Sesame Street... For Adults Only?

New Release Of Old Episodes Includes Smoking, A Scarier Oscar, And More That Wouldn't Fly On TV Today

(CBS)  There's something wrong with a picture from the original Sesame Street - little children riding bicycles without helmets.

Other scenes, too, from the original Sesame Street could be too seedy for today's kids, CBS News correspondent Richard Schlesinger reports.

The first few seasons have just been released and come with, of all things, a warning.

"These early Sesame Street episodes are intended for grownups and may not suit the needs of today's preschool child," the warning reads.

"Sesame was created in the '60s, and it was a bit edgier, if you will," said Sherrie Rollins Westin, executive vice president of Sesame Workshop.

What parent today would want their child to see kids running through a construction site or jumping on an old box spring? Scenes like the ones included on the new DVD would probably not make it into today's program now.

"We wouldn't have children on the set riding without a bicycle helmet," Rollins Westin says.

And what's that little girl doing with that man?

"In the very first episode, Gordon takes a little girl's hand who he's just met on the street, befriends her and takes her into his home to give her ice cream," Rollins Westin said. "That's something we wouldn't do on the show today."

Today's kids might notice a few more differences in the original Sesame Street, if they pay attention.

Schlesinger asked a couple kids who'd watched the old editions of Sesame Street: "Did it look like Sesame Street that you'd seen before?"

"No," one child said.

"Oscar didn't look the same because he's supposed to be green," said another.

Oscar turned green in season two, but some of today's producers thought the early Oscar might be too grouchy. And cookie monster … well his diet is a problem when today's parents are worried about childhood obesity.

He also smoked a pipe in one sketch - ate it too. Still ... none of these parents thought the old episodes needed a warning.

"If we're guilty of anything it's perhaps taking our responsibility to children too seriously," Rollins Westin said.

It's serious business, Sesame Street, and as times change the characters have to keep up - even though some things haven't changed since Episode One.

Schlesinger asked the kids: "Who's your favorite character?"

"The bird," said one child.

"I liked the bird. He was really handsome," said another.

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More resources: ParentPlay.com

[boston1954]

Great story (as always) Richard. I did notice one other thing that was not mentioned. While you ate the cookie, you were talking with your mouth full. Naughty. :-)

[baye13]

Yes, I noticed Mr. Schlesinger speaking with his mouth full. THIS is the kind of think we want to protect our children from ;-)

[baye13]

Kids today are not more intelligent. By showing quick flashy images you are taking away the imagination. Kids are not developing things like that anymore. They want instant gratification without them having to do it themselves. Kids need to be bored.

[justfacts2]

This is just ridiculous!

[bwessels]

I was 4 when Sesame Street premiered, the perfect age to be their target audience. When my kids were watching it, I found it bland and lacking most of the humor from years past. (And way too much time spent on Elmo, a.k.a. the cash cow.) "Edgier" was better, and I grew up just fine.

[akakjb]

The story I really want to see told is the conspiracy to cover up the ''death'' of Mr. Hooper because he was about to expose a ''special cookie'' operation run by Bert, Ernie & Oscar. Cookie Monster is way too hooked on the home baked to only love them for the chocolate chips.

[saransk]

Run for Your Lives - it''s the attack of the "helicopter parents." GET A GRIP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Being a kid is all about doing things that might, could, in some cases, in special circumstances, not be safe - or maybe just scary, or disappointing, or "add your own." Too many parents expect perfect lives for perfect kids. Life is great and messy and unpredictable and that is how you teach your kids to accept responsibility and disappointment and to deal with 50% of life that hurts.
Shame on PBS and Sesame Workshop for another addition to All Things PC. Where''s Ms. Piggy to set the record straight and do some needed attitude adjusting when you need her.

[hypnotoad72]

"In the very first episode, Gordon takes a little girl''s hand who he''s just met on the street, befriends her and takes her into his home to give her ice cream," Rollins Westin said. "That''s something we wouldn''t do on the show today."
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Well, back then people were nice to each other and not trying to molest them at every turn.

Life is what we make of it.

Stop making it so paranoid or else I will call today''s namby pamby writers a bunch of yellow bellied ***.

[hypnotoad72]

Aw man, if tv shows can say "d00che b@gs" and other crude statements, why can''t I say something as sweet and demure as "skunks"? Shame shame shame...

[realtalk5950]

Im old enough to remember watching this show in the late 80''s....before it turned into "the elmo show"...those were the days.....elmo didn''t exist back then..

[olebd]

I remember Cookie Monster eating the pipe. It didn''t make me want to smoke. My parents took care of that and drinking too. I don''t recall anything on TV that influenced me. It was at home that I learned all my influences.

[shanev137]

Seriously. All you people need to lay off the moral crack pipe and get a life.

[keithle1]

Cookie Monster with no cookies? Come on now. Cookies are his life. You can''t take that away from the poor monster. You want him eating wheat germ & lettuce leaves?

[wolf563]

Put the 2 old grumpy guys in charge of the TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS . THEY`LL WIN THE CUP ...

[fritzybaby88]

You know I grew up watching this show...its an icon. TV is different today then it was 26 years ago, but it amazes me that we protect our children this much when we werent, and you know what I turned out just fine

[keithle1]

No one ever became a serial killer because of something they saw on "Sesame Street."

[rushman71]

"He (Oscar) also smoked a pipe in one sketch - ate it too. Still ... none of these parents thought the old episodes needed a warning."

Give me a friggen break!!! Did that ever give me the urge to smoke a pipe, or eat it? He11 No!!! I grew up watching this back in the ''70s and part of the ''80s. It was more educational to watch Sesame Street than to watch all the cartoons combined. They taught the ABC''s and 123''s. Was this to educate kids to smoke pipes, get fat, or run off with pedophiles? I think not!!!