Ever since Sesame Street changed its format drastically over ten years ago, the producers have been more and more reluctant to include any classic clips in new episodes--rationalizing that children would see them as outdated. For some topics, I can understand that logic; take this clip as an example--
So many technological changes have happened since then, that a newer version of the same film has appeared on Sesame Street--
I see nothing wrong with remakes in situations like that. But Sesame Street occasionally goes too far in trying to update its own classic material. During the early 1970s, Bud Luckey animated a series of musical cartoons for the show--each one using a silly song and unusual characters to teach a number between 2 and 12. Ask the average parent or grandparent of some toddler who watches today's Sesame Street, and chances are good that they'll remember these ditties well enough to sing a few bars:
Now, take a look at these versions of the same song-cartoons. The "Ten Tiny Turtles" remake appeared in the Season 40 finale; the "Ladybugs' Picnic" remake appeared late in Season 41--
Granted, I'm glad to know that some people at Sesame Workshop don't want to see a classic die out. I also appreciate the way that these particular animators tried hard to adapt Bud Luckey's drawings to a 3-D version. But would it have killed the producers to dub in the original music for these remakes? The musical style itself isn't outdated, nor are any details in the lyrics.
Speaking of lyrical details, I winced when the "Ten Tiny Turtles" remake changed "black-eyed peas" to "yummy peas." Did the original sound too racist to somebody on the staff, either because of the vegetable's name or its status as soul food? Either way, I suspect Bud Luckey felt a little upset himself. Come on, Sesame Workshop...you've done a lot to promote tolerance and integration for 41 years, without worrying about what some family thinks of black-eyed peas! If a classic isn't "broken" from details a 21st-century toddler wouldn't understand, don't fix it.
So many technological changes have happened since then, that a newer version of the same film has appeared on Sesame Street--
I see nothing wrong with remakes in situations like that. But Sesame Street occasionally goes too far in trying to update its own classic material. During the early 1970s, Bud Luckey animated a series of musical cartoons for the show--each one using a silly song and unusual characters to teach a number between 2 and 12. Ask the average parent or grandparent of some toddler who watches today's Sesame Street, and chances are good that they'll remember these ditties well enough to sing a few bars:
Now, take a look at these versions of the same song-cartoons. The "Ten Tiny Turtles" remake appeared in the Season 40 finale; the "Ladybugs' Picnic" remake appeared late in Season 41--
Granted, I'm glad to know that some people at Sesame Workshop don't want to see a classic die out. I also appreciate the way that these particular animators tried hard to adapt Bud Luckey's drawings to a 3-D version. But would it have killed the producers to dub in the original music for these remakes? The musical style itself isn't outdated, nor are any details in the lyrics.
Speaking of lyrical details, I winced when the "Ten Tiny Turtles" remake changed "black-eyed peas" to "yummy peas." Did the original sound too racist to somebody on the staff, either because of the vegetable's name or its status as soul food? Either way, I suspect Bud Luckey felt a little upset himself. Come on, Sesame Workshop...you've done a lot to promote tolerance and integration for 41 years, without worrying about what some family thinks of black-eyed peas! If a classic isn't "broken" from details a 21st-century toddler wouldn't understand, don't fix it.
