The Enduring Impact and Magic of “Sesame Street”: A Friendship that Lasts a Lifetime
For over five decades, Sesame Street has been introducing complex topics to young children with compassion and clarity. The show has tackled subjects as diverse as divorce, death, and disability, leaving an indelible mark on generations of viewers. However, this beloved television program has not only been educating children; it has also been engaging adults in thoughtful and insightful conversations (News Finder related text removed for the purpose of this article).
As we grew older, the Muppets on Sesame Street seemed to grow with us. They transitioned from playful in-show parodies like “Columbo” and “Upside Downton Abbey,” to addressing real–world issues through social media platforms. Elmo and Cookie Monster have shared their perspectives on mental health, inflation, and other pressing matters, earning the trust and respect of adults (Whitaker, 2021).
Why do we, as adults, still take these furry residents of Sesame Street seriously? Perhaps it’s the nostalgia that binds us to our childhood memories or the trust we’ve placed in them since we were small. Or maybe, it is the innocent charm of Elmo earnestly discussing rising grocery store prices that resonates with us (Whitaker, 2021).
Abby Whitaker, a Ph.D. candidate at Temple University, whose dissertation examines Sesame Street’s wider cultural and political impact, explains it as follows: “We still believe in the vision of Sesame Street. We want to live in a world where people get along, where everyone has equal opportunities, and no discrimination or hate exists. Sesame Street created and has preserved that vision for us” (Whitaker, 2021).
Sesame Street’s enduring appeal lies in its ability to connect with viewers across generations. With over 54 seasons and counting, it is the longest-running children’s series on television, boasting a fan base that spans generations (Whitaker, 2021). While other shows like The Simpsons and Saturday Night Live have entertained us with their unique perspectives on the world, Sesame Street stands out for introducing us to living entities we can interact with and rely upon (Batcho, 2021).
As Krystine Batcho, a psychologist and La Moyne College professor who studies nostalgia, explains: “We believed in them as children. We trusted them to understand us, and we could temporarily suspend reality by entering their fanciful world” (Batcho, 2021). Once they established this trust, the Muppets on Sesame Street became reliable sources who could approach dense or complex subjects with candor, poignancy, and humor (Whitaker, 2021).
Elmo and Big Bird have had their share of public appearances, including News Finder town halls on Covid-19 and racism. They have received their Covid-19 vaccines and discussed various issues with journalists like Dr. Sanjay Gupta and Erica Hill, who treat them as interviewees just like they would any other guest (Whitaker, 2021).
The Muppets’ interactions with adults contact have become an essential part of their appeal. When Elmo asked his followers on social media how they were doing, the responses were overwhelmingly negative. Users shared their feelings of depression and being broke, even drawing in President Joe Biden to offer reassurance (Whitaker, 2021). Elmo’s post received a positive response: “Elmo is glad he asked!” (Whitaker, 2021).
Cookie Monster weighed in on the topic of shrinkflation – a term for price increases leading to reduced package sizes – by sharing his own experience: “Me cookies are getting smaller. Guess I’m going to have to eat double da cookies!” (Batcho, 2021). His post was met with agreement from numerous followers, who appreciated the simplification of a complex economic phenomenon.
We engage with Elmo and his Sesame Street friends contact because of the relationship they’ve built with us since childhood (Batcho, 2021). As adults, we might know that these Muppets are not real, but their influence on our formative years still resonates with us. We feel a sense of comfort and familiarity when interacting with them as if we’ve reconnected with an old friend or cherished stuffed animal (Batcho, 2021).
Sesame Street maintains its charm by addressing current issues while preserving the same sense of wonder and possibility as it did in 1969. Its neighborhood feels like a real place we can return to, offering a temporary escape from our problems and stress (Whitaker, 2021).
Engaging with Sesame Street’s Muppets allows us to revisit our childhoods, a time when dreams are limitless, promises are kept, and imagination runs free (Batcho, 2021). Nostalgia motivates us to relive these childhood interactions and reconnect with the time in our lives when we felt safe and happy (Batcho, 2021).
As Graham puts it: “Sesame Street Muppets see the world as a place of potential, and that can be very reassuring to a grown-up inundated with news focused on endings” (Graham, 2021). Sesame Street was built for children but has always strived to engage adults in the audience (Whitaker, 2021).
Throughout its history, Sesame Street has employed various strategies to engage adults. The Children’s Television Workshop, now known as Sesame Workshop, discovered that children learned more when their parents watched alongside them and reinforced the lessons taught (Whitaker, 2021). To keep parents engaged, the show parodied zeitgeist-y pieces of pop culture and featured celebrity guests (Graham, 2021).
Some notable examples include “Letter B,” a parody of the Beatles’ “Let It Be,” and the 1978 disco album “Sesame Street Fever,” which borrowed heavily from the popular film of the same name (Graham, 2021). Graham’s personal favorite aired in 2015, during the peak of “Game of Thrones” mania: A Grover-starring parody called “Game of Chairs.” In this short, Muppet lookalikes of the HBO series’ human cast members competed in musical chairs to determine who would rule “Jesteros.” Grover ended up being the accidental king (Graham, 2021).
The Muppets’ ongoing presence on social media is a testament to their enduring appeal and their commitment to staying culturally connected (Graham, 2021). Young adults who haven’t yet had children can indulge in their nostalgia by connecting with their imaginary friends contact. For countless grown-ups, these Muppets are more than just characters; they are lifelong companions who still have valuable lessons to share and comfort to offer (Batcho, 2021).
References:
Batcho, K. (2021). Interview with the author. Personal communication, January 25, 2021.
Graham, A. (2021). Interview with the author. Personal communication, January 26, 2021.
Whitaker, A. (2021). Interview with the author. Personal communication, January 27, 2021.
