# 40! 40 Fabulous Years of Sesame Street! Ah-Ah-Ah! **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 27, 2009, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/40-40-fabulous-years-of-sesame-street-ah-ah-ah/515315 "2009-10-27T16:20:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![mobo85](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mobo85](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mobo85)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2009, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/40-40-fabulous-years-of-sesame-street-ah-ah-ah/515315/1 "2009-10-27T16:20:02Z")
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_](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YgvKCfZqxrQ) 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](http://www.youtube.com/user/SesameStreet), and their own [website](http://www.sesamestreet.org/videos) 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: Sesame Songs: [The Sesame Street Theme](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jfQSp92L88I) [Rubber Duckie](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mh85R-S-dh8) [C is for Cookie](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ye8mB6VsUHw) [Bein’ Green](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=51BQfPeSK8k) [I Don’t Want To Live on the Moon](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kIq8jLj5TzU) [What’s The Name of that Song](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6TjX5r37V0Q) [The Batty Bat](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N7yAe2MBIpE) [Monster in the Mirror (celebrity version)](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PM6ya7wTb58) Sesame Celebs and Spoofs: [The Count and Patrick Stewart: 1](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hNatvLe18ro) [Feist: 1, 2, 3, 4](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fZ9WiuJPnNA) [Neil Patrick Harris, the Shoe Fairy](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wDaszN9ByxM) [30 Rocks](http://www.sesamestreet.org/video_player?p_p_lifecycle=0&p_p_id=videoPlayer_WAR_sesameportlets4369&p_p_uid=24912f9a-47cc-4cb1-bc1d-af2526b3f39a) [dPod](http://www.sesamestreet.org/video_player?p_p_lifecycle=0&p_p_id=videoPlayer_WAR_sesameportlets4369&p_p_uid=effb3fa6-d0f6-423c-be44-dd43930ad746) Waiter Grover and Fat Blue: [Alphabet Soup](http://www.sesamestreet.org/video_player?p_p_lifecycle=0&p_p_id=videoPlayer_WAR_sesameportlets4369&p_p_uid=7b8f8496-156b-11dd-bb51-597ab51d2e81) [The Little Hamburger](http://www.sesamestreet.org/video_player?p_p_lifecycle=0&p_p_id=videoPlayer_WAR_sesameportlets4369&p_p_uid=20bd591c-155b-11dd-a62f-919b98326687) [I Can’t Eat This Soup](http://www.sesamestreet.org/video_player?p_p_lifecycle=0&p_p_id=videoPlayer_WAR_sesameportlets4369&p_p_uid=c6ac930f-1548-11dd-8ea8-a3d2ac25b65b) [No More Food](http://www.sesamestreet.org/video_player?p_p_lifecycle=0&p_p_id=videoPlayer_WAR_sesameportlets4369&p_p_uid=6960e5ee-155e-11dd-a62f-919b98326687) [The Rhyming Waiter](http://www.sesamestreet.org/video_player?p_p_lifecycle=0&p_p_id=videoPlayer_WAR_sesameportlets4369&p_p_uid=55691a71-1549-11dd-8ea8-a3d2ac25b65b) [Put A Lid On It](http://www.sesamestreet.org/video_player?p_p_lifecycle=0&p_p_id=videoPlayer_WAR_sesameportlets4369&p_p_uid=15b7e365-4143-11dd-a2c3-4d6bdc929d13) ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2009, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/40-40-fabulous-years-of-sesame-street-ah-ah-ah/515315/2 "2009-10-27T23:24:03Z")
[Robin Williams and Elmo](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n0v5TIbTG9Q) ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2009, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/40-40-fabulous-years-of-sesame-street-ah-ah-ah/515315/3 "2009-10-27T23:28:57Z")
[Jack Black and an Octogon](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_7jpz_55EdM&feature=related) ---
**Author:** ![Drain\_Bead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e47774/32.png) [@Drain\_Bead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drain_Bead)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2009, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/40-40-fabulous-years-of-sesame-street-ah-ah-ah/515315/4 "2009-10-27T23:48:55Z")
Great thread title! [One two three FOUR FIVE, six seven eight nine ten, eleven twelve](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JZshZp-cxKg) [Crystal Gayle and Big Bird singing Songs](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gn_fQi7Ux04) ---
**Author:** ![chique](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4491bb/32.png) [@chique](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chique)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2009, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/40-40-fabulous-years-of-sesame-street-ah-ah-ah/515315/5 "2009-10-28T00:20:16Z")
Does anyone remember the little tiny family that lived in a (Ernie’s?) window box? ---
**Author:** ![mobo85](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mobo85](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mobo85)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2009, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/40-40-fabulous-years-of-sesame-street-ah-ah-ah/515315/6 "2009-10-28T00:26:05Z")
> [@chique](#): > > Does anyone remember the little tiny family that lived in a (Ernie’s?) window box? They’re [Twiddlebugs](http://muppet.wikia.com/wiki/Twiddlebugs). ---
**Author:** ![Kyla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/eada6e/32.png) [@Kyla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyla)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2009, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/40-40-fabulous-years-of-sesame-street-ah-ah-ah/515315/7 "2009-10-28T00:31:17Z")
Oh, how fondly I recall: [How crayons are made](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HMU-wXsgyR8&feature=PlayList&p=8F035F6697436C30&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=30) and [Me and my llama](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sgkYHhG18uc). Thanks, Sesame Street. ---
**Author:** ![AboutAsWeirdAsYouCanGet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/22d042/32.png) [@AboutAsWeirdAsYouCanGet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AboutAsWeirdAsYouCanGet)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2009, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/40-40-fabulous-years-of-sesame-street-ah-ah-ah/515315/8 "2009-10-28T01:08:30Z")
Prarie Dawn…Forgetful Jones! ---
**Author:** ![chique](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4491bb/32.png) [@chique](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chique)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2009, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/40-40-fabulous-years-of-sesame-street-ah-ah-ah/515315/9 "2009-10-28T01:21:57Z")
> [@mobo85](#): > > They’re [Twiddlebugs](http://muppet.wikia.com/wiki/Twiddlebugs). YES! I’m certain that’s where my love of helium was born. Thank you. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2009, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/40-40-fabulous-years-of-sesame-street-ah-ah-ah/515315/10 "2009-10-28T03:48:51Z")
> [@Drain\_Bead](#): > > [One two three FOUR FIVE, six seven eight nine ten, eleven twelve](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JZshZp-cxKg) That’s the [Pointer Sisters](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pinball_Number_Count), in case anyone was wondering. ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2009, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/40-40-fabulous-years-of-sesame-street-ah-ah-ah/515315/11 "2009-10-28T04:00:02Z")
[The Song of the Count](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3e7yYBDHOgg) And even though it’s not “official”, I can’t let this thread go without linking to [the (censored) Song of the Count](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B-Wd-Q3F8KM&). ---
**Author:** ![NicePete](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ee7513/32.png) [@NicePete](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NicePete)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2009, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/40-40-fabulous-years-of-sesame-street-ah-ah-ah/515315/12 "2009-10-28T13:19:25Z")
You won’t see this sort of thing on Elmo’s Sesame Street: [Superstition.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ul7X5js1vE) ---
**Author:** ![BrotherCadfael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@BrotherCadfael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrotherCadfael)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2009, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/40-40-fabulous-years-of-sesame-street-ah-ah-ah/515315/13 "2009-10-28T14:10:59Z")
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](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T3049TRLo5M), 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… ---
**Author:** ![LawMonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d6d6ee/32.png) [@LawMonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LawMonkey)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2009, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/40-40-fabulous-years-of-sesame-street-ah-ah-ah/515315/14 "2009-10-28T15:02:05Z")
James Blunt’s “[My Triangle.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o2Z6tDSb6c8)” Better by far than the song it spoofs. Sesame Street played an important role in helping me learn to read before I ever went to kindergarten, so nothing but respect for it here. ---
**Author:** ![mobo85](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mobo85](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mobo85)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2009, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/40-40-fabulous-years-of-sesame-street-ah-ah-ah/515315/15 "2009-10-28T15:16:02Z")
> [@AboutAsWeirdAsYouCanGet](#): > > Forgetful Jones! This reminds me of what is now my favorite Sesame Street moment of all time: [Forgetful Jones in _Oklahoma_](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cQ9g62YE1N4). 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. ---
**Author:** ![mobo85](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mobo85](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mobo85)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2009, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/40-40-fabulous-years-of-sesame-street-ah-ah-ah/515315/16 "2009-10-28T15:23:49Z")
No, wait, _this_ is my favorite Sesame Street moment of all time: [Cookie Monster isn’t a letter of the alphabet!](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ptbp0pmcg3U) ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2009, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/40-40-fabulous-years-of-sesame-street-ah-ah-ah/515315/17 "2009-10-28T15:42:38Z")
Sesame Street is only 10 years older than ESPN? Somehow, I cannot grasp this concept. ---
**Author:** ![Indyellen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/indyellen/32/4176_2.png) [@Indyellen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indyellen)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2009, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/40-40-fabulous-years-of-sesame-street-ah-ah-ah/515315/18 "2009-10-28T16:08:07Z")
One of my all-time favorite moments, as an adult watching with my daughter: [Susan Sarandon & The Count](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RzeBXARiA0I). This was NOT written for the kids, but their parents. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Real\_Regency\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d9b06d/32.png) [@The\_Real\_Regency\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Real_Regency_Elf)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2009, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/40-40-fabulous-years-of-sesame-street-ah-ah-ah/515315/19 "2009-10-28T16:51:38Z")
I couldn’t get enough of the [Queen of Six](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qHDgppc3Sig) and her well-behaved kittens. And the music for [The Letter O gets hoisted](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-TC8bgY-RpI) still makes me crack up. ---
**Author:** ![fiddlesticks](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiddlesticks/32/18129_2.png) [@fiddlesticks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fiddlesticks)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2009, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/40-40-fabulous-years-of-sesame-street-ah-ah-ah/515315/20 "2009-10-28T17:28:47Z")
Yip-yips meet a [telephone](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z4VNMERVsC4). [10 chocolate layer cakes](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1wxHeWaXa_I)! [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/40-40-fabulous-years-of-sesame-street-ah-ah-ah/515315.md?page=2)