76 replies to this topic

[Agrimorfee]

Oh wow, man. Finally got this as a Tax Return treat.

Watched the series premiere, with these revelations:

--The day's storyline features schoolteacher Gordon practically dragging a new student through the set to introduce many of the main characters, while Susan cheerfully offers cookies and milk to every child who passes by her. By today's standards, this is quite creepy.

--Big Bird is a gangly retard, not the well-meaning perenniel 6 year-old we grew to love. Also, Oscar is covered with horrendously-colored orange fur.

--Many of the classic cartoon bits ("sing a song of 3", "Wanda The Witch", the yellow dots jockeying themselves on a blue background) are utilized on day one...often repeated twice. Did they purposely do this for educational purposes, or did they just need to fill the hour?

--Goofy white guy Bob is even more creepier than Gordon. They should have hired deaf actress Linda Bove much sooner as his girlfriend so he didn't seem so much like a pervert from the start.

--No Maria & Luis, and no David. The only Muppets are Bert & Ernie (who live in the basement apartment, but I always assumed they lived on the third), Kermit, Oscar, Big Bird, Cookie Monster (unnamed, eating a styrofoam letter W), and 5 "anything muppets" (played by Frank Oz, Jim Henson and a third guy I can't audibly recognize).

--There's a laid-back quality to the show in some sequences that is missing in the present day. A looong, pastoral film about how milk comes from cows is featured, and a "music video" about how little things eventually grow into big things. There's also a long filmed sequence of youngsters playing an extended game of Follow The Leader (in what looks like the city dump!) that would not been too far out of place on Teletubbies. But watch any S.S. nowadays, and with all the frenetic music and colors and the insipid excitement of Elmo and assorted characters, there's just no pauses to catch one's breath.

--With the bizarre animations and cheezy live action videotaped settings combined with filmed montages, one wonders if Monty Python's Flying Circus influenced Sesame Street, or if it was the other way around. (this would be more acknowledged in the 90s, with the introduction of a wacky Muppet character named "Monty").

--a terribly unexciting sequence with two vaudevillian characters named Bill & Tom trying to hang a framed picture on a wall, played by no one in particular, completely falls flat. It's no wonder I've never seen these guys before.

--the episode is introduced with new footage from an old animated character, calling himself Bob, reading a disclaimer that the program is "intended for entertainment purposes of adult enjoyment and not should be considered an educational tool." Probably right, but my little Danny is going to watch this too, and learn what life was like before Elmo became an annoying presence in the world.

[undo]

my favorite clip

[Freddie Freelance]

I can still remember the first time I watched "Sesame Street," I was about 5 and it was a big thing that I was being allowed to watch a show just for kids. I still have nearly all of the old "Sesame Street" albums: Ernie's Hits, Bert's Blockbusters, Grover Sings the Blues, My Name is Roosevelt Franklin, Sesame Street Fever...

Have you seen the old "Electric Company" shows? That show had some great castmembers: Morgan Freeman, Rita Moreno, Mel Brooks, Gene Wilder, Zero Mostel, Bill Cosby, Irene Cara, plus Lorne Greene, Michael Landon, Wilt Frazier, & Joan Rivers in occasional roles.

[ParticleHustler]

Guy Smiley was the shiznit...until I recognized him year's later as Keith Morrison. Now I get all freaked out by him.

[no magnets]

Have you seen the old "Electric Company" shows? That show had some great castmembers: Morgan Freeman, Rita Moreno, Mel Brooks, Gene Wilder, Zero Mostel, Bill Cosby, Irene Cara, plus Lorne Greene, Michael Landon, Wilt Frazier, & Joan Rivers in occasional roles.

"sesame street" is awesome, but "the electric company" blows it away!

"HEY, YOU GUYS!"

[Waylon]

This website is a revelation:
http://muppet.wikia....rough_the_Years

[WesterMats]

I can still remember the first time I watched "Sesame Street," I was about 5 and it was a big thing that I was being allowed to watch a show just for kids. I still have nearly all of the old "Sesame Street" albums: Ernie's Hits, Bert's Blockbusters, Grover Sings the Blues, My Name is Roosevelt Franklin, Sesame Street Fever...

Born to Add

[Elemeno P.T.]

Thanks for the summary aggie. I'll be adding this to Lyric's birthday list. We're taking her to her first concert next Saturday- The Doodlebops, or as Lyric like's to call them- the "Do-Do's". I don't know that I've ever been this excited for a show.

[Agrimorfee]

I can still remember the first time I watched "Sesame Street," I was about 5 and it was a big thing that I was being allowed to watch a show just for kids. I still have nearly all of the old "Sesame Street" albums: Ernie's Hits, Bert's Blockbusters, Grover Sings the Blues, My Name is Roosevelt Franklin, Sesame Street Fever...

Have you seen the old "Electric Company" shows? That show had some great castmembers: Morgan Freeman, Rita Moreno, Mel Brooks, Gene Wilder, Zero Mostel, Bill Cosby, Irene Cara, plus Lorne Greene, Michael Landon, Wilt Frazier, & Joan Rivers in occasional roles.

Fuckin A, Freddie. I like the cut of your jib.

That "Roosevelt Franklin" record is the What's Goin' On of Sesame Street Records. My favorite of many that I rented from our public library was The Count Counts, a spoof of Top 40 radio, featuring The Count going bonkers in a Casey Kasem-style countdown of the greatest Number songs from the show. Fever's "Trash" (as sung by Robin Gibb) is a GREAT disco ballad. (Did I ever y'all send the thing you my Sesame Street covers album?)

On the E.C.--Tom Lerher and Victor Borge also contributed of course, and Chuck Jones even animated some new Road Runner segments for them. Were you aware that there are two Best Of Electric Company DVD sets? I've been wanting to get my hands on those as well. PBS had a documentary retrospective on The Electric Company a month or so ago...idiotic nostalgic tears rolled down my face as they played a full segment of Letterman ("Faster than a rolling O, stronger than silent E, able to leap capital letters in a single bound...it's a word, it's a plan...It's Letterman!!!")

[Tracy Jacks]

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[Bong Hits 4 Jesus]

I always liked the Lucky Ladybugs and C is for Cookies. And Rubber Duckie. Come to think of it. this show rocks.

[scarymuppet]

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[held]

I'll be getting these to raise my son on some old school classics. Thanks for the heads up Agri!

[Vivian Darkbloom]

This is still one of my all-time favorite albums. Seriously. "Oscar's B Sandwich" is still my fucking jam. I picked up an original gatefold release on eBay last year with the chalk and bendy pipe cleaner (to form the letters) still intact.



Sesame Street discography

1970 - The Sesame Street Book & Record: Original Cast a.k.a. Sesame Street 1 (Columbia) / 1974 (CTW)
1970 - The Sesame Street Carry About Box Set (Columbia) / (CRA)
1971 - Sesame Street 2 - Original Cast (Warner Bros.) / 1975 (CTW)
1971 - Susan Sings Songs From Sesame Street
1971 - The Muppet Alphabet Album (CRA) / - 1996 Sing The Alphabet (Sony Wonder)
1971 - The Muppet Alphabet Album Carry About (CRA)
1971 - The Year of Roosevelt Franklin a.k.a. My Name is Roosevelt Franklin (Columbia) / 1974 (CTW)
1972 - Havin' Fun With Ernie and Bert (CRA)
1972 - Havin' Fun With Ernie and Bert Carry About (CRA)
1973 - Sesame Street Concert/On Stage - Live! (Columbia) / 1975 (CTW)
1974 - Bert's Blockbusters (CTW)
1974 - Letters ...and Numbers, Too! (CTW)
1974 - Ernie's Hits (CTW)
1974 - Sing the Hit Songs of Sesame Street (CTW)
1974 - "C" Is For Cookie (CTW) / 1995 - "C" is for Cookie: Cookie's Favorite Songs (Sony Wonder)
1974 - Big Bird Sings (CTW)
1974 - Somebody Come and Play a.k.a. Play-Along Songs (CTW)
1974 - Let a Frown Be Your Umbrella (CTW)
1974 - Pete Seeger and Brother Kirk Visit Sesame Street (CTW)
1974 - Grover Sings The Blues (CTW)
1974 - Sesame Mucho! (CRA) / (CTW)
1974 - Bob McGrath Sings For All The Boys and Girls
1975 - Bert & Ernie Sing-Along (CTW)
1975 - The Count Counts! (CTW) / 1997 - The Count's Countdown (Sony Wonder)
1975 - Sesame Street Monsters! (CTW) / 1996 Monster Melodies (Sony Wonder)
1975 - Merry Christmas from Sesame Street (CTW)
1976 - Just Friends (CTW)
1976 - Letters ABCD (CRA) / (CTW)
1976 - Letters EFGH (CRA) / (CTW)
1976 - Letters IJKL (CRA) / (CTW)
1976 - Letters MNOP (CRA) / (CTW)
1976 - Letters QRST (CRA) / (CTW)
1976 - Letters UVW (CRA) / (CTW)
1976 - Letters XYZ (CRA) / (CTW)
1977 - Let Your Feelings Show! (CTW)
1977 - Signs! (CTW)
1977 - Happy Birthday from Sesame Street (CTW)
1977 - Numbers! (CTW) / 1995 (Sony Wonder)
1977 - Letters, Numbers and Signs 3-LP Box Set (CTW)
1977 - Big Bird Leads The Band (CTW)
1977 - The Sesame Street Fairy Tale Album (CTW)
1977 - Sleepytime Bird (CTW)
1977 - Aren't You Glad You're You? (CTW)
1977 - Bob Sings! (CTW)
1977 - What Time Is It On Sesame Street? (CTW)
1977 - Sesame Street Gold! (CTW)
1978 - Sesame Street Story Time (CTW)
1978 - On The Street Where We Live - Block Party! (CTW)
1978 - David: Daydreamin' On A Rainy Day (CTW)
1978 - Fair Is Fair (CTW)
1978 - Sing, Sang Song Singalong (CTW)
1978 - Sesame Street Silver - 10th Anniversary Album (CTW)
1978 - Sesame Street Fever (CTW)
1979 - At Home With Ernie and Bert (CTW)
1979 - Every Body's Record (CTW)
1979 - Anne Murray Sings for the Sesame Street Generation (CTW)
1979 - The Stars Come Out On Sesame Street (CTW)
1979 - Sesame Disco (CTW)
1979 - Dinah! Pays A Visit To Sesame Street - I've Got A Song (CTW)
1980 - In Harmony: A Sesame Street Record (Warner Bros)
1980 - The People in Your Neighborhood (CTW)
1980 - Big Bird's Birdtime Stories (CTW)
1980 - Love (CTW)
1981 - Bert & Ernie Side By Side (Golden)
1981 - Getting Ready For School (CTW)
1981 - Sesame Country (CTW)
1981 - Big Bird Discovers the Orchestra
1981 - Grin and Giggle With Big Bird
1981 - Christmas Eve On Sesame Street
1982 - For The First Time
1982 - Exercise! (CTW)
1982 - Sesame Street Sing-Along! (CTW)
1983 - Surprise!
1983 - The Gang's All Here
1983 - Born To Add: Great Rock & Roll (CTW) / 1995 (Sony Wonder)
1983 - The Best of Big Bird (Golden)
1983 - The Best of Ernie (Golden)
1983 - The Best of Bert (Golden)
1983 - The Best of Grover (Golden)
1983 - The Best of Cookie Monster (Golden)
1983 - The Best of Oscar The Grouch (Golden)
1983 - The Best of The Count (Golden)
1984 - Sesame Street Christmas Sing-Along (CTW)
1985 - Follow That Bird Soundtrack
1986 - Bounce Along with Big Bird (Golden) / 1996 (Sony)
1987 - The Best of Sesame Street (Sight & Sound)
1992 - Jim Henson: A Sesame Street Celebration (Golden)
1992 - Sing: Songs of Joe Raposo (Golden)
1994 - Sesame Street Celebrates! (Golden)
1995 - Sesame Street Platinum: All-Time Favorites (Sony Wonder)
1995 - The Bird is the Word! Big Bird's Favorite Songs (Sony Wonder)
1995 - Splish Splash: Bath Time Fun (Sony Wonder)
1995 - Sesame Road (Sony Wonder)
1996 - Bert and Ernie's Greatest Hits (Sony Wonder)
1996 - Big Bird's Band Plays Together (Sony Wonder)
1996 - Rosita's Block Party (Sony Wonder)
1996 - Sing-Along Travel Songs (Sony Wonder)
1996 - Silly Songs (Sony Wonder)
1996 - Dreamytime Songs (Sony Wonder)
1997 - Hot! Hot! Hot! Dance Songs (Sony Wonder)
1997 - Sesame Street Platinum Too (Sony Wonder)
1997 - Oscar's Trashy Songs (Sony Wonder)
1997 - The Best Of Elmo (Sony Wonder)
1997 - Elmo's Favorite Sing-Alongs (Sony Wonder)
1997 - Kids Favorite Songs (Sony Wonder)
1998 - Fiesta Songs! (Sony Wonder)
1998 - Elmopalooza! (Sony Wonder)
1998 - Elmo's Lowdown Hoedown (Sony Wonder)
1998 - Elmo Says BOO! (Sony Wonder)
1998 - Elmo Saves Christmas (Sony Wonder)
1999 - The Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland (Sony Wonder)
2000 - CinderElmo (Sony Wonder)
2001 - Elmo & the Orchestra (Sony Wonder)
2001 - Kids' Favorite Songs 2 (Sony Wonder)
2003 - Songs from the Street: 35 Years of Music (Sony Wonder)

Unreleased 1974 Sesame Street record albums
Bob and Susan Sing Songs from Sesame Street
Tu Me Guitas (I Like You)
Sesame Street Zoo

[Agrimorfee]

I OWNED OR HEARD (FROM THE LIBRARY) ALL OF THESE Sesame Street discography 1970 - The Sesame Street Book & Record: Original Cast a.k.a. Sesame Street 1 (Columbia) / 1974 (CTW) 1971 - Sesame Street 2 - Original Cast (Warner Bros.) / 1975 (CTW) 1971 - The Muppet Alphabet Album (CRA) / - 1996 Sing The Alphabet (Sony Wonder) 1971 - The Year of Roosevelt Franklin a.k.a. My Name is Roosevelt Franklin (Columbia) / 1974 (CTW) 1972 - Havin' Fun With Ernie and Bert Carry About (CRA) 1974 - Bert's Blockbusters (CTW) 1974 - Ernie's Hits (CTW) 1974 - "C" Is For Cookie (CTW) / 1995 - "C" is for Cookie: Cookie's Favorite Songs (Sony Wonder) 1974 - Big Bird Sings (CTW) 1974 - Let a Frown Be Your Umbrella (CTW) 1974 - Pete Seeger and Brother Kirk Visit Sesame Street (CTW) 1974 - Grover Sings The Blues (CTW) 1974 - Sesame Mucho! (CRA) / (CTW) 1975 - Bert & Ernie Sing-Along (CTW) 1975 - The Count Counts! (CTW) / 1997 - The Count's Countdown (Sony Wonder) 1975 - Sesame Street Monsters! (CTW) / 1996 Monster Melodies (Sony Wonder) 1975 - Merry Christmas from Sesame Street (CTW) 1977 - The Sesame Street Fairy Tale Album (CTW) 1978 - Sesame Street Fever (CTW) They gotta re-release some of these.

[donMusic]

I really like the Ladybug's Picinc. and the chef who falls down the stairs with the pies, cakes, etc.

[Saskadelphia]

Ha, this is totally from my era...I forget what that American channel was, but back in 99 they were showing old Sesame Streets, and I had such a blast watching them again. The one thing I noticed was just how the edits were relentlessly fast during the first couple seasons.

Those sketches with Grover being the waiter are classic. And Super Grover. Hell, anything with Grover.

This was my first record:



Yeah, I'm old. "ABC-DEF-GHI" is still burned in my brain.

[Tracy Jacks]

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[dice]

the november '85 episode where the adults meet snuffy for the first time is considered by some fans to be the moment when sesame street jumped the shark

[Agrimorfee]

I'd be especially curious to see the Hawaii story arc once again, where they hung out with Buffy Sainte-Marie and Snuffy went on a quest to find his roots.