It used to be that the corresponding Peanuts holiday TV special was the thing to watch when the fall and winter holiday season came around. Now, families have so many TV and movie choices for Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas specials, the Peanuts have lost their monopoly on holiday viewing, but they are far from forgotten.
Clever writing, subtle satire, and memorable characters have kept Charlie Brown and the gang popular for over 50 years. The holiday TV specials are still broadcast on ABC every year, and many families still enjoy the classic cartoons. This year, the series experienced somewhat of a revival, with new releases of several different episodes on DVD, including a holiday box set that includes the DVDs: It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown; A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving; and A Charlie Brown Christmas.
We have a few family favorites for holiday TV viewing, so I know that the Peanuts just won't hold the same importance in my kids' holiday TV memories as they do for me, but I still like to share the movies with them and talk about how we used to love them as kids. Do you still watch the Peanuts holiday specials every year? What are your family's favorite holiday TV traditions?
*Note: It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown will air on ABC Tuesday, October 28 (8:00-9:00 p.m., ET).
(Photo © Warner Home Video)