Sesame Street as a Grown Up

Ok, so we are all of the age that we remember watching Sesame Street as a kid right? I mean we learned about death when Mr. Hooper died; knew all the lyrics to "Sing, sing a song"; and as we got older the show bumped right up into Electric Company to take us on our next adventure in learning. But now that I am a parent, I look at Sesame Street through grown-up, parent eyes and not the eyes of wonder of my childhood. So with that, here are a few recent things I have learned now that Sesame Street is back in my viewing rotation:

One caveat, while this list may seem simple, I have not ever watched this program with my grown up intellect until recently.

1. The monsters and puppets - Cookie is blue, Oscar is green, Big Bird is Yellow, Elmo is red, Grover is purple...yes, the monsters cover all the primary colors so we can learn them together. They also each have a specific trait we can learn whether grouchy, shy, curious or hungry we get to learn to express our feelings too. As a kid I just thought they each had a funny voice

2. The diverse make up on the block - seriously if a "muppet" family moved in on my street I would be a little concerned. I mean what do you take them as a house warming? When do they ever rest? Clearly the humans on Sesame Street are well versed in human/puppet relations and don't find felt people in their 'hood strange at all.

3. What about the Puppeteers - I really, really want to see a taping of Sesame Street to see how close the puppeteers are in the shot. What type of slick camera work must you know to work with both people and puppets. Does the puppeteer wear a mic? There is so much Behind the scenes that I am dying to know

4. Snuffleupagus is no longer Big Bird's imaginary friend. Yes folks, you heard it here Snuffy is no longer "invisible." Now the kid in me thinks this is a travesty, because everyone knows he is INVISIBLE. But the grown up in me thinks FINALLY, all these years and you did not see the furry, elephant sized person next to the eight foot yellow bird?

5. Maria is really Sonia. Ok, this one is the most disturbing. Now I know they are actors but Maria's name is not Maria? Gordon is really Roscoe Orman.....really. I would like to start a petition that if you have spent the better part of 30 years educating children, can you please just change your name to your "character". It would be easy on all of us.

6. Letters first and then numbers. This formula is tried and true for many, many years. First they set the plot point on the street; then we learn the letter of the day; then we learn the number. I mean come on, South to drop off people.

7. I don't care if Ernie and Bert are gay.

8. Elmo's World is the last 20 minutes of every episode and regardless of Lexie's mood I know I can have 20 minutes of peace while he is on TV.

Thanks Sesame Street for a whole 'nother experience!