ABC Celebrates Spring With CHARLIE BROWN Specials

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The classic, Emmy-nominated springtime special, "It's the Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown" (OAD 3/25/05), along with "Charlie Brown All Stars" (OAD: 4/7/09) - back on network television for the first time since 1982 - will air as a one-hour "PEANUTS" special, SUNDAY, MARCH 31 (8:00-9:00 p.m., ET) on the ABC Television Network.

In "It's the Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown," a holiday is coming up for the "PEANUTS" pals, and that means there's a lot to do. Charlie, Sally, Lucy and Marcie get ready for the big day by making several unsuccessful attempts to prepare eggs for coloring -- by frying, waffle-ironing, toasting, roasting and finally making soup out of them -- while Linus insists no preparation is necessary. Not to worry, the Easter Beagle steps in to take care of everything!

In "Charlie Brown All Stars," Charlie Brown's team walks out on him after losing their 999th game in a row, but hope arrives in the form of an offer for a team sponsor and an opportunity to be in a real league with real uniforms. Unfortunately he learns that his sandlot crew can't play in the real league because his players include a dog and several girls. Rather than breaking the news, he hopes that if they can win just one game, he'll be back in business and the team won't care about uniforms. For a while it looks as though Charlie's Brown's team might tie the score in the last of the ninth and Go On to win. But when he tries to steal home, as Snoopy successfully did before him, he snatches defeat from the jaws of victory. To make things worse, he has to tell the gang that they aren't going to get uniforms after all. But when the gang learns why Charlie Brown couldn't get them their uniforms, they use Linus' blanket to make one for him, and he winds up the hero after all.

The cast of "It's the Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown" includes Todd Barbee as Charlie Brown, Melanie Kohn as Lucy, Stephen Shea as Linus, Linda Ercoli as Peppermint Patty, Lynn Mortensen as Sally and James Ahrens as Marcie. The special was created and written by Charles M. Schulz, executive-produced by Lee Mendelson and directed by Phil Roman. The music was composed and performed by Vince Guaraldi.

"Charlie Brown All Stars" stars Peter Robbins as Charlie Brown, Sally Dryer as Lucy, Chris Shea as Linus, Anne Altieri as Frieda, Kip DeFaria as Shermy and the umpire, Glenn Mendelson as Schroeder, Karen Mendelson as Violet, Jeff Ornstein as Pigpen, Cathy Steinberg as Sally and Lynn Vanderlip as Patty. Lee Mendelson was executive-producer and Bill Melendez was the director. The original score was composed and conducted by Vince Guaraldi.

On October 2, 1950 the PEANUTS comic strip launched in seven American newspapers. Who would have guessed the impact the brand would have around the world for decades to come. Nearly 60 years later, the comic strip appears in over 2,200 newspapers, in 75 countries and 21 languages. PEANUTS animated specials have become a seasonal tradition and thousands of consumer products are available in virtually all retail channels. Charlie Brown kicking the football, Linus and his blanket and Lucy leaning over Schroeder's piano are images to which everyone can relate. Such phrases as "Security Blanket" and "Good Grief" have become a part of the global vernacular. Lee Mendelson and Bill Melendez's association with Charles Schulz stretches back to 1965 with "A Charlie Brown Christmas," which debuted on CBS in 1965 with Mendelson as executive producer and Bill Melendez as animator and director. The three men continued their long-term association until Schulz's death, working together on 50 PEANUTS network specials and four feature films. The network specials won five Emmys, two Peabodys and 18 other Emmy nominations.

The PEANUTS characters and related intellectual property are owned by Peanuts Worldwide LLC, a joint venture owned 80% by Iconix Brand Group, Inc. and 20% by members of the Charles M. Schulz family. Iconix Brand Group, Inc. owns, licenses and markets a growing portfolio of consumer brands including: CANDIE'S (R), BONGO (R), BADGLEY MISCHKA (R), JOE BOXER (R), RAMPAGE (R), MUDD (R), MOSSIMO (R), LONDON FOG (R), OCEAN PACIFIC (R), DANSKIN (R), ROCAWEAR (R), CANNON (R), ROYAL VELVET (R), FIELDCREST (R), CHARISMA (R), STARTER (R), WAVERLY (R), ZOO YORK (R), ED HARDY (R), SHARPER IMAGE (R) and UMBRO (R). In addition, Iconix owns interests in the ARTFUL DODGER (R), ECKO (R), MARC ECKO (R), MATERIAL GIRL (R), PEANUTS (R) and TRUTH OR DARE (R) brands. The Company licenses its brands to a network of leading retailers and manufacturers that touch every major segment of retail distribution from the luxury market to the mass market in both the U.S. and worldwide. Through its in-house business development, merchandising, advertising and public relations departments Iconix manages its brands to drive greater consumer awareness and equity.

These programs carry a TV-G parental guideline.