Christmas-themed episode of The Snoopy Show now available on Apple TV+

A new episode of The Snoopy Show celebrating the holidays is now available on the subscription streaming service Apple TV+. With the overall title of "Happiness is the Gift of Giving" (season 2, episode 13), the episode premiered December 2, 2022.

Like previous episodes, the 23 minute show consists of three different segments, described as follows by Apple:

• 'Twas the Nest Before Christmas - Snoopy adapts a Christmas poem to help Sally sleep
• Happiness is the Gift of Giving - Charlie Brown makes gifts for his pals
• Do Not Open Until - Snoopy can’t wait to open his presents

In addition to the new episode of the modern The Snoopy Show, Apple TV+ has added two more classic Peanuts specials to the service - Charlie Brown's Christmas Tales (2002) and I Want A Dog For Christmas, Charlie Brown (2003) . They join A Charlie Brown Christmas and It's Christmastime Again, Charlie Brown, meaning that all four classic Peanuts Christmas specials are now available on Apple TV+.

And if you're not an Apple TV+ subscriber, don't forget that A Charlie Brown Christmas will be available to stream for free from Thursday, December 22 through Sunday, December 25, 2022.

It's the Great Pumpkin and other Peanuts holiday specials won't air on PBS in 2022, will be free on Apple TV+ for a limited time

Bad news for traditionalists: Apple TV+ and PBS have confirmed that  It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown and the other Peanuts holiday specials will not be airing on PBS or another over-the-air broadcast television station this year.

Instead, in 2022, the Apple TV+ streaming service will make the three big Peanuts holiday specials available to view for free without a subscription for a limited period around each holiday, as follows:

• It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown - October 28 - 31, 2022 (Friday - Monday)
• A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving - November 23 - 27, 2022 (Wednesday - Sunday)
• A Charlie Brown Christmas - December 22 - 25, 2022 (Thursday - Sunday)

To stream the specials for free, you don't need an Apple device. The Apple TV+ app is also available for a variety of streaming devices such as Roku and Amazon Fire, and on a variety of different smart TV brands. You can also watch using a web browser on any device by going to tv.apple.com . See this Apple support page for a more detailed list of supported devices and how to watch.

You will not need to subscribe to Apple TV+, but you will need to either have or create an Apple ID to sign in and watch.  (Apple fails to mention this in their instructions, below.)

(If you're already an Apple TV+ subscriber, you can watch the specials at any time, on any day.)

In addition to the links above, Apple provided this graphic (click to show larger):

This is not the first time that It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown and A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving haven't been seen on broadcast TV - Great Pumpkin didn't air in 2020, and Thanksgiving failed to make it to TV screens a few times over the past decades.

But unless something changes - and right now there's no indication that it will - this will be the first time since its original broadcast in 1965 that A Charlie Brown Christmas will not have an over-the-air television broadcast.

The three holiday specials remain available for purchase on DVD and Blu-ray as an alternative.

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Meanwhile, Apple TV+ also announced additional Peanuts content that's coming to the subscription streaming service in December.

First, two additional classic Peanuts holiday specials will finally be available on Apple TV+: I Want a Dog for Christmas, Charlie Brown and Charlie Brown’s Christmas Tales will be added to the service on December 2, 2022.

They will be joining A Charlie Brown Christmas and It's Christmastime Again, Charlie Brown, meaning that all four classic Peanuts Christmas specials will be available on Apple TV+.

Also on December 2, 2022, Apple TV+ will premiere a new Christmas-themed episode of The Snoopy Show. According to Apple TV+: In “Happiness Is the Gift of Giving,” Snoopy adapts a Christmas poem to help Sally sleep, Charlie Brown makes gifts for his pals and Snoopy finds waiting to open his presents a challenge.

For more information about Apple TV+, including how to watch and subscribe, visit tv.apple.com and this Apple support page.

A Charlie Brown Christmas airs Dec 5 & 17, 2019 (and other Peanuts holiday special broadcast times)

ABC will broadcast the full, unedited A Charlie Brown Christmas, accompanied by Charlie Brown's Christmas Tales, from 8-9 PM (Eastern/Pacific) on Thursday, December 5, 2019, and then again on Tuesday, December 17, 2019, also from 8-9 PM.

Later in the month, I Want a Dog for Christmas, Charlie Brown will air from 7-8 PM (Eastern/Pacific) - note earlier time - on Sunday, December 22, 2019, also on ABC.

Finally, ABC will show Happy New Year, Charlie Brown and She's a Good Skate, Charlie Brown on Thursday, December 26, 2019 from 8-9 PM (Eastern/Pacific).

A Charlie Brown Christmas airs December 6 & 20, 2018 on ABC

Get your aluminum Christmas trees ready!

The full version of A Charlie Brown Christmas, together with Charlie Brown's Christmas Tales, will be broadcast twice on ABC in December 2018.

The first outing will be on Thursday, December 6, from 8 - 9 PM (Eastern/Pacific), and then you can catch them again on Thursday, December 20, also from 8 - 9 PM (Eastern/Pacific).

And as usual, ABC will air two additional Peanuts holiday specials in December 2018:

I Want A Dog For Christmas, Charlie Brown airs Friday, December 21, 8 - 9 PM (Eastern/Pacific)

Happy New Year, Charlie Brown + She's a Good Skate, Charlie Brown airs Thursday, December 27, 8 - 9 PM (Eastern/Pacific)

A Charlie Brown Christmas airs again Dec 21, 2017 on ABC

The holiday season truly begins when A Charlie Brown Christmas airs for the first time on Thursday, November 30, 2017, from 8 - 9 PM (Eastern/Pacific) on ABC.

The classic special will air again on Thursday, December 21, 2017, also from 8 - 9 PM (Eastern/Pacific) on ABC.

The show will be uncut and accompanied by Charlie Brown's Christmas Tales both nights.

Also coming in December 2017 on ABC:

I Want A Dog for Christmas, Charlie Brown - Saturday, December 16, 8 - 9 PM (Eastern/Pacific)

Happy New Year, Charlie Brown + She's a Good Skate, Charlie Brown - Tuesday, December 26, 8 - 9 PM (Eastern/Pacific)

I Want a Dog for Christmas, Charlie Brown airs December 17, 2016 on ABC

Just a quick reminder that the holiday special I Want a Dog for Christmas, Charlie Brown, starring Rerun, Snoopy, Spike, and the rest of the Peanuts gang will be broadcast on Saturday, December 17, 2016 from 8 - 9 PM (Eastern/Pacific) on ABC.

A Charlie Brown Christmas airs December 1 & 22, 2016 on ABC

On Thursday, December 1, 2016, A Charlie Brown Christmas will make its seasonal debut from 8 - 9 PM (Eastern/Pacific) on ABC - unlike some years, the initial broadcast appears like it will be complete and unedited, and followed by Charlie Brown's Christmas Tales.

The special will be broadcast again on Thursday, December 22, from 8 - 9 PM.

If you can't wait until then, you can watch the special by streaming it over the Internet at ABC.com (although the video is relatively low quality).

Also coming in December 2016 on ABC:

I Want a Dog for Christmas, Charlie Brown - Saturday, December 17, 8-9 PM 

Happy New Year, Charlie Brown + She's a Good Skate, Charlie Brown - Monday, December 26, 8-9 PM

All times Eastern/Pacific.

I Want a Dog for Christmas, Charlie Brown broadcast moved to December 15

I Want a Dog for Christmas, Charlie Brown has a new broadcast date - it will now be shown Tuesday, December 15, 2015 from 9 - 10 PM (Eastern/Pacific) on ABC.

Why the change?  It's because ABC will be showing a Democratic presidential primary debate on December 19, the originally announced show date for I Want a Dog for Christmas.

(While there is a Republican candidate debate on the 15th, it is being shown on CNN only - so ABC has decided that the 15th is an okay time to show I Want a Dog for Christmas, even though that may be an inconvenience to viewers who want to watch both.)

Thanks to reader Amy M for bringing this to my attention.

And remember, if you missed A Charlie Brown Christmas or the new retrospective special It's Your 50th Christmas, Charlie Brown, both will be broadcast again on Thursday, December 24 from 8 - 10 PM (Eastern/Pacific).  Or you can watch them online at ABC.com:

A Charlie Brown Christmas
It's Your 50th Christmas, Charlie Brown

ABC celebrates the 50th anniversary of A Charlie Brown Christmas on November 30 & December 24

It's been 50 years since the classic holiday special A Charlie Brown Christmas debuted, and ABC is commemorating the event with a new hour-long retrospective special, It's Your 50th Christmas, Charlie Brown, airing from 8 - 9 PM (Eastern/Pacific) on both Monday, November 30 and again on Christmas Eve, Thursday, December 24.

Each evening, the uncut original 1965 special will air immediately following the retrospective, from 9 - 10 PM (the rest of that hour will be filled out, as usual, by Charlie Brown's Christmas Tales).

It's Your 50th Christmas, Charlie Brown will be hosted by Kristen Bell and produced by Lee Mendelson, who produced the classic special 50 years ago. According to the press release, the show will feature "spectacular live performances, from the memorable music of Vince Guaraldi, to Kristen Chenoweth singing 'Happiness' from the Peanuts Broadway hit 'You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown,' and a performance from Matthew Morrison of an original song, 'Just Like Me.' Other musical guests set to perform classic songs are Sarah McLachlan, Boyz II Men, Pentatonix, David Benoit and The All-American Boys Chorus." There will also be "Hollywood notables reminiscing about their most treasured A Charlie Brown Christmas moments."

So tune in one or both nights for two hours of Christmas memories with the Peanuts gang!

Both shows are available to watch via online streaming at ABC.com:

It's Your 50th Christmas, Charlie Brown
A Charlie Brown Christmas


Also this holiday season, ABC will show I Want a Dog for Christmas, Charlie Brown on Tuesday, December 15, 2015 from 9 - 10 PM, and Happy New Year, Charlie Brown together with She's a Good Skate, Charlie Brown on Monday, December 28, 2015 from 8 - 9 PM (all times Eastern/Pacific).


Here's the full upcoming schedule of Peanuts TV appearances on ABC (all times Eastern/Pacific):

Mon Nov 30 8-9 PM  It's Your 50th Christmas, Charlie Brown
Mon Nov 30 9-10 PM A Charlie Brown Christmas
                   + Charlie Brown's Christmas Tales
Tue Dec 15 9-10 PM I Want a Dog for Christmas, Charlie Brown
Thu Dec 24 8-9 PM  It's Your 50th Christmas, Charlie Brown
Thu Dec 24 9-10 PM A Charlie Brown Christmas
                   + Charlie Brown's Christmas Tales
Mon Dec 28 8-9 PM  Happy New Year, Charlie Brown
                   + She's a Good Skate, Charlie Brown

(UPDATED: The broadcast date & time for I Want a Dog for Christmas, Charlie Brown was changed to the 15th from the originally announced date of the 19th, because ABC will be showing a Democratic presidential primary debate on the 19th.  Thanks for pointing this out, Amy M!)

December 2014 TV broadcasts: A Charlie Brown Christmas will air twice along with two other Peanuts specials

As the Peanuts gang often notes, holiday time is fast approaching, so ABC has announced their holiday special broadcast plans.

They include two outings of the very first Peanuts TV special, A Charlie Brown Christmas. The initial broadcast of the 1965 classic will be on Tuesday, December 2, 2014 from 8:30 - 9:00 PM (Eastern/Pacific); this showing will be edited to fit into the half-hour timeslot.

The second showing of A Charlie Brown Christmas will be on Tuesday, December 16, 2014 from 8 - 9 PM (Eastern/Pacific). It will be unedited, and accompanied by the 2002 skit compilation Charlie Brown's Christmas Tales.

Also coming in December on ABC are I Want a Dog for Christmas, Charlie Brown on Saturday, December 20, 2014 from 8 - 9 PM (Eastern/Pacific), and Happy New Year, Charlie Brown together with She's a Good Skate, Charlie Brown on Monday, December 29, 2014 from 8 - 9 PM (Eastern/Pacific).

Reminder: Three Peanuts specials on TV this week

Just in case you haven't marked your calendar yet, three Peanuts specials air on three consecutive days at the end of this week:

A Charlie Brown Christmas + A Charlie Brown's Christmas Tales airs again Thursday, December 19 on ABC from 8 - 9 PM

Happiness is a Warm Blanket, Charlie Brown airs Friday, December 20 on FOX from 9 - 10 PM

I Want a Dog for Christmas, Charlie Brown airs Saturday, December 21 on ABC from 8 - 9 PM

If you missed either of them, you can watch A Charlie Brown Christmas or I Want a Dog for Christmas, Charlie Brown at hulu.com .

Enjoy and happy holidays!

A Charlie Brown Christmas and other holiday specials 2013 broadcast dates

ABC has announced their December holiday special schedule for 2013, and it includes four Peanuts outings. All times are Eastern/Pacific.

A Charlie Brown Christmas will be shown twice, Monday, December 2 and Thursday, December 19, 2013 from 8-9 PM both nights. It will air unedited, and be accompanied by Charlie Brown's Christmas Tales.  (Note there's been a change from the originally announced dates; initially the second showing was announced for December 5, but showing it a couple weeks later makes a lot more sense!)

If you missed either of them, you can watch A Charlie Brown Christmas or I Want a Dog for Christmas, Charlie Brown at hulu.com .

I Want a Dog for Christmas, Charlie Brown will air Saturday, December 21, 2013 from 8-9 PM.

Finally, Happy New Year, Charlie Brown, together with She's a Good Skate, Charlie Brown, will be broadcast on Monday, December 30, 2013 from 8-9 PM.

Three Peanuts TV specials air this week (Dec 17-21), including A Charlie Brown Christmas

There's plenty of opportunities to see the Peanuts gang on television this week, December 17-21, 2012!  First, you'll have a second chance to see A Charlie Brown Christmas and Happiness is a Warm Blanket, Charlie Brown; then it's this year's only outing for I Want a Dog for Christmas, Charlie Brown.

The schedule is as follows (all times Eastern/Pacific):

Monday December 17:
Happiness is a Warm Blanket, Charlie Brown; FOX, 9 - 10 PM

Tuesday December 18:
A Charlie Brown Christmas + Charlie Brown's Christmas Tales; ABC, 8 - 9 PM

Thursday December 20:
I Want a Dog for Christmas, Charlie Brown; ABC, 8-9 PM

Enjoy!

A Charlie Brown Christmas and other Peanuts holiday special broadcast dates for 2012

A Charlie Brown Christmas will air twice on ABC this year.  The first broadcast will be on Wednesday, November 28, 2012 from 8 - 9 PM (Eastern/Pacific time); the second broadcast will be Tuesday, December 18, 2012, also from 8 - 9 PM.

The classic Christmas special will air unedited both times. The hour-long time slot will be filled out with a shortened version of Charlie Brown's Christmas Tales and the non-Peanuts short Prep & Landing: Operation Secret Santa.

ABC will also be showing I Want a Dog for Christmas, Charlie Brown on Thursday, December 20, 2012 from 8 - 9 PM (Eastern/Pacific); and finally Happy New Year, Charlie Brown on Thursday, December 27, 2012 from 8 - 9 PM (Eastern/Pacific).  Happy New Year, Charlie Brown will air unedited together with a shorted version of She's a Good Skate, Charlie Brown.

Reminder: I Want a Dog for Christmas, Charlie Brown airs again Thursday Dec 22 on ABC

In case you missed it the first time (or just want to enjoy it again), I Want a Dog for Christmas, Charlie Brown will be broadcast again on Thursday, December 22, 2011 from 9 - 10 PM (Eastern/Pacific) on ABC.

(Yes, the odd, late broadcast time of 9 - 10 PM Eastern/Pacific is correct.)

Watch I Want a Dog for Christmas, Charlie Brown online on Hulu or ABC.com

I Want a Dog for Christmas, Charlie Brown is now available to watch streaming over the Internet from either hulu.com or ABC.com.

Update: I Want a Dog for Christmas, Charlie Brown is no longer available on Hulu this year (2011).  Check back next December...

Reminder: I Want a Dog For Christmas, Charlie Brown airs Monday, December 12 on ABC

ABC will broadcast I Want a Dog for Christmas, Charlie Brown on Monday, December 12, 2011 from 8 - 9 PM (Eastern/Pacific).

If that broadcast time isn't convenient, the special will air again on December 22.

ABC announces December 2011 broadcast dates for Peanuts Christmas specials

The classic 1965 special A Charlie Brown Christmas will be broadcast on ABC twice, first on Monday, December 5 from 8:00 - 8:30 PM, and again on Thursday, December 15 from 8:00 - 9:00 PM (all times Eastern/Pacific).

It's important to note that the December 5th broadcast of A Charlie Brown Christmas will be edited to fit into a half-hour time slot; ABC is using it as a lead-in to their new Prep & Landing 2 special, which is airing in the following half-hour.

If you want to see the unedited version of the Peanuts special, you should wait to tune in until the December 15 broadcast, when A Charlie Brown Christmas has a full hour time slot and will run unedited together with a Prep & Landing short and Charlie Brown's Christmas Tales.

(This isn't the first time ABC has broadcast the edited version of A Charlie Brown Christmas first and then the unedited one later; they did the same thing in 2009 when the first Prep & Landing special aired. Considering ABC received quite a few complaints from viewers who didn't realize an unedited version of the special was airing a week later, it's a little surprising they've chosen to do the same thing again.)

And in addition to the original Christmas special, the 2003 special I Want a Dog for Christmas, Charlie Brown will also be airing twice on ABC in December. The first broadcast will be Monday, December 12 from 8:00 - 9:00 PM, and the second on Thursday, December 22 from 9:00 - 10:00 PM (all times Eastern/Pacific).