Monday, October 22, 2007

In Which I Attempt to Find a Nexus Between Sesame Street and the Movie Showgirls

This past weekend, one of my real-life friends commented upon what she sees as my ability on this blog to segue between two seemingly random and disparate topics . I expressed my incredulity at this perceived talent, and then (desperately seeking a post topic) asked her for a challenge. She presented me with one: Write something connecting Sesame Street and the movie Showgirls.

Good Lord. She has faith in me, she says. I have my doubts.

Nonetheless, here goes:

For a number of reasons, J and I decided to avoid introducing Toopweets to television for as long as possible. Over the past few months, however, Sesame Street has been stealthily creeping into our lives.

It started out, innocently enough, with the purchase of an Elmo doll. But now?

He... Is... Everywhere. And I don’t know when it happened, but all of a sudden, we're all actually watching Sesame Street, too. J and I find ourselves spontaneously shrieking the “Elmo’s World” theme song, picking up the THREE separate Elmos that litter our home, and carrying on comprehensive discussions wherein we attempt to pinpoint exactly what the hell is wrong with the living nightmare that is Mr. Noodle.
Credit: Wikipedia
"Avert your eyes, children! He may take on another form!"
Elmo, you are one insidious punk.

Which got me thinking…

If I feel like he’s taken over my life, how do the rest of the Sesame Street characters feel? Elmo showed up...when? Ten years ago? While the workhorses like Big Bird, Grover, Ernie and Bert have been putting in their time for the past 30 years? I mean, come on! Mr. Snuffleupagus is frigging INVISIBLE to everyone but Big Bird, and Elmo has his own world??

Uncool, Elmo.

Not like I ever saw Showgirls, or anything (it was part of a drinking game! Years ago! It doesn’t count!) but if I did (ahem), I might be quick to draw a comparison between Elmo’s meteoric rise to the forefront of the Sesame Street hierarchy with Nomi the Stripper Ho’s equally speedy advancement to the top of the Vegas showgirl ladder.

All he’s missing are the fake nails and pasties. I’M ON TO YOU, ELMO!

That concludes today’s study in segues.

(Does that count, R?)

* * * * *

Speaking of Rs (double segue! Whee!), I’m finally starting to answer your questions, and -R- asked me one on a topic near and dear to my heart, Saturday Night Live. She had requested that I divulge my favorite SNL skit of all time. Now, I can’t really choose JUST ONE, so I’ll leave you for today with my top five:

(My secret boyfriend) Peyton Manning's fake United Way Commercial

My new favorite (I adore you, Alec Baldwin.)

D*ck in a Box

The Barry Gibb Talk Show

and of course...

MORE COWBELL!

23 comments:

-R- said...

Super impressive segue!

Segueing it up, on the Metalia talk show. Talking 'bout Elmo. Talking 'bout Elmo and strippers.

Oh, Barry Gibb Talk Show, I love you too!

Kristie said...

Hello, who doesn't love Dick in a box. Seriously.

180/360 said...

It would be incredibly hard to pick just one SNL skit- those are great though!

little miss mel said...

as my son would say "nice wurk!"

I unfortunately saw Showgirls, but I come from a land of watching my fair share of Saved By the Bell. Jesse, why did you do it? Why??

Angella said...

Ahhhhh!!!! Elmo!

Emily was given one for Christmas and she loves it.

"Elmo loves you, Elmo loves you, yes he does..."

And WHAT IS THE DEAL with Mr. Noodle?

And HOW CREEPY is that name???

Seriously.

Also? You are my You Tube hero.

CDPJ said...

Only three Elmo dolls? Amateur! :-)

Oh, and everyone can see Mr. Snuffleupagus now. Not sure when that happened. Probably around the time Maria and Luis mated and produced Gabby.... poor Maria.

Which reminds me both Maria and Luis have been on episodes of Law & Order recently. How's that for a segue!?!?!

lizgwiz said...

I was so afraid "More Cowbell" wasn't going to show up on your list, and then we couldn't be blog friends anymore. Whew. What a relief. ;)

Does it please you to know that, while at the state fair recently, New Guy won me a stuffed toy (throwing darts) and I passed over Elmo to get to Big Bird?

wishcake said...

Omigosh. The Barry Gibb Talk Show has to be in my top five, IF not my favorite of all time. My friend M and I will spontaneously burst into the theme song at work, just to lighten the mood:

"Talkin' 'bout chest hair, talkin' 'bout crazy cool medallions!"

Ahhhh! Love it.

I miss when SNL was great. I rarely watch it now. It gives me anxiety because it's like I want to laugh, and it's just not making me, so it's emotionally frustrating.

(And I agree on Mr. Noodle being a living nightmare. Mua-ha. I used to watch Sesame Street when my youngest sisters were little enough to enjoy it, and I wanted to know what happened to MY Sesame Street. At that point, they even had incorporated a "hip hop" montage into the opening credits. I'm sorry, but no.)

Isabel said...

You did well grasshopper.

So The King and I have a similar game. But we do it at church. Anytime The King is the one giving the sermon I tell him he HAS to talk about something random. You know, like puppies or trains.

Once when a friend was going to give the sermon at Church I told him HE had to talk about the Pope and the Vatican. And dude, we ARE NOT Catholic. He did it. And it was awesome.

Also, I hadn't seen the Payton Manning commercial until now. AWESOME. Thanks for sharing.

LVGurl said...

That first picture of Elmo? Those googly eyes are the stuff of nightmares.

Everytime I read your blog, I end up with a song stuck in my head. Now it's the Elmo's World song. Thanks. Thanks a lot.

I adore ALL those SNL skits. I even have the lyrics AND dance moves memorized to the Barry Gibb Talk Show.

Some of my other SNL favtorites include Ed Grimley, the 1984 synchronized swimmers, Unfrozen Caveman Lawyer, and the battle of the bands between The Brady Bunch and The Partridge Family.

I fear what will happen if we meet in real life. I imagine no conversation, but rather a seemless dialog of movie lines.

ali said...

Isabella has no interest in elmo!! amazing. i have no idea how i got this lucky!

Anna said...

Hey - what is the Alec Baldwin clip? Because when I click it it's also going to Barry Gibb Talk Show.

Great list - my new favorite is Penelope. Doesn't everyone know someone just like that?

stefanie said...

I have no idea who Mr. Noodle is, but he looks far too frightening for a children's show. Then again, so does Elmo sometimes.

TwoBusy said...

You forgot the time when Elmo pushed Cookie Monster down the stairs and broke his neck, thereby allowing Elmo to become the starring monster on the show.

gorillabuns said...

i actually paid to see showgirls in the theater.

did i just admit this?

and you know more cowbell is my all time fave.

GHD said...

Nicely done. :-)

I'm also a huge fan of the Barry Gibb Talk Show. Great pick!

She Likes Purple said...

Totally off topic, but your son just floors me with his adorableness.

(And I'm starting to come around on Hope in a Jar. Fine, I'm starting to love it. You were totally right.)

Whiskeymarie said...

I have a tickle me Elmo AND a tickle me Cookie Monster.
And, you are correct- I have no children.
It's sad really.

But, to redeem myself- I can honestly say that I've never seen "Showgirls".
So there.

rebcram said...

I can't stop giggling about Wishcake's comment that watching SNL has become emotionally frustrating because it doesn't make her laugh. Ha!

julianna said...

You know I thought to myself, hmm, I think I am going to listen to BOC. So I looked on youtube, and then I found this. And somehow, it reminds me of something Dwight Schrute would do. I especially like the way the pictures were attempting to tell the story of the song.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JLQzfdCs_HU

Jessica said...

I thank God every day we are past the Elmo phase. Between the Tickle me Elmo and the Tickle me Cookie Monster I was SS'd out.

Allison said...

It's Mr. NOODLE? I thought Elmo was saying Mr. Noono. Guess Mommy needs the closed captioning on Sesame Street.

I hate the MC Elmo skit the most on SS. HATE.

Collette Murphy said...

ummm...Does Brian Fellows mean nothing to you? I am personally and deeply insulted, on both mine and his behalf.
(my apologies for the delayed response; was traveling for work and only now catching up)