According to a very funny article by New York Times TV writer Virginia Heffernan, there is a warning on the new "Sesame Street: Old School" DVD that reads, "These early 'Sesame Street' episodes are intended for grown-ups, and may not suit the needs of today's preschool child." Baffled, Heffernan writes: At a recent all-ages home screening, a hush fell over the room. "What did they do to us?" asked one Gen-X mother of two, finally. The show rolled, and the sweet trauma came flooding back. What they did to us was hard-core. Man, was that scene rough. The masonry on the dingy brownstone at 123 Sesame Street, where the closeted Ernie and Bert shared a dismal basement apartment, was deteriorating. Cookie Monster was on a fast track to diabetes. Oscar's depression was untreated. Prozacky Elmo didn't exist.
It brings up an interesting question: Were those of us who grew up in a time before organic snacks and mandatory car seats and Abby Cadabby really at a disadvantage?
Heffernan suggests that over-protected kids today could learn a little something from old-school Sesame Street:
The harshness of existence was a given, and no one was proposing that numbers and letters would lead you "out" of your inner city to Elysian suburbs. Instead, "Sesame Street" suggested that learning might merely make our days more bearable, more interesting, funnier.
We're with her. Kids today are often presented by kids' programming with a misleading "everyone wins!" version of reality. They could stand a little more misanthropic Oscar, a little less "Prozacky Elmo."
Reader Comments ( Page 4 of 14)
46. What's happened to the CTW? It seems to me that ALL the childrens shows of today have gone the way of commercialization. Bob, Dora, Thomas, and Elmo have founf their way onto the toy shelves as well as the air waves. Just like everything else today, TV is mostly aimed at the younger generations. Because they know that those same generations will buy or coerce their families into buying for them.
Why does any child NEED four gaming systems, and every game that's playable on them, or every "Tickle Me Elmo" that comes out every Season.
I'm of the generation that use see all the emails about. you know the ones that say HOW DID I LIVE SO LONG WHEN... I played outside till mom called you into supper, rode the bike without a helmet, walked to the grocery store with no fear of being kidnapped, etc. In this day and age our children our growing up at home in front of the TV or Monitor because they don't dare go out and enjoy life the way we did. However, that doesn't give the production people in TV land the right to say that everything is all right when it obviously isn't.
Sugarcaoting the truth doesn't work, i say show the old stuff to your child and then take them down the street and show them that those kind of dwellings do exist, even in NEVER, NEVER LAND.
Bryan at 2:34AM on Nov 21st 2007
47. I grew up watching Sesame Street and loved it so of course my kids watched it as well. From the day they came home from the hospital I would sit them in front of the TV when Sesame Street was on and because of that both my kids said their first words at 5 months old.
Pam at 6:28AM on Nov 21st 2007
48. I have never seen the new Sesame Street today, but when I was a kid, it was a great show and nobody ever talked about Ernie or Bert like that. It was educational back then and fun too. They show (well, the ones from before 1980) did teach you how to know your alphabet, read a little, and be nice to people (no wonder I have a great personality even today, 30 years later).
I sometimes wonder why some adults, today, can't even spell or read too good...Hmmm...Maybe they should have stop playing with those stupid Barbies, Go-Carts, and watch a little bit of Sesame Street when they were 3-4 years old...Hmmm, I wonder about that you know. Also I wonder why some are self-centered righteous bitches and bastards today...Maybe 20-30 years ago, they should have watched Sesame Street...
Leana Jo at 6:33AM on Nov 21st 2007
49. OMG....Now we have to shun ours kids away from Sesame Street from the old school...geesh..can we get any more protective/PC with our kids....I am scared of what these newer generations will be...too protective and sheltered...
Dave at 6:44AM on Nov 21st 2007
50. I had my teen age son come up to me after just breaking up with a girl and say, "Thank you for not sheltering me. That girl could not grasp a reality where she was going to have to someday get a job. Thank you for telling me the truth and letting me fail."
I thought it was quite deep of him. He's 21 now and still thanks me for not putting blinders on him or his brother and sister.
Eileen Stewart at 6:52AM on Nov 21st 2007
51. so, what the general consensus is saying is that sesame street should be a little more real? so they should probably teach children about safe sex, and don't do drugs, and don't drink and drive, and other "realities." oh wait, i thought that was the parents' jobs... my bad.
come on people at 7:01AM on Nov 21st 2007
52. These people that are worried about what Sesame Street did to the X Generation need to get a life. The kids today are being taught it is ok to be a PowerRanger and kick the crap out of everything, or a Wiggles and be all touchy feely. Get real. Life is tough. There are homeless people that don't have home ie Grouch, there are people that have too much and don't share ie Cookie Monster, and smoking is still happening. Life happens, but if the parents of this generation are prudent, and wise they teach the kids about how the real world is and isn't. I am not saying that everything should be doom and gloom, but it isn't all Politically Corrent either.
jackie at 7:00AM on Nov 21st 2007
53. wow, can't believe how many people, not everyone though, but many people non the less, have hang ups. nothing like trying to justify your own problems, by blaming kid's shows for your hang ups. sounds like jerry falwell all over again, saying that one of the teletubby's is gay. come on people, grow up a little, and get over yourself
ron at 7:12AM on Nov 21st 2007
54. It's sad that we've run out of modern things to run thru the ridiculous "Politically Correct" wringer. Now we're looking back several decades and applying todays morals to then!
Face it folks, we're in a society that could give a crap about each other "EXCEPT" when we differ in opinion, religion, personal behaviour, or political affiliation from others.
Remember the day when the religious people were the nice friendly non judging people, and the non religious were the hateful judgemental ones? funny how things have changed, huh?
Imagine all the people, living in harmony (thanks John) if we could only live this some times, Imagine how the world would be.
Sam at 7:15AM on Nov 21st 2007
55. I'm a Generation X member and now a stay at home mother of a 4 year old and a 2 year old. They are children and while the have a wild imagination and incredible perception of the world around them it's still just a TV show wih an edcuational message about letters and numbers. If you desire to do so you can make something good or bad if you twist it the right way. I believe one thing we have all forgotten is the effect of allowing our TVs to be the biggest influence in what our children learn. If you as a parent are not activly involved in what your child is learning then that is not the fault of TV programming. Get on the ball and be responsible for your child and if you don't believe in the values Sesame Street is teaching then don't watch it and don't overanalize it or judge someone else who believes it has a place in our society.
Ashley at 7:35AM on Nov 21st 2007
56. Very true, little kids now are pretty much going to get a grand slap in the face after school. Everybody wins, everbody needs to feel good, and everybody needs to make the team no matter how bad they are. That in fact hinders them, they try less , they compeet less and in a competative society those who put forward lackluster effort get left in the dust of mommy and daddys basement.
dixie at 7:46AM on Nov 21st 2007
57. The Sesame Street of old was not set up to teach the "reality" of the time but to rather teach values such as loyalty, caring, giving, family, and other skills such as math and reading.
I agree with Mr. Mike's comment, that if we tailored it to the current reality, we would reinforce the disfunction of our society and squash the hopes and dreams of our children.
This current society is full of that....give me and my children old school any day!!
Sylvia Daniels at 7:47AM on Nov 21st 2007
58. Did anyone ever consider that Ernie and Bert might just be BROTHERS and NOT homos??? Just because they dont show their parents doenst mean they don't have them. Or they dont live with them. You never see Charlie Brown's parents either??? (although you do HEAR them . . hmmm does THAT teach kids to just tone out everything their parents say?? because they never really TALK they just do that Whaa-waa-Waa. . .sound!!)Get REAL!! Can't we just take it for what it is and enjoy the innocence of being a child!!! Why do we have to analyze EVERYTHING to death. People who are offended or concerned by these kinds of things are LOOKING to be offended! Get off your high horse! Ernie and Bert are no more GAY than the purple Teletubby!!! Lighten up people!!
Vikki at 4:21AM on Dec 1st 2009
59. I am an early childhood teacher. Sesame Street is keeping up with educational standards for pre-schoolers. I loved it when I was a child and I love it now. Elmo included.
ron at 7:48AM on Nov 21st 2007
60. Another case of people out there that have nothing else to do but poke holes in something that never had any.
Another case of people having nothing else to do but find flaws and impose their "adult understanding" on something that children doesnt care about. If you ask me children watch these type of shows because its fun..its fun to see colors and talking muppets...its fun to learn. They dont analyze and criticize like adults do. They dont see Earnie and Bert and think "well they are living together" they must be gay. No they see two best friends sharing an apartment.I watched Sesame street growing up and it was wonderful i turned out justtt fine. In fact my brother is only 1 and i would never deprive him of a classic childhood show.
Candice at 7:51AM on Nov 21st 2007