Alright, I know things change, but if something works, why fix it? I watch a lot of Sesame Street these days, and I am more than annoyed with the dropping of certain characters. Where's Kermie? Miss Piggy? Fozzy Bear? the Pink Monster with the black eyebrows? The Count?These characters are fun and did not have screechy voices. (ok, Miss Piggy did get a tad irritating sometimes...) In my memory they did not dummy things down for kids. They were just funny and oddly a lot like personalities you would meet in real life... Miss Piggy, the narcissist, Kermie, her more serious counterpart/pursuer, Fozzy Bear, the funny guy/class clown... The Count, the bean counter. I mean, this cast was dripping in metaphor fun for the adult as well as entertaining for both adults and children. Hell, we don't even see much of Bert and Ernie anymore.
Now we have Abbie, the ding a ling fairy... I mean, yea, she's cute, but she's annoyingly dense. Don't EVEN get me started on ELMO. I hate that little red bastard! His voice is annoying, he screeches too much, his character is fake-ish (that's saying a lot when you are talking about a damn puppet) and that Mr. Noodle, while he is slap sticky funny for kids... he is just stupid. I can't believe this guy gets paid! Then there is Elmo's computer. UGH. I can't even go there. What would Jim Henson think of all this?
Now I realize this sounds completely whacked and harsh. I know the "KIDS LOVE ELMO!" But they also love ice cream, candy, video games, and staying up all night.... doesn't mean it's good for them. Doesn't mean they are learning good things or nourishing themselves from these things. Now, I know, ice cream is FUN, Elmo is FUN, staying up is FUN! Yea, but if it's done in moderation, not to excess. And fun doesn't have to be annoying and stupid. As far as I'm concerned these characters being regulars on the show is like feeding kids sugar coated sugar pills for their developing brains. I'll stay away from what it's like for adults... woops! too late~
What happened to the number of the day song, remember 3 3 3 3 let's sing a song of 3. How many is 3? Then they would count several objects and at the end there would be guy carrying like 3 chocolate mousse piiiiiies! Then he'd start to wobble, loose his balance, then crash and burn with all the pie goo smooshing all over him! So fun without being stupid! How about one of these things is not like the others? Why does a kid need to know how to make a sushi roll? THAT is what is being shown now. WTF????!!!
When asked to sing Somewhere Over the Rainbow at one of her concerts, Liza respectfully replied. "I'm sorry, that song has been sung." Some things should just NOT be messed with, and for ME, Sesame Street Muppet's characters is one of them! Jesus, Elmo's on, I have to run in the other room before I puke on my screen!
