A Christmas Story That Almost Wasn't
In 1965, CBS executives were not happy with the first cut of "A Charlie Brown Christmas."
- They thought it was too slow
- Not funny enough
- Too religious
The producers agreed, feeling they had ruined Peanuts.
The Concerns
The special had been made quickly and on a tight budget.
Executives worried about:
- The animation
- The real kids' voices
- The unusual music mix
The Story Issue
- Charlie Brown was unhappy about Christmas
- Linus explained the true meaning of Christmas by reciting the Nativity story from the Bible
This was a big deal because putting the Bible on TV, especially in a kids' show, was not common.
Charles Schulz, the creator of Peanuts, insisted on including this part.
"The show should have meaning and talk about the true spirit of Christmas."
Schulz's Vision
Schulz had been drawing Peanuts for 15 years when he agreed to make this Christmas special.
- He wanted to talk about what Christmas was really about
- Not just make something funny
"We had lost the true meaning of Christmas and wanted to bring it back."
The Team's Worries
The team was worried about putting the Bible in a cartoon.
But Schulz was firm:
"If we weren't going to talk about the true meaning of Christmas, we shouldn't bother making the show."
Even though everyone was nervous, the show was already promoted, so CBS had to air it.
The Success
When the special finally aired, it was a huge success.
- Millions of people watched it
- It won awards
- Critics loved it
- Even Coca-Cola, who had commissioned the special, was happy
CBS admitted they had misjudged the show.
Schulz's Faith
Charles Schulz grew up in a Christian home and had a deep love for the Bible.
- He wanted Charlie Brown to feel the way he did about Christmas
- Even as his own faith changed over time, Schulz never regretted making the special
"It was the best thing I ever wrote."
