OT: vote for a Sesame Street clip for 40th anniversary DVD

[speedy fast]

This november, there'll be a 40th anniversary DVD of Sesame Street, called 40 Years of Sunny Days. In the meantime, Sesame Workshop and Genius Products have partnered with Amazon to vote for 10 nominated clips. The voting can be found at www.amazon.com/movies (http://www.amazon.com/movies)

The ten nominated clips are:

The Alligator King
Martian Beauty
King of Eight
I Just Adore Four
Carribean Amphibian
Pinball Number Count #12
Henson Ball (the version with the powder ending)
Elmo's Debut (it's not really his first appearance... It's the song "Happy Tapping", but "Elmo's Debut" is the title listed)
Bert and Ernie: String tied around fingers (the only one never released on english-language video or DVD in any form)
What's the Name of That Song? (the original version)


While all but one have been released commercially already, (many have been released at least twice) some were edited or altered on video or DVD. Currently, Pinball #12 is in the lead. I voted for Henson Ball.

[Brandon Panther]

Dang, no "Above it All"?

Oh well, it's on YouTube anyway.

[Leviathan]

Bert and Ernie: String tied around fingers (the only one never released on english-language video or DVD in any form)

Is that true? There's got to be more than that.

[speedy fast]

Dang, no "Above it All"?

Oh well, it's on YouTube anyway.

Those 10 are just the only ones nominated for voting. I'm sure there'll be a lot more than whatever clip wins (after all, it'll be a two-disc set).

Oh, and the voting ends on april 28th.

[Glowworm]

Oh man, I love Carribean Amphibian-and Bert and Ernie with the string tied on Ernie's finger!

[speedy fast]

[/list]Is that true? There's got to be more than that.

You do know that I was only referring to the nominated clips regarding what has been released on video and DVD, right?

And only one of the nominated clips will be included. There'll be other clips on the release that are not nominated.

[Jack G.]

Are there any releases of Jim Henson's early work?

What's the one where the monster eats the talking machine from?
That's hysterical.

I also like some of the ads he did and variety show appearances.
Like the one where the embryonic Kermit gets eaten by the monster with the worm-like nose.

[Philo & Gunge]

Are there any releases of Jim Henson's early work?

What's the one where the monster eats the talking machine from?
That's hysterical.

I also like some of the ads he did and variety show appearances.
Like the one where the embryonic Kermit gets eaten by the monster with the worm-like nose.

Yes, but not a lot. In 2003, Ed Sullivan's estate put out a DVD of most the Muppets' appearances on The Ed Sullivan Show, but it's OOP and goes for ridiculous prices on eBay and Amazon.

[Jack G.]

Aww, bummer.
Some of that stuff is really good.

[FlapperPrower]

Where's "Baker #1"? The rarest of all clips? Oh well, it would be great seeing "King of Eight" again.

[nickramer]

I choosed "String Reminder". I do hope this collection has a certain E&B sketch that is my favorite moment of the show. It's a sketch that is the first one on my mind whenever I think of the street's first Muppets. I'm supprised this was not on any of the Old School sets or on video and is not even on Sesamestreet.org yet. I'm talking about this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yukGjyfSwQ8

[speedy fast]

I don't know if Baker #1 is the rarest of all clips, but is the rarest of the baker films, and is definatelty one of the rarest segments of all. Since it's not on the list of nominated clips then I hope that means that it's definately being considered (I noticed that none of the baker clips are nominated... It'd be a shame for that series of sketches to not be represented at all).


I do find it odd that Bert and Ernie: String Tied is the one clip nominated that hasn't had any commercial releases in the US. I think it may be well-known to some fans who watched the show in the 1970s, but I don't know if it's really what some might call a "classic". Hard to beleive that that one would be considered over the "fish in the cowboy hat" sketch, the three-part "banana in the ear" sketch (part three is another rare sketch; as faer as I know the only copy that any fans have is a swedish dub, and part 3 isn't even on the official website), Bert and Ernie's search for Dr. Livingstone, the sandbox game, sharin g jellybeans, Ernie eating cookies in bed... But I expect this release to have multiple Bert and Ernie sketches from all decades, so maybe some of those other ones are beign considered (or definate). I hate having to wait until november... I should really ask for a time machine for my birthday.

And regarding Jim Henson's early works, I read about a year ago that The Jim Henson Company was trying to work out clearances to release a DVD of Jim's early works. I don't know if they are still trying or not. But Jim Henson's non-Muppet films Timepiece and The Cube are both available for purchase on iTunes. And in 2007 Time-Life released two "Best of The Jimmy Dean Show" DVDs, each containing two Rowlf sketches. And of course, The Muppet Show: Season Three includes some of Jim henson's 1960s works, includign The Muppets on Puppets and the Purina Dog Chow commercials.

[nickramer]

And regarding Jim Henson's early works, I read about a year ago that The Jim Henson Company was trying to work out clearances to release a DVD of Jim's early works. I don't know if they are still trying or not. But Jim Henson's non-Muppet films Timepiece and The Cube are both available for purchase on iTunes. And in 2007 Time-Life released two "Best of The Jimmy Dean Show" DVDs, each containing two Rowlf sketches. And of course, The Muppet Show: Season Three includes some of Jim henson's 1960s works, includign The Muppets on Puppets and the Purina Dog Chow commercials.
Don't forget, the pitch tape for "Sesame Street" is on the first Old School set.

"Hey, these kids can't read or write, can they? Then how about we call the show 'Hey, Stupid!'?"

[speedy fast]

What's the one where the monster eats the talking machine from?
That's hysterical.


That's from The Ed Sullivan Show, and I believe that sketchw as also done in an IBM industry film in the 1960s. And it was remade on The Muppet Show in the episode where George Burns was the guest star.

[Matthew Hunter]

Come on! Where's the bit with the Count counting bats? Where's "Waiter, there's a fly in my soup!"? Where's "It's Not Easy Being Green?" "Here, Fishy Fishy"? "Rubber Ducky"?

[Matthew Hunter]

But going by the list of nominees, who can resist "Caribbean Amphibian?" There's something about Kermit the Frog as performed by Jim Henson that can warm the heart of even the most cruel cynic, young or old. Sesame Street was best when it wasn't bang-you-on-the-head educational, but just had fun. "Caribbean Amphibian" teaches kids what both words in the title mean, a little about what Caribbean island music sounds like, and even the geography of the area. All that in a 2-minute musical skit with puppets.

See for yourself:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tCDshh48ypg

The more I see of Jim Henson's stuff, the more I love him. Makes me wonder how our world became so mean and cynical...this guy knew how to lighten up, be funny, have fun and teach kids to do the same!

[Jack G.]

That's from The Ed Sullivan Show, and I believe that sketchw as also done in an IBM industry film in the 1960s. And it was remade on The Muppet Show in the episode where George Burns was the guest star.Thanks.
I'm thinking of the b&w one.