A CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS
ABC, 8:00 p.m. ET
In my new book The Platinum Age of Television: From ‘I Love Lucy’ to ‘The Walking Dead,’ How TV Became Terrific (hint, hint, plug, plug), in the chapter on the evolution of quality TV animation, I list five key stepping stones in the history of television cartoons. All the others are series, from Rocky & Bullwinkle to South Park – but one, this one, is a stand-alone special. And, from 1965, it’s brilliant. This first Peanuts special remains the best, and the best thing about it isn’t Charlie Brown, or Snoopy, or even Lucy. It’s Linus. Watch him closely. And listen to him even more closely, while taking in one of the best family TV programs ever created. It’s one of the few annual TV traditions still worth keeping, and treasuring. Please do so.