1965, charlie brown’s christmas It debuted to critical acclaim and has since become a holiday tradition. But what many people don’t know is that this beloved classic Christmas special almost never made it to air.
From doubts about its biblical themes to doubts about its unconventional music and voice acting, CBS executives were certain the special would be a flop.
The project began when The Coca-Cola Company commissioned the show, which was scheduled to air on CBS. While the Internet is hyping up the situation, those behind the scenes are full of doubts.
when Charles Schulzcreator of peanutInsisting on including a passage from the Gospel of Luke for Linus to recite, the creative team balked. Producer Lee Mendelson remembers that moment clearly:
“We looked at each other and said, ‘Well, our careers are over.'” No one had animated anything from the Bible before, and we knew it probably wouldn’t work. We were shocked by this.
Schultz’s vision for the special remains steadfast because he believes the show’s message will resonate with viewers despite the risks.
When CBS executives finally screened the finished product, their reaction was less than enthusiastic. Former CBS executive Fred Silverman recalled:
“The general reaction was disappointment – it didn’t translate as well as we thought. There were specific negative comments about the music, the piano music, some of the sounds, it sounded amateurish.
jazz Vince Guaraldi The score, now considered iconic, was considered inappropriate for a children’s show. The child actors’ unedited voices were also criticized for sounding “amateur”.
But with the special already completed and heavily promoted, CBS had no choice but to air it. What happened next surprised everyone but Schutz.
Audiences fell in love with the heartfelt simplicity of the story and the sincerity of Linus’s message. The special went on to win a Peabody Award and an Emmy Award, cementing its place in television history.
Source: New York Magazine
