You're a Good Sport, Charlie Brown

Infobox Television
show_name = You're A Good Sport, Charlie Brown


caption =
show_name_2 =
genre = Animated TV Special
creator = Charles M. Schulz
director = Phil Roman
creative_director =
developer =
presenter =
starring =
voices = Duncan Watson (Charlie Brown)
Gail M. Davis (Sally Brown)
Liam Martin (Linus van Pelt)
Melanie Kohn (Lucy van Pelt/Loretta)
Bill Melendez (Snoopy/Woodstock)
James Ahrens (Marcie)
Stuart Brotman (Peppermint Patty)
narrated =
theme_music_composer = Vince Guaraldi
opentheme =
endtheme =
composer =
country = USA
language = English
num_seasons =
num_episodes =
list_episodes =
executive_producer = Lee Mendelson
producer = Bill Melendez
supervising_producer =
asst_producer =
co-producer =
editor = Chuck McCann,
Roger Donley
story_editor =
location =
cinematography =
camera =
runtime =
network = CBS
picture_format =
audio_format =
first_run = October 28, 1975
first_aired =
last_aired =
preceded_by =
followed_by =
related =
website =
imdb_id = 0073922
tv_com_id =

"You're a Good Sport, Charlie Brown" is one of many prime-time animated TV specials based upon the popular comic strip "Peanuts," by Charles M. Schulz. It was originally aired on the CBS network in the fall of 1975.

Synopsis

The episode opens with Snoopy on a tennis court testing an automated ball server, which soon malfunctions and pelts the beagle repeatedly with tennis balls. Later, Sally and a reluctant Linus arrive at the local tennis court to play tennis. But when Linus notes that the courts are "full with big kids". Sally loses her temper and warns the big kids to get off the court "or my boyfriend (meaning Linus) will clobber you!", at which point Linus panics and runs away. Sally, left behind, quietly sits down on a nearby bench and echoes Linus' words: :"That's the only trouble with tennis: You can't play it alone."

Snoopy arrives, and plays against an unseen player. After executing rather unorthodox tactics, Snoopy gains the lead. However, as a result of a few mistakes, he blows his lead of 6-5, (and reacts by ramming the net, beating up his racket, etc.) A one-point sudden-death tie-breaker is held, but Snoopy misses a pass, losing the match. Snoopy responds by completely annihilating his racket. The winner of the match is revealed to be Woodstock.

Peppermint Patty, who is making the rounds of the neighborhood, arrives and informs everyone present about the upcoming Motocross race; she suggests that Snoopy should get a bike and enter. Meanwhile, Linus and Charlie Brown are tossing a football around, when Lucy comes and asks him to do a place kick. Peppermint Patty enters, and convinces Charlie Brown and Linus to enter. She states that the winner of the motocross will win two tickets to the Pro Bowl, so Linus, volunteering as the pit crew, suggests to Charlie Brown that he could enter the race. Charlie Brown agrees, but only if the two pool their money and buy a bike together (following this parlay, Lucy once again tricks Charlie Brown into a football placekick, which she yet again pulls away).

At the bike shop, they purchase a poor-quality bike with what they can afford. When Charlie Brown asks if it runs, Linus replies that "even if the bike walks, we'll be money ahead".

The race commences, with Snoopy (alias "The Masked Marvel") and Charlie Brown promptly wiping out on the first turn with Charlie Brown losing his helmet in the accident. En route to the hospital, the ambulance switches the two around, and Charlie Brown is inadverdently taken to a vet kennel while Snoopy is admitted into the hospital. After snapping out of his daze, Charlie Brown escapes from the vets, pulls Snoopy from the hospital, and they make their way back to the motocross.

Linus outfits Charlie Brown with a pumpkin as a helmet, as per rule that each competitor requires a helmet. After the competition gets eliminated in the various mud traps, only Charlie Brown and Snoopy remain in the race. However, Snoopy's showing off causes his bike to malfunction and he is forced to find a replacement (the tennis ball server). He returns to the race, and having gained a massive lead, stops for a picnic. Charlie Brown eventually catches up and overtakes Snoopy, culminating in his victory after Snoopy's "bike" gets stuck in the mud pit. In spite of the grand prize being a gift certificate for 5 free haircuts (the coordinators of the race could not secure the Pro Bowl tickets, and Charlie Brown's father is a barber), Linus consoles Charlie Brown that it is the fact that he won that counts, rather than obtaining the prize itself

Later, A much more confident Charlie Brown is ready to pitch another baseball game, saying that in spite of his "980 straight defeats", has come to understand what the winning is, and is certain that he will win this game. Unfortunately, Charlie Brown's first pitch is hit right through him, causing him to (literally) lose his shirt, thus setting the stage for defeat #981.