As with anything Peanuts related, it's doesn't have to be super complicated to be enjoyable. The plot's super simple, and could've easily been avoided from the beginning, but we give it a pass because Peanuts is a part of all of us. We as a culture identify with these specials for some reason, maybe because of their simplicity and execution. It might be a bare-bones explanation of the American Thanksgiving holiday, but it's still fun, and not meant to be taken literally. A fun little special, enough said.

We had a little Thanksgiving lunch get-together at work and an employee decided to play this cartoon short for some fun and laughs. I've never watched Charlie Brown cartoons growing up, and now that I've seen one, it was pretty good. All the adults in the room seemed to enjoy it for what it is - even though it is mostly geared towards the little ones.Here, Charlie Brown is in a dilemma and finds himself scrambling to make a last minute Thanksgiving dinner when three of his friends called and invited themselves over. Brown relied on Snoopy to make the meal and what results is something we could all learn from - thankfulness and friendship. It's not a riveting or exciting story with adventures and suspense, but it is an innocent and charming cartoon short that includes, in addition to the dinner, some laughable moments from Snoopy and Woodstock. The animation was also pretty good.It is a nice little movie for the entire family where, again, we could learn what it means to be thankful - especially during Thanksgiving!Grade B

Charlie Brown and Sally are going to their grandmother's for Thanksgiving. Peppermint Patty calls and invites herself and then Marcie and Franklin to Charlie Brown's for Thanksgiving. Linus suggests Charlie Brown have two Thanksgiving dinner with the help of Snoopy and Woodstock. Peppermint Patty is angered by the lack of traditional Thanksgiving food but Marcie convinces her to apologize. Charlie Brown's grandmother calls and invites everybody to her place.Peppermint Patty's voice by Christopher DeFaria is really rough and raspy. It's a little bit jarring. Otherwise, this is a charming Charlie Brown holiday special and it holds up well. It has the innocence of the simple cartoon drawings. Also it's a single story without the usual detours. This just has the sense of the impending Holidays that appears every Fall. I do wonder if there is anything wrong with Woodstock eating turkey.

"A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving" was the tenth prime-time animated television special that was based on the popular comic strip "Peanuts",created by Charles M. Schulz. This annual holiday special first originally aired on the CBS-TV network on November 20, 1973,and won the Emmy in 1974 for best animated television special. From 1973 until 2000,CBS has aired this special annually every November until 2000 when all of the Charlie Brown/Peanuts annual prime-time television specials switched networks from CBS to ABC,where it has been shown ever since.The special opens with Lucy enticing Charlie Brown to kick the football she is holding. Charlie Brown at first,refuses,correctly suspecting that Lucy will pull it away as always;but Lucy convinces him that kicking the football is a Thanksgiving,and that being asked to do so is an honor. Charlie decides that Lucy would never pull her trick on a national holiday,and ends up getting deceived and landing flat on his back once again(Lucy makes no further appearances in this episode.) Meanwhile,Charlie Brown and his sister Sally are preparing to go to their grandmother's place for Thanksgiving when Charlie gets a phone call from Peppermint Patty,who invites herself over to Charlie Brown's house for the holiday dinner. Two quick subsequent phone calls add Marcie and Franklin(the only African-American to appear in this episode)to the guest list,and since Charlie Brown cannot get a word in edgewise with Patty,he quickly finds himself in a quadary with no easy solution-at least not until his good friend Linus shows up.Linus suggests to Charlie Brown that he could have two dinners:the first one for Patty and her friends,and the second one at his grandmother's house forcing Charlie Brown to admit that all he knows how to make is "cold cereal and toast". Regardless,Linus recruits Snoopy(Charlie Brown's faithful and resourceful Beagle),and Woodstock to set up ping-pong tables and chairs in the backyard(setting the table has its own problems when Snoopy goes toe-to-toe with an uncooperative folding deckchair that is as hilarious as it gets).Snoopy and Woodstock set the table,then help Charlie Brown and Linus with the food. When the food is readied,Snoopy and Woodstock changes clothes and dress up as pilgrims.The guests arrive,and they all make their way to the backyard for the feast. Linus leads the group in prayer,and Snoopy serves the food,throwing the plates to each guest Frisbee-style. The food that was served here is as hilarious as it gets. At first Patty is shocked,but her stock quickly turns to outrage,and she angrily bereates Charlie Brown for the "meal". Embarrassed and dejected,Charlie Brown timidity leaves the table and goes back in the house. Patty's tirade with Charlie Brown continues until Marcie gently reminds her that Charlie didn't invite her to dinner,since Patty invited it herself-along with Marcie and Franklin. Realizing that Marcie was right,Patty comes to her senses and begs Marcie to go and apologize to Charlie Brown on her behalf. Marcie reluctantly does so,but Patty soon follows her and apologizes to Charlie Brown herself.In the midst of the quasi-feast,Charlie Brown loses track of time. The clock strikes four,reminding him and his sister Sally that they're supposed to be over at grandmother's house for dinner and an half-hour. So he calls his grandmother,reminding her that they're going to be a little late and to explain the situation that he has his friends over at his house and none of them haven't eaten yet. His grandmother suggests that he bring all his friends with him for Thanksgiving dinner,and the idea is welcomed with cheers from everyone. After they leave,Snoopy and Woodstock go to the doghouse and cook up their own traditional Thanksgiving meal that includes a Turkey with all the trimmings(they pull apart the wishbone,with Woodstock getting the bigger piece). At the end,Snoopy and Woodstock devour a large piece of Pumpkin pie with Woodstock ending up full. THE END.