Charlie Brown Thanksgiving, Christmas specials are coming back to traditional TV following outcry over their removal



Fans of the "Peanuts" holiday specials "A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving" and "A Charlie Brown Christmas" can turn their frowns upside down, as PBS struck a deal with Apple to bring the programs back to traditional television for special airings, Deadline reported.

A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving | Preview youtu.be

What's the background?

For countless folks last month, the news hit like left hook to the jaw that the beloved programs, which have been airing every year for decades, were leaving traditional TV for exclusive streaming on Apple TV+.

Apple TV+ acquired exclusive rights to the entire library of Charles Schulz's animated specials, and for the first time since 1965 there would be no more scenes of Snoopy dancing on regular TV.

Image source: YouTube screenshot

Folks were not happy, either. There were accusations of selling out, denying the joy the specials bring to families and individuals who don't have internet access, and squelching a tradition that has put the country on the same page — even for just a little while — when we're already so polarized.

"Decades of people sharing this with generations of children, the love and feeling it brings to those that make it a tradition and you sell out for AppleTV? What the hell?" another commenter wrote on Twitter. "Screw AppleTV. I can't believe you took this from people."

Then an online petition was launched demanding the programs' return to traditional TV — and it has garnered over 260,000 signatures to date.

They're back!

While "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown" was on only Apple TV+ this year, "A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving" and "A Charlie Brown Christmas" will air on PBS and PBS Kids — as well as on Apple TV+ — as part of the deal, Deadline said.

So, mark your calendars: "A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving" and "A Charlie Brown Christmas" will air ad-free on PBS and PBS Kids on Nov. 22 and Dec. 13, respectively, at 7:30 p.m. local time/6:30 p.m. CT, the outlet said.

Deadline also said the programs will stream ad-free and in HD on Apple TV+. In fact, "A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving" started streaming Wednesday on Apple TV+ and will be available for free from Nov. 25 through Nov. 27. "A Charlie Brown Christmas" will start streaming on Apple TV+ Dec. 4 and will stream for free from Dec. 11 through Dec. 13, the outlet added.

Anything else?

Apple also said it's creating additional "Peanuts" specials to celebrate Mother's Day, Earth Day, New Year's Eve, and the back-to-school season at the end of summer, FaithWire noted.

Where can I watch Charlie Brown this year?youtu.be

Petition demanding that the 'Peanuts' holiday specials be brought back to network TV nears 200,000 signatures: 'Obviously, we can't let this stand'



Last week, Apple TV announced that the beloved "Peanuts" holiday specials would appear exclusively on the Apple TV platform.

The move means for the first time since 1965 classics such as "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown," "A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving," and "A Charlie Brown Christmas" would not be seen on American network television.

"It’s The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown" is now streaming exclusively on Apple TV+. Watch it for free from October 3… https://t.co/wWNn7CyqUG
— PEANUTS (@PEANUTS)1603124090.0

Needless to say, the announcement was poorly received.

The day after the Apple TV revealed it's plot to rob Americans of the joy of Charlie Brown, Snoopy, Linus, and the gang marking the holidays — especially during this chaotic time America as we all deal with a global pandemic and a divisive election — a man named Michael Nebbia took to Change.org to launch a petition to get the animated features back on the airwaves.

In a matter of days, the petition has garnered 170,000 signatures — well on its way to 200,000.

The petition recalls the history of "Peanuts" in the U.S. and the massive betrayal by Apple TV, saying, "For over 50 years, we have celebrated the holidays with the airings of the Peanuts holiday specials on TV - first on CBS, then on ABC. To our shock and dismay, last night it was announced that Apple had swiped the football from us and claimed the specials for their Apple TV platform, leaving us devoted fans who have grown up with Charlie Brown and the Peanuts gang in the dark, unable to watch."

So it's time to take a stand and "fight back" against "corporate greed" that would rob freedom-loving Americans of this unique and treasured tradition of the holidays, according to the petitioners:

Obviously, we can't let this stand. We can not let Apple take the football away from us like Lucy always does to Charlie Brown! It's time for us Peanuts fans to stand up to Apple and Wildbrain Studios (current owners of Peanuts) and show them they're making a mistake. With this petition, we are making a statement - the statement that #AppleHatesTradition and that the tradition of watching the Peanuts holiday specials should be renewed as soon as possible! All we have to do is sign this, send it off and and share it.

Win or lose, we are telling Apple and Wildbrain Studios that we will not fall for their corporate greed. But our goal is to get our Peanuts back on television and bring back the tradition! The time for saying 'Good Grief' is over. Now's the time to take action. Now's the time to fight back! Do it for Charlie Brown and for Peanuts fans everywhere, young and old!

You can sign the petition here.

(H/T: Christian Post)

'Peanuts' holiday specials will not appear on network TV for the first time in decades, thanks to Apple — and folks are furious



The year 2020 has brought us the coronavirus, rioting, massive unemployment, social separation, fighting in the streets, a presidential campaign from hell — and now a small asteroid may hit Earth the day before the election. One can only hope, right?

So if you were counting on a little respite from the madness — you know, like the "Peanuts" holiday specials that air on network TV every year — well, 2020 will continue to break your hearts.

Huh?

Since Apple TV+ acquired exclusive rights to the entire library of Charles Schulz's animated specials, for the first time since 1965 those "Peanuts" specials — "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown," "A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving," and "A Charlie Brown Christmas" — can be seen only on Apple TV+, FaithWire reported.

That's right. No more of Snoopy dancing on regular TV.

The outlet said the agreement is part of a plan between Apple and Wildbrain, Peanuts Worldwide, and Lee Mendelson Film Productions.

Each of the three specials will be available for free for a few days on Apple TV+: the Halloween special is accessible for free from Oct. 30-Nov. 1, the Thanksgiving special from Nov. 25-27, and the Christmas show from Dec. 11-13, FaithWire said.

"It’s The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown" is now streaming exclusively on Apple TV+. Watch it for free from October 3… https://t.co/wWNn7CyqUG
— PEANUTS (@PEANUTS)1603124090.0

Apple also said it's creating additional "Peanuts" specials to celebrate Mother's Day, Earth Day, New Year's Eve, and the back-to-school season at the end of summer, the outlet noted.

How are folks reacting?

As you can imagine, Twitter is abuzz with venom over the move. Users are accusing the powers that be of selling out, denying the joy the specials bring to families and individuals who don't have internet access, and for squelching a tradition that has put the country on the same page — even for just a little while — when we're already so polarized:

  • "@ABCNetwork Why do you hate everyone? Did you just feel like 2020 wasn't bad enough so you needed to make it worse? Because you succeeded. So...congratulations???" one commenter asked.
  • "2020 BLOWWWWS!!!" another user noted. "The point of having them on network TV is the country coming together and watching at the same time. That's being taken from us. The 'Peanuts' specials are one of the very FEW things that brings US together."
  • "Decades of people sharing this with generations of children, the love and feeling it brings to those that make it a tradition and you sell out for AppleTV? What the hell?" another commenter said. "Screw AppleTV. I can't believe you took this from people."

And, of course:

Image source: Twitter, redacted