Where are the older humans?

[D'Snowth]

One thing needs to be made explicitly clear: NO CREATIVE DECISIONS ARE MADE BY HBO. Considering this current season was filmed before the deal was even made, all of the current changes (format, set, cast) were already in place. HBO has nothing to do it with it.

People need to stop making HBO the scapegoat for all the things they don't like about the show these days.

No, it's really SW's new staff that's behind most, if not all, of these creative decisions that are not sitting well with people, so much so that they pretty much drove Joey away from the show altogether.

It's easy to see why people are blaming HBO, though: in this day and age, where networks are the ones who own shows and are behind all of the creative decisions, I think ordinary people would assume that HBO is the one behind all of these changes made to the show. Outside of us here at MC, and in the Muppet fandom in general, how many people out there do you suppose stop to think that SW still retains the creative decisions of the show?

 

[muppet maniac]

After hearing the recent news about Bob and the other original cast members leaving, I'm starting to think this is what Joey meant about losing the "heart and soul of the show" in his Facebook post last year.

 

[sesamemuppetfan]

Bob says everyone but Alan, Chris and Suki are gone.

So I guess it's fair to assume that Allison and Loretta left without us knowing? (Not that it's a problem- it wouldn't surprise me if that was the case)

 

[Oscarfan]

So I guess it's fair to assume that Allison and Loretta left without us knowing? (Not that it's a problem- it wouldn't surprise me if that was the case)

That what it sounds like, though the article claims Loretta is still involved.

 

[D'Snowth]

Clearly, it's a combination of a lot of things: scaling back of both Muppet and human characters, doing away with spoofs and parodies . . . in a sense, it almost feels like a deja vu of when Jon Stone said of the ATC era that the show was being "dumbed down," which resulted in him being fired. One of the things about SST was that they always made it a show that parents could watch with their kids, however, the research is turning up parents don't watch with kids anymore, hence the end of parodies - because kids don't understand them - and celebrities - because kids don't know who they are; research is also showing that most kids shows have smaller casts with only a few main characters, hence why they're scaling back on both Muppet and human characters. But the thing of it is, all of that has been part of what made SST the show that it is, so I can see all of that playing a contributing factor in Joey's decision to walk away.

EDIT: Ziffeled twice.

 

[Schfifty]

One of the things about SST was that they always made it a show that parents could watch with their kids, however, the research is turning up parents don't watch with kids anymore, hence the end of parodies - because kids don't understand them - and celebrities - because kids don't know who they are.
EDIT: Ziffeled twice.

But aren't little children not able to understand parodies in the first place? Yes, they've been done as a way to engage and entertain the parents and older folks, but why specifically would the show get rid of spoofs and celebrities - two of the show's most notable aspects? They don't really interfere with the watching/learning experience for young children (or at least they shouldn't). I don't get why parents would stop watching with their kids, unless they decide that the show is a good babysitter for a child on an iPad.

In any case, very sad that Bob, Gordon, Luis, et al have left. This is definitely the end of an era, and things do have to change at some point; but on the bright side, we should be thankful that they have taught us many things in life and served as role models for us and millions of others.

 

[Pig'sSaysAdios]

That what it sounds like, though the article claims Loretta is still involved.

I really shouldn't be holding my breath but, I really hope it's true that we at least still have Susan and maybe Gina. Although, that would seem like an odd and random choice to me considering the fact that Susan has probably appeared less than any of the other cast members. Also, it seems like they would've kept Gordon instead, he and Maria were really the most well known human characters.

 

[JT Yorke]

Yup i did read this to..
Sesame Street Loses Bob, Gordon & Luis

 

[mbmfrog]

The HBO deal ensures that, with or without certain human cast members.

Money isn't everything if the show isn't likable by the general public.

Remember this show is going straight to PBS after an 8 month time period. So once the general public finds out about this...Old school fans aren't going to be happy.

 

[mbmfrog]

And let's look on the bright side. None of them have passed on. Theyr'e all still alive and well. I have a really good idea that in Season 50 they will most likely all come back for a very special episode to commemorate such a huge anniversery.

It's a good thing to look at and it would be a great thing to see the entire cast reunited for a television special celebrating 50 years on TV.