All Rise...

Judge David Johnson learned about the joy of counting and dodging Giant Avian Flu from Sesame Street.

Editor's Note

Our reviews of Sesame Street: Abby In Wonderland (published March 3rd, 2010), Sesame Street: Being Green (published April 6th, 2009), Sesame Street: Bert And Ernie's Great Adventures (published May 8th, 2010), Sesame Street: Bert And Ernie's Word Play (published April 9th, 2010), Sesame Street: Bye-Bye, Pacifier! (published January 1st, 2012), Sesame Street: C Is For Cookie Monster (published November 3rd, 2010), Sesame Street: Dinosaurs! (published May 26th, 2008), Sesame Street: Elmo And Abby's Birthday Fun (published June 10th, 2009), Sesame Street: Elmo's Shape Adventure (published October 16th, 2011), Sesame Street: Elmo's Travel Songs And Games (published May 8th, 2011), Sesame Street: Firefly Fun And Buggy Buddies (published June 1st, 2010), Sesame Street: Learning Letters With Elmo (published September 4th, 2011), Sesame Street: Love The Earth! (published June 4th, 2008), Sesame Street: P Is For Princess (published August 11th, 2010), Sesame Street: Preschool Is Cool! ABCs with Elmo (published July 6th, 2010), Sesame Street Spoofs! Volumes 1 and 2 (published July 10th, 2011), Sesame Street: The Best Of Elmo 2 (published May 19th, 2010), and Sesame Street: Wild Words And Outdoor Adventures (published April 17th, 2011) are also available.

The Charge

Celebrate 20 years of music, Muppets and more with host Bill Cosby and special guests!

The Case

Sesame Street. Maybe you heard of it? All the kids love it and for something like forty years, it's been a constant in the development of all manner of rug-rat.

Lionsgate has unearthed this 20th Anniversary Special, which originally aired in 1989, for DVD consumption. The feature runs 48 minutes and is hosted by a spry Bill Cosby. Also, there's an introduction from Jim Henson, which is pretty awesome.

So it is dated, though I don't think that fact should detract dramatically form the kiddos' enjoyment. The reminiscence by Gordon and company might sail over their heads, but there are still colorful, fuzzy monsters and Placido Domingo.

The program sports a variety of throwback clips, segments with the cast members kicking back and talking about their favorite moments, spotlights on the popular characters like Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch and Kermit the Frog, some animated moments and a bodacious Bill Cosby rocking the afro and a leather outfit that I have insufficient vocabulary to describe its awesomeness.

One warning: for the young fans who are expecting some righteous Elmo action, they should prepare to be disappointed. The little guy is persona non grata.

Not much to the DVD: full frame, 2.0 stereo, no extras.

The Verdict

Not Guilty. Sesame Street: 20 Years and Still Counting might actually be better-suited for the kids who watched the show and are all grown up now.

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