In 1965 Coca-Cola commissioned someone to write a Christmas special that they would pay for, promote, and then use to advertise their product during the holiday season. The special was put together in record time and submitted to CBS in time for Christmas, 1965.
But the professional TV people at CBS didn’t like it. They didn’t like the amateur voices, they thought the pace was too slow and they didn’t like the portion where one of the characters read from the King James Bible. The homely, jazzy piano music catered to neither children nor adults. And the message was too traditional, didn’t line up with the commercial feel they were trying to generate.
But it was too late. They had already committed to Coca-Cola that they would have a Christmas special for them. They aired it.
“A Charlie Brown Christmas” went on to become one of the most popular Christmas specials of all time, garnering a 50 on the overnight Neilsen rating – 50% of the households in the US that owned a television tuned in to watch. The show won an Emmy and a Peabody award.
It’s time for you to stop caring what the “professionals” think.
Ahh so very true! The pros get it wrong all the time! This is my absolute favorite must see Christmas show. Quickly followed by Christmas Vacation.
Thanks Shawn!