Happy Election year! (Wait where are you going?) Well let's talk about Charlie Brown not getting elected. Wait, did this special gives us the ending , that Charlie Brown runs for some election and loses? Also before anyone notes: this is not a holiday related special at all , so we are in the clear. Let's take a look.
"You're Not Elected ,Charlie Brown" was first broadcast on CBS ( might as well say the network) on October 29, 1972 (an election year, the reelection of Nixon ) . The Special does re air on ABC, as part of their broadcasts of "The Great Pumpkin" we will talk more about ABC in this too.
I am not sad that I won, I am sad there is no cream for this coffee
It starts with Sally is unhappy with school and after Charlie Brown and her play 20 questions we found out that she is unhappy about her locker , she can't get it open. (It's 24 left , Sally, 24 left!) Charlie Brown says he will help her with the situation. So the few minutes is Charlie Brown and Sally talking ,having breakfast, and Snoopy made their lunches.(Because why not?,and still no Charlie Brown not being elected ) We get some handy locker tips , after that didn't work out well Sally brings Charlie Brown to her class (Charlie Brown is nice big brother...or Big Brother ) where she presents him as her show-and-tell-project, after Charlie leaves the class he finds out some kids gathered around a student body election sign up poster.
Charlie Brown was then led to the room ...and never seen again/Peanuts
(Wait...tell them) If you have only watched this special on ABC you may be wondering what I am talking about. (We wonder that anyway) The Whole scene was edited out , they even changed the music on the opening. They did keep in the Snoopy making his breakfast part, that is where they started , and the part where he gives the lunch, then jump cuts to Charlie Brown at the sign up poster. (ABC: A Big Cut )
Linus tells Charlie Brown that he should run and he would vote for said Charlie Brown. (Linus a True friend) Lucy volunteers to be his campaign manager (woah Lucy being nice) and she does a poll and finds out that he has no chance (never mind). I guess that ends our special..Charlie Brown wasn't elected. The Joe Cool scene was kept in the ABC broadcast. So the idea turns to Linus running for the president.
You will vote for this face/ copyright Peanuts
Lucy goes around polling students ,with some minor threats added, (aww 1972, you never fail me) Though one person she asks says no, because he is running. 99% said they would , so Linus announces that he was running. Schroeder nominates Linus and compares him to Beethoven. Lucy makes Charlie Brown her assistant. (she is being really nice in this special) Snoopy and Woodstock become Charlie Brown's assistants. Linus is for Drinking fountains, wants longer recess, and against homework and for sick pay. (Vote for Linus)
No Homework ,you say? He wins my vote
The next part of running an election campaign is going to do interviews, so Linus does a call in talk show. Ok ABC edited this scene , they edited the part to just two callers and then the talk show ends. (Cheap) The full part has a couple more phone calls. I am feeling it was removed due to commercial needs or something because it has some funny moments and doesn't seem not to be un needed. (In fact the ABC edit I have goes to commercial break right after the edited scene)
How I feel about ABC's commercials./Copyright Peanuts
Now it's election speech day ,we find out the name of Linus' competition , Russel Anderson, He gives a short speech. Lucy calls it the worst speech she ever heard.(ah 1972) Linus gives a more rousing speech. (Guess what ABC did?) Yep they did edit out part of his speech. (just like the media)
In the ABC version Linus says "I will demand immediate improvements and any little dog who happens to wonder on the playground will not be chased away, but welcomed! "
In the original : "I will demand immediate improvements , I will demand cross the board wage increases for custodians, teachers, and all administrative personnel, and any little dog who happens to wonder on the playground will not be chased away, but welcomed!" They did keep the getting rid of cap and gown kindergarten graduations and 6th grade dances.
Linus has Passion /Copyright Peanuts
Now the last speech Linus mentions The Great Pumpkin and everyone laughs at him. But luckly Linus has a great team working for him and can clean up his mess. (Just like a real candidate) Election day comes , even Russel votes for Linus and it ends up being 84 Linus 83 Russel. Linus becomes president. But as Linus finds out there is a higher power where he can't do everything he though he could.
ABC at the end did edit out at the end where when Sally kicks the locker it opens, but didn't notice, they edited out the part where it opens. That's a funny part because one of Charlie Brown's suggestions was to hit it at the bottom.
A fun fact: this was the first animated special to have Woodstock in it, and we get the Joe Cool theme for the first time here. It is based a set of strips from October of 1964 (you can read starting from here or in color starting from here ) Where he is encouraged to run but in this case , he loses it after the Great Pumpkin debacle.
That's our lookback ... tune in next time when Lucy runs for mayor.
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