A spate of new late-night talk shows have cropped up, each vying to be the wittiest, book the funniest guests, and showcase the hottest musical acts. As more stand-up comedians like George Lopez and Wanda Sykes come out with a new spin on the old format, veterans like Saturday Night Live and The Jay Leno Show try their hardest to stay current. Yet moms like me know there is one show that offers sharp-witted satire, A-list guests, and original songs with a familiar melody, all without having to stay up past bedtime.
Sesame Street recently turned 40, but the quality of the show remains unparalleled. The humor is gentle but the pop culture parodies are still sharper than SNL’s. By now, everyone’s heard of the “POX News” joke that drew the ire of conservatives and drew accusations that Sesame Street has a camouflaged liberal agenda. But those who watch on a regular basis can tell you that the Muppets have a habit of skewering whatever adults are watching.
In a recent episode, puppets in suits and fedoras gathered in a boardroom to discuss their reactions to ad campaigns, led by none other than Don Draper. “How does this make you feel?” he asked, gesturing to a painting. “That makes me mad. Mad, mad, mad. We’re mad men!” answered his colleagues, shaking with the puppet equivalent of rage. The Mad Men sketch went on to teach more emotions and drop in the word sycophant, a word late night wouldn’t dare to utter, unless it is accompanied by a blank stare during Leno’s “Jaywalking” segment. The Street offers a kind of whimsy you can’t get from adult programming, along with razor sharp satire that is becoming harder to find on the grown-up shows.
The list of musical guests reads like a producer’s dream, as new and old artists alike sing their hearts out with Muppets as backup singers. Everyone from Smokey Robinson to Destiny’s Child have appeared, usually singing a slightly tweaked version of their own hits. Just last year, Fiest took a walk with some monsters while singing (what else?) “1, 2, 3, 4”. Okay, so sometimes the joke is obvious. All the same, I defy anyone not to laugh when Elmo introduces “my good friend, Mr. LL Cool J.” The kids get exposed to a cross-section of pop music, which saves mom from going nuts listening to Raffi for the umpteenth time. Sometimes, the Sesame version is even better than the original. Who hasn’t found themselves singing “Furry Happy Monsters” instead of the grown-up words?
Article comments
1 - Ryan
Elmo would never say "MY good friend LL Cool J!" He would say "Elmo's good friend LL Cool J!" Also, I'm really dorky!
2 - msamaroo
I promise you, I watched it while I was researching this post, and that's what I heard. If I hadnt heard it with my own two ears, I'd totally think the same. Thanks for reading and commenting. PS-Dorks rule!