The Associated Press is reporting that the South African version of “Sesame Street” plans to introduce an HIV-positive Muppet, probably a 5-year-old “monster,” in the way of Elmo or Cookie Monster. The backstory for the Muppet will be that it contracted HIV through a blood transfusion or from birth.
The intent, in this HIV- and AIDS-plagued African nation, is to show kids that there’s nothing to fear from someone with HIV.
All well and good. And I guess it’s not much different than how “Sesame Street” has tackled other issues including racism and disabilities.
Wow. That IS depressing. Poor monster. That strikes me as kind of heavy, but maybe in South Africa. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with having AIDS/HIV…but it just feels a bit much. Like when I watch a sitcom, like “Frasier” or “Friends,” I don’t expect to have someone come down with cancer or die. But then I guess I just tend to consider the stuff I watch as being kind of light and fun. For kids, I suppose it’s useful in order to make them more aware. I wonder if it will be awkward or stilted. Will they get in any, “Remember to put a hat on Mr. Fireman before he goes down under!” messages? That might be creepy, but oddly amusing.
Elmo is sooo saccharine sweet I don’t think I’d mind terribly if it were him. Cookie Monster already has an obvious overeating complusion, so strapping him with AIDS is overdoing it. Telly always struck me as OCD- he’s already got a disorder. I could sort of see Snuffy as having AIDS. I’ve always thought of him as the sketchy muppet.
It is sad but Seasame street has a good history of dealing with sad issues. I still remember when Big Bird didn’t understand where Mr. Hooper went and why he wasn’t coming back. <sniff> I gotta go now.
Well, from what I heard, the new muppet is going to be an orphan, so who knows? I was thinking “crack baby” when I heard the story, so it could work.
I work at a news station, and when we ran our little tid-bit of a story on it, our sidebar had a picture of Earny, with Bert in the background and the tagline “HIV+ MUPPET”. All I could think is that they’ve finally moved up to admitting Earny and Bert are gay lovers. In my opinion, that would have made things better, but I guess Sesame Street just isn’t ready to handle that topic just yet.
How long till you think we’ll see a HIV+ Muppet here in the states?
Good for them. And it is a brand-new muppet, not one you already know and love. And from what I gather, they’ll focus more on how to deal with someone who is HIV+, rather than how that person contracted the disease in the first place. In other words, another lesson on tolerance from the SStreet people.
In a recent interview with newsweek, bert and ernie cleared up that they are only roommates. Ernie said, with regards to why he didn’t move out, “Who will do my laundry?” It was a delightful little interview.