Sadly, we are nearing the end of our Peanuts non holiday special look back journey after this special we cover , we have only 2 left. (Don't worry we will find other things to do with peanuts content) . We did have 3 left with 2 left in in the 80's and 1 left for the 1990's and this lookback takes us back to the 1980's. 1980 to be exact. (Can't get more 80's than that!)
From October of 1980, the 20th animated Peanuts special that aired on CBS (if we don't say that it aired on CBS this blog will no longer cease to exist.) "Life is a Circus,Charlie Brown" is our lookback today. We in for treat this special, it won an Emmy!
Snoopy hears some circus music and that means that circus is in town. (Either that or it's time for a presidential election) Snoopy also harasses some of the animals and sees a poodle and falls head over heels for her because all dogs like poodles. (This won't be the first Snoopy falls for a poodle) Then Snoppy gets dognapped a girl just grabs him then the intro starts. Also, I hope you like over 2 minutes of circus music because that's how this special begins.
Peppermint Patty tells Charlie Brown that the circus is in town and they've closed her school so kids can see it. (Now, that's how school should work!) Charlie Brown also says his school closed for circus. That does seem kind of silly when the story could have been summer, or spring break, or a weekend, but it does sound pretty cool that schools would close for circus' arrival. I think Peppermint Patty and Charlie Brown are dating now. (We aren't being serious)
awww young love/ Copyright Peanuts
We also find out that Peppermint Patty likes popcorn on her cotton candy. (What?) Never mind. A girl named Polly was the one that abducted Snoopy and dressed him up to perform in a poodle show at the circus. Peppermint Patty is the one the figures out that the dog is Snoopy. (Irony) Everyone else is stunned that Snoopy is there.
Are you sure that's Snoopy? That looks nothing like him/ Copyright Peanuts
Charlie Brown is unhappy about Snoopy being there, while the rest thing it's great because they don't understand that Snoopy was abducted. Also Charlie Brown has delusions that Snoopy guards his house. Anyway, Snoopy gets trained by Polly to perform at the circus. He's now called Hugo (part of Hugo the Great.) Charlie Brown notices that Snoopy isn't home for dinner and finds him at the circus being taken away. Snoopy finds that circus life isn't luxurious as it seems when he has a hard time sleeping on the circus train.
It's hump day/ Copyright Peanuts
Hugo goes through more training. (Don't look at like that) Charlie Brown is depressed , well more than normal, about Snoopy not being there. Linus is of no help to Charlie Brown's emotions. Hugo on the other hand, has become great and beloved by all who come and see him. Things seem to be going well for ole' Snoop. Meanwhile, Charlie Brown is still depressed. He gives an origin story to Linus on how he got Snoopy.
It was a Tuesday I think / Copyright Peanuts
Lucy waltzes on Charlie Brown's property and decides to shutdown Snoopy's house by boarding up the front. Charlie Brown just stands there instead of telling Lucy to get off his lawn or he's going ot call the cops! More circus, circus stuff. The Colonel who owns the circus wants Snoopy and Fifi, tthat's the girl dog Snoopy fell in love with, to be dye them both pink. What the heck! Polly dumps Snoopy into the pink food color mixture. When it was Fifi's turn Snoopy jumps infront of her and starts mauling Polly. (exaggeration) He does get her to foll into the pink stuff and they run away.
She was pink with sadness/ Copyright Peanuts
Fifi doesn't want to leave the circus life so, she returns and they break up. Snoopy returns on home to Chuck.
It as up against "It' s Magic , Charlie Brown" for the Emmy for Outstanding Animation Award 1981 in primetime. I think that was a better special than this one that doesn't mean that this one is bad. It does make it look at first that Snoopy was unwillingly brought into the circus but he seems to also be staying for Fifi so it's confusing. Charlie Brown missing Snoopy is sweet and you really see that he needs the beagle in his life. It is a fairly entertaining special though, and there's nothing in it that bored me or didn't find fun. It actually felt kind of short even though it was the standard length. Do,check it out though.
That's our lookback, Tune in next time when we go the circus and dip people in orange food coloring.
