”Sesame Street,” as many already know by now, was planning to open its 41st season with a celebrity guest appearance from Perry. The show is known for the celebrities that come on it, that means Perry, as it is a popular children’s show. Or it would are, if her episode had not been modified in a panic at the last moment due to a supposedly racy music video with the “Street’s” modern kingpin, Elmo. Elmo gave his thoughts on it.
'Good Morning America’ featuring Elmo with George Stephanopoulos
The new York Times explains that Elmo was there. He wanted to defend his friend there. In addition to “Sesame Street” Executive Producer Carol-Lynn Parente, Elmo and Grover – nay, Super Grover – appeared before a national television audience made up of the kind of adults who felt that Katy Perry’s mostly-covered breasts posed a danger to their tender kids.
Miss Perry created a parody of her song “Hot ‘N Cold” about Elmo and Perry having a play date for the scene in question. It’s easy to discover on YouTube. Perry was ready to play with Elmo. When she finds out he doesn’t want to, she gets sad. She has even gone to the trouble of getting in her best dress-up clothes (a low-cut dress that is not revealing). Parents don’t like it. That is why there is so much controversy. It has turned into a “cause” for people on both ends of the spectrum.
’surprised at the volume of disapproving responses’ is what Parente claims she is
Stephanopoulos talked to Parente about this. She said “Sesame Street” might never, never produce anything that we thought was inappropriate.” They booked Katy Perry in a try to get younger parents to become part of the audience base of “Sesame Street.” Complaints flowed in like crazy about the inappropriate dress on the show. There was enough complaint the production team decided it was worth getting rid of to keep their already stable audience base.
For his part, Elmo reached out to Perry, saying that he hoped she would come back to “Sesame Street” for a play date.
“Elmo loves Miss Katy,” he said.
Those who complained are made fun of
The parents who complained got made fun of. Super Grover did what he could with this. He asked Stephanopoulos if he liked his new super costume. Next he made his joke. He said, “It isn’t too revealing, is it?”
Additional reading
New York Times Arts Beat
artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/09/24/great-muppet-caper-continues-as-elmo-defends-katy-perry/
One more time, with feeling. And a one, and a two…
youtube.com/watch?v=OAz4MKHhovQ
