What's The Word on "The Street"

Forty.

Well... actually the "official" word on the Street is going to be habitat...

That's right folks. Sesame Street is turning 40 on Tuesday, November 10!!!

Sesame Street has come a long way since it premiered November 10, 1969. I don't think there's a person alive today that doesn't know Sesame Street and Big Bird. It has truly bridged the gap between the generations.

Interesting Fact: Caroll Spinney was hand picked by Jim Henson to play Big Bird and he is the only original cast member still on the show. He also does the voice of Oscar the Grouch.

If you've been to Google lately you've probably seen the Sesame Street characters incorporated into the Google Banner. I was curious one day and clicked on Big Bird's legs. I came across this article by CNN Ent. They have released the early seasons of the show on DVD and they come with a warning label.

Sesame Street has a warning label???

"These early 'Sesame Street' episodes are intended for grown-ups, and may not suit the needs of today's preschool child."

According to the article Cookie Monster promotes childhood obesity by his constant gobbling up of cookies. He's a bad influence with his lack of self-control as he eats anything in sight when he's jonesing for that elusive cookie. And he smokes a pipe in a few episodes. And I guess "they" think Oscar was too mean and nasty, He's a GROUCH! What did you expect? Nastiness is part of his name... He's not named Oscar the Pleasant.

My son, Caleb, LOVES Sesame Street. He likes to sing and dance along and he laughs at Oscar and thinks Cookie Monster is "silly". And of course, we can't forget Elmo,

I knew he could count to 10 because I taught him that. At least I think I did... Now I don't really know for sure. But I was pleasantly surprised when I heard him count to 20 on his own. I KNOW I didn't teach him that. He learned that from Big Bird.

SO CONGRATULATIONS SESAME STREET ON YOUR 40 YEARS!!! Here's to 40 more. Who knows... maybe my grandchildren will watch original new episodes of Sesame Street. By then, Sesame Street will no longer be set on an urban street but instead on a planet or under water or something else "new agey".