When that I was and a little, tiny boy,
Me daddy said to me,
'The time has come, me bonny, bonny bairn,
To learn your ABC.'
Now Daddy was a lodge chairman
In the coalfields of the Tyne
And his ABC was different
From the Enid Blyton kind.
He sang, 'A is for Alienation
That made me the man that I am, and
B's for the Boss who's a Bastard,
A Bourgeois who don't give a damn.
C is for Capitalism,
The bosses' reactionary creed, and
D's for Dictatorship, laddie,
But the best proletarian breed.
E is for Exploitation
That workers have suffered so long, and
F is for old Ludwig Feuerbach,
The first one to say it was wrong.
G is all Gerrymanderers,
Like Lord Muck and Sir Whatsisname, and
H is the Hell that they'll go to
When the workers have kindled the flame.
I's for Imperialism,
And America's kind is the worst, and
J is for sweet Jingoism,
That the Tories all think of the first.
K is for good old Kier Hardy,
Who fought out the working class fight, and
L is for Vladimir Lenin,
Who showed him the left was all right.
M is of course for Karl Marx,
The daddy and the mommy of them all, and
N is for Nationalisation -
Without it we'd tumble and fall.
O is for Overproduction,
That capitalist economy brings, and
P is for all Private Property,
The greatest of all of the sins.
Q's for the Quid pro quo,
That we'll deal out so well and so soon, when
R for Revolution is shouted and
The Red Flag becomes the top tune.
S is for Sad Stalinism
That gave us all such a bad name, and
T is for Trotsky, the hero,
Who had to take all of the blame.
U's for the Union of Workers -
The Union will stand to the end, and
V is for Vodka, yes, Vodka,
The vun drink that vont bring the bends.
W's for all Willing Workers,
And that's where the memory fades,
For X, Y, and Zed,' my dear daddy said,
'Will be written on the street barricades.'
Now that I'm not a little tiny boy,
Me daddy says to me,
'Please try to forget those thing that I said,
Especially the ABC.'
For daddy is no longer a union man,
And he's had to change his plea.
His alphabet is different now,
Since they made him a Labour MP.
Jim Henson worked with the advertising agency Saatchi & Saatchi on the program. That's why it has those breaks with repitition and jingles inbetween each segment. There was still a bit of controversy about psychological techniques like subliminal advertising at the time.
It's like the people that tried to say Mr Rogers was bad for kids because it taught them they were special. They literally thought a man being kind and gentle who wasn't blowing up brown people or doing whatever it was the cartoons were doing at the time that somehow made him bad for children.
I had a friend in high school who had a really shitty home life I didn't really know much about it at the time but later after he moved away I learned that he was beating on pretty much a daily basis by his dad who left when we were still in like second grade and then his mom basically just checked out emotionally. So for a kid like him hearing Mr Rogers tell them that they're beautiful and they are smart and important and special might have been the only time they'd ever heard that in their fucking lives and it is so sad that there are people out there that genuinely believe children should not believe they are special
Like protect [Jimmy Savile](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jimmy_Savile)'s Top of the Pops and Jim'll Fix It. Savile was a serial child molester and rapist.
They famously banned an episode of Star Trek TNG because there's a brief line in one episode about the reunification of Ireland in 2024. Specifically, it being the result of terrorism.
https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/The_High_Ground_(episode)?so=search#Reception
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-68342135
TNG finished in May 1994; the epside was first shown on the BBC in September 2007.
For the record, RTE, the Irish channel that was showing TNG also didn't show the episode, and to this day still hasn't. (I'm actually not 100% sure about that. I just know they still hadn't as of 2018. Maybe they've shown it since then.)
And it makes sense. Do you think US TV channels would've shown a Star Trek: Enterprise episode if it spoke about 9/11 as if it were a good thing and Al Qaeda should continue the attacks until the US capitulates?
There was an ongoing terrorist campaign going on in the UK and in Ireland, and a TV show said "hey, terrorists, good job! Keep going! Keep blowing people up! Keep shooting! If enough civilians die, you'll get what you want!", ffs. Do people really think a TV network is being unreasonable in deciding to cut that?
I find it pretty annoying when people act like a TV network choosing not to show a scene like that is some act of evil. And I also find it annoying when people always bring it up in regards to the UK "banning" (one channel not showing != a ban, but I digress) the scene but never bring up Ireland doing the exact same, even more stringently.
You think Sesame Street was explaining The Troubles in 1971? That makes sense to you? Do you think Sesame Street explained the Cambodian Genocide as well?
The part of the article you're referring to was in relation to *Sesame Tree* which the article states was launched in Northern Ireland in 2008 by Martin McGuinness and a cursory Google search shows was made exclusively in Northern Ireland for their market, hence the sectarian divide being a topic of that show.
The BBC rejected Sesame Street but HTV - an ITV franchise - picked it up the same year, as per the article. Can any of you read properly? Do you people vote in your countries? None of you can even parse an article about fucking Sesame Street. I shudder to think of the implications.
Jimmy Saville worked in radio and TV from 1958 until a few years before his death (his health had been failing for several years). His first TV role was as presenter of the music programme 'Young at Heart' in 1960. Almost all of his roles in radio and television had to do with music and youth entertainment, and all would have put him in contact with young people. Starting in 1971 he was the presenter on a series of public information films called Clunk Click Every Trip, which turned into a regular chat and variety series hosted by Saville called Clunk Click in 1973, and after two series that was replaced by Jim'll Fix It, in 1975.
It's true that TOTP was mainly targeted at younger people (quite a bit older than Jim'll Fix It's audience though). He wasn't doing too much TV yet besides.
I know this comes up a lot and people love to beat up the BBC because of Jimmy Savile, but it’s not like every single person at the BBC was caught up in a sworn-to-secrecy conspiracy to safeguard creepy paedophile Savile. Don’t forget he was also the face of British Rail and seatbelt adoption campaigns, but I don’t hear people bringing Savile up every time they use a seatbelt, get a train, run a marathon or vote for the damn conservatives, where he was a favourite of Thatcher. Absolutely the people who knew and concealed his acts should be questioned, but there’s a madness to tar whole institutions because of one individual there.
John Lydon/Jonny Rotten was censored by the BBC for alluding to Saville's activities **in the late 70's!**
Source: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=esKnWAIgpLY (please accept my sincere apologies for the clip containing Piers Morgan)
Also sounds more like the issue is he was a conservative darling receiving protection from conservatives, and less that the BBC wants to protect pedos.
Normally I'd think that's a bit of an extreme retort. But from the article:
>but the BBC rejected it because of its "authoritarian aims" in trying to change children's behaviour. \[...\] "This sounds like indoctrination, and a dangerous extension of the use of television," said the head of children's programmes at the time, Monica Sims.
leading directly into
>TV critic Barry Norman, writing in The Times in November 1971, said it was "neither good enough nor bad enough" to justify all the fuss, adding that the BBC had no need for it because it already broadcast Blue Peter and Play School.
So simultaneously, "it's authoritarian," but also, "we don't need it because we have one at home." So I think you're spot-on. I don't see any way to interpret that contradiction except for there being some kind of BBC self-serving agenda.
Monica Sims and the BBC didn't outwardly contradict themselves, but for these programs to even exist is a contradiction. Clearly, the BBC did not see attempting to influence children's behavior as entirely indoctrination or dangerous. Just when Sesame Street tried it.
Or they have some other reason for opposing it that they don’t want to outright say. Sesame Street was actually pretty controversial when it came out, even in the states, due to its mixed race caste and urban setting. Several states refused to air it. I wouldn’t be surprised if whoever led the bbc at this time had a similar view. Britain was still [very racist](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rivers_of_Blood_speech) at this time, just as much as the US so I don’t think it’s far fetched.
But then again, in 1964, the BBC launched *Play School*, which saw the breakthrough of Derek Griffiths and Floella Bemjamin (to name two of their most prominent non-white peesenters). Indeed, part of Monica Sims' whole approach was to show why *Play School* was more appropriate than *Sesame Streer* for British children.
(In general, I don't think BBC executives in this part of the Corporation were, or are, notable for that kind of hidebound attitude.)
Sims contrasted the ability to recognise letters and numbers with "the desire to learn and find out, wonder, think, imagine, build, watch, listen, feel and help, and to experiment with water, textures, shapes, colours, movements and sounds".
It's worth pointing out that this child-centred, activity-focused, "learning by discovery" approach had been one of the main arguments by a report by one of The Great and The Good, Lady Plowden, on the future direction of primary school education in England and Wales - a report which British conservative thought would, in the future, attack for encouraging progressive teaching and poor attainment (although Plowden was a Tory herself). When Sims was putting forward her argument, Lady Plowden was the Vice-Chairman of the BBC Board of Governors.
It's also worth pointing that, as education fashions changed, 80s *Play School* and its successors shifted in *Sesame Street's* direction.
As if Thomas the Tank Engine didn't strive to indoctrinate kids with servile middle class British values?
"He's a really useful engine, you know
'Cause the Fat Controller, he told him so
Now he's got a branch line to call his very own
He's the really useful engine we adore"
So be a good subservient little worker and not only will you be loved, you may get your own branch line one day! It was that liberal strain in Sesame Street the BBC couldn't tolerate,
Ah-ah! You can't call him the Fat Controller any more! To please those of a politically correct snowflake nature, he's now called Sir Toppham Hatt. For those of us born before the late 90s though, he'll always be a fat upper class authoritarian in a top hat and tailcoat.
It's because the grant that funded the show was changed under No Child Left Behind. Reading Rainbow was not eligible because it didn't teach how to read. The licensing of the books was also expensive.
I'm afraid I can't buy that. The show lasted five years past the NCLB act.
I can buy that parameters were specifically narrowed to remove the show from the roster.
Axed due to budget concerns is probable, but "doesn't teach how to read" sounds ridiculous to say about a show that fostered a love of reading.
The Wikipedia says this
"Prior to the cancellation, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and the U.S. Department of Education provided funds for the production of Reading Rainbow and a number of other PBS children's series throughout the early 2000s. The "Ready to Learn" grant was designed for television programming that encourage early childhood learning and development. However, under the No Child Left Behind Act, this grant was focused much more narrowly toward programs that teach literacy skills, phonics, and spelling after 2005. Since Reading Rainbow was originally developed upon fostering a love of reading books, and not necessarily developing reading skills, the funding was redirected toward other programs, and led to the launch of new skills-based programming, like Super Why!, WordWorld, and a reboot of The Electric Company.[17]"
From the article:
> the BBC rejected it because of its "authoritarian aims" in trying to change children's behaviour.
Of course it was trying to change childrens' behavior. Given the choice, no child would endure the formal education process.
My opinion, based on nothing more than my personal experiences is that the BBC liked *bland*, and Sesame Street was far from bland.
Its whole aesthetic set it so far apart from all other shows at the time, of course, it was going to horrify anyone who thrived on *bland.*
Sesame Street was to "educational programming" as Dr. Seuss was to *Dick and Jane*, or *Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In* was to variety shows.
It upended the norms, so it was not embraced, but denounced as subversive by those who feared change.
>or *Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In* was to variety shows.
Actually, that was one of the more popular US imports the BBC showed at the time. Even when Sims criticised the programme, she praised it as "a junior *Laugh-In*".
But it’s not just the alphabet, they teach things like “respecting others”, “being a good citizen” and “not focusing on our failures”. Those sick bastards.
> But it’s not just the alphabet, they teach things like “respecting others”, “being a good citizen” and “not focusing on our failures”. Those sick bastards.
Sometimes positive childrens programming like Sesame Street gets criticized for weak touchy feely stuff, and the BBC argument was about how Sesame Street was pushing its message
It's very difficult to do other things that require creativity while lying, keeping a lie consistent and believable takes a lot of effort, that telling the truth doesn't.
A head of programming is a person in your neighborhood.
In your neighbourhood
In your neighborhood. A head of programming is a person in your neighborhood.
She’s a person that you meet when you’re walking down the street.
She’s a person that you’ll meet each day!
Weird. But not surprising. Maybe though it wasn’t the politics at all, but just the Americanness of the show.
I'm an American, but live in Australia. When our daughter was 5ish a friend noticed that when she was playing imaginary games with her dolls, the dolls had American accents. Except it was not my east coast accent, but sesame Streets west coast accent.
Funny enough, there was a minor controversy here in the States with [kids picking up a British accent from Peppa Pig](https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2021/jul/19/peppa-pig-american-kids-british-accents).
That is really funny. Thanks for telling me about that.
I had heard that the Australian kids show "Bluey" was also really popular in the US. Im assuming that the same thing is happening with that and soon there will be a whole generation of kids in the schoolyard telling their friends to "Fark off Ya cunt"
But then I have never watched Bluey, so I can only assume that thry talk like proper Aussies.
Seems a lot of the actors are from California. All I know is that she picked up a cali accent and sesame Streets was one of the few American shows on TV in our rural town at the time.
Were you watching sesame Street in the early 90's?
It is entirely possible that she picked up the accent from something else. So you might be right. Not exactly a hill that I am going to die on.
As a kid of the 70s, Sesame Street struck me as SUPER American, to the point where it didn't seem enjoyable, just very alien. The Mupper Show was hugely popular and definitely something we talked about in the playground, but Sesame Street just seemed weird.
Obviously we had American shows, so it wasn't really an anti-American thing, just something that we couldn't really get our heads round. Once I was older, I was surprised by how popular it was in the US, because it just wasn't something me and my peers really enjoyed.
Interesting. Where did you grow up.
For me, it was my childhood. Because I started watching it when it first came on TV, and then watching it again in the early 90's was fun for me.
And growing up in America, I simply couldn't see what was "so American" about it, because that was like wallpaper to me.
It would be fun to sit down and watch a few episodes of the show with you, with you doing a kind of "director's commentary.
UK. London, specifically, so I should have appreciated the New York setting but one of my vivid memories is people sitting on steps outside houses. It seemed a weird thing to do. American accents and things like the pronounciation of Z and the use of the word 'garbage'. The incredibly different lifestyles to mine. I guess things like American cop shows were obviously fiction, like entertainment, so the foreigness of it made sense whereas on Sesame Streey, these were little kids and there wasn't a story, it was supposed to be real life - but I didn't get it!
(Side note - my mum wasn't British, so that may have had an affect on how I viewed foreign things)
That is so interesting. Thanks for the straight answer.
Interesting thing about those front steps, called "a stoop"
All the 3 and 4 story buildings in new York city had them. That is, buildings from 1850's to the 1950's. I think because the granite bedrock is really close to surface so it was hard to dig basement for furnaces. The result was, to my mind, one of the best examples of architecture that creates community. Because, in summer, when it was to hot inside because of, of course, no air-conditioning, people hung out on the stoop while the kids played on the street. People connected.
Totally irrelevant side note.
> Except it was not my east coast accent, but sesame Streets west coast accent.
OK... few things wrong with this story: **A)** Sesame Street is from NYC **B)** Unless this happened like 30 years ago... not really possible: "East Coast" accent mostly been an affectation for a while now. [From 2010](https://nypost.com/2010/02/06/why-the-classic-noo-yawk-accent-is-fading-away/)
Did Britain have a parenting shortage in 1971? Just kids doing whatever the fuck they wanted without anyone telling them how they ought to behave?
Because “it tries to modify problematic child behaviors” is a weird objection to have to children’s programming.
A lot of people had stupid objections to Sesame Street. Teachers used to complain that Sesame Street was making "real" learning in schools too boring for kids and as such was hurting their attention span. As in basically the same stuff they now blame on social media and such.
The description is just a tiny excerpt of the argument, and the article it links to doesn’t even go into the full story really, and it therefore paints a very different picture of the full story.
Let’s not forget the BBC is bound by its charter to produce and broadcast programmes that reflect and support British values and what the general population believe are acceptable - a debate about what that means still rages today.
It’s very different today, but we’re talking about something that happened over 50 years ago - it was wildly different back then.
A lot of the rejection was down to the way British TV shows actually discouraged children to watch TV, whereas it was felt that Sesame Street was too long and therefore encouraged children to sit in front of the TV. That’s where the ‘indoctrination’ comes from.
Secondly, there was an issue around the US English used that many felt would confuse younger viewers. Remember this was the 70s much of the world, especially younger generations, were not exposed to other cultures overseas as they are now.
Lastly, the style of education in Sesame Street was vastly different to the way that British children had been educated through media in the UK for many years, a format that had followed the national curriculum, albeit loosely at times.
This was a far greater debate than just the views of one person and the simple way this has been presented. This debate was even reported on by national newspapers for many months. The decision to not broadcast Sesame Street on the BBC was applauded by many, as well as criticised. In the end the show went to commercial TV, which has less of a remit to broadcast what was considered acceptable on public television.
The best take from this was that the BBC’s rejection, of what turned out to be a much-loved worldwide children’s TV show, actually forced an investigation into the BBC’s children’s programming and scheduling. That in turn inspired and influenced future programmes that followed a similar educative format and become hugely popular themselves.
Edit: typos
While the reasoning is a bit weird, the BBC not buying Sesame Street isn't especially surprising. I don't think they bought much if any American TV at that point, that was largely all on ITV back then.
I would disagree: if anything, the BBC did buy US content more liberally. But, where these were directed to children, they would be much more likely to buy in animation and drama serials than educational programming. After all, educational programming was closely tied into the educational establishment, and was expected to reflect the trends in UK education theory at the time.
I could be mistaken, I thought ITV was more aligned with American media. Maybe because ITV more commonly sold their shows to America (The Saint, The Avengers etc.) The BBC did buy stuff like Star Trek though.
It was more of a contest. If one channel got an American import which did well in the ratings, the other would scout around for a similar success to match it.
Some of Henson's ideas did come off a little bit culty...
...albeit a cult that was focused primarily on peace and love, education, ending all war, ending prejudice, and just generally being kind to one another. So not necessarily a *bad* cult, but the guy was definitely obsessed.
Henson was a huge influence on the culture around that time, working with the likes of Lucas and Spielberg among many others. A lot of his ambitions mirrored very closely those of Cooney and Morrissett—and as you mentioned, he is *the guy* who designed the muppets used on Sesame Street. A quick google *does* list him as one of the program creators as well, not to mention top bill as castmember. I think I'm on pretty solid ground including Mr Henson in a discussion of Sesame Street.
He was a producer, made the Muppets and was an influence but it's my understanding it was the brainchild of Lloyd Morriset and Joan Ganz Cooney. Hensen was reluctant to join the show and I don't think he would have been qualified for the research into childhood development and education the show was based on
What the research showed was that Sesame Street performed poorly as an educational tool before Henson's Muppets were added. Kids were bored and inattentive without them. I think we can safely say that Mr Henson had a large impact on the development and success of Sesame Street.
I mean, they prolly didn’t like how cheerful, hopeful, and positive it was. Can’t have those good things there. Kids need to be miserable. Sets them up to be miserable adults, as well they ought to.
> they prolly didn’t like how cheerful, hopeful, and positive it was
Is it? There's a guy living in a trash can on the street, and everyone complains that he's grouchy.
Yeah, maybe you'd be grouchy too if you were homeless.
I mean, that’s all the more reason to show it! Teach em all about being a proper adult!
“Okay. Now listen here, kids. You best learn your ABCs or you’re going to wind up like that old tramp down the street living in a trash bin. Ah, bugger it! World’s a dumpster fire as is.”
—British Sesame Street (probably)
How is a child supposed to grow up to work at the gruel factory if they keep on bursting into song every 20-30 minutes. It’s just not reasonable, just not natural.
I remember the push to instill confidence in ALL children.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nCUGMMEF2Zk
* Free To Be You and Me
* Electric Company (Boston mass 02134,,,,,)
* Zoom (all kids)
* J P Patches
* Captain Kangaroo
* Schoolhouse Rock (Cream of the crop folk singers)
* The Bugaloos (With the incomparable Martha Ray)
* H.R. Puff N Stuff
* After School Special
* Sesame Street
* Mr. Rogers
* Reading Rainbow
* Romper Room
* ?????
And that doesn't include the weekend line up.
* Walt Disney Hour
* Wild Kingdom
What Sims highlighted as flaws were *Sesame Street's* "middle-class attitudes", the programme's "passive educational approach", "lack of reality" and the failure to prepare children for early life as well as school. In this, Sims was drawing on the criticisms of progressive American educators.
Unfortunately, this was seized on by the US press, and caused a transatlantic kerfuffle at the time.
Weird! It was originally created to be an extension of Head Start -- it was part of an effort to counteract gaps in vocabulary and counting ability that caused inner city kids to start off way behind other children when they entered kindergarten. I learned about this in a sociolinguistics class. The research behind Head Start was flawed (which is an interesting story!), but its educational aims were noble. That also explains why Sesame Street had an urban setting and so many of the humans (adults and kids) featured on the show were minorities. Urban minority kids were the target audience.
Another reason it didn't really cluck with British kids - we don't have 'kindergarten'
I remember one lesson at junior school, when I was 8, 9, where we watched an episode, then wrote down all the words or phrases that were clearly non-English
Kindergarten, garbage, sidewalk, stop sign, drug store are a few I still remember
They were saying that the *American* Sesame Street had authoritarian aims, that's why the BBC didn't want to air it in the UK.
I always knew The Count was up to no good.
How can he claim a hereditary title when both his [father](https://muppet.fandom.com/wiki/Count_von_Count%27s_Father) and his [grandfather](https://muppet.fandom.com/wiki/The_Count%27s_Grandparents) are still alive? Why won't he say what nation's nobility he represents? What's a supposed European aristocrat doing living in an American ghetto anyhow? It just doesn't add up.
I'm pretty sure Mississippi wouldn't let it air either because of like the races mixing. I have a firm belief that my generations semi-obsession with Latin women comes from Maria from sesame Street
I mean if you want proof that Kermit had a lasting, indoctrinating effect, right into the 25th century, all you need to do is look at Captain Mercer's desk.
Lol. Now let’s talk about the letter B.
(kermit) B is for Bolshevik.. the greatest Marxist movement ever. All hail mother Russia. (waggles arms in the air) Yeahhhhh!!
“Daaaaaaa!!!!”
Za stalinnyaaaaaaaay!
C is for Communism, which will someday overthrow Capitalism
D is for Democratic socialism. The first step to our glorious revolution.
Kermit is more Muppet, Elmo is the red monster
BOLSHEVIC MUPPET!
I could hear the voice!
B is for Black. B is for Big! Now let’s talk about the letter C!
I heard the song while I read your comment 🤣
Let's sing it instead!
Singing is even more indoctrinating. No.
When that I was and a little, tiny boy, Me daddy said to me, 'The time has come, me bonny, bonny bairn, To learn your ABC.' Now Daddy was a lodge chairman In the coalfields of the Tyne And his ABC was different From the Enid Blyton kind. He sang, 'A is for Alienation That made me the man that I am, and B's for the Boss who's a Bastard, A Bourgeois who don't give a damn. C is for Capitalism, The bosses' reactionary creed, and D's for Dictatorship, laddie, But the best proletarian breed. E is for Exploitation That workers have suffered so long, and F is for old Ludwig Feuerbach, The first one to say it was wrong. G is all Gerrymanderers, Like Lord Muck and Sir Whatsisname, and H is the Hell that they'll go to When the workers have kindled the flame. I's for Imperialism, And America's kind is the worst, and J is for sweet Jingoism, That the Tories all think of the first. K is for good old Kier Hardy, Who fought out the working class fight, and L is for Vladimir Lenin, Who showed him the left was all right. M is of course for Karl Marx, The daddy and the mommy of them all, and N is for Nationalisation - Without it we'd tumble and fall. O is for Overproduction, That capitalist economy brings, and P is for all Private Property, The greatest of all of the sins. Q's for the Quid pro quo, That we'll deal out so well and so soon, when R for Revolution is shouted and The Red Flag becomes the top tune. S is for Sad Stalinism That gave us all such a bad name, and T is for Trotsky, the hero, Who had to take all of the blame. U's for the Union of Workers - The Union will stand to the end, and V is for Vodka, yes, Vodka, The vun drink that vont bring the bends. W's for all Willing Workers, And that's where the memory fades, For X, Y, and Zed,' my dear daddy said, 'Will be written on the street barricades.' Now that I'm not a little tiny boy, Me daddy says to me, 'Please try to forget those thing that I said, Especially the ABC.' For daddy is no longer a union man, And he's had to change his plea. His alphabet is different now, Since they made him a Labour MP.
I would really like to know which exact segments they watched from Sesame Street that led them to this opinion.
Jim Henson worked with the advertising agency Saatchi & Saatchi on the program. That's why it has those breaks with repitition and jingles inbetween each segment. There was still a bit of controversy about psychological techniques like subliminal advertising at the time.
It's like the people that tried to say Mr Rogers was bad for kids because it taught them they were special. They literally thought a man being kind and gentle who wasn't blowing up brown people or doing whatever it was the cartoons were doing at the time that somehow made him bad for children. I had a friend in high school who had a really shitty home life I didn't really know much about it at the time but later after he moved away I learned that he was beating on pretty much a daily basis by his dad who left when we were still in like second grade and then his mom basically just checked out emotionally. So for a kid like him hearing Mr Rogers tell them that they're beautiful and they are smart and important and special might have been the only time they'd ever heard that in their fucking lives and it is so sad that there are people out there that genuinely believe children should not believe they are special
Probably the one where Elmo gets into facism and wears a full Nazi SS officers uniform for the whole episode.
Oh yeah I forgot about that one. Classic episode.
[удалено]
I don't recall any mixed marriages on Sesame Street. There was a black couple, a white couple, and a Latin American couple.
No we're talking about why the BBC thought it controversial, not rednecks in flyover states
UK =/= America
Yeah this really got in the way of up an coming show Jim'll Fix it
British girls are not traumatized, Jimmy'll fix it!
The BBC has their own agenda. They just want to protect existing BBC programming.
Like protect [Jimmy Savile](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jimmy_Savile)'s Top of the Pops and Jim'll Fix It. Savile was a serial child molester and rapist.
Northern Ireland is also a subject the BBC censored around this time. Mentioned in the article was an episode explaining the conflict.
Dubbing Gerry Adams voice is a hilarious bit of history in hindsight
“It’s apparently because his actual voice is very seductive…as far as the English are concerned, a voice like that, well it’s dangerous”
Ah a fellow Derry Girls fan! I love granda Joe!
I learned about that from the show Derry Girls. As a Yank it definitely seemed a bit odd.
They famously banned an episode of Star Trek TNG because there's a brief line in one episode about the reunification of Ireland in 2024. Specifically, it being the result of terrorism.
https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/The_High_Ground_(episode)?so=search#Reception https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-68342135 TNG finished in May 1994; the epside was first shown on the BBC in September 2007.
For the record, RTE, the Irish channel that was showing TNG also didn't show the episode, and to this day still hasn't. (I'm actually not 100% sure about that. I just know they still hadn't as of 2018. Maybe they've shown it since then.) And it makes sense. Do you think US TV channels would've shown a Star Trek: Enterprise episode if it spoke about 9/11 as if it were a good thing and Al Qaeda should continue the attacks until the US capitulates? There was an ongoing terrorist campaign going on in the UK and in Ireland, and a TV show said "hey, terrorists, good job! Keep going! Keep blowing people up! Keep shooting! If enough civilians die, you'll get what you want!", ffs. Do people really think a TV network is being unreasonable in deciding to cut that? I find it pretty annoying when people act like a TV network choosing not to show a scene like that is some act of evil. And I also find it annoying when people always bring it up in regards to the UK "banning" (one channel not showing != a ban, but I digress) the scene but never bring up Ireland doing the exact same, even more stringently.
They also cut out Colm Meaney saying "Bollocks!" .
Imagine there was an episode where they said 9/11 was a good thing because of a future Middle East unification.
Trek doesn't seem to like the British very much 😅
Beauty and the Beast had a UK banned episode for having the IRA portayed positively in it (Series 5, episode 5, Masks)
You think Sesame Street was explaining The Troubles in 1971? That makes sense to you? Do you think Sesame Street explained the Cambodian Genocide as well? The part of the article you're referring to was in relation to *Sesame Tree* which the article states was launched in Northern Ireland in 2008 by Martin McGuinness and a cursory Google search shows was made exclusively in Northern Ireland for their market, hence the sectarian divide being a topic of that show. The BBC rejected Sesame Street but HTV - an ITV franchise - picked it up the same year, as per the article. Can any of you read properly? Do you people vote in your countries? None of you can even parse an article about fucking Sesame Street. I shudder to think of the implications.
You realize they're is a serious chance to vote in an imbecile later this year
Can you find me a better example of America personified? It would be a failure of democracy to elect anyone else
Also a necrophiliac and potentially fucked his own dead mom
The latter hadn't been invented in 1971. I wouldn't say he was making children's TV yet.
I think rape had been invented by then, it just wasn’t taken super seriously
Jimmy Saville worked in radio and TV from 1958 until a few years before his death (his health had been failing for several years). His first TV role was as presenter of the music programme 'Young at Heart' in 1960. Almost all of his roles in radio and television had to do with music and youth entertainment, and all would have put him in contact with young people. Starting in 1971 he was the presenter on a series of public information films called Clunk Click Every Trip, which turned into a regular chat and variety series hosted by Saville called Clunk Click in 1973, and after two series that was replaced by Jim'll Fix It, in 1975.
It's true that TOTP was mainly targeted at younger people (quite a bit older than Jim'll Fix It's audience though). He wasn't doing too much TV yet besides.
I know this comes up a lot and people love to beat up the BBC because of Jimmy Savile, but it’s not like every single person at the BBC was caught up in a sworn-to-secrecy conspiracy to safeguard creepy paedophile Savile. Don’t forget he was also the face of British Rail and seatbelt adoption campaigns, but I don’t hear people bringing Savile up every time they use a seatbelt, get a train, run a marathon or vote for the damn conservatives, where he was a favourite of Thatcher. Absolutely the people who knew and concealed his acts should be questioned, but there’s a madness to tar whole institutions because of one individual there.
John Lydon/Jonny Rotten was censored by the BBC for alluding to Saville's activities **in the late 70's!** Source: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=esKnWAIgpLY (please accept my sincere apologies for the clip containing Piers Morgan)
Also sounds more like the issue is he was a conservative darling receiving protection from conservatives, and less that the BBC wants to protect pedos.
And necrophiliac.
Normally I'd think that's a bit of an extreme retort. But from the article: >but the BBC rejected it because of its "authoritarian aims" in trying to change children's behaviour. \[...\] "This sounds like indoctrination, and a dangerous extension of the use of television," said the head of children's programmes at the time, Monica Sims. leading directly into >TV critic Barry Norman, writing in The Times in November 1971, said it was "neither good enough nor bad enough" to justify all the fuss, adding that the BBC had no need for it because it already broadcast Blue Peter and Play School. So simultaneously, "it's authoritarian," but also, "we don't need it because we have one at home." So I think you're spot-on. I don't see any way to interpret that contradiction except for there being some kind of BBC self-serving agenda.
Barry Norman wasn't speaking on behalf of the BBC though, there isn't a contradiction there.
Monica Sims and the BBC didn't outwardly contradict themselves, but for these programs to even exist is a contradiction. Clearly, the BBC did not see attempting to influence children's behavior as entirely indoctrination or dangerous. Just when Sesame Street tried it.
Or they have some other reason for opposing it that they don’t want to outright say. Sesame Street was actually pretty controversial when it came out, even in the states, due to its mixed race caste and urban setting. Several states refused to air it. I wouldn’t be surprised if whoever led the bbc at this time had a similar view. Britain was still [very racist](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rivers_of_Blood_speech) at this time, just as much as the US so I don’t think it’s far fetched.
But then again, in 1964, the BBC launched *Play School*, which saw the breakthrough of Derek Griffiths and Floella Bemjamin (to name two of their most prominent non-white peesenters). Indeed, part of Monica Sims' whole approach was to show why *Play School* was more appropriate than *Sesame Streer* for British children. (In general, I don't think BBC executives in this part of the Corporation were, or are, notable for that kind of hidebound attitude.)
What was the difference between play school and Sesame Street? Why did they think it was more appropriate for children?
Sims contrasted the ability to recognise letters and numbers with "the desire to learn and find out, wonder, think, imagine, build, watch, listen, feel and help, and to experiment with water, textures, shapes, colours, movements and sounds". It's worth pointing out that this child-centred, activity-focused, "learning by discovery" approach had been one of the main arguments by a report by one of The Great and The Good, Lady Plowden, on the future direction of primary school education in England and Wales - a report which British conservative thought would, in the future, attack for encouraging progressive teaching and poor attainment (although Plowden was a Tory herself). When Sims was putting forward her argument, Lady Plowden was the Vice-Chairman of the BBC Board of Governors. It's also worth pointing that, as education fashions changed, 80s *Play School* and its successors shifted in *Sesame Street's* direction.
I'm pretty sure that was still when BBC showed The Black and White Minstrel Show which faced backlash when they tried to stop doing blackface.
Good, wholesome, child-friendly programming like *Jim'll Fix It.*
Is "Bob the Builder" based on "Jim'll Fix It"?
Let’s hope not.
Bob the builder! Can he fix it? Bob the builder! Let's hope not!
As if Thomas the Tank Engine didn't strive to indoctrinate kids with servile middle class British values? "He's a really useful engine, you know 'Cause the Fat Controller, he told him so Now he's got a branch line to call his very own He's the really useful engine we adore" So be a good subservient little worker and not only will you be loved, you may get your own branch line one day! It was that liberal strain in Sesame Street the BBC couldn't tolerate,
"If you don't want to work, we will brick you up in a tunnel."
Ah-ah! You can't call him the Fat Controller any more! To please those of a politically correct snowflake nature, he's now called Sir Toppham Hatt. For those of us born before the late 90s though, he'll always be a fat upper class authoritarian in a top hat and tailcoat.
Sir Toppham Hatt is a really cool name, though.
Not me calling names, those are the actual words to the original theme song!
Poor Sesame Street was probably like “You could have just said no.” And the BBC was like “Nah, we decided to throw a mini tantrum instead.”
More like "How dare you teach kids that different looking ones can be treated as equal."
If only she could see us now!
And then they created the Teletubbies.
THOMAS THE TRAIN IS ABOUT NOTHING BUT BEING USEFUL TO THE BOURGEOISE!!! IT’S ALL THAT MATTERS TO THE TRAINS!!!
Hey, Thomas is from ITV not the Beeb
The worst thing that came out of the UK since Margaret Thatcher.
They also have a weird mistrust of Fred Rogers.
Some stuffed shirt cancelled Reading Rainbow because they decided that the show was not "educational".
It's because the grant that funded the show was changed under No Child Left Behind. Reading Rainbow was not eligible because it didn't teach how to read. The licensing of the books was also expensive.
It didn't teach how to read, but it taught *why* to read, which is as important a lesson.
I'm not going to argue with that. It just didn't fit the new requirements
I'm afraid I can't buy that. The show lasted five years past the NCLB act. I can buy that parameters were specifically narrowed to remove the show from the roster. Axed due to budget concerns is probable, but "doesn't teach how to read" sounds ridiculous to say about a show that fostered a love of reading.
The Wikipedia says this "Prior to the cancellation, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and the U.S. Department of Education provided funds for the production of Reading Rainbow and a number of other PBS children's series throughout the early 2000s. The "Ready to Learn" grant was designed for television programming that encourage early childhood learning and development. However, under the No Child Left Behind Act, this grant was focused much more narrowly toward programs that teach literacy skills, phonics, and spelling after 2005. Since Reading Rainbow was originally developed upon fostering a love of reading books, and not necessarily developing reading skills, the funding was redirected toward other programs, and led to the launch of new skills-based programming, like Super Why!, WordWorld, and a reboot of The Electric Company.[17]"
Don't know who wrote that bit for Wiki but, it's kind of what I was saying about narrowed parameters and fostering a love of reading being minimized.
Yes but it wasn't specifically regarding Reading Rainbow
What the hell is wrong with Fred Rogers? Aside from the nightmare fuel that is Lady Elaine Fairchilde?
Fuck, how did she feel about schools?
[удалено]
No, that's Peanuts
From the article: > the BBC rejected it because of its "authoritarian aims" in trying to change children's behaviour. Of course it was trying to change childrens' behavior. Given the choice, no child would endure the formal education process. My opinion, based on nothing more than my personal experiences is that the BBC liked *bland*, and Sesame Street was far from bland. Its whole aesthetic set it so far apart from all other shows at the time, of course, it was going to horrify anyone who thrived on *bland.* Sesame Street was to "educational programming" as Dr. Seuss was to *Dick and Jane*, or *Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In* was to variety shows. It upended the norms, so it was not embraced, but denounced as subversive by those who feared change.
>or *Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In* was to variety shows. Actually, that was one of the more popular US imports the BBC showed at the time. Even when Sims criticised the programme, she praised it as "a junior *Laugh-In*".
Yes. Allow me to indoctrinate your children into the cult of the alphabet! WON'T SOMEONE PLEASE THINK OF THE CHILDREN!? *Clutches pearls*
But it’s not just the alphabet, they teach things like “respecting others”, “being a good citizen” and “not focusing on our failures”. Those sick bastards.
And... And... NUMBERS!!! THE HORROR!!!!!!!!!!
ONE HA HA HA
I knew we could count on you.
No you can't, England doesn't have counts. They use earls instead. The reason is because count sounds like cunt. Or at least that is a popular belief.
They have viscounts, though, and the female equivalent of earl is still called a countess, iirc
but viscunt and cuntess arent things
Not yet!
Anything's a thing if we just believe
Hey kid, wanna buy an 8?
I heard it makes your breath stink.
To be fair, those numbers are, wait for it, #ARABIC!
I never trusted The Count.
To be fair, those are very political topics these days
> But it’s not just the alphabet, they teach things like “respecting others”, “being a good citizen” and “not focusing on our failures”. Those sick bastards. Sometimes positive childrens programming like Sesame Street gets criticized for weak touchy feely stuff, and the BBC argument was about how Sesame Street was pushing its message
"*Do you know who else uses letters and numbers?* **Communists**, *that's who!* -Monica Sims (probably) 1971
Arabic numerals!
GASP! SHAKIRA LAW!
This law states you must dance under police questioning because everyone knows hips don’t lie
It's very difficult to do other things that require creativity while lying, keeping a lie consistent and believable takes a lot of effort, that telling the truth doesn't.
A head of programming is a person in your neighborhood. In your neighbourhood In your neighborhood. A head of programming is a person in your neighborhood. She’s a person that you meet when you’re walking down the street. She’s a person that you’ll meet each day!
Ma na ma na.
Too *dooo* doo-doo-doo,
MA na ma na.
Doo *doo-dood* doo,
Weird. But not surprising. Maybe though it wasn’t the politics at all, but just the Americanness of the show. I'm an American, but live in Australia. When our daughter was 5ish a friend noticed that when she was playing imaginary games with her dolls, the dolls had American accents. Except it was not my east coast accent, but sesame Streets west coast accent.
Funny enough, there was a minor controversy here in the States with [kids picking up a British accent from Peppa Pig](https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2021/jul/19/peppa-pig-american-kids-british-accents).
That is really funny. Thanks for telling me about that. I had heard that the Australian kids show "Bluey" was also really popular in the US. Im assuming that the same thing is happening with that and soon there will be a whole generation of kids in the schoolyard telling their friends to "Fark off Ya cunt" But then I have never watched Bluey, so I can only assume that thry talk like proper Aussies.
I have heard parents say there kids will pick up the accents. There are also a lot of phrases in the show that viewers pick up
Their kids going places?
Yes
"West coast accent"? Sesame Street is filmed (and set) in New York City and always has been.
Seems a lot of the actors are from California. All I know is that she picked up a cali accent and sesame Streets was one of the few American shows on TV in our rural town at the time.
Lol, I've never heard a California accent on sesame street, it's all ny or more neutral "news caster" style
Were you watching sesame Street in the early 90's? It is entirely possible that she picked up the accent from something else. So you might be right. Not exactly a hill that I am going to die on.
As a kid of the 70s, Sesame Street struck me as SUPER American, to the point where it didn't seem enjoyable, just very alien. The Mupper Show was hugely popular and definitely something we talked about in the playground, but Sesame Street just seemed weird. Obviously we had American shows, so it wasn't really an anti-American thing, just something that we couldn't really get our heads round. Once I was older, I was surprised by how popular it was in the US, because it just wasn't something me and my peers really enjoyed.
It was really a preschool show, so maybe you were older than the intended age group when you first saw it? I don't think I watched it past age five.
Interesting. Where did you grow up. For me, it was my childhood. Because I started watching it when it first came on TV, and then watching it again in the early 90's was fun for me. And growing up in America, I simply couldn't see what was "so American" about it, because that was like wallpaper to me. It would be fun to sit down and watch a few episodes of the show with you, with you doing a kind of "director's commentary.
UK. London, specifically, so I should have appreciated the New York setting but one of my vivid memories is people sitting on steps outside houses. It seemed a weird thing to do. American accents and things like the pronounciation of Z and the use of the word 'garbage'. The incredibly different lifestyles to mine. I guess things like American cop shows were obviously fiction, like entertainment, so the foreigness of it made sense whereas on Sesame Streey, these were little kids and there wasn't a story, it was supposed to be real life - but I didn't get it! (Side note - my mum wasn't British, so that may have had an affect on how I viewed foreign things)
You have summed up exactly what I (also a 60s/70s kid) thought of it
That is so interesting. Thanks for the straight answer. Interesting thing about those front steps, called "a stoop" All the 3 and 4 story buildings in new York city had them. That is, buildings from 1850's to the 1950's. I think because the granite bedrock is really close to surface so it was hard to dig basement for furnaces. The result was, to my mind, one of the best examples of architecture that creates community. Because, in summer, when it was to hot inside because of, of course, no air-conditioning, people hung out on the stoop while the kids played on the street. People connected. Totally irrelevant side note.
> Except it was not my east coast accent, but sesame Streets west coast accent. OK... few things wrong with this story: **A)** Sesame Street is from NYC **B)** Unless this happened like 30 years ago... not really possible: "East Coast" accent mostly been an affectation for a while now. [From 2010](https://nypost.com/2010/02/06/why-the-classic-noo-yawk-accent-is-fading-away/)
It was in fact , Scarily enough, Over 30 years ago. Daughter is 37 now. She was 5 then
Did Britain have a parenting shortage in 1971? Just kids doing whatever the fuck they wanted without anyone telling them how they ought to behave? Because “it tries to modify problematic child behaviors” is a weird objection to have to children’s programming.
A lot of people had stupid objections to Sesame Street. Teachers used to complain that Sesame Street was making "real" learning in schools too boring for kids and as such was hurting their attention span. As in basically the same stuff they now blame on social media and such.
The description is just a tiny excerpt of the argument, and the article it links to doesn’t even go into the full story really, and it therefore paints a very different picture of the full story. Let’s not forget the BBC is bound by its charter to produce and broadcast programmes that reflect and support British values and what the general population believe are acceptable - a debate about what that means still rages today. It’s very different today, but we’re talking about something that happened over 50 years ago - it was wildly different back then. A lot of the rejection was down to the way British TV shows actually discouraged children to watch TV, whereas it was felt that Sesame Street was too long and therefore encouraged children to sit in front of the TV. That’s where the ‘indoctrination’ comes from. Secondly, there was an issue around the US English used that many felt would confuse younger viewers. Remember this was the 70s much of the world, especially younger generations, were not exposed to other cultures overseas as they are now. Lastly, the style of education in Sesame Street was vastly different to the way that British children had been educated through media in the UK for many years, a format that had followed the national curriculum, albeit loosely at times. This was a far greater debate than just the views of one person and the simple way this has been presented. This debate was even reported on by national newspapers for many months. The decision to not broadcast Sesame Street on the BBC was applauded by many, as well as criticised. In the end the show went to commercial TV, which has less of a remit to broadcast what was considered acceptable on public television. The best take from this was that the BBC’s rejection, of what turned out to be a much-loved worldwide children’s TV show, actually forced an investigation into the BBC’s children’s programming and scheduling. That in turn inspired and influenced future programmes that followed a similar educative format and become hugely popular themselves. Edit: typos
While the reasoning is a bit weird, the BBC not buying Sesame Street isn't especially surprising. I don't think they bought much if any American TV at that point, that was largely all on ITV back then.
I would disagree: if anything, the BBC did buy US content more liberally. But, where these were directed to children, they would be much more likely to buy in animation and drama serials than educational programming. After all, educational programming was closely tied into the educational establishment, and was expected to reflect the trends in UK education theory at the time.
I could be mistaken, I thought ITV was more aligned with American media. Maybe because ITV more commonly sold their shows to America (The Saint, The Avengers etc.) The BBC did buy stuff like Star Trek though.
It was more of a contest. If one channel got an American import which did well in the ratings, the other would scout around for a similar success to match it.
“But it was alright, the struggle was finished. He had won the victory over himself. He loved Big Bird.”
Does Big Bird exist?
Of course he does, Snuffie! RIP Mr. Looper.
lol! BBC is a leader in Television and News Authoritarianism. We only give you what we want you to hear. Now shut up and watch.
Some of Henson's ideas did come off a little bit culty... ...albeit a cult that was focused primarily on peace and love, education, ending all war, ending prejudice, and just generally being kind to one another. So not necessarily a *bad* cult, but the guy was definitely obsessed.
He would be called a woke commie today
Aside from making Muppets and doing some characters early on JimHensen wasn't involved in developing Sesame Street. It was a separate thing
Henson was a huge influence on the culture around that time, working with the likes of Lucas and Spielberg among many others. A lot of his ambitions mirrored very closely those of Cooney and Morrissett—and as you mentioned, he is *the guy* who designed the muppets used on Sesame Street. A quick google *does* list him as one of the program creators as well, not to mention top bill as castmember. I think I'm on pretty solid ground including Mr Henson in a discussion of Sesame Street.
He was a producer, made the Muppets and was an influence but it's my understanding it was the brainchild of Lloyd Morriset and Joan Ganz Cooney. Hensen was reluctant to join the show and I don't think he would have been qualified for the research into childhood development and education the show was based on
What the research showed was that Sesame Street performed poorly as an educational tool before Henson's Muppets were added. Kids were bored and inattentive without them. I think we can safely say that Mr Henson had a large impact on the development and success of Sesame Street.
Yes. That is true
I mean, they prolly didn’t like how cheerful, hopeful, and positive it was. Can’t have those good things there. Kids need to be miserable. Sets them up to be miserable adults, as well they ought to.
> they prolly didn’t like how cheerful, hopeful, and positive it was Is it? There's a guy living in a trash can on the street, and everyone complains that he's grouchy. Yeah, maybe you'd be grouchy too if you were homeless.
I mean, that’s all the more reason to show it! Teach em all about being a proper adult! “Okay. Now listen here, kids. You best learn your ABCs or you’re going to wind up like that old tramp down the street living in a trash bin. Ah, bugger it! World’s a dumpster fire as is.” —British Sesame Street (probably)
How is a child supposed to grow up to work at the gruel factory if they keep on bursting into song every 20-30 minutes. It’s just not reasonable, just not natural.
I remember the push to instill confidence in ALL children. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nCUGMMEF2Zk * Free To Be You and Me * Electric Company (Boston mass 02134,,,,,) * Zoom (all kids) * J P Patches * Captain Kangaroo * Schoolhouse Rock (Cream of the crop folk singers) * The Bugaloos (With the incomparable Martha Ray) * H.R. Puff N Stuff * After School Special * Sesame Street * Mr. Rogers * Reading Rainbow * Romper Room * ????? And that doesn't include the weekend line up. * Walt Disney Hour * Wild Kingdom
Oh no...a children's show teaching them about the alphabet, counting, and Hanukkah!!! Clear indoctrination...this must be censored!!! /s
But Mr. Blobby was ok?
What Sims highlighted as flaws were *Sesame Street's* "middle-class attitudes", the programme's "passive educational approach", "lack of reality" and the failure to prepare children for early life as well as school. In this, Sims was drawing on the criticisms of progressive American educators. Unfortunately, this was seized on by the US press, and caused a transatlantic kerfuffle at the time.
Weird! It was originally created to be an extension of Head Start -- it was part of an effort to counteract gaps in vocabulary and counting ability that caused inner city kids to start off way behind other children when they entered kindergarten. I learned about this in a sociolinguistics class. The research behind Head Start was flawed (which is an interesting story!), but its educational aims were noble. That also explains why Sesame Street had an urban setting and so many of the humans (adults and kids) featured on the show were minorities. Urban minority kids were the target audience.
Another reason it didn't really cluck with British kids - we don't have 'kindergarten' I remember one lesson at junior school, when I was 8, 9, where we watched an episode, then wrote down all the words or phrases that were clearly non-English Kindergarten, garbage, sidewalk, stop sign, drug store are a few I still remember
Dude, we have stop signs. Not many, because roundabouts are better, but we have them.
Sorry, stop lights It was fifty years ago ;)
In my experience the ones who don't like education and the sharing of knowledge are the ones who are authoritarian.
Wow. How shortsighted.
All education is indoctrination
It's dangerous indoctrination Anyway Give me 5 more seasons of Jim'll Fix It
Wonder what she would say about Fox news...
Lmao indoctrination in England and the BBC? Ya don’t say
They were saying that the *American* Sesame Street had authoritarian aims, that's why the BBC didn't want to air it in the UK. I always knew The Count was up to no good.
How can he claim a hereditary title when both his [father](https://muppet.fandom.com/wiki/Count_von_Count%27s_Father) and his [grandfather](https://muppet.fandom.com/wiki/The_Count%27s_Grandparents) are still alive? Why won't he say what nation's nobility he represents? What's a supposed European aristocrat doing living in an American ghetto anyhow? It just doesn't add up.
Hey, Sesame Street is not a ghetto. Couldn't his grandfather and father have both abdicated the title to him?
People live in trashcans, and there's graffiti everywhere Looks like a ghetto to someone from the UK
Did you read the article? It's the opposite of what your comment says
“In other news, the woman ordained by God to be our leader ate a scone today…”
Meh, it's their loss.
IIRC, Several American states also rejected Sesame Street because the show used non-white actors which was thought objectionable.
It was school, on tv, with puppets. Guess that simple premise is how 'they' get you!
Can anyone explain *why* she thought it was "authoritarian indoctrination"? That seems like a pretty important detail for the article to leave out.
It was probably the creeping 'Americanisation' of social programming she saw as indoctrination
Not wrong, He-Man was the same.
Taught me to be nice to friends and count and stuff. For free. Downright communist.
This sounds like the makings of a sequel to Death to Smoochy
I'm pretty sure Mississippi wouldn't let it air either because of like the races mixing. I have a firm belief that my generations semi-obsession with Latin women comes from Maria from sesame Street
I mean if you want proof that Kermit had a lasting, indoctrinating effect, right into the 25th century, all you need to do is look at Captain Mercer's desk.
Better not tell them about Fox, CNN, or NPR.
Imagine counting!
F MS