You're in the Super Bowl, Charlie Brown

"You're In the Super Bowl, Charlie Brown" is an animated television special based on the "Peanuts" comic strip. It first aired on January 18, 1994.

tory

Main plot

The main plot of the special revolves around a punt-and-pass contest that the characters are participating in; the prize is a new bike and a trip to the Super Bowl. While practicing for the contest, Charlie Brown and Linus van Pelt catch sight of a new girl in town named Melody-Melody, and become intent on impressing her at the contest. Much to their shock and dismay, Melody enters the contest herself and wins. In the subplot, Snoopy coaches a team of football-playing birds in the Animal Football League. They are shown playing against similar-looking teams of cats, dogs, and bison.

Last names

Marcie and Franklin are given last names in this special - Johnson and Armstrong, respectively; however, these cannot be considered canon, as Charles Schulz never gave them last names in the strip. These names are not used in any other special either.

Television airing

The special first aired on January 18, 1994. Unlike all the animated "Peanuts" specials before it, which originally aired on CBS, this one premiered on NBC, which had the rights to air the Super Bowl in 1994. It is also the only "Peanuts" animated special to premiere on NBC - later "Peanuts" specials were either released directly to video or premiered on ABC.

Video release

This is also the only "Peanuts" special that Paramount Home Entertainment does not have the video distribution rights to. Its lone video release, like "It's Christmastime Again, Charlie Brown" before it, was available at participating Shell stations.

Music score

As with the preceding "It's Christmastime Again, Charlie Brown", Vince Guaraldi's classic music scores were recycled and remixed into soft-rock versions. Guaraldi's association with "Peanuts" ended abruptly upon his death from a heart attack in early 1976. Fans welcomed the return of Guaraldi's memorable melodies that many associate with the "Peanuts", particularly the comic strip's signature tune, "Linus and Lucy". Producer Bill Meléndez commented that Guaraldi's songs were used as a tribute to the late jazz composer, 18 years after his death.

Cast

* Molly Dunham: Lucy van Pelt
* John Graas: Linus van Pelt
* Jim Guardino: Charlie Brown
* Haley Peel: Peppermint Patty
* Nicole Fisher: Marcie Johnson
* Bill Meléndez: Snoopy and Woodstock

Peanuts gang & NFL teams sponsored

* Lucy van Pelt - Los Angeles Raiders
* Franklin Armstrong - Houston Oilers
* Peppermint Patty - Denver Broncos
* Pig-Pen - Green Bay Packers
* Marcie Johnson - Washington Redskins
* Charlie Brown - San Francisco 49ers
* Linus van Pelt - Los Angeles Rams
* Melody-Melody - Dallas Cowboys
* Birds - Philadelphia Eagles