How Schulz Fought With Producers to Keep the Message of Jesus in the TV classic ‘A Charlie Brown Christmas’

Charlie Brown Christmas
A Charlie Brown Christmas Celebrates its 50th anniversary Peanuts

A Charlie Brown Christmas was looked down on by TV executives and criticized for reciting the story of Jesus' birth and upholding it as the true meaning of the holidays - but 50 years on, the animated feature has become an annual Christmas tradition on television at least once a year all around the world.

According to the Los Angeles Times, though the cartoon special would soon become a holiday classic that "in retrospect seem preordained," not many were impressed when the animated feature was reviewed by television bigwigs prior to its first airing during the Yuletide holidays of 1965.

CBS screened the feature in New York a week before coming out in December that year. According to the report, the "executives watched in stony silence" and gave television producer Lee Mendelson a condescending and less than enthusiastic response: "Well, you gave it a good try."

There were other things that the Peanuts creator Charles M Schulz insisted on which producers did not agree with: Schulz hated canned laughter and would under no circumstances use laugh tracks in the feature.

Finally Schulz and Mendelson got into an argument about whether a reciting of the story of Jesus' birth according to the passage in St. Luke should even be mentioned, much less declared as the true meaning of Christmas. Schulz was adamant despite Mendelson's belief that religion should not be mentioned on prime-time entertainment.

In the end, Schulz kept his stand and the rest was history. But he wasn't the only one who believed in the timelessness of the cartoon.

"One of the animators stood up and said, 'You guys are crazy. This is going to run for 100 years,'" Mendelson recalled in his biography.

The A Charlie Brown Christmas special had a special quality about its message that made it so enduring that each generation lovingly passed it down to their children, thus ensuring the Peanut special's longevity.

Wikipedia cites three other lesser known Christmas Peanut specials that did not equal the success of the 1965 original: It's Christmastime Again, Charlie Brown (1992): This aired on CBS and was released on DVD as a bonus feature with A Charlie Brown Christmas.

Charlie Brown's Christmas Tales (2002): This aired on ABC and has been released on DVD along with the third special I Want a Dog for Christmas, Charlie Brown (2003), which also aired on ABC. 

    Most Popular
  • Is 'The Last Supper' worth watching? Audience and critics weigh in

    Is 'The Last Supper' worth watching? Audience and critics weigh in

    Faith-based films often receive mixed reactions, and The Last Supper is no exception. The movie attempts to bring a fresh perspective to one of the most iconic moments in Christian history, but does it succeed? Some reviews from critics and audiences provide insight into its strengths and shortcomings.

  • ‘The Chosen’ Season 5: The darkest season yet—What to know before watching

    The wait is over—The Chosen is back with its fifth season, and this time, things are getting intense. The new episodes dive straight into the final days of Jesus’ life, covering some of the most emotional and dramatic moments in the Bible. If you’ve been following the series, you already know that The Chosen isn’t just about retelling familiar stories—it’s about bringing them to life in a way that feels real.

  • Massacres in Syria: Over 1,000 dead, including Christians and Alawites

    Syria’s coastal regions have been devastated by a series of massacres, with reports indicating that over 1,000 people—many from Christian and Alawite communities—have been killed in brutal attacks. Entire families have been wiped out, and survivors are fleeing in search of safety as sectarian violence escalates.

  • Kim Sae-ron and Wheesung: The tragic irony of Korean society and the principles of happiness

    Not long ago, the media was in an uproar over actress Kim Sae-ron’s passing. Just months before, the same people who had relentlessly criticized her for her DUI incident were now expressing sympathy, saying, "The world was too harsh on her." The irony is impossible to ignore.

  • Newsboys move forward as a quartet after Michael Tait’s departure

    After more than a decade as the lead singer of the Newsboys, Michael Tait has officially parted ways with the band, marking a significant shift in the Christian rock group’s lineup. The remaining members—Jeff Frankenstein, Jody Davis, Duncan Phillips, and Adam Agee—have assured fans that they will continue forward, embracing a new season of music and ministry.