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Here’s to a happy, happy 40th birthday for Se

By Mark Harrison
The Times-Journal

Published November 9, 2009

I’m not too proud to admit it – I’m humming the theme song even as I write this and, in about a paragraph from now you’ll likely be humming it, too.

Let me put it right on into your brain, “Come and play, everything’s A-Okay. Can you tell me how to get, how to get to Sesame Street?”

You’re welcome.

For those who don’t already know, today marks a milestone anniversary for the educational PBS children’s show, explaining why those Sesame Street themed doodles have been showing up on our Google search engines.

Sesame Street premiered on Nov. 10, 1969. So, that makes today Big Bird’s 40th birthday.

Today, Sesame Street is the longest running children’s program on television and the standard bearer for countless imitators. But, when it first premiered back in the late 60s, the idea of using television as an educational tool for children was still considered a radical idea.

In one sense, it’s difficult to believe the show has been on the air for 40 years, now. But, in another sense, it seems as though it’s been around even longer – and, for some of us, of a certain age, it’s impossible to recall a childhood without the presence of Big Bird, Bert and Ernie, Cookie Monster, Oscar the Grouch and countless other Sesame Street characters.

They helped to teach us the alphabet, how to count, about diversity, even how to speak a few words in Spanish – and, beyond all that, they taught us important life lessons without us even realizing we were learning.

I haven’t actually watched the show in eons, since well before the Elmo days, obviously - but it might be worth setting the Tivo to record any the anniversary episode, just for the purpose of nostalgia. That show apparently kicks off a new season with episode 4187 (which features the letter H and, of course, the number 40).

According to news reports, there’s trouble brewing on everyone’s favorite street, however. Rumor has it Big Bird has decided to leave Sesame Street after a rapping real estate agent pitches the big, yellow fellow on migrating to a new habitat (habitat, that would be today’s word, boys and girls). Yes, it seems Big Bird, in the midst of mid-life crisis, starts sizing up his relocation options – finally settling on a rain forest after dismissing the beach and swamp, respectively.

However, highly placed sources say he does come to his senses in the end (with help from an appropriately placed musical number) and decides to stay where he belongs.

That’s good news for Sesame Street kids of all ages, because the slightly tattered New York strip just wouldn’t be quite the same without him. Here’s to 40 more years.

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