to read. Her lines were fed to her - sometimes syllable by syllable.
At the last production meeting before the air date, one network executive told producer Bill Melendez; “We will, of course, air it next week, but I’m afraid we won’t be ordering any more.”
Linus Van Pelt - I never thought it was such a bad little tree. It‘s not bad at all, really. Maybe it just needs a little love.
Sally Brown - Dear Santa Claus, How have you been? Did you have a nice Summer? How is your wife? I’ve been extra good this year, so I have a long list of presents that I want. Please note the size and color of each item. If it seems to complicated, make it easy on yourself: just send money. How about tens and twenties?
Charlie Brown - Rats. Nobody sent me Christmas card today. I almost wish there weren’t a holiday season. I know nobody likes me. Why do we have to have a holiday season to emphasize it?