C is for Controversy

Sesame Streethas been on the go for 41 years and continues to produce relevant, groundbreaking and occasionally controversial children's TV. What have the makers got up their furry sleeves for 2011, wonders JOE GRIFFIN

A LOT HAPPENED on Sesame Streetlast year, but in its four-decade history the kids' show has seen its share of controversy and parental complaints. Whether parents are writing in about two young New York men who share a bed and a bath (Ernie and Bert), a ravenous overeater (Cookie Monster) or a muppet based on a homeless person (Oscar the Grouch), the show is no stranger to criticism.

The show's most recent hullabaloo kicked off last September after viewers got a glimpse of a trailer for an upcoming show. Katy Perry, one of the biggest pop singers in the world, wore what she called "dress-up clothes" (a veil and a yellow dress with skin-coloured mesh leading from her chest to her neck) to play with Elmo, currently Sesame Street'smost famous and beloved puppet.

Elmo ran away, prompting Katy to sing her hit song, Hot and Cold. It appeared on YouTube, intentionally as a preview, but after more than 10 million views and hundreds of negative comments, the Katy Perry/Elmo appearance never graduated from the internet to TV. The bone of contention? Parents complained that Perry's low-cut dress was inappropriate for kids' TV.

Discussed and shared by millions on Twitter and Facebook, the Elmo/Perry fuss even inspired a sketch on America's biggest comedy show, Saturday Night Live. The sketch showed Perry being interviewed by judgmental women, one of whom says, "Today's show is brought to you by the number 38 and the letter DD".

Even without Katy-gate, Sesame Streetwas never in danger of becoming uncool or conservative. The show has a constant stream of A-list cameos (from Michelle Obama to REM to Robert de Niro) and its sketches take their inspiration from sources far beyond kids' TV.

Its Mad Men skit helped define different emotions for kids; its spoof of the recent Old Spice ads starring Grover (“Look at yourself, now back to me . . . you are not a monster”) taught children the meaning of the word “on” (and earned six million YouTube views) and the True Mud sketch, mocking the explicit vampire soap True Blood, preached the virtue of tolerance, along with some fun rhymes.

Not long after Sesame Streetbegan, its production company Sesame Workshop (formerly known as The Children's Television Workshop) was approached by teachers, TV production companies and officials from other countries who wanted to air foreign versions of the programme. These international co-productions initially began as dubbed versions of the American show, but soon became more elaborate and ambitious. They were created by Sesame Workshop and local producers, using key elements from Sesame Streetcombined with locally-produced items and new characters addressing their own concerns and culture.

Sesame Streethas always endeavoured to educate its young viewers in matters far beyond the alphabet and basic maths, and international productions of the show have pushed the boundaries of what's discussed on kids' TV.

In 2002, the South African version of the show introduced its first HIV positive character, Kami. The puppet, whose name means acceptance in the Tswana language, was created to encourage tolerance in a country where almost 12 per cent of the population is infected with HIV or Aids.

Closer to home, Sesame Tree is made by Belfast company Sixteen South in association with Sesame Workshop, and started its second season last year. The project was in development since 2004 and Sesame Workshop said its intention was to build “the Sesame model for respect and understanding . . . across the sectarian divide”.

Consequently, the show features diverse local activities synonymous with different backgrounds. One segment features hurling, for example, and another shows a boy practising his drumming in anticipation of a march. There is also a segment which was filmed in a Gaelscoil.

Sesame Street'sfearlessness should come as no surprise to long-time fans of the show.

In 2002, Sesame Street sent a representative to the US Congress in the cuddly shape of Elmo. Dressed (for once) in a suit and tie, Elmo gave evidence before the Education Appropriations Subcommittee to ask for more spending on musical instruments and music research for schools.

The red furry puppet urged, “Please, Congress, help Elmo’s friends find the music in them. I love you, Congress.” Ralph Regula, the Republican subcommittee chair, responded “And my grandchildren love you too, Elmo.”

After 41 years on air, Sesame Streetis a ubiquitous and iconic brand. The gang's endearing, courageous and sometimes bizarre relationship with the world's media makes one wonder what they might have got up their furry sleeves for this year.