I am a big Sesame Street fan... watched it religiously as a kid. I am also one of those people who thinks that Sesame Street has gone WAY downhill since the good old days when only Big Bird could see Snuffalupagus, when Roosevelt Franklin was a regular character, and when Mr. Hooper was still alive. Before P. came around, I especially hated the new Muppets-- Zoe, Abby Cadabby and most hated of all was Elmo. So syrupy with that voice-- no edge to him at all. None of the slightly scary menace of Herry Monster, the endearing screw ups of Grover, the grouchiness of Oscar the Grouch. And suddenly Elmo was the alpha Muppet, appearing on all the toys and getting a disproportionate amount of air time on the show. An egomaniac media hog, like A-Rod or Paris Hilton, and clearly a Muppet created by the corporate powers that be, instead of lovingly and creatively dreamed up by Jim Henson.
But I have to say, Elmo is growing on me, mainly because P. LOVES him. I watch P. light up and laugh hysterically when we watch Elmo's Alphabet Rap and I just melt. Parenthood is complicated.
I've always been a sucker for Snuffalupagus. Corinne loves The Count. When she was little and we watched Sesame Street daily, I think I saw REM perform "Shiny Happy People" with the muppets like 30 times. "Shiny Happy Monsters Holding Hands" still rings in my head when I think of Sesame Street.
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