My Sesame Street Rant (Edited, with link)...

[Mangy_Momma]

Ok, so I found a link kind of what I was looking for, though not the same thing. This is an article written by a journalist for the NY Times:

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/18/magazine/18wwln-medium-t.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

Now, I do agree that Cookie Monster's pipe smoking/eating, as well as Sally going to Gordon's home (a stranger) is something not good for today's kids. However, I watch programs with my toddler, and intend to do so for many years to come. The way I see it is that they will learn more from me than any TV show, so long as I'm willing to teach.

"Closeted Bert and Ernie," "Hallucinating Big Bird," (The other article referred to him as being possibly schizophrenic) and of course grouchy Oscar, to me aren't valid reasons to make a fuss.

If anyone finds a link of interest, please post! :-)

Thanks to all who have posted, whether you agree or disagree.

 

So I have this issue with Sesame Street these days. First off, unlike the masses, I absolutely can not stand that frickin' Elmo creature. Not only does he seem pretty air headed, but his voice has the same effect on me as scratching across a chalk board. And can you believe half of Sesame Street has been taken hostage by Elmo's World? Gak!

Secondly, this whole ordeal about putting parental advisories on Old School Sesame Street. Come, now. Parental advisory? On Sesame Street?

And why is it they do this? Let's see...

Well, there's Bert and Ernie. People don't want their kids learning "gayness" from these fellows. See, these guys share a basement as living quarters. Oh... That makes them automatically gay, don't you know...

First of all, I could care less if they're supposed to be Muppet lovers. I don't see anything wrong with that at all. Hell, that one Teletubby is supposedly a boy that carries a purse. (I hate Teletubbies, but that isn't the reason. Teletubbies is a whole new blog.)

And what would a toddler know about gay, anyhow? I have fond memories of watching Sesame Street as a child, and I always thought they were brothers. Chuck thought they were friends. (Yes, we've discussed this whole thing in great detail...) Well, recently the boys have received Sesame Street Old School on DVD. (I'll get into that later in my rant.) Come to find out, on the very first episode, Gordon introduces little Sally to Bert and Ernie. And they are indeed friends.

Ok, moving on. Another reason for the advisory- Cookie Monster. Why? He eats too many cookies, causing children to want to over indulge on them. I say "What is wrong with people?!?" See, the way I look at it is this: Cookie Monster don't make kids eat cookies until they are so fat they can't walk. In fact, it's the parents who buy said cookies, and allow them to eat them all day every day. But hey, let's blame the Muppet. He's just material sewn together, therefore can't defend himself.

Next, we have Big Bird and Snuffelupagus. See, Big Bird used to be the only one who could see Snuffy. Well, you know what that means, don't you? Big Bird is on drugs. Probably drops acid back there in his big nest when nobody's looking. Snuffy, in turn, is a product of his hallucination. I mean, really! No child should have a best friend who happens to be invisible, right? So why give them the impression that having an invisible friend is in any way normal or ok. Correct?

Pa-leeze...

Now let's talk about Oscar the Gouch. By gum, he's too grouchy for kids!! Let's be realisitc for a minute, ok? The guy lives in a trash can. His only real friend is Slimey the worm. Wouldn't you be a little on the grumpy side? I know I would.

So let me get onto my babble about Old School Sesame Street.

We got volume one for the boys. Instead of the crap they call a show they now play on PBS, our kids will watch Old School.

Why?

Because I don't care if my kids think Bert and Ernie are gay. Fact of the matter is, there ARE gay people in the world. What's wrong with learning to accept that?

Because we don't plan to let our kids have free raid of the cookies on the seldom occasion that we actually have them in the house.

Because having an invisible friend isn't bad. It's common amongst children. No, they aren't on drugs. What's wrong with them relating to an educational character?

As for Oscar the Grouch, we all have to learn to deal with grouchy people in our lives, now don't we? We all have grouchy moments, now don't we? I think Oscar is a part of that more harsh reality, even though he isn't really near as grouchy as people can be.

So that's all for today.

[ihatetocook]

Sep. 23, 2008 at 2:02 PM

Agree with you totally! 

[joaniedanger]

Sep. 23, 2008 at 2:07 PM

I agree also. 

[Momtocccd]

Sep. 23, 2008 at 2:25 PM

I love old school Sesame Street!

[Xynyth]

Sep. 23, 2008 at 2:37 PM

My husband has this really cute sesame street shirt that says "I was raised on the Street"

I totally agree with you and I hate elmo too!

[NdAppy]

Sep. 23, 2008 at 2:41 PM

I HATE the new sesame street. grates on my nerves. I can't stand elmo, but the boys love him.

[aurorabunny]

Sep. 23, 2008 at 3:08 PM

Great post.  Slapping an "adult content" sticker on the old school Sesame Streets just because they aren't PC enough pissed me off too.  Although I can't complain about Elmo's World taking over because that's my son's favorite part.

On a side note since you mentioned Elmo's voice, here is the guy that does his voice:

http://www.wpt.org/blog/uploaded_images/clashblog-701752.jpg

Did NOT see that one coming.  It's kind of funny.  Big buff dude doing the voice of Elmo...hehe. 

[tiny_mama]

Sep. 23, 2008 at 3:55 PM

YESSSSSSSSS! AMEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[zoejains_momma]

Sep. 23, 2008 at 5:21 PM

I agree!

[Seriously92]

Sep. 23, 2008 at 5:28 PM

I hate Elmo too!!!!

He's ALWAYS arguing.  I can't stand it.  My kids never do the "yes you did, no I didn't" thing, and I sure don't want them learning it from ELMO!

I also agree with you about the old school - no need for parental advisory business.

Personally, I don't think that Bert & Ernie are gay any more than EVERY person with a ROOM MATE is gay.  Pfft.  I had a room mate for 2 years, and we weren't gay!  You're right - kids won't go there anyway unless someone tells them to, and if they did, who cares.  It's part of society now we can't pretend it's not real, heck just about everyone has a gay relative these days anyway so why not let SS help you explain that!

Amen about parents controling food intake.  I have a friend that gives her toddler pop in his sippy cup just because he asks for it.  I have such a hard time keeping my mouth shut.

Have you ever seen Death to Smoochy?  It's great, but then I hate Barney too.

[Mangy_Momma]

Sep. 23, 2008 at 6:10 PM

Oh, wow! I can't believe how many have actually read this! LOL! You know, I almost hit the delete button. I was afraid I would hurt feelings of those who do love Elmo. That's not my intention, so I'm glad no one has taken it the wrong way. ;-)

Xynyth... I need a shirt like that! Where'd he get it? I loved Sesame Street growing up.

Aurorabunny... That is funny! He may have an annoying character voice, but he is pretty darn good looking, if I do say so myself. ;-) Thanks for the link!

Seriously92... My toddler thinks he's in hog heaven if he's allowed a drink of soda! LOL! My brother's former wife used to keep her kids' sippies full of soda. I've witnessed too many rotten teeth pulled out of their little mouths.

I haven't saw Death to Smoochy. I'll have to look for it and check it out. I agree with you on Barney. I also have this issue with Teletubbies. That baby in the sun gives me the creeps, and I don't know why. I guess he kinda looks... evil... No baby should be made to look that way!

Thanks for all of the replies, Mommas! :-)

(Original Poster)