A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving / The Mayflower Voyagers (1973)

A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving is an annual classic for holiday viewing. It almost doesn't feel like Thanksgiving if I miss it in a given year on the tube. This holiday special is not as iconic and endearing as It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown but the characters are as tried and true and beloved as ever. Our story: Charlie Brown has plans to spend Thanksgiving at his grandma's but his friends invite themselves over for an early dinner at his house; trouble is he only knows how to make popcorn and toast -- but in the end all agree that Thanksgiving is about togetherness and sharing. The Mayflower Voyages is first 24-min segment of the eight-part miniseries This Is America, Charlie Brown that first aired on CBS in 1988 (www.imdb.com/title/tt0307141) and is available on YouTube. It's a kid-informative narrative of the Pilgrim crossing, settlement, and Thanksgiving with the Peanuts characters set as children against the larger tableau (talking about their challenges and fears and participating in the common life). The gang's characters all show through: among others, Snoopy's excitement, Charlie Brown's insecurity, and Lucy's bossiness (being a fussbudget during the crossing and assigning chores upon landing -- "Pretty faces always get put in charge," she purrs). This disc makes a familiar learning unit for children ages 2-9 and a great holiday viewing tradition for the whole family. 4 stars. (11-30-08)