Cookiegate
When I was a wee little girl watching that staple of children’s television programming, Sesame Street, there was no Elmo. And for that I am forever grateful. I don’t know what it is about Elmo; I just don’t like him. (I mean, that whole “Tickle-Me Elmo” phenomenon? In my opinion, one word: Disturbing!)
Anyway, when I was small Sesame Street only had Oscar the Grouch, Big Bird, Bert and Ernie, Grover, and the Cookie Monster. (OK, technically there were other characters, I mean who can forget the Count? But those were the main players.) At that time Grover was the Elmo of Sesame Street. He was the goofy, spindly legged whatever-he-was-supposed-to-be that all American toddlers worshipped. But for me, since I couldn’t really pinpoint what Grover was I didn’t find him particularly appealing and I always thought that he was too much of a goody-goody anyway.
For me, Sesame Street was defined by the presence of the Cookie Monster. We all remember the Cookie Monster: that lovable googly-eyed scruffy blue monster who ate chocolate chip cookies (and the occasional plate or paper sack) like they were going out of style. I remember mimicking his words to my mom at least twenty times a day. “Me eat cookie?” I had a Cookie Monster stuffed animal and we even had a cookie jar in the shape of the Cookie Monster. On my corner of Sesame Street, Cookie Monster was the star.
I also seriously think that the Cookie Monster’s one-track mind in the area of cookies had a profound impact on me as a child. I sincerely believe it was through him that my love of sweets, and chocolate chip cookies in particular, was nurtured to the point where even today my favorite breakfast is one of warm gooey chocolate chip cookies fresh from the oven and a big glass of milk. (Mmmm… Cookies…)
So imagine my shock this evening when I read that Sesame Street is doing the unthinkable: They are putting Cookie Monster on a diet!!! Oh the horror!
OK, so according to his spokesman (who knew that Cookie Monster had his own spokesman?) “[They] are not putting him on a diet. And … would never take the position of no sugar. [They are] teaching him moderation.”
Either way you look at it, I am still appalled. You should never see the word “cookie” and “moderation” in the same sentence. It just isn’t done.
I know that childhood obesity rates in America are sky-rocketing and I do believe that a healthier life style with less fast food and more exercise would tremendously benefit America’s youth, but why should the Cookie Monster have to suffer?
Cookie Monster represents life’s guilty pleasures: We all know that instead of just eating one or two cookies we would like to eat the whole plateful, just like Cookie Monster so unashamedly does. And without those guilty pleasures, life would be as bland as a carrot stick and glass of water… and, really, who wants that?
USA Today article: Cookie Monster Cuts Back
8 April 2005 at 06:24
This is so wrong!
Personally, my favorite was always Snuffalupagus (or however you spell Snuffy’s proper name). Problem was, they never marketed any Snuffy stuff! Even the Sesame Street store in the mall near me growing up (closed about 10 years ago, alas) didn’t have anything!
8 April 2005 at 21:59
Awww not my poor Cookie Monster! Poor guy!
8 April 2005 at 23:46
I can’t believe it!
But the funny thing is that a friend of mine has a boy, Alexandra’s age and he figured out that Cookie Monster really doesn’t eat the cookies. He didn’t say it, or even imply that he couldn’t (being the puppet that he is), but he would imitate Cookie Monster by crumbling his food in his face and throwing the crumbs on the floor. I never would have thought of that when I was his age.
Oh, and by the way, Alexandra loves Elmo, too (like many of her friends) and I think he’s cute, but it makes me crazy the way he refers to himself in the third person.
And … congrats on the Expatica gig. I went and looked at it and it’s great! You really are a good writer.
10 April 2005 at 22:26
yup, when i was growing up, there was no elmo, i agree..I recently saw a “newer” episode of Sesame street on PBS and everyone looked so old!