New Muppet Abby Cadabby heads to the Street

[gfarkwort]

The New York Times ran this article today on Sesame's New Character Abby Cadaby. It's Very Well written and it is 3 Pages!

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/08/06/ar...ewanted=1&_r=1

And here is the Season 37 Press Kit with Video Clips!
http://www.sesameworkshop.org/aboutu...on37/clips.php

And if you're wondering about Abby's Puppeteer here is Her Site.
http://www.lesliecarrara-rudolph.com/index.htm
(She has behind the scene pics of Puppet Improv)

[Ilikemuppets]

I didn't know so much went into putting together one character. But it is interesting though.

[gfarkwort]

Yea...Sesame Street's Characters colors and shape are all researched to create the most appealing character for kids.

[BEAR]

looks like Zoe has to move over as the partner to Elmo. Also, even though I really like the Abby character so far, don't they have a proudly feminine character in Prairie Dawn?

[Ilikemuppets]

I thought the same thing.

[gfarkwort]

But she's not Cool and Magical....and not as Fun as someone New...

Abby is a rare SS Muppet 'Person' with color around the pupil.

[Ilikemuppets]

Originally Posted by gfarkwort

But she's not Cool and Magical....and not as Fun as someone New...

Was that sarcasm, haha! The things they do to hold kids attention spans these days. But I like her though, she is awfully cute.

It's like a bitter sweet victory, something that is a good idea, yet is so ready marketable to rival that of Elmo.

[heralde]

Originally Posted by BEAR

looks like Zoe has to move over as the partner to Elmo. Also, even though I really like the Abby character so far, don't they have a proudly feminine character in Prairie Dawn?

My mother and I thought the same thing about Prairie. It's like buying new furniture when you already have some.

I read about the Abby character in the New York Times the other day. I don't know, I'm not crazy about yet another princess-y female figure on television. It might just perpetuate the idea that girls who aren't into dresses and makeup are weird.

Plus, all the newer Sesame Street characters have the same descriptions, they're young and sweet, eager to learn, and sometimes get carried away. It's the same thing over and over. I think this was mentioned on the forum before, the older characters had more variety.

[gfarkwort]

Originally Posted by Ilikemuppets

Was that sarcasm, haha! The things they do to hold kids attention spans these days. But I like her though, she is awfully cute.

It wasn't really sarcasm...but you can take it that way But maybe there should be a Grouch girl who's not eager to learn...and likes to play football with the guys.....or likes hopping on Pogo Sticks....

[Ilikemuppets]

There ya go!

[Mistoffelees]

Does anyone know if/when she appears on the Today Show today?

[aaronmojo]

This smacks of "trying too hard." I think it's pretty apparent that kids are not gonna like what you tell them to like (witness all the parents who detest Barney the dinosaur -- and all the kids who love him). Sometimes it's possible to overthink something...

Besides -- I never knew any girls who grew up frustrated that there were no girl Muppets on Sesame Street. Not that I object to a girl Muppet! I just object to trying to shoehorn someone into the show. Especially something so self-consciously "cute."

It reminds me of back when I worked in a bookstore. A woman came in looking for a book for her daughter. "My daughter likes books about strong, independent women! Not stories about princesses or little boys!" The woman's daughter toddled up to the counter, in her diaper, gnawing on a board book about ducks or fish or something! "Lady, your daughter doesn't even know what to DO with the books, let ALONE understand the personal motivations of the protagonists... Does she like ketchup on her books about positive role models?"

[Erine81981]

When are we going to get another boy/guy character? All we've gotten in the last few years are girl/woman characters. We want a new boy monster or new boy or guy anything muppet. We older people would love to see newer guy characters or boy.

[heralde]

I personally don't mind that they're adding another female character, I'm just a little disapointed that they're trying so hard to make her prissy and all that.