Sesame Street (1969– ) User Reviews

My daughters are the judge

[james-szabo · 8/10 · 25 November 2007]

This was one of my favorite shows as a child in the 70s. (Though my sister always preferred "The Electric Company" - if anyone remembers that.) So, naturally, I thought my own two daughters would love it. Well, at age 2-3, my oldest loved Elmo, but at age 4, she's long over both Elmo and Sesame Street - and she won't enter Kindergarten for two more years! So, I give the current show a 6. It's too inane for my 4 year old. As for myself, I was much older when I stopped watching. This was one of my favorite shows. I give the old Sesame Street a 10/10. Thus we get 8 stars overall.

When I do occasionally watch the new show, I miss Kermit, am dismayed that Snuffy is visible to everyone (where's the fun in that?), think Big Bird acts like an imbecile (was he always such a baby? maybe so), wish Grover and Cookie Monster and the Count got more face time, suspect that the current production team is trying to make Ernie and Bert seem gay, and miss some of the old segments. I think they should just stop producing new shows and start re-running the old shows starting with season 1. The ratings would probably go way up and they'd save a lot of money.

"Oh waiter! There's a fly in this production!"

Rest in Peace, Sesame Street (1969 - 1998)

[ekim1982 · 7/10 · 21 April 2013]

I title the review as "Rest in Peace" only because if you, like me, are a child born of the early 1980's (or earlier) that grew up with Sesame Street, then you know now, as you watch it with your children, either on Netflix or PBS in the morning, that the Sesame Street we grew up with is long gone.

In 1998, a muppet monster that had, for the majority of its lifespan on Sesame Street, been nothing but a background character with virtually no lines or significant appearances in the show's then 29 year history, became the undisputed center of the show. Over the course of the following decade, that character would continue to dominate the show, becoming its very face and voice. That character was Elmo.

Within a few years, the entire format of Sesame Street would change. Elmo's world started as a small segment of Sesame Street that aired every other episode. By 2004, Elmo's World became a full 1/4 of the show, airing every single episode. Appearance by favorites, familiar faces and mainstays of Sesame Street began to slowly phase out. Big Bird, formerly the face and "host" of Sesame Street was replaced in time by "Murray" who, like Elmo, was also a background muppet that had virtually no presence on the show in the 35 years leading up to his first appearance as host. Murray, like Elmo, dominates roughly 1/4 of the show with various segments. Joining Elmo early in the 2000's was Abby Cadabby, a feisty and rather irritating purple fairy that's a huge hit with girls. She has her own segment, comprising the 3rd 1/4 of the show, Abby's Magical Sky School. Murray, from the very opening moment of a Sesame Street show, immediately begins reassuring kids that Elmo's World will be coming up, "but we have a few other things to get through first". Ultimately, "Sesame Street" itself is now reduced to a mere 10 minute segment. The problem that is posed in the beginning of the show, once taking the full hour of the show to investigate, understand and solve, is now resolved in only 10 minutes (sometimes 15, but rarely). Occasionally, one of the familiar adults may show up, like Gordon, but its otherwise Elmo, Abby Cadabby and the dreaded "Beybah Baw" (Baby Bear), a talking teddy bear with an insufferable speech impediment. Likable, new adult characters such as Gordon's nephew Chris, and Alan, who both run Hooper's store appear often enough to break up the monotony of Elmo, Abby and Baby Bear's childish antics. On the rare occasion that a classic character will show up, such as Bert, Ernie, Big Bird or Snuffy, Elmo will make his appearance within minutes to take over the show. I recall watching an episode recently with my daughter in which Bert lost his pet bird. 3 minutes after this situation is announced, Elmo and Abby show up and take over the segment. Bert is not seen again, his bird is never found...the entire segment consists of Abby and Elmo picking up random objects and asking "Is this a bird? Is that a bird? Why isn't this a bird?".

Sesame Street, I fear, is simply TOO childish to be of any value to children at this point. When I was a toddler in the early 80's, Sesame Street helped me learn how to read, count, differentiate colors and shapes and objects...all things my parents helped me with, Sesame Street did too. It was truly a valuable educational tool. Now? We have Elmo running around his house like a lunatic, screaming at inanimate objects, displaying narcissistic tendencies by referring to himself in the third person and imagining himself as different animals and objects. His own house seems to hate him, as he is constantly yelling at his window shade to cooperate with him, and other objects, such as his desk drawer, repeatedly bash him over the head when he starts yelling at them. Where's the educational value in Elmo running around in circles yelling at everything?

Parents are strongly advised not to utilize "classic" Sesame Street (pre-1990) as educational tools, as they "no longer have any educational value and should not be utilized by your child." Very sad that this warning comes on the DVD box sets of pre-Elmo Sesame Street. Frankly, I'd rather have Gordon sing "Who are the people in your neighborhood" to my daughter, rather than having Elmo cannibalize the melody to Jingle Bells and repeat "Trucks trucks trucks, trucks trucks trucks" over and over again.

A silent uproar occurred sometime around 2010, when it was suggested by the show's producers (internally) that the show be renamed. It would have become something along the lines of Elmo's World (Featuring Sesame Street)) Thankfully, this never occurred, though it appears to have piggybacked off the movement to cancel Sesame Street entirely, which was proposed in 2003, in favor of making Elmo's World a standalone show. The dominance of Elmo over Sesame Street into the 2000's and 2010's only continued to grow, as more and more of the classic faces of Sesame Street faded away into nothingness. Cookie Monster and Big Bird seldom make appearances on the show anymore...sometimes going over a dozen episodes without seeing them. On the other hand, if you were to watch Abby's Sky School and Elmo's World each day for the 24 episode season, you'll have seen at least 18 reruns of each show, since there are barely a dozen segments filmed for both.

Sesame Street was great for our generation but for our children? I wouldn't recommend it. It hurts me to say it. My daughter loves it...she's 15 months, and she loves the characters. I'm not going to take that from her...but as she gets older I will due my duty as her father to make sure she is educated properly. Sadly, Sesame Street, in its current state, cannot be a part of that experience.

Sesame Street

[jboothmillard · 9/10 · 25 May 2005]

This used to be one of the best family and kids learning programmes that ever existed on Channel 4. It contained something for everyone: puppets, numbers, letters, comedy, people and much more. Adults watch it because of the wonderful Muppet puppetry from Jim Henson's people at The Children's Television Workshop. Kids liked it for the same reason, but also there were parts to help them learn stuff, e.g. counting, the alphabet, problems and much more. The Muppets that appeared in the show were both funny and lovable to kids and adults the same. Kermit the Frog made his first TV appearance as a reporter, Bert and Ernie living together was just classic small comedy, Big Bird was friendly and helpful to everyone, Grover was wonderful with that voice, Oscar the trash can monster was always good for a giggle, Elmo was wonderfully loved by everyone, Van Count was creepy but fun, Cookie Monster was just brilliant at eating anything and presenting a small presentation show, there were just loads. I wouldn't just recommend this to kids, this is for all the family. It was number 32 on The 100 Greatest Kids' TV Shows. Very good!

A childhood gem, but it has fallen in standards since I was a lad...

[mentalcritic · 13 November 2004]

When I was a child, there were two main educational programs shown to children. Play School, being the other one, basically got me shouting at the television that I was not retarded, not stupid, and not a diminished human being, just a child. From what I've seen from observing some of my cousins' children, it hasn't changed a lot except parents have revised their opinion of its suitability for five year olds. Unfortunately, Sesame Street is going much in the same direction.

In the 1990s, Sesame Street had a rather nasty competitor in the shape of Barney, a purple dinosaur with a support cast that showed no difference in emotional response. Even when that support cast consisted of four year olds and fourteen year olds. As if that wasn't harmful enough, Barney would openly tell children they weren't good if they didn't have good feelings, or alter the rules of a game to make someone else the winner. That such "lessons" were allowed to be broadcast shows how useful the regulators of television really are. By contrast, the Sesame Street I remember even dealt with such issues as the death of a loved one. Goodbye, Mr. Hooper was one of the most amazing episodes of children's television ever broadcast because it made an effort to try and teach children about something so difficult that even live adults are often no help with it.

Other brilliant aspects of the show included using monsters to portray certain feelings or behaviours that the audience might be conflicted about. They had a cookie monster to show what a negative (but highly funny, the way they presented it) appearance gluttony can bring. They had a grouchy monster to show the effects of an anti-social mentality. More "cute" monsters such as Grover were used to show things like fear or sadness. There was a good reason for all of this. Negative feelings are difficult enough for a child to understand, so having puppets to thoroughly explain them was very educational.

Kudos are also due the adult cast of the show. During every episode I saw, even Goodbye, Mr. Hooper, the adults were never condescending or smug. They never acted as if they had every answer. Instead, they told the monster, other puppet, or child characters a few useful tidbits and let these characters work things out for themselves. Even today, if you see the sequences with such annoying characters as Elmo, it is the children or the child-like characters who deliver all the answer lines. Those consultations with child psychologists done by the Children's Television Workshop really paid off.

Unfortunately, and there always seems to be an unfortunately these days when it comes to children's television, a certain adherence to marketing over education crept in over recent years. The greatness of such characters as Oscar or Grover was that they could appeal to children without needing to be cutesy. Oscar was a grump who appeared to have worked too many night shifts, while Grover seemed to be just a fearful but friendly guy trying to make his way in the world. Perfectly normal, ordinary people wrapped up in some very bizarre-looking trimmings, in other words. Nowadays, characters like Elmo seem so awfully sugarcoated that it makes me wonder if his audience is going to encounter problems in later life when they learn they cannot get by simply on acting cute.

I don't know who pulls the strings on this show these days, but I would like to implore them for the sake of future generations. The old way of educating the children about the fundamentals of life, and letting the cute factor take care of itself, was a much better one. Please go back to it. I might not be part of the audience anymore, but I do have second cousins, and maybe one day a niece or nephew, who are.

A timeless show if there ever was one!

[TheLittleSongbird · 10/10 · 16 April 2010]

I grew up with the Muppet Show, the Muppet Movies, The Dark Crystal, Labyrinth and with Sesame Street, so I am a big fan of Jim Henson. I love Sesame Street, it may have meandered over the years but I still love it for the timeless nostalgic value it has given me. Heck, it is way better than Teletubbies, Barney and Tweenies combined, it is unique, it is original, it is funny and it is timeless. I love how it teaches simple messages in simple ways like songs and games. I love how the humour is funny and easy for kids to understand without being juvenile. I love the colourful set designs. I love the music, it is so memorable. I love the characters, Elmo, Ernie, Bert, Luis, Gordon, Susan, Bob and Big Bird. And I love the voices of Jim Henson, Frank Oz, Jerry Nelson, Kevin Clash and Carol Spinney. Overall, Sesame Street is timeless, a timeless show if there ever was one. 10/10 Bethany Cox

Sesame Street is timeless

[tanyasing · 10/10 · 9 May 2008]

I grew up on Sesame Street, as did many children, but in the early to mid 70's it was THE THING! I had a Big Bird toy, and loved to act like Cookie Monster when I had cookies, my brother and I played "Super Grover" on many occasions. Sesame Street is an old familiar friend and to this day watching an episode makes me smile and feel like a kid again. I can still sing the theme song word for word. *sheepish grin* My children had numerous video tapes of shows as they were growing up as well. I never knew about Elmo until I had children of my own, and I fell in love with all the new characters as well. I now realize that Sesame Street taught me to read early on, and count, and helped me deal with many other issues in life. I am 36 years old and I will NEVER outgrow my love for Sesame Street!! Long Live BIG BIRD!

Do you remember?

[T-ZER0 · 10/10 · 27 September 2020]

I bet you do. Sesame Street is one of those kids shows that has survived for so long. How you might ask? Jim Henson is one reason, the other is the fact that the episodes throughly entertain our child audiences and teach them skills about math, friendship and more.

Jim Henson is a master of puppetry, and you can see it in this show. Other companies that do puppets and animatronics, theirs look creepy. However, these characters on Sesame Street look friendly and you just wish you could be with them or give Elmo a hug.

I admit I grew up with Sesame Street, I attended most of the Sesame Street live shows, and my favorite character was Elmo. Deep down, I still have a soft-spot in my heart for that adorable little red monster.

Even though I am older now, it does not hurt to go back and see older episodes of the show and relive the nostalgia. I have to admire also that Sesame Street depicts New York City as we wish it would be. Full of friendly neighbors and fun things to do. Which is a dream I think kids should have while they are young, because when you become an adult, those dreams get destroyed by reality.

Sesame Street is a classic children's show, and it's lasted over 50 years. I cannot wait to see how many more years they can take this show.

Back when tolerance meant that everyone was respected

[AsifZamir · 10/10 · 14 November 2013]

Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, Big Bird, Oscar the Grouch, the Count. All of these are loved childhood memories founded in Sesame Street. Of course you still see Kermit, Miss Piggy and the Muppets on the screen today, but Sesame Street has a unique quality all of it's own. It has its own culture and street family and is great for pre-schoolers because it teaches key elements of phonics, counting and educational assets while providing children with a whole new world to explore and get to know. Yes, it does bring out some reality points of life but everything always gets resolved on the show and ends well and positively. This type of education for children teaches them to overcome cultural barriers and realize that life is diverse but all areas of life need to be respected, for example Oscar the Grouch.

Sesame Street was produced by Joan Ganz Cooney and Lloyd Morrisett. The show has won more awards than any other kids show on television. Sesame Street has won 153 Emmys and 8 Grammys. Jim Henson's Muppets are extraordinary and unique and original. Originality is encouraged in Sesame Street and the hosts are upbeat as well as fun and educational. Sesame Street is a valuable asset for children to be highly entertained while learning. Sesame Street will go down in history and is definitely a family treasure.

How many of you are like me, and if you look back at your life when you were very young, you don't remember what you learned in school, but you do remember watching Sesame Street?

40 years and counting!

[Sylviastel · 10/10 · 29 November 2009]

Okay, this show is primarily aimed at kids and their parents. Guest stars have included First Lady Michelle Obama, Ellen DeGeneres, and so many other celebrities and well-known figures to name. In fact, you're nobody famous until you have guested on Sesame Street. This year, the show celebrates a 40 year milestone. It's has educated a couple of generations of kids including myself about decency, counting, the alphabet, friendship, and being a good neighbor. The show will last for 40 more and teach and educate future generations of kids. It's always well-done with a purpose and meaning. Come on, let's go to Sesame Street where everyday is friendship, learning, and fun on such a lively street.

A class act all the way.

[Flower_of_the_Lily · 10/10 · 29 July 2008]

The premise of Sesame Street is simplicity itself: on a street in a big city, various grown-ups, children, monsters, animals and other strange creatures live together, work together, solve problems together and have fun together. The fact that it's still going strong after nearly 40 years must tell you something about its quality and the love audiences feel for it.

The Sesame Street I knew was the one of the late 80's/ early 90's - well before the meteoric popularity of Elmo and before Sesame Street got expanded around the corner, where the leads were of course Bert and Ernie, Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch, Cookie Monster and Telly Monster, the Count ... all of them household names and I'm barely scratching the surface. And then there's the grown-ups, who always manage to teach and guide without ever being condescending or demeaning to their young audience.

My main point? It doesn't get better than this. Thank you for Sesame Street, Jim Henson and company, you've made the world a little bit better each day. Now, one more thing - who DOESN'T know the theme tune?

Once Classy Show Now the Elmo Show!

[ShelbyTMItchell · 7/10 · 29 April 2013]

OK to get this out of the way, the show that used to be so classy and really so adorable has since become the Elmo show and that Elmo really is the so-called "star" of Sesame Street these days. As despite being cute, he is so overrated.

We need to see more of Cookie Monster, Grover, Big Bird, Bert and Ernie. And also the regular humans on the show. As they were the stars are the REAL stars way before Elmo began on the show.

As the producers or the powers that be on the PBS network needs to make it more of a show that shows less of Elmo and more of the characters that we love and grew up with! The show has really gotten out of being so cute! And now is all become the Elmo show!

10 stars for the original, 5 for what it is now.

[mikesmallfry · 8/10 · 13 September 2019]

What happened to this show? We rented some of the older episodes from the 1980s to watch with our 2-year-old. They were sweet, peaceful, funny and educational. So we thought we'd tune into the new ones and...wow, things have changed. The show is a lot more hyperactive and abrasive. There's a lot less focus on teaching letters and numbers, and a lot on teaching science and conservation, which seemed a bit beyond the show's younger demographic. Tons of celebrity cameos. Yesterday's bits with Ray Charles and classical musicians and jazz legends has given way to the kind of processed pop music you find all over the radio. I thought Sesame Street was supposed to be an alternative to mainstream commercial children's entertainment, but it seems like nowadays it just wants in the game.

It's Not The Same As It Used To Be

[blackarachnia2 · 5/10 · 28 May 2006]

I think that Sesame Street, although it is a really good children's show, isn't really the same as it used to be. It hasn't been the same since Jim Henson died and it hasn't been the same since a lot of the characters have died or moved on. The people that have come and gone from this show are the ones that have been the best I've seen in a very long time. Now instead of recording new shows and going on without some of the major players in the show they just pasted together clips from old shows. I remember the days before Jim Henson died when Sesame Street was more than just a clip show. It meant a lot to the kids of my generation.

$ub$idizing PB$ $cce$$e$

[redryan64 · 8/10 · 13 December 2014]

ON THE POSITIVE side of things, this long running PBS series has much to recommend it. It is well mounted, has had a creative use of music and always remains bright throughout every minor 'crisis'.

ITS WELL INTEGRATED interaction between both human and puppet characters always seems to be quite natural; both to the 'Little Ones', as well as to any adolescent and adults who just happen to be within earshot. Well planned use of regular characters from the late Jim Henson's MUPPETTS add a depth of characterization and aids in maintaining a good measure of continuity.

EVEN MORE RECOGNIZABLE than any of the people in the cast, the names of the Muppett are forever etched into our collective memory. Who could ever forget those 'regulars' such as: Cookie Monster, Oscar the Grouch, Grover, Ernie & Bert and Elmo. In addition to these Henson creations, the production company gave us the 8' 2" Bug Bird and Snuffleupugas.

ON THE OTHER side of the ledger, we must ask why such a successful and seemingly immortal a series as this is on the Public Broadcasting System rather than on 'commercial' TV?

WHY DOES THE production company, once again being The Children's' Television Workshop, receive its funding from public sources such as the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, the National Endowment for the Arts and other $ource$ from private foundations?

WE CAN UNDERSTAND having 'seed money' advanced from both Uncle $am, as well as from those aforementioned Foundations. But, why should this panhandling financial plan when the program is and has been well established for over four decades?

AS Further EVIDENCE to our argument, we point to the seemingly never ending of licensed toys, books, clothing, games and kiddie records that bear the Sesamme Street brand.

AS AN EVEN more perplexing situation, we offer the existence of the SESAME STREET ON ICE Show; which has been touring for nearly 40 years itself. Surely this enterprise alone must generate a huge quantity of revenue by way of royalties paid.

IN ALL FAIRNESS, if this sort of aid to PBS programming is to continue, should it not also be offered to other Communications Conglamorates? So, Uncle Sam, how about throwing some tax payers' $$$ toward outfits like : Disney, Comcast/NBC/Universal and Time-Life-Warner?

Monsters; Living among us since 1969.

[The_Light_Triton · 9/10 · 24 August 2005]

As a kid i grew up on 2 shows; Barney & Sesame street. Looking back on my childhood I wish I could've given barney a huge kick in the You-know-where for giving me the wrong ideas about life, and given all of sesame street a hug for teaching me how to count, spell, and yes, even get excited over a girl (i'll explain that later)

If you were a child of the early 90s like me, you were lucky; you got sesame street as it was about to go under the toilet. The arrival of elmo and competing Television Programs for children. My luck allowed me to watch episodes filmed in the 80s, including segments from the 80s and before. Some memorable ones like the "who wants to make an (insert letter here)? Me!" segments and the bert & ernie bits.

I mentioned before how sesame street taught me how to get excited over a girl? Yeah, the "Froggy goes a kickin'" segment is guilty. I don't know what all your fantasies are, but seeing a woman underneath the surface of a pool, seemingly swimming with a frog (or any aquatic being for that matter) causes this guy to lose his control.

Sesame street now? i have a few suggestions.

1, Get elmo out! I swear, the only reason elmo is on the TV is because parents need something to entertain their kids for a half hour, and to rake in the green, in the form of the Tickle me elmo, which has been blown up, shot and burned more times than we dare to count.

2, Cookie monster has apparently become the veggie monster now. please, bring him back to cookies. if he wants to get diabetes that's his problem.

3, make the show like it originally was. like watching a story with educational commercials and skits thrown in. it's like a good visual salad.

Bottom line, sesame street used to be the reason children were so good in the early days. now it's just a cash grab.

Used to be wonderful!

[crazydude1989 · 9/10 · 16 June 2006]

Sesame Street--where to begin? Many different celebrities have appeared on the show throughout the years. I think that's what makes the show fun--all the celebrities making appearances. SS was very different back in the day. Some Muppets that used to be on were Forgetful Jones, Kermit the Frog, Prairie Dawn, and a few more I can't remember. There used to be a lot of segments with the Muppets sitting inside a gray room teaching children how to count, and learn the alphabet. One of my favorite is from 1972 with Kermit and a little girl named Joey. Kermit was trying to teach Joey the alphabet and she kept replacing the letters with "COOKIE MONSTER" which frustrated Kermit to the point of leaving, but then she said "I love you" and hugged him. I think some of my favorite segments are from the 70s, with Grover as the waiter in the restaurant much to the chagrin of this guy named "Fat Blue." Then there was an early one of Ernie trying to count some balloons. Then there was one of Cookie Monster in the library. Then there were some with Kermit and Cookie Monster. Then there was one with Ernie not being able to fall asleep and decided to count things in his head but they ended up being very noisy. Some of my favorite songs included "Telephone Rock" and "C is for Cookie." I haven't seen too many full episodes from the 70s but these are the only songs I know of. And there was that baker who kept dropping all the pies as he went down the stairs.

The 80s was probably my favorite decade . . . however there was some sadness. In December 1982, Will Lee (who played Mr. Hooper) died, and they made an episode teaching children about death and incorporated his death into the episode. Big Bird didn't understand at first and thought he was going to come back, but was told by the adults that he's not coming back which upset Big Bird plenty. On the positive side, the 80s SS had some really great songs, such as "Monster in the Mirror" (WUBBA WUBBA WUBBA) "Wet Paint," (used to scare me at the end when the screen would melt) "The Word is NO," "Healthy Food,"-a rap song sung by Cookie Monster and various healthy foods, "I Dance Myself to Sleep," featuring Ernie and the Boogeywoogie Sheep (I loved this one as a kid, lol) "Do De Rubber Duck," "Holy Moly 8 Balls of Fur," "Cereal Girl," and "A New Way to Walk." There were some great segments as well--such as "Teeny Little Superguy," and Kermit directing "Oklahoma," I don't know if this was the 70s or 80s but there were the segments of Bert and Ernie fishing, and exploring a pyramid in Egypt. In 1985 was the debut of the current star of the show, Elmo, the little red furry monster we all know and love with the orange nose. He was cute at first as a background character and in the occasional segment (he was in one with Julia Roberts, and another with Whoopie Goldberg) but in the 90s, he became the star. May 1988 featured the wedding of Maria and Luis, and May 1989 featured the birth of their baby daughter Gabby. It's fitting because it aired a few weeks before I was born and my sister who was 2 at the time watched SS so my family was excited. And they taught children about how babies are born.

The 90s . . . in May 1990, Jim Henson, the creator of SS and the voice/puppeteer of Kermit, Ernie and others passed away. They did find a replacement for their voices but it just isn't the same. The early 90s is the SS I remember the most. In 1992 Queen Latifah sang a rap song called "That's the Letter O" which is a favorite of mine. In 1996 Elmo became a huge star and the hot new toy at the time, "Tickle Me Elmo" went on the market. In 1998 Elmo got his own segment "Elmo's World," which takes up the last 20 minutes of the episode. I still think they should've just made it a spin off. The 90s was also the debut of Baby Bear, Baby Natasha, Rosita and Zoey--if not, they debuted in the 80s. I stopped watching in the mid-late 90s but I had cousins who were babies/toddlers at that time so sometimes I caught an episode here and there. We also used to watch the videotapes that were released--my aunt would run them for my cousins and that was fun. I can't remember any segments from the 90s because they mostly re-ran the old ones.

The 2000s--there were some major changes. Not only did Kermit the Frog and several other muppets disappear, but Children's Television Workshop was renamed to Sesame Workshop (and the little CTW on the SS sign was turned into 123) they had the same segments on the show every day--Journey to Ernie, Supergrover's Adventure, Number of the day, Letter of the Day, Spanish word of the day, and of course, Elmo's World. They even added that into the older episodes like the late 80s/early 90s. Also in 2005, it was rumored that Cookie Monster was being renamed to Veggie Monster because SS thinks his cookie-eating habit is one of the factors for child obesity. I think that is really dumb and nothing happened to us! They just made him eat healthier and even game him a new song called "Cookies are sometimes food." That's about it . . .

I hope if I have kids one day I will show them what SS used to be like. I know we're not the target audience anymore but it really was cool back in the day.

What Did You People Do to Them?!? (IMBd won't let me "shout" in my Summary)

[bblack1-699-968577 · 9/10 · 3 June 2013]

I love "Sesame Street!" I always have; for me, this show is the great nostalgic show to watch from my childhood! I'm always fascinated to watch clips, scenes, and songs I see of this show on YouTube!

Why do I love this show? There are a few reasons: first of all, let's go back to the YouTube videos. There's always something to see from this show. It's been around for over 43 years now; they play more than a dozen clips and commercials every episode, the show has 2 movies, and a number of TV specials! There's always something to see that you haven't seen before! If you ever meet someone who says they've seen everything "Sesame Street" has ever done, they're either lying and/or they have no life! It'd take a good chunk of a lifetime to see everything "Sesame Street" has done! If you look up videos of the show on YouTube, you'll see sketches, hear old and famous songs, watch your favorite celebrities, see a lot of your favorite characters, and more!

That's the second reason I love this show: the characters! These characters are both lovable and timeless! Even if you personally don't like these characters, you can't deny the awesomeness they possess; they wouldn't have survived for all these years or have merchandise with their face on it if they weren't awesome! From the human cast you have Gordon, Susan, Miles, Luis, Maria, Gabi, Bob, Mr. Hooper, and others. But, of course, everyone remembers the Muppet characters! Characters such as Big Bird, Cookie Monster, Grover, Oscar the Grouch, Rosita, Prarie Dawn, Count von Count, Zoe, Snuffy, Telly, Baby Bear, The Amazing Mumford, Guy Smiley, Hoots the Owl, Kingston, and more! I'm just going to put it out there: I love Elmo! Yes, I'm a huge fan of Elmo, get over it! Have you ever seen him in an interview, like chatting with the TV talk show host Rove? Look them up on YouTube! Elmo is my favorite Muppet after Kermit...Speaking of which, did you know Kermit became famous on this show? Yes, Kermit the Frog used to be a regular on "Sesame Street!" These are probably the only characters you'll see who aren't controversial in the news...well, possibly with the exception of Ernie and Bert. WHAT DID YOU PEOPLE DO TO THEM?!? First of all, these two don't share a bed! Second of all, this is a kid's show! When this show came out, no one was thinking about these characters being gay! If they are gay it's because YOU MADE THEM GAY!! Leave these people alone!!!

But much like the characters, the show itself is timeless. Whether you watched this show 43 years ago, now, or whether you'll watch it in another 43 years, this show is timeless. It's still funny, it's still fun, and it's still relevant. This show airs all over the world, and even has had spinoffs made for other countries so that they can teach as many children as possible. Children learn about the alphabet, numbers, how to speak other languages, and basic math skills. But that's not all; children also learn about life. We learn about marriage, birth, death, how to deal with antagonists, how to prepare for natural disasters, how to get along with others, and how to be ourselves as individuals. Maybe these lessons are more adult and mature than we give them credit for; how many adults do you know would benefit greatly if "Sesame Street" taught them how to get along with others?

I know that a lot of people say the show they used to know and love has changed for the worse. Well, I would be lying if I said I didn't kind of see that. Like I said, "Sesame Street" used to teach life lessons and basic education, and I remember seeing an episode a few years ago that just focused on the alphabet...Yeah, that was annoying. There are also two episodes I saw where the characters weren't learning anything; they were just running around, having fun. So I can kinda see what people are talking about...But, I have also seen other episodes, entire episodes, where teaching and education took place. Wasn't that what this show has always been, both education and fun? I think this show is still that! They're still teaching, they're still educating, and they're still having fun. Maybe one of the other reasons people say that is because they don't teach the way they used to, or because we see more new characters that weren't on the show when we were kids. Well, OK, I'm sure our parents felt the same way when they were watching it with us. This show is still what it's always been, but for a new generation of kids. It's a show for kids, so let's let the kids have their show. That's not to say we can't watch it with them or see how our favorite childhood show is doing, but we have to remember that while we can enjoy it, it's not FOR us anymore.

Finally, I think this show works because "Sesame Street" is home for a lot of us. It's what we grew up on; these are the people we grew up with. They taught us, they played with us, they sang with us, and they loved us. They loved us even though they couldn't see us! They cared about us enough to give us the basic knowledge and information about life; a lot of people aren't that generous. These characters - these people are family. If you were to meet these people in person, I'd bet you'd cry and hug them and talk to them just like you were a child again! That's what this show does: it allows us to take a moment and come back home to where everything began for us, our childhood. "Sesame Street" is a legacy that I pray will always get stronger and better. BOOYIKA!

I AGREE completely

[leahsodyssey · 10/10 · 12 April 2007]

I agree completely. Also, where are all the people. Now it is all puppets.

I never say anything, because my kids love Elmo. I can't stand Elmo. He is too cutesy.

Secretly, I even used to watch sesame Street as an adult before I had kids. Now it is all a lot of nonsense.

Well, now I must come up with 4 more lines. Okay, kids' all have ADHD now because of all the flash and trash on TV. I love Mr. Rogers. My kids hate the show. Its a show with a few puppets and a man who wants you to talk about your feelings. Where is the singing cartoon dog. Where is they hypnotism done by furry fluf balls. Only boys grow up to be the daddy and only girls can be the mommy, how un PC.

Sesame Street -What happened to Susan?

[jcrespin · 10/10 · 12 February 2007]

Now that I have a 2 year old I thought I would watch sesame street again. Is it me or did they dumb it down. ELMO HAS TO GO. His segment is 20 minutes of fluff. Plus sesame street has a baby bear character that speaks with a lisp. I don't want my daughter to talk like that character.

It was good to see that ernie and bert have not changed. I guess with the passing of Jim Henson they cannot use the traditional muppets like Guy Smiley as watch I grew up watching sesame street. I remember Gordon and Susan and Bob and Maria and Luis, but especially Mr. Hooper. I was already too old when the real Mr. Hooper passed, but I did watch the show where they talked about his death.

This show was 10/10 up until Henson's death. I guess now it is 5/10, but good enough for a two year old kid. I WOULD BUY THE DVD OF THE OLD SHOWS IF THEY SOLD IT.

Best children's television programme ever

[Josephpr1990 · 10/10 · 7 June 2023]

I always love Sesame Street. I used to watch it when I was younger and I thought it taught me to learn letters and numbers. It is also very entertaining and funny.

It has been educating and entertaining kids for over fifty years since 1969.

It was broadcast on Channel 4 in about the 1990s. It was also broadcast on RTÉ 2, now-defunct TCC (The Children's Channel) and UTV Ireland (then Be3, now Virgin Media Three) years ago. Its spin-offs have been broadcast on TG4 (formerly known as TnaG) since the 2000s and they have been dubbed in Irish Gaelic.

My favourite characters are Bert, Ernie, Cookie Monster, Grover and Oscar the Grouch.

I am 33 years old and I am never too old for Sesame Street.

It is probably one of the best children's television programmes of all time.

Lost Roots

[tbrime · 5/10 · 28 July 2006]

Though I am 33 years old, I have still found myself drawn to watch a minute or two of Sesame Street now and then. My daughter is 10 years old so her days of Elmo are long over but I find it a little sad that they have changed so much on the show. I remember watching the show every time it came on. My daughter loved it too. It seems too commercialized now and the characters have changed so much that you don't feel a connection to them the way that I did as a child. There was a feeling of being a part of "the family" even if you weren't actually there with them. I don't think that kids have changed so much that they wouldn't like it just the way that it use to be. I think what has changed is the junk that is on T.V. now days. Unfortunately, I suppose, poor old Sesame Street just couldn't compete with all that, and ended up having to make a few minor sacrifices here and there to draw the attention of the kids. I wish that for my Grand children's sake, though, they could find a way to go back to the Sesame Street that I remember and also be able to incorporate some of the new things.

Classic show, but lowering it's standards

[Hotoil · 2 January 2001]

This is a children's television classic. It's educational and entertaining, and not painful for parents to watch with their kids. At least it never used to be. It used to be quite edgy, high-brow, very adult-accessible. It's been dumbed down considerably over the years. This is a result of playing to lower age-groups, shorter attention spans, and competing with the run-of-the-mill trash in the kid's TV arena.

The adults have virtually vanished, the muppets have gotten annoying (I'm sure we're all familiar with Elmo by now), the show has shrunk to 40 minutes, the last 20 being a new show-within-a-show known as "Elmo's World". As if the 20 minutes of Elmo aren't enough, even more grating is that there are only about 10-20 episodes of Elmo's World, yet it runs every day! And rather than dealing with reading, writing, counting, nature, social skills, Elmo's World revolves around things like balls, puppies, hair, etc. Yes, this is not your parent's Sesame Street, or probably even the Sesame Street you grew up with. It's a more modern, simple, conformist Street that has considerably less charm but at least more educational value than the other, more commercial stuff out there.

The only reason to turn your kids on to television is rapidly shrinking into another Barney.

Plays a huge part in this world.

[ultimatedisneycruisefan · 10/10 · 28 November 2021]

This show has played a lot of things in everybody's lives. This show tackled a lot of topics like imagination, autism spectrum, racism, family things, and much more! This is definitely my favorite PBS kids show I've ever watched. Thank you, Sesame Street. Keep making us smile. :)

Sesame Street is a Masterpiece

[samcracc · 10/10 · 24 February 2008]

Sesame Street is a very excellent show for little children to watch and learn. Carrol Spinney is excellent at Big Bird. Elmo is a pretty cute monster. Jim Henson is defiantly good at Ernie. This show is about learning and have fun with your favorite characters. This show started since 1969 made by Jim Henson who makes puppets and costumes for the show. In 2008 they did Elmo on Wheel of Fourtune once and Oscar the grouch for 25th Aniversery of Wheel of Fourtune. Big Bird is a yellow bird and he lives in house with his nest. They made a movie of Big Bird called Follow That Bird in 1985 where Big Bird goes see the Dodo's and then Big Bird goes back to Sesame Street because he did not get interested in them. This show is great you will like this show it is so educational for children.