As we go the first Christmas in over half a century without a network TV airing of A Charlie Brown Christmas, an extended reflection on its staying power, unexpected success, and how CBS originally wished they could get out of having to air it at all because they thought it was so bad.Sponsors:Uncommon Goods, Get 15% off your next gift at uncommongoods.com/coolUp First from NPR, Listen wherever you get your podcastsLinks:Charlie Brown Christmas Special: An Inside Job (The Atlantic) Peanuts "Economy Twins" (Ford TV Spot 1960) (Internet Archive) Ford Falcon - Peanuts (1961) (YouTube)  The most famous music from "A Charlie Brown Christmas" was originally written for a different project (PBS, 2020)“A Charlie Brown Christmas”—Vince Guaraldi (1965) (Library of Congress)The Christmas classic that almost wasn't (USA Today, 2005)A Charlie Brown Christmas: The Making of a Tradition by Charles M. Schulz, Lee Mendelson, and Bill MelendezBackstory – A Charlie Brown Christmas (Christmas Past)Aluminum Christmas Trees (Christmas Past)How to watch 'A Charlie Brown Christmas' for free in 2022 (Apple Insider)The Muppets Reminisce About Filming 'The Muppet Christmas Carol' (Entertainment Weekly, YouTube)Brett Goldstein performs The Muppet Christmas Carol in Six Minutes (Live) (Brett Goldstein, YouTube) The Muppet Christmas Carol Extended Cut Finally Gets A Disney+ Release (Screenrant)Jackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.