Charlie Brown: Realistic little boy or abysmal loser?

We here at CliqueClack take our holiday cartoons quite seriously. Sometime around Halloween we had a pretty intense discussion about Charlie Brown as an abysmal loser or realistic little boy. As we’ve all just enjoyed Thanksgiving and Hulu currently has A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving on-line, I figured I’d release our behind the scenes conversation.

So, let us know in the comments section who you identify with most: Deb and Bob, who aren’t crazy about Peanuts loser-ism; me and Ruby, who see it as a bit of realism to make kids feel better about themselves; Chuck, our snoopy lover; Keith and Carissa, who have fond childhood memories; or Michael, the voice of reason. Either way let us know about your holiday memories tied to a boy called Charlie Brown.

Deb: There is nothing good about anything Charlie Brown … I just hate it all. I’m such a grinch, but that whiny little kid that nothing good ever happens to is such a bad role model for kids — and is that really what you want to teach kids life is? A series of getting the football pulled out from under you and you fall every time? So, so negative … hate that Charlie Brown!

An: You see, Charlie Brown prepares you for the real world. Always expecting the best, but getting the worst, while still hoping for better? Yeah. If more contemporary cartoons focused on realism than if you “dream it” you can “achieve it,” I’d have to deal with fewer entitled kids.

Deb: No, that’s not the real world. In the real world, we hope that people have enough confidence instilled in them that they can celebrate the little victories. I don’t want any kid I ever come in contact with to think that negative, half-empty crap on the peanuts is real life. The glass is half-full, Mr. Schultz — can you not see that?

Ruby: But don’t kids feel better about themselves after seeing this? It’s like when you see someone else whose live sucks, you think to yourself, “I’m so glad I’m not that guy. I feel pretty good about myself now.”

Bob: We [Deb and I] must have been poisoned by our parents or something, because I pretty much hate the Peanuts too … and this coming from someone who had a moment of glory playing Woodstock in a middle school play.

Deb: I do have fond memories of You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown as our 4th grade play. But even then, the little dude can’t even fly a kite. And don’t even get me started on Lucy … can poor Chuck ever have a moment of glory? They give the kid rocks instead of candy, for crying out loud!

Carissa: Interesting. Part of the reason I love ALL of the original holiday specials, from Chuck to Frosty and beyond is because my dad used to watch them with me. Every one reminds me of the joy we shared in watching them.

Keith: I grew up loving the Charlie Brown specials. Heck, my grandfather’s nickname for me was Charlie Brown because I was such a pathetic, sad kid. Plus I’d always lose my clothes when I tried to kick a football. Still do.

Carissa: I actually got a rock in my Halloween bag. I spent the next week saying “I got a ROCK.”

Chuck: I just like Snoopy!

Michael: All of you are freaks and weirdos. It’s a freakin’ cartoon! Kids dig the frantic silliness and the unreal situations. Period. The hang-ups that come with adulthood from you watching and psyching yourself up (when you know damned well nothing is going to happen to you) are your own fault. All of you are freaks and weirdos.  And I love every one of you in spite of them. Now, go watch a Phineas and Ferb episode and dance and sing to the tune therein as if no one’s watching….

Clacked by An Nicholson
on Nov 27, 2010 @ 10:31 EST5EDT