Ten Amazing Performances from Sesame Street
In our last post about the unadulterated genius of Jim Henson and his two most well known and beloved Television shows, we had 10 amazing performances by musicians on The Muppet Show. Sesame Street had its fair share of special guests as well. Often the singer or performer would just appear in one segment and belt out a tune, or even have a cute little duet with one of the puppet cast members. So, a bit unlike the Muppets list, this one has a few more recent spots (namely the first two from the nineties), but the majority still come from the far more classic and original shows from back in the seventies and eighties. Since I posted a bit of background from Wikipedia on the last one, I figured why not lay out a bit of trivia this time to stump your Muppet-loving friends at parties.
Rumor: (From Wikipedia) :”It has widely been suggested that Bert and Ernie are a gay couple, as they are apparently adult human males portrayed sharing a bedroom, though with separate beds. A 1980 collection of humorous essays by Kurt Andersen, titled The Real Thing, made light of the growing rumor. “Bert and Ernie conduct themselves in the same loving, discreet way that millions of gay men, women and hand puppets do. They do their jobs well and live a splendidly settled life together in an impeccably decorated cabinet.” Incidentally, they are not.
Rumor: (From Wikipedia) :”In 1990, puppeteer Jim Henson’s death spurred rumors that Ernie would be “killed off” in the show, much the way the character of Mr. Hooper was after actor Will Lee’s passing some years earlier. Rumor said that he would be either killed by a vehicle, AIDS, or cancer. There was no legitimacy to this rumor, but because producers took their time recasting a puppeteer for Ernie, the delay allowed the claims to burgeon. A spokesperson for the series was quoted as saying “Ernie is not dying of AIDS, Ernie is not dying of leukemia. Ernie is a puppet.”
Truth: (From Wikipedia) :”In 2002, Sesame Workshop announced that a character with HIV would be introduced to Takalani Sesame, the South African version of the show. Many groups wrongly presumed that the American version would be getting a “gay Muppet.” This concern came about presumably because of a perceived connection between homosexuality and HIV in the United States, but the character with HIV is only present on this international version of the show. The character, Kami, contracted HIV from a blood transfusion as an infant.”
How could REM’s Shiny Happy Monsters not make this list?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zkHM8xG6i8o
popurls.com // popular today…
story has entered the popular today section on popurls.com…
bobby mcferrin should have been number 1. so creative.
1977? So Marlee was 12 years old in that clip?
WHAT!!!!!! No Buddy Rich vs. Animal……. This is a travesty!!!!
No ‘Put Down the Ducky’ ???
HELLO? Debbie Harry & Kermit singing his rainbow song?
stevie wonder #1? how can that be? not one muppet in site!
Seriously:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lRvhRhWWE44
why are there so many songs about rainbows, and what’s on the other side..
Easy jonathan (and anyone else pining for Muppets) if you read the intro, the link will set you free. Also I changed the ‘Marlee’ Matlin and Billy Joel date… mea culpa.
Smokey Robinson didnt make this list either? Longer more inclusive list needed!!!!!
No Ray Charles??!
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Very good effort but your forgot a few classics: FRANK ZAPPA! ALICE COOPER! RAY CHARLES!
Agreed – Debbie Harry and Kermit doing the rainbow song is a classic. Also, in the same episode, Debbie facing off against the huge monster in ‘call me’ is great.
I miss the old muppets.
[...] Ten Amazing Performances from Sesame Street [...]
They left out REM’s “Furry Happy Monsters”!
How could you forget Harry Belafonte’s first television performance of “Day-O (The Banana Boat Song)”? http://muppet.wikia.com/wiki/Day-O http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6AjovHGK-TA
Also, Kenny Rogers rendition of “The Gambler deserves at least an honorable mention, http://muppet.wikia.com/wiki/The_Gambler_(song) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kNnrTNFWcsg If not the only Muppet Show sketch to deal with death, one of the very few.
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I’m shocked at how many people leaving comments on here do not know the difference between Sesame Street and The Muppet Show. Get it together people!
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