A Peanuts Roundup

My fellow PEANUTS fans will want to be sure to watch AMERICAN MASTERS on Public TV October 29th. The show pays tribute to Charles M. Schulz. Click the subject link for details.

More info on the show at Newsday and The New York Times.

David Michaelis's new book, SCHULZ AND PEANUTS, has received good reviews yet has not been without controversy, as the Schulz family doesn't believe the book presents an accurate portrayal and unfairly accents the negatives in Schulz's life.

On a happier book note, I recently discovered that last year there was a new book published, IT'S THE GREAT PUMPKIN, CHARLIE BROWN: THE MAKING OF A TELEVISION CLASSIC. I'll be checking this book out. It sounds like it would make a good companion volume to 2005's A CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS: THE MAKING OF A TRADITION.

In PEANUTS DVD news, the classic PEANUTS TV specials are going to be released soon in new DVD editions. The titles, including BE MY VALENTINE, CHARLIE BROWN and IT'S THE EASTER BEAGLE, CHARLIE BROWN, will be remastered and have new extras. However, a line in the press release concerns me: "Each title will feature a new updated look while maintaining the integrity and feel of classic PEANUTS." What does that mean? Are they doing more than remastering? If they're re-animating, no thank you...