Changes: Sesame Street: 20 and Still Counting

Revision as of 05:49, 20 October 2015

Jim's_Red_Book_"Sesame_Street_20_and_Still_Counting" — Jim's Red Book "Sesame Street 20 and Still Counting"

Clip from the special.

Sesame Street: 20 and Still Counting aired on NBC on April 7, 1989.

This one-hour special marks the 20th anniversary of Sesame Street, the ground-breaking educational children's series that has taught numbers and the alphabet, along with social and cultural concepts, to generations of preschoolers.

Hosted by Bill Cosby, the retrospective includes appearances by Muppet characters Big Bird, Grover, the Count, Kermit the Frog, and Bert and Ernie, as well as Sesame regulars Bob, Gordon, Susan, Maria, and Luis, and many others. Kermit the Frog and Jim Henson introduce the show and promote The Jim Henson Hour, which would air the following week.

The program illustrates the changing topics and techniques that have blended entertainment with education over the years, and features classic clips from past episodes as well as the recollections of those responsible for making the series a success and viewers who grew up watching the show.

Among the highlights are Ray Charles and a chorus of Muppet monsters singing "It's Not Easy Bein' Green" by Joe Raposo; a discussion between series creator Joan Ganz Cooney and Jim Henson; clips from international versions of the series; and famed tenor Placido Domingo performing with his Muppet counterpart, Placido Flamingo.

The special ends with a memoriam to Joe Raposo, who composed music for the special but died two months before it aired. For his last project with Jim Henson,^[1] Raposo wrote two original songs, "What a Bird!" and "Look Through the Window." His classic Sesame Street songs including the theme and "Sing" are also highlighted.

Releases

A DVD of the special was released in 2010 by Lions Gate Entertainment for the Jim Henson Company. (This special is one of the few Sesame Street projects directly produced by the Jim Henson Company, who retain the rights.) However, the DVD release omits the end credits. In 2013, the special was re-released on DVD and iTunes through Gaiam Vivendi Entertainment.

Credits

Executive Producer: Jim Henson
Executive Producer for CTW: Dulcy Singer
Director: Peter Harris
Writers: Judy Freudberg and Tony Geiss
Host: Bill Cosby
Guests: Ray Charles and Placido Domingo
Muppet Performers: Caroll Spinney, Jim Henson, Frank Oz, Richard Hunt, Jerry Nelson, Pam Arciero, Fred Garbo, Fran Brill, Camille Bonora, Judy Sladky, Martin P. Robinson, Bryant Young, David Rudman, Kevin Clash
Cast: Emilio Delgado, Sonia Manzano, Bob McGrath, Loretta Long, Roscoe Orman, Miles Orman, Linda Bove, Bill McCutcheon, Alison Bartlett, Northern Calloway
Music: Joe Raposo

Muppet Characters

Big Bird, Ernie, Bert, Kermit the Frog, Grover, Cookie Monster, Herry Monster, Don Music, Count von Count, Placido Flamingo, Elmo, Baby Natasha, Oscar the Grouch, Telly Monster, Mr. Snuffleupagus, Alice Snuffleupagus, Barkley, Prairie Dawn, Ruby Monster

Background Characters: The Amazing Mumford, Frazzle, Two-Headed Monster, Gladys the Cow, Sonny Friendly, Forgetful Jones, Anything Muppets, Monsters, Kermit the Forg, Clancy, Chip and Dip

Gallery

Sources

↑ Jim Henson's Red Book entry, 12/9-11/1988 – VTR Sesame St. 20th – last time with Joe Raposo – Ray Charles – Placido Domingo

External links

John O'Connor, "TV WEEKEND; 'Sesame Street': Milestone and Beginning", New York Times, 7 April 1989.
Muppet Central Review
The Muppet Mindset review of the DVD
DVDizzy.com DVD review

[redbook-1] Jim Henson's Red Book entry, 12/9-11/1988 – VTR Sesame St. 20th – last time with Joe Raposo – Ray Charles – Placido Domingo

[1]

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 [[Image:Title.ss20counting.jpg|thumb|300px]]
-[[File:SesameStr 20YearsAndCountin.jpg|thumb|300px]]
+[[File:Jim's Red Book "Sesame Street 20 and Still Counting"|thumb|300px|Clip from the special.]]
+[[Image:20years-ending.jpg|thumb|300px]]
-{{video|date=[[2010]]|producer=[[Lions Gate Entertainment]]|cat=28474|format=DVD|discs=1|region=1|isbn=|asin=B003INBNY8}}
+[[Image:Ss20yrs5.jpg|thumb|300px]]
 '''''Sesame Street: 20 and Still Counting''''' aired on [[NBC]] on April 7, [[1989]].
@@ Line 11: / Line 11: @@
 The program illustrates the changing topics and techniques that have blended entertainment with education over the years, and features classic clips from past episodes as well as the recollections of those responsible for making the series a success and viewers who grew up watching the show.
-Among the highlights are [[Ray Charles (singer)|Ray Charles]] and a chorus of Muppets singing "[[Bein' Green|It's Not Easy Bein' Green]]" by [[Joe Raposo]]; a discussion between series creator [[Joan Ganz Cooney]] and Jim Henson; clips from [[:Category:International Sesame Street|international versions]] of the series; and famed tenor [[Placido Domingo]] performing with his Muppet counterpart, [[Placido Flamingo]].
+Among the highlights are [[Ray Charles (singer)|Ray Charles]] and a chorus of Muppet monsters singing "[[Bein' Green|It's Not Easy Bein' Green]]" by [[Joe Raposo]]; a discussion between series creator [[Joan Ganz Cooney]] and Jim Henson; clips from [[:Category:International Sesame Street|international versions]] of the series; and famed tenor [[Placido Domingo]] performing with his Muppet counterpart, [[Placido Flamingo]].
 The special ends with a memoriam to Joe Raposo, who composed music for the special but died two months before it aired. For his last project with Jim Henson,<ref name="redbook">[http://www.henson.com/jimsredbook/2011/12/10/129-111988/ Jim Henson's Red Book entry], 12/9-11/1988 – VTR Sesame St. 20th – last time with Joe Raposo – Ray Charles – Placido Domingo</ref> Raposo wrote two original songs, "[[What a Bird!]]" and "[[Look Through the Window]]." His classic Sesame Street songs including [[Sesame Street Theme|the theme]] and "[[Sing]]" are also highlighted.
+==Releases==
-A DVD of the special was released in 2010 as ''Sesame Street: 20 Years... and Still Counting!'' It was released by [[Lions Gate Entertainment]] for [[the Jim Henson Company]]. (This special is one of the few ''Sesame Street'' projects directly produced by the Jim Henson Company, who retain the rights.) However, the DVD release omits the end credits.
+A DVD of the special was released in 2010 by [[Lionsgate|Lions Gate Entertainment]] for [[the Jim Henson Company]]. (This special is one of the few ''Sesame Street'' projects directly produced by the Jim Henson Company, who retain the rights.) However, the DVD release omits the end credits. In 2013, the special was re-released on DVD and [[The iTunes Store|iTunes]] through [[Gaiam Vivendi Entertainment]].
+<gallery widths="250" spacing="small" position="center" captionalign="center"  bordercolor="transparent" hideaddbutton=true>
+File:SesameStr 20YearsAndCountin.jpg|{{GNH|DVD}}Lionsgate<br>2010<br>cat. 28474<br>asin. B003INBNY8
+File:Sesame20 - iTunes.jpg|{{GNH|DVD/iTunes}}Gaiam Vivendi Entertainment<br>2013<br>HE3203
+</gallery>
 ==Credits==
@@ Line 24: / Line 30: @@
 *Host: [[Bill Cosby]]
 *Guests: [[Ray Charles (singer)|Ray Charles]] and [[Placido Domingo]]
-*Muppet Performers: [[Caroll Spinney]], [[Jim Henson]], [[Frank Oz]], [[Richard Hunt]], [[Jerry Nelson]], [[Pam Arciero]], [[Fred Garbo]], [[Fran Brill]], [[Camille Bonora]], [[Judy Sladky]], [[Martin Robinson]], [[Bryant Young]], [[David Rudman]], [[Kevin Clash]]
+*Muppet Performers: [[Caroll Spinney]], [[Jim Henson]], [[Frank Oz]], [[Richard Hunt]], [[Jerry Nelson]], [[Pam Arciero]], [[Fred Garbo]], [[Fran Brill]], [[Camille Bonora]], [[Judy Sladky]], [[Martin P. Robinson]], [[Bryant Young]], [[David Rudman]], [[Kevin Clash]]
 *Cast: [[Emilio Delgado]], [[Sonia Manzano]], [[Bob McGrath]], [[Loretta Long]], [[Roscoe Orman]], [[Miles Orman]], [[Linda Bove]], [[Bill McCutcheon]], [[Alison Bartlett]], [[Northern Calloway]]
 *Music: [[Joe Raposo]]
+==Muppet Characters==
+:[[Big Bird]], [[Ernie]], [[Bert]], [[Kermit the Frog]], [[Grover]], [[Cookie Monster]], [[Herry Monster]], [[Don Music]], [[Count von Count]], [[Placido Flamingo]], [[Elmo]], [[Baby Natasha]], [[Oscar the Grouch]], [[Telly Monster]], [[Mr. Snuffleupagus]], [[Alice Snuffleupagus]], [[Barkley]], [[Prairie Dawn]], [[Ruby Monster]]
+;Background Characters
+:[[The Amazing Mumford]], [[Frazzle]], [[Two-Headed Monster]], [[Gladys the Cow]], [[Sonny Friendly]], [[Forgetful Jones]], [[Anything Muppets]], [[:Category: Sesame Street Monsters|Monsters]], [[Kermit the Forg]], [[Clancy]], [[Chip and Dip]]
 ==Gallery==
@@ Line 33: / Line 45: @@
 Image:Ss20stillcounting-intro.jpg
 Image:BillCosby-Kermit-20years.jpg
-Image:20years-ending.jpg
-File:Ss20yrs5.jpg
 File:Ss20yrs4.jpg
 File:Ss20yrs3.jpg
@@ Line 40: / Line 50: @@
 File:Ss20yrs1.jpg
 </gallery>
-==Muppet Characters==
-:[[Big Bird]], [[Ernie]], [[Bert]], [[Kermit the Frog]], [[Grover]], [[Cookie Monster]], [[Herry Monster]], [[Don Music]], [[Count von Count]], [[Placido Flamingo]], [[Elmo]], [[Baby Natasha]], [[Oscar the Grouch]], [[Telly Monster]], [[Mr. Snuffleupagus]], [[Alice Snuffleupagus]], [[Barkley]], [[Prairie Dawn]], [[Ruby Monster]]
-===Background Characters===
-:[[The Amazing Mumford]], [[Frazzle]], [[Two-Headed Monster]], [[Gladys the Cow]], [[Sonny Friendly]], [[Forgetful Jones]], [[Anything Muppets]], [[:Category: Sesame Street Monsters|Monsters]], [[Kermit the Forg]], [[Clancy]], [[Chip and Dip]]
 ==Sources==

Muppet Wiki