"Charlie Brown" animator Bill Melendez dies - Never Forgotten: a Foster's Home Community

Ccook50 · 09-03-2008, 02:58 PM

Mark Evanier has reported on his blog that Bill Melendez has died at age 91 from failing health. Bill worked at Disney and Warner Bros. before partnering with Lee Mendelson and starting a studio that made a ton of "Peanuts" animated TV specials (along with several theatrical movies).

That first special, A Charlie Brown Christmas, nearly didn't get on the air. CBS wanted adults to play the kids' voices and the show to have a laugh track. Charles Schulz put the kibosh on both of those ideas. CBS hated the special when they pre-screened it because it didn't have cartoon action (as, per se, some of their Saturday morning fare like Quick Draw McGraw or Tom & Jerry). But they were committed to airing it because they were contractually obliged with the sponsor, Coca-Cola. On that first airing, ratings went through the roof. It won an Emmy and a Peabody. CBS has been apologizing ever since (even though ABC now airs it).

fosters home fan · 09-03-2008, 03:09 PM

There's a lot of celebrities/well known people dying recently. >_>

Sorry to hear about that. My mom loves the "Peanuts" TV specials. Let Bill Melendez rest in peace.

Imaginary Light · 09-03-2008, 03:23 PM

What is up with all these celebrity deaths?

R.I.P. Bill Melendez will most certainly be missed.

jekylljuice · 09-03-2008, 03:49 PM

Sad news for sure - I've always been a big fan of those Peanuts specials. At least Bill Melendez got to live to a ripe old age.

Bloo2daMacs · 09-03-2008, 04:23 PM

Aw man! Well, may he rest in peace...

Kootiebirdo · 09-03-2008, 05:07 PM

Jeez, what can I say except that this guy made up a large part of my childhood with all the Peanuts specials that he has done over the years.

What a major hit to the animation world. Rest in peace, Bill.

Medikor · 09-03-2008, 05:44 PM

While not the biggest Peanuts fan in the world, I always enjoyed the Christmas special. Bill Melendez will certainly be missed.

bloonuggets · 09-03-2008, 05:49 PM

First, Don LaFontaine, The Voice of God, now Bill Melendez, The Voice of Snoopy.

I cry for them.

Lynnie · 09-03-2008, 06:57 PM

My word, this is getting ridiculous! Makes me worry about who's next.

Now we'll never hear Snoopy's or Woodstock's "whines" the same again (that's really all they ever did). I know the Peanuts aren't popular now days, but they were up there back in the day. And I've always been a fan of its quaintness. So you can bet Melendez will be missed by me and my family (especially my mother).

lucyrocks73 · 09-03-2008, 07:11 PM

I'm in shock. This is not my week... First Don, now Bill?

As you can see from my name (lucyrocks73, referring to Lucy Van Pelt from the Peanuts comics) I am a major Peanuts fan.

I'm so sad...

-Marty

09-03-2008, 02:58 PM	#1
Ccook50 Foster's Legend Don't forget to turn left at Greenland Join Date: May 2007 Location: Cumming GA Posts: 510	"Charlie Brown" animator Bill Melendez dies Mark Evanier has reported on his blog that Bill Melendez has died at age 91 from failing health. Bill worked at Disney and Warner Bros. before partnering with Lee Mendelson and starting a studio that made a ton of "Peanuts" animated TV specials (along with several theatrical movies). That first special, A Charlie Brown Christmas, nearly didn't get on the air. CBS wanted adults to play the kids' voices and the show to have a laugh track. Charles Schulz put the kibosh on both of those ideas. CBS hated the special when they pre-screened it because it didn't have cartoon action (as, per se, some of their Saturday morning fare like Quick Draw McGraw or Tom & Jerry). But they were committed to airing it because they were contractually obliged with the sponsor, Coca-Cola. On that first airing, ratings went through the roof. It won an Emmy and a Peabody. CBS has been apologizing ever since (even though ABC now airs it). __________________ "God forgot to make stupidity painful." --Ivan Stang (Church of the SubGenius)

09-03-2008, 03:09 PM	#2
fosters home fan (.�??�) Yes? Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Behind the Cheddar Curtain Posts: 587	There's a lot of celebrities/well known people dying recently. >_> Sorry to hear about that. My mom loves the "Peanuts" TV specials. Let Bill Melendez rest in peace. __________________

09-03-2008, 03:23 PM	#3
Imaginary Light Princess of Zingapore, Wisconsin Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: New York Posts: 1,746	What is up with all these celebrity deaths? R.I.P. Bill Melendez will most certainly be missed. __________________ Facebook Youtube Instagram

09-03-2008, 03:49 PM	#4
jekylljuice Executive Weasel Ball jekylljuice was here. Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: the 44th floor (not counting the mezzanine) Posts: 1,568	Sad news for sure - I've always been a big fan of those Peanuts specials. At least Bill Melendez got to live to a ripe old age. __________________ That's it, The End, But you'll get over it, My Friend. Last edited by jekylljuice; 09-03-2008 at 03:57 PM.

09-03-2008, 04:23 PM	#5
Bloo2daMacs Banned THE REFORMER... Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: The Spam Board Posts: 910	Aw man! Well, may he rest in peace... Last edited by Bloo2daMacs; 09-03-2008 at 07:01 PM.

09-03-2008, 05:07 PM	#6
Kootiebirdo Settling In I ate his liver with some fava beans and a nice chianti! Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Long Beach, NY Posts: 71	Jeez, what can I say except that this guy made up a large part of my childhood with all the Peanuts specials that he has done over the years. What a major hit to the animation world. Rest in peace, Bill.

09-03-2008, 05:44 PM	#7
Medikor Robot Master I'm a bubble man! Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Nova Scotia, Canada Posts: 1,428	While not the biggest Peanuts fan in the world, I always enjoyed the Christmas special. Bill Melendez will certainly be missed. __________________

09-03-2008, 05:49 PM	#8
bloonuggets Take a bow, Bloo. You deserve it. FHfIF: 8/11/04 - 5/3/09 Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Philly (There is NO East Philly for the record) Posts: 755	First, Don LaFontaine, The Voice of God, now Bill Melendez, The Voice of Snoopy. I cry for them. __________________ Editor of tv.com's FHFIF pages Thank you Craig for the ride. We all will miss you.

09-03-2008, 06:57 PM	#9
Lynnie Lady of Brightwood Dream maker, wherever you're going I'm going your way Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: The Emerald City, in the Evergreen State, where everything is GREEN Posts: 2,419	My word, this is getting ridiculous! Makes me worry about who's next. Now we'll never hear Snoopy's or Woodstock's "whines" the same again (that's really all they ever did). I know the Peanuts aren't popular now days, but they were up there back in the day. And I've always been a fan of its quaintness. So you can bet Melendez will be missed by me and my family (especially my mother). __________________ MySpace-Facebook-LiveJournal-Y!Profile-Dragon Cave

09-03-2008, 07:11 PM	#10
lucyrocks73 Razzamatazztic Tap Dancer There are ways to make punks like you sing. Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS!!! Posts: 551	I'm in shock. This is not my week... First Don, now Bill? As you can see from my name (lucyrocks73, referring to Lucy Van Pelt from the Peanuts comics) I am a major Peanuts fan. I'm so sad... -Marty __________________