Laura Bush Drops by `Sesame Street'

[Phillip]

Laura Bush Drops by `Sesame Street'

Courtesy of the Associated Press

Laura Bush looked right at home as she visited a monster and a towering fowl.

The setting was "Sesame Street" (as it exists on Stage G at Kaufman Astoria Studios in New York) where the first lady paid a call Thursday morning to tape a segment.

Seated at a picnic table and surrounded by giggly Elmo, Big Bird and three cute youngsters, Mrs. Bush read aloud a kids' book called "Wubba, Wubba, Woo!" — and seemed very much like the teacher and librarian she once was.

"No matter what you look like," she read, "no matter what you do, everybody likes to say" — and here everyone chimed in — "Wubba, wubba, woo!"

Once she was finished reading the book (created especially for the segment), Mrs. Bush thanked her new friends for taking part.

Then Big Bird pleaded, "Could you read it to us again?"

"I'd love to," Mrs. Bush said. And she did.

Focusing on Mrs. Bush's pet cause, children's literacy, the script had been submitted to her office and approved with no changes, according to Sesame Workshop spokeswoman Ellen Lewis Gideon.

The two-minute scene will air next spring as the PBS children's show begins its 34th season.

But the segment's breezy on-screen feeling was contradicted by behind-the-scenes concerns Thursday. While "Sesame Street" is no stranger to visiting dignitaries (including past first ladies Barbara Bush and Hillary Rodham Clinton, the current state of high alert demanded unprecedented security.

An advance Secret Service team had been on the premises all week, Gideon said. And during the precisely allotted one-hour shoot, at least a dozen agents were visible just in the studio.

But everything went A-OK and at 10:50 a.m. on the sunny day, Mrs. Bush took her heavily escorted leave. Then other agents, assigned to stay behind, performed one final (unofficial) detail: taking turns posing for souvenir snapshots with Elmo.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20020919/ap_en_tv/laura_bush_sesame_street_1

 

[beaker]

>>>An advance Secret Service team had been on the premises all week, Gideon said. And during the precisely allotted one-hour shoot, at least a dozen agents were visible just in the studio<<<

Firstly, thanx for the post Phil! I would never hear this little biz nuggets if it were for posts. In the last year weve seen the Muppets represented in Washington DC(Elmo on Capital Hill, and Elmo and zoe at the White House)

However, it's a bit surreal and sad to hear about all that security.
All I know is even the world's craziest terrorist isnt stupid enough to try to invade 'the street'. Luckily Oscar has so much easedropping and national security satelite devices in his garbage can(ala 'The Conversation') any ill begotten plot would be quickly foiled.

 

[Luke]

Originally posted by beaker
All I know is even the world's craziest terrorist isnt stupid enough to try to invade 'the street'. Luckily Oscar has so much easedropping and national security satelite devices in his garbage can(ala 'The Conversation') any ill begotten plot would be quickly foiled.

**** - you'd be amazed at the amount of guys with explosives packed to their waist (or what they CLAIM are explosives) who walk into TV station and studios trying to get attention. I've had two so far.

 

[The Count]

Thanks, Phil

Thanks for the update about Mrs. Laura Bush's appearance on the Street next year. This is great news indeed, because maybe you missed that this means the Street will be starting its 34th season. With a Season 34 confirmed upon their anniversary on Nov. 10, 2003, Sesame takes the crown as longest children's TV show ever. Anyway, please excuse my gloating over a San Franciscan trolley car's demise.

The Killer of Threads, the Count.

 

[AtlantaScaper]

Laura Bush on Sesame Street

Cannot wait to see it. That is so cool.

 

[Drtooth]

Laura Bush!?!?!? Just what Sesame Street Needs, another Puppet!! HAAAYYYYOH!!!! At least Elmo looks more realistic!!! HYYYYAAAAYYOOOH!!! The show is brought to you buy the letters B, and I... As in Bomb Iraq!! HAAAYYYOOOHH!!!!

Stop me!! I'm on a roll!!!!!

 

[manoftheSTREET]

In before the thread lock...

I had a feeling the First Lady would pay a visit to the Street. Looks to be interesting so far...Laura Bush is confirmed, and it's been rumored that Ozzy Osbourne might appear next season as well.

Sincerely,

John "manoftheSTREET" Kilduff...

 

[ssetta]

I still think they should have Britney Spears!

 

[beaker]

>>>Laura Bush!?!?!? Just what Sesame Street Needs, another Puppet!! HAAAYYYYOH!!!! <<<

ZING!

No, I like this news. The more exposure for Sesame the better.
After the HIV fallout(ie: all that unfortunate negative media coverage, or at least what a lot of people are gonna think) they need some saving grace. Is this it? Ok, not really.

Britney Spears? You betcha. Sure its not 1999 anymore, but she's still popular.

 

[ssetta]

What do you mean "it's not 1999 anymore?"