Kermit and candid kids

[fuzzygobo]

One other way Sesame was unique were those moments when Kermit (and later other Muppets) would spend time just talking with the kids, and the cameras would just roll, and allow the kids to be themselves.

Way back in Season 1, Kermit and a girl named Stacy spent some quiet moments together. One clip they discussed near and far. Kermit would get near Stacy, and they'd exchange kisses. Then Kermit would move away to demonstrate "far", then he'd come back and they'd kiss again! (Sweet!)
In another clip, they tried reciting the alphabet. Stacy got all the way to "S" by herself, and Kermit was mighty impressed.
Stacy: "I learned that by watching Sesame Street!"
Kermit: "Well, keep watching. You're doing good!"

Then in a few years along would come John John, Sharla and Fanny, Joey (A,B,C,D, COOKIE MONSTER!!!!), and a host of others, and each one were great. Never before has children's TV been so honest and upfront, kids sharing these wonderful moments with the Muppets. Barney could never hold a candle to moments like this.

 

[Muppet Crypts]

I Agree i Loved the X-mas episode where Kermit and Grover was interviewing the kids on how Santa Gets into the House
Girl: He presses the Button, Steps up the big step and go's in (Smiles and Kisses grover)

 

[Krazedmuppet]

my fav was always the girl saying her ABC's and every so often, she would randomly say COOKIE MONSTER! (wait.... that was grover hu? dont remember been a while well it was still a candid kid with a muppet) then grover/kermit was like, im done saying the alphabet with you, and she was all "I love you" and hes all I love you too, and they kiss, it was so cute!

 

[Mokeystar]

The fact that these kids were so intently focused on talking to the Muppet in front of them instead of focusing on whatever else was going on (like the bearded guy below Kermit, etc..) really proves what magic the Muppets have. They spoke to, joked with, and reacted to each character as if it were a real live being. Jim was such a pro at ad-libbing in these segments, and those unpredicted moments just added all the more charm to the clips. Hardly anything can make me laugh harder to this day than to see Joey say "ABC Cookie Monster!"

On another note, I thought it was so cool when they brought back Fannie, Sharla, and John John in a special celebrating the birthday of Sesame (I think it was the 20th special from 1989, if I'm not mistaken.) Anyway, from what I recall, Kermit interviewed these three people as adults just like he did when they were children. It was a very touching moment indeed......especially to see John John as this huge muscle-bound military dude. Whoo-ee, John John.....big, strong Herry Monster must have had quite an influence on you!

 

[Censored]

On another note, I thought it was so cool when they brought back Fannie, Sharla, and John John in a special celebrating the birthday of Sesame (I think it was the 20th special from 1989, if I'm not mistaken.) Anyway, from what I recall, Kermit interviewed these three people as adults just like he did when they were children. It was a very touching moment indeed......especially to see John John as this huge muscle-bound military dude. Whoo-ee, John John.....big, strong Herry Monster must have had quite an influence on you!

They played an old skit with John John and Herry from the past and then a reunion skit with them in the present. Both John John and Herry looked pretty different today. But, while I understand that John John would naturally be a grown man after all those years, they never explained why Herry Monster would have acquired a mashed in nose.

 

[Don_Music_2004]

Unfortunatley I never got to see the 20th anniversery special. It sounds very good. I think the reason why it was so good is because this was at the point just a few years before they started toying with the show and dumbing it down and making it for younger kids, and not so much for Nostalgic Adults too. This was before they started adding bright colors to the set, and they still had the original theme and the Barkley and the kids closing. Little did anyone know it at the time, but just 3 years later Sesame Street as we knew it, would be gone FOREVER..........................................................................

 

[Muppetsdownunder]

They have a number of these clips with various characters on the world of jim henson documentary.

 

[Daffyfan4ever]

Then in a few years along would come John John, Sharla and Fanny, Joey (A,B,C,D, COOKIE MONSTER!!!!), and a host of others, and each one were great. Never before has children's TV been so honest and upfront, kids sharing these wonderful moments with the Muppets. Barney could never hold a candle to moments like this.

I know the kid who sang 'A, B, C, D COOKIE MONSTER' was a girl. How could her name be Joey? Unless it's short for Josephine. I do remember the one with Herry and Jon Jon, though I didn't remember seeing Herry's look change. I'll have to watch for that again.

They still have segments with Muppets interacting with kids on the show now such as when they have Ernie's Show and Tell or Grover teaching kids the Spanish Word of the day. But I agree, it's not the same as in the old days.

After all, Ernie's Show and Tell gives Bert less air time. Lol.

 

[fuzzygobo]

Yes, her name was Joey. Unusual for a girl's name but there you are. She also got to be in a clip with Snuffy. There they recited the alphabet too.
She would say the first letter and Snuffy would repeat it, all the way from A to Z, while Joey sat in a chair and had her arms wrapped around his Snuffle. It was really touching. Of course it never had the notoriety as her clip with Kermit and her yelling "COOKIE MONSTER!!" Still very nice, though.

 

[Ryan]

It might also should be noted that Carrol Spinney came up with the idea of un-scripted discussions with kids and the Muppets. Pretty genius, if you think about it.