Question of the Day | 11/05/2009 3:00 am
As we approach Sesame Street's 40th birthday, tell us: What is your favorite memory of Sesame Street?
Candice Bergen, Liz Smith, Sheila Nevins, Cynthia McFadden, Mary Wells and ‘Sesame
Street’ visionary Joan Ganz Cooney looks back on the show that
revolutionized children’s television … For a special wOw bonus, click here to see Joan Ganz Cooney’s ten favorite moments in ‘Sesame Street’ history
Courtesy of The Sesame Workshop
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Jim Henson was a creative genius, and Kermit, Ernie, and his other characters will never be quite the same without him performing them. But SS still is still doing what it did 40 years ago, educating 2-5 year olds. I don’t like how political correct SS is now, or that they devote 20 of each episode to Elmo, but I doubt Jim would of want Sesame Workshop to stop just because he was gone. Sesame Street’s success is about many people, including the team of educators and childhood development specialist that continues to do extensive research to make sure that the show uses the most effective way for kids to learn. Also Frank Oz, Will Lee, Joan Gary Cooney, Gerald S. Lesser, Caroll Spinney, and many others.
I have 6 kids ranging in age 32 to 8 yo. BOTH sets of kids watched SS and LOVED it. I still have a copy of The Monster at the End of This Book…my 32yo loved it and my 8yo twins loved the book as well. My 1 yo grandson is now being read to from the book and loves it!! Just goes to show that quality-whether it is a book or TV shows- are truly timeless.
I remember sitting my 4 (eventual 6 )children in front of the TV for the first show, I think it was a Sunday afternoon. I watched with them and quickly realized that the quality and inovation of children’s television had just reached a new high. My parenting had just gotten a little easier! When I watch now with my great-grandaughter I still have that same joy.
Grover…..oh his energy! Even as a 3 year old I loved him, and when I had my son, his favorite book was "The Monster at the end of the Book" book, read that to him at least 10 times a day. I still hold a soft spot for Grover.
Greetings, Kermit the Frog here
And today I’d like to tell you a little bit about the color green
Do you know what’s green
Well I am for one thing
You see frogs are green, and I’m a frog
And that means that I’m green, you see
It’s not that easy being green
Having to spend each day the color of the leaves
When I think it could be nicer being red, or yellow, or gold
Or something much more colorful like that
It’s not easy being green
It seems you blend in with so many other ordinary things
And people tend to pass you over
‘Cause you’re not standing out
Like flashy sparkles in the water
Or stars in the sky
But green’s the color of spring
And green can be cool and friendly-like
And green can be big like a mountain
Or important like a river
Or tall like a tree
When green is all there is to be
It could make you wonder why
But why wonder why wonder
I am green, and it’ll do fine
It’s beautiful, and I think it’s what I want to be
That’s my favorite memory.
Are you kidding??? i’m 46 years old so Sesame Street was a HUGE part of my childhood! And you all know that back then we didn’t have non stop cable shows and cartoons. So I would anticipate getting to watch it. It was an event. My favorite part of the show was the reading guy. I can’t remember his name anymore. He was a black guy and for some reason I can never see Samual Jackson without thinking about him. I can hear his voice and see the letters he would throw out…
oops… not Samual Jackson. Morgan Freeman! Every time I look at Morgan Freeman I think of the reading guy on Sesame Street…
You may be confusing Sesame Street with Electric Company. That is where they threw out the letters. And Morgan Freeman WAS a castmember. I loved both shows as a kid.
Darnit… i was confusing it with Electric Company. Sorry Joan! We only had a tv sporadically when i was little so i have few memories of TV. But man o man I loved the reading guy. And i THOUGHT it was Morgan Freeman! I guess if Reading guy is Electric Company then Big Bird is definitely my favorite Sesame Street Character.
Morgan Freeman was on ELECTRIC COMPANY with Rita Moreno. I think the Electric Company premiered in 1971. It followed Sesame Street, and the show was primarily a reading program. Also, another program [of that era] for older children, ZOOM was a favorite.
My oldest daughter was born on the small side at just over 4 lbs and barely 17” and the few years of her life she was slow on catching up, and watched Sesame Street everyday. When she was three, I took her to an ice show with the characters and she strained to see them from her seat even though she was sitting just a couple rows off the ice. They brought out a huge sled on the ice and started looking for kids to put on the sled. She really got excited and stood down by the railing but was too small to be seen. One of the skaters came over and seen her beneath the railing and scooped her up and put her on the sled. Even though she wasn’t any bigger than an 18 month old, she felt huge! They made that day which was part of a really hard time in her life disappear for awhile, and she has never forgotten her ride.
All my kids were better prepared for school because of Sesame Street and excelled. Thank you Joan for bringing Sesame Street into the lives of children regardless of who they were or circumstances in their life, the learning has been available. Crossing cultures and all income levels, bringing diversity into young lives and making children more accepting of each other in this world. You led the way!- Dear Margo: When Dad/Gramps Just Ain't Interested
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