Happy 40th, Sesame Street! Yes, everyone’s favorite kids’ show — and this is one show about which I feel comfortable making such grand generalizations — is officially the new 30 today. The big 4-0 has inspired lots of hype, from Google’s design incorporating Big Bird feet to Michelle Obama doing a guest spot to mark the occasion. And for good reason: It’s such good children’s viewing, still, that I’m pretty sure that American children are required by law to watch it between ages 0 and 9. It’s the reason every person currently under 40 can count to 10 in Spanish. Its reference points are practically genetically encoded in kids when they’re born — it’s hard to imagine having to explain a Cookie Monster or Bert and Ernie joke. (Okay, maybe Bert and Ernie have gotten a little complicated at times, but we’re past that.) For most of us, it was our first pop culture — and it was smart pop culture, with song parodies and even the occasional controversial joke (see: Pox News, the “trashy news network”). Besides, how can you argue with a show that teaches kids to count while introducing them to indie rock?:
There will always be complaints about kids watching too much TV, but there will never be complaints about kids watching too much Sesame Street (not from anyone with a soul, anyway). So thanks, Big Bird and company, for making the airwaves safe for all of us future pop culture fanatics. And for teaching us a thing or two.
What’s your favorite Sesame Street moment of the last four decades, PopWatchers? What did you learn that you’ll never forget?
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HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SESAME STREET! i grew up in the 80s and 90s and so was mesmerized by learning how crayons were made and watching the orange sing opera and 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12. i watched the show until i was about 12. it was such a comfort.
The 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 song popped immediately into my mind. I’m glad I am not the only one who remembers it!
The number song also was the first thing that I thought of! I even remember the tune, and was actually singing it to myself last week!
The song is “Pinball Number Count” by the Pointer Sisters, if you feel like Googling it some time. It’s been stuck in my head for about 30 years…
A very happy birthday to the Sesame Street gang! I loved that show (and really all Muppet stuff) when I was growing up, and I still do. My favourite song is still “Born to Add.” And I’m 28.
YES childhood staple. Placido Flamingo was my favorite. And Bert & Ernie’s sketches, of course. I can’t hear you Bert, I’ve got a banana in my ear!
Oh man, my friend and I used to say that same line, about 9 years ago. So WAYYY after the original episode!
That’s so funny that you mention that everyone learned to count in spanish from Sesame Street. I distinctly remember learning to count to six in Spanish from that show. It’s an institution, and I’m proud to say that all three of my children have been raised thus far watching it. As a matter of fact, my youngest is watching Dinosaur Train right now, patiently waiting for Sesame Street to come on. I’ve never felt my kids were in better “television hands” than when they were watching Sesame Street. Some of my favorite characters have taken a backseat over the years (anyone remember the guy who just wanted a cheeseburger?!), and I’m not that fond of Elmo, who was a minor character in my days that I hardly remember, but all that doesn’t matter. Because the spirit of the show has never changed, and nowadays, that’s a miracle in itself. I think it is indeed safe to say that it’s most certainly the best children’s show of all time.
Happy Anniversary Sesame Street!
I grew up with Sesame Street in the 70’s with Super Grover, The Count, and when Oscar was truly grumpy. I watched when no one believed Big Bird about Mr. Snufalufagus (hope I spelled it right) to having to apologize for calling him a liar. I learned to count, be a good neighbor and I learned that your community was important. Thank You Sesame Street and I hope you have another 40 years!
What Sesame Street has taught us, in the midst of soaring illiteracy and childhood obesity, is that all it really teaches kids is how to watch TV at an early age. And that education should be entertaining (any schoolroom teacher minus a bird costume and cartoon backgrounds who’s facing a roomful of bored kids has his work cut out for him thanks to Elmo and co.). And that somehow a network can rake in millions in merchandising, make big bucks with commercials (PBS does air commercials now) and also get a government handout (your tax money and mine) PLUS beg for more money with on-air fund drives…and still style itself as being less “commercial” than other networks. In other words, that P.T. Barnum is right and a lot of us have apparently learned nothing. Sesame Street is the biggest scam ever perpetrated upon the American public. Compared to that “institution”, Bernie Madoff was a piker. My kids didn’t watch the show and they both could read books before they entered kindergarten – because I read to them and taught them myself without the aid of overrated puppets. The basic rule is: the less TV kids watch, the better, and Sesame Street is certainly no exception to that rule.
Fledgling, you obviously don’t understand that a majority of people (probably the people that work their lives away for you) are unfortunately too busy to teach their kids at home. A tv show was created to help them. So you think that doing something for unfortunate people is a scam? You don’t deserve to even comment on this or anything else. Hope you’re trust fund’s doing well buddy.
Fledge, what’s up with the bitterness? Did you ever WATCH the show? I grew up on it, and no, my mom was not absentee when it came to helping me learn to read, and no, I did not get fat and complacent from sitting in front of the ‘boob tube’. I think this show has a lot of great lessons, including that it’s FUN to LEARN!
Sorry I upset you, but I’m even sorrier you’ve bought into the scam. I’m sure that you find Sesame Street to be a guilt-free babysitter that you can feel good about your kids watching for an hour while you go about your business. Meanwhile I bet my kids can out-count and out-spell your kids because they didn’t watch it – they actually learned their numbers and letters from an actual human being. Trust fund? Me? I work at Fed Ex. We don’t even have 401K match anymore. I taught my kids in the morning before I went to work, and my wife helped with it when she had time (also a blue-collar worker). I’ve found that it’s amazing what you can do with your kids when you’re NOT convinced a TV show is as necessary to your kids’ development as toilet training. My kids could read and count capably and found it fun doing it, and did it without a government-funded puppet show. And yeah, PJ, it’s fun to learn – you needed a TV show to find that out?
Fledgling clearly hasn’t read any of the summative research that proves that children learn a lot from Sesame Street — and that they learn much more with a parent watching with them. Fledgling also doesn’t understand that PBS (the network) has nothing to do with Sesame Workshop’s (the non-profit) merchandising. Nor does F have any concept of how the licensing fees that Sesame Workshop merchandise earns (those millions actually go to a toy company, Sesame just gets a percentage) help pay for the incredible outreach they do for Military Families, families that have been affected by the recession, children and families living with asthma, and children who have been affected by natural disasters. Donations from individuals and companies, and, yes, the federal government, help Sesame Workshop travel to countries like India where there are hundreds of thousands of children who get no education at all.
Fledgling is free to raise his/her children however he/she sees fit. But comparing Sesame Street to Bernie Madoff shows a basic lack of understanding about…pretty much everything.
Gee, thanks, dude, for judging me like that. Never mind, I guess, that I’ve got a BA and, while in college, made the Dean’s List twice. Somehow I managed that even though I too didn’t watch much Sesame Street. However did I do it? I’m guess that none of you here defending Sesame Street would have a clue.
The truth is, Sesame Street is both ineffective and irrelevant. Add to that, unnecessary – what with all the choices available on cable right now. Stations such as Animal Planet or the Travel Channel, both of which reveal factual visual worlds to children they likely wouldn’t otherwise experience, are far more valuable to children’s education than a fast-paced hyper-commercialized celebrity-studded variety show.
But you don’t want to hear that, do you? Of course not. One thing baby boomers simply cannot abide are insults to their childhood memories. And kth201, I am not impressed with Sesame Street’s far-flung worldwide influence. Since its method of “educating” children is highly suspect, I doubt it’s doing all that much good. The money could likely be better spent elsewhere. It’s all just publicity that must be maintained in order to keep a major corporation going. Other entities, such as Disney, do the same thing; they’re just more honest about it.
you’re make too many assumptions in your assessment. Watching television is not causing childhood obesity. There must be self discipline or parental discipline in any activity. To blame a tv show like sesame street just makes you seem bitter and dumb. You’re just trying to find a simple scapegoat to a larger problem.
I watched, and I could read at age 3. Just because I watched doesn’t mean my parents weren’t involved and that I was never interacted with or read to.
As a teacher, I think that a lot of children do over-watch television. However, I also feel that the media is often vilified excessively as well. I think most things are fine in moderation. Sesame Street being one of them.
I remember the First day Sesame Street was broadcast; I was in kindergarten and loved it.
C is for cookie, that’s good enough for me.
And, Sesame Street is brought to you by the letter E. For Excellent.
I also remember the first day. My sisters came home from school and told me to watch the TV. I still love to watch to this day. Congrats on your 40th.
Don’t know if anyone else remembers this – but I LOVED the orange that would sing Carmen.
YES!! That was the first memory that popped into my head too!
I was too old to grow up with Sesame Street, but I watched it every day as my son grew. I still know the words to Kermit’s “Carribean Amphibean” song!
Adoption! I’m adopted, and we had on tape the episode where Miles was adopted. I adore Sesame Street, it’s the best show on TV!
I too grew up watching Sesame Street. It was one of my favorite shows. I loved Grover..”lovable furry old Grover.” I am 41 now and can remember every song and how to count to 20 in spanish! Thanks Sesame Street!
Thank you Sesame Street for all you’ve done.
I absolutely adore Sesame Street and nothing me happier than watching it now through my child’s eyes. I love that my son recognizes the characters and asks for Elmo by name. I can’t help but laugh as he squeals with excitement for sketches that make him get up and dance or simply tap his toes to the rhythm. This show was a staple in my childhood, and it’s very clearly a critical component to his, too. From the TV to the web and every character toy I trip over on the floor…Happy 40th, Sesame Street. We’re still tuned in and learning!
Sesame Street is the best tv program EVER. Period.
Today’s comment was brought to you by the letters L and S – because I Love Sesame Street!
I absolutely loved Sesame Street growing up, and still do. I can’t wait until my (future) kids watch it, and I can watch with them! I loved Super Grover, Ernie singing “I Don’t Want to Live on the Moon”, ALL of the Sesame Street movies, the sketch where they showed how crayons are made, and my favorite, and what my mom and I still quote: “loaf of bread, gallon of milk and a stick of butter.”
PS, I get so annoyed when people insist that Snuffy wasn’t real. At first, he was only seen by Big Bird, but the writers eventually had it so everyone could see him (because they didn’t want kids to get the idea that they couldn’t tell their parents things, for fear that they wouldn’t believe them). People always forget that Snuffy eventually was made visible to everyone.