First off, Happy New Year! Second is the Superbowl a holiday? I hope not ! If you didn't know this existed well ,now you do. Some history : This was the first special not to air on CBS, they cut off their relationship. (CBS was seeing other people) So this was on NBC in 1994, until 2002's "A Charlie Brown Valentine" there was no new specials premiered on TV , the next few ones were direct to video. (We covered the two that were direct already here and here ) This one is an odd special for the peanuts (and we had It's the Girl the Red Truck, already) So let's start.
It starts with animal football , of birds playing football for the AFL (The Animal football league) they are playing the cats. (well somebody has a sense of humor). Snoopy is the coach of the birds.
First London, then Mexico City, now the NFL has expanded into animals... some how.
The first 4 minutes of this special is essentially this football game then it rolls into the intro with some jazzy some how 90's stylized. Of course a football based special couldn't be one with out the football gag. (you know that ends) Well know you don't because it doesn't happen. Peppermint Patty and some others appear to announce that a contest is happening and prizes are the a new bike and a trip to the Superbowl ( trademark) Charlie Brown does try to do the football but (now you know how that ends).
There's a girl that was watching Charlie Brown and Linus practicing for the punt ,pass and kick contest. (her name is Princess Leia.)
See I told you.... /copyright Peanuts
Her name is Melody-Melody (ummmm guys,,, did you guys think of this name at like 4:57 on a Friday?) and she will be our girl of affection for the boys. (because that's what it needs) Out for Ice cream they tell her about the contest. (this will come up later) Now back to football, this time dogs are playing the Birds. (I put my money on the birds because the Peanuts).
Make sure you get the NFL logo in real good, yep,that's it /copyright Peanuts
It's the day of contest and apparently , Linus and Charlie both want the attention of Melody-Melody (because who hasn't had a thing for Princess Leia?) Lucy throws the football first she gets 12 feet 3 inches. Her kick doesn't go as well it was minus 8 feet. (irony) Franklin is second he gets 27 feet and 6 inches , while his kick is 16 feet and 2 inches. Peppermint Patty is third at 28 feet 4 inches , while the kick is 17 feet and 8 inches. Pigpen gets 24 feet and 3 inches (woah) and his kick 45 feet and 2 inches. Marcie gets 18 feet 6 inches and no kick , she didn't want to. Charlie Brown's throw is 72 feet and 6 inches. (woah) His kick was 70 feet ,and 4 inches. (woah) Linus' throw was 72 feet and 8 inches while his kick was 70 feet and 8 inches. Meaning he won.
This is Lucy , we have nothing else to say just needed an image here /copyright Peanuts
But, now we can't end it like this now can we? (yes?) There's a twist, Melody Melody is also in the contest. (laughs uncontrollably) and of course she wins. (because of course) Now back to the birds, because of course. Now the birds are playing the bison in the world championship. (What the...?) Lucy shows up and tries to give advice,but Snoopy doesn't listen to her and the birds win 62-0. ( I want a recount) And Lucy gets Chipade poured on her.
Yep , this is Lucy ... hahahhahahaha/ copyright Peanuts.
Linus says he will trust anyone again (even the government) and Charlie Brown uses some Lucy advice on him. (woah) That's the special.
The music featured in the special was David Benoit's reworkings of Vince Guaraldi's scores, and it was a good mix of the music. A thing that I pointed out with the NFL logo it seems it was some deal to work with it ,but also the authentic football team dress the characters wore.
Now our review: To be honest it wasn't a bad special but it was kind of filler , the bird football games were the most interesting even more than our main plot.(Unless the birds were the main plot) It would have been better storywise with out the Melody Melody part , would have even been nice to see a Charlie Brown win! It wasn't a very strong special but it did have some laughs.
That's our lookback tune tune in next time when Charlie Brown and Star Wars had a cross over.