Top 15 Sesame Street Home Videos of all time

[minor muppetz]

Best of Elmo (too much Whoopi)

what do you mean by too much whoopi? whoopi goldberg only appeared in one sketch in the entire video. actually, out of all of the "best of character" videos made before a celebration of me, grover!, this one has the best use of other characters. the other ones just focus on the title characters, with only a few other characters. many of the skits on The best Of Elmo feature elmo as a supporting player.

anyway, here are my top 15 favorites, in no particular order.

1. a celebration of me, grover!
2. the best of kermit on sesame street
3. learning about letters
4. elmos sing-along guessing game
5. getting ready to read
6. count it higher: great music videos from sesame street
7. rock & roll
8. monster hits
9. play-along games and songs
10. big birds storytime
11. what's the name of that song?
12. sesame street's 25th birthday: a musical celebration
13. the alphabet game
14. do the alphabet
15. sing along

and here are my top five least favorites, in no particular order:
1. learning to add and subtract (most sketches are great, but plot is mediocre)
2. the great numbers game (very few good sketches, and most good ones are on other video releases)
3. elmosize (not enough interesting sketches)
4. learn to share (should have had more sketches)
5. sing, hoot & howl (i don't know why)

 

[BEAR]

Here's my list, based mainly on a combination of a) intrinsic entertainment value and b) number of times the tape has been spun for my 4-year-old and 2-year-old: (If there are any really great ones that are excluded, it's possible that I don't have them yet.)

1. Elmo's World: Wild Wild West
This is a classic, and the pinnacle of achievement by which all the other Elmo's World releases should be measured. It's seamlessly done from start-to-finish. Elmo is definitely in his element in the western genre.

2. Best of Ernie and Bert
Ernie and Bert remain the strongest staple of the "old" Sesame Street sketches, and this video is a classic, hindered only by the weak performance of teenager Gina in the main plotline.

3. Christmas Eve on Sesame Street
A holiday classic with touching subplots and excellent music. Would be #1 if it weren't hindered by its holiday-specific content that reduces watchability throughout the year.

4. Big Bird's Story Time
"Best of" video for Kermit's "Sesame Street News" skits. Brilliant production whose only flaws lie in the slow section where Maria reads the "Goldilocks" story while Big Bird and Snuffy fall asleep, which would be better replaced by another Kermit sketch.

5. Elmo's Musical Adventure: Peter and the Wolf
Excellent introduction to the orchestra and the majesty of Peter and the Wolf. Only flaws are awkward acting by conductor Keith Lockhart and dragging action near the end of the play following the capture of the wolf.

6. Elmo Visits the Firehouse
Touching video that explores the full range of emotions kids have about fires and helps them understand the task and tools of fire fighters. This is currently a daily ritual for my kids.

7. Kids' Favorite Songs 2
Outstanding graphics and hilarious kid interviews highlight this outstanding production. This represents the "new Sesame Street" at its very best.

8. Sleepytime Songs and Stories
Soothing in tone, this video surveys numerous aspects of sleep and bedtime stories portrayed in past sketches. Includes a redone "Everybody Sleeps" film and song.

9. Learning About Numbers
Hilarious look at past number sketches through the format of the "Numbers Show", a take-off on Johnny Carson's "Tonight Show". Probably should be ranked higher, but I want to be fair to the "newer stuff"...

10. Sing, Hoot, and Howl
Tribute to the great "animal" songs of the past.

11. Learning About Letters
12. Elmo Says Boo
13. Alphabet Jungle Game
14. Kids' Guide to Life: Telling the Truth
15. Get Up and Dance

Honorable Mention:
Kids' Favorite Songs
Do the Alphabet
Rest of the Elmo's World series

Top 3 Worst Videos of All Time:
1) Elmo in Grouchland (movie)
The topic is unpleasant (Elmo losing his blankie), the music is bad, and the production is disappointing. Unwatchable.

2) Elmo Saves Christmas
Depressing and pointless, this video tells the story of how terrible the world would be if everyone celebrated Christmas every single day. Features a flaming gay Harvey Fierstein as the Easter rabbit. Also features a surly, grizzled Santa Claus.

3) CinderElmo
Not nearly as bad as the above two, but still remarkably boring. Imagine an entire video designed around a pun between "Elmo" and "Cinderella". Does not hold children's attention.

Disappointing, but not unwatchable:
1-2-3, Count with Me
Ernie/Humphrey/Ingrid/Benny sequences are much too long.

Cookie Monster's Best Bites
Emphasizes that Cookie Monster is a one-trick pony. Annette Bening sketch is much too long. Like "Best of Kermit", this feels like a hasty farewell to a departing Frank Oz.

Best of Kermit on Sesame Street
Appears to have been thrown together at the last minute following the threat of losing the rights to the Kermit character. Instead of entire SS News sketches, features isolated clips. "Big Bird's Story Time" is far superior.

Great Numbers Game
With an uninteresting subplot of being trapped in a "game", this is little more than an attempt to cram as many number sketches as possible into one video. Really drags in the cartoons about numbers higher than 15. "Learning About Numbers" is a more interesting effort.

Elmocize
Pales to "Get Up and Dance" as an exercise video. Mr. Monty is boorish, and Cyndi Lauper appears to have showed up intoxicated on filming day.

Others that are too disappointing for me to have seen in a while:
Elmo's Sing-Along Guessing Game (confusing premise)
Best of Elmo (too much Whoopi)
Sing Yourself Siller At the Movies (this one gets 5 phooeys)
We All Sing Together (ugga wugga annoying...)

Comments?

My friend, you have some interesting criticisms, many of which I don't really understand. Now everyone is entitled to their opinions, of course, but some of your back up is pretty wishy washy. You say you don't like The Best of Elmo because their is too much Whoopi. She only is in that one scene with Elmo and it is one of the most educational, memorable and classic bits in the shows 35+ years' history. To me, it just seems like you are putting it down because you have it in for Whoopi Goldberg or something instead of appreciating what the piece really is and what is going on in it. And one of your low points for Elmo Saves Christmas is as you say "a flaming gay Harvey Fierstein." I am not quite understanding what you mean by this. Would you care to extend on this more? Because to me, that was just plain unnecessary.
Let me ask you something else. Which videos do your kids enjoy? Be honest, because they are better critics then we are in this case. And while I accept a lot of your reviews, those in particular had no credibility because the reasoning was weak and plain absurd.
I am sorry, but it made me steam to read some of those things. Does your child get upset and hate the video and say, "I can't stand that 'gay' Easter Bunny! Turn it off!"? Or are they annoyed with the likes of Whoopi Goldberg talking to Elmo about racial diversity. Just throwing it out there.
(**BEAR now steps off his soapbox for the time being, takes a deep breath and goes to the kitchen for a snack**)

 

[D'Snowth]

Here's are mine (in order from best to least favorite)

• Bedtime Stories and Songs
• The Best of Ernie and Bert
• Big Bird's Storytime
• A Celebration of Me, Grover
• Christmas Eve on Sesame Street
• What's the Name of That Song?
• Elmo Save Christmas (is HF really gay?)
• Monster Hits
• Not sure what the name of this one is, but it has to do with a sing-a-long on the 123 roof.
• Big Bird in China
• Computer Caper
• Elmo Says Boo!
• The Best of Elmo
• Count it Higher!
• and Elmocise

 

[BEAR]

Here's are mine (in order from best to least favorite)

• Bedtime Stories and Songs
• The Best of Ernie and Bert
• Big Bird's Storytime
• A Celebration of Me, Grover
• Christmas Eve on Sesame Street
• What's the Name of That Song?
• Elmo Save Christmas (is HF really gay?)
• Monster Hits
• Not sure what the name of this one is, but it has to do with a sing-a-long on the 123 roof.
• Big Bird in China
• Computer Caper
• Elmo Says Boo!
• The Best of Elmo
• Count it Higher!
• and Elmocise

Yes, Harvey is gay.

 

[minor muppetz]

Best of Kermit on Sesame Street
Appears to have been thrown together at the last minute following the threat of losing the rights to the Kermit character. Instead of entire SS News sketches, features isolated clips. "Big Bird's Story Time" is far superior.

This video was made in 1998, two years before the jim henson company was sold to em.tv and before the jim henson companies ownership of the sesame street characters was sold. I don't think the jim henson company was in negotiations with EM.TV at the time, but even if it was, EM.TV decided to sell hensons rights to the sesame street characters, so the sale has nothing to do with whether it was put together at the last minute. I do wish that this video was an hour long, included at least three complete news skits, and didn't include the scenes with grover talking to kids about kermit.