Without a doubt, the most iconic Peanuts TV special is A Charlie Brown Christmas. Every holiday season, the 1965 special is appointment viewing and just about everything in it is iconic, from Charlie Brown’s pathetic Christmas tree to the goofy dances the kids do. (The soundtrack by jazz pianist Vince Guaraldi also rules.) And while the first place status for that special goes without challenge, there's also an obvious answer as to what the second most iconic Peanuts special is, and that’s It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown. Since we’re well into the season where the Great Pumpkin graces the most sincere pumpkin patch, it's high time to determine the most iconic quote from this unforgettable, heartwarming TV special.
It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown aired on CBS in 1966. It was directed by animation legend Bill Melendez and written by Peanuts creator Charles Schulz. After the success of the 1965 holiday special A Charlie Brown Christmas, CBS greenlit two more Peanuts specials for TV.
First came Charlie Brown's All Stars! in June 1966, A few months later we got It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown, just days before Halloween. The beloved Halloween special tells of the goings-on around Halloween for the Peanuts gang, especially Linus. While most of the kids go out trick or treating, Linus sits in a nearby pumpkin patch, awaiting a Santa Claus-like figure named the Great Pumpkin to arrive with presents.
According to Linus, “Each year, the Great Pumpkin rises out of the pumpkin patch that he thinks is the most sincere.” Convinced he’s got the most sincere pumpkin patch, Linus waits patiently all night while his friends, from Linus’ perspective, fritter Halloween away by getting candy. Like the Christmas special, It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown is both funny and heartwarming. It was the first-ever Halloween TV special, as the holiday only really took off after World War II.
That’s why the Peanuts kids say “tricks or treats” instead of “trick or treat,” as that was a popular variant of the phrase before “trick or treat” was solidified. But “tricks or treats” isn’t the most iconic turn of phrase in the film; it’s merely a quirk of history and language development. As it's a Halloween special, and Charlie Brown’s name is in the title, I’m tempted to say “I got a rock” is the special’s best line.
When Charlie Brown trick or treats with his friends, they all get candy, while he only receives rocks. It’s a really funny running gag that speaks to the character’s bad luck. It’s also one of those things that comes up every Halloween for fans of the special.
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