Early Sesame Street not suitable for children
July 1st 2008 05:28
Exciting news for all of us who were brought up watching Sesame Street, the early episodes have just been released on DVD. However, all you Gen Xers with young children who are about to run out and buy these icons of your childhood be warned. These episodes are not suitable for children, according to a warning sticker on the side of the box. ‘What? I hear you saying ‘I thought it was a children’s programme’.
So what is the problem with these early episodes? Well according to Seame Street producer Carole Parente in an interview for the New York Times:
Cookie Monster for a start, not because he is a monster but because all he does is stuff his face with cookies. If anyone is on the fast track to childhood obesity and diabetes, it has to be cookie monster. Interesting though, childhood obesity was not a problem for us Gen Xers who were brought up thinking cookie monster was hilarious.
As for Cookie Monsters alter ego Alistair Cooke, who appeared with a pipe, that he later ate, that was deemed completely inappropriate! Then there was the homeless depressed grouch that lived in a trash can.
Remember Snuffleupagus only visible to Big Bird? Well since 1985 he has been made visible to everyone! Because according to Carol Parente:
How about Ernie and Bert sleeping in the same bed then? As a child, I just thought they were friends, for all those who think there is gay connotations get your mind out of the gutter. Preschoolers do not even think in that way.
As a Generation X’er, I am starting to wonder how our generation grew up to be moderately well balanced individuals. Are the latest generation of children so soft that they cannot just enjoy a programme at a simplistic level in the way we did?
Sometimes kids are grouchy, sometimes they scoff cookies, and sometimes they have imaginary friends – big deal.
So what is the problem with these early episodes? Well according to Seame Street producer Carole Parente in an interview for the New York Times:
Cookie Monster for a start, not because he is a monster but because all he does is stuff his face with cookies. If anyone is on the fast track to childhood obesity and diabetes, it has to be cookie monster. Interesting though, childhood obesity was not a problem for us Gen Xers who were brought up thinking cookie monster was hilarious.
As for Cookie Monsters alter ego Alistair Cooke, who appeared with a pipe, that he later ate, that was deemed completely inappropriate! Then there was the homeless depressed grouch that lived in a trash can.
Remember Snuffleupagus only visible to Big Bird? Well since 1985 he has been made visible to everyone! Because according to Carol Parente:
“Big Bird’s old protestations that he was not hallucinating came to seem a little creepy, not to mention somewhat strained”.
How about Ernie and Bert sleeping in the same bed then? As a child, I just thought they were friends, for all those who think there is gay connotations get your mind out of the gutter. Preschoolers do not even think in that way.
As a Generation X’er, I am starting to wonder how our generation grew up to be moderately well balanced individuals. Are the latest generation of children so soft that they cannot just enjoy a programme at a simplistic level in the way we did?
Sometimes kids are grouchy, sometimes they scoff cookies, and sometimes they have imaginary friends – big deal.
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