The 41st season of “Sesame Street” was intended to start with an episode with a special super star appearance. Most already know that Perry was designed to star in it. The show is for children and has celebrities on it all the time. Katy Perry was just one of those celebrities. She might are within the episode if her scene with “Street’s” Elmo had not been modified out because it was racy. And Elmo had something to say over it.
George Stephanopoulos on ‘Good Morning America’ with Elmo
The New York Times reports that Elmo was prepared to defend his new-found friend. 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.
The pulled song in question, a parody of Miss Perry’s pop hit “Hot ‘N Cold,” revolves around Elmo and Perry getting together for a play date. It’s easy to discover on YouTube. Perry feigns mock disappointment because she is able to play, however Elmo interested. She even is wearing dress up closes that are a bit revealing. This is what has sparked a controversy of Victorian proportions. This has given Puritanical members of the extreme right a “cause” to caterwaul against.
Parente ’surprised at the volume of disapproving responses’
”Sesame Street” would “never, never produce anything that we thought was inappropriate,” Parente explained to Stephanopoulos. By booking a guest like Katy Perry, the intention was to perhaps grab the attention of younger parents who may not have grown up with “Sesame Street.” But the backlash clearly caused the production team to throw up its hands and give in to the base political instinct of the vocal minority.
For his part, Elmo reached out to Perry, saying that he hoped she would come back to “Sesame Street” for a play date.
He explained that “Elmo loves Miss Katy.”.
Those who complained are made fun of
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. He then said really quickly, “It is not too revealing, is it?”
Further reading
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
