# 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:** 5
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2014, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-watched-a-charlie-brown-christmas-for-the-first-time-and-it-was-not-entertaining/706470/81 "2014-12-10T15:55:06Z")
We just saw a regional theater production, in its second year, where a progression of beloved Christmas characters wander into a bar on Christmas Eve to tell their tales of woe. The dentist-elf from the Rudolph special goes on about how Rudolph’s ego went on to ruin everything, Ralphie (with an eye patch) tells the sad tale of what happened to him and everyone else afterwards, Clara whines about how the Nutcracker never ages, and Cindy Lou Who is an uproarious tramp who ran off with the Grinch (“You think black guys are hung? Try _green_!”) Anyway, the concluding skit is Charlie Brown, who married Lucy (Violet and Peppermint Patty are gay, by the way) and just buried Snoopy IV. Halfway through, in walks… the little red-haired girl. The curtain drops on them sharing a slow dance. Nice coda to the greatly oversentimentalized strip and specials… ---
**Author:** ![sciurophobic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cab0a1/32.png) [@sciurophobic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sciurophobic)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2014, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-watched-a-charlie-brown-christmas-for-the-first-time-and-it-was-not-entertaining/706470/82 "2014-12-10T16:19:28Z")
> [@Bullitt](#): > > In ST:TOS’s Bread and Circuses, at the end when Uhura points out it’s not the sun in the sky they’re worshiping but rather the Son of God, did Spock say anything? Was there a punch line, by Spock or anybody else? I’ve seen the episode but can’t remember, it’s been so long. I just remember two Jewish actors looking happy to hear about Jesus.:rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![jrbor76](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9e8a1a/32.png) [@jrbor76](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jrbor76)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2014, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-watched-a-charlie-brown-christmas-for-the-first-time-and-it-was-not-entertaining/706470/83 "2014-12-10T17:35:27Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > Oh, man, as a child of the 80s, I was Pavlovianly conditioned by [that spinning CBS “A Special Presentation” logo](http://youtu.be/-947Vp_mKjE) to feel great excitement in expectation of a Peanuts special. Every once I. Awhile, it was a different, non-Peanuts special that was on, and I’d be greatly disappointed. Yes. Yes. A thousand times yes. Good Lord, I miss the 80s. My personal favorite parts of ACBC: Lucy: “I’ll give you five good reasons. (forming a fist) One, two, three, four, _five!_” Linus: (sheepishly): “Those are good reasons. Christmas is not only getting too commercial, it’s getting too dangerous.” And Snoopy’s reaction to Lucy’s “kissed by a dog” freakout just kills me every year. _BLEEEAAHH!_ ---
**Author:** ![Airk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9de053/32.png) [@Airk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airk)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2014, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-watched-a-charlie-brown-christmas-for-the-first-time-and-it-was-not-entertaining/706470/84 "2014-12-10T19:18:46Z")
Unfunny? What made you think it was supposed to be funny? Mismatched expectations, sir. Peanuts is funny the same way life is funny. Irregularly and often when you least expect it. ---
**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 10, 2014, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-watched-a-charlie-brown-christmas-for-the-first-time-and-it-was-not-entertaining/706470/85 "2014-12-10T20:03:36Z")
> [@sciurophobic](#): > > I just remember two Jewish actors looking happy to hear about Jesus.:rolleyes: It’s called _acting,_ dear child. Here’s a shocker - all the Nazi’s in Hogan’s Heroes were played by Jewish actors! ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2014, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-watched-a-charlie-brown-christmas-for-the-first-time-and-it-was-not-entertaining/706470/86 "2014-12-10T20:07:53Z")
> [@sciurophobic](#): > > I just remember two Jewish actors looking happy to hear about Jesus.:rolleyes: So the Christianity that replaces their Imperial Rome starts with their Jews? What’s so incongruous about that? ---
**Author:** ![sciurophobic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cab0a1/32.png) [@sciurophobic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sciurophobic)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2014, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-watched-a-charlie-brown-christmas-for-the-first-time-and-it-was-not-entertaining/706470/87 "2014-12-10T20:17:24Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > It’s called _acting,_ dear child. > > Here’s a shocker - all the Nazi’s in Hogan’s Heroes were played by Jewish actors! Yes, but Werner Klemperer only agreed to play Col. Klink if he was always a bumbling failure. ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2014, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-watched-a-charlie-brown-christmas-for-the-first-time-and-it-was-not-entertaining/706470/88 "2014-12-10T20:46:09Z")
> [@sciurophobic](#): > > I just remember two Jewish actors looking happy to hear about Jesus.:rolleyes: As someone has already said, it’s acting. I have a quote from the late, great, Sir John Gielgud: _“I’m an actor! Of course I can play a heterosexual!”_ ---
**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 10, 2014, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-watched-a-charlie-brown-christmas-for-the-first-time-and-it-was-not-entertaining/706470/89 "2014-12-10T20:54:33Z")
> [@Bullitt](#): > > In ST:TOS’s Bread and Circuses, at the end when Uhura points out it’s not the sun in the sky they’re worshiping but rather the Son of God, did Spock say anything? Was there a punch line, by Spock or anybody else? I’ve seen the episode but can’t remember, it’s been so long. Rather than Shatner or Nimoy I’d be interested to have seen Roodenberry’s reaction. He was a confirmed atheist and deliberately avoided having any religion in Star Trek. It wasn’t hard being that TV networks don’t like opening that can of worms in general, but behind the scenes he also firmly believed that religion would seriously wane in a technologically advanced future like Trek. ---
**Author:** ![Drunky\_Smurf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drunky_smurf/32/449_2.png) [@Drunky\_Smurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drunky_Smurf)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2014, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-watched-a-charlie-brown-christmas-for-the-first-time-and-it-was-not-entertaining/706470/90 "2014-12-10T21:47:41Z")
> [@Freudian\_Slit](#): > > I guess like most Americans, I prefer my Christmas more Santa/reindeer infused and less Jesus heavy. According to this poll most Americans prefer their Christmas more Jesusy that Santay. > **[67% Say Christmas Should Be More About Jesus Than Santa Claus](https://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/lifestyle/holidays/december_2013/67_say_christmas_should_be_more_about_jesus_than_santa_claus)** > > With the increasing commercialization of Christmas, the religious importance of the holiday often gets buried - but not in the minds of most Americans.Sixty-seven percent (67%) of American Adults still think Christmas should be more about Jesus... I missed CBC this year but I have it on DVD so I’ll still get it in before Christmas. Maybe on Friday I’ll watch the specials. ---
**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 11, 2014, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-watched-a-charlie-brown-christmas-for-the-first-time-and-it-was-not-entertaining/706470/91 "2014-12-11T00:17:33Z")
> [@Amateur\_Barbarian](#): > > Violet and Peppermint Patty are gay, by the way. Sure it wasn’t Marcie and Peppermint Patty? :dubious: **[Voice of Leonard Hofsteader]**: Marcie was a lesbian. Peppermint Patty was just athletic. 😃 ---
**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 11, 2014, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-watched-a-charlie-brown-christmas-for-the-first-time-and-it-was-not-entertaining/706470/92 "2014-12-11T00:20:55Z")
Actually, it would make more sense if Violet and _Patty_ were gay. [![](http://img1.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20130728070601/peanuts/images/b/bb/Violet,_Patty_and_Pig-Pen.png) ](http://img1.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20130728070601/peanuts/images/b/bb/Violet,_Patty_and_Pig-Pen.png) ---
**Author:** ![Kimballkid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b5a626/32.png) [@Kimballkid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimballkid)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 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/706470/93 "2014-12-11T16:18:15Z")
I thought Violet was the one with the naturally curly hair. ---
**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 11, 2014, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-watched-a-charlie-brown-christmas-for-the-first-time-and-it-was-not-entertaining/706470/94 "2014-12-11T16:24:00Z")
> [@Kimballkid](#): > > I thought Violet was the one with the naturally curly hair. That’s Frieda. [![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/e/ef/Frieda_(Peanuts).png) ](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/e/ef/Frieda_(Peanuts).png) ---
**Author:** ![Kimballkid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b5a626/32.png) [@Kimballkid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimballkid)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2014, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-watched-a-charlie-brown-christmas-for-the-first-time-and-it-was-not-entertaining/706470/95 "2014-12-11T20:58:47Z")
Our local cable company is running the show for free on their Video On Demand channel this month. ---
**Author:** ![AtomicDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ac91a4/32.png) [@AtomicDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AtomicDog)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2014, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-watched-a-charlie-brown-christmas-for-the-first-time-and-it-was-not-entertaining/706470/96 "2014-12-12T00:40:18Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > Sure it wasn’t Marcie and Peppermint Patty? :dubious: > > **[Voice of Leonard Hofsteader]**: Marcie was a lesbian. Peppermint Patty was just athletic. 😃 Both of them have a crush on Charlie Brown. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2014, 6:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-watched-a-charlie-brown-christmas-for-the-first-time-and-it-was-not-entertaining/706470/97 "2014-12-13T06:32:27Z")
Maybe they swing both ways. ---
**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 13, 2014, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-watched-a-charlie-brown-christmas-for-the-first-time-and-it-was-not-entertaining/706470/98 "2014-12-13T13:27:03Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > Maybe they swing both ways. Hmmmmmm. Kink-y! 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![Learjeff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/94ad74/32.png) [@Learjeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Learjeff)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2014, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-watched-a-charlie-brown-christmas-for-the-first-time-and-it-was-not-entertaining/706470/99 "2014-12-13T14:53:01Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > MTV generation? That ain’t me. You may have been influenced by it, though. I know I have; I don’t have the patience I once had, watching movies. ---
**Author:** ![Dale\_Sams](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/779978/32.png) [@Dale\_Sams](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dale_Sams)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2014, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-watched-a-charlie-brown-christmas-for-the-first-time-and-it-was-not-entertaining/706470/100 "2014-12-13T18:06:34Z")
> [@Learjeff](#): > > You may have been influenced by it, though. I know I have; I don’t have the patience I once had, watching movies. Ditto. Might be a function of getting old. I actually got a Ritalin script just because I couldn’t sit down anymore and watch anything longer than thirty minutes. Or read novels. I’ve seen maybe seven movies in the theatre in 14 years. I have an HD TV with a great sound system. Why would I pay twelve dollars to watch a bunch of commercials with rowdy strangers? [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=4) [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=6)