![]() And maybe about using their imaginations? It’s also notable for its theme song, the first two lines of which sound like the Indiana Jones theme. In “Hero Guy,” Baby Bear and his superhewo companion have various adventures, which teach kids about problem-solving. It only lasted a few seasons, but it had its own CD-ROM game and a playground at the Sesame Place theme park. “Monster Clubhouse” follows a quartet of fun-loving monsters hanging out and acting silly. This year, “Monster Clubhouse” and “Baby Bear” become regular recurring segments. New Segment Debut: Last year, we got a peek inside the Monster Clubhouse and saw Baby Bear draw a superhero named Hero Guy. Here’s a guy who could be doing any number of things with his time, but he consistently chooses to help silly Muppets. And in another episode, he agrees to duckie-sit Ernie’s Rubber Duckie. MVH (Most Valuable Human): Gordon does his best to comfort Big Bird in the aftermath of the hurricane. There’s something comforting about seeing Jerry Nelson’s characters on the street after all these years. MVM (Most Valuable Muppet): Mumford shows up a few times to bring some magic to a street that does not yet count Abby Cadabby among its residents. This version of the elephant wouldn’t get a proper name for a few more seasons, but there’s a segment this season where Big Bird imagines an elephant dancing in a tutu, and that right there is the origin of Horatio Elephant, one of the weirdest, funniest latter-day Sesame Muppets. But this seasons sees him used more often, and marks the dawn of Joey Mazzarino’s extremely energetic take on the character. Notable Character Debut: Sesame Street’ s semi-lifelike elephant Muppet had been seen before, in such segments as the “Elephant Elevator Operator” song. And they didn’t even have to call their Granny Birds for advice! The creators, cast and crew of Sesame Street did a fine job putting these episodes together. It’s so easy to imagine preschoolers watching the hurricane story and identifying with Big Bird - or to imagine parents watching with their kids and using it to help those kids sort through their feelings after a disaster or any other upsetting life-changing event. Kids are irrational, and they whine all the time, and they want adults to do everything for them. Of course, Big Bird’s behavior in these episodes is just like a real kid’s. Big Bird continues to just watch, for the most part. It’s a good thing his friends don’t have anything better to do! Fortunately, Granny Bird is just a phone call away, and she provides crucial instructions on how to build a nest: “Get twigs.” So that’s what they do! Mostly the humans. He still wants his friends to rebuild his nest for him. You’d think he’d be happy and grateful, but nope. ![]() The mailbox is back up, the phone is fixed, the alphabet sign is on the wall again. Maybe it would go a little faster if he actually pitched in?Īfter everyone’s hard work, Big Bird’s home looks perfect. Throughout all this, the grown-ups work to restore Big Bird’s home to its pre-hurricane glory, while Big Bird barely lifts a finger to help. And they encourage him to talk about his plethora of feelings, to draw a picture of his nest, and to reminisce about the good times he spent there. But Gordon and the other grown-ups are quick to reassure Big Bird that things will be all right soon. They don’t shy away from showing how shocked Big Bird is when he sees the wreckage, and they even have Gordon agree that things are not all right. I’m no child psychologist, but it seems to me the Sesame people do everything right. (Or as Big Bird says, “My nest, my home! My nest, my home! My nest, my home…”) ![]() Then the majority of the multi-parter focuses on Big Bird reacting to the destruction of his nest, and his entire home. The first episode is about everyone on the street battening down the hatches in preparation of the storm a-comin’ - with the storm’s approach reported by Al Roker and Kermit the Frog, a rare presence on Sesame Street these days. We don’t see much of the actual hurricane, perhaps because ambitious natural disaster shots weren’t in the budget. It’s not the first time the show has told a tale over multiple installments, but it’s clear the producers want us to know these are Very Special Episodes. ![]() There’s a hurricane on Sesame Street, and it’s such a big deal that the story unfolds over not one, not three, but five different episodes. Season 32 is full of fun episodes about the usual goings-on on the street, but it’s most notable for a season-concluding story that finds our TV friends in a decidedly unusual scenario. And now here we are revisiting it as a season from Sesame Street‘s past. ![]() Here’s something interesting: This season has been covered on this website before, by Tough Pigs founder Danny Horn way back in 2001, for his “ My Week with Sesame Street” series, when these episodes were relatively new. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |