Even though I’m now 35 years old, I still have a very strong affection for a group of fuzzy, furry friends. Most of them are monsters but don’t judge them harshly for that because other than one who’s a bit of a grouch they’re pretty good little buddies.

I can’t believe that Sesame Street is forty years old today. When I was little I watched three shows in the morning without fail – I saw “The Friendly Giant” (you Americans were missing out on that one!), followed by “Mr. Dressup”, and then I watched “Sesame Street”. They were all great shows, classics for childhood imaginations, but “Sesame Street” was a constant source of happiness for me.

And I don’t mean to sound like the old man who talks about how much better everything was back in his day and then stops talking long enough to yell at kids to get off his lawn, but honestly the newer “Sesame Street” is nowhere near as good as the classic version that I grew up with. Sure, it’s still a good show, lots of fun and plenty of great moments but it’s not quite the same.

I miss when only Big Bird ever saw Mr. Snuffleupagus and you were never quite sure whether he was imaginary or if people just kept missing him. I miss that big goofy dog Barkley. I miss Herry, the big blue fuzzy monster that hung out with Telly. I miss Mr. Hooper, though there was no avoiding that since the actor passed away (and I still remember sobbing when Big Bird couldn’t quite understand why Mr. Hooper had died and why he couldn’t see him anymore). I miss the two-headed monster that helped me learn to read. I miss the days when there was no Baby Bear on the show (I can tolerate Elmo and Zoe way more than Baby Bear, he drives me nuts).

And remember when Sesame Street was actually on a street instead of just a block? We’d see the kids and the adults and all the little monsters playing outside. There was just something so much more fun about the show back then and I had some fun showing some of my favorite clips to my kids today.

One of my absolute favorites ever, the Yip-Yip-Yip Uh Huh aliens trying to communicate with a clock that they have mistaken for a human:

(I’m a full grown adult and it still cracks me up! Unfortunately for me Breanna was pretty scared of them when I showed her this clip.)

The Ladybug picnic:

Monsterpiece Theater presents “Conservations With my Father”:

A sad time on Sesame Street:

(I had a huge crush on Bob by the way. I had his picture on my wall and kissed it good night every night before bed.)

I could seriously go on all night finding video clips for this so I think I should stop right about now.

What are some of your favorite Sesame Street moments?