I had no idea he was gay.
NPH abides.
If he had a problem with it, he wouldn't have taken the role. Maybe he's taking the term "fairy" and trying to take it back, bring it positive connotations rather than leaving it as a homophobic slur. Or, maybe he just thinks (correctly) that two to four year olds won't see what the big deal is.
That fairy mentor's okay with me.
He's still a fairy though. Just ask Sesame Street.
so what ?
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If he had a problem with it, he wouldn't have taken the role. Maybe he's taking the term "fairy" and trying to take it back, bring it positive connotations rather than leaving it as a homophobic slur. Or, maybe he just thinks (correctly) that two to four year olds won't see what the big deal is.
That fairy mentor's okay with me.
I agree, I just imagine that there are a lot of people who were offended by it. After all, last year The New York Times did an article about how the first few seasons of Sesame Street were not fit for children because of all the "wrong behavior" that it had.
People on “Sesame Street” had limited possibilities and fixed identities, and (the best part) you weren’t expected to change much. The harshness of existence was a given, and no one was proposing that numbers and letters would lead you “out” of your inner city to Elysian suburbs. Instead, “Sesame Street” suggested that learning might merely make our days more bearable, more interesting, funnier. It encouraged us, above all, to be nice to our neighbors and to cultivate the safer pleasures that take the edge off — taking baths, eating cookies, reading. Don’t tell the kids.
This just struck me as a good point on the original Sesame Street.
I agree, I just imagine that there are a lot of people who were offended by it. After all, last year The New York Times did an article about how the first few seasons of Sesame Street were not fit for children because of all the "wrong behavior" that it had.
Well, that article did take a pretty superficial look at the issue. There have been loads of new developments in preschool education since the early days of Sesame Street as well as new understandings about the capabilities and effects of television itself.
While it's true that Big Bird's protestations about Snuffleupagus did become kind of creepy, the main reason is because young children, which Big Bird models, should be taught that they will be believed when they tell you about important things going on - or at least not outrightly dismissed. That goes a bit deeper than Heffernan's analysis of the changes.
But I don't think there will be too much protest about NPH being a fairy on Sesame Street. Most GLBT activists, knowing he's gay and *gasp* has a sense of humor, will probably think it a cute little send-up of himself. It's the anti-gay crowd you will have to worry about in this case who will claim that they think it a terribly anti-gay slur on Sesame Street's part. Of course, that will almost certainly be a smokescreen to cover their real objection - putting an openly gay actor on a children's show.
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But I don't think there will be too much protest about NPH being a fairy on Sesame Street. Most GLBT activists, knowing he's gay and *gasp* has a sense of humor, will probably think it a cute little send-up of himself. It's the anti-gay crowd you will have to worry about in this case who will claim that they think it a terribly anti-gay slur on Sesame Street's part. Of course, that will almost certainly be a smokescreen to cover their real objection - putting an openly gay actor on a children's show.
I hope you're right. I gained a lot of respect for NPH when he was willing to come out and say he did not agree with having Brittney Spears on How I Met Your Mother. Everyone else was gushing about how wonderful she was.
By the way, here is a clip of his appearance. I didn't know he could sing too.
I didn't know he could sing too.
You haven't seen Doctor Horrible's Sing-along Blog?!?
Director of Sales
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This reminds me of an episode of Sesame Street I caught while staying home sick from high school a few years ago in which Susan Sarandon was the guest star.
This is obviously a Rocky Horror Picture Show reference, but it's only obvious to anyone who's seen the movie. Kids aren't going to get that. Of course, parents/caretakers/high-school-kids-who-are-home-sick-and-watching-Sesame-S treet-because-daytime-television-is-a-blasted-wasteland-especially-in-the-e arly-nineties WILL get that. And that is why Sesame Street is awesome.
I see this as the same deal. NPH is a terrific actor and singer who's always had a wonderful sense of humor and has never been afraid of making fun of himself. Once again, here he's taking a piss and obviously having a bunch of fun doing it. :)
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Director of Sales
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Nope, can't say that I have.I didn't know he could sing too.You haven't seen Doctor Horrible's Sing-along Blog?!?
This is a tragedy that you need to rectify poste haste.
Seriously. Get yourself 45 minutes, a high speed connection and a bucket of popcorn and prepare for a treat. This. Is. Awesome.
This. Is. Awesome.
Bad Horse will make you his mare.
I agree, I just imagine that there are a lot of people who were offended by it. After all, last year The New York Times did an article about how the first few seasons of Sesame Street were not fit for children because of all the "wrong behavior" that it had.If he had a problem with it, he wouldn't have taken the role. Maybe he's taking the term "fairy" and trying to take it back, bring it positive connotations rather than leaving it as a homophobic slur. Or, maybe he just thinks (correctly) that two to four year olds won't see what the big deal is.
That fairy mentor's okay with me.
Thanks for the link. Fantastic article.
The O.G.'s of Sesame Street
Amazing.