Bravo's Andy Cohen meets Snoopy at benefit screening

Join Andy Cohen in a chorus of "Bravo!" for Snoopy and the gang: Meet Bravo TV host and Snoopy fan extraordinaire Andy Cohen during his live appearance at the Charles Schulz Museum in Santa Rosa, California on Thursday, March 31, 5:30 - 8:30pm-Cohen will be helping launch the first original Peanuts animated special in five years, Happiness Is a Warm Blanket, Charlie Brown. Tickets are $100 for the VIP Reception with Andy Cohen, the pre-screening wine reception, and reserved seating for the screening and panel discussion led by Andy Cohen; $75 for the wine reception and theater seating; and $25 for the wine reception and remote seating in the Museum's gallery during a simulcast. Call 707-284-1269 for tickets and information.

"Happiness is a warm blanket" is a classic PEANUTS phrase that gets a whole new context this month, with the debut of the first original PEANUTS animated special in more than five years.

"My dad had a gift for communicating the joy we can get from everyday moments in life, and 'Happiness is a warm blanket' is a concept that resonates with everyone," says Craig Schulz, son of the late PEANUTS creator, Charles M. Schulz. "Who doesn't appreciate the feeling of warmth and security that comes with curling up with a warm blanket? That's what made it such a natural theme when we decided to create a new PEANUTS DVD: The emotions are true to the characters-and to my dad's spirit."

A new Charlie Brown

As the first animated PEANUTS special in five years to feature new, original content, Happiness is a Warm Blanket, Charlie Brown (from Warner Home Video) is a welcome arrival for PEANUTS fans worldwide.

The special is based on Charles Schulz's comic strips, and stays true to the original look of the strip, while still venturing into novel territory. Craig Schulz was one of the executive producers and writers of the film, Mark Mothersbaugh of Devo composed the score, and it was directed by animator Andy Beall (Up, Ratatouille) and Frank Molieri (The Simpsons Movie, SpongeBob SquarePants Movie).

In this heartwarming new tale, Linus is pushed to his limits when he learns his grandmother is coming to visit and plans to rid him of his most cherished possession: his beloved security blanket. As grandma's impending arrival looms on the horizon, the PEANUTS gang tries to find ways to help Linus lose his dependence on his fuzzy crutch.

Lucy is particularly eager to cure Linus' emotional attachment and applies her own psychiatric techniques. Charlie Brown, on the other hand, does his best to help, but just does not have the heart to see Linus suffer. Snoopy exacerbates matters because he longs to have the blanket for himself. In the end, insightful Linus points out that everyone has their own type of "security blanket," and that a little security is a valuable thing. Available at Amazon for $14.99.