SMOOTH SLEDDING

For the generation that grew up watching A Charlie Brown Christmas, the Norelco Santa Claus spot was as much a staple of holiday TV viewing as the Peanuts classic.

Bowing first in 1961, the animated, black-and-white ad depicted Santa swooshing over tall moguls with ease. In the ensuing years, the Stamford, Conn., client updated the spot’s look, showing a seemingly 3-D animated Santa, in color, using a sled that swooped about on Norelco shaver heads.

Norelco stopped running the ad in 1996 because “we wanted to focus specifically on the Advantage line of products,” said Bob Gaines, Norelco category manager, male shaving and grooming.

Tonight, the Jolly One returns to duty for Nor elco in an animated spot that airs during ABC’s Monday Night Football.