Sesame Street Anniversary

[Big Bird]

For the record all of us at Sesame Street wholeheartedly recommend Subversify.com!

[karlsie]

I'm laughing so hard my sides are splitting. And to think, i was just about to go off on a rant on how Sesame Street has turned an entire generation of media writers into catering to the attention deficit syndrome. But; with Big Bird endorsing our magazine, how can i possibly say anything mean?

[grainnerhuad]

Ahh look! Big Bird all grown up and subversified. Love it.

[Thomas Littlechief]

Well there's a crap storm brewing out there about Sesame Street. It is a video about Oscar interviewing royalty on GNN (Grouch News Network). In the video, Oscar is being hugged and kissed etc. After the interview, Oscar returns to his office and gets a phone call from another grouch, in very agitated state, saying that she doesn't have to put up with that and is changing the channel to Pox (Fox).

Now there are parents out there who are taking this literally and claiming that they can't "Set their children in front of the T.V. to watch Sesame Street because it (and here it comes every one ) " subverts their children and teaches them that the the news shows the parents watch are inferior."

Really, First these people probably depend on these children's television shows to distract their children while their Eco-green asses attempt to wash out the "Kid Cuisine" microwave dishes from breakfast.

Second, if they are so upset about this little issue, how are they (the parents) qualified to view adult content on CNN let alone Fox News?

I always loved Oscar when I was a child, Super Grover was an anticipation on every episode too. Perhaps these parents should write and tell D.C. Comics that according to their values, Superman isn't qualified to fly and have his laptop taken away.

[karlsie]

Cookie Monster!!!!! Oscar was number two on my favorite's list. Cookie Monster was number one. I'm really becoming deeply disturbed about American audiences. What the hell happened to their funny bone? Lewd humor is acceptable. Drunken, blundering, horny heroes are acceptable. Slap happy impossibility scenes are acceptable, but don't engage in satirical slaps at reality. My skin is starting to prickle every time i get near these nauseating cases of over-sensitivity shrilly screaming about all the redundant things that hurts them. It hurts me to hear their voices.

[Thomas Littlechief]

Hey Bird,

Remember the time we sang "Big Bird don't fly. to the tune of "Big Girls don't cry"?

[Thomas Littlechief]

Ohh ohh Bird, remember this one?

I am the bird that’s in command
of this entire Navy!
From where I stand you can’t see land
the oceans wide and wavy!
So grab a sailor suit and you might learn to love
the color Blue…
A sailor you will be with
Admiral Bird,that’s me!

We’re off to sail the ocean wide
so batten down the hatches.
Away the anchor starboard side, fasten up the latches.
We’ll swab the deck,
trim the sails,
and maybe you will see a whale.
When you are out to sea with
Admiral Bird, that’s me!

I give the orders and you do what I say,
I’m in charge of everything
cuz that’s the Navy way.
I’ll do the thinking, so put your mind on ice.
I’m the only Admiral, it’s nautical, but nice
Now keep your eyes from starboard bow,
and don’t ignore the compass.
And set a watch upon the brow,
so pirate ships wont jump us.
Then hoist the jib and shout avast!
then scramble up the mizzen mast!
You’ll love it on the sea with
Admiral Bird, That’s me!

Ahoy

[Thomas Littlechief]

Seriously though,

As I contemplate on the 40th anniversary of Sesame Street, I can do nothing but shake my head to the simple fact that this show is only 110 days younger than me. A fact in retrospect, I find comically…; well annoying.

I’m not really perplexed as to the concept of the anniversary per say, but the significance of the intervening decades is quite a ride. We’ve come a long way, boundaries have been pushed and not only have the fun, but the facts of life have been dealt with in a manner of education and empathy.

Now a bit off point, for a moment that is; I would also point out that Sesame Street wasn’t the only show to deal with these issues. I remember when Mr. Rodgers started his show once with the title song and at the end when he went to feed the fish he found one had died. It was, profound, amazing when this former pre-school teacher winged an entire show and talked about death and how it was ok to talk about it.

That was perhaps, in the first time in the modern era that death was openly talked about in an educational way to explain and soothe young, delicate minds. It however would not be the last. I remember when Big Bird talked about the death of Mr. Hooper.

I was very young, and there was visibly something very wrong with the show. An adult would have understood the situation and the incident without question. It wasn’t as if the cast hadn’t talked openly on the show about Mr. Hooper’s terminal illness. But still my young brain didn’t understand the concept of death or the finality of it. Thank you Big Bird for telling me the truth in a way that I could understand and accept, and why it was that Mr. Hooper wasn’t coming back. I then understood where my Grandpa went.

Over time new puppets were introduced, and most came to the table with important ways to explain, sometimes very serious, issues of the day. Take for instance Kami, the HIV positive monster. And some have been very annoying; doo doo da doo, doo doo da dada do, Elmo’s World. But still all have been pioneers in their puppet right.

There are so many characters but I remember the original the best. Ala peanut butter sandwiches, “C” is for cookies, vague; but recognizable references to animosity poorly referenced because most can recall the speakers name. Sometimes at a friend’s house, when their phone rings, I get looks questioning my sanity when I begin to count; one ringy dingy, two, two ringy dingy. I can’t help myself, and secretly wish it would thunder and lightning whilst I reveled in the confirming number in Transylvanian hysteria.

There is so much more. I learned how to be self confident and believe in myself, Big Bird taught me that. Mr. Snuffleupagus was more than Bird’s imaginary friend, everybody wouldn’t accept Snuffy’s existence. We all saw that Bird wasn’t going mental, but was rather a victim of perpetual bad timing.

This happened for years and finally in Hawaii, while searching for Mount Snuffleupagus, was Snuffy finally seen by all. And mind you they were all chasing Bird to convince him that Snuffleupagus didn’t exist. I learned what redemption was, how sticking to ones beliefs, no matter what other people say; how your knowledge of what of what you know to be true should not be taken away from you. In later years it was the dismay of others when I stood my ground. Thanks again Bird.

Who hasn’t taken the Birdkateer oath? I know that I am a grouchkateer as well. I know Super Grover’s secret identity; I’ll tell you if you don’t know, just don’t tell anyone else, it’s a secret after all. Up until now I have been modest, but surely you recognize my singing talents; I sang duet with Prairie Dawn at each and every opening of This little Theatre. I even speak Narf, and from time to time I have interopersted for the honkers, I'll teach you their language if you want; Why I'll even bet your a dinger.

I learned about disability, Linda taught me the world of a deaf individual. I learned a lot about sign language from her. Children in a wheel chair, others with Muscular Dystrophy, even young cancer survivors. I learned how others with conditions I sometimes didn’t understand, should be treated with dignity, but more importantly with equality. There were no boundaries, we learned to love each other through truth and understanding.

The Honkers, Pigs in Space, Gladys the cow, Muppet Polly Darton, Biff and Sully, the Typewriter Guy others ab infinium. Friends each and all.

Maria married Louise, had their child Gabby. Susan Bob, Alan and Miles. I remember them all. A new generation also has a first love in Gina.

I can go on and on, but do you know what I think is needed to finish this? No? I think I need to hear what you say as well. If you’re shy we can play this game I know. It’s called ‘One of these things is not like the others”, it’s a great way to get to know each other.

[Thomas Littlechief]

and before you say it, yes karlsie, i will post this in submissions as well.

[neonorth]

For me it was Guy Smiley that made me giddy with anticipation for Sesame Street ...along with the songs; muh na na na, right up there with friggin' Mozart

[Thomas Littlechief]

And Pavarotti

[karlsie]

I'm so shallow and food oriented. It was all about Cookie Monster and the Amazing Mumsford. A la peanut butter sandwiches!