Convincing John
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Why, whatever do you mean?muppet maniac said:Let me put it this way: To me, the "good years" were 1969-1978--well, 1969-1974 being extra crunchy--er, good. Well, 1969-78 was the best time period. But yeah, I agree: whatever goes up must go down eventually. I mean, good things can't last forever (and by that, I mean TV shows) nor should they. Otherwise they'd wind up stale and hard to even enjoy.
Look at Scooby Doo: Fans thought the good years were 1969-1978 (or 9, I forgot which). When it first came about, they were into it. There were new spin-offs after the original-few people would have had mixed reactions, but then they'd all agree that it was in the very late 70s that it all got flushed down the toilet (and we all know why)
Man, I hope they don't try that! The Electric Company is simply unmatched, as Rita Moreno said. They tried re-doing Captain Kangaroo, and Bob Keeshan (the original Captain) had nothing to do with it. It flopped!!! It didn't work, and the kids didn't take to it at all. The new version was watered down and lacked that original Captain Kangaroo spirit. Any attempts to re-make The Electric Company will have none of the original appeal (nor degree of progressiveness in the material) as the original.muppet maniac said:Updating classics from the past is also kinda awkward (well, to me anyway). Take, The Electric Company, for instance: It's lasted for 7 seasons (1971-1977) And years later (now), they're going to revive it. I say, just leave it alone---leave it as it was. it just isn't worth it. But then again, what can you do?
Remakes (or is that rehashes?) of originals (like many movie sequels) just don't have that spark that the originals had (and still have!). They have done this a million times in making movies based on old TV shows. Car 54 Where Are You?, The Addams Family I & II, Bewitched, The Brady Bunch I & II, etc. If Kermit watched them he'd mumble that saying he kept repeating in TMTM "There's something missing..."
You bet there is.
Has PBS done good stuff? Yes! If they are worried about teaching phonics, stick with putting their money in "Between the Lions". It works, kids like it, and it teaches phonics, just like TEC. The Electric Company was (and is) a great show for kids. They want to re-air the old episodes? Cool! They want to remake and revamp the formula, create sloppily and crudely drawn animated segments (like so much of Cartoon Network's fare) and leave out all the wit and charm of the original series? (Shudder!)
There is only one Easy Reader. There is only one Fargo North Decoder. There is only one Jennifer of the Jungle. And there is only one woman who could belt out that famous opening line with such lung power and passion for her work. And even if the original cast did get back together and perform the show...could the magic of the series come back?
As for Sesame Street? Should it be cancelled? If so, when? That is up to the decision of Sesame Workshop. Only they can really say. If kids get something out of it, if they still learn from it, if they want to continue, then...they will.
It's like how Jim said "If the audience wants these characters to continue, then they will, but if not, they'll just (Jim smiles) go away."
The age of the human cast may be a factor. Maybe not. Maybe Bob will still be on the street until he's 112 and Maria and Luis might apply for Social Security checks (which Grover will deliver to their apartment). (Hey, they've dealt with all kinds of other topics, why not retirement?) Maybe Gabi will inherit the Fix-It Shop in Season 56.
Who knows what will become of Sesame Street in the future? Sesame Workshop will have to make the call.
Convincing John