I never used to have an opinion about Sesame Street. It was always just there, humming quietly along in the background — and even being a Muppet Fan, I never had to think too much about it one way or the other. Back in my MuppetZine days, the biggest change on Sesame Street was when they went around the corner — a Non-Event if ever there was one.
But Elmo’s World changed all that. Thanks to Elmo, I’ve now had arguments — actual knock-down, drag-out, take-no-prisoners arguments — about Sesame Street. Just since I wrote My Week with Elmo a couple weeks ago, I’ve had more heated discussions about Mr. Noodle than any adult human should ever have.
It’s Muppet Fan against Muppet Fan. It’s sad, really, and after a while, it all starts to seem like the infighting in Life of Brian between the People’s Front of Judea and the Judean Popular People’s Front. (Splitters!)
In order to make some sense of this obviously vital social issue, I’m going to appropriate some terms from Doctor Who Fandom — Trad Fans and Rad Fans. Traditional (Trad) Fans are the ones who appreciate what made the show great in the first place, and they don’t like things to change much. Radical (Rad) Fans like new characters and new approaches. The words can be used as positive or negative, depending on your perspective. Trad Fans can be seen as staying true to the original, or as dull and conservative. Rad Fans can be seen as innovative, and keeping the show fresh; they can also be seen as shallow and trendy, liking change just for its own sake.
Of course, Trad and Rad can be used more like a continuum than like two distinct labels; every fan is some mixture of both. Personally, in the Muppet world, I have a big Trad streak (I like my Christmas specials uncut, thank you), but I lean towards Rad (I like new stuff, and I don’t mind the occasional recast).
Which brings us to the new season of Sesame Street, which I’m sure is gonna stir up the Trad/Rad pot a bit. On the one hand, the new season is focusing more on the main Muppet characters, which ought to please the Trad fans — but it’s also a big format change, which is just the kind of thing that puts Trad fans into that Cranky Grandpa “back in my day…” mode.
So try to keep all that in mind, and place your tray tables in the upright and locked position. We’re going in.
Monday, Feb 4:
Fire dogs are really excellent?
By the way — worry not, Trad Fans. I know that I’ve beaten up on Trad folks before in the My Week columns, but I’m looking out for ya this week. Here’s an example. The new opening starts with Big Bird and some kids in a park, and the blocks they’re playing with start bouncing all over the place. The bird and the kids follow the blocks through the park, and as blocks fly by, they show different clips of what we’re going to see. There’s Elmo and Dorothy the goldfish, and Monster Clubhouse… but right at the end, the last block shows a vintage shot of Ernie putting a pot on Bert’s head. A point for the Trad Fans. See? I’ve gotcha covered. Then Super Grover flies by and makes a crash landing onto the Sesame Street sign. He comes back up, shaken, with a sign that says the episode number. I am all in favor of the new opening. Really, anything with Super Grover crash landing gets points with me.
So Big Bird’s on the Street, and he runs into Cookie Monster, who is playing that old Sesame chestnut, One Of These Things Is Not Like The Others. He’s got a hat, a shirt, a shoe, and a chocolate chip cookie. “MU-SIC!” They sing the One Of These Things song. And you know, it’s like they wanted to give the Trad Fans a special gift right at the start of the new season, because I personally can’t think of a more Classic Sesame thing to do than have Big Bird and Cookie Monster playing One Of These Things. Big Bird says that the cookie doesn’t belong, so Cookie Monster eats the cookie. Now: “ROUND TWO!” Cookie Monster adds another item — an OATMEAL cookie! Big Bird hesitates: “Well, uh… it’s kind of like before, isn’t it?” They sing the song, and Cookie Monster eats the oatmeal cookie. Now it’s time for ROUND THREE! “This time me make it harder… Hat, Shirt, Shoe, Peanut Butter Cookie!” Big Bird observes that Cookie Monster is just playing this game because every time the game is over, he gets to eat another cookie. “Me think you right!” Cookie Monster shouts. “GAME OVER!” He eats the whole jar of cookies. Cookie Monster, ladies and gentlemen! What a pro.
Next up is Monster Clubhouse, starring four shouty monsters who run around a lot. This is basically an excuse to get your kids to run around and exercise so that they’re tired and want to sit down and watch the rest of the show. It’s fairly transparent, but they’re working their furry little butts off, so I’ll allow it.
Then the Count presents the Number of the Day by playing on his Muppety pipe organ. I don’t want to keep you in suspense, so I’ll tell you up front that the number is 3. Confetti falls from the ceiling, the three bears come and dance, and then we get a couple of animated inserts about 3.
Now, here’s something I’m liking so far: There’s a lot more Muppet content in the new format, and a lot fewer inserts. If you’re the type of Sesame Fan who likes long, slow cartoons about clouds or whatever, then you’re not gonna like the new Sesame. But if you like your Muppets pretty much 24/7, then this is a big step up.
Another new thing about this season is that the Street story is all one eight-minute block, instead of being chopped up into little scenes. Today, Maria and Elmo are having lunch at Hooper’s Store, when there’s a grease fire, and they have to evacuate and call the fire department. The firefighters come and put out the fire, but now Elmo’s scared to go back to Hooper’s Store. There’s a long sequence when Alan, Maria and a firefighter are trying to reassure Elmo. Elmo says he’s okay, but he’s clutching really tightly onto Maria’s skirt and talking really soft. It’s a great, subtle performance from Elmo. I’m amazed at how they can completely trust Kevin Clash to nail this moment, with very small gestures and a change in the tone of his voice. Elmo looks so genuinely frightened that I actually go into the other room to get an Elmo doll to hug. He’s that good. Then Elmo and Maria visit a real New York firehouse, and the friendly firefighter shows Elmo all their equipment, so that Elmo knows that he should always call an adult if he ever thinks there’s a fire. They reinforce a lot of fire safety tips. By the end of the story, Elmo’s back in Hooper’s Store, wearing a fire helmet and playing with fire trucks. Doing the story as one complete chunk really works; it’s like an emotional journey.
Then real kids talk about firefighters. My favorite part of the episode so far: A little boy hugs a dalmatian, and says, “Fire dogs are really excellent? And they’re so great? Because… they’re so excellent.” The Fire Dogs Kid is my new favorite Sesame Street character.
Gosh, still a lot to go. Jill Scott sings “We Are All Earthlings” with a whole crowd of Muppet animals. I’ve never really liked the song much before, but this is the post 9/11 world, so if I don’t like “We Are All Earthlings,” then the terrorists win.
Then there’s “Journey to Ernie” which is just fine and which I think I’ll talk about tomorrow.
Then comes my first genuine laugh-out-loud moment: Cookie Monster’s Letter of the Day. Cookie reaches into his cookie jar and finds the Letter of the Day — which is L, in case you’re keeping score — printed in icing on a cookie. “Me know what you thinking. Cookie Monster going to EAT Letter of Day, right? Noooo! Today, me different. Me go through SEA CHANGE!” Instead of eating the cookie, he’s going to sing a La-La-La song: “The more me sing, the more music in me mouth — no cookie in me mouth!” He sings la la la, then gets distracted by how delicious the cookie is. He tries to resist, and finally ends the song: “La la la — CHOMP CRUNCH CRUNCH CRUNCH!” It’s just fantastic, classic Cookie Monster. I’ve actually watched this piece three times now — once more to show Ed how great it was, and then once just now to get the quotes. It makes me laugh every single time.
Then comes Elmo’s World, and Elmo is talking about Fish today. But that just gets us back into the whole Mr. Noodle thing, so let’s not start.
by Danny Horn
