“They said, ‘This will probably be the last (‘Peanuts’ special). But we have it scheduled for next week, so we have to air it,'” the Post notes.
Because CBS had committed to Coca Cola, a major sponsor that never resisted the idea of including passages from the New Testament, the special was broadcast as scheduled on December 9, 1965.
A Charlie Brown Christmas attracted 15.4 million viewers, making it the second most-watched television show that year, behind only “Bonanza,” it said. USA Today.
A few months later, Charles Schulz and Lee Mendelson were awarded an Emmy in the category “Outstanding Children’s Program.”