Comments on: Gratuitous Sesame Street http://crookedtimber.org/2008/04/09/gratuitous-sesame-street/ Out of the crooked timber of humanity, no straight thing was ever made Sun, 27 May 2012 05:09:40 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: jonp72 http://crookedtimber.org/2008/04/09/gratuitous-sesame-street/comment-page-1/#comment-235706 jonp72 Fri, 11 Apr 2008 16:32:02 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/?p=6807#comment-235706 Here's a good comment about the Sesame Street clip of Stevie Wonder's Superstition that I found on Metafilter: "Today, the kid with the long hair wouldn't be allowed to be dancing where he was, there would be lots o' programmed shit going on with the synth and drums, the sax player would wear a different shirt, there would be lots of monsters dancing around like these girls, and they'd tell him to hurry the hell up." Damn, it was great to be a kid in the '70s. Here’s a good comment about the Sesame Street clip of Stevie Wonder’s Superstition that I found on Metafilter:

“Today, the kid with the long hair wouldn’t be allowed to be dancing where he was, there would be lots o’ programmed shit going on with the synth and drums, the sax player would wear a different shirt, there would be lots of monsters dancing around like these girls, and they’d tell him to hurry the hell up.”

Damn, it was great to be a kid in the ‘70s.

]]> By: vivian http://crookedtimber.org/2008/04/09/gratuitous-sesame-street/comment-page-1/#comment-235620 vivian Fri, 11 Apr 2008 00:55:05 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/?p=6807#comment-235620 David, vintage Sesame Street starts in 1969 and runs through the mid-seventies. By the 1980's Elmo had a big role on the show, but it still had some edginess to it. Plus Savion Glover. The Elmoification apparently was originally when the 2-4 year olds just resonated with the character, all the love that had gone to Big Bird just shifted. (A puppeteer friend claims it's partly because kids love the color red.) But then when Jim Henson died suddenly in 1989, Kevin Clash just became the most prominent personality in he organization - definite ideas of what to do, and good ones mostly. Just not so popular with adults. There's a chapter about it in Carroll Spinney's <i>The Wisdom of Big Bird</i>. And how weird is it that I'm patronizing you for watching it 'only' 25 years ago? Sorry for that... David, vintage Sesame Street starts in 1969 and runs through the mid-seventies. By the 1980’s Elmo had a big role on the show, but it still had some edginess to it. Plus Savion Glover. The Elmoification apparently was originally when the 2-4 year olds just resonated with the character, all the love that had gone to Big Bird just shifted. (A puppeteer friend claims it’s partly because kids love the color red.) But then when Jim Henson died suddenly in 1989, Kevin Clash just became the most prominent personality in he organization – definite ideas of what to do, and good ones mostly. Just not so popular with adults. There’s a chapter about it in Carroll Spinney’s The Wisdom of Big Bird. And how weird is it that I’m patronizing you for watching it ‘only’ 25 years ago? Sorry for that…

]]> By: JC http://crookedtimber.org/2008/04/09/gratuitous-sesame-street/comment-page-1/#comment-235616 JC Thu, 10 Apr 2008 23:22:52 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/?p=6807#comment-235616 Stevie Wonder? Hmmm, looks like a guy names Simon to me... Stevie Wonder? Hmmm, looks like a guy names Simon to me…

]]> By: jcamfield http://crookedtimber.org/2008/04/09/gratuitous-sesame-street/comment-page-1/#comment-235594 jcamfield Thu, 10 Apr 2008 15:37:04 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/?p=6807#comment-235594 That's awfully cute, but I think <a href="http://youtube.com/watch?v=ht93usB0Yv8" rel="nofollow">Elephant Man wins on the cognitive dissonance front</a> (dancehall version of the Sesame Street theme song, mildly NSFW) That’s awfully cute, but I think Elephant Man wins on the cognitive dissonance front (dancehall version of the Sesame Street theme song, mildly NSFW)

]]> By: david http://crookedtimber.org/2008/04/09/gratuitous-sesame-street/comment-page-1/#comment-235588 david Thu, 10 Apr 2008 14:50:58 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/?p=6807#comment-235588 Hey does anyone have a link or an explanation to the Elmoification of Sesame Street? I watched it in the early 80s, during the vintage Sesame Street era, I presume. I read that NY Times review that was discussed in Henry's link to Ross Douthat, but I wonder is Elmo actually playing a larger role in the Sesame Street of today, or does he merely symbolize today's tamer version? Hey does anyone have a link or an explanation to the Elmoification of Sesame Street? I watched it in the early 80s, during the vintage Sesame Street era, I presume. I read that NY Times review that was discussed in Henry’s link to Ross Douthat, but I wonder is Elmo actually playing a larger role in the Sesame Street of today, or does he merely symbolize today’s tamer version?

]]> By: Cannoneo http://crookedtimber.org/2008/04/09/gratuitous-sesame-street/comment-page-1/#comment-235550 Cannoneo Thu, 10 Apr 2008 03:43:37 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/?p=6807#comment-235550 I showed the opening of the pilot to my urban lit class a couple years ago, the scene where Gordon, a teacher, takes his new student Sally home for milk and cookies with his wife, along the way introducing her to Sesame St.'s regulars. I used it as an example of the neighborhood model of city life (as imagined by idealistic educators), one many suburban students are not aware of. It has Jane Jacobs' "eyes on the street," lots of interactions both random and routine, a diversity of family types, a local economy, etc. They loved it and I think I convinced them to rue Elmo's hostile takeover of the franchise during their childhoods. Mike Gold and James T. Farrell were a bit of a reality check afterwards, though. Sally, btw, was played by Holly Robinson, and Gordon by her real life father Matt. It's great - they improvise! As he's giving her the milk, she offers that she also likes coffee, and dad mutters something about that coffee incident being a one-time occasion not a regular thing. I showed the opening of the pilot to my urban lit class a couple years ago, the scene where Gordon, a teacher, takes his new student Sally home for milk and cookies with his wife, along the way introducing her to Sesame St.’s regulars.

I used it as an example of the neighborhood model of city life (as imagined by idealistic educators), one many suburban students are not aware of. It has Jane Jacobs’ “eyes on the street,” lots of interactions both random and routine, a diversity of family types, a local economy, etc.

They loved it and I think I convinced them to rue Elmo’s hostile takeover of the franchise during their childhoods. Mike Gold and James T. Farrell were a bit of a reality check afterwards, though.

Sally, btw, was played by Holly Robinson, and Gordon by her real life father Matt. It’s great – they improvise! As he’s giving her the milk, she offers that she also likes coffee, and dad mutters something about that coffee incident being a one-time occasion not a regular thing.

]]> By: vivian http://crookedtimber.org/2008/04/09/gratuitous-sesame-street/comment-page-1/#comment-235543 vivian Thu, 10 Apr 2008 00:56:48 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/?p=6807#comment-235543 Barney epitomized surburban mentality and morality. Monocultural, and a vapid culture too. It was stifling. Whereas even at its most un-hip, Sesame Street is much more a place where I want to live. (Although I hear that Avenue Q might be even more exciting...) Barney epitomized surburban mentality and morality. Monocultural, and a vapid culture too. It was stifling. Whereas even at its most un-hip, Sesame Street is much more a place where I want to live. (Although I hear that Avenue Q might be even more exciting…)

]]> By: Slocum http://crookedtimber.org/2008/04/09/gratuitous-sesame-street/comment-page-1/#comment-235541 Slocum Thu, 10 Apr 2008 00:26:46 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/?p=6807#comment-235541 Damn -- I've been playing 'Me and Julio' wrong. Stupid TAB files. (Actually, that's not true -- TAB files are one of the greatest, least appreciated things on the net). Anyway, cool clips -- thanks. Damn—I’ve been playing ‘Me and Julio’ wrong. Stupid TAB files. (Actually, that’s not true—TAB files are one of the greatest, least appreciated things on the net).

Anyway, cool clips—thanks.

]]> By: Brautigan http://crookedtimber.org/2008/04/09/gratuitous-sesame-street/comment-page-1/#comment-235540 Brautigan Thu, 10 Apr 2008 00:01:07 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/?p=6807#comment-235540 I'd have to say that Stevie Wonder clip should go down as one of the Phattest Phunk sessions of all time. I’d have to say that Stevie Wonder clip should go down as one of the Phattest Phunk sessions of all time.

]]> By: Russell Arben Fox http://crookedtimber.org/2008/04/09/gratuitous-sesame-street/comment-page-1/#comment-235536 Russell Arben Fox Wed, 09 Apr 2008 22:41:48 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/?p=6807#comment-235536 More <i>Sesame Street</i> thoughts and links <a href="http://inmedias.blogspot.com/2008/04/henry-farrell-and-keiran-healy-are.html" rel="nofollow">here</a>. More Sesame Street thoughts and links here.

]]> By: Bloix http://crookedtimber.org/2008/04/09/gratuitous-sesame-street/comment-page-1/#comment-235530 Bloix Wed, 09 Apr 2008 22:04:46 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/?p=6807#comment-235530 Barney is hateful to older kids for a simple reason. The actors on Barney are pre-teens who are playing characters at an emotional level of five to ten years below their actual ages. (Obviously you can't have 2-year-old child actors.) This is annoying enough for adults, but for 8-year-olds it's creepy beyond belief. Barney is hateful to older kids for a simple reason. The actors on Barney are pre-teens who are playing characters at an emotional level of five to ten years below their actual ages. (Obviously you can’t have 2-year-old child actors.) This is annoying enough for adults, but for 8-year-olds it’s creepy beyond belief.

]]> By: Martin http://crookedtimber.org/2008/04/09/gratuitous-sesame-street/comment-page-1/#comment-235527 Martin Wed, 09 Apr 2008 21:53:26 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/?p=6807#comment-235527 gene o'grady: Third graders generally hate Barney. Barney is addressed, with great stylistic purity, at 4 or 5 year olds. Hatred of Barney is prevalent among elementary school students as an expression of their new mature status with an underlay of status anxiety about how close they are to the age (and cultural station) when they watched Barney. Adults may hate Barney as well, but it's more detached. gene o’grady:

Third graders generally hate Barney. Barney is addressed, with great stylistic purity, at 4 or 5 year olds. Hatred of Barney is prevalent among elementary school students as an expression of their new mature status with an underlay of status anxiety about how close they are to the age (and cultural station) when they watched Barney. Adults may hate Barney as well, but it’s more detached.

]]> By: Gene O'Grady http://crookedtimber.org/2008/04/09/gratuitous-sesame-street/comment-page-1/#comment-235522 Gene O'Grady Wed, 09 Apr 2008 21:11:50 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/?p=6807#comment-235522 I thought it was third graders, not adults, who provided the hatred for Barney. Or were my kids exceptions? I thought it was third graders, not adults, who provided the hatred for Barney. Or were my kids exceptions?

]]> By: Kieran Healy http://crookedtimber.org/2008/04/09/gratuitous-sesame-street/comment-page-1/#comment-235518 Kieran Healy Wed, 09 Apr 2008 20:27:56 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/?p=6807#comment-235518 Whoops, fixed. Whoops, fixed.

]]> By: Russell Arben Fox http://crookedtimber.org/2008/04/09/gratuitous-sesame-street/comment-page-1/#comment-235517 Russell Arben Fox Wed, 09 Apr 2008 20:24:44 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/?p=6807#comment-235517 Oh incidentally, your link to "Old School Sesame Street" goes to your book on Amazon. Coincidence? Oh incidentally, your link to “Old School Sesame Street” goes to your book on Amazon. Coincidence?

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