Surprising Celebrity Guests

[OldSchoolFan]

Sesame Street is known for having a bunch of celebrity guests. Some of the celebrity guests are, to say the least, surprising. And people you wouldn't expect to see on a kids show. What celebrity appearances surprised you the most?

I was actually kinda surprised to see Richard Pryor on Sesame Street back in season 1. One of the most vulgar and racially "blunt" comedians (yet still one of my favourites). seeing him on my Sesame Street Old School dvd doing the alphabet was actually quite a shock to me.

 

[mikebennidict]

I read that Folk Singer Pete Seegar made and appearance durring the first or second season of SS.

He was considered very conterversial throughout his time.

 

[Colbynfriends]

The Simpsons in the celebrity version of "Monster In The Mirror"

Now only why, but how did that happen?

 

[Drtooth]

The Simpsons in the celebrity version of "Monster In The Mirror"

Now only why, but how did that happen?

I feel any cartoon character is a surprise, as they have to pay for their appearances. Pink Panther, Beetle Baily, Bug Bunny (who sadly was only in one bit about "Yakkity Yak, Bring it back"). You never see them attempt that sort of thing anymore.

But the Simpsons, the supposedly adult cartoon was a surprise. Of course, this was the height of thier first wave of popularity (1990-1992) and when they were still a new program. Back when educators were saying how evil it was, since Bart acted like an actual kid, and not a nebbish (like most others did).

I was actually kinda surprised to see Richard Pryor on Sesame Street back in season 1. One of the most vulgar and racially "blunt" comedians (yet still one of my favourites). seeing him on my Sesame Street Old School dvd doing the alphabet was actually quite a shock to me.

A lot of comedians are pretty controversial at their time, and yet wind up doing child friendly things in their life time. look at Eddie Murphy and Chris Rock. They were big, loud, controversial comedians in their day... now they're voice overs in children's movies... PG rated kid's movies, yes... but it still stands.

What haunted Richard Pryor in his career was his controversy. Which kept his children's series Pryor's Place only one season.

Personally, I was watching his alphabet segment, and I anxiously waited to see what he'd do with N.

Big Pryor right here.

 

[ssetta]

I can think of a perfect example. The "Yakety Yak (Take it Back)" song from 1992. It was a video provided by the "Take it Back" foundation, and it was a song about recycling. It featured all sorts of celebrities, such as Stevie Wonder, Barry White, Bugs Bunny, and several others. It never aired very much, it was only in like 4 episodes altogether. But I have to say that it was one of the most surprising moments on the show ever. In other words, if you were flipping through the channels and saw this, you probably wouldn't even know that it was Sesame Street.

 

[Drtooth]

I have to say, I'm disappointed that Bugs wasn't on Sesame Street outside of that. There were references to him everywhere, but the rabbit never had an animated letter segment, like the Pink Panther.

 

[OldSchoolFan]

I feel any cartoon character is a surprise, as they have to pay for their appearances. Pink Panther, Beetle Baily, Bug Bunny (who sadly was only in one bit about "Yakkity Yak, Bring it back"). You never see them attempt that sort of thing anymore.

But the Simpsons, the supposedly adult cartoon was a surprise. Of course, this was the height of thier first wave of popularity (1990-1992) and when they were still a new program. Back when educators were saying how evil it was, since Bart acted like an actual kid, and not a nebbish (like most others did).



A lot of comedians are pretty controversial at their time, and yet wind up doing child friendly things in their life time. look at Eddie Murphy and Chris Rock.

and George Carlin doing Shining Time Station

about the cartoon characters, i was surprised to see all that Batman stuff in the first season.

 

[OldSchoolFan]

Personally, I was watching his alphabet segment, and I anxiously waited to see what he'd do with N.

HAHAHA! that was hilarious!

 

[Son of Enik]

I think the Spin Doctors surprised me more than any other, no particular reason other than I didn't think "cool" bands from the 90's would ever be on SS, but then others followed suit...Hootie & The Blowfish, Goo Goo Dolls, Fugees, etc.

 

[ISNorden]

Given the (ahem) political controversy that surrounded Dixie Chicks a few years ago, I'm surprised that Sesame Workshop invited them to sing that song about the letter B with some of the core Muppets.