.......and certainly by far this is the best of the Peanuts specials. Odd that the first one was the best, ya know? (And in running down the long list here in the Schulz credits-what were some of those-You're a Good Man Charlie Brown? You'll Find Her Charlie Brown? It's Arthritis, Charlie Brown, etc....You got the point...too much of a good thing...) I associate watching this w/ seeing it back to back w/ Frosty or the Grinch, coming inside after sledding outside in the snow, that famous CBS whirling Special intro, and those York Peppermint Patty(TM) ads. Just somehow all seemed to fit, back in '74 and now.

The animation-sure it's sloppy, typical TV '60's stuff-Schulz always said he didn't like this show nearly as much as everyone else seemed too-it was too rushed-but it does work. The best parts-the singing at the end, the great Linus speech-have resonated down thru the years and continue to hit home even now.

I don't expect there to be a better Christmas special ever.

****

Every year, I inevitably watch part or all of this special. Charlie Brown's search for the true spirit of Christmas always has resonance at this time of the year. It's no wonder that this is a Christmas classic. With the constant commercialization of the Holidays, Charlie's plight and Linus' speech is a great antidote. "My own dog gone commercial. Arg!" Now that say it all.

It's always poignant when Linus takes center stage to explain the meaning of Christmas. It is something beyond a simple TV show. It transcends mere entertainment.

Beside the big Linus speech, there is an innocent humor about the show. Many of the jokes leave me with a smile. And a scrawny tree is forever known as a Charlie Brown Christmas tree. It's a cultural touchstone.

This might just be the best kid's Christmas special ever. RUDOLPH THE RED-NOSED REINDEER and HOW THE GRINCH STOLE Christmas are very, very close but I think I'd give this film the nod for two major reasons. First, the music by Vince Guaraldi is amazing--and one of the best sound tracks ever. Second, Charles Shultz insisted that this Christmas special actually talk about the REAL meaning of Christmas--with a reading from Luke of the Christmas story. Oddly, studio executives were apparently worried this might offend people! Imagine the gall of mentioning Jesus in a Christmas story!! This special is also amazing because it was the first Charlie Brown cartoon and subsequent films using the characters never quite matched this first great film and its success led to these other Peanuts films.