Best TV Show of the Week
Be My Valentine Charlie Brown
on ABC
By Ally Matteodo
The Peanuts Gang wins out as Be My Valentine Charlie Brown was named the
Best TV Show of the Week. This special aired on ABC at 8:00 p.m.
ET on Friday, February 11th back-to-back with another Peanuts gang
adventure, A Charlie Brown Valentine. As Valentine Day approaches all of
the gang’s expectations are revealed: Lucy persistently hopes that Schroeder
will give her a valentine; Sally anticipates attention from Linus; Linus wants
to be noticed by his teacher Miss Othmar; and Charlie Brown simply hopes for a
valentine from somebody. Sally witnesses Linus buying a box of chocolates from
a candy store and believes they are meant for her. Unfortunately, Linus bought
them for Miss Othmar; Linus thought that being asked to clap erasers was a sign
of his teacher’s affection and misread the situation. He is disappointed when
he sees Miss Othmar with her boyfriend. Lucy is disappointed when she realizes
she is not the intended recipient of the chocolate. Charlie Brown doesn’t
receive any valentines at all and is crushed. However, Violet and the others
feel terrible, and offer him some valentines the following day.
This program explores familiar territory- -- the exchange of valentines in
school. The special effectively captures all the anticipation, sentiment, and
excitement revolving around valentines. There are several comical and endearing
moments. Charlie Brown tries to show his sister how to cut a heart from red
construction paper, and Sally can’t seem to get it right, making a diamond and a
clover, but not a heart. The lovable Snoopy then appears and with a few
flourishes of the scissors creates an intricate and enchanting music box
valentine display. After Linus realizes his teacher, Miss Othmar, has a
boyfriend he proceeds to throw the chocolates from his heart off a bridge,
exclaiming after each piece is thrown: “This one is for love! And this one is
for valentines! This one is for romance! This one is for Elizabeth Barrett
Browning! This is for ‘How do I love thee!’ “ After he throws each piece we see
Snoopy and Woodstock catching the chocolates in their mouths and eating them.
Ultimately, Charlie Brown does receive a valentine, although Schroeder
eloquently points out to Violet her thoughtlessness in giving it to Charlie
Brown a day late. Charlie Brown, however, is the eternal optimist, and doesn’t
care. He happily takes the valentine without a second thought. And that is why
we love you Charlie Brown. In reality, Charlie Brown received much more than
just one valentine — after the episode first aired, children from all across the
United States made and sent valentines to Charlie Brown, thus demonstrating the
touching charm that the Peanuts gang had, and still have, over us all.
Best TV Show
of the Week
The Parents
Television Council -
www.parentstv.org
