This American Tradition Was Just Swallowed Up by Apple: 'Peanuts' Holiday Specials Won't Air on Network TV for First Time in Decades

Tré Goins-Phillips : Oct 22, 2020
Faithwire.com

"[Charles] used to say, 'There will always be a market for innocence.'" -Jeannie Schultz, Charles' wife

[Faithwire.com] You can thank Apple TV+ for this. (Screengrab image: via 'A Charlie Brown Christmas')

For the first time since 1965, the beloved "Peanuts" holiday specials won't air on broadcast TV this holiday season, marking the end of a 55-year American tradition. On Monday, Apple announced its streaming platform, Apple TV+, has acquired exclusive rights to the entire library of Charles Schulz's animated specials.

The agreement—which has sparked quite an intense backlash on social media—is part of a plan between Apple and Wildbrain, Peanuts Worldwide, and Lee Mendelson Film Productions.

"A Charlie Brown Christmas" was the first animated special of its kind, airing Dec. 9, 1965, on CBS. Initially, it was expected to be a flop. Executive producer Lee Mendelson had big issues with the special, which, as USA Today explained, was "defiantly different," because it included no laugh track, the characters were voiced by real children instead of seasoned actors, and the now-iconic score for the special was provided by jazz pianist Vince Guaraldi. Mendelson's biggest complaint, though, was Schulz's insistence the holiday special end with the telling of the true Christmas story—the birth of Jesus... Subscribe for free to Breaking Christian News here

Click Here to continue reading and watch the iconic clip from 'A Charlie Brown Christmas.'