On WHO ARE YOU, CHARLIE BROWN?

I loved the annual broadcast airing of A CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS, an animated TV special that I have watched for most of my life. I know that things change, but I am really miffed that the classic Charlie Brown special will not be aired on a major senior network this month. If there was ever a year when we all need the humor, simplicity and wisdom of the Peanuts characters as they dance to jazz in the school auditorium and help Charlie Brown understand the meaning of Christmas, it's this year.

Instead, we can see A CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS for free on Apple TV+ from Thursday, December 22nd through Christmas Day.

The other day, I was scrolling through my Apple TV+ site from some festive holiday entertainment, preferably animated, and I happened to find a one-hour documentary that had plenty of animation. The animation was nice long clips from CHARLIE BROWN specials. That made perfect sense because the documentary is WHO ARE YOU, CHARLIE BROWN?

It's a 2021 documentary about the beloved Charles M. Schulz, the man who created the Peanuts characters.We see archive footage of him, hear him in interviews and see photos of him in his lonely boyhood. There are guests who comment on the artistry and impact of Schulz. It kicks off with Charlie Brown in class and the teacher gives the homework assignment to "write 500 words about who you are." Charlie, the lovable loser, panics. Of course, he does. We follow him through his scholastic drama and we're taken into the life of Charles Schulz.

I had no idea he hailed from St. Paul, Minnesota and had realized his love for cartooning before he was in the 8th grade. I had no idea that Peppermint Patty was inspired by Billie Jean King and that Franklin Armstrong, the first Black kid in the Peanuts group, came about after the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King. I had no idea that there really was a "sweet bamboo" in his life. It's a fascinating hour about a most creative and caring man. And the animated clips are fabulous.

So much of the heart of soul of Charles Schulz came through in the Charlie Brown character. NBC weatherman, Al Roker, is a cartoonist on the side and was impressed by the art of Mr. Schulz. Roker comments on the Franklin character, wondering how he felt being the Black kid in a White world.

Roker is one of the longtime popular veterans seen on NBC's TODAY show. In its first 50 years, TODAY had only two Black talents in its on-air host and contributor history -- Bryant Gumble and Al Roker. Only two in half a century -- 1952 to 2002. The situation is vastly different now. However, what Al wondered about Franklin, one could wonder the same about Al.

If you love PEANUTS and you get Apple TV+, I recommend watching WHO ARE YOU, CHARLIE BROWN? Our world is better because Charles M. Schulz was in it.