In almost exactly a year's time, it will 50 years since the first episode of Sesame Street aired in the USA.
I remember well when it came to West-Germany. In 1972 regional TV in several Bundesländern aired a pilot programme, in English, to gauge parents' reaction. My brother and I watched it with my mother. Afterwards she asked what we thought of it. Even though we didn't understand a word, we loved it. By 1973 it was broadcast in German on TV in almost all of West-Germany. Only the state of Bavaria banned it. By then I was, at 6 going on 7 years old, rather outside the target audience. And there were parts I obviously found dull. But there was still a lot to love for me. Oscar, whom I adored, Ernie and Bert (worryingly, I rather identified with Bert but wanted to be more like Ernie), and, above all, the Cookie Monster.
The love affair lasted only a year or so. But a year when you are 7 is a very long time. And even as I was older, I'd occasionally tune in when I was bored, because there's always be something to entertain me. Fast forward 20-odd years, and I bought Sesame Street videos for my son, introducing him to my old favourites, plus that new-fangled Elmo (an old Elmo shampoo bottle still stands on our bathroom shelf). I loved watching the old stuff with him. Subsequently I have downloaded, for me nostalgic enjoyment, episodes from the first few years. And I occasionally search YouTube for those great music clips.
I remember well when it came to West-Germany. In 1972 regional TV in several Bundesländern aired a pilot programme, in English, to gauge parents' reaction. My brother and I watched it with my mother. Afterwards she asked what we thought of it. Even though we didn't understand a word, we loved it. By 1973 it was broadcast in German on TV in almost all of West-Germany. Only the state of Bavaria banned it. By then I was, at 6 going on 7 years old, rather outside the target audience. And there were parts I obviously found dull. But there was still a lot to love for me. Oscar, whom I adored, Ernie and Bert (worryingly, I rather identified with Bert but wanted to be more like Ernie), and, above all, the Cookie Monster.
The love affair lasted only a year or so. But a year when you are 7 is a very long time. And even as I was older, I'd occasionally tune in when I was bored, because there's always be something to entertain me. Fast forward 20-odd years, and I bought Sesame Street videos for my son, introducing him to my old favourites, plus that new-fangled Elmo (an old Elmo shampoo bottle still stands on our bathroom shelf). I loved watching the old stuff with him. Subsequently I have downloaded, for me nostalgic enjoyment, episodes from the first few years. And I occasionally search YouTube for those great music clips.
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