Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Can You Tell me How to Get to Sesame Street?

Big celebrations have been afoot. It's the 40th anniversary of Sesame Street, and there is no better way to celebrate than to let Sesame Street do what it does best: teach you, entertain you, make you laugh, and yes, even make you cry. All it takes is some music, some muppets and some good friends. Yes, these were the good old days, but the fabulous news is they are the good new days too. Thank you, Sesame Street for teaching and inspiring several generations of children and grownups alike.

Perhaps my favorite clip of all, and I'm not saving it for last.  The music on Sesame Street was clever and true to form, and where else were children supposed to learn about proper saxophone technique?  Hoots has it DOWN. Will Ernie ever learn to put down the duckie?

Hysterical aside ... The Tuna clan went and saw Itzhak Perlman in concert last night.  TeenTuna was absolutely spellbound by his playing and was surprised he was so funny when he spoke to the audience.  I told her, "Oh yeah.  He's cool.  He's been on Sesame Street."



Sesame Street has always had a soft spot for classical music, particularly opera singers. Speaking of cool people, what is cooler than Marilyn Horne singing "C is for Cookie, That's Good Enough for Me."(Answer:  Nothing)




Denyce Graves was one of several opera singers assigned the difficult job of trying to put Elmo to bed. It seemed the Operatic zoo did the trick. Gotta love the sheep!



EVERYBODY wants to know if you can tell them how to get to Sesame Street. Making your mark on this show was important to every major star and rock band. And who wouldn't want a chance to hop up and down with the furry happy monsters?



Or sing the alphabet song with Ray Charles?



Or India.Arie?



But it wasn't all singing and dancing and jumping around. Sesame Street was brave enough to tackle real issues with sensitivity and compassion. When actor portraying "Mr. Hooper" died, the show and the cast faced the lost together. The tears in this episode? They were real.



But ultimately the show is about the kids.



The light in their eyes, their wonder and laughter was infectious. Forty years later, it still is.



Thank you Sesame Street, for doing it up right. I loved you as a child, and loved you all over again as a parent. You're a class act, and you're number ... uh ... what was that number again?.....

ONE!
Oh yeah! One!
Yay!!!!!!!!!!!!

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