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MESSAGE IN THE MOVIES

If superheroes can have origin stories, why not children’s television shows? We were recently treated to two films about Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood (Won’t You Be My Neighbor? and A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood). It’s now time to celebrate Sesame Street, a public television show that is still going strong for more than fifty years (reinventing itself with new characters and a diverse and inclusive cast).

As Street Gang vividly recalls how everything began, it is incredible that so many different concepts aligned. Concerned that there was a discrepancy in the education of children connected to income, race, and urban/suburban schooling, child psychologist Lloyd Morrisett (who was vice chair of the Carnegie Foundation) and television executive Joan Ganz Cooney thought that they could bring the techniques of advertising to “sell” basic math and reading skills to a preschool audience. They designed a set to resemble an inner-city neighborhood and then recruited a team of puppeteers (Jim Henson’s Muppets) to bring in characters who would interact with the real people in the cast. There would also be animated segments and short documentary clips to complete the fast-paced and entertaining mélange of Sesame Street.

This was the program that gave us memorable Muppets such as Kermit, Big Bird, Oscar the Grouch, and Bert and Ernie. But it also introduced such beloved humans as Bob (Bob McGrath), Luis (Emilio Delgado), Gordon (Roscoe Orman), Rosita (Carmen Osbahr) and Mr. Hooper (Will Lee). In addition, the children who interacted with the people on the street were real kids engaged in conversations with grownups who listened and Muppets who personified friendship, innocence, and grumpiness.

Much time is spent showing us just how everything comes together and how much time it took to make over 100 shows per year. We see how Carroll Spivey operated Big Bird from inside a big yellow suit and watch the chemistry between Jim Henson and Frank Oz, who often resembled a classic comedy team with such duos as Bert and Ernie, Kermit and Miss Piggy, and later (on The Muppet Show) Statler and Waldorf. This film pays a special tribute to the show’s unsung hero, director-writer Jon Stone. The writer’s room would also include educators and comedy writers. (We do not get to see the team of editors who spliced everything together.)

Back in 1969 (when the show launched) it received financial support from government funding (as most public television shows did at the time). This film downplays the many controversies around the show, including a primary criticism attacking the fast-paced short attention span editing that would help spawn a generation who would expect things to change every minute. The movie shows the immediate pushback around racial inclusion (Mr. Rogers faced the same problem) and a brief note about being sued for a parody involving a Beatles song. Over time, Sesame Street would win over most of its detractors and establish itself as a benchmark for what television could do to help children learn.

Street Gang is simply great entertainment, showing how passion and talent can combine to touch hearts and minds. Hopefully, this movie might inspire you to use your spiritual gifts in similar fashion.

Halo and Pitchfork Rating:

Four halos: A celebration of passionate creativity and joy.
One pitchfork: Muppet swearing in outtakes.

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