Most of the western world knows by now that “Sesame Street” had selected pop performer Katy Perry as the headline super star guest to open its 41st season. The children’s program has celebrities, including Katy Perry, on the show all the time. She might have been within the episode if her scene with “Street’s” Elmo hadn’t been edited out since it was racy. Elmo explained what he thought.
George Stephanopoulos featured Elmo on ‘Good Morning America’
The brand new York Times explains that Elmo was there. He wanted to defend his friend there. In addition to “Sesame Street” Executive Producer Carol-Lynn Parente, Elmo and Grover – nay, Super Grover – appeared before a national television audience made up of the kind of adults who felt that Katy Perry’s mostly-covered breasts posed a danger to their tender children.
Miss Perry created a parody of her song “Hot ‘N Cold” about Elmo and Perry having a play date for the scene in question. YouTube has the video on there. It is easy to find. Perry feigns mock disappointment because she is able to play, but Elmo isn’t really interested. The dress up clothes she’s on are what numerous think about too revealing. Parents do not like it. That is why there is so much controversy. This has given Puritanical members of the extreme right a “cause” to caterwaul against.
Parente explains that she’s ’surprised at the volume of disapproving responses’
Parente told Stephanopoulos that “Sesame Street” would “never, never produce anything that we thought was inappropriate.” ”Sesame Street” was just looking to get a wider variety in the audience with younger parents. That is why Katy Perry seemed like the perfect fit. Complaints flowed in like crazy about the inappropriate dress on the show. There was enough complaint the production team decided it was worth getting rid of to keep their already stable audience base.
For his part, Elmo reached out to Perry, saying that he hoped she would come back to “Sesame Street” for a play date.
”Elmo loves Miss Katy,” was his response.
Making fun of those complaining
The parents who complained got made fun of. Super Grover did what he could with this. He wore a costume and asked if Stephanopoulos liked it. Next he made his joke. He said, “It isn’t too revealing, is it?”
New York Times Arts Beat
artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/09/24/great-muppet-caper-continues-as-elmo-defends-katy-perry/
One more time, with feeling. And a one, and a two…
youtube.com/watch?v=OAz4MKHhovQ
