Don’t be a blockhead, Charlie Brown.
Well, we shared the bad news about “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown” and we’re here to share the same news about “A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving.”
The animated holiday classic won’t air on broadcast television this year.
This Charles Schulz classic doesn’t have quite the same strong broadcast history as its Halloween or Christmas counterparts.
“A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving” first aired on CBS on Nov. 20, 1973. The special continued to air yearly on CBS — except for 1982, 1983 and 1988, oddly — through Nov. 23, 1989.
In the 1990s, the special moved to Disney Channel and Nickelodeon.
And, in 2001, “A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving” moved to ABC, where it continued to air annually through 2019.
The Peanuts collection moved to Apple TV+ in 2020 and an agreement was reached between Apple and PBS to air the special in 2020 and 2021.
But that agreement has since ended.
But, just like the Halloween special, Apple TV+ is unlocking “A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving,” so it’ll be free to view between Nov. 23 to 27.
Original story below posted Oct. 11, 2022:
For nearly 55 years, “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown” aired on broadcast television.
But, according to a PBS Kids tweet in September, it seems “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown” got Charlie Brown’d for 2022. And “A Charlie Brown Christmas” also seems to be lumped into that as PBS Kids’ tweet says “specials.”
“It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown” first aired on CBS in 1966 and ran annually each October through 2000.
In 2001, ABC began airing it and continued through 2019.
Apple secured the rights to the Peanuts collection in 2020. That meant, for the first time, Charlie Brown, Snoopy and the gang would not air on broadcast TV.
Apple TV+ and PBS entered into an agreement for the public broadcasting channel to air “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Bown” and “A Charlie Brown Christmas” in 2020 and 2021.
It seems that deal has come to an end. “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Bown” and the rest of the Peanuts collection is available as part of the Apple TV+ subscription, which is $4.99 per month.
But, Apple TV+ is unlocking “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Bown,” so the Halloween special will be free to view between Oct. 28 and 31.
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