"PEANUTS" PLAYS BALL THIS SUMMER WITH "LUCY MUST BE TRADED, CHARLIE BROWN," AIRING FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 7 ON ABC

The PEANUTS" special "Lucy Must Be Traded, Charlie Brown," produced and animated by the same team that gave us the classic "PEANUTS" holiday specials, will air FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 7 (8:30-9:00 p.m., ET/PT), on the ABC Television Network. This half-hour, animated program was the first new special based on the popular baseball theme that's featured in over 1,800 individual comic strips from Charles M. Schulz. (Rebroadcast. OAD: 8/29/03)

"Lucy Must Be Traded, Charlie Brown" begins with the start of yet another baseball season. Charlie Brown, the manager of a losing team, hopes that Lucy will not sign up to play. He and Linus believe that she's the worst player in the history of the game, and that her terrible performance in right field is the cause of most of their 900 straight losses. Being the fussbudget that she is, of course, Lucy does sign up for the team and, through a series of trades and mishaps, another wonderful "PEANUTS" classic unfolds.

"PEANUTS" focuses on the anxieties and joys of childhood as expressed by an ensemble cast of children who often seem wise beyond their years. Among them are the lovable Charlie Brown, who perseveres despite continuous failure; the philosophical, blanket-carrying Linus; the persnickity Lucy, who dispenses psychological advice for a nickel from behind a concession stand; and toy-piano virtuoso Schroeder. Central to the comic strip is Charlie Brown's dog, Snoopy.

Over the many seasons since "A Charlie Brown Christmas" debuted in 1965, the "PEANUTS" specials have won five Emmy Awards and 15 Emmy nominations, as well as two Peabody Awards for Excellence in Broadcasting.

Lee Mendelson serves as executive producer of the special. The animation was produced and directed by Bill Melendez and Larry Leichliter. The original music was composed by Vince Guaraldi and David Benoit, and was arranged and performed by David Benoit. "PEANUTS" is licensed and syndicated by United Media.

This program carries a TV-G parental guideline.