Viewing It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown has become one of the holiday's traditions, whether you watch it on TV or on DVD. One of my favorite childhood memories concerns the entire family sitting together in front of the TV watching this holiday classic. I'm so fond of the memory, I'm almost sure it actually happened.
This was the third animated special based on the beloved Peanuts comic strip. With Halloween on the way, Linus writes this year's letter to the Great Pumpkin, certain that he won't be skunked again this time. The rest of the Peanuts gang is making their own preparations, but there's still time for Charlie Brown to get tricked by that bunghole Lucy with her damn football. (Since I was in fifth grade, I've been certain that Lucy grew up to be Roseanne. Anybody disagree?)
On Halloween night, Linus holds vigil in the pumpkin patch, missing all the Halloween fun once again. Love-struck Sally stays with him. Charlie Brown has his typical luck during the trick-or-treating("I got a rock..."), and then it's off to the Halloween party! Snoopy has one of his epic Red Baron hallucinations, and Linus endures the taunts of his friends over missing all the fun once again by wasting his time in the pumpkin patch. Does his vigilance pay off? You probably know, but I won't ruin it for the five people who haven't seen this yet. And if you haven't what in the blue hell are you thinking? Quit putting it off and rent the damn thing!
Like the Garfield special, the pace of this show is pretty slow by today's standards. It still works its magic though, my nephew has watched it on more than one occasion, without squirming around and getting distracted. It can be tough to find Halloween viewing that is suitable for the entire family, and It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown is one of the better options. You can check right here to see when it's airing (hint: this Thursday) and to get the local time, so you've got no excuse for missing it this year!
I have a glow in the dark t-shirt with all of them on it. :-D You may have seen me in it once or twice.
ReplyDeleteIndeed I have!
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