Regarding Big Bird and rebuilding his nest...
That's one of the big problems with muppets - we can humanize them only to a certain extent. Big Bird *could* have figured out or asked how to rebuild his nest, b/c he's a bird. Most 6-year-olds can't build a house too well
Hence they'd be at the mercy of adults and feeling blah just like BB because they have to wait.
Seriously, when doing a TV show like SS, but any one really, there is a fine line to be drawn. How to teach that all-important life skill that allows a Big Bird to go to others and ask for help, versus how to accept that there's some things that just can't be done, and it's okay if you can't.
Personally, I think they used BB not trying on his own to rebuild his nest for one reason - they wanted to show that it's okay to be traumatized. When you're traumatized by something, esp. at that age, thje pain doesn't last for only a day or two. Children grieve differently, so the memory would have stayed with BB for weeks. Not all the time, granted, but if this were a real-time sitcom, for instance, you would expect Big Bird to have a nightmare or two that could be referred to, and even weeks later he might be spooked by a bad thunderstorm. (To their credit, I didn't see it this year, but IIRC Telly *was* shown to be very nervous about another hurricane.) He wouldn't remember it all the time obviously. But, he might need a little extra reassurance. (See the "Full House" episode "Aftershocks," which takes place a few days after the Oct. 1989 quake though aired later, for a *super* example of this, though there wasn't near the damage there were some psychological aftershocks, albeit small. The comic strip "For Better Or For Worse," too - April almost drowned & was saved by their dog at age 4, months later there's a passing reference to her still being bothered when she goes ner the river.)
They coudln't do that, though - they had 5 days to tell a story that if it's a real-time sitcom (or comic strip) would have taken place over a few months. So, the question is, did the show have any better opportunity to show kids that it's okay to feel traumatized and therefore helpless. Because,t hat's what BB really felt was helpless - he didn't refuse to because he didn't want to or couldn't. He was upset because he felt powerless still.
I think it's possible. Telly, of course, was great, but thaat's his character to be nervous, so he's really too "expected" to be of any use. It would take a mupper who is normally pretty strong, who had something destroyed and they had to rebuild. But, they feel powerless and helpless and so just cry and are really sad. While Big Bird is feeling the same way, but manages to go and ask for hep. Whoever helps him (Granny Bird, for instance) also could have taken the other muppet under their wing, and done with them what was done for BB.
The only question is, who would tht muppet be? Some thoughts:
Grover. "But you're SuperGrover." "I do not feel very super going up against a hurricane." Would be great at vocalizing his feelings. Downside is his mom's mentioned & she shoudl be able to help, too, though she might feel the same.
Oscar: A definite home that coudl have been blown away. Downside is he's just too grouchy to play this sort of role, IMO. Ad, trauma shouldn't be equated with grouchiness.
Baby bear: Given how shocked Papa Bear was in front of that camera, I'd say the whole family coudl have felt that way. Some cool references to "Goldilocks only broke my chair - that was fine compawed to this!" Downside is same as Grover's.
Cookie Monster: Pretty much the same as above, but he's eaten so much he should be used to things being messed up.
Bert & Ernie: Interesting thought, but I think they live at 123 whereas Grover's around the corner, & the bears are over the river and throught he woods or whatever. (That would be catchy, anyway.)
The Count: Can a castle be blown over? Maybe, but he'd spend all the time counting things.
Elmo: (Looks at legion of those distressed at how much he's on already) No.
Praire DAwn, Zoe, Rosita: Very interesting, but they're girls and girls are often better at talking about their emotions, just like you don't want trauma to be a grouch thing you don't want boys to think it's "just a girl thing."
Kermit: I had to add him. It's okay to dream.
So, all that is to say this. Grover and the Bears, as least, would be capable of filling BB's spot. That would have allowed BB, who was still a major role model for some kids in 2001, to be more able to handle it. And yet, they'd still give kids the message that it's okay to be traumatized, too. Just like it's okay to have any other kind of disability, whether it's from birth, something one has from an accident, or is the result of something else.
I'll be leaving again for a bit as studies are dogging me, but I wanted to take this little break and comment way more than you probbly ever wanted.
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