2010 Peanuts Photo Contest: Celebrities Love Peanuts, Too.

 

A year long tribute celebrating sixty years of Peanut has been held across the globe in 2010. The tribute culminates on October 2, the "birth date" of the beloved world of PEANUTS.

 

To celebrate sixty years of Peanuts, the first-ever Peanuts Look-Alike contest was held. This was the contest's website. The content below is from the site's archived pages, as well as from other outside sources. I liked the fact that this first-ever PEANUTS 60th Anniversary Photo Look-A-Like Contest, would benefit the Boys & Girls Clubs of America. Peanuts fans of all ages were invited to submit photos of themselves or their children looking like one of these Peanuts characters: Charlie Brown, Snoopy, Lucy, Linus, Sally, Schroeder, Franklin, Peppermint Patty, Marcie or Pigpen, or one of Snoopy’s classic alter-egos, Joe Cool or the World War I Flying Ace. Submissions were accepted through November 3, 2010.

The finalists, selected by a panel of celebrity judges, were posted on November 11 after which the public was able to vote for their favorite finalist through November 30. The winners were announced in December.

With philosophical humor, subtle social commentary, quotable wisdom and irresistible charm, “Peanuts” grew to become not just the best-known, most-loved comic strip ever created, but a true global phenomenon. I loved reading Peanuts as a youngster and my kids have watched Peanuts classic television specials, read Peanuts books, and have licensed Peanuts t-shirt, Snoopy stuffed animals and even tooth brushes with Peanuts characters.

The celebrity judges included Jill Schulz, daughter of Peanuts creator Charles M. Schulz; country music legends Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood; “Supernanny” Jo Frost; “America’s Next Top Model” judge and fashion photographer Nigel Barker; and Victoria Reca~no, co-anchor of KTLA 5 News at 6 and KTLA 5 News at 10. 

I had just returned from a conference about setting up an online business when my kids showed me this site and said they wanted to enter the contest. I was trying to organize in my head our priorities regarding which brands to carry when my thought process was interrupted with the incessant pleas of "Daddy, come look at this!!" Well, the Peanuts Look-Alike contest sounded fun, so we all sat down to plan our look-a-like submissions. We didn't win, but we had lots of fun.

 

 

"As a fun-loving wedding documentarian based in Providence, I am basically Lucy van Pelt with a camera instead of a psychiatric booth. My job? Get people to smile, whether they like it or not. And let me tell you, nothing ruins a ‘perfectly candid’ moment faster than a groom who suddenly remembers he left the oven on. That’s why I fully support the Peanuts approach to life—because genuine, joy-filled smiles happen when there’s a little bit of chaos, some unexpected humor, and maybe a best man tripping over his own feet behind the couple. So when I saw this Peanuts Look-Alike Contest, I immediately thought, ‘Finally! A place where my constant efforts to control the uncontrollable would be celebrated.’ I mean, if Debi Mazar is Lucy, then I must be her long-lost camera-wielding twin. Sure, I don’t hand out unsolicited life advice (much), but I do have strong opinions about proper lighting, and yes, I will absolutely roll my eyes at anyone who says, ‘Just Photoshop it later.’ Now, if only I could convince grooms to take inspiration from Schroeder and serenade their brides mid-ceremony. Or at least get a Joe Cool-level swagger from the bridal party. Until then, I’ll just keep working my behind-the-scenes magic, knowing that every great wedding album needs its fair share of bloopers, belly laughs, and maybe, just maybe, a flying Woodstock (or a rogue veil caught in the wind).” Darlene M

 

 

The Peanuts folks have come up with a series of celebrity look-a-likes to give people a bit of inspiration before they start snapping their own look-a-like photographs. Which are our favorites? We're not telling.

Is Peanuts the Comic Strip to the Stars?

Perhaps, since celebrities love Peanuts, too. And some famous folk even bear an amazing resemblance—whether looks-wise, personality-wise or otherwise!—to their comic-strip counterparts. Take a look!

 

TINA FEY — MARCIE
THE SMART LOOK(-A-LIKE): Who's got brains, a pointed sense of humor, and looks great in glasses? Why that would be Marcie, best pal to Peppermint Patty, and Emmy-winning sensation Tina Fey! If Marcie were looking for a job today, we all felt that she would be into the technology field, perhaps as a coder. And that's why we love Marcie.

 

DEBI MAZAR — LUCY
THAT'S OUR GIRL! Opinionated, outspoken, occasionally outrageous—yes, that's Lucy van Pelt. But the description also fits Debi Mazar (Entourage, Dancing With the Stars) to a T. Or an L. And since she's married to musician Gabriele Corcos, she clearly got her Schroeder.

 

USHER — FRANKLIN
PUTTING THE GENTLE IN GENTLEMAN: With a kind word for everyone, even hapless hero Charlie Brown, Franklin is a special guy—matched in style and grace only by his real-life look-a-like, Usher.

 

CHESLEY B. SULLENBERGER III
— WORLD WAR I FLYING ACE
HIGH-FLYING HEROES: Only one man fits the bill as the human counterpart to Snoopy's daring alter-ego, the World War I Flying Ace. That would be heroic US Airways pilot Chesley B. Sullenberger III, who, along with his crew, landed US Airways Flight 1549 in New York's Hudson River after their aircraft lost its engine thrust, saving the lives all 155 people aboard. Talk about flying in style!

 

SHAWN JOHNSON —
PEPPERMINT PATTY
A PEPPERMINT PATTY DOUBLE PLAY: Gold-medal-winning Olympic gymnast (and Dancing With the Stars champion) Shawn Johnson and Peppermint Patty share a number of admirable qualities: fearlessness on the field of play, a down-to-earth approach to life, and a fun and funny attitude that makes them beloved of everyone who knows them.

 

MICHAEL CERA — LINUS
SWEET BABBOO TOO: Linus and Michael Cera have plenty in common-they both project an innocent philosophical wisdom that girls go crazy for. Just as Sally Brown pines for Linus, her "sweet babboo," we saw Cera's charms as Paulie Bleeker work their magic on a certain girl named Juno.

 

SIMON PEGG — CHARLIE BROWN
FLUSTERED CHARM: Bemused, befuddled or bewildered, the sweetly comic Simon Pegg (Star Trek, Shaun of the Dead) has Good OI' Charlie Brown written all over him.

 

WILL FERRELL — SNOOPY
THE TWO AND ONLY: Snoopy and Will Ferrell—both are masters of disguise, both take their fans along on wild adventures, and they've both made millions of people laugh. (Not to mention those puppy-dog eyes.)

 

KRISTIN CHENOWETH — SALLY
PERKABILITY PLUS: The acclaimed singer-actress won a Tony for her role as Sally in You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown, so there's always been a special bond between the two blondes—not to mention certain similarities in height (or, ahem, the lack thereof) and a charming self-confidence that wins the day, every day.

 

MIKE ROWE — PIGPEN
HEAD IN THE CLOUDS—OF DUST: As a guy who's completely at home surrounded by dirt, Mike Rowe (Dirty Jobs) is the real-world counterparts to Peanuts' beloved Pigpen. That's one thing that's crystal-clear.

 

SETH GREEN - JOE COOL - SNOOPY
THE CUTTING EDGE OF COOL: In the 1970s, the world was introduced to a new kind of cool—Joe Cool. In the 21st century, actor-filmmaker Seth Green creates his own cool style. A little less beagle, a little more...Robot Chicken.

 

HARRY CONNICK, JR. — SCHROEDER
HEARTTHROB AT THE KEYBOARD: Any guy who can turn loud-mouthed Lucy into a pile of mush has to have an extraordinary gift. Schroeder does—and so does Harry Connick, Jr. Not just a pretty face, he really knows his way around the piano. Even Beethoven would approve!

 

WHOOPI GOLDBERG — WOODSTOCK
TWO PEAS IN A POD: Separated at birth? Note the uncanny resemblance between Whoopi Goldberg and Woodstock—the distinctive hairstyle, the flashing dark eyes, the um, chirpy personality? Well, the two W's do have one thing in common: an international audience of devoted fans.

 

 

More Background On PeanutsPhotoContest.com

 

Overview

In 2010, PeanutsPhotoContest.com served as the digital home of the first-ever Peanuts Look-Alike Photo Contest, a whimsical, heartwarming, and community-driven event that became a key highlight of the global 60th Anniversary of Peanuts, the beloved comic strip by Charles M. Schulz. The site was not only a platform for fans to participate in a nostalgic celebration but also a philanthropic endeavor benefiting the Boys & Girls Clubs of America.

Though the original website is no longer active, its archived content and legacy live on in fan communities and digital memory. This article explores the historical, cultural, and social significance of PeanutsPhotoContest.com, its events, features, celebrity involvement, and broader context in the ongoing legacy of Peanuts.

Historical Background: 60 Years of Peanuts

Created by Charles M. Schulz, Peanuts debuted on October 2, 1950, in seven newspapers. The comic strip quickly captivated audiences with its understated humor, emotionally intelligent characters, and philosophical musings masked as simple childlike banter. By the time of its 60th anniversary in 2010, Peanuts had become a global cultural phenomenon appearing in over 2,600 newspapers and translated into more than 20 languages.

The 60th Anniversary was a yearlong international celebration filled with tributes, art exhibitions, charity events, merchandise releases, and culminated with the Peanuts Look-Alike Photo Contest, hosted on PeanutsPhotoContest.com.

Purpose and Structure of the Website

PeanutsPhotoContest.com was specifically designed to serve as the entry point, gallery, and voting hub for the Peanuts Look-Alike Contest. Fans were invited to upload photographs of themselves, their children, or friends dressed as Peanuts characters such as:

  • Charlie Brown

  • Snoopy

  • Lucy

  • Linus

  • Sally

  • Schroeder

  • Franklin

  • Peppermint Patty

  • Marcie

  • Pigpen

  • Snoopy’s alter-egos: Joe Cool or the World War I Flying Ace

Contest Timeline

  • Submissions Open: Until November 3, 2010

  • Finalists Announced: November 11, 2010

  • Public Voting Period: November 11 – November 30, 2010

  • Winners Announced: December 2010

Winners received Peanuts-themed prizes, and the contest was designed to be fun, accessible, and inclusive for fans of all ages.

Celebrity Judges and Pop Culture Appeal

The contest gained significant traction thanks to a panel of celebrity judges drawn from various entertainment sectors, including:

  • Jill Schulz, daughter of Charles M. Schulz

  • Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood, country music legends

  • Jo Frost, TV’s “Supernanny”

  • Nigel Barker, fashion photographer and judge on “America’s Next Top Model”

  • Victoria Reca~no, co-anchor of KTLA 5 News

This panel underscored the wide-reaching appeal of Peanuts, bridging audiences across generations and interests.

Cultural Significance of the Look-Alike Contest

The contest was not merely about costuming—it celebrated how deeply embedded the Peanuts characters are in the public consciousness. The characters serve as archetypes and emotional mirrors, and fans readily identified with their quirks, values, and personalities.

The site even showcased celebrity Peanuts character look-alikes to inspire participants. These humorous and affectionate pairings included:

  • Tina Fey as Marcie – intelligent, witty, bespectacled

  • Will Ferrell as Snoopy – mischievous, imaginative, unpredictable

  • Michael Cera as Linus – wise beyond his years, innocent, sweet

  • Debi Mazar as Lucy – bold, outspoken, opinionated

  • Simon Pegg as Charlie Brown – lovable, earnest, always trying

  • Kristin Chenoweth as Sally – perky, petite, and confident

  • Shawn Johnson as Peppermint Patty – sporty, gutsy, charismatic

  • Usher as Franklin – cool, calm, stylish

  • Mike Rowe as Pigpen – gritty and comfortable with mess

  • Seth Green as Joe Cool – edgy, modern, a different kind of cool

  • Harry Connick Jr. as Schroeder – talented and musically gifted

  • Whoopi Goldberg as Woodstock – eccentric, chirpy, and universally loved

  • Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger as the World War I Flying Ace – the real-life aviation hero

This star-studded element added a humorous, playful layer to the contest while increasing media visibility.

Location and Digital Reach

While there was no physical location for the contest itself, PeanutsPhotoContest.com allowed participants from across the United States—and indeed the globe—to submit entries. Its digital-first format made it particularly accessible, inclusive, and viral. It served as an early example of how nostalgia-driven online engagement campaigns could effectively combine entertainment, charity, and community participation.

Boys & Girls Clubs of America: Philanthropic Partnership

One of the most impactful aspects of the contest was its support for the Boys & Girls Clubs of America. In aligning with this organization, the contest extended the values of Peanuts—kindness, community, resilience—into actionable support for youth.

The Peanuts franchise has long been associated with wholesome family entertainment, and the partnership reflected a genuine commitment to giving back.

Audience and Demographics

The contest successfully engaged a broad demographic:

  • Parents and children: Especially younger kids who could dress up as their favorite characters.

  • Comic strip fans and collectors: Long-time Peanuts readers with nostalgic ties.

  • Cosplay enthusiasts: Individuals passionate about costume play who embraced the theme creatively.

  • General pop culture fans: Drawn in by celebrity involvement and the timeless appeal of Peanuts.

  • Photographers and hobbyists: Those eager to submit charming or funny interpretations of Peanuts characters.

Press and Media Coverage

The contest and its associated site garnered national media attention, thanks to the Schulz family's involvement and the recognizable faces on the judging panel. Outlets such as KTLA, entertainment blogs, parenting magazines, and comic strip retrospectives covered the event as a heartwarming piece of Americana.

Moreover, photo submissions shared via social media gave the campaign organic reach. User-generated content featuring Peanuts costumes and interpretations often went viral within communities on Facebook, Twitter, and niche platforms like Flickr and Tumblr.

User Experiences and Testimonials

The uploaded file includes a reflection from a wedding photographer named Darlene M, who humorously likened herself to Lucy van Pelt:

“I am basically Lucy van Pelt with a camera instead of a psychiatric booth. My job? Get people to smile, whether they like it or not… I immediately thought, ‘Finally! A place where my constant efforts to control the uncontrollable would be celebrated.’”

This lighthearted anecdote captures the spirit of the contest: a celebration of joyful imperfection, charming chaos, and a deep emotional connection to the Peanuts universe.

Legacy and Continued Influence

Though the PeanutsPhotoContest.com website is no longer operational, its legacy continues through:

  • Wayback Machine archives and fan blogs

  • Schulz Museum retrospectives

  • Peanuts Worldwide events and merchandising

  • The rise of user-generated tribute contests inspired by its format

  • Continued visibility during Peanuts anniversaries (65th, 70th, etc.)

More importantly, the site represents an early example of how digital storytelling and audience interaction can create a meaningful community experience around legacy brands.

Peanuts and Digital Engagement: A Broader Trend

This 2010 photo contest foreshadowed a wave of interactive nostalgia marketing in the 2010s and 2020s, including:

  • Hashtag costume contests

  • Meme challenges

  • Virtual fan voting

  • AR/VR Peanuts apps and games

  • Brand collaborations with LEGO, MetLife, and Apple TV+

In many ways, PeanutsPhotoContest.com set a precedent for this type of creative engagement with multigenerational audiences.

A Legacy of Joy, Laughter, and Community

PeanutsPhotoContest.com was much more than a simple promotional website. It became a digital playground, a cultural flashpoint, and a collective memory bank for fans of all ages. Through charming look-alike submissions, celebrity pairings, charitable goals, and an ethos of joy, the site embodied what Peanuts has always stood for:

  • Emotional resonance over spectacle

  • Gentle humor over slapstick

  • Community building over competition

It remains a shining example of how legacy IP can leverage modern digital platforms to bring generations together—one photograph, costume, and nostalgic laugh at a time.

 

PeanutsPhotoContest.com