News
Bloggers spark media controversy around Sesame Street anniversary
Sesame Street celebrates its 40th anniversary this month, but to complement the birthday cake, a conservative blogger has sparked a storm of controversy around what has become a household name in children’s television programming. Three generations have grown up watching Sesame Street in the United States, Canada and in parts of Europe, but a prominent blogger known as “Stage Right” believes that the show and its producer—PBS—has an overt left-wing bias. This might be less of a problem if Sesame Street was produced by a private network, but PBS receives government, tax-payer subsidies.
The conservative blogger’s irritation with Sesame Street centres around Oscar the Grouch–the furry, green creature with bushy eyebrows, who the Christian Science Monitor suggests in a sarcastic tongue-and-cheek manner might just distributing left-wing propaganda to children, as well as “laughs, joy and communism.”
The blogging controversy erupted when Sesame Street’s producers recently aired a show, in which Oscar the Grouch launches a television news programme called GNN. On the show, one of the other muppets points out that the show should be much grouchier, and until it is, she will switch to Oscar’s main rival, POX News.
Those who watch American television picked up the reference to CNN and the right-leaning, pro-Republican Fox News very quickly. To make matters worse, Sesame Street seemed to go political, when the muppet refers to POX News as “trashy.”
Stage Right observed in his blog that it is unacceptable if a children’s programme that receives funds from the public purse starts politicizing. The avid blogger noted that Fox is the most popular news network in the US and as such, what would happen if children who have been told by Sesame Street that the station is “trashy” see their mothers and fathers watching these shows?
Of course, not everyone in the Blogosphere agrees with Stage Right. In fact, prominent left-centre blogger Susie Madrak pocked fun at her blogging colleague for getting upset over some so trivial as a Sesame Street skit.
November 5th, 2009
Right-leaning, pro-Republican? Do you actually watch Fox? I’ve seen Bill O’Reilly lay into Republicans and the Fox news team go after Republicans in their stories. You’re just spreading a stereotype.
As for Sesame Street, it’s a pretty irrelevant show in any case, especially when it comes to actually educating kids about anything. All it really does is teach kids to watch TV at a very early age. I don’t think anyone should get their shorts in a twist over something a very dated, ultimately ineffective so-called educational kids’ program says or does. Such fussing just comes off looking silly.
November 5th, 2009
As far as public funds financing Sesame Street’s “political programming”, what about PBS funding the ravings of the religious-right Repulsivecans? I believe in the separation of Church and State. Sesame Street basically molds little consumeristic capitalists to buy Elmo dolls.
November 6th, 2009
“POX” and “GNN” thats awesome!!
November 6th, 2009
I think the writers are just running out of things to say or it is just a cheap attempt to try and regain all the lost viewers who are now all about Dora or bob the builder or whatever new show comes out. Sesame street, let’s remember, is for young children who should be watching mildly stimulating t.v. It was never meant to hold the attention of adults nor should the dialogue. The cookie monster should continue to eat however many cookies he wants, the Count should keep counting and Bert and Ernie, as far as I was concerned when I was young, were simply buddies or roommates. Leave the show alone and leave it for the kids. For the most part, I don’t remember sesame street that much, neither will the 5 – under age group they should be targeting.
November 7th, 2009
You’d think with as much crapola is in the news you’d have something better to bitch about than what Oscar the Grouch is doing on Sesame Street. Have you taken a look at the ‘childrens’ programing that’s on TV these days? Sponge Bob, Yu-gi-oh, Pokemon.. just about anything that’s aired on Nickelodeon or Fox. As a mother of 6 kids, I highly doubt that a 3 yr old is going to associate GNN/POX with anything their parents are doing.
November 9th, 2009
I cannot believe this is “controversy.” The skit involved Oscar the Grouch (Oscar the GROUCH!!!! He lives in a trash can!!!) reporting for GNN (Garbage News Network). In this context, a viewer wants to switch to Pox News. Get it?
This is not political indoctrination. It’s a play on words!
It is deeply disturbing that any adult could be so DUMB and so MORONIC to not get this obvious joke.
This is utter foolishness, anyone who is outraged should be ashamed of themselves.
Go back to school, fool!
November 10th, 2009
I am now 50 years young. I just wanted to put in my 2 cents to congratulate “Sesame Street: on celebrating its 40th anniversary. I grew up with the famous “Big Bird, Bert and Ernie, Oscar the Grouch” and most of the cast that were there and are now in movies or soap operas. Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, thank you for being a part of my life and I wish you make many lives enriched with your laughter and wit in teaching the alphabet or helping with number recognition. I thank you immensely again and good luck.
November 11th, 2009
To “Linda Carter” who wrote, “Sesame Street basically molds little consumeristic capitalists to buy Elmo dolls” — REALLY? Have you watched Dora, Bob the Builder, the Backyardigans, or ANY other children’s show lately? Noticed any commercials during those shows? I suppose those are all for things that kids really need — you know, Happy Meals, Fruit Loops, Barbie dolls, etc. — as opposed to capitalistic goods. Hmmmm. Oh, and exactly how many commercials have you seen aired during Sesame Street?
November 17th, 2009
Oh Wow This absolutely unnecessary. we all know that children who watch sesame street worry about politics. Children watch this show because they enjoy it. sesame street is a helpful tool for these children to learn so those parents who are against sesame street, really need to lighten up because you are making a big deal out of nothing. Let Kids Be Kids!!! And Let Sesame Street help kids be Kids by writing their shows they have already been. This is NOT controversy…
November 17th, 2009
To Superman: No, Sesame Street does not air commercials, but they market licensed: toys of each and every character, bedding, dishes, clothing, etc. They do create a market for consumer goods. ALL children’s programming markets child specific products and they have since the 1900’s with the advent of comics and cartoons. Hell, I just bought my two year old great nephew a talking Elmo potty chair and he’s training fast. LOL Sits on the pot and talks to Elmo in three languages. That’s not a bad thing. I wasn’t criticizing Sesame Street, but the marketing is ubiquitous. Buy me, buy me!!!
January 16th, 2010
I really don’t agree with Sesame Street nowadays. It was the trend up until the mid-1990s. Today’s generation don’t seem to care about Big Bird, Bert and Ernie, and even Elmo nowadays. Not to mention many of the earlier episodes were doing nothing but stimulating obsession in kids born in the 1970s up to the 1990s. I am 37, and I do admit I was addicted to the show and watched it religiously because of certain segments that could pop up anytime. Because it was causing problems with my behaviour (and being autistic on top of that), my mother banned the show in October 1984, and my right to watch the show remains in Oscar The Grouch’s garbage can to this very day (pun intended). But from what I remember, kids today are seeking interest in computers and Nickelodeon shows for kids, thus causing lower ratings, and I wouldn’t be one bit surprised if Sesame Street gets cancelled later in the 2010s. And when it gets cancelled, I bet mothers who are so against the show will rejoice and set off fireworks. Fireworks to celebrate the end of 40+ years of stimulating behaviour problems in children. And then, you people will see an improvement in child’s behaviour from that moment forward.