Is Old School Sesame Street Appropriate for Kids Today?
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Sesame Street Then? Sesame Street Now?
Is Old School Sesame Street Appropriate for Kids Today?
The recently released Old School Sesame Street DVDs had with them a disclaimer stating that the episodes were "intended for grown-ups, and may not suit the needs of today". What's up with that? Is there something wrong with what generation-x was taught? Are kids today different, or just their parents?
So what is it that was so bad? Cited for this warning label is Cookie Monster, who eats far too many non-nutritious cookies and is sometimes seen with a pipe. Also, Big Bird being the only one to see Snuffy is a reference to hallucinations. In the very first episode, Gordon befriended a little girl who was lonely and takes by the hand leading her to his home to meet his wife and eat milk and cookies - possible pedophile? Also, Oscar the Grouch is to grouchy and mean a character for kids watch.
“These early 'Sesame Street' episodes are intended for grown-ups, and may not suit the needs of today”
Sesame Street - Old School, Vol. 1
1969-1974
Sesame Street: Old School - Volume One (1969-1974)
Amazon Price: $24.46 (as of 02/15/2012)
Do you remember how to get to Sesame Street? Relive those memorable moments from your childhood with Sesame Street: Old School. The best of seasons one to five are all here for the first time ever on DVD. Included are the best episodes from these early years the original pilot as it aired and tons of extras. Do you remember the Ladybug Picnic? How about Wanda the Witch? Did you learn to count with Bill Cosby or James Earl Jones? Sing "Nasty Dan" with Johnny Cash? Sesame Street Old School has something for everyone whether you just have those adorable monsters (and one big bird) or you want to share the show with your children. Make Abracadabra Peanut Butter and Jelly sandwich grab your rubber duckie and head on down to where the air is sweet.
Run Time: 420 mins
For Your Kids?
What do YOU think?
Tell us what you think of Old School Sesame Street and this warning label.
Are Old School Sesame Street Episodes Appropriate for Kids Today?
Fetching blurbs now... please stand byNo, they are not appropriate.
gaby says:
NAY!
Posted November 28, 2009
legbamel says:
It's not the pipe and the hallucinating that makes Sesame Street so dangerous. It's the horrible hair and clothes. What sort of example would that set for my children? It's worse than my photo albums!
Posted August 20, 2008
XP says:
Very dangerous program.
To this day I am afraid of eight foot tall yellow birds.
Who will pay for my rehabilitation?
Posted June 10, 2008
Yes, they are still appropriate.
momof2kids says:
OLD School Sesame Street is 100% better than the new ones...basically the only reason I'd put a new one on is for Elmo's world but over all the NEW ones are JUNK!!!! They barley teach anything compared to the OLD one.
Posted January 25, 2012
Sgt Jones says:
Of course they are, theyre a bit corny but if u sit with your children and explain to them about the beginnings of sesame street and teach them and laugh with them theres no harm done. I love sesame street and i watched it and learned and then watched it with my son (whos 22) My son has seen some of the old and the new also. To this day i still watch all the retro sesame street and also the electric company. This is what kids need to see .
Posted January 11, 2012
sonja stoney says:
where are ernie and bert's parents? are they brothers or gay?
Posted November 13, 2011
mks says:
What's wrong with people today. The media has a way of taking something that was an important part of our (for most children in the 70's & 80's) childhoods, and turning it into something suspect. What a shame and what will our children have to look forward to.
Posted August 11, 2011
Raven says:
They are abosolutely appropriate. The problem with children's television today is they've either dumbed it down to the point that it's not even educational anymore or it's excruciatingly patronizing. The Sesame Street that I used to watch was intelligent and funny. It promoted diversity, acceptance of self and others, made learning entertaining, and took grown-up subjects that all children have questions about and put them in a non-threatening and understandable format without the condescension that is so aggravating to most children today. And this is just the tip of the iceburg of what Sesame Street taught me as a child.
Posted June 12, 2011
Alistair Cookie, played by Cookie Monster, appears with the disputed pipe
WHAT WAS GOOD THEN IS STILL GOOD NOW
Add links that dispute the claim that Old School Sesame is not good for today's kids
Add links that disagree with the disclaimer. Many parents are willing and happy to show their kids these episodes. This is what they have to say.
Not the Same Street by Virginia Heffernan
New York Times0 points
Sesame Street "Old School:" for Adults Only By Mo Morrissey
Associated Content0 points
Circa 1973
More on Sesame Street
THEY'RE RIGHT, IT'S JUST NOT FOR TODAY'S KIDS
Links to sites that point out why Old School Sesame is not for today's kids.
Post links that point out why these episodes are for nostalgia only, and not good TV for kids today.
Sunny Days... and Some Stupid and Sarcastic Ones Too
Anti-Racist Parent0 points
Sesame Street: The Hidden Lessons
0 points
Monsterpiece Theatre
Sesame Street - Old School, Vol. 2
1974 - 1979
Sesame Street: Old School - Volume Two (1974-1979)
Amazon Price: $25.15 (as of 02/15/2012)
Can you dig it? Sesame Street: Old School Volume 2 picks up right where Volume 1 left off including all the grooviest Sesame Street memories from 1974 to 1979! You ll see cats like Don Music and Roosevelt Franklin Guy Smiley and Fat Blue. Break out your boogie shoes for far out classics like "What s the Name of That Song?" and "Telephone Rock!" Rediscover the Sesame Street of the 1970s -- the place where you learned about letters numbers and loveable furry monsters. Catch you on the flip side!
Run Time: 489 mins
Cookie Monster
Should Cookie Monster eat food besides cookies?
Only Big Bird Saw Snuffy - hallucinations?
Comments
What do you think of Sesame Street, new or old?
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phoenix-arizona-friends
Jul 2, 2011 @ 7:19 pm | delete
- They have these on Netflix and our son watches them all the time.
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wordstock
Apr 20, 2011 @ 1:39 pm | delete
- As we continue to sanitize the world that these kids live in now, they are less able to think for themselves. Maybe many parents have not heard of a teachable moment but with the pipe, what a great time to say that it's yucky and have your kid agree. Angel blessed
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kiwisoutback
Apr 6, 2011 @ 9:30 pm | delete
- The new Sesame Street is segmented. 10 minutes of Sesame Street, 15 minutes of cartoons,followed by (the ultra PC) Elmo's World which takes up the rest of the show. My daughter watches it and it pales in comparison to the fun episodes of the 70's and 80's. I get that they don't want Oscar as grouchy or Cookie Monster as gluttonous, but wasn't that the whole point/fun of it?
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arncyn
Feb 1, 2010 @ 3:31 am | delete
- I have chanced upon episodes of the new Sesame Street and have found them lacking of the imagination, charm & wit of the old school episodes. I'm not a parent (yet) but I seriously don't see anything wrong with letting a child watching the old clips - in fact it might benefit them to see both the old & new stuff. You have a wonderful lens & a very good discussion going on here, Kab! *blessed by an angel*
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Evelyn_Saenz
Sep 7, 2008 @ 11:37 am | delete
- I always loved the clip of the boy trying to put on his pajamas. He must be 40 years old now but the clips still run. I have always wondered if he can get them on yet.
Sesame Street was always appropriate for kids.
5 stars from Fancy Nancy.
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