Is This Goodbye, Charlie Brown? is the twenty-fourth prime-time animated Peanuts TV special, by Charles M. Schulz. It originally aired on the CBS network on February 21, 1983. It mainly focuses on Linus and Lucy
Plot
Linus is spending time with his security blanket, but is stalked by Snoopy, who attempts to use various disguises to steal it from him but being recognized every time. Eventually, Snoopy cuts his losses and simply grabs the blanket along with Linus, swinging him away before claiming it for himself. Linus promptly steals it back.
Linus calls the Brown house to relay some news to Charlie Brown, but Sally picks up and deludes herself into thinking her "Sweet Babboo" is asking her to the movies, despite his repeated insistence he is not, and declares she will wait on the front steps for him. Eventually, Linus is able to talk to Charlie Brown, explaining he needs to tell him something important. Meeting later, he informs Charlie Brown that his father has been transferred to a new job, meaning he and Lucy will be moving away. Stunned, Charlie Brown shares this news with Sally, but she remains steadfast in her belief that Linus is taking her to the movies.
Lucy relays the same news to Schroeder by gifting him a photo of herself. Schroeder does not take this seriously, however, claiming he would prefer if she moved away. Charlie Brown, who is taking the news of the van Pelt's departure hard, tries to visit Lucy's psychiatry booth to talk about how much he will miss Linus, unintentionally insulting Lucy when he fails to mention she will be leaving too. She passes him off to the new owner of the booth, Snoopy, who changes the cost from 5 cents to 50 cents, to his owner's outrage. Lucy finds Sally still waiting for Linus and tries to tell her the family is moving, but Sally refuse to believe this.
Linus and Lucy host a going away party, catered by Joe Cool. Charlie Brown tries to get Sally to attend, but Sally remains on the porch waiting for Linus to pick her up. The party proves ill-fated when Snoopy serves everyone dog food.
The next day, Linus and Lucy bid Charlie Brown their final goodbyes. As their van pulls out of the driveway, Linus decides to gift Snoopy his beloved security blanket as a way to remember him. Charlie Brown sadly returns home, where he finds Sally still waiting on the porch and firmly tells her Linus moved away. Sally marches inside angrily, claiming betrayal. Schroeder comes along and is surprised to hear from Charlie Brown that Linus and Lucy actually moved away. He finds himself upset at this, regretfully stating, "I never even said goodbye".
Later, Charlie Brown receives a rather depressing postcard from Linus, describing the trip and how hard he and Lucy are taking the move. Schroeder tries to practice piano, but can only think of Lucy, stating with incredulity, "Don't tell me I've grown accustomed to that face." Charlie Brown expresses his sadness to Peppermint Patty, who tells Marcie they should help him out. Marcie teases Peppermint Patty over her crush on Charlie Brown, which Peppermint Patty naturally denies. She tries to convince herself otherwise, but in the middle of the night she decides to call him. Charlie Brown is so tired he barely says anything on the call, while Peppermint Patty invites him on a date to the movies, only she becomes so caught up in her usual thoughts that she convinces herself he is asking her, and hangs up. Charlie Brown is merely left wondering what he is doing out of bed and by the phone, noting he feels like he dreamed he was talking to Peppermint Patty.
Marcie finds Peppermint Patty waiting for Charlie Brown to pick her up on her date, and later learns from Charlie Brown about his dream. Realizing what happened, she tries to relay this to Peppermint Patty, but she does not believe her and continues waiting. Later, she angrily calls Charlie Brown to chew him out over standing her up, but then claims to forgive him. A confused Charlie Brown declares, "I never know what's going on". He gives Sally one of Linus' postcards: she is incensed when she reads Linus ask her if she has seen any good movies lately.
Just as Charlie Brown depressedly walks through the neighborhood, he is shocked to see the van Pelt's minivan and moving truck returning to the house. He runs to the front and happily reunites with Linus, who explains their father did not like the new job and they decided to move back. Lucy is annoyed that the neighborhood barely changed in the week they were gone. She returns to Schroeder's house and declares to the shocked musician "Your sweetie is back!" Linus meets Snoopy, who graciously returns his blanket to him.
Soundtrack
01. "Is This Goodbye Title Theme"
02. "Sally's Phonecall"
03. "Psychiatric Help"
04. "Snoopy's Catering"
05. "Is This Goodbye"
06. "Postcard"
07. "Midnight Calls"
08. "Marcy's Advice"
09. "Linus & Lucy Return"
10. "Is This Goodbye Credits Theme"
Notes
- This is the fourth time Snoopy says "Hey!", the previous three times being He's Your Dog, Charlie Brown, A Boy Named Charlie Brown and It's the Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown.
- This is the first Peanuts production to feature Judy Munsen as the sole composer.
- It is unknown why Rerun is not in the car when the Van Pelts leave or in any part of the special despite him being a character in the specials and comic strip already.
- This special was originally going to be called This is Goodbye, Charlie Brown.
- The scene where Schroeder plays a tune and Lucy's face appears on the notes was also seen in Play It Again, Charlie Brown.
- The primary storyline for Is This Goodbye, Charlie Brown? is based on newspaper strips that first appeared between May 9 and May 21, 1966. These are reprinted in the books The Unsinkable Charlie Brown and volume 8 of The Complete Peanuts.
- The faces of Mr. and Mrs. van Pelt are briefly visible when the car pulls out of the driveway, making this the only time that a major character's parents (other than Snoopy's) were ever depicted. The moving people as well are briefly shown.
- This is the second piece of animated material in which Linus gives up his blanket (the first time being in A Boy Named Charlie Brown). This time, he does not seem to go through major withdrawal or feel sorry for giving it up.
- This special was nominated for the Emmy Award for Outstanding Animated Program (as was What Have We Learned, Charlie Brown?).
- The animation of Snoopy spinning Linus and his blanket around seen at the cold opening of this special would later be used again in the segment "Lost Blanket" of the 1983 The Charlie Brown and Snoopy Show episode "Snoopy: Team Manager".
Goof
- When Snoopy serves lunch to the gang, his Joe Cool sunglasses disappear.
Voice cast
- Brad Kesten – Charlie Brown
- Jeremy Schoenberg – Linus van Pelt
- Angela Lee – Lucy van Pelt
- Michael Dockery – Marcie/Shermy
- Stacy Heather Tolkin – Sally Brown
- Victoria Vargas – Peppermint Patty
- Kevin Brando – Schroeder/Franklin
- Bill Melendez – Snoopy
Patty, Violet, "Pig-Pen" and Roy appear, but they are silent.
Gallery
External links
- [[IMDB:tt0123119|Is This Goodbye, Charlie Brown? on the Internet Movie Database.]
- Is This Goodbye, Charlie Brown? on AllMovie.