# I just watched "A Charlie Brown Christmas" for the first time, and it was not entertaining. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 6, 2014, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-watched-a-charlie-brown-christmas-for-the-first-time-and-it-was-not-entertaining/706470 "2014-12-06T03:08:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2014, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-watched-a-charlie-brown-christmas-for-the-first-time-and-it-was-not-entertaining/706470/21 "2014-12-06T13:35:22Z")
I’m nearing sixty years old. I watched the show the very first time it was on. It’s still the best Christmas special ever. Heck, it’s the only one that talks about the REAL reason we have Christmas. Not that I don’t like the Grinch, or Rudolph. Love them too. But Charley Brown is the best. ---
**Author:** ![tenacious\_j](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/439d5e/32.png) [@tenacious\_j](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tenacious_j)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2014, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-watched-a-charlie-brown-christmas-for-the-first-time-and-it-was-not-entertaining/706470/22 "2014-12-06T15:27:45Z")
> [@Sodalite](#): > > All of this. No, it’s not, " Michael Bay’s Christmas Explodaganza!!!one!!!" and I’d be kind of pissed off if it was. It IS a reminder of a time in my life when everything and anything just _might_ be something magical. I could believe that safe places existed and that my parents loved each other and me very much. The world wasn’t the cold, hard place it is now. It was warm and soft and maybe I could mold part of it with my own hands. I was warm, too. Straight out of the bath, rolled up in a blanket on the floor in front of the TV. > > In that dreamy, drowsy state I couldn’t help but imagine all the great things that were ahead of me. We would go visiting people I hadn’t seen all year, giving and getting presents. I’d get to sing in the school pageant, and then no more school for the rest of the year. Oh, and the food! Glorious cakes and pies and cookies. Mom’s homemade mashed potatoes for the last time until Easter or even Thanksgiving. Dad would be home from work and he could play with us and our new toys all day long. It was going to be great! > > It’s not great anymore. Most of the wonder and magic is gone from my life. I’ve avoided all of the Christmas specials for the last couple of years. I might give it another try this year. I want to see if I can get back that feeling of warmth again, even if it’s just for a half hour or so. I get why you don’t like it as an adult. It was never meant for someone without all that innocent joy and anticipation in their hearts. I think of it, and the other specials, more as empty jars that kids pour their memories into. It can’t be too complicated or it gets in the way of everything else going on in their little heads. Watching it later in life is like taking that jar off the shelf and enjoying everything you put into all over again. Wow. In the words of Charlie Brown himself, “THAT’S IT!” 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2014, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-watched-a-charlie-brown-christmas-for-the-first-time-and-it-was-not-entertaining/706470/23 "2014-12-06T15:42:54Z")
> [@Baker](#): > > I’m nearing sixty years old. I watched the show the very first time it was on. Not only do I remember watching it at the same time as you, I remember thinking “I’ll never forget this as long as I live.” It was magic then, and it is now. Peanuts was in its heyday back in the mid-to-late '60s. There was an incredible amount of buildup to the special, and we all talked about it the next day in school. And yes, I still get choked up hearing Linus recite that passage from Luke. If you knew how cynical I am in real life, you’d realize what an accomplishment that is! ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2014, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-watched-a-charlie-brown-christmas-for-the-first-time-and-it-was-not-entertaining/706470/24 "2014-12-06T15:59:28Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > Not only do I remember watching it at the same time as you, I remember thinking “I’ll never forget this as long as I live.” It was magic then, and it is now. > > Peanuts was in its heyday back in the mid-to-late '60s. There was an incredible amount of buildup to the special, and we all talked about it the next day in school. And yes, I still get choked up hearing Linus recite that passage from Luke. > > If you knew how cynical I am in real life, you’d realize what an accomplishment that is! Were we separated at birth? :eek: 😃 ---
**Author:** ![randwill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a3d4f5/32.png) [@randwill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/randwill)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2014, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-watched-a-charlie-brown-christmas-for-the-first-time-and-it-was-not-entertaining/706470/25 "2014-12-06T16:08:46Z")
Maybe the original poster would like “A Huey Freeman Christmas”, the Christmas episode of “The Boondocks”. https://www.dailymotion.com/embed/video/x1de01u It is sort of the anti-Charlie Brown Christmas. You don’t have to be familiar with The Boondocks to appreciate it. (“Quincy Jones can’t help you!”) I love it AND “A Charlie Brown Christmas”. ---
**Author:** ![Eonwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eonwe/32/240_2.png) [@Eonwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eonwe)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2014, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-watched-a-charlie-brown-christmas-for-the-first-time-and-it-was-not-entertaining/706470/26 "2014-12-06T16:18:27Z")
To me, the sincerity of the thing is what makes it immortal. I don’t watch it every year (though I do listen to the soundtrack), but in my opinion, if you are going to make the perfect Christmas special, distilled down to just the emotion and meaning of Christmas, don’t bother, because it’s already been done in the Peanuts’ special. Also, everything that **Sodalite** said. (Jesus, you’ve basically got me weeping into my @$#% morning coffee . . . where did that joy of youth go?) ---
**Author:** ![RivkahChaya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rivkahchaya/32/8919_2.png) [@RivkahChaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RivkahChaya)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2014, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-watched-a-charlie-brown-christmas-for-the-first-time-and-it-was-not-entertaining/706470/27 "2014-12-06T16:29:23Z")
> [@Freudian\_Slit](#): > > Objectively, I do think it’s well done. Rationally I know it’s a million times better than the Rankin Bass stuff I watch out of tradition. Good music, good story, genuine tone. I’m not sure why it never clicked with me. No Heat Miser and Snow Miser. ---
**Author:** ![Declan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecae2f/32.png) [@Declan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Declan)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2014, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-watched-a-charlie-brown-christmas-for-the-first-time-and-it-was-not-entertaining/706470/28 "2014-12-06T16:33:36Z")
> [@RivkahChaya](#): > > No Heat Miser and Snow Miser. As a kid , I loved that Frosty brought balance to the force, but now as an adult and living in Ontario, I sorta find myself rooting for the heat miser now. Declan ---
**Author:** ![Oly](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/oly/32/8255_2.png) [@Oly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oly)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2014, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-watched-a-charlie-brown-christmas-for-the-first-time-and-it-was-not-entertaining/706470/29 "2014-12-06T17:14:46Z")
I’m with the OP. I’ve never liked any of the Peanuts stuff, not when I was a kid and not now. Charlie Brown was always a mopey whiny sad sack, Caillou’s granddad no doubt. The fact that there were never any adults around imbued it with a kind of Lord Of The Flies tension, such that when I later read said book, Peanuts is what came to mind. The music has some high points, but no matter in what format I’ve ever watched these shows (my daughter has them now on DVD and loves them; she watches CB Xmas year round), there’s always been a hissing white noise drone in the background, like the sound is coming over a radio that is not quite tuned. ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2014, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-watched-a-charlie-brown-christmas-for-the-first-time-and-it-was-not-entertaining/706470/30 "2014-12-06T17:16:03Z")
A Xmas card I got a long, long time ago: Big puddle of water with a top hat, some pieces of coal and a carrot in the middle, with a scarf draped around the puddle. The caption: “Have a Merry Christmas! Frosty would have wanted it that way!” ---
**Author:** ![Hail\_Ants](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/dc4da7/32.png) [@Hail\_Ants](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hail_Ants)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2014, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-watched-a-charlie-brown-christmas-for-the-first-time-and-it-was-not-entertaining/706470/31 "2014-12-06T17:33:40Z")
One of the big reasons (IMO) that it worked so well is because it was the first time they used actual child voice actors to play the parts. Before that cartoons were always voiced by adults (usually just one man and woman) who merely performed ‘kid’ voices (it’s still done today). Consequently they’re very stilted and schticky sounding. Having actual children’s voices gave _A Charlie Brown Christmas_ a very realistic, film noir, almost documentary feel which was revolutionary for the time (and still works today!) ---
**Author:** ![Idle\_Thoughts](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/838e76/32.png) [@Idle\_Thoughts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Idle_Thoughts)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2014, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-watched-a-charlie-brown-christmas-for-the-first-time-and-it-was-not-entertaining/706470/32 "2014-12-06T17:37:25Z")
I don’t really understand your topics about this sort of thing, sometimes. It’s like being 35 and saying “What the hell? I just watched an episode of SESAME STREET and it was so boring and I didn’t find it worthwhile to watch at all! How did anyone ever watch and like this stuff?” ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2014, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-watched-a-charlie-brown-christmas-for-the-first-time-and-it-was-not-entertaining/706470/33 "2014-12-06T17:38:41Z")
> [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](#): > > Were we separated at birth? :eek: 😃 Dunno. Were you born 7 January 1955? 😕 ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2014, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-watched-a-charlie-brown-christmas-for-the-first-time-and-it-was-not-entertaining/706470/34 "2014-12-06T17:45:38Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > Dunno. Were you born 7 January 1955? 😕 OMG! No. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2014, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-watched-a-charlie-brown-christmas-for-the-first-time-and-it-was-not-entertaining/706470/35 "2014-12-06T17:46:17Z")
> [@Hail\_Ants](#): > > Having actual children’s voices gave _A Charlie Brown Christmas_ a very realistic, film noir, almost documentary feel which was revolutionary for the time (and still works today!) I was thinking about this the other day, and I remembered almost immediately that Charlie Brown was voiced by Peter Robbins (who played Alexander on the short-lived _ **Blondie** _ TV series), Lucy was Pamelyn Ferdin (recognizable in the '60s for her voluminous commercial work and guest role on _ **ST:TOS** _), and Linus was a little guy named Chris Shea. Several years later, Charles Schulz was a guest on the Merv Griffin Show (I was watching that night) and said it was Chris’s voice that made the early specials particularly memorable. He was very disappointed that Chris had by then gotten too old to voice the part. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2014, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-watched-a-charlie-brown-christmas-for-the-first-time-and-it-was-not-entertaining/706470/36 "2014-12-06T18:14:06Z")
> [@Eonwe](#): > > To me, the sincerity of the thing is what makes it immortal. Yep, nothing but sincerity as far as the eye can see! > [@terentii](#): > > … and Linus was a little guy named Chris Shea. And he had two bothers who also acted, and had the same voice. It’s odd to see one of them in something like Emergency! or Adam-12 and hear Linus’ voice coming out! ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2014, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-watched-a-charlie-brown-christmas-for-the-first-time-and-it-was-not-entertaining/706470/37 "2014-12-06T18:23:03Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > Dunno. Were you born 7 January 1955? 😕 Ha! I’m older than you, born 12/31/54! ---
**Author:** ![Enter\_the\_Flagon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Enter\_the\_Flagon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enter_the_Flagon)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2014, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-watched-a-charlie-brown-christmas-for-the-first-time-and-it-was-not-entertaining/706470/38 "2014-12-06T20:59:11Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > I was thinking about this the other day, and I remembered almost immediately that Charlie Brown was voiced by Peter Robbins (who played Alexander on the short-lived _ **Blondie** _ TV series), Lucy was Pamelyn Ferdin (recognizable in the '60s for her voluminous commercial work and guest role on _ **ST:TOS** _), Y’know, after having seen ACBC so many times, the name Pamelyn Ferdin just didn’t sound right. Turns out that she did indeed play Lucy in some Peanuts shows, but not until '69, through '71. The actress who voiced Lucy in the Christmas special was named Tracy Stratford, and only a year later Lucy was played by Sally Dryer in Great Pumpkin. OP, have you ever seen the Great Pumpkin special? To me, that one does a much better job. ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2014, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-watched-a-charlie-brown-christmas-for-the-first-time-and-it-was-not-entertaining/706470/39 "2014-12-06T21:48:41Z")
I wonder if there will ever come a time when A Charlie Brown Christmas will seem dated. ---
**Author:** ![TBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@TBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TBG)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2014, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-watched-a-charlie-brown-christmas-for-the-first-time-and-it-was-not-entertaining/706470/40 "2014-12-06T22:44:16Z")
You would like it if you saw it when they were still shilling Dolly Madison during the commercials. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-watched-a-charlie-brown-christmas-for-the-first-time-and-it-was-not-entertaining/706470.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-watched-a-charlie-brown-christmas-for-the-first-time-and-it-was-not-entertaining/706470.md?page=3)