Peanuts is a popular comic strip about a group of philosophical children created by Charles M. Schulz. The strip began running in newspapers on October 2, 1950, and ended on February 13, 2000, the day after Schulz's death, after which newspapers began to rerun older strips under the title Classic Peanuts. The strip is known for its memorable characters, including perennial loser Charlie Brown, blanket-carrying philosopher Linus, fussbudget Lucy, and Charlie Brown's imaginative dog, Snoopy.

At its peak, Peanuts ran in over 2,600 newspapers, with a readership of 355 million in 75 countries, and was translated into 21 languages. The comic strip has spawned multiple television specials, animated feature films, television series, and two stage musicals. Snoopy was even ranked number six in Animal Planet's 50 Greatest TV Animals.

On February 11, 2000, ABC News aired a Nightline Friday Night Special called Good Grief, Charles Schulz!. The special featured, among other celebrities, an interview with Oscar the Grouch, taped on the set of Sesame Street. Oscar's performer Caroll Spinney, a cartoonist in his own right, made Oscar provide insight into the Grouch's favorite Peanuts characters: While Pig-Pen had his admiration for obvious reasons, and he liked Charlie Brown's eternal hope despite his dismal scores, he chose Lucy van Pelt as his favorite ("What a grouch!"). Oscar ended the segment with a message aimed directly at Charles Schulz, saying "Hey Charles, you're OK! Hehe." Schulz, age 77, died the following day.

Lisa Henson recalls the Peanuts were one of the popular comic strips in the Henson home.^[1] The Peanut books took up half the shelf in Jim Henson‘s library.^[2]

Muppet Mentions

• Linus and Charlie Brown sing "Sing" in the stage show Happiness Is... performed at Knotts Berry Farm.

References

The Muppets

• Snoopy: The Musical featured the original song "Just One Person," which has been used in many Muppet productions over the years. "Eight Little Notes" was originally written for Snoopy: The Musical by composer Larry Grossman, who would later bring the cut song to The Muppet Show.

• The 1978 special Hip Hip Parade!, hosted by Kermit and Fozzie, includes shots of the Snoopy balloon in the Macy's Parade.

• When asked his age in a 1984 appearance on The Saturday Show, Kermit expresses his uncertainty by posing the questions, "How old is Snoopy? How old is Charlie Brown?"

• In the book One Frog Can Make a Difference, Kermit expresses his disgust with being kissed by princesses by recalling a famous Peanuts moment: "Remember how when Snoopy kissed her, Lucy used to say, 'Yecch. Dog lips'"?

Sesame Street

• A picture of Snoopy can be seen briefly in a Sesame Street live-action film "Round Things." The insert appeared in the Sesame Street Pitch Reel and the first test show, as well as later episodes of the series.

• "Happiness Is" from the musical You're a Good Man Charlie Brown has been performed on Sesame Street.

• A boy wears a Peanuts shirt depicting Lucy playing jump rope with Linus and Charlie Brown in Episode 0167 of Sesame Street.

• At the end of a Sesame Street News Flash skit, when it literally "rains cats and dogs," one of the props used is a Snoopy doll.

• In Episode 1157 of Sesame Street, Linda owns a dog named Snoopy.

• In the Sesame Street Billy Jo Jive short "Wrong Way Gets Rhythm," a poster depicting Snoopy and Woodstock is seen in Wrong Way Willie's bedroom.

• In one Sesame Street segment, The Two-Headed Monster uses a newspaper in a number of ways. A Peanuts comic strip can be seen on the front of the newspaper.

• The 1997 direct-to-video Sesame Street title Quiet Time features Telly acquiring advice from The Wise Man, who occupies a booth modeled after Lucy's "The Psychiatrist Is In" booth from the Peanuts comic strips and cartoons.

• In Sesame Street Unpaved, it's pointed out that Telly Monster shares his astrological sign, Libra, with Charlie Brown ("another great worrier").

• A scene featuring Elmo piloting a plane in the broadcast version of "Elmo's World: Transportation" is underscored with Vince Guaraldi's "Linus and Lucy" theme from the Peanuts television specials. The music was replaced when released on Elmo Wonders.

• A girl uses a Woodstock plush toy to help make a letter Z in a Sesame Street film segment (First: Episode 3974).

• In Elmo's Potty Time, Gordon is reading a Peanuts comic (not shown, but indicated by dialogue) to Baby Bear and his sister Curly.

• In Elmo's Christmas Countdown, when Stan the Snowball finds out that Stiller the Elf is in the story, he says that Stiller is famous, "like The Grinch, or Frosty, or that round-headed kid who picked out that crummy tree," referring to A Charlie Brown Christmas.

• In an animated segment appearing in Episode 5509 of Sesame Street, eight astronauts dance on the moon utilizing the same choreography of the dancing kids in A Charlie Brown Christmas.

Other

• Snoopy's thought balloons from the October 24, 1959 strip are quoted in Jim Henson's documentary Youth 68.

• When the babies recruit Fozzie as a bug exterminator in "Bug-Busting Babies" he comments on their outfits and heavy gear, "Hey, if this is Halloween, can I be the Great Pumpkin?"

• The Muppet Babies episode "Comic Capers" made extensive use of Peanuts. Without Nanny to read them the comics, the babies persuade Baby Kermit to interpret a Peanuts Sunday strip. Later, Baby Kermit appears as Charlie Brown, Baby Rowlf as Schroeder, Baby Piggy as Lucy, and Baby Skeeter as the Peppermint Patty-like "Butterscotch Skeeter." In another scene, Baby Scooter, inside a computer, is turned into a variety of comic strip icons, including Charlie Brown. Clips from the various Peanuts animated specials were also used, an image of the debut Peanuts comic strip, and a brief scene of Charlie Brown being drawn appeared in the song "Give Us the Funnies."

Connections

Several performers and crew members have worked on Peanuts adaptations, as well as with the Muppets.

• Kaye Ballard voiced Lucy in Good Grief, Charlie Brown (1962, spoken word album)
• Roger Bart played Snoopy in You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown (1999, Broadway revival)
• Kristin Chenoweth played Sally Brown in You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown (1999, Broadway revival), and Fifi in The Peanuts Movie (2015)
• Cam Clarke voiced Snoopy in The World of Snoopy talking toy/cassette series (1986), Snoopy: The Musical (1988 special), and a This Is America, Charlie Brown episode (1989)
• Stacy Ann Ferguson voiced Sally Brown in It's Flashbeagle, Charlie Brown (1984), Snoopy's Getting Married, Charlie Brown (1985), and The Charlie Brown and Snoopy Show (1985)
• Ben Folds wrote and performed the titular song for It's the Small Things, Charlie Brown (2022), and wrote songs for A Summer Musical (2025)
• Clark Gesner wrote book, music and lyrics for You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown (1966 as concept album, 1967 Off-Broadway, 1971 on Broadway)
• Whoopi Goldberg hosted Here's to You, Charlie Brown: 50 Great Years (2000).
• Larry Grossman composed the songs for Snoopy: The Musical (1975, stage)
• Bill Hinnant played Snoopy in You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown (1966 album, 1967 off-Broadway, and 1973 TV version)
• Jeremy Miller voiced Linus in Happy New Year, Charlie Brown (1986, TV), Snoopy: The Musical (1988, TV), and one episode of This is America, Charlie Brown (1988, TV)
• Joe Raposo was the musical supervisor, arranger, and composed additional music for You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown (1971, Broadway debut)
• Trombone Shorty "voiced" Miss Othmar and Mrs. Little Red-Haired Girl in The Peanuts Movie (2015)
• Judy Sladky plays the costumed Snoopy in various live appearances
• Meghan Trainor performed "Better When I'm Dancin'" for The Peanuts Movie (2015)
• Frank Welker voiced various historical characters in This is America, Charlie Brown (1988-1989, TV)
• B. D. Wong played Linus in You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown (1999, Broadway revival)
• Madisyn Shipman voiced Violet in The Peanuts Movie (2015)

Additionally, Universal Studios Japan, which features Sesame Street characters and attractions, also has a Snoopy Studios area with the Peanuts characters as well as appearing together in parades.

Sources