While all the kids are happy that they get time off for Christmas vacation, Charlie Brown dreads how his teacher at the last minute assigned a book report on War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy. There is one major distraction on his mind; the big New Year's party all his friends are attending, with Peppermint Patty continuously urging him to attend. When Charlie tries inviting the object of his desires, the Little Red-Haired Girl, his hand caught in the mail slot.
With the party on his mind, he attempts to try to find another way to write the report, even going to a bookstore to find an audiobook and computer game of it, all to no avail. While at the party, he tries to finish the book on the front porch of the house, but falls asleep and misses the clock's striking of midnight. He is further devastated upon learning Linus ended up dancing with the Little Red-Haired Girl, who showed up after all.
At the end of the special, Charlie hands his book report to the teacher and gets a D minus. Despite the poor grade, Charlie Brown is proud that he made an honest effort and avoided an outright failure. However, the teacher announces that the entire class will be made to read and report on Fyodor Dostoevsky's Crime and Punishment, overwhelming him even more.
Happy New Year, Charlie Brown ranked No. 20 in the Nielsen ratings during the week it premiered. Its competition included the Orange Bowl, which ranked No. 14.[4]
Home media
The special was released on VHS by Kartes Video Communications in 1987 and by Paramount Home Video on September 28, 1994. Paramount would re-release the VHS in clamshell packaging on October 1, 1996. Warner Home Video released the special on DVD on October 6, 2009 as a bonus feature for the Remastered Deluxe Edition of I Want a Dog for Christmas, Charlie Brown.[5]
It was re-released as part of the box set Snoopy's Holiday Collection on October 1, 2013.
References
^Solomon, Charles (2012). The Art and Making of Peanuts Animation: Celebrating Fifty Years of Television Specials. Chronicle Books. p. 21. ISBN978-1452110912.