Posted By Vicki McClure Davidson on November 4, 2009

The Sesame Street of today looks quite different from when it launched back in November 1969. And more changes are coming up in the year ahead. Google’s surprise “doodle” logo today is a tribute to the acclaimed children’s educational show, using Big Bird’s thick legs in the “L” position.

UPDATE, NOVEMBER 5, 2009: Another tribute to Sesame Street with a Google doodle… this time it’s Cookie Monster in the Google logo, as shown below.

UPDATE, NOVEMBER 6, 2009: Yes, it’s another tribute to Sesame Street… Bert and Ernie are showcased today in the Google doodle logo, as shown below.

UPDATE, NOVEMBER 7, 2009: New Sesame Street doodle today… Oscar the Grouch is in today’s in the Google doodle logo (is this the last, one wonders?). A bit obsessive, although cute…

UPDATE, NOVEMBER 8, 2009: One more Google doodle logo… hello, Elmo!

UPDATE, NOVEMBER 9, 2009:
Now The Count is in today’s Google doodle… since the show’s actual anniversary is on November 10, I suspect that there will be one more character in the logo tomorrow. My guess is that it’ll be Grover (normally, I’d guess Kermit the Frog or Miss Piggy, but I don’t think they’re part of the Children’s Television Workshop; they’re Muppets).

UPDATE, NOVEMBER 10, 2009:
One more, likely final, Google doodle tribute to Sesame Street, that of the entire gang… my guess from yesterday was off, although not entirely, since Grover is included with the other characters (he’s doing a handstand inside the lower-cased “g”) in today’s logo:

From TVCrunch:

It’s a big day for Big Bird – as he gets the Google logo doodle treatment in celebration of Sesame Street’s 40th anniversary!

Sesame Street celebrates its 40th anniversary on November 10, with a visit from First Lady Michelle Obama for a “Healthy Habits for Live” initiative, as well as a kick-off to a nature initiative called “My World is Green & Growing.”

Look for plenty of celebrities to stop by during Sesame Street’s 40th year: Sarah Jessica Parker, Kobe Bryant, Greg Kinnear, Jake Gyllenhaal, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Cameron Diaz, Adam Sandler, Jimmy Fallon, Jenny Garth, Paul Rudd, Hugh Jackman, Debra Messing, Eva Longoria, Adrian Grenier, Julianna Marguiles, Judah Freidlander, Ricky Gervais, Patricia Arquette, Brendan Fraser, Matthew Fox, Christina Applegate, Debi Mazar, Cedric the Entertainer, Ziggy Marley, and Meredith Viera.

From Thaindian News:

Millions of Americans have watched the amazing show, at least in their formative years. Apparently it is said that, many of the former kids who loved Sesame Street now work for Google, hence the change in the logo to celebrate Sesame Street’s 40th anniversary. Actually the exact anniversary falls on 10th November. It is unclear why celebrations are taking place early.

There are some changes planned in the pipeline to celebrate the show’s anniversary. Executive Producer Carol-Lynn Parente said in a statement, “you’ll see a brand-new and spectacularly beautiful opening sequence. We’re also launching an entirely new format for the show — the magazine format of Sesame Street, which has been evolving over the years, has been officially replaced with what we’re calling a ‘block’ format. And it’s just wonderful.”

There have been so many marvelous moments and hilarious spoofs over the past four decades on Sesame Street. I personally feel that the earlier episodes were funnier and written much better. Below is a video clip of one of my favorite silly bits from the “Monsterpiece Theater” segments. Yes, I have a soft spot for classic musicals, especially those of Rodgers and Hammerstein. And my kids adored this one using “Shall We Dance?” from The King and I. The King and “I”… get it? Heh heh… clever stuff.

Sesame Street, “Monsterpiece Theater”: The King and I

Also clever… and silly. Spoof of Reginald Rose’s classic 1954 courtroom/jury made-for-TV drama “Twelve Angry Men”.

Sesame Street, “Monsterpiece Theater”: Twelve Angry Men

Nice clip with fabulous jazz artist Norah Jones and Elmo from Season 35…

Norah Jones Sings “Don’t Know Why ‘Y’ Didn’t Come” on Sesame Street with Elmo

One of the show’s original song classics with Big Bird from 1969… notice how Bird Bird’s head had far fewer feathers back 40 years ago. Rather scrawny looking compared to his present-day look.

Big Bird, Sesame Street – ABC-DEF-GHI-JKL-MNO-PQR-STUV-WXYZ (1969)

Click image to enlarge:

Big Bird's appearance, then and now, images from left to right: 1969, 1990s, 2008

Additional reading:
Dallas Morning News: After 40 years, ‘Sesame Street’ still stands out, serving as lesson for shows that followed
The Globe and Mail: Happy birthday, Sesame Street: 40 years of sunny days
The Independent: Behind the scenes of Sesame Street
Frugal Café Blog zone: Woo Hoo, More Fun-Poking at Obama… Conan O’Brien and ‘Sesame Street’ Muppets Satire (video)
Adam Baldwin, Big Hollywood: ‘Sesame Street’: Habitat for Political Correctness and Adam Baldwin, Big Hollywood: ‘Sesame Street’: All Monsters Are Equal?
Telegraph.uk: Bert and Ernie in Google’s third consecutive Sesame Street doodle
John Nolte, Big Hollywood: PBS Ombudsman: ‘Sesame Street’ Fox News Slam Crossed Line
The American Center for Law & Justice: What the Church Can Learn from Sesame Street
Stage Right, Big Hollywood: ‘Sesame Street’: It’s About My Children, Not the Puppet and ‘Sesame Street’ Trashes Fox News
Sci Fi Wire: Our 15 favorite Sesame Street sci-fi moments
Alleba Blog: Google Features Sesame Street Doodles
Christian Science Monitor: Sesame Street — 40 years of laughs, joy, and communism?
BBC: Why did Britain fall out of love with Sesame St?
Christian News Analysis: Is ‘Sesame Street’ promoting multiculturalism and global citizenship?
Guardian, Technology Blog: Sesame Street: Google celebrates 40 years of Big Bird and the gang
NPT Media Update: Put Down The Duckie: Our Favorite Sesame Street Musical Guests

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Tags: Big Bird, children's show, Children's Television Workshop, Cookie Monster, CTW, doodle, Elmo, Google, Google doodle, Google logo, Grover, King and I, logo, Monsterpiece Theater, Norah Jones, Oscar the Grouch, PBS, Sesame Street, Sesame Street 40th anniversary, The Count, Twelve Angry Men, video, YouTube