As a die-hard “Peanuts” aficionado and someone who rates the philosophical musings of Linus at the level of Michel de Montaigne, I’ll be the first to admit that 1973′s “A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving” pales next to the Christmas and Halloween specials that preceded it.
The latter two offerings have the original voice actors, and what a difference they make. Lines are delivered — think of Charlie Brown’s cry to the heavens as to whether there is anyone who could tell him the meaning of Christmas — such that they threaded their way through my consciousness. I, like others, took them forward with me in life, which has always seemed to me the point of “Peanuts.”
Charlie Brown and Linus — with a cynical assist from Lucy and some leavening levity from Snoopy — do much of the ideological heavy lifting in the first two specials, but there’s a different character who doubles as the heart, and a plucky example to follow, in the Thanksgiving piece.
You could say — Charlie Brown surely would — that a little Peppermint Patty goes a long way. She can tucker you out, especially if she likes you. A half century of “A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving” means that a whole lot of Peppermint Patty energy has gone out into the world, and I for one have come to admire her and wish more people would do as she does.
She’s the driver of the Thanksgiving special. She wants it to be this awesome holiday replete with connection and good times and buddies hanging out, and she has no compunction making her feelings known.
But we often do, don’t we? Think of the times you’ve overheard someone being genuine. They’re saying how they feel, and they’re not really worried about how they come across or — and this is key — being judged or rejected. Both outcomes are on the table, in keeping with our holiday theme, but that doesn’t matter. You think that person is cool. Admirable.
Peppermint Patty is earnest. I don’t think very many of us are. To the degree that I’m doubtful as to who even knows what the word means. Earnestness is a great quality to have. When you do, you’re OK in revealing your enthusiasm. There’s no need to play it cool. Strike a pose. You don’t lead with artifice, but rather your self.
Of course, you have to have some faith in your self, that if matters don’t go the way you wish them to, or someone doesn’t care or want to hear what you say, that you’ll carry on, earnestness undimmed.
When I was younger, I liked this special because it was funny to see Charlie Brown try to be this master host and holiday compere. Plus, Woodstock, Snoopy’s avian friend, devours his Thanksgiving repast like the turkey in question has done him a grievous wrong and he is delighting in his cannibalistic revenge. I will never not laugh at that.
There are higher stakes here, though. We’re increasingly separated, for all of our digital connectivity. Less separated in something together, which obviously is a large thematic purpose of Thanksgiving, but it’s also a life thing. A community thing. A friend thing.
In the special, Peppermint Patty wants to do something about that within her personal enclave. Just like she’d want us to do something about it in our own lives in 2023.
I get it — she’s pushy. She invites herself places. We all have our pluses and minuses, though, and these seem minor demerits to me, all things considered.
But she brings the energy. You can fake much in this life, but you can’t fake energy. And everything that’s amazing — whether that’s a bond, a love, a work of art, a sunset, a great day out — is laced with it.
Tell people how you feel. Tell them where you’re coming from. What you want. What you’d like to do for them. And if it doesn’t work out, on you go.
Thanksgiving comes but once a year, but earnestness can reward you, and those you care about, at any given time. And how could you not put something to use that provides so much reason to give thanks?
Like I said, a little Peppermint Patty can go a long way.
Colin Fleming is the author of “Sam Cooke: Live at the Harlem Square Club, 1963,” an entry in Bloomsbury’s 33 1/3 series.
Submit a letter, of no more than 400 words, to the editor here or email letters@chicagotribune.com.
Colin Fleming: Here’s why I’m such a fan of Peppermint Patty’s energy in ‘A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving’
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22.11.2023
As a die-hard “Peanuts” aficionado and someone who rates the philosophical musings of Linus at the level of Michel de Montaigne, I’ll be the first to admit that 1973′s “A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving” pales next to the Christmas and Halloween specials that preceded it.
The latter two offerings have the original voice actors, and what a difference they make. Lines are delivered — think of Charlie Brown’s cry to the heavens as to whether there is anyone who could tell him the meaning of Christmas — such that they threaded their way through my consciousness. I, like others, took them forward with me in life, which has always seemed to me the point of “Peanuts.”
Charlie Brown and Linus — with a cynical assist from Lucy and some leavening levity from Snoopy — do much of the ideological heavy lifting in the first two specials, but there’s a different character who doubles as the heart, and a plucky example to follow, in the Thanksgiving piece.
You could say — Charlie Brown surely would — that a little Peppermint Patty goes a long way. She can tucker you out,........
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