Your Dad Would Be Proud

Monday, October 27, 2008
I was a child who grew up on Sesame Street. It came out in 1969, when I was four, and I never missed it. I loved Oscar the Grouch, Burt and Ernie and Cookie Monster. When The Muppet Show started in 1976, I watched that too, although I was too cool to admit it.

I was saddened by Jim Henson's death in 1990. His vision helped shape my childhood. While my own kids watched Sesame Street, they also watch that insipid, creepy Barney the Dinosaur, and I could feel Mr. Henson rolling over in his grave, that children's television had sunk to such a low level.

I understand the landscape has improved since then, with Dora the Explorer in the forefront, but I have a special fondness for the Jim Henson Company and its creations.

Enter Brian Hanson, the son of Jim, and the co-CEO of the Jim Henson Company. Following in his father's footsteps, he has created a new show called Sid the Science Kid, using innovative new technologies to create animated characters controlled by puppeteers. The show is about a group of kids who explore science through their interactions with the people in their lives. The characters are every kid you've ever known who continued to ask "why?" long after the adults in their lives have grown tired of hearing it. Sort of like my Smart Boy, come to think of it.

Being a fan-girl of science, I am delighted that there's a show for pre-schoolers that emphasizes critical thinking and curiosity about how things work.

Congratulations, Brian Hanson, on your accomplishment. Your Dad would be proud.

9 comments:

kimby said...

This fan-girl needs to go find a child in rightage group. Don't think I could get the teen to watch it, although I don't really NEED to watch it with a kid.

(runs off to find the tv guide)

mattw said...

I haven't seen Sid, but anything that encourages children's love of science is good.

That said, I can't stand Dora or Diego. They make me want to shoot the TV.

Janiece said...

Matt, my days of watching "kids TV" are long over at least until I have grandkids MANY, MANY YEARS FROM NOW.

I've never actually seen Dora, but she did get good reviews.

John the Scientist said...

"MANY, MANY YEARS FROM NOW."

Uh huh. I got married when I was 24, and am still on the first wife. I would have had kids a lot earlier if not for grad school. I didn't realize that 5 or 6 years was "many, many". :p

Janiece said...

Shut up, John.

Really. Shut up.

LALALALALALA!

Anonymous said...

Aside from the fact that Sid the Science Kid looks unbelievably cool, is it wrong that the first thing I thought when I opened that link and saw the pictures was, "Ooh, Brian Henson's cuuuute..."?

BDub said...

The Henson Legacy continues to live on! I love Sid the Science Kid...

If you love Sesame Street and the Muppets... there is an awesome exhibit that is making its way around the us. Jim Henson's Fantastic World... its currently in Atlanta then it goes to Orlando.

As a big fan of Jim, I have my own blog dedicated to him... check it out!
www.iheartjimhenson.blogspot.com

BDub said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Janiece said...

Welcome, bdub.

Thanks for the referral of the traveling exhibit. I'll check it out if it comes here.