Franklin
Posted on 12/24/2019 8:40:34 AM PST by powermill
Watching A Charlie Brown Christmas has been a tradition for millions since it first aired on December 9, 1965. While many love the iconic Vince Guaraldi score, the humor and the animation, one part of the special has always stood out and made it unique: Linus’s recitation of the Gospel of Luke.
Explaining the true meaning of Christmas in a network television special broadcast to millions was a controversial move, even 54 years ago. In 2015, a retrospective on A Charlie Brown Christmas. Michael Cavna explained Peanuts creator Charles Schulz’s mission in making the special:
Charles Schulz insisted on one core purpose: A Charlie Brown Christmas had to be about something. Namely, the true meaning of Christmas. Otherwise, Schulz said, “Why bother doing it?”
To Coca-Cola’s credit, Mendelson says, the corporate sponsor never balked at the idea of including New Testament passages. The result — Linus’s reading from the Book of Luke about the meaning of the season — became “the most magical two minutes in all of TV animation,” the producer says.
Schulz stood strong, despite efforts to talk him out of quoting from the Bible.
[Executive producer Lee] Mendelson and animator Bill Melendez fretted about the insistence by Peanuts creator Charles Schulz that his first-ever TV spinoff end with a reading of the Christmas story from the Gospel of Luke by a lisping little boy named Linus.
"We told Schulz, 'Look, you can't read from the Bible on network television,' " Mendelson says. "When we finished the show and watched it, Melendez and I looked at each other and I said, 'We've ruined Charlie Brown.' "
According to a recounting on MentalFloss.com, CBS executives also told Schulz: “You can't read from the Bible on network television.”
Mental Floss writer Kara Kovalchik recounted what happened next:
But CBS had made a commitment to their sponsor, so they aired the special as scheduled on December 9, 1965. And, as often happens in the world of entertainment, the original gut reaction of the suits was completely wrong. A Charlie Brown Christmas drew in 15.4 million viewers, placing it second in the ratings that week after Bonanza. A few months later, Charles Schulz and Lee Mendelson found themselves onstage accepting an Emmy Award for Outstanding Children's Program.
And so, the Charlie Brown creator persevered and created a Christmas classic that endures 54 years later.
In case you don’t remember the iconic moment, here it is:
For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God, and saying: ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on Earth, peace and goodwill towards men.’
“That’s what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown.”
Also when Borman, Lovell, and Anders read from the Book of Genesis as they orbited the moon on Christmas Eve. That was one of the most unforgettable moments of my childhood.
No way the Coca-Cola company of today would ever green light the show.
The only part of the Christmas special where Linus is not clutching his security blanket is when he drops it when proclaiming, “Fear not for I bring you tidings of great joy.”
Blockheads!
“No way the Coca-Cola company of today would ever green light the show.”
Maybe...if...Peppermint Patty and her chick sidekick were in a committed long term lesbian relationship, Lionel was a transgender “girl” and Charlie Brown was secretly longing for that cute red headed boy.
Oh yeah...Lucy was a baby mama to two gangbangers with a third, of unknown parentage, on the way. Kind of hard to remember who’s shtupping you when you’re stoned out of your mind.
Took me a while to remember Pig Pen. He would be leader of the local antifa cell.
The one normal, and intellectually and morally superior character would be the black kid, the local BLM community organizer.
Snoopy would be Charlie Brown’s sisters interspecies love interest and they would be in court fighting for their rights because “love has no boundaries” dontchaknow.
Almost forgot.
Everyone’s parents are divorced.
Not an intact family in the bunch. Except for the black kid. Because they’re intellectually and morally superior and much more loving.
Franklin
Here’s the whole passage:
Luke 2:8-14 KJV
And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.
And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
1965 was when the progressive-secular-left began its takeover of the United States. At that time, 99% of Americans were absolutely fine with a few lines of the Gospel of Luke being read in a cartoon.
https://www.christianpost.com/news/the-bible-breaks-dvd-records-best-selling-miniseries-ever.html
At our 50th class reunion, I sought out the woman, little girl that she had been nearly 60 years earlier, who had had the part of the angel making that proclamation in a school play.I quoted the start of that sentence to her, and she had instantaneous recognition. That was basically the start of the play - and she couldn’t remember her lines for love nor money. Over, and over, and over, she was rehearsed, while the rest of us waited.
Franklin!
Was Charlie Brown’s sister named Sally? Can’t remember.
I just saw the special last night. The starry sky is something I relate to in a memorable way, something in the night sky that is Christmas. It’s a presence that you feel, something special that brings out Christmas. I have felt in as a child and this special reminds me of it.
Now there wouldn’t be show like this on TV. Of if there was a Charlie Brown special Linus would be asking Charlie if he got married would it be to a guy or gal or a trans. Charlie would be confused about which of 127 genders he is and Lucy would be talking about how she learned in sex ed to safely in insert a cucumber into a private body part. Yes, times have changed and in my humble opinion not for the better. Innocence has been lost and business is looking how they can make a buck on kid’s new found interest.
Shows how long the leftists have been working against America
the producer died on Christmas this year
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/28/arts/television/lee-mendelson-dead.html
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
