As much a part of the holidays as Rudolph and mistletoe, the legendary first Peanuts special has lived in the hearts of millions since its debut in 1965. In this special episode Jimmy, Harold, and Michael examine the strips that were adapted for the show, discuss the story behind the production, and relay their own experiences with viewing… or not viewing… the classic program. Plus: More graphics get blandished! This episode was originally released December 13, 2022 Transcript available at Unpac...
Dec 19, 2023•2 hr 47 min•Season 7Ep. 90
Cut the cake and fire up the hi-fi! The gang is talking music and reviewing some classic strips as we celebrate the birth of Schroeder’s hero, and Lucy’s bane, Good Ol’ Ludwig Van B.. Plus: Color Me Badd?! Transcript available at UnpackingPeanuts.com Unpacking Peanuts is copyright Jimmy Gownley, Michael Cohen, and Harold Buchholz. Produced and edited by Liz Sumner. Music by Michael Cohen. Additional voiceover by Aziza Shukralla Clark. For more from the show follow @unpackpeanuts on Instagram and...
Dec 16, 2023•55 min•Season 7Ep. 89
The guys have a deep discussion about one of the most famous storylines in Peanuts history. Is it a peak or does the strip turn too dark? Either way, it's a fascinating run of comics as Schulz closes off the 70’s as powerful an artist as he’s ever been. Plus: Quiet. I’m thinking. Transcript available at UnpackingPeanuts.com Unpacking Peanuts is copyright Jimmy Gownley, Michael Cohen, and Harold Buchholz. Produced and edited by Liz Sumner. Music by Michael Cohen. Additional voiceover by Aziza Shu...
Dec 12, 2023•2 hr 31 min•Season 7Ep. 88
Charles Schulz has his Band on the Run moment… and if you understand that, then you’ve listened to too many episodes of this podcast. The guys love this year of the strip and contemplate Schulz coming to terms with aging and competition from talented youngsters. Plus: They don’t make pen nibs like they used to. Transcript available at UnpackingPeanuts.com Unpacking Peanuts is copyright Jimmy Gownley, Michael Cohen, and Harold Buchholz. Produced and edited by Liz Sumner. Music by Michael Cohen. A...
Dec 05, 2023•1 hr 1 min•Season 7Ep. 87
The enduring friendship of Woodstock and Snoopy is warming hearts and sharing the spotlight with classics like Lucy and Schroeder at the piano. Elsewhere, the guys discuss Manga, imagination, and Michael Golden’s ‘Nam comic. Plus: Schrucy? Transcript available at UnpackingPeanuts.com Unpacking Peanuts is copyright Jimmy Gownley, Michael Cohen, and Harold Buchholz. Produced and edited by Liz Sumner. Music by Michael Cohen. Additional voiceover by Aziza Shukralla Clark. For more from the show foll...
Nov 28, 2023•1 hr 16 min•Season 7Ep. 86
Schulz is honing his knuckleball and settling in for the end of the seventies, while Snoopy the Scoutmaster is heading for the edges of civilization itself. Elsewhere, Sally is in need of a protector or at least a new ruler. Plus: D and D. Harold mentions MST3K.com Michael mentions the 99% Invisible podcast about Luddites https://99percentinvisible.org/episode/blood-in-the-machine/ Transcript available at UnpackingPeanuts.com Unpacking Peanuts is copyright Jimmy Gownley, Michael Cohen, and Harol...
Nov 21, 2023•1 hr 9 min•Season 7Ep. 85
The gang ponders characters with weird foreheads, characters without mouths, and the unspeakable horror of “Henry.” Meanwhile, back in Peanuts: Linus mansplains, Woodstock can’t shave, and Spike is a player. Plus: No more logo in the top left corner! Transcript available at UnpackingPeanuts.com Unpacking Peanuts is copyright Jimmy Gownley, Michael Cohen, and Harold Buchholz. Produced and edited by Liz Sumner. Music by Michael Cohen. Additional voiceover by Aziza Shukralla Clark. For more from th...
Nov 14, 2023•54 min•Season 7Ep. 84
The seventies are skywalking and it’s a time of beginnings and endings, as our old pal Shermy comes to bat for the last time and the greatest term of endearment in pop culture ever is exclaimed by Sally for the first time. Plus: Woodstock was in ‘Nam? Transcript available at UnpackingPeanuts.com Unpacking Peanuts is copyright Jimmy Gownley, Michael Cohen, and Harold Buchholz. Produced and edited by Liz Sumner. Music by Michael Cohen. Additional voiceover by Aziza Shukralla Clark. For more from t...
Nov 07, 2023•1 hr 21 min•Season 7Ep. 83
Marcie is the object of some unwanted affection, Woodstock gets a makeover, Jimmy explains Pennsylvania sales tax, and Peppermint Patty becomes an ace student…at obedience school. Plus: Joni James Transcript available at UnpackingPeanuts.com Unpacking Peanuts is copyright Jimmy Gownley, Michael Cohen, and Harold Buchholz. Produced and edited by Liz Sumner. Music by Michael Cohen. Additional voiceover by Aziza Shukralla Clark. For more from the show follow @unpackpeanuts on Instagram and Threads,...
Oct 24, 2023•1 hr 24 min•Season 7Ep. 81
Beagles, Bummers, and the Bicentennial It’s a year of surreal surprises, and sad sequences as we say goodbye to Sally’s sentient school. But there’s always pleasure to be pulled from Peanuts… and even more in perusing its panels with one's pals. Plus: Dark Nights with Charles Schulz Transcript available at UnpackingPeanuts.com Unpacking Peanuts is copyright Jimmy Gownley, Michael Cohen, and Harold Buchholz. Produced and edited by Liz Sumner. Music by Michael Cohen. Additional voiceover by Aziza ...
Oct 17, 2023•1 hr 8 min•Season 7Ep. 80
It’s a red letter day in the strip, as Snoopy’s brother Spike makes his first appearance. But it’s not all new stuff, as Charlie Brown, Linus, Sally, and Lucy all make strong appearances. Schulz is engaging with the culture, and the culture is pretty weird, which makes for some fun times in the funnies. Plus: The theology of St. Paul and Minneapolis Transcript available at UnpackingPeanuts.com Unpacking Peanuts is copyright Jimmy Gownley, Michael Cohen, and Harold Buchholz. Produced and edited b...
Oct 10, 2023•1 hr 7 min•Season 7Ep. 79
Snoopy gets enlisted as Peppermint Patty’s watchdog but gets foiled by a waterbed. Linus falls in love with someone named Truffles but can’t find her house, and Lucy gets what she wants simply by being Lucy. Plus: Harold goes to the Reubens! Transcript available at UnpackingPeanuts.com Unpacking Peanuts is copyright Jimmy Gownley, Michael Cohen, and Harold Buchholz. Produced and edited by Liz Sumner. Music by Michael Cohen. Additional voiceover by Aziza Shukralla Clark. For more from the show fo...
Oct 03, 2023•59 min•Season 7Ep. 78
Everyone loves Snoopy. But which Snoopy is your favorite Snoopy? Does the Flying Ace send your heart soaring? Or is the vulture your fearsome fave? Well this week, we are hanging out with them and more as we do a special episode devoted to our beloved ex-head beagle’s many guises. Plus: the Skook. Transcript available at UnpackingPeanuts.com Unpacking Peanuts is copyright Jimmy Gownley, Michael Cohen, and Harold Buchholz. Produced and edited by Liz Sumner. Music by Michael Cohen. Additional voic...
Sep 26, 2023•1 hr 6 min•Season 6Ep. 77
The guys look at a selection of lonely heart strips that get to the lonely heart of the strip. Because, if there is one constant in the Peanuts strip, it’s unrequited love. From Sally and Linus to Lucy and Schroeder, all the way to Marcie and “Chuck.” Plus: Marnie Marquardt. Transcript available at UnpackingPeanuts.com Unpacking Peanuts is copyright Jimmy Gownley, Michael Cohen, and Harold Buchholz. Produced and edited by Liz Sumner. Music by Michael Cohen. Additional voiceover by Aziza Shukrall...
Sep 19, 2023•1 hr 4 min•Season 6Ep. 76
Our special focus season continues as the guys take a look at some of the best comedic duos in Peanuts. From Linus and Lucy, to Snoopy and Woodstock we read and discuss some of the greatest character comedy ever done in a comic strip. Plus: Simon and Garfunkel. Transcript available at UnpackingPeanuts.com Unpacking Peanuts is copyright Jimmy Gownley, Michael Cohen, and Harold Buchholz. Produced and edited by Liz Sumner. Music by Michael Cohen. Additional voiceover by Aziza Shukralla Clark. For m...
Sep 12, 2023•1 hr 23 min•Season 6Ep. 75
It’s the launch of a special season where we look at some of the themes that made Peanuts a success. And since fall is here, we are hitting the books! The guys look at a sampling of strips featuring Charlie Brown, Linus, Sally and more. And maybe tell a few horror stories of their own. Plus: Who cares about tomorrow? Transcript available at UnpackingPeanuts.com Unpacking Peanuts is copyright Jimmy Gownley, Michael Cohen, and Harold Buchholz. Produced and edited by Liz Sumner. Music by Michael Co...
Sep 05, 2023•57 min•Season 6Ep. 74
This week, we chat with acclaimed cartoonist Ivan Brunetti. Ivan’s work has been seen in the New Yorker and he is currently writing children’s comics for TOON Books including the upcoming Shapes and Shapes. His brilliant nonfiction book Cartooning: Philosophy and Practice won a 2012 Eisner Award, and today he hops in the Time Machine with us to revisit the first week of Peanuts strips. Plus: Rain. Rain. Rain. Rain. Ivan mentions McSweeney's Quarterly Concern #13 from 2004, also An Anthology of G...
Aug 15, 2023•1 hr 23 min•Season 5Ep. 73
It’s a fond look back at the early 70’s, as the guys talk about the highlights of the decade so far. Then they take an in-depth look at PEANUTS JUBILEE, a fantastic book published at the halfway mark of Schulz’s run. Plus: Rubylith and the Zipatones. Transcript available at UnpackingPeanuts.com Unpacking Peanuts is copyright Jimmy Gownley, Michael Cohen, and Harold Buchholz. Produced and edited by Liz Sumner. Music by Michael Cohen. Additional voiceover by Aziza Shukralla Clark. For more from th...
Aug 08, 2023•1 hr 13 min•Season 5Ep. 72
Sally is talking to buildings. Woodstock’s got a bike. Lucy has some pitching advice, and someone called Loretta is selling Girl Scout cookies. Plus: Kiss! Kiss! Kiss! Kiss! Transcript available at UnpackingPeanuts.com Unpacking Peanuts is copyright Jimmy Gownley, Michael Cohen, and Harold Buchholz. Produced and edited by Liz Sumner. Music by Michael Cohen. Additional voiceover by Aziza Shukralla Clark. For more from the show follow @unpackpeanuts on Instagram and Twitter, and @unpackingpeanuts ...
Aug 01, 2023•58 min•Season 5Ep. 71
Peppermint Patty drops out of society to beep ol’ Snoop on the nose. Can Marcie bring her back to reality? Also…what IS reality in Peanuts? Elsewhere, Sally really doesn’t want to watch someone throw up, and Snoopy lets it all hang out as he gives streaking a try. Plus: Wing It On Home! Transcript available at UnpackingPeanuts.com Unpacking Peanuts is copyright Jimmy Gownley, Michael Cohen, and Harold Buchholz. Produced and edited by Liz Sumner. Music by Michael Cohen. Additional voiceover by Az...
Jul 25, 2023•1 hr 7 min•Season 5Ep. 70
This week we take a long look at the famous “Mister Sack” storyline; a sequence of strips from 1973 that Schulz picked as his personal favorite. Charlie Brown wears a paper bag on his head to hide the weird baseball looking rash he has developed. The results of this turn his life upside down. Plus: What! Me Worry? Transcript available at UnpackingPeanuts.com Unpacking Peanuts is copyright Jimmy Gownley, Michael Cohen, and Harold Buchholz. Produced and edited by Liz Sumner. Music by Michael Cohen...
Jul 18, 2023•1 hr 6 min•Season 5Ep. 69
Is Linus a genius, or… not? Thibault the bully is back, but Marcie is having none of it! Miss Othmar is back too, with no fanfare at all. Is it because Schulz is now reckoning with the success of the animation? Plus: Big Little Books Transcript available at UnpackingPeanuts.com Unpacking Peanuts is copyright Jimmy Gownley, Michael Cohen, and Harold Buchholz. Produced and edited by Liz Sumner. Music by Michael Cohen. Additional voiceover by Aziza Shukralla Clark. For more from the show follow @un...
Jul 11, 2023•1 hr 9 min•Season 5Ep. 68
Charlie Brown almost gets honored but then doesn’t. Peppermint Patty takes on the notion of Truth itself, and Snoopy achieves the Alpha State. Meanwhile, in the real world, it’s wedding bells for Charles Schulz! Plus: Who are the Beaker People? Transcript available at UnpackingPeanuts.com Unpacking Peanuts is copyright Jimmy Gownley, Michael Cohen, and Harold Buchholz. Produced and edited by Liz Sumner. Music by Michael Cohen. Additional voiceover by Aziza Shukralla Clark. For more from the show...
Jul 04, 2023•1 hr 20 min•Season 5Ep. 67
In this special edition of Unpacking Peanuts, the guys take a close look at three of Schulz’s classic 1972 stories… Snoopy Versus The Cat Next Door, Thompson Is In Trouble, and The Six Bunny Wunnies Freak Out. Plus: Fear and Loathing in Hennepin County Transcript available at UnpackingPeanuts.com Unpacking Peanuts is copyright Jimmy Gownley, Michael Cohen, and Harold Buchholz. Produced and edited by Liz Sumner. Music by Michael Cohen. Additional voiceover by Aziza Shukralla Clark. For more from ...
Jun 27, 2023•1 hr 11 min•Season 5Ep. 66
Charlie Brown is the talk of the girl’s camp as Peppermint Patty meets the legendary Little Red Haired Girl, and Linus makes a bold move. Back at home Charlie Brown tries his hand at football, and Snoopy almost pens an epic. Plus: Woodstock takes the win. Transcript available at UnpackingPeanuts.com Unpacking Peanuts is copyright Jimmy Gownley, Michael Cohen, and Harold Buchholz. Produced and edited by Liz Sumner. Music by Michael Cohen. Additional voiceover by Aziza Shukralla Clark. For more fr...
Jun 20, 2023•1 hr 14 min•Season 5Ep. 65
Schulz’s life is in upheaval and that is mirrored in the strip. Linus is thrown out of the house, Lucy is thrown off the baseball team, and even Snoopy and Woodstock are breaking up. Elsewhere, it’s Peppermint Patty versus the dress code, and Sally versus a coat hanger sculpture. Plus: Hey hey they’re the Monkees! Transcript available at UnpackingPeanuts.com Unpacking Peanuts is copyright Jimmy Gownley, Michael Cohen, and Harold Buchholz. Produced and edited by Liz Sumner. Music by Michael Cohen...
Jun 13, 2023•1 hr 20 min•Season 5Ep. 64
Snoopy’s got a new persona, and it’s one for the ages. But is Charlie Brown an incompetent or just wishy washy? In the other neighborhood, Peppermint Patty and Charlie Brown go to a fair which ends in a romantic disaster. Meanwhile, in our world, Schulz plays the hits. Plus: Wait… why am I telling you about Sister Ruth? Transcript available at UnpackingPeanuts.com Unpacking Peanuts is copyright Jimmy Gownley, Michael Cohen, and Harold Buchholz. Produced and edited by Liz Sumner. Music by Michael...
Jun 06, 2023•2 hr 38 min•Season 5Ep. 63
Doomed romance is in the air as Snoopy falls in love with his favorite author, and Peppermint Patty writes a “Dear Chuck” letter. Elsewhere, we discuss Schulz’s personal life imploding and give our standard, insightful commentary on Peanuts, cartooning, and how to avoid the draft. Plus: Linus is MIA! Transcript available at UnpackingPeanuts.com Unpacking Peanuts is copyright Jimmy Gownley, Michael Cohen, and Harold Buchholz. Produced and edited by Liz Sumner. Music by Michael Cohen. Additional v...
May 30, 2023•2 hr 34 min•Season 5Ep. 62
It’s an extra-special day at the studio—Mark Crilley is here! We had a great discussion with the author of the Miki Falls, Akiko and Brody’s Ghost book series, as well as amazing how-to-draw books and YouTube videos that have been enjoyed by millions. Don’t miss this one! Plus: Vegas, baby! You can find Mark on social media here: https://www.youtube.com/@markcrilley https://www.facebook.com/markcrilleyOFFICIAL https://twitter.com/markcrilley https://www.instagram.com/markcrilleyreal/ Transcript ...
May 23, 2023•1 hr 13 min•Season 5Ep. 61
At the Daisy Hill Puppy Farm, there’s a riot goin’ on! But amid the chaos, Snoopy finds romance, and Woodstock gets his name. It’s an action-packed year for Linus, Lucy, and “Chuck” too, so get ready to do a little heavy reading tonight! Plus: Love Balloon would be a great band name. Transcript available at UnpackingPeanuts.com Unpacking Peanuts is copyright Jimmy Gownley, Michael Cohen, and Harold Buchholz. Produced and edited by Liz Sumner. Music by Michael Cohen. Additional voiceover by Aziza...
May 16, 2023•1 hr 26 min•Season 5Ep. 60
