# 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:** 3
**Author:** ![Lord\_Mondegreen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/91b2a8/32.png) [@Lord\_Mondegreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Mondegreen)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2009, 10:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/40-40-fabulous-years-of-sesame-street-ah-ah-ah/515315/41 "2009-10-29T10:37:37Z")
> [@A Monkey With a Gun](#): > > Damnit, **Python**. I was holding it just fine through the song, but then Big Bird ends it with "thank you, Kermit’. You made a grown ass man weep. Gee, my (non-existent) hay fever is really playing up tonight. What about [Andrea Bocelli singing to Elmo](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lv38j4lPzd0) ---
**Author:** ![Kyla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/eada6e/32.png) [@Kyla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyla)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2009, 12:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/40-40-fabulous-years-of-sesame-street-ah-ah-ah/515315/42 "2009-10-29T12:37:19Z")
How could I have forgotten? [Oscar’s ode to trash](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z1SiSUrvUnk). ---
**Author:** ![Snickers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@Snickers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snickers)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2009, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/40-40-fabulous-years-of-sesame-street-ah-ah-ah/515315/43 "2009-10-29T13:37:19Z")
\Oh I’m a workin’ dog I’m a hard workin’ dog!\ I \<3 Sesame Street. My brother’s 39 this year; Mom says she remembers watching Sesame Street when the numbers were in the 100s. I’m sure they’re up to several thousands now. One of my favorite songs was Kermit singing words in the order of the alphabet in a Zulu style: Amazing, beautiful creatures dancing Everywhere in the forest glade… I’d look it up, but YouTube is blocked at work. ---
**Author:** ![Death\_of\_Rats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a6a055/32.png) [@Death\_of\_Rats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Death_of_Rats)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2009, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/40-40-fabulous-years-of-sesame-street-ah-ah-ah/515315/44 "2009-10-29T15:23:08Z")
The last new season one I saw with my daughter was numbered 4500+ and that was two years ago. Can’t get to Youtube from work, but C is for Cookie will always be my favorite. ---
**Author:** ![Hal\_Briston](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a9a28c/32.png) [@Hal\_Briston](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hal_Briston)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2009, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/40-40-fabulous-years-of-sesame-street-ah-ah-ah/515315/45 "2009-10-29T15:31:50Z")
> [@Indyellen](#): > > 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. How could they _not_ have Sarandon say “I’m cold, I’m wet, and I’m just plain scared!”? ---
**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 29, 2009, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/40-40-fabulous-years-of-sesame-street-ah-ah-ah/515315/46 "2009-10-29T15:48:00Z")
> [@Hal\_Briston](#): > > How could they _not_ have Sarandon say “I’m cold, I’m wet, and I’m just plain scared!”? o/`Count me, count me, count me, count me! I wanna count to thirty! o/` ---
**Author:** ![mobo85](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mobo85](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mobo85)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2009, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/40-40-fabulous-years-of-sesame-street-ah-ah-ah/515315/47 "2009-10-29T20:18:38Z")
> [@Death\_of\_Rats](#): > > The last new season one I saw with my daughter was numbered 4500+ and that was two years ago. Much like Little Chrissy and the Alphabeats, you’re counting it higher- the first episode of Season 40 will be #4187. > [@Hockey\_Monkey](#): > > This is my all-time favorite Sesame Song and no one I know has ever heard of it. Rather strange, given how well known it is. The [man](http://muppet.wikia.com/wiki/Bud_Luckey) who wrote, composed, and sung Ladybug’s Picnic and a few others now works at an animation studio you may have heard of. You may have even heard his familiar voice in [some of their work](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VkM1B6_4fM4). ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2009, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/40-40-fabulous-years-of-sesame-street-ah-ah-ah/515315/48 "2009-10-29T20:24:31Z")
> [@mobo85](#): > > [_This Way To Sesame Street_](http://muppet.wikia.com/wiki/This_Way_to_Sesame_Street)- aired on NBC two days before the NET premiere. Cool! Thanks for posting that!! Nice to see that my memory was accurate! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2009, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/40-40-fabulous-years-of-sesame-street-ah-ah-ah/515315/49 "2009-10-29T20:27:14Z")
> [@mobo85](#): > > Rather strange, given how well known it is. The [man](http://muppet.wikia.com/wiki/Bud_Luckey) who wrote, composed, and sung Ladybug’s Picnic and a few others now works at an animation studio you may have heard of. You may have even heard his familiar voice in [some of their work](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VkM1B6_4fM4). I remember when “Boundin’” came out, and thinking, “man, I recognize that guy’s voice.” Then, I saw some documentary on it, and they specifically referenced “Ladybug’s Picnic”. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![AppallingGael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b9bd4f/32.png) [@AppallingGael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AppallingGael)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2009, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/40-40-fabulous-years-of-sesame-street-ah-ah-ah/515315/50 "2009-10-29T21:06:23Z")
[Telephone Rock](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fK30qJLeKPM). Anything with Lefty (who got hosed in Muppet Madness here), but here is a rare [musical pitch](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ajHVLJG0298). ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2009, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/40-40-fabulous-years-of-sesame-street-ah-ah-ah/515315/51 "2009-10-30T02:05:49Z")
> [@Hockey\_Monkey](#): > > This is my all-time favorite Sesame Song and no one I know has ever heard of it. WHAT?! Everyone you know has a major hole in their life experience then 🙂 > [@A Monkey With a Gun](#): > > Damnit, **Python**. I was holding it just fine through the song, but then Big Bird ends it with "thank you, Kermit’. You made a grown ass man weep. I recently read [Street Gang - The Complete History of Sesame Street](http://www.amazon.com/Street-Gang-Complete-History-Sesame/dp/B0029LHWHC/ref=ed_oe_h_bargain) (great book BTW) and the book goes into a lot of detail of Henson’s funeral. Afterwards, I found those videos that **python** posted and cried. I cried a lot, more than I have cried in maybe 10 years. I’m a girl, but still… ---
**Author:** ![mobo85](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mobo85](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mobo85)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2009, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/40-40-fabulous-years-of-sesame-street-ah-ah-ah/515315/52 "2009-10-30T02:14:55Z")
> [@ZipperJJ](#): > > [Street Gang - The Complete History of Sesame Street](http://www.amazon.com/Street-Gang-Complete-History-Sesame/dp/B0029LHWHC/ref=ed_oe_h_bargain) (great book BTW) I agree. (Now available in paperback with an additional chapter!) I had my copy signed by the author at the panel I mentioned (“Sunny days always! Michael Davis”). As he was signing it, someone asked Sonia Manzano (Maria) what her favorite Sesame Street song was. She responded “Somebody Come And Play” and Davis started singing it. I said he had a nice voice and joked that he could always get a career in singing if this book-writing thing doesn’t work out, which he seemed to find amusing. (Actually, Bob McGrath actually started out as a singer. He was very big in Japan.) But the real reason I bring this up is that there are multiple people who brought _Sesame Street_ to us, and only one of them, Jim Henson, was mentioned. It took many people, but if there’s a Holy Trinity of Sesame Street, it’s [Joan Ganz Cooney](http://muppet.wikia.com/wiki/Joan_Ganz_Cooney), [Jon Stone](http://muppet.wikia.com/wiki/Jon_Stone), and Jim Henson. These three are arguably the ones most responsible for the look and feel (and in Cooney’s case, the whole idea) of Sesame Street. I thank them all and everyone involved. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2009, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/40-40-fabulous-years-of-sesame-street-ah-ah-ah/515315/53 "2009-10-30T03:28:39Z")
I’ve always liked this song - [Alone](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uQLHoO1mUvs). It sums up my approach to life quite succinctly. ---
**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2009, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/40-40-fabulous-years-of-sesame-street-ah-ah-ah/515315/54 "2009-10-30T23:32:12Z")
My earliest memory of Sesame Street (which started when I was in college) is Lefty trying to sell Ernie an 8. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/bf0S_GhiX7Q/hqdefault.jpg "Sesame Street - Ernie and Salesman "8"") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bf0S_GhiX7Q) Lefty’s shady characterization is great. I love the way he looks around to see if anyone’s nearby. Lefty: Or when you forget how many reindeer Santy Claus has… [looks around, opens coat to show the 8] Ernie:[spots the 8] Lefty: …dig the 8. Ernie: 8 REINDEER! Lefty: SHHHHHHHHHHH! Ernie: (whispering) 8 reindeer! Lefty: Riiiiiight. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2009, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/40-40-fabulous-years-of-sesame-street-ah-ah-ah/515315/55 "2009-11-10T19:51:33Z")
…Happy 40th Birthday to You… And many, many, many, many more! ---
**Author:** ![MsWhatsit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2009, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/40-40-fabulous-years-of-sesame-street-ah-ah-ah/515315/56 "2009-11-10T19:52:42Z")
We watched the first episode of the new season today. The segment with Michelle Obama was very nice. Whatsit the Youngest was intrigued. I’ve been watching this show (with significant lapses in coverage) for 30 years now. Wow. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2009, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/40-40-fabulous-years-of-sesame-street-ah-ah-ah/515315/57 "2009-11-10T20:34:09Z")
Merged into existing thread. twickster, Cafe Society moderator ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2009, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/40-40-fabulous-years-of-sesame-street-ah-ah-ah/515315/58 "2009-11-10T20:37:29Z")
[Google honors Seseme Street with logos](http://www.google.com/logos/). ---
**Author:** ![Llama\_Llogophile](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@Llama\_Llogophile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Llama_Llogophile)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2009, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/40-40-fabulous-years-of-sesame-street-ah-ah-ah/515315/59 "2009-11-10T21:59:23Z")
Now’s as good a time as any to ask this. I remember a short cartoon skit on Sesame Street, and have been unable to find it anywhere. Here’s how it went, as far as I can recall: A woman asks a man, “Guess who I met today?” The guy asks her to describe him by asking questions. “Was he short, or tall?” And his body morphs into whatever he’s asking. At the end after asking several questions, he says something like, “OK, you met a short, fat man with big ears, long hair, and a beard. I give up. Who did you meet today?” But now he fits that description, and she says triumphantly, “YOU! I met YOU today!” Anyone else remember that, or have a link? ---
**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:** [November 10, 2009, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/40-40-fabulous-years-of-sesame-street-ah-ah-ah/515315/60 "2009-11-10T23:34:24Z")
> [@Mach Tuck](#): > > Now’s as good a time as any to ask this. I remember a short cartoon skit on Sesame Street, and have been unable to find it anywhere. Here’s how it went, as far as I can recall: > > A woman asks a man, “Guess who I met today?” > > The guy asks her to describe him by asking questions. “Was he short, or tall?” And his body morphs into whatever he’s asking. > > At the end after asking several questions, he says something like, “OK, you met a short, fat man with big ears, long hair, and a beard. I give up. Who did you meet today?” > > But now he fits that description, and she says triumphantly, “YOU! I met YOU today!” > > Anyone else remember that, or have a link? I remember this almost perfectly, but I can’t find anything online. I’ve been searching YouTube the last half hour… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/40-40-fabulous-years-of-sesame-street-ah-ah-ah/515315.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/40-40-fabulous-years-of-sesame-street-ah-ah-ah/515315.md?page=4)