Sesame Street did a series of tweets the other day in the style of The Monster at the End of This Book, which is a favorite of mine and my kids.
Grover: That tweet, did it say there was a MONSTER at the end of it?
Grover: It did? Well, please do not retweet that tweet!
Grover: YOU RETWEETED THE TWEET!
Today being the first day of Spring, it is also Big Bird's birthday. To celebrate, the Sesame Street blog posted an interview with Big Bird creator, Caroll Spinney, who shared anecdotes from BB's life. Interestingly, Big Bird used to celebrate his 4th birthday, but since he learned how to read, he now celebrates his 6th birthday. And has for quite some time. Dude never seems to age.
Since he couldn't read or write, he was 4-years-old. By the end, he was writing little poems and stuff, so then he had to be six so he could read. He's turning six and he always turns six. His birthday came about on a calendar on the early days of the show. Someone decided he should have a birthday and I decided it should be the first day of spring.
Then Spinney brought everyone's good cheer down a notch by talking about Mr. Hooper.
They said, "Don't' you understand? Mr. Hooper has died." And I said, "Yes, well when is he coming back?" They said, "Don't you understand? Mr. Hooper is never coming back," and quickly everyone is moved to tears. It was probably the most sensitive show we have ever done. When we finished there were tears on all the actors' faces. When I came out of the suit, I had to have a towel because I had been crying.
Lastly, aside from never aging in 40+ years of birthdays, it must be weird to have a birthday on a calendar date that has changed over time. Remember when the first day of Spring was March 21st?
(via Dan Lewis who you might want to check out if you like learning a new thing everyday)
Being Elmo is a documentary about the puppeteer who performs Sesame Street's Elmo. It looks fantastic.
(via unlikely words)
Sesame Street characters, including Grover on the flute, perform the Beastie Boys' Sure Shot.
(via devour)
Here's his audition video:
Fantastic idea...I would love to see a Saturday Night Live with Sesame Street characters. Hey, if 30 Rock is really The Muppet Show...
1. His full name is Aloysius Snuffleupagus.
2. For more than 14 years, Big Bird was the only character on Seasame Street who could see Snuffy...he was BB's imaginary friend.
3. Some of the grownups on the show came to believe Big Bird about the existence of Mr. Snuffleupagus and he was revealed to them in November 1985:
4. Snuffy's reveal came about because of some high-profile sexual abuse cases:
In an interview on a Canadian telethon that was hosted by Bob McGrath, Snuffy's performer, Martin P. Robinson, revealed that Snuffy was finally introduced to the main human cast mainly due to a string of high profile and sometimes graphic stories of pedophilia and sexual abuse of children that had been aired on shows such as 60 Minutes and 20/20. The writers felt that by having the adults refuse to believe Big Bird despite the fact that he was telling the truth, they were scaring children into thinking that their parents would not believe them if they had been sexually abused and that they would just be better off remaining silent.
(via @h_fj)
They're posting classic clips from past shows.
From 1971, a critique of Sesame Street from The Atlantic.
Nonetheless, and in spite of all its successes, I feel very strongly that Sesame Street has aimed too low, has misunderstood the problem it is trying to cure, and will be a disappointment in the long run. I also feel that it has misunderstood the nature and underestimated the opportunities of its chief subject, the three R's, and its medium, television; and therefore, that even what it sets out to do in the short run it does not do nearly as well as it might.
Loved this when I was a kid; all those shapes right there in those circles.
Video of how crayons are made.
This is probably my all-time favorite childhood TV moment. I loved watching the smiling workers and relentless machinery turn all that formless wax into something that I USED EVERY DAY. My favorite part is the crayons popping up out of their molds. Still gives me chills, it does! BTW, the YouTube page says the video originated from Sesame Street but it was actually from Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood. (thx, janelle)
Update: I stand corrected...the above clip is from Sesame Street. But Mr. Rogers did show a similar clip on his show (stills here). I know I've seen the one on Mr. Rogers but I don't know about the Sesame Street one. (thx, everyone)
The Cookie Monster engaging in some serious but healthy self reflection.
Me know. Me have problem. Me love cookies. Me tend to get out of control when me see cookies. Me know it not natural to react so strongly to cookies, but me have weakness. Me know me do wrong. Me know it isn't normal. Me see disapproving looks. Me see stares. Me hurt inside.
Great extensive list of old Sesame Street videos that you can watch on YouTube. Oh, the nostalgia. (Rubber duckie!!!)
Old 70s song about the subway from Sesame Street. This went totally over my head as a kid, but as a NYC resident, it's awesome. On the subway. Subway!
Some changes coming to Sesame Street. "After destroying several garbage cans due to rage issues, Oscar receives a more modern plastic garbage container. Sadly though, the new receptacle has an air-tight lock designed to keep a newly homeless Ernie out. Oscar suffocates and the neighbourhood must now figure out how to properly mourn someone they didn't really like."
Great list of favorite memories from Sesame Street. I'd completely forgotten about the noo-ne-noo-ne-noo typewriter. I'm gonna be humming that all day now.
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