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Holiday Specials broadcast question (Charlie Brown, Rudolph, etc.)

T

Tim from Springfield IL

The Christmas Episodes thread also got me thinking about something I've wondered about ever since I was a child.

Why does it seem like the networks tend to program the holiday specials (e.g. Charlie Brown Christmas, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, etc.) as early as a week after Thanksgiving in some instances--rather than hold them until shortly before Christmas (other than rebroadcasts)?

For instance, last year's ABC broadcast of "Charlie Brown Christmas" was to air on Dec. 1, but was moved to Dec. 8 due to a televised address by President Obama.

And a Titan TV listings search has revealed that on November 30 from 7-8 Central, CBS will be airing Rudolph, NBC "Christmas in Rockefeller Center," and ABC will show "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" and "Shrek the Halls"--all opposite each other. Makes me wonder what the reaction would be this year if there's another last-minute programming change for that night like last year for Charlie Brown (such as an unforeseen presidential address, breaking news, etc.)

Then ABC will follow up on Dec. 2 with "Santa Claus is Coming to Town," and while I haven't seen anything that far ahead on the schedule yet I would not be surprised if Charlie Brown will be aired on the Alphabet Network the following week.

Too early IMO. Almost equivalent to if the networks aired Thanksgiving-themed specials or episodes in very early November, before Sally was able to finish her Halloween candy (to paraphrase her quote at the beginning of "Charlie Brown Thanksgiving"). For Halloween and Thanksgiving-themed shows/specials, those usually air within a week or so before the holiday (with the obvious exception of Simpsons' "Treehouse of Horror"). Why are the broadcast time practices of Christmas specials different?
 
In recent years, it seems CBS has had a tendency to air Rudolph twice...I know that was the case last year. And I think ABC has aired A Charlie Brown Christmas more than one time per season, as well. So in addition to the early airings, it's likely they'll show up again before Christmas. I don't think the Grinch normally gets that treatment, nor does Frosty, although it may have happened on occasion and I just don't remember.

A personal note...you mentioned that ABC will be airing the Grinch opposite Rudolph on CBS on November 30th, which I just verified. As a kid in the pre-VCR days, I probably would have been horrified at those two specials being aired opposite each other, and having to choose one. Fortunately, CBS had the rights to the Grinch for years, as well, as Rudolph (and Charlie Brown), so that was never a problem (unless the local affiliate pre-empted one or more for a Billy Graham special, which happened a few times).
 
If it turns out like it has in recent years The Grinch (The cartoon version) will not only be on ABC, but also TBS and Cartoon Network several times during the Christmas season.

It's become where the networks and cable will start showing Christmas movies and specials before Thanksgiving. Hallmark has been showing Christmas movies every day starting Nov. 1. Along with that Christmas Vacation and at least the first two Home Alone movies are being shown almost year round now.
 
I can't watch Christmas specials on TV anymore, after what happened with "A Charlie Brown Christmas" on ABC. 3 minutes edited for more commercials! :mad:
 
Markieo said:
I can't watch Christmas specials on TV anymore, after what happened with "A Charlie Brown Christmas" on ABC. 3 minutes edited for more commercials! :mad:
Click to expand...

How was ABC's telecast compared with CBS's in that network's later years? Before they gave the special up to ABC, they also cut some material out for ads -- most notoriously, the closing musical number that played during the credits.
 
I can't get used to Peanuts being on ABC after growing up watching them on CBS. It's just unnatural, and I miss that great "CBS Special Presentation" intro w/ the drumming etc. Plus I'm too old. (Why were they called "Peanuts," anyway?)
 
Charles Schulz wanted to call it "Li'l Folks," but United Features
Syndicate owned the name "Peanuts" and insisted that the strip
be called that. I don't think Schulz was ever really happy about it.
 
I think THE GRINCH (probably my second favorite after Charlie Brown) is shown in full on
TBS with the commercials before and after. Wouldn't it be nice if everybody did this with
their Christmas cartoons?
 
I think like most things assocated with Christmas, these cartoon specials have been pushed forward on the calendar. There was a time when you didn't hear Christmas music on the radio until at least early December (and then only lighter songs) or see store windows decorated until after Thanksgiving. Now, as we all know, it's much different.
 
I agree that it seems unnatural for ABC to air Peanuts.

Anyone remember when the Peanuts specials were sponsored by Dolly Madison and McDonalds? I still have some of the animated specials recorded from the early 80s. At the time, I thought I was being clever and paused the VCR to cut out the spots and network promos. Now I wish I had let the tape roll.
 
Cincinnati Kid said:
There was a time when you didn't hear Christmas music on the radio until at least early December (and then only lighter songs) or see store windows decorated until after Thanksgiving. Now, as we all know, it's much different.
Click to expand...

Gawd you got that right ! ! !

Back in the early 90's I can recall when Mt. Jackson, Virginia radio station WSIG-FM as a "joke" had played "Grandma Got Ran Over By A Reindeer" in AUGUST. It was a 100 degree day and WSIG felt by playing such a song, well maybe it would cool people off or whatever. However WSIG didn't expect those 100 plus phone calls saying such stuff as "..this is so god-damn stupid ! !" "..how DARE you play Christmas music BEFORE December? WSIG can go to Hell" . Some local businesses even pulled the ads over this.

I can also remember when retail stores weren't allowed to sell anything Christmas related before Thanksgiving and the sight of someone watching on tape "A Charlie Brown Christmas" in July was enough for someone to report the person to the local mental hospital.

Funny how times have changed.
 
mleach said:
Cincinnati Kid said:
There was a time when you didn't hear Christmas music on the radio until at least early December (and then only lighter songs) or see store windows decorated until after Thanksgiving. Now, as we all know, it's much different.
Click to expand...

Gawd you got that right ! ! !

Back in the early 90's I can recall when Mt. Jackson, Virginia radio station WSIG-FM as a "joke" had played "Grandma Got Ran Over By A Reindeer" in AUGUST. It was a 100 degree day and WSIG felt by playing such a song, well maybe it would cool people off or whatever. However WSIG didn't expect those 100 plus phone calls saying such stuff as "..this is so god-damn stupid ! !" "..how DARE you play Christmas music BEFORE December? WSIG can go to Hell" . Some local businesses even pulled the ads over this.
Click to expand...
...of course, given his sense of humour, when he worked afternoon drive on WCFL Chicago, Larry Lujack would purposely pick the hottest day of August to play either Bing Crosby's "White Christmas" or Gene Autry's "Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer," knowing that it was likely at least one of his listeners was dealing with engine failure on the Kennedy or Dan Ryan Expressway :D ...
 
"A Charlie Brown Christmas" is kind of a spiritual experience for me, as I am an avid Peanuts fan. Schultz made a big deal to the execs at CBS about the spiritual content of the cartoon, and would have pulled out if he was made to cut it.

And I agree. It is not quite the same on ABC. I miss the Dolly Madison, Peppermint Patty, and McDonald's ads!
 
Preacherdude said:
"A Charlie Brown Christmas" is kind of a spiritual experience for me, as I am an avid Peanuts fan. Schultz made a big deal to the execs at CBS about the spiritual content of the cartoon, and would have pulled out if he was made to cut it.

And I agree. It is not quite the same on ABC. I miss the Dolly Madison, Peppermint Patty, and McDonald's ads!
Click to expand...

This I would agree. Its not the same but I do have to admit had Schultz would still be with us, how would he had felt about "The Family Guy" and what they did to Peanuts such as having Peppermint Patty and Marcie being a lesbian couple or having Charle Brown being a tattooed skinhead? Some say Brian really IS what Snoopy had wanted to be.

Guess all of this is for a different post.
 
I rarely watch the Simpsons anymore, but I did watch them Sunday night, and they
had a really decent Christmas themed show. I found myself laughing out loud at least
10 times.

I checked the ratings and they tied this season's high with last nights episode.

It's not a Christmas show, but "MR. PLOW" has to be in the top 20 of all Simpsons shows.
 
anotherguy said:
But then you could reverse that and play the Beach Boys' Surfin' USA during the worst blizzard of the year! ;D
Click to expand...
...that, or Sly & The Family Stone's "Hot Fun in the Summertime" ;D ...
 
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