The problem with that version is that they took the existing audio of Ernie singing from the original recording and chopped it up to fit around Aaron Neville singing. And they did this *after Jim Henson died.* I've always found it more unsettling than moving.

Jim Henson was definitely special and brilliant, and the show would have been much different without his contributions, but it's worth noting that Sesame Street was the product of a lot of other creative minds as well. Producer/director Jon Stone is usually credited as having filled the showrunner-type role that…

Brilliant. I've always thought that could been an actual R&B/pop hit if it hadn't been written about a letter of the alphabet.

I'm inclined to agree. I've never quite understood the notion that it's a sad song. There's emotion it it, but it's about being assured that home is the best place to be, which to me feels like a happy conclusion.

Don't forget Granny Fanny Nesselrode!

Oh man, you're right. I always forget about Mr. Handford #1.

Exhibit A: https://www.youtube.com/wat…

Here it is: https://www.youtube.com/wat…

Yep, that's the one. Oscar tells Big Bird that no one will get presents if Santa can't fit down the chimney, and Big Bird has a crisis of faith that leads to him waiting on the roof. Meanwhile, Mr. Hooper helps Ernie and Bert resolve their Gift of the Magi-style storyline by giving them both back the possessions…

That Love Boat sketch is one of the best things Sesame Street has ever done.

I believe at the Sesame Street panel at New York Comic Con the producers said they were thinking about doing a Game of Thrones parody. Cookie Monster in "Game of Scones" maybe?

I can't hear Paul Simon's recording of that song without singing that kid's lyrics.

In interviews, Caroll Spinney often talks about how the original concept for Big Bird was essentially that he was just a big dumb guy. After the first couple seasons, he suggested to the writers that Big Bird might work better as a child, and that's when the character really started to click.

Did you ever watch Christmas Eve on Sesame Street as a kid? He's prominently featured in that, and they used it show it every year. Or did you have any of the old Sesame Street records? I think that's how I knew him, despite being about your age.

And Ebenezer, the poor kid's Oscar the Grouch.

Three Gordons. Matt Robinson, who was also a writer for the show and the voice of Roosevelt Franklin. Hal Miller, who only lasted a couple seasons. And Roscoe Orman, the long-time Gordon most people know.

"Street Gang" covers all of that, plus stuff like how the show changed to compete with Barney, and a lot more. It's definitely worth checking out.

The thing is, if not for the popularity of Elmo, Sesame Street wouldn't exist now. Different generations of kids have different tastes, and it just happened that kids of the last several years have preferred Elmo to Big Bird. All that Elmo stuff has kept the show on the air. Plus sometimes he does this thing with…

Elmo is hilarious in this recent completely non-educational Entertainment Weekly video also featuring Cookie Monster: https://www.youtube.com/wat…

Aw, Mr. Noodle.