5 Fun Facts About ‘I Want A Dog For Christmas, Charlie Brown’

Holiday specials are continuing to air on television as Christmas draws closer, and ABC will be continuing its lineup of specials with an airing of “I Want A Dog For Christmas, Charlie Brown,” tonight at 8 p.m. EST.

While the special isn’t as well-known as the other Peanuts’ holiday special, “A Charlie Brown Christmas,” it’s still a story that is sure to bring fun to the whole family. The story, which follows Linus and Lucy’s younger brother Rerun in his quest to get a dog, is something that everyone can enjoy.

Before watching, enjoy these five fun facts before it airs.

The Special Is Composed Entirely From Prior Comic Strips

Like all of the other specials that came after Charles Schulz died in 2000, “I Want A Dog For Christmas, Charlie Brown” is composed by a conglomeration of prior strips Schulz had written, which gives it a purity similar to the older specials in the series.

This Was The Fourth Christmas Special In The “Peanuts” Universe

This special, which first aired in 2003, is the fourth holiday one to feature the “Peanuts” characters. It came after “A Charlie Brown Christmas,” in 1965, “It’s Christmastime Again, Charlie Brown,” in 1992, and “Charlie Brown’s Christmas Tales,” in 2002. There has not been another Christmas special since.

There Is A Small Connection To The Original Special

“A Charlie Brown Christmas” is often characterized by the song “Christmastime is Here.” While it isn’t a core focus of this special, the song does play as background music.

Snoopy’s Siblings Are Featured In This Special For The Second Time

To try and help Rerun with his request, Charlie Brown and Snoopy write to his brother Spike in California, to see if he will come to be with Rerun. Spike agrees, though he quickly winds up being taken by Lucy to be fed before it becomes clear that their mother still won’t let Rerun keep the dog. After Charlie Brown unsuccessfully finds Spike a home in town, he heads back to California.

Snoopy’s siblings, prior to the special had only been seen before in 1991’s “Snoopy’s Reunion.” This was the second time that Spike, Marbles, Olaf and Andy were mentioned.

It Ends With Charlie Brown Breaking The “Fourth Wall”

Charlie Brown breaks the fourth wall in this special, directly addressing the audience at one point to ask “When does it all end?” He later answers his own question, by stating “after the credits.”

Catch “I Want A Dog For Christmas, Charlie Brown” tonight at 8 p.m. EST on ABC.