"Charlie Brown" animator Bill Melendez dies

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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).