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It's The Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown 2021 television schedule

The Halloween special will return this year with several options of how you can view it.

By Cheryl E PrestonPublished 2 years ago Updated 2 years ago 3 min read
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It's The Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown premiered in 1966 on CBS and aired every year since until 2020. If ever there was a time when television viewers needed this gem of a special it was during the pandemic. There was an outcry from fans of the cartoon who counted on watching the annual classic every October. The Great Pumpkin is a ritual and although it's available online, on DVD and Blue Ray it's not the same. How dare the television executives decide to change a 6 decades old tradition that means so much to so many.

There is good news this year for those who enjoy sitting in front of the television to watch the Peanuts gang. This year the animated Halloween program will air on Apple TV Plus, and on PBS and PBS Kids Oct. 24 at 7:30 ET/PT. As a spoiler, A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving will be shown on PBS and PBS Kids on Nov. 21, and A Charlie Brown Christmas can be viewed on both platforms on Dec. 19. Now that you know, how about reading some fun facts about the cartoon that you may not have been aware of.

Fun facts about the Halloween special

1. It began in the funny papers

Longtime Peanuts fans will recall that the famous scene where Lucy jerks the football away before Charlie Brown can kick it was first shown in the comic strip.

2. Snoopy first walked on all fours.

In the beginning of the Halloween special Snoopy was walking on all four like any dog. Halfway through, however, he is walking upright just like everyone else.

3. A loose tooth caused problems

Kathy Steinberg was the voice of Lucy and halfway through filming she had a loose front tooth. The fear of a lisp affecting Sally's voice led to the six-year-old being rushed to the studio that night to complete her lines. This was a smart move as her tooth fell out the very next day.

4. One Young actor got sick on the stomach

Today, adults are used to voice the children but for the early Charlie Brown cartoon specials children were used. The voices of Violet and Frieda were provided by Anne Altieri. She was so nervous to be part of the show that she threw up every time she was finished recording her lines.

5. The football scene began in the funny papers

The first time Lucy pulled the football away from Charlie Brown was in the Peanuts cartoon strip. It was first used in on TV in the Halloween special.

6. A Charlie Brown Christmas is why we have the Great Pumpkin

After the success of A Charlie Brown Christmas, CBS exects asked for more animated specials that could be aired annually. Charles Shultz came up with the Halloween special to poke fun at Santa Claus who does not come to the home of all children.

7. There is a reason Charlie Brown got rocks

When Charles Shultz said Charlie Brown should get at least one rock, producer Lee Mendleson thought this was crude. He and Shultz went back and forth until it was decided that Charlie would get three rocks.

From 1966 until 2020 millions looked forward to seeing the Great Pumpkin each October. Six generations of my own family enjoyed this animated classic. The decision to remove the Charlie Brown specials from network television was not a good one. Make sure you have access to Apple TV Plus or PBS Kids so you won't miss the Halloween special this year. Please spread the news that the Great Pumpkin will make a television appearance in 2021.

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About the Creator

Cheryl E Preston

Cheryl is a widow who enjoys writing about current events, soap spoilers and baby boomer nostalgia. Tips are greatly appreciated.

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