TV Special Review: Peanuts Holiday Collection

Stars: 5 out of 5

Pros: Three classic shorts in one boxed set

Cons: Lack of extras, could be on one disc

The Bottom Line:

Three holiday treats

I watch them every year

Classic Peanuts shorts

Where Would the Holidays be Without Peanuts?

Note: I bought the original DVD release of this set and have never upgraded.  My review reflects this.  The current version of this includes It's Magic, Charlie Brown instead of You're Not Elected, Charlie Brown and does have brief making of featurettes.

I've grown up with the Peanuts gang. I've been a fan of the comic strip for as long as I can remember, and I've watched A Charlie Brown Christmas every year as well. It's a required Christmas tradition with me. Over the years, I've watched other specials, too.

This three disc collection brings three of their holiday classics to DVD: Great Pumpkin, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. Also included are three bonus programs, You're Not Elected, Charlie Brown; The Mayflower Voyages; and It's Christmas Time Again, Charlie Brown. These programs aren't nearly as good as the headliners, but do still provide some fun moments.

Disc one is It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown. The second special produced, it finds the gang celebrating the holiday in their own ways. Lucy is all excited about trick or treating and a great party, while Linus talks Sally into waiting in the pumpkin patch for the Great Pumpkin. The second special is You're not Elected, Charlie Brown which finds Charlie Brown running for class president. Can the perpetual loser actually win?

Disc two focuses on Thanksgiving. The headliner is A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving in which Peppermint Patty invites herself, Marcy, and Franklin to the Brown house for the big day. But since they don't plan to be there, what is Charlie Brown to do? The second program on this disc was from an American history educational series that the Peanuts gang did. The Mayflower Voyages isn't as entertaining as the fictional stories, but it does have some fun moments, such as Lucy asking for a complaint box when she finds the New World is, well, new.

Disc three is all about the all time classic A Charlie Brown Christmas. Charlie Brown is trying to get excited about Christmas, but it isn't working. Will directing the school play help or hurt? Also included is a special from the early 90's, It's Christmastime Again, Charlie Brown. While it has no coherent storyline, it picks up several series from the strip in the late 80's and animates them. It has some fun moments, but nothing can compare to the original.

The biggest disappointment for the DVD fan is the lack of bonus material. With essentially three hours on three DVD's there's lots of extra room that could have been used for more specials or making of featurettes. On the other hand, I don't remember these specials looking or sounding so good on TV.

If you're a Peanuts fan, you'll enjoy having The Peanuts Holiday Collection on your shelves to enjoy at your leisure every year.