Sesame Street: 20 Years...and Still Counting DVD Review

Sesame Street: 20 Years...and Still Counting!

DVD Review

Ryan Dosier - It's another month, and that means another exciting DVD release from Lionsgate that spans the history of The Jim Henson Company. We've had The Song of the Cloud Forest, The Animal Show, and Dog City: The Movie. This month, we get Sesame Street: 20 Years...and Still Counting, the fantastic 1989 TV special hosted by Bill Cosby that showcases everything that had made Sesame Street fantastic for the 20 years leading up to this special.

I'll come right out and say that this is my favorite Sesame Street anniversary special ever (followed closely behind by Elmopalooza!), so my review will probably reflect that. Everything about this special works brilliantly. From Bill Cosby asking Big Bird why he's still six after 20 years on TV, to Placido Flamingo meeting and singing with his namesake, Placido Domingo, this special is awesome at every turn.

My favorite part of the special is when Bob, Susan, and Gordon sit around a counter and talk, as Bob McGrath, Loretta Long, and Roscoe Orman, about the show. This is where we get Susan saying, "Well, I'm up for 20 more years, how about you guys?" which is eerie since they all stuck it out for 20 more years.

I'm thrilled to note that the special is entirely uncut. Kermit the Frog remains to ask folks the Question of the Day ("Can you tell me how to get to Sesame Street?"), The Count continues counting the commercial breaks, even though there aren't any on the DVD, and, probably most exciting of all, the original introduction by Jim Henson and Kermit the Frog remains entirely intact and is just as awesome as you'd expect.

In the way of bonus features, there are virtually none. There aren't even trailers for Lionsgate's other DVD releases, which is also odd. There is a fully-functional DVD menu that features rotating clips from the show, a chapter selection menu, and a set-up menu. Beyond that, this is a strictly bare-bones release, which is the only thing holding it back from a 5-Fozzie rating. I'm wondering if maybe there were legality issues between Lionsgate, Sesame Workshop, and The Muppets Studio that prevented any further bonus features from being added.

Even though there's nothing to the DVD beyond the special, it's still a DVD that all Muppet fans must own. This is the best Sesame Street special that has been produced and it contains countless priceless moments. Elmo and Bill Cosby discuss the show's curriculum ("What curriculum mean?"), Jim Henson and Joan Ganz Cooney discuss the show's success, and the whole cast sings the best version of "Sing" you'll ever find.

This is an amazing instance of all three of the big Muppet-divisions; The Muppets Studio, Sesame Workshop, and The Jim Henson Company; working together and putting aside legality issues to release a fantastic DVD. Here's hoping this could mean big things (*cough* Muppet Family Christmas *cough*) in the near future!

This DVD is not supposed to be released until next Tuesday, July 13th, but I was lucky enough to find it released early at my Wal-Mart store, so it might be worth checking it out now to see if your Wal-Mart made the same mistake. The DVD was only $10.00 at Wal-Mart, making this an even more fantastic deal.

The Muppet Mindset by Ryan Dosier

Weekly Muppet Wednesdays: Don Music

 Today's Weekly Muppet Wednesday article is written by Michael Wermuth, Jr.

DON MUSIC

Performer...

Richard Hunt (1974-1992)

First Appearance..

Sesame Street, approximately season 6 (1975)

Most Recent Appearance...

Sesame Street, approximately season 22 (1991)

Best known role...
The original "head-banger" (on his piano), lyrics changer, migraine haver (probably) 

Famous quote...

“Oh, I’ll never get it right! Never!”

WHO IS DON MUSIC?

Don Music is the stressed-out piano player and songwriter on Sesame Street. He often tries to write songs, and whenever he gets stuck on a line, he expresses his frustration by banging his head on his piano. After getting help from somebody (usually Kermit the Frog), he succeeds in writing his song and gets joined by back-up singers (usually Little Chrissy and the Alphabeats) who not only show up from seemingly out of nowhere, but also manage to sing an additional verse on the spot. 

DON MUSIC SONGS

• Mary Had a Bicycle (parody of Mary Had a Little Lamb)
• Yankee Doodle (parody of Yankee Doodle)
• Whistle, Whistle, Little Bird (parody of Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star)
• The Alphabet Song
• Old MacDonald Had a Farm
• Drive, Drive, Drive Your Car (parody of Row, Row, Row Your Boat)
• How to Get to Yellowstone Park (parody of the Sesame Street Theme)
• Beginning, Middle, End
• Mary Had a Little Duck/Cow (parody of Mary Had a Little Lamb)
• Hooper’s Store grand re-opening song

MEMORABLE DON MUSIC MOMENTS

Don Music has appeared in many "Sesame Street News" segments, and many of these segments follow the same basic format: Don starts by singing a familiar song only to be unable to find a suitable final word, banging his head in frustration. Kermit provides a word to end the line with but Don notes that it either doesn’t rhyme or make sense with the previous line, so Kermit offers a number of changes to each previous line until Don is satisfied with the results.

But some of the sketches vary a bit in format. When trying to write “Row Your Boat” it is actually Kermit who keeps pointing out lines that don’t rhyme or make sense, while Don comes up with most of the replacement lines. When writing “The Alphabet Song” the finished product is actually the actual song as opposed to a parody, and most of the help comes from various passer-bys who say words that sound like various letters of the alphabet.

But Don Music is not exclusive to the Sesame Street News segments. He once appeared as a contestant on Guy Smiley’s game show “Mystery Guest," where he incorrectly guessed the segment’s mystery guest.

Don also portrayed the role of Thomas Jefferson in an “American Revolution” sketch, in which he has to write the Declaration of Independence, but is unable to because his quill has broken. Grover helps find him a quill, but not before providing a few things that rhyme with “quill.”

Don also makes a few cameos in Sesame Street: 20 and Still Counting. In one such cameo, he pushes a piano down a live city street while Kermit is trying to ask somebody the question of the day (“Can you tell me how to get to Sesame Street?”). Don’s answer is “Practice!” (which Kermit dismisses, as that’s the way to Carnegie Hall).

WHY DOES SESAME STREET NEED DON MUSIC?

Although he was taken off the show because kids were imitating his habit of banging his head on the piano, Don Music can be seen as a good influence just as much as he can be seen as a bad influence. Don shows that you can succeed if you keep trying (even if you keep needing help). Of course he probably also gives kids the false reality that completing  a song will automatically provide you with back-up singers.

The Muppet Mindset by Ryan Dosier

Muppet Comic Mondays: The Muppet Show Comic Book #7 - Family Reunion

The Muppet Show Comic Book #7

Family Reunion

Written by Roger Langridge

Illustrated by Amy Mebberson 

 

James Gannon - Odd timing with this issue. Not even a month after issue #6 and already we get issue #7 of The Muppet Show Comic Book, part four of "Family Reunion." This being the fourth story arc, it seems that there are two types of arcs in this series so far. One that has a unifying theme throughout the arc, but each issue is a different story line (see: "Meet the Muppets" and "On the Road") and one that has a common theme, but has multiple recurring elements throughout the arc ("Treasure of Peg Leg Wilson"). "Family Reunion" felt like the in-between point of both types, as Skeeter was a recurring element and plotline, but everything else was episodic, having characters deal with their own matters of the Family. This issue it's Fozzie’s turn.

Fozzie gets an unexpected visit from his mother, and he’s nervous about how various lies about his success unravel right before her eyes. Not to mention the fact that she’s clearly trying to fix him up with an old childhood friend. And so, Fozzie pulls Skeeter down into his well meaning web of deceit. Not only does Skeeter become his girlfriend, but also master detective Wormwood Soams. After all, who wants their parents to find out how bad a comedian they really are (trying hard not to reference Dane Cook in this review)?

We all know Fozzie’s mother quite well from Muppet Family Christmas and The Muppets go to Walt Disney World, and Fozzie had no problem with his mother seeing his act on The Muppet Show that one time. But continuity is NOT what this comic (or the Muppets themselves) are about. It’s a very sweet story, perfectly Muppety, and a very deep character study on Fozzie’s part. That’s the best thing about these comics, they have all had very character driven story lines.

This issue is a strange animal. There are less and shorter Muppet Show sketches than in most other issues making room for a lot more story and the first sketch didn’t even happen. Instead, we have Fozzie’s fantasy sequence about being Wormwood Soams’s assistant. I’m not gonna lie to you, the detective DOES bear a bare resemblance to his Sesame Street counterpart, at least in the shape of the head. It almost seems like this segment and even the two covers are holdovers from the proposed “Guest Stars” arc (hence the parody name, even though a more human looking Sherlock on cover A). Not to mention Fozzie IS going to play Watson in Muppet Sherlock Homes, due after Muppet Snow White is done. However, if Wormwood is really a guy, I’m wondering why Emily Bear never questioned the fact that he’s a she when they meet. And other than a short “Pigs in Space” and “Rowlf’s Poetry Corner”, the sketches all focus on Fozzie. Especially the closing number, “Baron Munchfozzie,” which, at the risk of sounding ignorant, I didn’t quite get. I never saw the Monty Python related film nor read the original story. Dude’s a liar like Commander McBragg, right?

At this point, I have to also mention the fact that Skeeter was never mentioned by name in the past three issues (I’m not saying if she is or not, and what she really does… that’s for YOU to find out) seemed like the ultimate joke. Now, it was the general consensus of the fan base (and this reviewer) that there was some odd provisions of her appearance that she couldn’t be mentioned by name, maybe at the suggestion of someone at Muppets Studio. After all, the Statler and Waldorf gods playing their game suggested that this may or may not be happening. But after reading this issue, I came to this conclusion… Roger was teasing us the whole time since there was no reason or call for Skeeter’s name to not be mentioned. After all, Disney owns that too.  Touché, Roger. Well done.

How does this rank with the other arcs? Without a doubt my favorite, followed closely by Peg Leg Wilson. Skeeter being the glue holding the arc together, while Andy, Randy, Cousin Mo, and Emily Bear just so happened to visit during her stay. If it wasn’t all a game, I’d suspect that it’s an odd coincidence. As I said in the other reviews, something about Roger only doing the writing seemed to make it more focused and sharper than normal. Amy’s artwork is a lot more cartoonishly animated in this series than in Muppet Peter Pan, which had a more Disney animated feature look to it. Of course, when most of the gags are cartoony, that kind of style is the way to go. That said, I’m looking forward to seeing Roger’s artwork again in the next arc. It is nice to have a change of artist every so often, but I like his style as much as all of the other artists. He really manages to give Gonzo and Animal a very manic look in their eyes. Now we just have to sit back and wait for Monster Mash.

 


 The Muppet Mindset by Ryan Dosier

Happy 4th of July!

It's the 4th of July, America's birthday, American Independence Day, Exploding Christmas... and what better way to celebrate than with America's favorite eagle (or at least the eagle's favorite America), Sam the American Eagle.





Happy America Day, everybody! Go do your patriotic duty and blow something up.

The Muppet Mindset by Ryan Dosier

New Muppets Video: Pöpcørn

The Muppets Studio is at it again! This time, the Swedish Chef takes a starring role as he attempts to make popcorn--with hilariously musical results. Sounds like a great Muppet Show sketch, yeah? Well... it's pretty darn close to one. Check it out for yourself!



Didn't you love it? I know I did. Now... for an added element of hilarity, go back and watch it again, only this time turn on YouTube's closed captioning. Give it about a minute and you'll be rolling on the floor laughing once again (except you'll want to get up from the floor, so you can read the rest of the captions). Congratulations to The Muppets Studio on another fantastic video!

The Muppet Mindset by Ryan Dosier

News Update: July 2, 2010

NEWS UPDATE: July 2, 2010

Warner Bros. Games, in association with Sesame Street and Sesame Workshop, announced a few weeks ago that they would be releasing video games starring the Sesame Street characters. The first game, "Cookie's Counting Carnival" stars Cookie Monster and the second, "Elmo's A-to-Zoo Adventure" stars Elmo. Each game is available on the Nintendo Wii, the Nintendo DS, and the PC. The Wii versions of the games come packaged with a special Cookie Monster or Elmo Wii-Remote cover that hides many of the buttons to make the game-play easier for young children. The intended audience for these games appears to be very young, but as more information is released perhaps we'll find something enjoyable for older fans as well.

A Muppet fan, pseudonym "Bruce Wayne," has posted a YouTube video and a Flickr album chock-full of behind-the-scenes photos from the set of The Muppet Movie. It's an amazing look behind the cameras of the incredibly ornate sets of the film. From Kermit's Swamp to Rowlf's piano bar, the photos here will not disappoint!

Everyone's favorite furry red monster, Elmo, has taken over the UK. Well... UK TV at least. For the past few days, Elmo has been co-hosting This Morning, a morning TV show in the UK. And, as the video posted on his Facebook page shows, he wreaked some hilarious havoc in London. But wait, there's more, Elmo also performed an impromptu, a capella performance of some Beyonce and Alicia Keys while being interviewed on the set. Funny... he doesn't even have a British accent!

The Muppet Mindset by Ryan Dosier

New Video on Muppets.com!

For the first time in quite awhile, a new video has been uploaded to the official Muppets website, www.muppets.com. The video features Kermit and Fozzie as the interact with "Skeep," a Muppet Whatnot from FAO Schwarz, whose performer was the winner of the Muppet Whatnot Fan Experience contest held a few months ago. It's a fun video and it's always great to see Muppet fans working with Muppets. (Have we ever seen that before?)

It's a fun little video, but unfortunately only available in the United States. Fear not, international fans, for it's not nearly as good as the Muppet YouTube videos we all love (and can all see).

If you're in the United States, head over to www.muppets.com now and check out the new video for yourself!

The Muppet Mindset by Ryan Dosier