Does anyone actually like "A Special Sesame Street Christmas?"

[CensoredAlso]

And in case you wanna know, I give the Elmo's World "Happy Holidays" credit... they said "Happy Holidays" and actually had more than Christmas. I mean, I think they should have went further into Kwanzaa and they only mentioned Ramadan in passing... not to mention the fact they actually got into the spiritual meaning of Christmas... and nowadays that takes guts.

I don't think it should be so obligatory to say "Happy Holidays." I'd be perfectly willing to just take the time to mention every holiday in turn equally.

But I agree, I love that that special had the nativity story, that really does take guts in this day and age, even though we're supposed to be more inclusive. But anyway, I do think it's important for kids to learn about other religious holidays as well. It's an enriching experience and will be part of life as they get older.

 

[Drtooth]

I don't think it should be so obligatory to say "Happy Holidays." I'd be perfectly willing to just take the time to mention every holiday in turn equally.

That's my philosophy. If you want to include everybody, celebrate everything. The thing that bugs me about that isn't so much the religious/spiritual implications, but the plain and simple fact they're trying to include everybody with Christmas songs, Christmas trees, and stuff like that. I say, if you own a store, you can't call it a "Holiday" section if you don't sell Hanukkah and Kwanzaa stuff too. When it comes to the "Holiday section" I see more Hanukkah stuff in a drug store or the Grocery store's Kosher section.

But I agree, I love that that special had the nativity story, that really does take guts in this day and age, even though we're supposed to be more inclusive. But anyway, I do think it's important for kids to learn about other religious holidays as well. It's an enriching experience and will be part of life as they get older.

I remember seeing a documentary on Charles Schulz, and they were talking about the Charlie Brown special... Bill Melendez said something like "I saw the religious aspect and I was apposed to it at the start." Even then, religion was touchy a subject. Plus, you gotta admit, seeing the Nativity story and the Hanukkah story together was pretty sweet. That way we really have a cultural exchange. I still think they needed to go deeper into Kwanzaa though....I'm really fuzzy on that one myself.

i liked elmo saves christmas, too--cute plot, nice message, great character development of elmo, and i love charles durning. i still like christmas eve better, though, because it had many characters with great roles, and all the songs are so memorable.

You know what I love about Muppet Specials? When you have someone who played a dispicable, horrible villain in a previous Muppet movie/project and then they can play a tender, warm character like that. Remember, Doc Hopper was Santa here. Just like how David Arriquette (Sp) played the sadistic lab technician in MFS, and then became Kermit's Guardian Angel in VMX. I almost want Charles Grodin to play an elf at some point.

 

[MelissaY1]

I hate to actually riff on a classic project, mainly since there are so many newer projects that just scream "riff on me please!"... but I saw this one last year (it's still on Youtube if anyone's interested) and I have to say, it was basically just an excuse to have random celebrities come in and sing non-Christmassy songs.... I think the best part is that it was the only time I know of that Michael Jackson worked with the Muppets... too bad he's the only celebrity that didn't break out into a random song.

That's not to say there wasn't some good moments between the human cast... and some good stuff with Oscar and Big Bird, but the whole thing was just dreary. Even that Elmo's Christmas Countdown was marginally better (marginally, because... well... okay, very marginally at least it had the other Muppets in it).

It's no wonder why the far superior Christmas Eve on Sesame Street completely overshadowed this forgettable project.

Oh my goodness, I was just telling my sister about this special last night and how horrid it was. It's amazing when you think that and Xmas Eve on SS was made only a few years apart.

 

[Drtooth]

Oh my goodness, I was just telling my sister about this special last night and how horrid it was. It's amazing when you think that and Xmas Eve on SS was made only a few years apart.

Well, Christmas Eve was made for PBS by Children's Television Workshop, while the other, as stated was done for network television (and yes, there is a classification difference between PBS and ABC/CBS/NBC, even though PBS is technically considered a network) by the network it was on in co-operation with CTW. I feel that Elmo's Countdown has the same basic flaw with it. You know, trading the intimate Christmas celebration with the characters for Celebrities singing stuff.

I have to admit, I liked Elmo's Count Down at first, but letting it sink in, it was pretty repetitive... the formula was basically {muppet character comes up, has found the window, the window opens up to reveal small skit/song, Charles Gibson (Blitzen) comes up and says how Stiller the Elf has screwed up... lather rinse repeat}. Of course, the one thing it has over the other special is we see all the other Muppets.

I know they probably couldn't have gotten all the performers to perform, but it really feels empty with just Big Bird and Oscar. Unlike the old Big Bird and Oscar go to Canada to camp album. Just those 2 characters from Sesame Street made that project really fun. But, getting back to the special, without Ernie and Bert, or Cookie or anyone else, even giving a breif cameo, it feels so empty.

Am I supposed to believe that everyone besides Oscar and Big Bird went away?

 

[StreetScenes]

yeah, i think i'll break both the special ss christmas and elmo's christmas countdown into clips, to be intermingled magazine style with all my other clips. because it's alright to have only a few characters in one song, there's some good stuff in short segments in both of them. it's just when you take it as a whole that the plot breaks down & you notice the absences of important characters.

 

[gbrobeck]

Oh my goodness, I was just telling my sister about this special last night and how horrid it was. It's amazing when you think that and Xmas Eve on SS was made only a few years apart.

Actually they were made the SAME YEAR. Both of them originally aired during the 1978 Christmas season about a week apart- "A Special Sesame Street Christmas" on CBS and "Christmas Eve on Sesame Street" on PBS. That kinda-sorta explains why "A Special..." is so bad considering they were having to churn out two Christmas specials in one season. Why did CBS want a Sesame Street Christmas special anyway?

Greg

 

[Erine81981]

It's alright for me. I know it's not as much fun as "Christmas Eve on Sesame Street" is alot better which being there are other characters other then just Big Bird, Oscar and Barkley but it's alright with me. I have the first three parts saved on my parents computer. But when i watched it was ok and thought that's neat there is another type of Sesame Street special other then the Christmas Eve one.

 

[MelissaY1]

Well, Christmas Eve was made for PBS by Children's Television Workshop, while the other, as stated was done for network television (and yes, there is a classification difference between PBS and ABC/CBS/NBC, even though PBS is technically considered a network) by the network it was on in co-operation with CTW. I feel that Elmo's Countdown has the same basic flaw with it. You know, trading the intimate Christmas celebration with the characters for Celebrities singing stuff.

I have to admit, I liked Elmo's Count Down at first, but letting it sink in, it was pretty repetitive... the formula was basically {muppet character comes up, has found the window, the window opens up to reveal small skit/song, Charles Gibson (Blitzen) comes up and says how Stiller the Elf has screwed up... lather rinse repeat}. Of course, the one thing it has over the other special is we see all the other Muppets.

I know they probably couldn't have gotten all the performers to perform, but it really feels empty with just Big Bird and Oscar. Unlike the old Big Bird and Oscar go to Canada to camp album. Just those 2 characters from Sesame Street made that project really fun. But, getting back to the special, without Ernie and Bert, or Cookie or anyone else, even giving a breif cameo, it feels so empty.

Am I supposed to believe that everyone besides Oscar and Big Bird went away?

I know the difference between network stations and public broadcasting channels, but thank you for the explanation for those who might not.

I agree with Elmo's Christmas Countdown. It just seemed like kind of thrown together, and like you said basically had a very paper thin plot and the rest was just little songs/sketches. I just didn't think it felt like a Christmas special which was my same issue with the Sesame Street Christmas network special. Xmas Eve on SS definitely FELT like a Christmas special.

 

[Drtooth]

I know the difference between network stations and public broadcasting channels, but thank you for the explanation for those who might not.

Just making sure no one wants to get into a semantics thing. I once had to tell someone that, while considered a network, PBS is also not considered a network. For 3 or 4 posts, too.

I agree with Elmo's Christmas Countdown. It just seemed like kind of thrown together, and like you said basically had a very paper thin plot and the rest was just little songs/sketches. I just didn't think it felt like a Christmas special which was my same issue with the Sesame Street Christmas network special. Xmas Eve on SS definitely FELT like a Christmas special.

I have to admit, the skits thrown together are a tiny, tiny bit better than "Oh look! It's our friend So and So, and they're hear because we clearly invited them." Plus, I like Ben Stiller. And some of the songs were pretty catchy. But still a far cry from even "Elmo Ruins Christmas, and then Saves it at the last Minute, so it really should cancel itself out."

 

[MelissaY1]

Just making sure no one wants to get into a semantics thing. I once had to tell someone that, while considered a network, PBS is also not considered a network. For 3 or 4 posts, too.



I have to admit, the skits thrown together are a tiny, tiny bit better than "Oh look! It's our friend So and So, and they're hear because we clearly invited them." Plus, I like Ben Stiller. And some of the songs were pretty catchy. But still a far cry from even "Elmo Ruins Christmas, and then Saves it at the last Minute, so it really should cancel itself out."

I gotcha. In the big picture, PBS would be considered network television but it's not paid for by big corporate sponsors and advertising like the networks. I work in the DVD industry and deal with every station/company out there so I assure you, I know the difference, but it doesn't surprise me you've had to explain the difference to the common person.

I was never a fan of Ben Stiller so maybe that's the other thing that turned me off to that recent special.....I dunno...