I think compared to BB and the ABC's I wouldn't have enjoyed this show much. I think it's because that if I saw it I would have cried when Queen Yellow would have put that spell on Big Bird and make it seem as if she was 'killing him'. I use to be all sentimental about things happaning in cartoons where they died or were put to sleep for a while, stuff like Mufassa from the Lion King dying or other things like that...Although I would have loved seeing Mumford as a walkaround character...
I have to agree with you on the sentimental thing. But it is fun to see a character you do not expect to be in a certain situation be IN that situation. It's like, if anyone has ever seen The Tigger Movie... The avalanch nearly kills Tigger as he attempts to save Pooh, Eeyore, Roo, Piglet, and Rabbit... He's nearly crushed by rocks and Roo has to help save him. It's very sad to see poor ol' Tigger down and out..
Even in Follow that Bird when Big Bird is forced to jump from the truck painted blue or when Miss Finch is after him. Sure Kermit and the others being taken hostage or being chased down by some greasy guy wanting to start a frog leg food chain. But it was Big Bird, the sweet little 6 year old who wanders aimlessly down Sesame Street without any real worries or cares. "Sunny days, sweepin' the clouds away..." That's his mentality. So put him in a crazy situation... we're not talkin' war or oweing the mob.. lol... whiich would be funny in an odd way...
BIG BIRD: "My friend Snuffy's got the stuff. And yes he is real!"
But Sleeping Birdie was by far one of my favorite SSL shows.. Let's Play School was cute but it made me think of "When I Grow Up" because once again Big Bird didn't know what he was either going to bring to show and tell or be when he grew up!
Again, Big Bird is so freakin' awesome!
oh and Mumford and Count were very similar in walk around form, in my opinion. As a kid I knew who Jerry Nelson was the others etc... so I always thought when they weren't using Count's head, they re-did it with Mumford's features. Whereas, in the show they were right by each other and it's very possible that's true on SS...