I think some congratulations are in order! Tomorrow, November 10th, 2009 is Sesame Street’s 40th anniversary. I know this will age me, but my twin brother Scott and I were charter audience members of this amazing show’s first season in 1969.
Everyone is celebrating: Michelle Obama is going to be on to teach the puppets how to seed a vegetable garden. A block in NYC – Columbus Ave. at 64th St. – will be temporarily named “Sesame Street.”
One of my earliest memories was that of one iconic segment on the show, where an Operatic Orange sings “Habanera” from Carmen. I remember my Mom watching it with me, and singing along – she liked to sing Opera too and had (and still does) a great voice, so we sang along with this animated orange who starts out in a bowl with other fruit and then rolls out onto the kitchen counter, donning a rubber band mouth, daisy eyes, and a dish towel as a hat. To my 3-year-old self, she was enchanting (you can watch this along with other classic videos at sesamestreet.org).
Everyone had a favorite character, of course, and mine was definitely Cookie Monster. Cookie was just out of control and that’s what I liked about him. He was exuberant – he wanted cookies and he wanted them now . . . . Cookiessss!!! A recent commentary on the View about whether Cookie Monster should eat cookies (he now eats apples and carrots mostly) made me laugh in disbelief. He’s a cookie monster – not an apple tree monster. I agree with Whoopie Goldberg when she said that he does not teach kids to be gluttonous – I think he teaches kids to have fun.
I learned my ABCs; my numbers, about which things go together in groups and which things don’t, and all about the lovable characters and how they were able to live together in harmony with the adults and the kids on the street. And then, when I got a bit older, I graduated to the Muppet Show where I met Kermit, Miss Piggy and the rest of that menagerie. I loved seeing Ernie and Burt argue and then make up with each other – they acted just like siblings and I could relate, and Oscar the Grouch, and of course Big Bird. It turns out that the actress that originated this character is still doing it on TV today (she’s 75 years old).
So, when you get nostalgic for your childhood (or you want your own kids to watch some really great TV), tune into the classic episodes from this beloved show online or watch on your local PBS affiliate. With so many shows having gone off the air over the years, it is comforting that this one can still make kids (and adults) happy. I’m going to have a cookie with a glass of milk to celebrate, just for you Cookie Monster.
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