Review of A Charlie Brown Christmas

Along with the following year's "How the Grinch Stole Christmas", are there any other programs that qualify as the most watched shows of all time? Almost from the beginning of this one's 1965 Christmas season debut, it's been a staple of annual television viewing almost without interruption. I've probably seen it a dozen times myself when I was younger, and as new generations of kids are born, parents and grandparents have the advantage of watching it all over again with their families. I hadn't seen it for a long time until I called it up from my local library the other day, and the story still resonates with the true meaning of Christmas in a way that most modern day stories don't even come close. I also took note of a couple items I wasn't aware of before, like 'pantophobia' as the fear of everything (Thank you, Lucy), and a Peanuts Gang character I never knew by name reading the comic strips all these years, the girl with the naturally curly hair; that was Frieda. Perhaps my fondest recollection of the story is Vince Guaraldi's memorable tune, 'Linus and Lucy', and of course the transformation of Charlie Brown's sickly Christmas tree into a work of art by the Peanuts folks. The story is topped off with a reverent rendition of 'Hark The Herald Angels Sing' by all the gang, and is just a fitting way to celebrate every Christmas that comes along. This is a holiday staple I will never get tired of.