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, Vol. 1 (1969-1974)
Amazon Price: $25.99 (as of 11/27/2009)
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
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.
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.
pollymere says:
Anything that will teach my child the alphabet must be good in my opinion. My Mum was faced with similar disapproval in the early eighties at whether it was appropriate viewing for me then...that I might somehow become "American". My daughter has been watching the muppets since she was born...and anything must be better than Sesame Tree, the modern replacement!
Posted November 06, 2009
Brookelorren says:
Give me a break. There are fewer well-adjusted kids now more than ever, and part of the reason is because we're sissifying them. Even though Cookie Monster didn't eat vegetables, the kids that watched him were less likely to be obese.
Posted August 16, 2009
suze says:
RUFN kidding me?!
Posted June 17, 2009
Ileana says:
Oh, please. Are we really having this conversation?
Posted June 10, 2009
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
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The Alligator King
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The animated short The Alligator King teaches children to count to seven while relating the story of one sad King whose seven sons do their best to cheer him up. Created by Bud Luckey, the short was a staple on Sesame Street during the mid-1970s thro...
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Ladybugs' Picnic
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The animated short Ladybugs' Picnic teaches children to count to twelve while relating the story of the events of the ladybugs' picnic. Created by Bud Luckey, the short was a staple on Sesame Street during the mid-1970s through the 1980s.
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Can you define yourself in terms of muppets?
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The muppets are a quite a group of personalities. Each fuzzy little character has such a distinct personality type that I believe every person can be described perfectly by 2-4 muppets. Miss Piggy is a strong woman oozing in self confidence. Animal...
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Cecille!
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Originally aired on Sesame Street in the early 1990s, these five two-minute shorts with the catchy songs featured an orange ball of clay with ruby red lips known as Cecille! Her life lessons, taught through song, impacted a generation of kids and par...
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 - Sesame Road
Buy at AllPosters.com
One item often brought up about the Old School Sesame Street episodes are the appearances of Alistair Cookie, played by Cookie Monster, who sits smoking a pipe in the clip (which at the end he eats). Do you think kids take this as an endorsement of smoking?
curated content from YouTube
Sesame Street - Old School, Vol. 2
1974 - 1979
Sesame Street: Vol. 2 - Old School (1974-1979)
Amazon Price: $29.99 (as of 11/27/2009)
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
For Your Kids?
Cookie Monster
Sesame Street - Cookie Propaganda T-Shirt
Buy at AllPosters.com
Yes, it is true...Cookie Monster likes cookies, and cookies are not the most nutritional food in the world. Is this really a problem?
Cookie Monster
curated content from YouTube
Should Cookie Monster eat food besides cookies?
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Should Cookie Monster eat food besides cookies?
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Should Cookie Monster eat food besides cookies? Cookie Monster is a cookie monster, which means he eats cookies. If you introduce other food into his diet, he's not the cookie monster anymore. There were rumors that the Cookie Monster's name was be...
Only Big Bird Saw Snuffy - hallucinations?
Comments
What do you think of Sesame Street, new or old?
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Reply
- Evelyn_Saenz Evelyn_Saenz Sep 7, 2008 @ 11:37 am
- 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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Reply
- legbamel legbamel Aug 20, 2008 @ 5:27 pm
- We've got several Sesame Street videos and most of them have old-school clips to go along with the newer bits. I secretly love to watch them, too.
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Reply
- alkneklgsadopjmgas alkneklgsadopjmgas Aug 1, 2008 @ 9:07 pm
- I watched sesame street when I was young and I think it is far worse now than it ever was then. At least when I watched it you only ASSUMED bert and ernie were gay, and no one was HIV positive.
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Reply
- XP XP Jun 10, 2008 @ 11:48 am
- Great lens!
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Reply
- mulberry mulberry May 28, 2008 @ 7:54 pm
- Good debate. The old stuff is fine by me, there is afterall the real world and if parents disagree with something, discussing it at that point can be very educational.
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