In 1965, A Charlie Brown Christmas debuted to acclaim, and it has since embedded itself in holiday tradition. But what many don’t know is how close this beloved classic Christmas special came to never making it on air.
From skepticism over its biblical themes to doubts about its unconventional music and voice acting, CBS executives were certain the special would flop.
The project began when the Coca-Cola Company commissioned the show, with plans to air it on CBS. While the network hyped the special heavily, those behind the scenes were riddled with doubts.
When Charles Schulz, the creator of Peanuts, insisted on including a passage from the Gospel of Luke for Linus to recite, the creative team balked. Producer Lee Mendelson remembered the moment vividly:
“We looked at each other and said, ‘Well, there goes our careers right down the drain.’ Nobody had ever animated anything from the Bible before, and we knew it probably wouldn’t work. We were flabbergasted by it.”
Schulz remained firm in his vision for the special because he believed the message of the show would connect with 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—that it didn’t really translate as well as we thought it would. There were specific negative comments about the music, the piano music, some of the voicing, which sounded amateurish.”
The jazzy Vince Guaraldi score, now considered iconic, was viewed as a mismatch for a children’s program. The unpolished voices of the child actors, too, were 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 went on to win both a Peabody and an Emmy Award, cementing its place in television history.
Source: NY Magazine
