Snort Notes – November 2009
PBS TELEVISON SHOW SESAME STREET TURNS 40
Public Broadcasting System’s Sesame Street – an educational show aimed at young children — celebrated the anniversary of its premiere on November 11, 1969. The show is legendary in its impact on the American cultural landscape. Not only has it taught and entertained a generation of children, but it has survived to become a bedrock of public television.
This time, 10 years ago, the outlook wasn’t very optimistic that public television would survive into the next century. A conservative rebellion in Congress, led by Newt Gingrich, almost zeroed out funding for public television. They argued that federal funding was no longer needed for an alternative to big business network television, since cable outlets like The Learning Channel and the Discovery Channel were providing the same service as PBS. In reality, Congress wanted to eliminate public television because of its perceived liberal biases.
In the end, cooler heads prevailed. Gingrich and company failed because they couldn’t convince people that Bert and Ernie were part of an “alphabetical agenda” (after all, they do sleep in separate beds), let alone demonstrate liberal bias within PBS. Since then, someone invented the Fox News Network, and now everyone is happy.
The big winners in Sesame Street’s endurance have been America’s schoolchildren, and Carroll Spinney, who has portrayed Big Bird since the beginning. Imagine working for 40 years inside a large, yellow, feathered costume. Hey, it’s nice work if you can get it!
Congratulations to Sesame Street, and may it continue for many years to come!
VATICAN WELCOMES MARRIED ANGLICAN PRIESTS INTO THE CHURCH, BUT REITERATES ITS OPPOSITION TO PRIESTS GETTING MARRIED
Sorry, padres, but it looks like the fact-finding sojourn to the Grotto at the Playboy Mansion West will be cancelled...again!
A CHRISTMAS CAROL, STARRING JIM CARREY, DOES BOFFO BOX OFFICE IN ITS OPENING WEEKEND
The latest version of the Charles Dickens classic is a CGI-laden, slapsticky work from the Disney Studios. More than one critic noted that, yes, it was visually interesting, but it lacked the spirit of the story. Once again, the kids — and/or their parents — didn’t pay any mind to the critics. The film did $31 million in its opening weekend.
As for me, give me Alastair Sim, or give me death! On second thought, don’t take me literally.
(Thank you for reading. Please remember that the tall yellow bird may talk like a small child, but he is wise beyond his years.)
Public Broadcasting System’s Sesame Street – an educational show aimed at young children — celebrated the anniversary of its premiere on November 11, 1969. The show is legendary in its impact on the American cultural landscape. Not only has it taught and entertained a generation of children, but it has survived to become a bedrock of public television.
This time, 10 years ago, the outlook wasn’t very optimistic that public television would survive into the next century. A conservative rebellion in Congress, led by Newt Gingrich, almost zeroed out funding for public television. They argued that federal funding was no longer needed for an alternative to big business network television, since cable outlets like The Learning Channel and the Discovery Channel were providing the same service as PBS. In reality, Congress wanted to eliminate public television because of its perceived liberal biases.
In the end, cooler heads prevailed. Gingrich and company failed because they couldn’t convince people that Bert and Ernie were part of an “alphabetical agenda” (after all, they do sleep in separate beds), let alone demonstrate liberal bias within PBS. Since then, someone invented the Fox News Network, and now everyone is happy.
The big winners in Sesame Street’s endurance have been America’s schoolchildren, and Carroll Spinney, who has portrayed Big Bird since the beginning. Imagine working for 40 years inside a large, yellow, feathered costume. Hey, it’s nice work if you can get it!
Congratulations to Sesame Street, and may it continue for many years to come!
VATICAN WELCOMES MARRIED ANGLICAN PRIESTS INTO THE CHURCH, BUT REITERATES ITS OPPOSITION TO PRIESTS GETTING MARRIED
Sorry, padres, but it looks like the fact-finding sojourn to the Grotto at the Playboy Mansion West will be cancelled...again!
A CHRISTMAS CAROL, STARRING JIM CARREY, DOES BOFFO BOX OFFICE IN ITS OPENING WEEKEND
The latest version of the Charles Dickens classic is a CGI-laden, slapsticky work from the Disney Studios. More than one critic noted that, yes, it was visually interesting, but it lacked the spirit of the story. Once again, the kids — and/or their parents — didn’t pay any mind to the critics. The film did $31 million in its opening weekend.
As for me, give me Alastair Sim, or give me death! On second thought, don’t take me literally.
(Thank you for reading. Please remember that the tall yellow bird may talk like a small child, but he is wise beyond his years.)
posted by todd gunther | 6:10 AM
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