Play It Again, Charlie Brown
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| Play It Again, Charlie Brown | |
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| Genre | Animated TV Special |
| Created by | Charles M. Schulz |
| Directed by | Bill Melendez |
| Voices of | Pamelyn Ferdin (Lucy) Stephen Shea (Linus) Danny Hjelm (Schroeder) Lynda Mendelson (Frieda) Chris Inglis (Charlie Brown) Bill Melendez (Snoopy) |
| Theme music composer | Vince Guaraldi Ludwig van Beethoven |
| Production | |
| Producer(s) | Lee Mendelson Bill Melendez |
| Editor(s) | Bob Gillis Chuck McCann Rudy Zamora, Jr. |
| Broadcast | |
| Original channel | CBS |
| First shown in | 1971 |
Play It Again, Charlie Brown is one of many prime-time animated TV specials based upon the popular comic strip Peanuts, by Charles M. Schulz. It was originally aired on the CBS network in 1971.
[edit] Summary
This non-holiday Peanuts special centers on Lucy, her infatuation with Schroeder, and her willingness to do anything to win his affections. In the comic strip Lucy was often seen hanging around Schroeder, wanting him to pay more attention to her, but his unshakable devotion to classical music, Beethoven in particular, was seemingly impenetrable.
Frustrated in her repeated failures to get Schroeder's attention (by, among other things, demonstrating that Beethoven now comes in spray cans), she opens up to Sally and Peppermint Patty about her situation, and Peppermint Patty comes up with an idea to get Lucy in good with Schroeder: invite him to play his piano in concert at the upcoming PTA program. Lucy goes along with the idea and goes back to tell Schroeder, who warms up to the idea, and after thanking Lucy begins rehearsing right away.
The mere fact that Schroeder thanks her for the invite is enough to send Lucy skyrocketing into cloud nine, randomly hugging Snoopy and Charlie Brown in total euphoria. On her way back home, Lucy runs into Peppermint Patty again and thanks her for the idea, but Patty mentions something she forgot to tell Lucy before: That Schroeder can't play any Beethoven in the program; the PTA decided they want a rock concert instead.
Lucy anguishes over this revelation, knowing full well that Schroeder will never agree to it, so she asks Charlie Brown, Snoopy and Pig-Pen for help. Snoopy comes up with an idea: He brings out a set of drums (for Pig-Pen), an acoustic guitar (for Charlie Brown) and an upright bass, and the three start playing with Lucy dancing.
Moments later Schroeder walks by, and Lucy, in an attempt to save face, introduces the combo as his backup band for him for the PTA concert. But Schroeder, still thinking he'll be playing Beethoven, insists he can handle it alone, but when Lucy tells him that the PTA wants a rock concert instead of a classical recital, Schroeder backs out, just as expected. But after coercing from Charlie Brown, Schroeder reluctantly changes his mind. During their initial rehearsal, Schroeder just can't bring himself to stomach the fact that he has sold out his beloved Beethoven.
The night of the PTA meeting comes, and the combo is tuning up their instruments for the concert. Schroeder arrives close to show time, but despite Lucy and Peppermint Patty's pleading, he decides to stick to his guns and refuses to perform, reinforcing his belief that playing rock music would be compromising his classical roots. So now it's Patty who has the dilemma- a PTA meeting without a program. But Lucy has a "solution": Holding up a spray can, she says PTA meetings now come in spray cans, too.
[edit] External links
| Preceded by “It Was a Short Summer, Charlie Brown” |
Peanuts television specials | Followed by “You're Not Elected, Charlie Brown” |
