Can I just tell you that I am unable to count to 12 – in English or French, not that the francais comes up often, except maybe it does – without doing it Sesame Street style? Anyone else?
I know, I know. Sesame Street had its big birthday party two weeks ago. Google and the rest of the world shouted their congratulations and wished the kids show well, and it’s all over and done with.
Right?
Except . . . I want to talk about it today.
Being late to the party is fitting, though, because our family has just recently gotten hooked on the friendly neighborhood. Of course, Mark and I are long-time fans, first-time callers of all kinds of Muppets. (Although, to be fair, more me than Mark.) But Annalyn is a newcomer to the Street of Sesame.
More specifically, it’s only been in the past couple of months that we have seen the start of a beautiful relationship between Annalyn and – I’m sure you can guess – Elmo. Sometimes we even pray for Elmo before bed. That’s how much “we” love him.
Actually, I don’t hate Elmo yet. He might have that crazy voice and ridiculous grammar, but that happy-go-lucky guy makes my daughter so happy that I just can’t complain.
The reason she’s just recently discovered Sesame Street is that for most of her life, she took a morning nap. And it coincided, unfortunately, with the daily airing of the show on PBS.
[That didn’t stop me from saying, every time I saw that our friends Amy and Jeremy did this for their kids, “I should record episodes so Annalyn can watch them any time she wants!” Not that I did it. But I totally thought about it.]
Since live TV isn’t working out for us and I couldn’t get it together enough to set the VCR, I finally had a better idea. We get our Elmo and Sesame Street fix from the library.
So far, the biggest hits have been Elmo’s Christmas Countdown (with a Ben Stiller Muppet – brilliant!) and Elmo & the Bookaneers with Tina Fey as a pirate. And yesterday we picked up Sesame Street: Being Green with Paul Rudd, also forever known as Josh from Clueless. Next on the reserve list: straight-up Muppets.
To sum it all up: Sesame Street has just celebrated their 40th anniversary, we love Elmo at our house, and checking out Elmo videos from the library works for me.
Do you watch Sesame Street at your house? What’s your favorite Sesame Street memory or story?
Sadly, the Sesame Street days in our house are over and, believe it or not, my girls didn't watch it much. (We were more into Barney.) But my husband and I totally remember SS and occasionally we'll start singing one of the songs. I know what you mean by the counting song–I always think of the baker man who falls down the stairs with a huge tray of chocolate cream pies or something. So fun!
"Elmo Saves Christmas" is the best movie spin off of SS. The Easter Egg song (complete with broadway star Harvey Firestein- also known Robin Williams' brother in Mrs. Doubtfire) gets stuck in my head every year. The music is catchy, it teaches children about why Christmas should only be once a year, plus you will get to hear the phrase "wishwishwishwishwish BLITZEN!" about 20 times. But the whole thing is a great movie!
As for Ben Stiller on SS- I love when he sings "Who are the people in your neighborhood" and comes out as a piece of cheese. Classic stuff. I think maybe I am a SS efficianado.
My favorite songs on SS? Patti LaBelle singing the ABC's like no one else could (here's the link- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZlFqhHJczDs It's a MUST WATCH!!! Way to catchy for toddlers!) and Telly Monster playing "Inagodadavida" on the tuba. Throws me into giggle fits every time I hear it!!!
I miss the Street….big sigh….
One more thing (I swear I'm not stalking your blog comments…much) That little brat Baby Bear would look nice as a rug in my living room. What a poor whiney example for kids! He's the worst addition to SS EVER!!! I'd rather Bert and Ernie come out of the closet than have to hear the lisping complaints of Baby Bear! (I am taking this whole thing way too seriously, aren't I???)
Oh heavens, now I'm really going. I went to you tube and looked up the Ben Stiller bit about the cheese, and the kids and I were laughing. Plus, they coordinated the neighbors to be address previous movies that Ben has done (only adding to the brilliance of the writing department of SS) and it pushed me over the edge. Here's where you can find it
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O_yohVlVbEA
and now I PROMISE that I will stop. Scouts honor. Walking away from the computer in 3…2…
Did you know that when we were kids you learned to count in either French or Spanish depending on where you lived in the country? I lived in Texas during my Sesame Street years and was surprised later to find that my more northern friends counted in French, not Spanish.
I loved Sesame Street as a kid and my son loved it, too. For his very first Christmas at 6 months old he got a Rock & Roll Elmo and sat up by himself for the very first time to play with it!
A Sesame movie must for your daughter is "CinderElmo". You will both love it!
i still love sesame street. i love the adult humor in it too… i catch myself ignoring my laptop and being fixated on the tv at times… ahhh…. i haven't seen it at all this week. i'm ready for monday now! :-)
i still love sesame street. i love the adult humor in it too… i catch myself ignoring my laptop and being fixated on the tv at times… ahhh…. i haven't seen it at all this week. i'm ready for monday now! :-)
i didn't know sesame street did french (except in france and probably canada). we sang spanish songs here in mn.