Word Balloons: ‘Peanuts’ look-alikes contest seeks entries

BY MATTHEW PRICE Comments 0
Published: October 23, 2009

Is your child a ringer for Linus, with or without security blanket? If your son or daughter has the look of a "Peanuts” comic strip character, you can submit photos at www.peanutsphotocontest.com

Oklahoma’s Kristin Chenoweth and "Peanuts’” Sally. PHOTOs PROVIDED

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Entries can be submitted through Nov. 3, and the grand prize is an all-expense-paid trip for four to Cedar Fair amusement park in Sandusky, Ohio, home of Planet Snoopy.

Jill Schulz, daughter of "Peanuts” creator Charles Schulz, will join judge Jo Frost ("Supernanny”) and two Oklahomans — Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood — in selecting finalists. The public vote begins Nov. 11.

Brooks and Yearwood are fans of the "Peanuts” characters, Schulz said.

"They are also great role models for parents today and advocates for children in general,” Schulz said in an e-mail interview. "And, they know the work involved in posing for the camera — not to mention getting your kids to do it!”

Schulz says that, over the years, she’s heard from many fans about "Peanuts” look-alikes.

"Practically every fan we’ve ever met has told us that they have a particular Peanuts character they relate to — or that a family member, friend or child reminds them of a certain ‘Peanuts’ character,” Schulz said. "With the 60th anniversary coming up, this seemed like the perfect time to give people the chance to share their stories — and their pictures! Also, our team met Simon Pegg at Comic-Con a year ago, and he said that people are always telling him he looks like Charlie Brown. That inspired us to follow up with a gallery of celebrity look-alikes.”

The celebrity look-alikes include Oklahoma’s Kristin Chenoweth, who is matched with Sally.

Chenoweth even played Sally in "You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown” on Broadway.

"Whether in costume for ‘You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown’ or not, Kristin really captures the essence of Sally’s personality,” Schulz said. "Their physical resemblance is remarkable, of course. Both are petite perky blondes who look great in pink — with spunky attitudes to match, too!”

Schulz is a former professional ice skater, dancer and actress and now oversees Woodstock Ice Productions and also directs and choreographs the All Wheels Xtreme sports entertainment shows. She lives in Santa Barbara, Calif., with her husband, Aaron, and children, Kylie, 11, and Tyler, 7.

"I know my dad would have loved this project,” Schulz said. "Growing up, I would always hear fans ask him, ‘Which character are you most like?’ Occasionally, he would say ‘Charlie Brown,’ but more often than not, he would simply say, ‘Read the strip, and you will know me.’ Personally, I believe there was a little bit of each character in him — and I know he would have enjoyed seeing how other people had fun with it all!”