Generations have grown up with the Peanuts gang in print and onscreen, but in the 1970s, television specials like A Charlie Brown Christmas and It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown were only a few years old. Their incredible popularity fueled Charles Schulz to create a flurry of new Peanuts TV specials about everything from election day to holidays like Thanksgiving and Easter. While Charlie Brown figures prominently in each special, he's not always the primary focus; in this remastered, six-show compilation, Schroeder, Sally, Snoopy, and Woodstock each get a chance to shine. In the never-before-seen-on-DVD "Play It Again, Charlie Brown," Schroeder is completely obsessed with Beethoven, and no amount of scheming or flattery on Lucy's part can get Schroeder's attention until she provides him with an opportunity to make his stage debut. Unfortunately, overlooked details derail the concert and any chance of Lucy making a good impression on Schroeder. When the polls show that Charlie Brown has absolutely no chance of being elected student body president at his school in "You're Not Elected, Charlie Brown," Lucy convinces Linus to step up to the challenge. Joe Cool makes an appearance in support of Linus's campaign, but as in most politics, Linus's big plans for the presidency lead to little action. Anxiety over school consumes Sally, Peppermint Patty, and Charlie Brown in "There's No Time for Love, Charlie Brown," and a field trip gone wrong does nothing to lessen their discomfort. "A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving" is probably the best-known special in this compilation and finds the wishy-washy Charlie Brown unexpectedly hosting a Thanksgiving dinner for all his friends. Relying on Snoopy and Woodstock to set up a table in the backyard and prepare an unorthodox meal of popcorn and toast, Charlie Brown somehow manages to pull off a Thanksgiving celebration that honors the true spirit of the holiday. Another first on DVD, "It's a Mystery, Charlie Brown" is the delightful story of Snoopy's and Woodstock's search, à la Sherlock Holmes, for Woodstock's missing nest, and "It's the Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown" finds Marci mangling the tradition of dying eggs and Linus eagerly anticipating the appearance of the Easter Beagle. The 12-minute bonus special about the creation of Snoopy's sidekick, Woodstock, sheds light on how Snoopy's nemesis was created in the 1960s and how the cute little bird quickly evolved into Snoopy's valued companion and friend. Relive your childhood with this wonderful Peanuts collection and be sure to share these timeless shows with the next generation. (Ages 2 and older) --Tami Horiuchi
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