Going back to the Streets!

The show that transformed the world, one child at a time...

is now recognized as one of the best children's and parents' show of all-time!

Sesame Street continues its mission "to create innovative, engaging content that maximizes the educational power of media to help children reach their highest potential." With this mission in mind, Sesame Street tries to balance as well the fun together with the learning, through the hilarious and colorful puppets they use in each episode. As a veteran from the TV Guide describes it, a "flash of brilliance that struck like a bolt from the gods." And part of that brilliance became possible because of the celebrity guests of the show during its early years.

One of them was Whoopi Goldberg, who has done a lot of episodes already with the Muppets. If you could still try to recall from your childhood days, aside from Sesame street, she appeared with them on Muppets Tonight, It's a very Muppet Christmas movie, and Letters to Santa, to name a few.

In the picture to the left, Elmo is telling Whoopi how he likes the color of her skin, and that he wants to trade with her. This aspect of the show demonstrates how Sesame Street strives to teach kids how to appreciate what they have, who they are, and encourage them to appreciate others too. 

The rising fame of the Muppets get them guesting in other favorite shows of the world, such as The Simpsons in a March 1996 episode. In that episode,"A Fish Called Selma", the family watches a fictional Muppets movie on television entitled "The Muppets Go Medieval" having Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy as stars of the movie. Let me show you the script of the Simpsons while watching this Muppets movie:

"Lisa: Dad, what's a Muppet?

Homer: Well, it's not quite a mop and it's not quite a puppet... but man (laughs). So to answer your question, I don't know.

Bart: Why did they make that one Muppet out of leather?

Marge: That's not a leather Muppet, that's Troy McClure. Back in the '70s he was quite the teen heartthrob."

The family had the chance also be featured in a Sesame Street's song called "Monster in the Mirror", in the celebrity version. Whaddup!

It's Superman!! Yes, despite of his disability, Christopher Reeve (1952-2004) was still able to guest on the Street. In 1995, Reeve starred on an episode with hi son, Will, sharing with Big Bird and Zoe the skills he learned on independent living. 

Reeve has actually been guesting on the show since 1979, where he had his first on-screen appearance as a cameo. One show emphasizes Reeve as Superman saying, "He really is a Man of Steel!"

Okay, it's now time for the Filipinos to be proud! 'Cause we got a fellow be part of the Street! Let's give it up for Lea Salonga!

Since she's really a sensational singer-slash-actress, Lea sang to Alfred Duck, Big Bird, and Birdketeers the song entitled "A Little Bit." FYI! Because of such gift, Lea also sang in movie musicals such a "Mulan" and "Aladdin." She is the B-O-M-B!

As much as I would like to post all the celebrities that have guested on Sesame Street, they are just so many of them that it'll take me a month to write about each of them. But just to wrap up, we could see how active the celebrities are in their participation in the show. From actors/actresses, to athletes and singers, Sesame Street has truly been an avenue for these people to contribute to the honing of the next generation, and the generation after. It is clear that Sesame Street has been an avenue for many iconic figures to promote education and the fun of childhood through being guests in the Street's different episodes. And that continues until today...with better sense of style and hairdos. :)

DUDE  YOU'RE AWESOME like me,

Dom Manahan

Sources:

Davis, M. (2008, December 29). Street gang: the complete history of sesame street. Time Magazine, Retrieved from http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1868862,00.html

Harrison, P. Sesame street diplomacy [Web log message]. Retrieved from http://www.cpb.org/features/sesamestreetdiplomacy/index.html

Robinson, M.P. (2011, June 12). Sesame in the 90s [Web log message]. Retrieved from http://www.sesamestreet.org/parents/blog/-/blogs/18865605

All pictures and additional information was taken from:
http://muppet.wikia.com