Your Thoughts: Street Gang – The Complete History of Sesame Street

[Phillip Chapman]

On December 26, the long-awaited book, "Street Gang – The Complete History of Sesame Street" (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0670019968/muppetcentral/) by Michael Davis will be released nationwide. It is available as a hardcover book and also a CD set narrated by Caroll Spinney.

This article includes info on the book, Michael Davis' book tour and a Q&A with Davis...

http://www.muppetcentral.com/news/2008/121808.shtml

Since most of us will be getting this release, we'd like to mention that if you order either the Street Gang Book (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0670019968/muppetcentral/) or Street Gang CD Set narrated by Caroll Spinney (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1593161409/muppetcentral/) from Amazon using the links above, a small portion of your order will go to Muppet Central to help keep the site, forum and radio running smoothly. It's a great way to help MC and get a great price on this new release with a low-price guarantee. We greatly appreciate each person that helps support MC by placing orders through the site.

After you get your copy, please be sure to post your thoughts here.

[dietrich]

I pre-ordered my copy weeks ago. Has anyone gotten their copy early? I'm really looking forward to reading it.

[Dr. Bombay]

WOO-HOO! I got my copy of the book TONIGHT at Borders! And I'm so glad my cousin was shopping with me because I totally didn't see it.

I've all ready started reading and I have to say it is captivating even in the prologue!

Much thanks to Michael for taking on such a great project!:wisdom:

[Ilikemuppets]

I'm still waiting for mine. It just started shipping yesterday I think.

[dietrich]

WOO-HOO! I got my copy of the book TONIGHT at Borders! And I'm so glad my cousin was shopping with me because I totally didn't see it.

I've all ready started reading and I have to say it is captivating even in the prologue!

Much thanks to Michael for taking on such a great project!:wisdom:

Great news. Tell me does the book talk about rare sketches and characters?

[Dr. Bombay]

I've only got through the Prologue and the first two chapters which mainly focus on Joan Ganz Cooney. It's VERY interesting, because you are placed right at the moment and place in time where the idea for SS first came up.

[Dshibshm]

Is it similar to Unpaved, like with all the old stuff from the show and the background secrets?

[zns]

Since I got a giftcard for B&N as a Christmas gift from a friend of mine, I'm going to use it on this book.

[KerMatttheFrog]

I clued my wife into it. So I wasn't surprised, but still very pleased at it being under the tree today!

I am about three chapters in. Great stuff so far.

[dwmckim]

Since Friday is kind of an unusual release day for a book, i checked the bookstores yesterday figuring the 26th date was kind of a conservative date given how Christmas might mess up mail/deliveries - and sure enough i found it in the second bookstore i looked in.

To answer a previous question, no, it is not like Sesame Unpaved - there's a book coming out later this next year which will be more like a 40th anniversary edition of Unpaved - more the coffee table style book loaded with both text, trivia, and pictures. Street Gang is an in-depth history woven together much like a historic novelization...there's some insert pages in the middle with some rare b&w photos, but it's not mostly a major telling of Sesame's history, development, backstage struggles and challenges, etc.

Shy of 400 pages, this will take some time to go through but i love what i've read so far...i can honestly say this is the book a lot of us have been waiting for...while there is focus on a lot of major players and parts of the Sesame team not necessairily connected with the Muppets, there's also a level of in-depth stories, facts, and descriptions of what they're really like that is culled from over 200 interviews and lots of other keys-to-the-kingdom sources - you will read stuff in here that you probably would never find in an authorized Henson biography. The prologue focuses on Henson's memorial (and for those who have seen the tape of it in its entirety, you'll learn the rather surprising reason why Daryl Hannah had been in such a prime spot among Henson's closest associated) and a lot of stuff that was going through Joan Ganz Cooney's and others' minds as to how the loss of Henson as a firm advocate of not including the Sesame characters as part of the sale to Disney was going to make things very tough for them soon afterwards...we've heard some of the horror stories...there's those and more really shocking stuff there. So far i've read the prologue, did a little bit of skimming through to get a feel for the goodies i'm in for, read most of chapters 1-4, chapter 5 (Jim bio), chapter 7 (Spinney bio) and you'll learn a lot more about Spinney that what we got "Wisdom of Big Bird" about his early years, career, and influences. And this is all really just the beginning. The book doesn't shy away from what some might consider "dirt" but it's not there for tabloid type shock value but just part of the real unsanitized story of how things are and have been.

I really don't want to give away a lot of surprises just yet...but trust me, there will be many!

[Dshibshm]

What book comes out later, and when? I heard that Unpaved made a 2002 reprint. Where is it?

[zns]

What book comes out later, and when? I heard that Unpaved made a 2002 reprint. Where is it?

It's a book entitled "Sesame Street: A Celebration of Forty Years of Life on the Street", which is scheduled for release on Oct. 29, 2009. It's written by Louise Gikow and should be a little more in-depth than "Unpaved" was.

Anyway, I purchased "Street Gang" earlier this morning, and I can honetsly say without a doubt that it is one of the best Non-Fictions that I have read in a long time. I would personally recommend this to any fan of Sesame Street, the Muppets, or children's television.

[mbmfrog]

I got to ask how far does the book go...I mean does it reach into Abby's territory of today ? :o

[Oscarfan]

There's only a paragraph or two about her development.

[MelissaY1]

My copy of Street Gang was shipped day after Christmas, so I'm still waiting for it. I pre-ordered it months ago when I first heard about it from Amazon.com

[mbmfrog]

There's only a paragraph or two about her development.


So it does reach into today's status quo on Sesame Street. :super:

[Oscarfan]

I don't know. I just got it today and looked in the index for Abby cadabby.

[matleo]

I think I read somewhere that when the book gets released in paperback there would be more on Abby Cadabby. I think that was on Muppet Newsflash.

--Matt

[The Shoe Fairy]

It was released around Caroll's Bday, Coincidence or not?

[Frogster]

Why do people care so much about Abby Cadabby?

[BobThePizzaBoy]

Why do people care so much about Abby Cadabby?

I'd only assume just for reference. I don't know. :smirk:

[frogboy4]

The inclusion of Abby is important, but I'd really like the focus to be on the rest of the 40 Sesame seasons. That seems to be what they did. :super:

I wonder how much frank Frank Oz discussion it contains. We know he has some disagreements with the show's direction over the past few years.

[Dr. Bombay]

I'm in Chapter 14 I believe and I have to say I LOVE THIS BOOK! It's indepth but not boring. Everything ties into everything else and it's just so marvelous to see how SS came together.

I will say though that I'm VERY disappointed with inclusion of curse words, particularly the F-bomb. I realize this book isn't geared towards kids at all, but it's not classy to have them included. Yes, they are quotes from interviewees but still, I think it would've been better to censor them with the first letter and hyphens...we still get the gist of what is being said and, sure, we KNOW what's being said, but it just seems more in line with the innocence of SS to have it not printed all the way out.

But that's my only complaint so far!

LOVE IT! LOVE IT! LOVE IT!

[heralde]

Well I'm not sure but don't authors generally prefer not to censor their interviews? I do understand your concern, I don't like it when people curse too much either.

[MuppetsRule]

I got mine today. I know what I'll be doing New Year's Day. :wisdom:

[BEAR]

I just bought the book the other day with a Borders gift card I got for Christmas. It looks beautiful and I can't wait to plunge into it! I don't really want to read this thread much yet because I don't want it to spoil what I haven't read. I will post my thoughts when I get further into reading. So excited to read this book!

[Oscarfan]

I've been reading and skimming through the book and there's a lot of new info to me. Like the exact time Jim passed away.

Plus, the funniest quote - "Prairie is the Muppet most loved by librarians."

[The Shoe Fairy]

Why do people care so much about Abby Cadabby?
Well, It is the COMPLETE history, and in recent year's they had to introduce another major female character, for various reasons.

[heralde]

Well, It is the COMPLETE history, and in recent year's they had to introduce another major female character, for various reasons.

Definitely! :) As long as the history of SS doesn't take a back seat to the more recent stuff that still needs to stand the test of time (no offence to the newer characters). :)

[Ilikemuppets]

I just got this book today! I'm only on page seven but it's a fun ride so far!

[Dr. Bombay]

I just finished the book today, and I'm sad that there isn't any more book TO finish:( It's such a great read and so informative!

I would say this is a great companion piece to "Sesame Street: Unpaved" where that book has tons of pictures and info to "Street Gang" having tons of info and pics.

Great job, Mr. Davis!

[goshposh]

Will the audio book be released on itunes?

[trekkie1701E]

I ordered the book what seems like forever ago at a local indie in San Jose (support those independents, guys!), and am finally gonna recieve it soon.

[Muppet Newsgirl]

I was planning to buy one the next time I could get out to a Borders or Barnes and Noble...but tonight, after I got home from work, I went browsing in the bookshop that's down the street from where I am. And I'm aimlessly scanning the nonfiction section, when on the third shelf I spotted a copy of "Street Gang."

It's a good book, very interesting. I really loved what the book had to say about Richard Hunt (I'm kinda biased, as you can tell by my signature), and I liked reading about how the show evolved over the years...but wow, Northern Calloway had issues.

[heralde]

It's a good book, very interesting. I really loved what the book had to say about Richard Hunt (I'm kinda biased, as you can tell by my signature)

I spend some time reading it in the store today, lol (may have to wait for my birthday!). Definitely appreciate the time given to Richard Hunt. ;)

I'm not sure the whole world needs to know about certain cast members' lives. That felt a little odd to me personally.

However, it was nice to read about Jason, one of the Sesame Street kids. I saw this 1981 NYTimes article (http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?sec=health&res=9402EEDD1339F932A25753C1A967948260)recently about him and his mother, who was actually a Sesame Street writer. How difficult it is finding out your child is disabled, and how the doctors advised against taking him home. But how she was told by a fellow mother, "I wish I could tell you how wasted those tears are. That child will be the joy of your life." :)

[Ilikemuppets]

Just finished reading it! I would highly recommend it! I would have to say after reading this book that I can say with confidence that I would attribute the show demise to the creation of Zoe... Trust me when I say that is the turning point. I guess I didn't think about it because I never knew? But I am glad to know that Fran eventually turned things around with her character.

Also loved learning new things about Richard Hunt as well as others who made the show what it was ans is!

Yeah, Northern was spread across many places in the book, and I have to say that it very troubling, sad and tragic the way his life played out and ended and is most most clear in the end just how sick he had become.

By the way here is a scene with Jason! I never knew the cut away scenes with David before, but it kind of creeps me out now.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4xt8EuG6YPU

One thing I noticed about the book is it has a lot of recurring themes though out the whole book and coincidental things and that it's all so connected in so many ways' You truly do have top read one part for the next part or another to truly understand and for it to make sense. The who book really is connected so well and it all tied together really nicely. It will take you in one place seemingly in the middle on nowhere and make perfect sense later on. I wish I could describe better just what I'm talking about. For instance regarding recurring themes... There is a theme throughout out the whole book where evrything and force that's comes against the workshop fails because of just plain what Joan refers to as "dumb luck" and it happens over and over again. And I would not could Elmo out because he is a lot more important then he is giving credit for without even trying, knowing or realizing it. He was in the right place at the right time in history and the whole book is full of the right place and the right connections and the right people at the right time when ever things seemed to take a turn for the worst. And the whole book is eerily an example of the "six degrees" Theory... Even in years and decades and generations that at first seem to have nothing to do with each other. But it really is such a good read and the way it ended to me was more them perfect to make this one of the best reads out there. I would really suggest that the best way to read is from front to back... It is really well worth it to read it in the order!

[Ilikemuppets]

I do find it really interesting and a bit shocking how Abby Cadabby was John Ganz Cooney brain child of all things. And I am even more suprised that she gave her blessing and encouragement to the urban renewal project titled, "Around The Corner" I mean it was planned that at the end of every episode that a sponsor man would say “Guest of Sesame Street stay at the elegant Furry Arms hotel, Weather they want to or not.” … I mean what’s that? episode I don't want to ruin it, but their was just this one part during the making of season 25 when new management came in and wanted to "Barny-a-rize" and dumb down everything that was just too hilarious for Words! The new "PC" people and one research director put a complete halt on an episode involving a showbiz type named Walt "Dizzy" who was in search of an actor to play a chicken in a production he was doing. Well Telly catches the acting bug and obsesses over getting the part and practices clucking and flapping his wings. But Elmo gets the role instead, but Telly lands another one. As the script was being taken into the production stage, one of the newly appointed research directors put a halt to the script because as she put it "Research had concluded the material was unsuitable on the grounds of racism… And directly after she was concluded by and I kid you not that “The part of a chicken should only be played by a chicken… Essentially she is saying that they are being racists and insensitive towed chickens and possibly stereo typing them.

At first they did not think she was even being serious, but after finding out that she wasn’t, the writers tried to explain to her that “The whole art of acting is pretending to be someone other who you are in real life, other wise you wouldn’t mount a production of Hamlet unless a real Danish prince happens to show up at the audition. And Norman styles had the funniest response to the whole strange ordeal.

He “Suggested with a strait face that they should air the piece as written and see how much mail that they would get from outraged chickens. Baaaaahahahahahahahaha… :p

[heralde]

I don't want to ruin it, but their was just this one part during the making of season 25 when new management came in and wanted to "Barny-a-rize" and dumb down everything that was just too hilarious for Words! The new "PC" people and one research director put a complete halt on an episode involving a showbiz type named Walt "Dizzy" who was in search of an actor to play a chicken in a production he was doing. Well Telly catches the acting bug and obsesses over getting the part and practices clucking and flapping his wings. But Elmo gets the role instead but Telly lands another. As the script was being taken into the production stage, one of the newly appointed researchers put a halt to the Script because as she put it "Research had concluded the material was unsuitable on the grounds of racism… And directly after that it was concluded by directly after I kid you not “The part of chicken should only be played a chicken… Essentially she is saying that they are being racists and insensitive towed chickens and possibly stereo typing them.

That is truly disturbing, lol.

[Ilikemuppets]

That is truly disturbing, lol.Tell me about it. And they had this whole big where they accused Jon Stone and Dulcy Singer of not adapting to what they called in their eye's, "change and innovation" and not doing things, "The Barney way". Newly appointed CEO for the Workshop David Britt was like "John was being pressured to do things differently, for good reason". And management was viewing Stone and Singer as " resistant to change and "thought they were comfortable old sticks-in the-mud who were opposed to change whatsoever." As John put it. But John argued that that it wasn't so much that they were resistant to all change, but they they "were resistant to ill-conceived, unreached, damaging change." And that they "were never asked about modification. We were told" But is it any wander why some people just find some of this research they they come up with to just be plain bogus, heh!

It's funny, because all of a sudden these new people step in out of no where that this new David Britt guy assembles and what the book calls "an SWAT team of executives to shake up Sesame Street" in response to Barney the Dinosaur who had made "People's" lists of the "25 most intriguing people, lol". But these people come in and there are quite arrogant and they think they know better and what's best that what was worked for a quarter of a century, only to be prover wrong in the long run of things. I just find it a little sad that Jon never got to see the street go back to more of it's original forum. The funny thing it that it was an out cry from the fans of the show who wanted focus back on the core characters who made the show what it was and off of the newer stuff. I mean When Barney first got big he was taking a bite into the Workshops ratings, but Stone dismissed it as nonsense. He was right.

[frogboy4]

I need to get this book! I don't understand how such a SWAT team of executives rises to such a level. This does explain how things changed.

[Ilikemuppets]

I need to get this book! I don't understand how such a SWAT team of executives rises to such a level. This does explain how things changed.Yeah, I that's exactly what I was thinking that it was finally making sense out of all that happened in the nineties. But I thought Friendly and not so friendly the part in the book about the rivalry between Jeff Moss and Joe Raposo was a really fun part of the book. It was a rivalry in a Harvard-Princeton rivalry sort of manor.

Another part I found quite interesting was how how Micheal Eisner, after his relentless suit after the sesame street characters, on day come in with army of lawyers and raided and launched a full scale assault for a hostage takeover to gain ownership ship and control of the Sesame Street Characters in a final show down between him and Cooney. And it was amazing how and just plain old dumb luck and the right connection and the right place at the right time and She won and Disney backed off. They were were really lucky. But he ended up really lucky. But it ended with him screwing over The Henson Company in the end. :p

But it all just comes together so well in the end and it really ends on such a beautiful note. I just love the ending. It's like justice for Jim or as as if Jim had some how help things to work out from a far morally in the end.

Also thought was interesting were all the bouts in the early days that they had with the feminist and how CTW made sense about how trivial is was and to come after an easy target like a kids show when there a a lot worse linages out there on commercial the commercial television landscape that are being targeted at children of all things. In other words, there were a lot more deeper, important, pressings matters for them to fight...

And it also delves into their concerns being a lot of the reason Zoe was made. But not only that, but she was created for all the wrong reasons and was the first puppet to completely change the way that characters were developed from that point on. It was the total opposite and I have to say rather disgusting which Fran Brill really hit on the note about. And the way they did it and dumped it all of her was cold and disturbing as well.

I'm glad she pulled back after a point and too the time do develop the nurture the character and make it her own and one that people can actually care about. It almost seemed worse then what went into the creation of Abby and it was the start of it.

[heralde]

I don't understand how such a SWAT team of executives rises to such a level.

Pretty typical, unfortunately.

But John argued that that it wasn't so much that they were resistant to all change, but they they "were resistant to ill-conceived, unreached, damaging change."

That's exactly what disatisfied Muppet fans are often trying to say.

It's sad that a pioneering show had to suddenly overall itself simply because a new kid on the block gained popularity. I'm even more convinced I should show my kids the DVDs that lean towards the older material.

[The Shoe Fairy]

And it also delves into their concerns being a lot of the reason Zoe was made. But not only that, but she was created for all the wrong reasons and was the first puppet to completely change the way that characters were developed from that point on. It was the total opposite and I have to say rather disgusting which Fran Brill really hit on the note about. And the way they did it and dumped it all of her was cold and disturbing as well.

Sorry, but I only get half of this post, cause it seems rushed and the spelling and grammar is bad, and I'm confused by this. No offense or anything. Just how drastic were the character creation changes brought about by the creation of Zoe, a monster who seems to have been brought in for good reasons (A female lead), and then went through many visible changes in mannerism, dress etc. until settling down in the first few years of her existence.

Just finished reading it! I would highly recommend it! I would have to say after reading this book that I can say with confidence that I would attribute the show demise to the creation of Zoe... Trust me when I say that is the turning point. I guess I didn't think about it because I never knew? But I am glad to know that Fran eventually turned things around with her character.

What exactly do you mean by "Demise" in this sense? A reduction in something? A lack of funding? A loss of ratings?
But I do agree that Fran did send an initially confusing new character down the right path
I do find it really interesting and a bit shocking how Abby Cadabby was John Ganz Cooney brain child of all things.

Well, there was a need on 'The street' for a female character that would exhibit qualities needed in the world today, adressing the issue that men and women are equal, and that there is a need for a self empowered female character, who is just as likely to play with trucks as she is dolls, and boys just as much as girls.


Just to round off this post, I do think that everything is/has/will turn out OK for Sesame Street in the end. I mean, Season 39 was shot in HD, and that is a modernisation and an advancement in technology, and those sorts of things tend to get expensive, so SS must be getting better and moving further into "The modern age".
Phew. Glad that got outa my system. We really do need a sigh Smiley.

[heralde]

Advancements in technology are indeed great, as long as the content is still doing its job. Of that I'm still concerned. I am definitely interested in reading what Street Gang had to say about all this. :)

[Ilikemuppets]

Sorry, but I only get half of this post, cause it seems rushed and the spelling and grammar is bad, and I'm confused by this. No offense or anything. Just how drastic were the character creation changes brought about by the creation of Zoe, a monster who seems to have been brought in for good reasons (A female lead), and then went through many visible changes in mannerism, dress etc. until settling down in the first few years of her existence.You know I'm sorry about the grammar. Somtimes I go over things and read read them and spell check them and them and it still comes out wrong... Plus it didn't help the fact that I was completely tired and didn't really gotten any sleep at the point. either. It sort of complicated, but it was the amount of research that went into her plus she was just made and created from only a marketing stand point to sell dolls. She was created she only to have talking points form the public relations department that were clearly purely on the bases of selling merchandise. They just kind of slapped her on Fran before she even knew what hit her and say to "make her a star the little girls would relate to and that the product team can bank on." That had all these unreasonable expectations for her performer. Where it usually took time, trial and patients to develop a character, this time that had a model that favored one cable networks. Where before developing a character was done as a collaboration with producers and writers this time it was all done by marketing specialist, and product developers and research. The book says that she was and carefully considered tested in focous groups for appeal and that this was basically was made to be a plush toy and not a character. The book goes on to say that every aspect of development was considerer and strategic. It goes on to say that her color choice was deliberate to contrast with other characterizing the TV screen and to stand out on store shelves where Barney dolls were being sold. He was considered The answer Muppet and was was touted out to feminist groups before she even as such before she even first appeared on the show... She was kind of put out beforehand as this breakout star with what people describes as "the First female Supernova of the show." She just had talking points that came from the public relations department. But you go to read Fran's take on it because she just gets it right of how characters were created before her, It was just the opposite way and nothing like this.


What exactly do you mean by "Demise" in this sense? A reduction in something? A lack of funding? A loss of ratings? I mean a complete dumbing down of the show... When it all went down hill quality wise. Some say it was with Elmo, but after reading this book I'm convened it was with Zoe. That to me was a very clear turning point where tings would not quite be the same again.


Well, there was a need on 'The street' for a female character that would exhibit qualities needed in the world today, addressing the issue that men and women are equal, and that there is a need for a self empowered female character, who is just as likely to play with trucks as she is dolls, and boys just as much as girls. Well I am with you and I think that is all well and true. The thing that surprises me about Abby is that she was pretty much devolved by Tony Geiss who had been a staff writer on the show sense in 1970's. I mean it says that Abby came from a "pretty-in-pink" brain storming session from Joan Coney. The Workshop refer to Zoe as more like Rhoda from Mary Tyler Moore. And they sort of refer to Abby as Mary who was more of a "girly girl" They go on to point out that they did not have a girly girl "on the show." But it says that feminists immediately too a disliking to the Abby, showing that the more things change, the most they stay the same.

But I like think that having balance in important and I like the contrast between Zoe and their interaction between each other and the way the play and bounce of of each other. The chemistry between those characters is really fun to see!

[frogboy4]

I never knew Zoe's origin and must have missed her formative years. Season 25 was a time when I was leaving home for college etc so my time was spent killing brain cells rather than enhancing them. :p

By the time I noticed Zoe she was better formed into what we see today and I like that character very much. I'm glad Fran Brill found the right pitch for the character in all the PR mess. It is a beautiful puppet and not too girly like Abby tends to look.

[The Shoe Fairy]

Well, thats all of my Zoe questions solved, and it ends on a good note!:D

[Ilikemuppets]

One thing I would really like to know is when the paper back version come out with additional charters, if the chapter on covering the latest season will be about season forty?

[lowercasegods]

My wife surprised me with a copy of this book a few days after Christmas, which was a wonderful way to get it. After reading it, I have my criticisms (they could have focused a LOT more on the show's actors and puppeteers), but mostly, this is the sort of in depth book I was waiting for. A nice companion piece to Sesame Street Unpaved (which had a far better title).

[Son of Enik]

After reading everyone's comments here, I think I'm going over to Amazon to order my copy of this amazing sounding book. I'll come back with thoughts of my own after I read it in it's entirety.

[frogboy4]

I tried to hop into Borders Books across the street before work and even though the book was supposed to be in the store I couldn't find it and the staff was characteristically unhelpful. It was also listed for 8 bucks more than Amazon so I just ordered it online. I'm sure the staff at that store misplaced it in the kids section, but after using the locating kiosk and slogging through all the places it legitimately should be I gave up and started my workday. I will make a point to be even more helpful to customers today. :super:

:search: Anyway, I'm very excited to get this book! Just the comments here have made for a good read, no doubt the book will too! Does it contain any images or art? If so, what?

[MuppetsRule]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The casual fan of Sesame Street probably wouldn't enjoy it as much as it doesn't go in to a lot of detail as to how certain characters came about but does a great job of introducing the people behind the scenes (benefactors, politicians, influences, producers, writers, stage hands, puppeteers, etc.). It gets into a lot of detail as to all the people that were involved in making Sesame street a reality and is a great read for a complete history of Sesame Street.

P.S. I've also found several books listed on e-Bay and may be a cheaper alternative to bookstores or Amazon.

[Ilikemuppets]

Does it contain any images or art? If so, what?Well I does have a section where is has what I feel is a fairly generous amount of photos.

[frogboy4]

Well I does have a section where is has what I feel is a fairly generous amount of photos.

Oh good. :) Thanks! :super: I'll be looking forward to it.

[mbmfrog]

Another part I found quite interesting was how how Micheal Eisner, after his relentless suit after the sesame street characters, on day come in with army of lawyers and raided and launched a full scale assault for a hostage takeover to gain ownership ship and control of the Sesame Street Characters in a final show down between him and Cooney. And it was amazing how and just plain old dumb luck and the right connection and the right place at the right time and She won and Disney backed off. They were were really lucky. But he ended up really lucky. But it ended with him screwing over The Henson Company in the end. :p




Good Gravy, I never knew there was an untold story about Disney vs the Street. :eek:

[heralde]

I tried to hop into Borders Books across the street before work and even though the book was supposed to be in the store I couldn't find it and the staff was characteristically unhelpful. It was also listed for 8 bucks more than Amazon so I just ordered it online.

Aw that stinks, well at least you had the online option. Maybe the last copy had just been taken from the store?

[KerMatttheFrog]

What a wonderful read! Very informative history of Sesame Street and I feel I have so much more understanding and appreciation for the work that went into creating and maintaining this show. I also was very interested in reading how the changes made to "the Street" to attempt to counter the popularity of Barney paralleled when I thought the actual tone and theme of the show changed without knowing the reasons.

I highly recommend it for any fan of Henson, The Muppets, or Sesame!

[frogboy4]

Aw that stinks, well at least you had the online option. Maybe the last copy had just been taken from the store?

That would be nice, but I doubt it's the case. There were many obscure new books in the new release section. Street Gang should have been there. They didn't carry Pepe's book either, but I can understand that. If I had flipped through that book beforehand I'd have left it on the shelf due to the sparse content and lack of photography (I know they've got pictures of the Prawn ready to use because I have a file of 'em). Here's hoping this month's Diva Code avoids that mistake.

I'm glad Street Gang has some actual photos.

[Ilikemuppets]

There's chapter that discusses what Jone was saying about how they wanted to keep fantasy from reality. They were going to have the humans above ground and then that camera would go down into this underworld underneath the street where the Muppets Characters would be. And the tow species and human and Muppet would really ever meet. It had so many parallels to the concept of Fraggle Rock that it's believed that Jim Henson stored the ides later for that show.

it also discusses more on the original concept and origin for Oscar The Grouch, and it is pretty interesting and confusing to me...

[mbmfrog]

Even though Carol Spinney Narrates the book's CD version...Does he narrates the part when it comes to himself in the book ? :(

[frogboy4]

Ooooooh! Just got my copy! I've only flipped open the images and thumbed through it a bit. I'll likely read a bit of it every night and on lunch breaks.

[heralde]

Ooooooh! Just got my copy! I've only flipped open the images and thumbed through it a bit. I'll likely read a bit of it every night and on lunch breaks.

Oh great! Can't wait to hear your thoughts, I still need to find a moment to buy it, lol. :)

[frogboy4]

Oh great! Can't wait to hear your thoughts, I still need to find a moment to buy it, lol. :)

It's a big froggin' book! I didn't think it would be. I'm probably projecting my disappointment in the very thin (but somewhat amusing) photo-less Pepe book that has become a paperweight.

Street Gang, on the other hand, appears to be very thought-out and the endorsement of Frank Oz listed on the back is a seal of approval for me.

[heralde]

It's a big froggin' book! I didn't think it would be. I'm probably projecting my disappointment in the very thin (but somewhat amusing) photo-less Pepe book that has become a paperweight.

Oh I know, it's really impressive. I'm glad Sesame Street is getting this kind of respect. :)

[Super Scooter]

Overall, the book is great! I do have a few minor complaints about the book (including a couple of factual errors), but I'll wait till I'm done reading it to post them here.

I really like his rather diplomatic handling of the "Kermit's name" myth. He stated how many believe the name came from Kermit Scott, but only Jim Henson himself could have verified that.

And, actually, Jim did. According to Karen Falk: "While Jim Henson did have a childhood acquaintance named Kermit, it was not an uncommon name at the time, and Jim always said that the Frog was NOT named for this child from his elementary school. I think Jim just liked the sound of the name - it has nice hard sounds and a sort of nasal quality that make it rather funny. By the way, another Kermit worked in the Muppet Workshop and helped to build the original Big Bird! (Again, no relation to the Frog.) I think Jim did, however, ensure that future generations would not continue using the name for their male children!"

I also loved the stories related about Richard Hunt. He was such a jerk! I love it! ;) Calling Jim a "rich b*****d millionaire." Hehe! Poor Jim.

[Ilikemuppets]

Yeah, I found one error in the book that caught my attention... It was when he was describing a Honker her actually described a "Dinger," heh! It's a very minor thing, but they are similar so I can see that mix up... :o

But I can not wait for other people thoughts and views on the book!

I liked Caroll's reaction to some of the things Richard would say, heh!

Yeah , the book it generously big! I didn't want it to end and I couldn't put it down. I read for like four days non stop minus a lot of sleep just to finish it...By the way, before I read this book I never know that Caroll was going to be an animator for The Walt Disney Company and even saw Walt Disney himself in person hanging in the door way as he was about to be hired. And it's amazing that he turned them down because he could get paid more elsewhere. And it's funny that he had money issues with Henson, The Workshop and Sesames Street when he first come and made him consider his older job because of better financial security. But he ultimately did not turn this job down, heh! :wisdom:

[mbmfrog]

I got mine through the Library, and even I didn't know it was that "BIG!" :concern:


Still, a lot of things amazed me like the cast mini-bios before they came on the show. The secret origin of Zoe, the fight between SS and Disney, and to think I would have thought that they were to be beautiful music together.

Still, it was a good book, but due to school and work, I might not have enough time to read it. So I just glance through it mostly. :(

[Super Scooter]

I would like to see a book that talks more about the characters and performers. This was one of my complaints, but I realize it would be hard to fit in. He talks about Grover and Bert and Ernie's beginnings very briefly, but the only characters that really get discussed at length are Big Bird, Elmo, Zoe and Cookie Monster (not quite as much as the other 3). There's also a bit on Abby. Now that I'm pretty much through with the book, I think that discussing character origin, development, and why some were ultimately taken out of the show (such as Don Music, Sherlock Hemlock and Lefty) should be in a seperate book. Hopefully a book like that will be released.

There was very little about Telly and nothing about Baby Bear. The same could be said about Marty Robinson and David Rudman. There was very little about Marty Robinson in the book, and (virtually) nothing about David Rudman. They're two performers who have been a huge part of Sesame Street through the 90s and this past decade. There were also a lot of other performers and writers that were overlooked (such as Joey Mazzarino, who is hillarious as Murray Monster, and is both a performer and writer).

Another thing I noticed was, although Jerry Juhl is quoted a couple of times, he received no credit for his involvement in Sesame Street. He wrote alot of Muppet stuff (like Ernie and Bert) during the early seasons.

Again, these are just some minor complaints. The book is fantastic! I love how it focuses on the people truly responsible for the show, people who rarely get the credit they deserve. And after reading it, it made me really appreciate the new format of the show more. It makes sense. But I also agree with Jon Stone in that the show should not have tried to be Barney. It was interesting noting how one reviewer compared the two, praising Barney for being "slow" and "familiar" and teaching the most basic things, and essentially bashing Sesame Street for being too deep. Competing with other children's shows doesn't mean lowering yourself to the other show's level. Kids deserve better than Barney, and Sesame Street, for all the problems older fans may have with it at times, is still the best.

[Muppet Newsgirl]

I also loved the stories related about Richard Hunt. He was such a jerk! I love it! ;) Calling Jim a "rich b*****d millionaire." Hehe! Poor Jim.

To say nothing of his calling David Rudman "that (seven letters, starts with A) from Chicago." The book was right; Richard did have a weird way of expressing his love and concern for his fellow cast members from time to time.

About the big purple menace; it's true, Barney's an insult to children's intelligence. It's true that a lot of us have issues with Elmo, but Barney is big and patronizing, while SS is hip and witty.

I remember, back in first grade, one morning our teacher gave us - I kid you not - math worksheets that had Barney on them. Don't ask me why, because 16-17 years later I still don't know. But I thought it was awfully demeaning; I remember thinking, "What is this? Barney's for little kids."

[SesameStMuppets]

I can't wait to finish this book! I'm on page 123 (yes, that is a conicidence)... I can't wait to actually get to the 'meat' of the book. The prepatory/ research of the story in intriguing, but I WANT MUPPETS!

I'll have plenty more to say once I'm done reading. If only school wasn't taking up so much of my time!

[mikebennidict]

I can't wait to finish this book! I'm on page 123 (yes, that is a conicidence)... I can't wait to actually get to the 'meat' of the book. The prepatory/ research of the story in intriguing, but I WANT MUPPETS!





SS is more than just the muppets and personally I think this book's for people who are mature and willing to learn about SS's history without getting hysterical about not comming across anything on the muppets right away.

[frogboy4]

To say nothing of his calling David Rudman "that (seven letters, starts with A) from Chicago." The book was right; Richard did have a weird way of expressing his love and concern for his fellow cast members from time to time.

About the big purple menace; it's true, Barney's an insult to children's intelligence. It's true that a lot of us have issues with Elmo, but Barney is big and patronizing, while SS is hip and witty.

I remember, back in first grade, one morning our teacher gave us - I kid you not - math worksheets that had Barney on them. Don't ask me why, because 16-17 years later I still don't know. But I thought it was awfully demeaning; I remember thinking, "What is this? Barney's for little kids."

Elmo does have a sly wit. I wish they'd go with that shade of him more than he appears in Elmo's World. Those segments are unwatchable.

I keep trying to make a dent into the book, but customers keep coming in. :grouchy:

[Ilikemuppets]

I can't wait to finish this book! I'm on page 123 (yes, that is a conicidence)... I can't wait to actually get to the 'meat' of the book. The prepatory/ research of the story in intriguing, but I WANT MUPPETS!

I'll have plenty more to say once I'm done reading. If only school wasn't taking up so much of my time!Yeah,It was fun reading the preparation stuff. But for me I couldn't wait to get to when the show actually started and seeing all it want thouhg, all the changes that happened, why they happed and what was the cause of it all over the years, and how it got to where it was today. But it really all is so interesting and I just love when the author just delves deeper into things!

[mbmfrog]

Was it just me or did anyone notice that there was no mentioning of Rosita during the entire book ? :(

[Super Scooter]

I noticed the Rosita thing, too. No mention of her in the book either.

SS is more than just the muppets and personally I think this book's for people who are mature and willing to learn about SS's history without getting hysterical about not comming across anything on the muppets right away.

Well, technically, if it weren't for the Muppets, Sesame Street wouldn't be on television anymore. (As much as ya may love the humans on the show, who wants a doll of Gordon? :smirk:) The book wasn't written with the Muppets as the main focus, you're right in that. But the Muppets are a huge part of the show, so it was a little disappointing to see more time wasn't devoted to them (though, again, I'm extrememly happy with the focus on the creators of the show).

[frogboy4]

I noticed the Rosita thing, too. No mention of her in the book either.



Well, technically, if it weren't for the Muppets, Sesame Street wouldn't be on television anymore. (As much as ya may love the humans on the show, who wants a doll of Gordon? :smirk:) The book wasn't written with the Muppets as the main focus, you're right in that. But the Muppets are a huge part of the show, so it was a little disappointing to see more time wasn't devoted to them (though, again, I'm extrememly happy with the focus on the creators of the show).

I only enjoyed the Muppet bits on Sesame Street as a kid. To be honest - the pinball animation used to induce a panic attack. I don't know why! To be honest, I was only keen on a few of the live action people (Mr. Hooper was definitely among those on that list). The live action kid films never did interest me unless attached to a Muppet character. Without the Muppets there is no Sesame Street. The show had this magic formula that shouldn't have ever been tampered with. Still trying to get into the book, but I haven't had the time to really devote to it yet. Hopefully today.

[Drtooth]

Gads, I'm chewing my bottom lip up reading some of this... I must, MUST check this book out when I get the time.. and I'm not too big on reading, either... so it says something.

[frogboy4]

:search: First error I've noted so far in the book is citing the $40M domestic grossing Dark Crystal as the box office bomb that plagued Jim when actually they meant the $12M domestic grossing Labyrinth. Just a note. It's a great read when I can actually get to it - paragraph-by-paragraph right now. :insatiable:

[heralde]

Well, technically, if it weren't for the Muppets, Sesame Street wouldn't be on television anymore. (As much as ya may love the humans on the show, who wants a doll of Gordon? :smirk:) The book wasn't written with the Muppets as the main focus, you're right in that. But the Muppets are a huge part of the show, so it was a little disappointing to see more time wasn't devoted to them (though, again, I'm extrememly happy with the focus on the creators of the show).

I admit as a Muppet fan I'd be mostly looking for information on them in the book. Still, it's important to know where your interests came from, their origins and all. :)

[Ilikemuppets]

I admit as a Muppet fan I'd be mostly looking for information on them in the book. Still, it's important to know where your interests came from, their origins and all. :)Oh, some of the people behind the scenes are was entertaining people. They have great senses of humor that affected the type of humor that this show is famous for. :)

[heralde]

Oh, some of the people behind the scenes are was entertaining people. They have great senses of humor that affected the type of humor that this show is famous for. :)

Yup, and the precursors to Sesame Street, like Ding Dong School and Howdy Doody. :)

[frogboy4]

Eisner is now officially 100% evil in my eyes. I do not like that man. Bad man! :halo:

[Ilikemuppets]

Eisner is now officially 100% evil in my eyes. I do not like that man. Bad man! :halo:Yea, I agree! If you had problems with him fore you definitely will look at him with different eye's after reading this book.

Yup, and the precursors to Sesame Street, like Ding Dong School and Howdy Doody. :)Yeah. It's funny to me how so many key people who ended up working for this show and The Workshop pretty much dreaded children's television shows and didn't want any part of it. But after seeing, hearing or viewing parts of Sesame Street in some way, they totally wanted in. They didn't view it like a children's television show at all.

[Son of Enik]

I finally finished "Street Gang" two nights ago and was thoroughly impressed. So many behind the scenes and lowdown dirt stories, and I must admit I also shall never look at Michael Eisner the same again. I also was shocked to learn about Bob Keeshan...who knew that Captain Kangaroo was such a jerk?
In contrast to "Unpaved", (which I also own and LOVE) "Street Gang" is the real deal. No color photos and Bios of the Muppets, no poems, no songs, this is something I've waited for. I have always been interested in what went on behind the scenes and Michael Davis has brilliantly brought to us a fine narrative of what it took to get Sesame Street on the air and what it took to sustain it's supremacy as the #1 Children's TV show of all time. Yes the rise of Nickelodeon and Disney Channel seemed like a threat to the throne during the 80's and 90's, but I truly believe that SS will go down in history as not only the best Kid's TV show of all time, but as the show that taught generations of children like myself our letters and numbers, but more importantly taught us to appreciate the world around us and to accept people no matter their race, religion or disabilities.
Other than Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood, Sesame Street taught us to love...what could be wrong with that?

[TopperFraggle]

I have mixed feelings about this book. For those that haven't read it, I'd say close to 75% is backstory of the people involved with getting the show on it's feet and gathering the significant funding. This means there are significant bios on Directors, producers, writers, not to mention whole chapters on the childrens shows they came from, mainly Captain Kangaroo and Howdy Doody. While informative, the result of all of that exposition was that by the time they got to where Sesame Street was in production, the rest of the book felt very rushed. Also they'd take you through the bio of somebody and you'd finally get to how they got into Sesame Street, and suddenly you'd back up and start with the birth of another important contributer. I don't know how this could have been changed, for they certainly gave a lot of people thier due, but it made for frustrating reading.

The book is really the story of Sesame Street from Joan Ganz Cooney's perspective, who sounds like a fascinating woman. Obviously she's more than integral to the Sesame Street story, but I felt that the author wasn't telling us about Sesame Street so much as he was telling us about her involvement with it. Even when he would do a section about other Cast Members or contributors it always came back to when they met Cooney for the first time or what she thought of them. There were some interesting anecdotes about some character origins, ideas for the show, etc... but far too few. After the initial season, the 70s are pretty much handled as a chapter, the 80s as a chapter, and then into the current times. There is a chapter on the cast, mainly those who were added after the first season, but any kid knows, Maria, Luis, and David, are just as much a part of Sesame Street as the Muppets, and neither human cast or puppets got as much time in this book as I would have liked.

I will say you come away from the book with a very good sense of just how groundbreaking the show was, and how it was viewed in the context of that era. It's a bit hard to remember nowadays with so many choices for kids shows, that back then, nobody made television with the intention of benefiting kids. It was all about doing whatever you could to hook them and keep them hooked. Sesame Street obviously did that too, but that was the icing around the educational cake.

[Ilikemuppets]

I also was shocked to learn about Bob Keeshan...who knew that Captain Kangaroo was such a jerk? You know? It's funny about people like Bob Smith or Bob Keeshan. Although Bob Keeshan was a little better in that he actually was genuinely like and cared about children and was just difficult to work with. Where as Bob Smith just didn't rally like kids at all. But I was watching this biography on Fred Rogers, and Lavar Burton was saying that before he actually met Fred that his first thought was this guy has to be some kind of act... It couldn't be for real. But after meeting him he saw that Fred was just who he is and that he is just like the guy you see on TV and not an putting on some kind of facade. Lavar was kind of taken back because it was the first time that he had really saw someone on television who was just honest and their true self and not some image. He said that that was the first time he realized that you could be on television and just be yourself.... Just be honest with people.

I think that surprises a lot of people with him. But children respected him for his honesty.

[goshposh]

I just finished listening to the audio version. And I LOVED it! Caroll Spinney did a wonderful job. Now I need to buy the book.

[quailsound]

thanks for the automated birthday wishes. i bought the street gang book for myself for my 30th when i got it and balled through the prologue! so far am thrilled by the format and dedication in this book. i so very appreciate being apart of this group, its how i found out about this book, and henson is a potent part of my growth, mr davis in his prologue fully explained my sentiment.
cheers!

[Ilikemuppets]

Actually it was thanks to Elmo that the Muppets were saved from Eisner's and Disney's Hands for good! Do not hate on Elmo too much because his success saved the Sesame Street characters, this show and possibly the workshop itself. And I think he's a bit more deserving of it then we give him credit for after reading this book.

[Son of Enik]

Actually it was thanks to Elmo that the Muppets were saved from Eisner's and Disney's Hands for good! Do not hate on Elmo too much because his success saved the Sesame Street characters, this show and possibly the workshop itself. And I think he's a bit more deserving of it then we give him credit for after reading this book.

I second that thought.

[uppitymuppity]

The New York Times printed an excellent review of the book that reinstates the view that Henson wasn't into "kiddie" humor:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/16/books/16book.html?em

[frogboy4]

The New York Times printed an excellent review of the book that reinstates the view that Henson wasn't into "kiddie" humor:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/16/books/16book.html?em

You're right. I grew up in the Jim era when that was still respected in every aspect of the Street. The magic Sesame formula was creating educational children's entertainment that would appeal to kids while not talking down to them and retaining enough solid humor to effortlessly entertain adults. Post Jim and in PBS' Barney-era all children's entertainment was dumbed-down. It (along with SS) started to become the sort of kiddified media that contradicted the magic that Jim brought to the mix. Sesame Street was a trend-setter that eventually began to follow a fad. A terrible, dull, Barney-influenced fad. My thoughts on today’s Sesame are quite different than they used to be. I do think an effort is being made to revisit their roots, but then a focus-grouped character like Abby appears. Time will tell.

[Ilikemuppets]

I do think an effort is being made to revisit their roots, but then a focus-grouped character like Abby appears. Time will tell. I actually see kind of compromise happening in the past few years. You see character lie Lulu and Murray come along in recent years, and they seem like they are genuine and crated the old way where the performers would play around with a character and who ever had the best fit for it would create and develop it with the writers and producers. Abby to me seems like a compromise. Okay, maybe he first season see seemed like she was out to sell merchandise., but it seems like her performer and the creative people were able to get to her and further in the development of a character that will last and not just be forgotten about down the line. I see good in both aspects of Abby. She can help the Workshop continue to be self supportive and she can be an engaging character that people can like. I forgot who said it; it may have been Christopher Cerf. But most of the Characters that end up last have some kind of obsession to a fault the humans can identify with.

[SSLFan]

-spoilers-

I finally finished the reading the book. It was pretty good; I liked the fact they were branching out to other projects/tv shows that basically pioneered the way to Sesame Street. A LOT of good information, who knew the Captian (Bob Keeshan) was such a scrooge? And it seemed a sad situation with Northern Calloway, after reading the "Nashville incident", I really felt sorry for him. It was also a shocker that he actually came up to Alison O'Reillys high school and proposed to her. This book also changed my view on Micheal Eisner, since I always thought he was sort of a cool, laid back guy, wanting to expand the Muppets into other bigger projects without leaving the whole load on Jim. Instead he seemed like a greedy, selfish kind of guy who wanted all the money to himself, since he kept pressuring Jim to buy the SS Muppets as part of the deal, which we all know, Jim would never let happen. It's frustrating knowing that Eisner, as Cooney said, basically was one of the factors that 'killed him'. Richard Hunt's portions of the book were also interesting, espically his choice of "colorful words" he used to some of his castmates. He seemed like a fun guy to work with. I liked how they explain the whole 'Around the Corner' change thing too. Even though I liked it, I now understand why so many Classic fans didn't approve of it(though I still do not like the bashing of the set, I really don't). I guess the 90's were really a transitional period, not to mention the introducing of Zoe, which I must say, goes into good detail. It seemed as if her introduction was rushed, only really for marketing purposes and to outsell the 'Barney' folks. Let's not forget the whole "Elmo stole the spotlight from Big Bird" thing. I kind of accept it, knowing Elmo basically "saved" SS with the whole "'Tickle Me Elmo' craze". I could go on about the book, and how good it was. I highly recommend. It really goes in- dept about the history of the show (though it did take a LONG while to 'get to' Sesame Street), something fans have been waiting for a while to finally see. What a great 'experiment' this show has turned out to be.

:wisdom: :wisdom: :wisdom:
*3/3 Big Birds*
Thank you, Mr. Davis.

[theprawncracker]

I'm still getting through the book... but I just received an e-mail from info@streetgangbook.com with the subject Thanks to you...

"...and readers like you, "Street Gang" is a New York Times Best-Seller. It has reached No. 32 on the Extended List for the issue dated January 18.

And there's more: the new issue of People gives the book four stars and includes the line "Davis's chronicle is as joyful as Sesame Street itself."

With gratitude,

Michael"

How incredibly exciting for both Sesame Street and Mr. Davis! This is awesome news! :D

[Grundgetta2800]

:DHas anyone had a chance to read Michael Davis' new book Street Gang: The Complete Sesame Street History

I'm about a third of the way through it.

[SesameStMuppets]

SS is more than just the muppets and personally I think this book's for people who are mature and willing to learn about SS's history without getting hysterical about not comming across anything on the muppets right away.

I beg your pardon. All I meant was that the depth given to the pre-show was so incredible that I can't wait to see that same amount of depth in the chapters dedicated to the show itself. I too am "willing to learn about Sesame Street's history;" I'm enjoying the meat - but I want the fur too! :wisdom:

I dodn't mean to come off as immature... just inpatient.

[Grundgetta2800]

-spoilers-


I finally finished the reading the book. It was pretty good; I liked the fact they were branching out to other projects/tv shows that basically pioneered the way to Sesame Street. A LOT of good information, who knew the Captian (Bob Keeshan) was such a scrooge? And it seemed a sad situation with Northern Calloway, after reading the "Nashville incident", I really felt sorry for him. It was also a shocker that he actually came up to Alison O'Reillys high school and proposed to her. This book also changed my view on Micheal Eisner, since I always thought he was sort of a cool, laid back guy, wanting to expand the Muppets into other bigger projects without leaving the whole load on Jim. Instead he seemed like a greedy, selfish kind of guy who wanted all the money to himself, since he kept pressuring Jim to buy the SS Muppets as part of the deal, which we all know, Jim would never let happen. It's frustrating knowing that Eisner, as Cooney said, basically was one of the factors that 'killed him'. Richard Hunt's portions of the book were also interesting, espically his choice of "colorful words" he used to some of his castmates. He seemed like a fun guy to work with. I liked how they explain the whole 'Around the Corner' change thing too. Even though I liked it, I now understand why so many Classic fans didn't approve of it(though I still do not like the bashing of the set, I really don't). I guess the 90's were really a transitional period, not to mention the introducing of Zoe, which I must say, goes into good detail. It seemed as if her introduction was rushed, only really for marketing purposes and to outsell the 'Barney' folks. Let's not forget the whole "Elmo stole the spotlight from Big Bird" thing. I kind of accept it, knowing Elmo basically "saved" SS with the whole "'Tickle Me Elmo' craze". I could go on about the book, and how good it was. I highly recommend. It really goes in- dept about the history of the show (though it did take a LONG while to 'get to' Sesame Street), something fans have been waiting for a while to finally see. What a great 'experiment' this show has turned out to be.

:wisdom: :wisdom: :wisdom:
*3/3 Big Birds*

Thank you, Mr. Davis.



I read the part about Calloway this morning. Its a shame that he had so many problems. I remember watching him as David on the show when I was little. Then I remember him just not being there. The same week I got Street Gang, I recieved the old School DVD set in the mail from Amazon.com. I was able to watch some of the parts they were talking about in the first episode.
BTW; I choose the name Grundgetta because I love Oscar.

[Grundgetta2800]

Actually it was thanks to Elmo that the Muppets were saved from Eisner's and Disney's Hands for good! Do not hate on Elmo too much because his success saved the Sesame Street characters, this show and possibly the workshop itself. And I think he's a bit more deserving of it then we give him credit for after reading this book.

As the book said, you either love Elmo or you hate him. Personally I think Elmo is incredibly huggable. LOL, even if I love the :grouchy:Grouch! One of the things that amazed me, was that for a long time Elmo was a discarded puppet that no one knew quite what to do with.

[Ilikemuppets]

As the book said, you either love Elmo or you hate him.Well maybe not so oddly enough, tat is the way Frank Oz described Miss Piggy. She just has this unapologetic bravado personality to her and she is how she is and some people liked her for it and some didn't. This was especially true during the hight of her.

[Grundgetta2800]

Well maybe not so oddly enough, tat is the way Frank Oz described Miss Piggy. She just has this unapologetic bravado personality to her and she is how she is and some people liked her for it and some didn't. This was especially true during the hight of her.

:mad:LOL: Piggy was an important character, but as far as female characters went, I prefered Janice. Often times I find myself comparing Piggy to my little sister, who has anger management issues. Janice is cool. She plays guitar and acts like she's stoned. BTW, was she named after Janice Joplin?

[Ilikemuppets]

:mad:LOL: Piggy was an important character, but as far as female characters went, I prefered Janice. Often times I find myself comparing Piggy to my little sister, who has anger management issues. Janice is cool. She plays guitar and acts like she's stoned. BTW, was she named after Janice Joplin?Well I mean how big she became more then how important she was.

I not quite sure who Janice was named after. Maybe somebody with more incite then I can answer. You have me wondering now?
:confused:

[heralde]

I not quite sure who Janice was named after. Maybe somebody with more incite then I can answer. You have me wondering now?
:confused:

Most sources do say Janice Joplin, which makes sense, she was the big female voice in Rock. :flirt:

[frogboy4]

Little known Muppet fact - Janice was likely named after Joplin but was originally designed as a male character to resemble Mick Jagger. (Dude looks like a lady) :flirt:

http://images4.wikia.nocookie.net/muppet/images/e/e0/Janicesketch.JPG

[heralde]

Little known Muppet fact - Janice was likely named after Joplin but was originally designed as a male character to resemble Mick Jagger. (Dude looks like a lady)

http://images4.wikia.nocookie.net/muppet/images/e/e0/Janicesketch.JPG

I know! That actually makes a lot of sense, I mean with the lips and everything, lol. Still I'm glad they decided to be more inclusive. :flirt:

[mikebennidict]

don't think these last posts have anything to do with the thread topic.

[Grundgetta2800]

Little known Muppet fact - Janice was likely named after Joplin but was originally designed as a male character to resemble Mick Jagger. (Dude looks like a lady) :flirt:

http://images4.wikia.nocookie.net/muppet/images/e/e0/Janicesketch.JPG

Thanks for clearing that up... Janice does look like Mick come to think of it :flirt:

[Grundgetta2800]

don't think these last posts have anything to do with the thread topic.

Is that against policy here? I'm really new :halo:

[Oscarfan]

Not really against the forum's policy, just his own.

[Grundgetta2800]

Hey I finished the book last night... I'm going to send it by mail to my mom... I did skim a little bit, but the parts I read, I was hooked to.

[frogboy4]

Getting *too* far off topic is against forum policy, but it didn't get near that far IMHO. Usually when remarking about it is best to add something on-topic to discuss. So I'll add a little something that's been on my brain.

So far Street Gang has elaborated too much on Cooney's biography instead of finding it's way back to Sesame Street. It's frustrating. Those bits are interesting but I read in slow periods at work and I have found it challenging to immerse myself in learning about her distant heritage and relatives decades or centuries before the show's creation. I'd rather hear more about the time she spent actually working on Sesame. I've barely cracked the book, but it's taken this sharp dull turn for me. Does it get better? Does it get back to the Street?

[Grundgetta2800]

Getting *too* far off topic is against forum policy, but it didn't get near that far IMHO. Usually when remarking about it is best to add something on-topic to discuss. So I'll add a little something that's been on my brain.

So far Street Gang has elaborated too much on Cooney's biography instead of finding it's way back to Sesame Street. It's frustrating. Those bits are interesting but I read in slow periods at work and I have found it challenging to immerse myself in learning about her distant heritage and relatives decades or centuries before the show's creation. I'd rather hear more about the time she spent actually working on Sesame. I've barely cracked the book, but it's taken this sharp dull turn for me. Does it get better? Does it get back to the Street?

I had the same problem... I just skimmed through that part. The story gets good when its starts talking about Northern Calloway (David) and Sonia Manzano (Maria). I also liked the backround of Captin Kangaroo. There are also some really good descriptions of the muppets.

[MuppetsRule]

Getting *too* far off topic is against forum policy, but it didn't get near that far IMHO. Usually when remarking about it is best to add something on-topic to discuss. So I'll add a little something that's been on my brain.

So far Street Gang has elaborated too much on Cooney's biography instead of finding it's way back to Sesame Street. It's frustrating. Those bits are interesting but I read in slow periods at work and I have found it challenging to immerse myself in learning about her distant heritage and relatives decades or centuries before the show's creation. I'd rather hear more about the time she spent actually working on Sesame. I've barely cracked the book, but it's taken this sharp dull turn for me. Does it get better? Does it get back to the Street?

That was my feeling as well. I really had to fight to get to the later parts. It eventually gets back to Sesame Street, just takes time.

[Ilikemuppets]

Yeah! The book does pick up!

[SSLFan]

Yeah, it does take time, but it's worth it once you get to 'Sesame'.

[Super Scooter]

I noticed that. Not that the Joan Cooney bio wasn't interesting, but it should have stuck more to Sesame Street. Her bio belongs in her autobiography if it ever gets finished.

That's another thing. Reading this book made me want to read Jon Stone's memoir. It's a shame it was never published.

[dwmckim]

The book is a marvelous treasure trove of info but for a work touting itself as "the complete history" it really spends a way disproportionate amount of the formation - it doesn't even get to the airing of the show until well in the middle of the book (it's in my car as i type this but if i'm not mistaken it doesn't happen until chapter 13 or 14). Then we kind of get a whirlwind tour of everything after with essentially a chapter on year one, a chapter on the 70's, the 80's and the 90's/00's.

For every well detailed account of stuff that might usually get left out of books like Northern Calloway's decline, there's also glaring ommissions like talking about what caused Matt Robinson to step away from the role of Gordon (the second Gordon Hal Miller isn't even mentioned at all) - at least there seems to be some stuff coming up about Roscoe Orman's Gordon in the paperback edition updates, but this really stuck out as something that one would expect. (Speaking of the various Gordons, the book fails to name the actor who played Gordon in the test shows, though this is i suspect more out of respect for not wanting to slander or embarass him since he's really maligned in the book - i'm sure somewhere in the archives someone would have been able to provide his name if Davis wanted to publish it)

I had a feeling re-reading the book that perhaps Davis, being aware of the other 40th aniversary book forthcoming (more of a coffee-table Sesame Unpaved type book) that he felt more like focusing on the formation and stuff that wouldn't end up being duplicated by its "companion".

While the stuff in the first third-to-half of the book is great stuff and all leads to stuff that happens later, it's very much like reading a biography of a person - i often get a little bored reading the first chapters about the person's childhood and development before accomplishing the things in life that caused a biography to be written in the first place that i often find myself reading the first chapter (or subchapter) or two then skipping ahead to a chapter/section in the middle - then back to chapter two, another middle chapter etc - once it became clear how much Street Gang was going to be a bit overly focused on the development, i followed the same approach when i read it the first time.

[Grundgetta2800]

The book is a marvelous treasure trove of info but for a work touting itself as "the complete history" it really spends a way disproportionate amount of the formation - it doesn't even get to the airing of the show until well in the middle of the book (it's in my car as i type this but if i'm not mistaken it doesn't happen until chapter 13 or 14). Then we kind of get a whirlwind tour of everything after with essentially a chapter on year one, a chapter on the 70's, the 80's and the 90's/00's.

For every well detailed account of stuff that might usually get left out of books like Northern Calloway's decline, there's also glaring ommissions like talking about what caused Matt Robinson to step away from the role of Gordon (the second Gordon Hal Miller isn't even mentioned at all) - at least there seems to be some stuff coming up about Roscoe Orman's Gordon in the paperback edition updates, but this really stuck out as something that one would expect. (Speaking of the various Gordons, the book fails to name the actor who played Gordon in the test shows, though this is i suspect more out of respect for not wanting to slander or embarass him since he's really maligned in the book - i'm sure somewhere in the archives someone would have been able to provide his name if Davis wanted to publish it)

I had a feeling re-reading the book that perhaps Davis, being aware of the other 40th aniversary book forthcoming (more of a coffee-table Sesame Unpaved type book) that he felt more like focusing on the formation and stuff that wouldn't end up being duplicated by its "companion".

While the stuff in the first third-to-half of the book is great stuff and all leads to stuff that happens later, it's very much like reading a biography of a person - i often get a little bored reading the first chapters about the person's childhood and development before accomplishing the things in life that caused a biography to be written in the first place that i often find myself reading the first chapter (or subchapter) or two then skipping ahead to a chapter/section in the middle - then back to chapter two, another middle chapter etc - once it became clear how much Street Gang was going to be a bit overly focused on the development, i followed the same approach when i read it the first time.

That's a really good description. I felt the same way. There were some parts I couldn;t put down and others that I was happy to skim through. I have a greater respect as well as sympathy for Northern Calloway now... All though, one problem that still sits with me is, why does it say he died of stomach cancer online , Davis claimed that it was EDS caused by a seizure. Never the less after reading the whole part about his decline, I'm sure it affected all those people who worked with him. Truely say to go to youtube now and here him on that nature skit with the fish singing "I'm beautiful". Boy did he have talent.

[Ilikemuppets]

That's another thing. Reading this book made me want to read Jon Stone's memoir. It's a shame it was never published.Yeah! Really hoping those get published someday too. Would love to read them!

[heralde]

I don't mind that they concentrated a lot of Cooney's background, this is the best place to do it really. Sesame Street is her baby! It may not be the part most people are interested in, but it is important. :)

[Ilikemuppets]

I don't mind that they concentrated a lot of Cooney's background, this is the best place to do it really. Sesame Street is her baby! It may not be the part most people are interested in, but it is important. :)But it's only part of the story and it comes in handy later in the book too. But if you read it out of order would would be in kind of a wild goose chase.

[heralde]

But it's only part of the story and it comes in handy later in the book too. But if you read it out of order would would be in kind of a wild goose chase.

I'm kinda weird in that I often read books out of order, lol. I know you get more out of the story reading it from start to finish, but for some reason I have trouble doing it!

[StreetScenes]

i finally have time to read it this weekend, so i just picked it up on my way home today, & the woman at the checkout saw the book & smiled, rang it up, gave the book a hug & and sang pinball number count :)

[heralde]

i finally have time to read it this weekend, so i just picked it up on my way home today, & the woman at the checkout saw the book & smiled, rang it up, gave the book a hug & and sang pinball number count :)

Aw that's so sweet! When I bought it, the man at the register pointed at Oscar and said, "He was the man!" :grouchy:

He also said he didn't really watch the show anymore; I suggested learning towards the Old School DVDs, hehe.

[Ilikemuppets]

He also said he didn't really watch the show anymore;
Well that's fine because the book isn't really for current viewers of the show as they are just learning to read. ;)

[heralde]

Well that's fine because the book isn't really for current viewers of the show. ;)

Very true, hehe. Hopefully in a few years they'll be encouraged to read it, so they know there was life before Elmo, hehe.

[Uncle Deadley]

I decided to go the audiobook route, which was, unfortunately, abridged, but nonetheless enjoyable and informative. Carroll Spinney, being so close to much of the material, adds an extra dimension in his reading. My wife has been reading the original version and has clued me in on some of the omissions. (Can anyone explain exactly why Joan Cooney referred to the estranged Jane Henson's appearance at the memorial service and taking on the title of Jim's widow as "unforgivable". I understand that the marriage was crumbling, but it still seemed an odd thing to say, but maybe it was was taken out of context.)

On the whole I rate the book as a satisfying experience even if I found some flaws in Michael Davis's writing style. The "jump around" narrative was jarring at times and there were moments where some statements deserved further explanation. (If you're going to point out that Labyrinth and The Dark Crystal were initially poorly reviewed and received it is worth noting that they went on to become cult classics.) I also found it strange that there was no passage about Roscoe Orman; I later discovered that this "bonus chapter" can be found at the book's website (http://www.streetgangbook.com/extra_chapter.html) which I am grateful for but still would call an odd choice.

Still, a hearty thumbs up to the audiobook which also includes an segment of Michael Davis interviewing Carroll Spinney where you'll find some additional information on Spinney's older brother with cerebral palsey and how he and his second wife fell in love. In some ways the interview made up for some of the abridgements.

[erniebert1234ss]

Just got this book today. Will give it a read-thru and post my thoughts. So far so good.

BJ

[Ilikemuppets]

One part of the book that I thought was really sad was when Matt Robinson's daughter first saw him on TV with a different wife/mommy and holding another little girls hand and how she though as a little child and he daddy had a different family on TV and that he liked them better and wanted to be with them instead. She took it really hardly... She didn't know that is was just acting and that it was just television. That part was sad to read.

[heralde]

One part of the book that I thought was really sad was when Matt Robinson's daughter first saw him on TV with a different wife/mommy and holding another little girls hand and how she though as a little child and he daddy had a different family on TV and that he liked them better and wanted to be with them instead. She took it really hardly... She didn't know that is was just acting and that it was just television. That part was sad to read.

I actually read a very similar story from the daughter of The Professor from Gilligan's Island. He had a scene where a woman was flirting with him and the daughter thought she was trying to steal her Daddy away!

This is a good example of how children think, which I think a lot of so called "experts" miss.

[Ilikemuppets]

I actually read a very similar story from the daughter of The Professor from Gilligan's Island. He had a scene where a woman was flirting with him and the daughter thought she was trying to steal her Daddy away!

This is a good example of how children think, which I think a lot of so called "experts" miss.Yeah, I mean it's good to help kins To distinguish the difference between fiction and reality. Something I think Fed Rogers did really well.

[heralde]

Yeah, I mean it's good to help kins To distinguish the difference between fiction and reality. Something I think Fed Rogers did really well.

Yeah I mean as it relates to Sesame Street, that's a reason I didn't object to Snuffy "becoming real." To me, having him be the "imaginary friend" of Big Bird that the grown ups never believed in came across too much like your typical kiddie fantasy show. Having the grown ups realize this is a real live creature they've been doubting brought the show to a new level for me. :)

[Ilikemuppets]

Yeah I mean as it relates to Sesame Street, that's a reason I didn't object to Snuffy "becoming real." To me, having him be the "imaginary friend" of Big Bird that the grown ups never believed in came across too much like your typical kiddie fantasy show. Having the grown ups realize this is a real live creature they've been doubting brought the show to a new level for me. :)Well I have to say that don't mind Big Bird having an imaginary friend and all.. It's a normal thing for a kids to have. But I have to say that I like everybody and all of the adults knowing Snuffy.

[heralde]

Well I have to say that don't mind Big Bird having an imaginary friend and all.. It's a normal thing for a kids to have. But I have to say that I like everybody and all of the adults knowing Snuffy.

Oh yeah I don't mean it's wrong for kids to have imaginary friends. I think that's fine. It's just that I found the whole idea of Snuff actually being real but constantly missing the adults all the time seemed too much like an average kid's show. The kind of "parents just don't understand" logic you always seen in pre teen movies that they claim is complimentary to kids but I personally find really condescening, lol. To me Sesame Street went a bit further than that. Realizing that adults need to be a part of kids' lives, not oblivious to it. :)

[Ilikemuppets]

Oh yeah I don't mean it's wrong for kids to have imaginary friends. I think that's fine. It's just that I found the whole idea of Snuff actually being real but constantly missing the adults all the time seemed too much like an average kid's show. The kind of "parents just don't understand" logic you always seen in pre teen movies that they claim is complimentary to kids but I personally find really condescening, lol. To me Sesame Street went a bit further than that. Realizing that adults need to be a part of kids' lives, not oblivious to it. :)I know what you mean. And yeah, I agree that it's important for adults to be a part of children's lives. These shows I see now days for children and teens are these shows where it's this bazaar world where kids seem to be running the everything somehow and there are no adults (or competent ones, hehe) in site. I'm just watching, wondering, and thinking "Well, where are the adults?" :confused:

But yeah, I like that Sesame Street thinks and goes deeper.

[mikebennidict]

Yeah I mean as it relates to Sesame Street, that's a reason I didn't object to Snuffy "becoming real." To me, having him be the "imaginary friend"

He was never imaginary in the first place.


If he was than BB wouldn't of been struggling all those years to introduce him to the grown ups.

[mikebennidict]

One part of the book that I thought was really sad was when Matt Robinson's daughter first saw him on TV with a different wife/mommy and holding another little girls hand and how she though as a little child and he daddy had a different family on TV and that he liked them better and wanted to be with them instead. She took it really hardly... She didn't know that is was just acting and that it was just television. That part was sad to read.

I'm a little suprised.

Wonder if he explained to her what being on SS was going to be like?

[Ilikemuppets]

I'm a little suprised.

Wonder if he explained to her what being on SS was going to be like?I'm sure him and his wife did (I think she was the one telling the story) But you little children don't always understand that and some things have to have things like that explained to them as I'm sure you know.

[minor muppetz]

I enjoyed reading it. It took me four days (I had to work and take breaks from reading, after all). It is good, but at the same time has occassional disapointments. There's a lot of interesting info that I didn't know, but still more than enough ommissions.

My main complaint: Although it's the "complete history" of Sesame Street, the majority of the book (I'll say 75 percent) focuses on the show's pre-history, and then has a lot of good info on the first ten years (but I'm not complaining about the amount of focus on that), but then it seems to have rushed through the other seasons, picking and choosing a handful of important events. I was surprised that the last chapter ends with the introduction of Elmo's World, with only a bit of the last ten years mentioned in the epilogue.

Now, it is pleasant that Elmo isn't even mentioned until the second to last chapter, but I wish that more info on the characters was discussed in the book. It is interesting to hear alot about the various people who worked on the show, but they shouldn't take priority over the Muppets (right?).

It seems like it pays proper tribute to most of the deseased people who have worked on the show, as they seem to get the most attention (along with the still-living Joan Ganz Cooney, Caroll Spinney, and Frank Oz). But it's a shame that Kermit Love was hardly mentioned.

Having said that, here's my list of the top ten ommissions:
No discussion at all of Follow That Bird or Elmo in Grouchland? How disapointing (especially for FTB).
Many important cast members were hardly (if even) mentioned, including Hal Miller, Roscoe Orman (I know that the official site has a web exclusive bonus chapter), Alan Muraoka, Alania Reed Hall, and the actors playing Chris and Leela (no, I still don't know their names).
There was hardly any discussion of the various non-muppet films and animated bits. Most of the ones discussed are the ones by Jim Henson. However, it was interesting to know that Henson worked on the body parts film from the pitch reel (I should have known he worked on that, since Brian Henson was in it).
On the same note, recurring segments are hardly mentioned. Sesame Street News and Elmo's World both get a paragraph each, and Monsterpeice Theater and Super Grover both get brief mentions, but otherwise these are pretty much ignored.
The book doesn't talk about recasts much. It mentiosn the deaths of Henson and Hunt, but doens't talk about the recasting (or lack thereoff) of their characters. It talks a lot about Matt Robinson, but doesn't talk about his departure, or why he left. Hal Miller isn't mentioend at all, and Roscoe Orman is only briefly mentioend (though it does acknowledge that he currently plays Gordon). There's no mention given to Matt Vogel or Eric Jacobson, and while Steve Whitmire is mentioned and interviewed, his recasts aren't discussed. The recasting of Snuffleupagus is the only recast really discussed.
It would have been great if the hawiai and hurricane episodes were mentioned.
The fact that Snuffy was originally thought to be imaginary and later "became real" was hardly mentioned.
While Henson, Oz, Brill, Hunt, and Spinney get a lot of biographical information, it seems like Jerry Nelson didn't get the same kind of attention. He sort of does when the book discusses Hye Cinderella, but gets over his biography quickly. Guy Smiley wasn't mentioend a t all, and Herry Monster was hardly mentioned. I'm not surprised that Bruno and Leslie Mostly werne't mentioned, but it would have been great if they were.
As the last ten years were quickly passed over, the book hardly mentions the format change of 2002.

[minor muppetz]

It is interesting that in the book it talks about how Jim Henson initially didn't want to license the Sesame Street characters due to them being public television characters, but changed his mind when he was told that mechandise revenue would help fund bigger projects. And also in the book, it was said that one of Jim Henson's demands for his invovlement with the show was to keep the character rights and get half of the revenue generated from merchandise. So it's odd that he'd ask for that if he initially didn't wan tto license the characters. Though the book says that he probably did want to license the characters, but needed an excuse.

[Vic Romano]

A little late, but here are my thoughts:

Like most have said, there's a lot of stuff to trudge through that gets tedious and has nothing to do with Sesame Street directly. Joan Cooney has a lush family history, but it just doesn't belong here. There's a long big and exciting build up to the show actually starting, and then like most have said; it rushes through the actual show very very fast.

It's a lot more about the complete history of children's television more than anything else, but it's very enthralling. I didn't know anything about Kukla, Fran and Ollie or Captain Kangaroo outside of passing quotes from interviews with Jim or Frank, but it was a fascinating glimpse of those worlds non the less.

What I loved most about the book was it's bold approach of subjects usually considered taboo. Mr. Davis and those quoted have no problem exposing the ugly side of people or expressing very frank opinions on many Muppet-related subjects I've always wondered about.

The intro alone was worth the $30, and anyone who's interested learning stuff about Jim alone that I personally only heard rumors about should definitely pick this up. Yeah, there are couple moments that are hard to get through, but overall it is a fascinating read.

[Vic Romano]

While Henson, Oz, Brill, Hunt, and Spinney get a lot of biographical information, it seems like Jerry Nelson didn't get the same kind of attention. He sort of does when the book discusses Hye Cinderella, but gets over his biography quickly.

I agree with this a lot. There's a brief mention that because Jim and Frank were so preoccupied with things like TMS, SS relied heavily on Richard and Jerry, but Jerry barely got any face time in the book.

[Kimp the Shrimp]

i just listened to Carol Spinney read the book.......not bad


I Agree that it was mainly The Pre SS History and the 1970's. As a child of the 80's i was disappointed that it was skimmed over and the last 20 years here after thoughts.......


But not a bad book

[Drtooth]

Is there supposed to be a revised edition for the paperback book? I remember hearing that a while back, and I just wanna see if its still a go... and when it's going to be released.

[dwayne1115]

I really loved this book, and thought that it really showed what SS had to go through to get on the air. To think that just because of one man asking a simple question that something that has touched so many people in so many ways would get created. You could tell that Davies was an Ernie and Bert fan the way he kept metiointg them throughout the book, but it did shock me that he did not mention how Steve Whitmere took over doing Kermit and Ernie.

I don't know about anyone else but after reading Carol's book I wanted to know about this Jon Stone person, and see if he really was like Carol said. After reading Street Gang I can say that Jon is my new hero. He really seemed like someone i would have had a great time working with. I would love to read his memore that never got published, i think it would really shed light on things and be a great read for film historieans and makers.
I would also love to see this book made into a movie, and think that the way everything played out in the book could very well be a movie. What do you all think?

[zns]

I really loved this book, and thought that it really showed what SS had to go through to get on the air. To think that just because of one man asking a simple question that something that has touched so many people in so many ways would get created. You could tell that Davies was an Ernie and Bert fan the way he kept metiointg them throughout the book, but it did shock me that he did not mention how Steve Whitmere took over doing Kermit and Ernie.

I don't know about anyone else but after reading Carol's book I wanted to know about this Jon Stone person, and see if he really was like Carol said. After reading Street Gang I can say that Jon is my new hero. He really seemed like someone i would have had a great time working with. I would love to read his memore that never got published, i think it would really shed light on things and be a great read for film historieans and makers.
I would also love to see this book made into a movie, and think that the way everything played out in the book could very well be a movie. What do you all think?

I couldn't agree more. This book is definately a fine read for Sesame Street fans, Henson enthusiasts (which is what I consider myself), and television historians. Knowing that Sesame Street has managed to pull through a great deal into the 21st century, despite the amount of competition in the cable and satelite universe, is one of the greatest joys in the media world. I hope someday if I ever have children of my own, they can grow up with Big Bird and Elmo the way I did since the day I was born. God bless those at Sesame Workshop.

[dwayne1115]

I couldn't agree more. This book is definately a fine read for Sesame Street fans, Henson enthusiasts (which is what I consider myself), and television historians. Knowing that Sesame Street has managed to pull through a great deal into the 21st century, despite the amount of competition in the cable and satelite universe, is one of the greatest joys in the media world. I hope someday if I ever have children of my own, they can grow up with Big Bird and Elmo the way I did since the day I was born. God bless those at Sesame Workshop.

You know what it really has been wonderful watching my kids falling in love with Sesame Street, the Classic Muppets and the Fraggles. To see there eyes light up when Elmo or Grover comes on the T.V is just a touching moment Now that I have my new baby I will be able to get her watching Sesame Street, and then grow with her again. I can't wait.
I kind of thought that the book was a bit critical of Jim Henson, and the way he did some things, and some of the shows/movies he did. Now I have been a huge Henson fan and have seen a whole lot of his work from his early years to latter on in his life to the end, and I can say the only prodject i had any problem with was Labyrinth. It just didn't seem to sit well with me. Other then that I think most of Henson's work has a whole lot of heart. but that is just how I feel.

[dwmckim]

Is there supposed to be a revised edition for the paperback book? I remember hearing that a while back, and I just wanna see if its still a go... and when it's going to be released.

Well a few reports seemed to indicate that the new paperback edition (just released) would be a revised edition including an additional chapter on the various Gordons - but after a skim through in the bookstore it looks like the only difference between the paperback and the original (besides being in paperback) is the cover.

[Drtooth]

Even if they didn't add those things in, I was waiting for the papperbok to come out anyway... much cheaper that way.

(and yes, I spelt it wrong on purpose as a reference to a Monty Python paperback edition of another book)

EDIT: upon doing some searching, the chapter appears to be Web Only (http://www.streetgangbook.com/extra_chapter.html) and even has that caption at the top pf the page.

[MJTaylor]

Having never read this book I am not really in a position to comment on it, but I would like to think this and the Louise Gikow book would complement each other. Her book mentions most of the things that minor muppetz claimed the Michael Davis book ommited, but Street Gang seems to have as many things that Sesame Street A Celebration left out.

[dwayne1115]

Sure there is going to things left out. If you put everything that happend in the past 40 years it would take almost 40 years to tell it.

[StreetScenes]

Having never read this book I am not really in a position to comment on it, but I would like to think this and the Louise Gikow book would complement each other. Her book mentions most of the things that minor muppetz claimed the Michael Davis book ommited, but Street Gang seems to have as many things that Sesame Street A Celebration left out.

funny how that works, isn't it? two people independently come up with the same idea for a book, and out come two TOTALLY different books. it seems like much of the criticism of street gang from fans is more just how everyone else would have written a history of sesame street differently.

am i the only one that's utterly fascinated with the "pre-history" of the show? michael davis puts it in context, explains the show's existence, which is WAY more interesting (and more important for understanding the show) than just recounting all the mundane details of forty years of writing and filming. and having since read a number of similar institutional histories, i appreciate street gang even more. it tells a great story without losing the narrative from trying to incorporate so many people, and without losing sight of the important things by getting bogged down in recounting a play-by-play of: and then they filmed this segment, and then they filmed that segment...:sleep:

[Drtooth]

I saw the new paperback version of this book, and I gotta tell you, it has a much much more interesting cover. I gotta pick it up sometime.

[zns]

I'm happy with my hardback/first edition of the book myself. I also got te audio CD set in the mail, and let me tell you, it is fantastic to hear Caroll Spinney tell us the story of the show that made history in the world of television/ :wisdom::grouchy: