Not All "Peanuts" Specials Were Classics...In 1984, Charlie Brown Jumped The Shark?!? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Brian Damage · 10-15-2011, 10:44 AM

It's Flashbeagle, Charlie Brown 1984

Poor Snoopy, how the mighty have fallen. Once he was soaring through the skies fighting the Red Baron and now he's wearing leotards and dancing to disco five years too late. As someone who regularly listens to the Cherry Bomb music from Howard the Duck, I probably shouldn't be getting on a high horse about how fans of this special should untether themselves from their 1980s nostalgia and realize what a steaming pile this truly is. I'm totally going to though. What makes the best Peanuts specials so enduring is how timeless they are, whereas It's Flashbeagle, Charlie Brown was dated within a year of its original broadcast. Maybe I'm just too uptight about these sorts of matters, but it seems to me that by pandering to then-current trends -- the Jane Fonda Workout mentality, break dancing, etc -- this special devalues the uniqueness of the characters and the Peanuts brand as a whole.

http://www.toplessrobot.com/2011/10/...als.php?page=2

born2late · 10-15-2011, 12:53 PM

The best are the Christmas and Halloween ones. I watched them when I was a kid, and I still watch them to this day. I will sometimes watch the Thanksgiving one, but it's not on par with the others.

Marvo301 · 10-15-2011, 01:27 PM

The biggest mistake the producers of the Peanuts specials ever made is when they decided to stop using Vince Guaraldi's jazz music as the musical backdrop for the specials.

MrCleveland · 10-16-2011, 03:36 AM

I enjoyed "Flashbeagle", but yes...this Special wasn't the best one.

"It was a Short Summer, Charlie Brown" was as good as the Camp Food that they (Charlie Brown and his Friends) were served! (Not all Charlie Brown Specials were THAT Epic, even before "Flashbeagle").

Steve Carras · 10-16-2011, 04:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Damage

It's Flashbeagle, Charlie Brown 1984

Poor Snoopy, how the mighty have fallen. Once he was soaring through the skies fighting the Red Baron and now he's wearing leotards and dancing to disco five years too late. As someone who regularly listens to the Cherry Bomb music from Howard the Duck, I probably shouldn't be getting on a high horse about how fans of this special should untether themselves from their 1980s nostalgia and realize what a steaming pile this truly is. I'm totally going to though. What makes the best Peanuts specials so enduring is how timeless they are, whereas It's Flashbeagle, Charlie Brown was dated within a year of its original broadcast. Maybe I'm just too uptight about these sorts of matters, but it seems to me that by pandering to then-current trends -- the Jane Fonda Workout mentality, break dancing, etc -- this special devalues the uniqueness of the characters and the Peanuts brand as a whole.

http://www.toplessrobot.com/2011/10/...als.php?page=2

No, you're not the only one. I also couldn't stand it, in addition to being dated, it made Snoopy too modern----like too many characters [Daffy Duck's two starring movies, "Fantasy Island" and "Ghostbusters" spoofs,too.]

old grouch · 10-16-2011, 09:38 AM

I grew up watching the Peanuts holiday specials, and to me they still hold up today. I never caught 'Flash Beagle' because I was too old and too cool to watch something like that when it came out. I caught the Saturday morning Peanuts cartoons that came out in the late 80's a couple of times and thought they were terrible.

Dr. Thong · 10-16-2011, 06:38 PM

I think the worst one was a late eighties special where a voice over actor spoke the dialogue in Snoopy's head. While the "thought balloon" device where we could see what was on Snoopy's mind worked in the comic strips wonderfully, not so on the animated version.

I always loved the the crazy laughter-nonsense noises that came from the cartoon Snoopy's mouth when he was trying to get a point across.

They must have realized their mistake, because this wasn't repeated in later specials.

McGillicuddy · 10-16-2011, 10:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by born2late

The best are the Christmas and Halloween ones. I watched them when I was a kid, and I still watch them to this day. I will sometimes watch the Thanksgiving one, but it's not on par with the others.

In addition to A Charlie Brown Christmas and It's The Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown, the other '60's specials--Charlie Brown's All Stars, You're In Love Charlie Brown, He's Your Dog, Charlie Brown and It was a Short Summer, Charlie Brown, we're the best.

Schmoopie · 10-20-2011, 01:23 AM

I have to admit that I love them all; including "Flashbeagle", but I do agree that the earlier ones were the true classics. The newer ones just aren't the same but it's nice that the Schulz family has decided to keep them coming (ie; new specials, etc) for future generations. It would be sad if they stopped making them forever.

Snoopygirl_68 · 10-20-2011, 05:40 PM

I love the Peanuts specials, but I agree there were a couple that weren't too great. The 60's and 70's were the best, in my opinion. I think they lost some of their magic when Vince Guaraldi passed away. It wasn't the same after he left. I never saw the one where Snoopy actually talked, I think I'll leave that one be. Snoopy was hilarious without even talking.

McGillicuddy · 10-20-2011, 08:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Snoopygirl_68

I love the Peanuts specials, but I agree there were a couple that weren't too great. The 60's and 70's were the best, in my opinion. I think they lost some of their magic when Vince Guaraldi passed away. It wasn't the same after he left. I never saw the one where Snoopy actually talked, I think I'll leave that one be. Snoopy was hilarious without even talking.

I think at one point, they showed adults and they were talking normally, instead of Waah, waah, waah...Waahwaahwaahwaah!

Torgo · 10-20-2011, 08:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by markway895

I think at one point, they showed adults and they were talking normally, instead of Waah, waah, waah...Waahwaahwaahwaah!

Waaah?!?

TV Knowledge Fan · 10-25-2011, 12:32 PM

...was inspired by a 1983 daily strip of Snoopy wearing a sweatband, torn shirt and leg warmers, and making some fancy dance moves, declaring in the last panel, "Flashbeagle!". Yes, it was adorable and funny, but what do you do when you're Charles Schulz, and have to expand that idea into a half-hour TV special? He couldn't fall back on any of his previous strips to fashion a story, so he decided it would be a "showcase" for various dance moves by Snoopy, Charlie Brown and the "gang". Vince Guaraldi died in early 1976, and was succeeded by other composers who didn't have the gift he had in scoring the specials. In "Flashbeagle", it was Ed Bogas and Desiree Goyette who provided the music. The special is good, but I consider it an artifact of its time....

steevo · 10-26-2011, 05:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by markway895

I think at one point, they showed adults and they were talking normally, instead of Waah, waah, waah...Waahwaahwaahwaah!

This is precisely why I didn't like This is America, Charlie Brown despite the history lesson. It just was out of place having talking adults.

McGillicuddy · 10-26-2011, 06:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by steevo

This is precisely why I didn't like This is America, Charlie Brown despite the history lesson. It just was out of place having talking adults.

Thanks! I knew they showed the adults at some point. I think they show adults in the movie Bon Voyage, Charlie Brown, also. They just shouldn't have done that!!

10-15-2011, 10:44 AM	#1
Brian Damage I'm Rich Bitch Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 03, 2002 Location: What Ain't No Country I Ever Heard Of...They Speak English in What? Posts: 63,108	Not All "Peanuts" Specials Were Classics...In 1984, Charlie Brown Jumped The Shark?!? It's Flashbeagle, Charlie Brown 1984 Poor Snoopy, how the mighty have fallen. Once he was soaring through the skies fighting the Red Baron and now he's wearing leotards and dancing to disco five years too late. As someone who regularly listens to the Cherry Bomb music from Howard the Duck, I probably shouldn't be getting on a high horse about how fans of this special should untether themselves from their 1980s nostalgia and realize what a steaming pile this truly is. I'm totally going to though. What makes the best Peanuts specials so enduring is how timeless they are, whereas It's Flashbeagle, Charlie Brown was dated within a year of its original broadcast. Maybe I'm just too uptight about these sorts of matters, but it seems to me that by pandering to then-current trends -- the Jane Fonda Workout mentality, break dancing, etc -- this special devalues the uniqueness of the characters and the Peanuts brand as a whole. http://www.toplessrobot.com/2011/10/...als.php?page=2
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10-15-2011, 01:27 PM	#3
Marvo301 I'm NOT a Blockhead! Forum Celebrity Join Date: May 17, 2002 Location: The Great White North Posts: 21,450	The biggest mistake the producers of the Peanuts specials ever made is when they decided to stop using Vince Guaraldi's jazz music as the musical backdrop for the specials.
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10-16-2011, 03:36 AM	#4
MrCleveland Drew Carey from Hell Forum Star Join Date: Nov 10, 2007 Location: The City of Cleveland, in The State of Cleveland, in The United States of Cleveland Posts: 14,222	I enjoyed "Flashbeagle", but yes...this Special wasn't the best one. "It was a Short Summer, Charlie Brown" was as good as the Camp Food that they (Charlie Brown and his Friends) were served! (Not all Charlie Brown Specials were THAT Epic, even before "Flashbeagle").
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10-16-2011, 06:38 PM	#7
Dr. Thong a/k/a "ACK!" Forum Veteran Join Date: Jul 10, 2001 Location: New Hampshire, USA Posts: 5,545	I think the worst one was a late eighties special where a voice over actor spoke the dialogue in Snoopy's head. While the "thought balloon" device where we could see what was on Snoopy's mind worked in the comic strips wonderfully, not so on the animated version. I always loved the the crazy laughter-nonsense noises that came from the cartoon Snoopy's mouth when he was trying to get a point across. They must have realized their mistake, because this wasn't repeated in later specials.
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10-20-2011, 01:23 AM	#9
Schmoopie Keep Calm and Love Snoopy Forum Star Join Date: Jul 13, 2008 Location: Lynnwood, Washington Posts: 15,697	I have to admit that I love them all; including "Flashbeagle", but I do agree that the earlier ones were the true classics. The newer ones just aren't the same but it's nice that the Schulz family has decided to keep them coming (ie; new specials, etc) for future generations. It would be sad if they stopped making them forever.
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10-15-2011, 12:53 PM	#2
born2late Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Oct 01, 2011 Location: Tn Posts: 360	The best are the Christmas and Halloween ones. I watched them when I was a kid, and I still watch them to this day. I will sometimes watch the Thanksgiving one, but it's not on par with the others.

10-16-2011, 09:38 AM	#6
old grouch Member Senior Member Join Date: May 13, 2010 Location: montana Posts: 1,877	I grew up watching the Peanuts holiday specials, and to me they still hold up today. I never caught 'Flash Beagle' because I was too old and too cool to watch something like that when it came out. I caught the Saturday morning Peanuts cartoons that came out in the late 80's a couple of times and thought they were terrible.

10-20-2011, 05:40 PM	#10
Snoopygirl_68 Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Apr 01, 2007 Location: Reading PA Posts: 46	I love the Peanuts specials, but I agree there were a couple that weren't too great. The 60's and 70's were the best, in my opinion. I think they lost some of their magic when Vince Guaraldi passed away. It wasn't the same after he left. I never saw the one where Snoopy actually talked, I think I'll leave that one be. Snoopy was hilarious without even talking.

10-25-2011, 12:32 PM	#13
TV Knowledge Fan Member Senior Member Join Date: Mar 29, 2006 Location: Long Branch, N.J. Posts: 2,577	"It's Flashbeagle, Charlie Brown"... ...was inspired by a 1983 daily strip of Snoopy wearing a sweatband, torn shirt and leg warmers, and making some fancy dance moves, declaring in the last panel, "Flashbeagle!". Yes, it was adorable and funny, but what do you do when you're Charles Schulz, and have to expand that idea into a half-hour TV special? He couldn't fall back on any of his previous strips to fashion a story, so he decided it would be a "showcase" for various dance moves by Snoopy, Charlie Brown and the "gang". Vince Guaraldi died in early 1976, and was succeeded by other composers who didn't have the gift he had in scoring the specials. In "Flashbeagle", it was Ed Bogas and Desiree Goyette who provided the music. The special is good, but I consider it an artifact of its time....