In 1965, A Charlie Brown Christmas debuted successfully and has since become incorporated into holiday tradition. But what many don’t know is how close he came to this beloved classic Christmas special never airing.
From skepticism about the biblical themes to doubts about the unconventional music and voice acting, CBS executives were certain the special would be a flop.
The project began when the Coca-Cola Company commissioned the show, intending to broadcast it on CBS. While the network heavily publicized the special, those behind the scenes were full of doubts.
When Carlo Schulzthe creator of Peanutsinsisted on including a passage from the Gospel of Luke for Linus to recite, the creative team demurred. Producer Lee Mendelson remembered the moment vividly:
“We looked at each other and said, ‘Well, our careers are going to fall apart.’ No one had ever animated anything from the Bible before and we knew it probably wouldn’t work. We were amazed.
Schulz remained steadfast in his vision for the special because he believed the show’s message would reach audiences despite the risks.
When CBS executives finally screened the finished product, their reactions were less than enthusiastic. Former CBS executive Fred Silverman recalled:
“The general reaction was one of disappointment: the result did not materialize as well as we thought. There were specific negative comments about the music, the piano, some of the vocals, which seemed amateurish.
The jazzy Vincenzo Guaraldi the score, now considered iconic, was seen as a mismatch for a children’s program. The child actors’ crude voices were also criticized for sounding “amateurish”.
But with the special already completed and heavily promoted, CBS had no choice but to air it. What happened next surprised everyone except Schulz.
Audiences fell in love with the heartfelt simplicity of the story and the sincerity of Linus’ message. The special won both a Peabody and an Emmy Award, cementing its place in television history.
Source: NY magazine
by Joey Paur
Source: Geek Tyrant
Lloyd Grunewald is an author at “The Fashion Vibes”. He is a talented writer who focuses on bringing the latest entertainment-related news to his readers. With a deep understanding of the entertainment industry and a passion for writing, Lloyd delivers engaging articles that keep his readers informed and entertained.
