It’s November! Finally, the year is almost over, but with the end of the year comes the Holidays. And the one thing that everyone in America remembers the Holidays for is Charlie Brown and Football. But I don’t actually like football. So we’re doing Charlie Brown today.
Charlie Brown is the main character of the comic Peanuts. Often depicted as the “lovable loser.” Charlie Brown is characterized as a person who frequently suffers, and as a result, lacks self-confidence. He often shows both pessimistic and idealistic attitudes. On many days, he is hesitant to leave because his day might be spoiled. On others, he hopes for the best and tries to make it through the day without making a fool of himself.
Charlie made his debut in the first Peanuts comic on October 2, 1950. The comic features Charlie walking by, as two other children, Shermy and Patty, look at him. Shermy refers to him as “Good Ol’ Charlie Brown” as he passes by, but immediately reveals his hatred toward him once he passes on the last panel. During the comic’s early years, Charlie Brown was much more lighthearted and not the extremely sad child he would soon become.
One of the main reasons people so fondly recall Charlie Brown is the many TV specials that have been realized over the years. Two of which are “A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving” and “A Charlie Brown Christmas.” Both of which millions remember. Children and adults alike love Charlie Brown and his accompanying Peanuts. Watching these specials has become a tradition of many families and will likely continue to be one.
A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving will air at 7:30 p.m. on Sunday, November 21, on PBS. You can also stream the film on Apple TV as they acquired the property in recent years.