#A Special Sesame Street Christmas

[gifs-of-puppets]

A Special Sesame Street Christmas (1978)

[muppetydyke]

Muppets Mainstage, December 25th, 2023

“The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire)” was written by Mel Tormé and Robert Wells in 1945. It was made famous after it was recorded by the Nat King Cole trio the next year. 

In the 1987 special, A Muppet Family Christmas, Big Bird (Carol Spinney) and the Swedish Chef (Jim Henson) sing this song. They sing together after Big Bird gives Swedish Chef a gift, using kindness and the spirit of the Christmas to (accidentally since he didn’t know the plan) convince the Chef not to cook him for dinner.

[aaronsworkspace]

Obscure Christmas Special recommendations

Christmas is almost here but I still thought I’d share some fun things to watch during the holiday. Most of these are surrounded by my hyperfixatjons so a lot of animated/puppetry content. And are in no particular order

1)

Christmas Eve Sesame Street

Multiple plot lines going on here but the main plot is about Oscar making big bird worrying about if Santa Claus can't fit through peoples chimneys he won't come. There's also some very good original songs and a sweet subplot with Ernie and bert

2)

Snowden’s Raggedy Ann and Andy holiday show.

A skating special follows the story of a circus-based around the raggedy Ann and Andy dolls (maybe?) they host a show each year where they make children's wishes come true with the help of the rag dolls and a magical mirror.

3) Shining Time Station (Tis a Gift)

If your unaware of what shining time station is. It is a show delvopled to to bring Thomas the tank engine to the us (due to the episodes 5 minute runtime) so the rest of the show is a framing device with original stories in a train station and other content.

As the adults bicker over playing Santa's Helper in the holiday pageant, Matt and Tanya are left with Vicki, a little girl unwilling to experience the joys of the season. A mysterious passenger, Mr. Nicholas (Lloyd Bridges), arrives, and makes a lasting impression on Vicki. He teaches her the spirit of the holidays, a gift no money could buy.

4)

Olive the other reindeer

When Santa cancels his annual flight because of a hurt reindeer, a young Christmas loving dog named Olive is convinced she has what it takes to get Santa's flight off the ground and save Christmas.

5)

Rudolph the red nosed reindeer (1948)

An adaptation before the classic we know today. Except with a splash of uncanny rubber house animation.

6)

A Muppets Family Christmas

A holiday special featuring like almost every series that can go under the muppets label (ie the muppets, Sesame Street, fraggle rock)

When Fozzie and the Muppet Show gang drop in unexpectedly on Fozzie's mother, she is forced to cancel her winter vacation plans and entertain them all. Soon the Sesame Street gang comes by as carolers, and then Kermit and his nephew Robin discover a Fraggle Rock hole in the basement. A snowstorm blows in, stranding everyone at the house, except for Miss Piggy, who arrives just in time for all the Muppets to celebrate Christmas together.

Those are all I can think of now!

Happy holidays and hope these give you some enjoyment!

[mindofsmoothie]

The Countdown Is On!

I can't believe that there is only TWO more days until Christmas! This month. this year has just flown by! I can't lie 2022 has been a turd of a year and I am happy that it is almost at an end.

While I am looking forward to the end of 2022 and the beginning of 2023, I can't let the holiday come and go without another top 5 list to get you in a festive mood.

Today I am going to deck your halls with my top 5 Christmas specials! Long before streaming services and physical media, specials like A Charlie Brown Christmas could only be viewed once a year, unless "taped" off of TV during the broadcast.

Shows like this were an event. No matter what you were doing you made sure that you were bathed, in front of the TV, snack in hand, and ready when it came on. I miss those days, simpler times indeed.

Enough reminiscing, on to the list!

5. A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965)

A Charlie Brown Christmas is definitely one of my favorite holiday offerings. A very relatable tale especially growing up Catholic and having participated in several Christmas pageants showcasing the Nativity story. I still volunteer for our church's live nativity :)

4. Frosty the Snowman (1969)

Ah... Frosty the Snowman, not only when this was airing did it mean Christmas was not too far off, but also painted a great picture of how that first snow made you feel as a kid. Snow always did seem like a magical event back then. It sparked imagination and creativity in your outdoor play, and it also had the ability to give you a day off from school! Today I could take or leave snow, mostly leave, but watching Frosty on wintry day with a hot cup of coffee or hot chocolate, wrapped in a blanket and on the couch, you can easily be transported back in time.

3. A Claymation Christmas Celebration (1987)

A Claymation Christmas Celebration was extra special because it was, at the time a brand-new Christmas special. If you look at the previous entries on this list, they all predated me. The Claymation Christmas was riding on the success that the California Raisins stop motion animation advertisements were having. Classic Christmas carols were showcased such as "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" being performed by the California Raisins and a comical bell-choir performance of "Carol of the Bells." In between the performances the dinosaur hosts Rex and Herb go back and forth on the appropriate title and lyrics to "Here We Come A-Wassailing."

The show's creator Will Vinton had released similar specials that predate this one, but I was never aware of them until I got the DVD that included A Claymation Christmas Celebration and the other holiday themed shorts.

If you have never seen this, I highly recommend seeking it out.

2. Christmas Eve on Sesame Street (1978)

I shared a brief post about this special earlier, but Christmas Eve on Sesame Street was one of my favorites and holds a special place in my heart.

I don't recall this being on every year or catching it when it was on but the memories around this are what have it in my number two spot.

I remember one Christmas eve when I was too little to go to the evening Mass and I was home with my mom. I just remember watching this while she got things ready for the company that we would have over later that night. The two stand out memories for me were when Cookie Monster trying to write a last-minute letter to Santa eats his pencil and then later tries to call but eats the phone and near the end seeing the snow fall on Big Bird as he tries to wait up for Santa and falls asleep. I always felt bad for Big Bird because Oscar was a jerk to him.

It wouldn't be until many years later where I bought the DVD and re-watched for the first time in a long time.

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (1964)

For years, at least in my mind, this was the big-time event. Christmas was here! With commercial breaks included Rudolph was an hour-long event. All other specials were just a half-hour so you knew this was special, and it was and still is today.

Rudolph was always very relatable as I think at some point in every child's life the sometimes feel like a "misfit." In the end however, the misfittiest of them all proves to be the most useful and is tasked with leading.

And there you have it, another list in the books. With so many good specials from the past, it was hard to pick my top five, but I did it and have no regrets!

What are some of your favorite Christmas specials? I would love to know.

Have a great Christmas!

[zipper-neck]

Watch some Sesame Street with me

[greensparty]

Remembering Jeremiah Green, Anita Pointer and John Osterlind / Rebecca Pratt

Well 2023 just began and news has come in that we actually lost two musicians and a radio personality at the very end of 2022. Here is my combined remembrance:

Remembering Jeremiah Green 1977-2022

Green’s Party salutes drummer Jeremiah Green 

Modest Mouse drummer and co-founder Jeremiah Green has died at 45. The WA indie-rockers had some cool tunes and albums. He was in the band from 1993 to 2022, but took a short break from 2003-04, which happened to be their breakthrough year with Good News for People Who Love Bad News (great title) and hits like “Float On”. They came up at around the time of indie rockers Yeah Yeah Yeahs and Death Cab for Cutie were breaking into the mainstream in the early-mid 00s, which was exciting to see.

The link above is the obit from Rolling Stone.

Remembering Anita Pointer 1948-2022

The Pointer Sisters’ Break Out album from 1983

Singer Anita Pointer of The Pointer Sisters, the vocal group she co-founded with her sisters, has died at 74. They were one of the great pop R&B vocal groups of the 70s and 80s. My earliest exposure to them was the “Pinball Number Count” on Sesame Street. Still a cool sing-along song. They, then, had a string of hits including “Fire” (a Bruce Springsteen cover), “He’s so Shy”, “I’m So Excited” (made legendary by the famous episode of Saved by the Bell where Jesse melts down singing it), “Automatic”, “Jump (for my Love)” (released the same year as Van Halen’s “Jump” but wildly different), “Neutron Dance” from Beverly Hills Cop, and “Dare Me”, many of these I was exposed to on MTV and V66 when I was learning about music at a young age. They also took part in USA for Africa’s “We are the World”. They also did a fun cover of “Santa Claus is Coming to Town” on A Very Special Christmas album. 

On July 4, 1995, I went with a group of friends to the Boston Pops 4th of July at the Hatch Shell in Boston. There were too many people and we had to leave since there was nowhere to sit or stand, but off in the distance I was able to hear The Pointer Sisters performing a medley with the Pops.

The link above is the obit from Hollywood Reporter.

Remembering John Osterlind / Rebecca Pratt 1967-2022

Osterlind with WAAF in the mid 90s

[UPDATED 1/4/23] Radio personality formerly known as John Osterlind has died at 55. From 1992 to 2001 they were a DJ on WAAF-FM in Boston. In April 1995, I saw Slash’s Snakepit in concert at Axis in Boston and they hosted the show. I talked to them for a few minutes and was very cool. After 2001 they left WAAF and in 2003 left Boston for New Orleans. 

Since my initial post, several obits have now brought to my attention that in the last few years, John transitioned to Rebecca Pratt. Story updated accordingly.

The link above is the obit from Audacy.

[appendingfic]

Bob: *starts playing a song* My sister: This is in the spirit of 'Keep Christmas With You' Bob: *reaches the chorus* My sister: ...oh

[bunnelbaby]

While browsing the internet for more children’s programming to share with you all, I was pleasantly surprised to stumble upon several Sesame Street + Elmo’s World episodes and specials archived online! I’ve compiled the links here for your viewing pleasure:

𐐪𐑂 Sesame Street (1960s-1970s)

𐐪𐑂 Sesame Street (1980s)

𐐪𐑂 Sesame Street (1990s)

𐐪𐑂 Sesame Street (2000s)

𐐪𐑂 Sesame Street (2010s)

𐐪𐑂 Sesame Street (2020-2022)

𐐪𐑂 Follow that Bird

𐐪𐑂 The Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland

𐐪𐑂 Abby in Wonderland

𐐪𐑂 The Magical Wand Chase

𐐪𐑂 Kids Favorite Songs

𐐪𐑂 Elmo Saves Christmas

𐐪𐑂 Elmo Visits the Firehouse

𐐪𐑂 Elmopalooza

𐐪𐑂 Springtime Fun

𐐪𐑂 The Street We Live On!

𐐪𐑂 Flowers, Bananas & More

𐐪𐑂 Babies, Dogs & More

𐐪𐑂 People in Your Neighborhood

𐐪𐑂 Pets!

(Divider Credit)

[jimhenson-themuppetmaster]

Michael Jackson on Sesame Street

Michael Jackson joined the world of The Muppets once, appearing with Muppet Oscar on the Sesame Street Christmas Special in 1978,

[talesfrommedinastation]

My redneck neighbor Doug's interpretations on various 'Bad Batch' characters: Side Character Edition!

I'm chuffed that everyone thinks my neighbor Doug is funny: he really is a gem. I had no idea we'd bond over Star Wars and crappy weather, but here we are.

Naturally, I had to bother him about other characters that showed up on The Bad Batch, so, here we go!

Phee Genoa: Ah-ha, that there’s Church Lady. You know her, she’s got a big square in her pocketbook and you don’t know if it’s pound cake or a brick, because the Lord saves but He can’t help you in the alley when you’re in Treme and the streetlights just turned on. She has two ex-husbands who are both preachers and they turned to Jesus because they are so scared of Church Lady in court. 

(So I guess he’s saying Phee has raw WHO DAT energy, for my Saints fans out there)

Cid: Looking at this fat lizard bitch makes me hungry. I call that one Houma-BBQ because I’m guessing we could feed a whole parish fire station based on the size of her tail. I wish she’d shut up, she reminds me of my mother-in-law. 

Cad Bane: Homeboy looks like a Sesame Street character who teaches Big Bird about concealed carry laws. I call him Gun Safety Muppet. I don’t like him because he shot my Wife and I’s Boyfriend on the other show and his robot needs to be tossed into a wood chipper. 

(“I’m not gay, but Jenny and I…well, we would make an exception to that man. You ever see ‘Deadwood’? Man is fine. I’m not GAY.”)

Fennec Shand: That’s The Chick that’s in Everything. She was on ER and Boba Fett and I think a Marvel show too? I like her. Hope she kills Gun Safety Muppet and hurls his blue ass into a dumpster. 

Howzer: That’s my niece’s boyfriend, Jorge. We all love Jorge, nice guy, owns an auto repair shop and always remembers plates and napkins for the cookouts after church.

Gregor: Jorge’s cousin, Manny. Met him once at Christmas in Miami, nice guy, only drinks brown liquor and insists everyone arm wrestle him. But he’s got a good job as a PE teacher, we respect education, come on now. 

The Martez Sisters: Aw, man, it’s Jorge’s Unemployed Sisters. I hate it when they show up for Christmas and get into fights with my momma. 

(“Doug, you know they’re not related to the clones at all, right?” “Says who?” “The PLOT?” “Eh, they’ll change it, just watch.”)

Mayday: Aw, I liked this guy so much! That’s Sassy Park Ranger, he’s the type that gives you your camping permits, warns you about the bears, and then is all disappointed when you don’t properly stow your food and the bears destroy the campsite. I need to go back to Little River Canyon, that place was pretty. 

Lt. Nolan: THAT STUPID BLOND JACKASS. (Doug was so enraged by the guy he had nothing else to add. Damn.)

Senator Chuchi: Why does this lady make me want a blue slushie? I’ll call her the Sonic Special. They need more Sonics here in the north, they really do. 

Cody: That’s Obi-Wan’s Boyfriend, he’s sad all the time. We know why. (Confirmed that Doug is a Codywan shipper and I don’t know what to do about that)

Royce Hemlock: Is that Jimmy Neutron after he grew up and became one of those guys that’s on the internet all the time writing creepy things? It’s Jimmy-the-Scientist. He looks like the type of person dogs get weird around.

Rex: That's Rex. He's a king. Respect him.

[whocaresifwearecrazy]

My YDKJ Host HCs

Cookie Malfeasance J. Masterson (12/18/1977)

-Middle child; and the only sibling without children of his own

-Smokes weed from time to time

-Binge eats

-Very stoic

-After the inevitable deaths of his cats, he had them stuffed and now brings them in pet carriers everywhere

-Basically, he went a bit insane once both cats died

-Do NOT call him fat. It hurts his feelings...and his ego

Josh Gerald Schmitstenstien (08/08/1976)

-Anger issues

-Loves jingly keys; like, it's his only weakness

-Dog lover

-Gay for Cookie

-Lovers to tell lawyer jokes; even if no one asks to hear one

-Has many half siblings; is the youngest

-Despite his anger, he's affectionate and tries to not swear in front of anyone under 13

Giuseppe Gavin "Guy" Towers (09/04/1979)

-Baby of the bunch; Buzz is older by nearly two months

-Has a limp from being in prison...just don't ask what he did to end up in prison

-Loves to play specialized sports

-Hopelessly in love with Buzz

-Hates lawyer jokes, has whacked Schmitty with his crutch due to this hatred

-On a good day, he loves the sensation of being whacked with anything. A stick, a paddle, a hand

-Not many people know "Guy" is a nickname...and let's keep it that way

Natalie Jean "Nate" Shapiro (01/01/1970)

-His parents thought he was gonna be a girl, when he was born

-A big fan of ABBA, like hardcore

-Some people talk in their sleep. He's one those folks. He ALSO SINGS IN HIS SLEEP!

-Scared of large dogs. Small dogs are good, though

-First of the six hosts to get gray hairs

-He geeks out at certain nostalgic shows. Mister Roger's Neighborhood, Sesame Street, and 'A Charlie Brown Christmas' always get him riled up with glee

-First got into the whole singing/acting thing when he was three. There's definitely a recording somewhere in the YDKJ office's vault.

Bryn Ryder "Buzz" S. Lippman (06/07/1979)

-Second youngest host

-Intersex, identifies as male but has periods

-Got the nickname "Buzz" because that was his first word. He just rolled with the nickname

-After "The Ride", he decided to host his own radio show. It's small and humble but it's all his

-Developed a fear of trapdoors and heights

-Very strong

-Has multiple siblings: Beatrice and Bianca (03/26/1965, twins), Becca (08/02/1967), Bruce (11/25/1970), Blaire (03/12/1975), Bartholomew "Barth" (06/07/1979-older twin), Briley (02/13/1982), Brandon (10/13/1985) and Bradley (12/16/1988)

Robert Abraham "Bob" Towers (03/26/1977)

-Guy's big brother (and the only one who can call him by his actual name)

-Big eater, almost as big of an eater as Cookie.

-Hates getting haircuts.

-Animal lover, he LOVES everything except Milan's bastard cats.

-He and Buzz love to bond over drumming experiences (Buzz can drum a mean paradiddle and Bob could put Animal from The Muppets to shame).

-Bob has a stash of Sanrio plushies that he shamelessly has on display

-2024!Bob has better hygiene habits than 1998!Bob (and Milan is thankful for that)

@captainnait @k1stune @beepsparks @ihatearbys @booloocrew-blog

[gifs-of-puppets]

A Special Sesame Street Christmas (1978)

Source: Muppet Profiles

[someone-put-your-hand-out]

Michael jackson on sesame street's Christmas special (1978)

[mysticalwolf]

I don't know if others know about this Christmas special, maybe some do. There is a Muppet Christmas special that shows more than the Muppets, it also has the Fraggle Rock characters, and also Sesame Street. I enjoy the special, it’s cute, and it's nice to see all these different characters to show up together in one location, especially for a special. If you love anything, Jim Henson, then maybe you should check it out. You can find the full special on YouTube, it’s called A Muppet Family Christmas.

[ashcadence]

I love the Muppets and it saddens me that most people don't know about A Muppet Family Christmas. In my opinion it's the best Christmas special they've produced. However, because it has both the Sesame Street and Fraggle Rock characters in it the copywrite is mucky and it's not available to stream or buy.

Several people have uploaded it on YouTube though and of you like the Muppets, Sesame Street, and/or Fraggle Rock I highly suggest watching it.

Here's the link:

https://youtu.be/3gAniAEQrak?si=wlOZCwc6QkvkZqKY

[thejadedjewel]

Little Muppet Sesame Things #6

Christmas Eve on Sesame Street has always held a special place in my heart since I was very little, so here's one of many things I loved about this:

Chris: (on how Santa comes down the Chimney) He comes down with his Reindeer! Grover: (looks at the camera like he's on The Office as Chris laughs)

All Muppet/Child interactions are wonderful and adorably chaotic, but this was one of the earliest ones I still remember and love.

Also, I love how serious Chris is after Grover asks if the Antlers would get stuck. "No. (...) Because he ties the antlers together... with tape."

I honestly love how completely unscripted these moments are and how well the Muppeteers work with what the kids throw at them.