It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown Trivia

Oct 20, 2023 | Entertainment, Holidays, Show, Television/Streaming | 0 comments

Photo: United Feature Syndicate/Apple

Ed. Note: It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown airs exclusively on AppleTV+, a free window from 10/21 thru 10/22 is being offered to non-subscribers.

As you prepare for your Halloween tradition of watching “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown,” let’s dive deeper into some trivia surrounding this timeless classic.

Mystery Candy Deliveries
After the first airing of the special in 1966, viewers, empathizing with Charlie Brown’s rock-filled Halloween haul, began sending candy to Charles Schulz’s studio.

Lucy’s Football Prank
In the special, Lucy teases Charlie Brown with her infamous football prank. Surprisingly, this was the very first time TV audiences witnessed this iconic trick. In the original comic strip, it was Violet, not Lucy, who pulled the prank back in 1951.

The ‘Sparky’ Connection
Charles M. Schulz, the creator of Peanuts, was affectionately known as “Sparky” for a significant part of his life. The nickname was bestowed by his uncle in reference to a horse named Spark Plug from the “Barney Google” comic strip.

Sponsors and the Coke “Bug
In the early days, production costs for Charlie Brown specials were sponsored by Coca-Cola and Dolly Madison snack cakes. The beginning and end of the broadcast featured these brands. The famous Coca-Cola “bug” adorned the specials for several years before eventually fading away.

CBS’s Salty Reaction
CBS, which had been home to Charlie Brown for decades, lost the rights to three holiday Peanuts specials in 2000. Despite being given the chance to make the first offer, ABC ultimately secured the rights. This move didn’t sit well with CBS executives, who felt they were losing a cherished tradition and loyalty over a few more dollars.

The Mystery of the Great Pumpkin
Schulz’s creation of the Great Pumpkin sparked curiosity among scholars. Many wondered if the legend was based on something real. Schulz received letters from academics inquiring about the origins of the Great Pumpkin story. He playfully suggested they consult Linus for the answers.

A Secret Santa Twist:
“It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown” has a hidden connection to Santa Claus. Schulz originally conceived the Great Pumpkin saga as a metaphor for the hope and occasional disappointment associated with Saint Nick. He wanted to address the fact that not all families could afford abundant gifts during the holidays, and the Great Pumpkin served as a satirical take on Santa Claus. When Linus’s Great Pumpkin doesn’t appear, it mirrors the disappointment felt when Santa doesn’t deliver as expected.

Naked Composer’s Misadventure:
The jazzy scores in the early Peanuts specials were composed by Vince Guaraldi. While working on “The Great Pumpkin Waltz,” Guaraldi decided to take a quick shower. However, he emerged to strange noises outside. Investigating the commotion, he found himself locked out—completely naked. He attempted to climb a ladder to a second-floor window when the police spotted him. With humor, Guaraldi exclaimed, “Don’t shoot, I’m the Great Pumpkin.”

A Toothache Saved the Day:
The voice of Sally, Kathy Steinberg, was only four years old when she first portrayed the character in “A Charlie Brown Christmas.” However, there was a little hiccup. She had a loose tooth, and they feared it might affect her voiceover. Rushing to complete her lines, they succeeded just in the nick of time. The day after finishing, her tooth fell out, ensuring a lisp didn’t spoil her performance.

As you relish “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown” this Halloween, these trivia nuggets will deepen your appreciation of this beloved classic. Enjoy the magic and nostalgia of this special tradition! 🎃🍬

The Average Person Encounters Five Bugs a Week

Oct 10, 2023 | Holidays, Home, Show | 0 comments

Photo by Pixabay/pexels.com

If someone says they wouldn’t hurt a fly, they might just be outsourcing that job to someone else.

A new poll found the average person encounters a bug or pest five times a week.  And most of us WILL squish them if necessary. 

But 20% would much rather report it, and let someone else do the squishing.The survey found we’re more likely to squish a bug if we find it inside our home, which makes sense. 

But 12%… or one in eight people… feel it’s their “duty” to catch-and-release, and take the bug outside.  So some of us DO care.

A few of the top bugs we’ll immediately squish include beetles, cockroaches, and centipedes. 

But only 16% said they usually squish spiders.

Speaking of spiders, the poll found 40% of us still believe the old myth that you swallow eight spiders a year in your sleep.  That’s not really true.  The actual number is right around zero.

Final stat:  The poll found the worst time and place to spot a bug in your home is in the kitchen when you’re in the middle of cooking.

 

Obsessed with a Target Halloween Decoration

Oct 9, 2023 | Holidays, Home, Show | 0 comments

Photo: Target

It’s impossible to predict what random thing becomes the next sensation the next must-have the next Beanie Babies, or Tickle Me Elmo, or Furby, or even Hatchimals.  But THIS is stranger than ALL of those.

Over the past week, a Halloween decoration at Target has gone viral.  It’s a jack-o-lantern humanoid that’s dressed like a ghoul that’s eight-feet-tall that costs $180.000 that is named “LEWIS.”

It also speaks when you push a button.  Its main line is:  “I am NOT a jack-o-lantern.  My name is Lewis.”

Others include:  “Trick or treat, all you creepy crawlers.” “Hello, hello!  I’m so happy you could carve out some time to come out tonight” and “Crooked smile and glowing eyes, I see all your tricks from way up high.”  (Okay, that one is pretty good.)

Lewis is SOLD OUT everywhere despite being huge, expensive, and a Halloween decoration that’s going to spend 11 months in your garage.

But even if you can’t OWN a Lewis right now you can visit him.  Many Target locations have Lewis set up inside the store, and people have been posting videos on social media of “meeting” him like he’s a celebrity.

Videos like those are what made Lewis go viral in the first place, with people saying things like, “Lewis is the best decoration of all time.”

Others have created shirts inspired by Lewis, and people have publicly called out Target locations that don’t have Lewis plugged in.

Target hasn’t commented, so it’s unclear when or if Lewis will be back in stock.