MovieChat Forums > Sesame Street (1969) Discussion > Did it try to be too much like Barney?

Did it try to be too much like Barney?

posted 8 years ago by karl-28813
13 replies | jump to latest

That is an interesting question that I have been asking myself since the death of Mr. Rogers in 2003. The reason that I asked myself this is because when I started to look back on the shows I liked as a little kid, I noticed that I enjoyed Sesame Street episodes made 1998 and prior. However, Sesame Street episodes 1999 and on? Not really in my highest regard. I noticed that the main reason they changed is because they wanted to try to compete with Barney & Friends in the television ratings. Here is what I noticed:

1. The addition of Elmo
2. More emphasis on "preschool" essentials than life essentials
3. More need to cater to the young viewer
4. Decrease in educational quality
5. Less air time for Big Bird

I use quotations around preschool because in the slot of Elmo's World, it felt a lot like an episode of Barney that was created between 1992 and 1995 (aka stuff that TV producers think preschoolers will enjoy and something they can make a quick buck off of, not what they actually need to know.)

I want to know if there is anything that you noticed that made the show more Barney-esque.

[–] mactach 8 years ago

I could care less.

[–] purplebear17 8 years ago

Elmo was on the show before barney started.

[–] karl-28813 8 years ago

But the character of Elmo didn't beecome POPULAR until after Barney debuted

[–] purplebear17 8 years ago

When Barney was on it was more popular than than sesame street why?

[–] mactach 8 years ago

Why does it matter?

[–] purplebear17 8 years ago

It was competition for sesame street.

[–] 8 years ago

[deleted]

[–] ZakkWyldeMyLittlePony 8 years ago

I still enjoy Sesame Street and I've hated Barney longer than I've liked it.

AC/DC are Bronies

[–] [deleted] 8 years ago

I'd say no, Sesame Street aired WAY before Barney did. Plus Sesame Street has more realistic characters unlike Barney who was too goody goody.

[–] GreenGoblinsOck8 (7984) 8 years ago

Frankly it was around that time I quit watching it because of getting rid of Ernie and Bert in favor of Ernie and Big Bird playing hide and go seek. Along with Elmo's world. The last time I watched it Elmo was the main focus. It's like nobody else even mattered as much. Frankly the older skits I grew up on were better. They barely even give focus to Oscar the Grouch anymore. Screw Sesame Street now and that stupid red monster puppet with sharp teeth who throws crap into a giant pot and that stupid fairy puppet!

[–] pioneergrrrl (2412) 7 years ago

It seems less 'gritty' now. It WAS supposed to reach inner city/low income children--which was the whole point of putting it on public television. They were the ones without resources or money. And setting it in an urban location as opposed to a nice upscale location.

Now everybody is constantly talking about sharing and being happy??

[–] [deleted] 7 years ago

Now a days probably. It's appears to be more kiddish then it was in the 70s-90s

[–] pioneergrrrl (2412) 5 years ago

yeah..now it's people talking baby talk to the audience. Before it assumed that even though the viewers were kids it was okay to talk to them in complete sentences. Treating them like they were intelligent was okay and reasonable. it's not just me being older it's the language used in the scripts....ick.