I may be jumping the gun a little bit here, but since the folks on Sesame Street are as well, why not: November 10 marks the 40th anniversary of Sesame Street’s premiere on National Educational Television (or PBS, as it was later known). The lovable Muppets of Sesame Street have educated tons of children, and have become a part of popular culture as much as they have spoofed it while giving their lessons: a parody of Mad Men from the upcoming 40th season (featuring a rare performance by Frank Oz as Don Draper) received a lot of news coverage, which certainly must have made them glad men.
There’s a lot of 40th anniversary merchandise coming down the pipe, such as a coffee-table book and a new DVD set, but the best way to celebrate Sesame Street is to look at Sesame Street. Besides the tons of clips people have put up on YouTube, Sesame Street has their own official channel, and their own website has more Sesame video than anyone could possibly want. So, here are some amusing Sesame moments old and new to celebrate, and feel free to add your favorites:
After reading this thread, I looked at a few YouTube videos, which took me back quite a ways. One of my favorites was Put Down the Ducky, which was done for a pledge drive in 1988. Sheesh!
Our daughter, who watched this video as a tiny tot, is now in grad school. Damn, the time gets away from us…
This reminds me of what is now my favorite Sesame Street moment of all time: Forgetful Jones in Oklahoma. Earlier this year, I attended a 40th-anniversary panel held in Wayne, New Jersey in which the cast of Sesame Street talked about their experiences on the show and payed tribute to Jersey’s own Richard Hunt. Laughing along with nearly 1,000 people old and young as this sketch played was a true testament to the timeless, multi-generational appeal of Sesame Street and the Muppets. Bravo to Richard Hunt, Jim Henson, and everyone involved over these past 40 years, and here’s to 40 more.
