Sesame Street - Old Spice Parody (And Many More!)
October 8, 2010 5:42 PM   Subscribe

Sesame Street's Grover spoofs the original Old Spice ad. As great as this is, it's not the first time Sesame Street has parodied something. They've also done 30 Rock, Mad Men, True Blood, Law & Order: SVU, Desperate Housewives, CSI, Highschool Musical, Twin Peaks (during a parody of Masterpiece, no less) and even Casablanca and Shaft.
posted by Effigy2000 (63 comments total) 71 users marked this as a favorite
 
Damn, I got beat to the punch while composing this and collecting links. Oh well. Delete away!
posted by Effigy2000 at 5:44 PM on October 8, 2010


See what happens when you invest time and thought into your posts.

Live and learn my friend.
posted by dgaicun at 5:45 PM on October 8, 2010 [5 favorites]


damn, the old-spice planets have aligned

Seriously, old-spice, astro-turf much?
posted by kuatto at 5:51 PM on October 8, 2010


FWIW: Your kung-fu is better.
posted by will wait 4 tanjents at 5:53 PM on October 8, 2010


This one should stand, no offense to will wait 4 tanjents (oddly non-aigning username in this instance), but this is the quality post
posted by edgeways at 5:54 PM on October 8, 2010 [1 favorite]


Keep this one!
posted by ocherdraco at 5:55 PM on October 8, 2010


and if/when this gets yanked you should port the links over there I guess.
posted by edgeways at 5:56 PM on October 8, 2010


Agreed.
This post is the epitome of link expectation.
No offense taken
posted by will wait 4 tanjents at 5:56 PM on October 8, 2010


Grover was always my favorite muppet.
posted by ocherdraco at 6:01 PM on October 8, 2010 [7 favorites]


Agreed.

Now that is noble.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 6:01 PM on October 8, 2010 [2 favorites]


Not so fast.
secretly curious to see how the mods handle this scruple
posted by will wait 4 tanjents at 6:04 PM on October 8, 2010 [1 favorite]


Man, for a week or two in my free time I was collecting links and context for a (totally different, unrelated) post, and then a couple days ago someone utterly stole my thunder with a one-linker and it kinda broke my heart. It's obviously not their fault, and they totally don't deserve my ongoing stewing, secret resentment, but, hey, what's a guy to do but silently stare daggers at a screen name on metafilter all night.
posted by churl at 6:05 PM on October 8, 2010 [4 favorites]


Yes, this should stand...no offense!
posted by nevercalm at 6:06 PM on October 8, 2010


Look at this thread now look at me. Now look at this thread. Now back to me.....the rest writes itself.
posted by humanfont at 6:07 PM on October 8, 2010 [7 favorites]


Effigy2000: "As great as this is, it's not the first time Sesame Street has parodied something. They've also done 30 Rock, Mad Men, True Blood, Law & Order: SVU, Desperate Housewives, CSI, Highschool Musical, Twin Peaks (during a parody of Masterpiece, no less) and even Casablanca and Shaft."

Don't forget "Bohemian Rhapsody"! [previously]
posted by Rhaomi at 6:08 PM on October 8, 2010 [2 favorites]


And let's also not forget the pitch-perfect parodies of Billy Idol's Rebel Yell (Rebel L) and Bruce Springsteen's Born To Run (Born To Add)...
posted by ZsigE at 6:14 PM on October 8, 2010 [3 favorites]


Yay over here
posted by nj_subgenius at 6:14 PM on October 8, 2010


double post with a muppet twist.

MODS favortite cocktail.
posted by clavdivs at 6:17 PM on October 8, 2010


WW4T, well there are a few precedents of mods letting the second, better, post stand and deleting the first. If the original poster volunteers to the mods to have their post removed. Otherwise the second post nearly universally gets the axe despite a difference in quality.

I am not applying any pressure for you should do this, that is entirely your call. As the rules stand you have right of first post.

I do wish the guidelines where slightly different though that allowed a second post of quantitatively better links to be the solo stander if it posted within a reasonable time frame.

que sera sera
posted by edgeways at 6:17 PM on October 8, 2010


Grover was my favorite muppet. I used to be able to do a really good imitation of him.

secretly curious to see how the mods handle this scruple

This is going to be the post that destroys Metafilter. We've made it through the boyzone debate, a couple presidential elections, just really shitty meta threads, and yet we're still a community and pretty damn good place to spend some internet.

But there will be wars and burnings and bannings and this web site will never be the same after the Great Grover Deletion War of '10. Mark my words, you won't recognize this site tomorrow.
posted by marxchivist at 6:18 PM on October 8, 2010 [15 favorites]


What? No Muppet parody of The Wire?
posted by TwelveTwo at 6:18 PM on October 8, 2010 [3 favorites]


...good place to spend some internet time.

damn it

posted by marxchivist at 6:22 PM on October 8, 2010


It happens, occasionally, two posts come up within a minute or two of one another (usually something newsfiltery) and the one with more content stands, even if it came second.

Anyway, I've long had a great deal of love for Sesame Workshop and everyone else at the complex in Queens, and I'm kind of thrilled, surprised that they're given free reign to do some of this stuff. Not that there's anything remotely non-wholesome in the parodies, but that there's someone who said, "Hey, let's do a parody of SVU," and instead of the reaction being "That show about sex crimes?" they instead thought, "what can the kids learn from it?"

To say nothing of True blood, Mad Men, etc.
posted by Navelgazer at 6:28 PM on October 8, 2010 [1 favorite]


Okay, nevermind. The Sesperate Houseplants one is squarely aimed to provoke conversations like:

"What are you laughing at, mommy?"

"Oh, nothing. Plants are just funny, I guess."
posted by Navelgazer at 6:31 PM on October 8, 2010


...good place to spend some internet time.

To be honest I liked your original phrasing. I will spend one Internet on 4chan, but no more! My internets are worth more than that!
posted by Solon and Thanks at 6:33 PM on October 8, 2010 [1 favorite]


Yeah, Navelgazer, I was reading an article about Sesame Street just a few days ago, and one of the people behind the show was discussing how they intentionally do segments that adults will enjoy, because it's the adults who control the remote.

Lemme see if I can find it.
posted by ocherdraco at 6:37 PM on October 8, 2010


Grover is what Elmo is before the Stupid Stick is applied. Grover is awesome and my favorite forever. I'm trying to hunt down classic '70s and '80s Sesame Streets online for my kid, because there's no way I'm letting her waste 15 minutes at a stretch on Elmo.
posted by Slap*Happy at 6:41 PM on October 8, 2010 [9 favorites]


Aha, this is where I saw it, as part of the Katy Perry kerfuffle.
posted by ocherdraco at 6:47 PM on October 8, 2010


Grover is God.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 6:49 PM on October 8, 2010 [2 favorites]


They spoofed all kinds of things. One of their characters was Placido Flamingo. One time they had Placido Domingo on as a guest, and they appeared together.
posted by Chocolate Pickle at 6:49 PM on October 8, 2010


Ahh, yes. That Katy Perry thing was complete bullshit, of course. Not to say that she's anything other than an exploitative and terrible artist, but the scandal about her dress was ridiculous.
posted by Navelgazer at 6:50 PM on October 8, 2010


The George Stephanopolous interview about it is hilarious, though. I don't particularly like Elmo on the show, but I love it when he shows up on other things. When Elmo knows his audience is mostly adult, he can be pretty sly.
posted by ocherdraco at 6:53 PM on October 8, 2010 [4 favorites]


Oh, sadness! One of the key people involved in developing Sesame Street, Gerald Lesser, just died.
posted by ocherdraco at 6:55 PM on October 8, 2010


course they also parodied a whole internet "meme" as well
posted by edgeways at 6:55 PM on October 8, 2010 [3 favorites]


course that might not be official
posted by edgeways at 6:55 PM on October 8, 2010


My favorite Sesame Street parodies have always been:

Rocky Horror
Material Girl
Let It Be

posted by ChuraChura at 7:04 PM on October 8, 2010 [2 favorites]


When Elmo knows his audience is mostly adult, he can be pretty sly.

I've worked with Elmo a number of times, and rehearsals are always the best part. His muppeteer can get pretty blue during camera blocking...I've got some video that's absolutely amazing - the way that they can operate the muppets is totally uncanny. They have monitors in their cramped, crazy little spaces and can somehow make those cut-in-half ping-pong balls look a woman up and down in a way that's utterly genuine. It really makes you think.
posted by nevercalm at 7:07 PM on October 8, 2010 [16 favorites]


Nevercalm > I've read that the Muppets will get very defensive if people try to talk to the Muppeteer instead of the Muppet itself. In your experience, is that true?
posted by zooropa at 7:12 PM on October 8, 2010 [2 favorites]


I'm starting to get a little muppte overload lately. They have a really good marketing department between Katy Perry and this.
posted by codacorolla at 7:17 PM on October 8, 2010


Before I click on the Twin Peaks one, I want some reassurances that Killer Bob doesn't show up in it. Because if he does, I am Never. Sleeping. Ever. Again.
posted by .kobayashi. at 7:23 PM on October 8, 2010


While I have love in my heart for other muppets (the Count, hahaha, for one), Grover is still one of my favorites. Grover teaches. I learned so much from him, and one of the things I learned from him, and still hold dear was

NEAR!

(runs back)


faaaaar!


(runs forward)


NEEEAAAR!


(runs back)



faaaaaaaaaaaar!
posted by Ghidorah at 7:27 PM on October 8, 2010 [28 favorites]


the muppet videos could be pulled soon, as all lot of u tube major movies, parts 1 thru say, 14 are blank, as per copyright reasons.
posted by tustinrick at 7:28 PM on October 8, 2010


(during a parody of Masterpiece, no less)

Alistair Cookie not understand why Effigy2000 say Masterpiece when show really called Masterpiece Theatre when Sesame Street first did parody called Monsterpiece Theater.
posted by Sys Rq at 7:31 PM on October 8, 2010 [3 favorites]


the muppet videos could be pulled soon, as all lot of u tube major movies, parts 1 thru say, 14 are blank, as per copyright reasons.

Then numbers would disappear.
posted by ovvl at 7:33 PM on October 8, 2010 [1 favorite]


Before I click on the Twin Peaks one, I want some reassurances that Killer Bob doesn't show up in it. Because if he does, I am Never. Sleeping. Ever. Again.

He doesn't. It's still quite strange though. I did a double-take the first time I saw one of those birds.
posted by JHarris at 7:51 PM on October 8, 2010


Feist's 1234 is my favourite recent one.
posted by joannemerriam at 7:51 PM on October 8, 2010


Monsterpiece Theatre with Alastair Cookie had to be one of the funniest parodies.
posted by dry white toast at 7:55 PM on October 8, 2010 [1 favorite]


I've been looking for a Sesame Street bit from my toddler years. If memory serves, it's with Muppets, but none of the major players.

It features a baby in a crib, and when his parents close the door and shut the lights to his bedroom, the room becomes a disco nightclub with spinning lights, a mirror ball descends from the ceiling, and the baby starts singing and/or crying "waaaaahhh!" and the cries are either part of the song or comprise the entire song (I can't recall exactly, that part's fuzzy).

And I think the parents come in at some point at which point the mirror ball re-ascends and the spinning lights stop.

Anyone remember this one???? Anyone know where I can find it????
posted by jeremy b at 8:59 PM on October 8, 2010


I did a double-take the first time I saw one of those birds.

I see what you did there.
posted by Sys Rq at 10:06 PM on October 8, 2010


?
posted by mistersquid at 10:11 PM on October 8, 2010


I think it's probably this one, actually.
posted by Sys Rq at 10:15 PM on October 8, 2010 [2 favorites]


my name is Finch.. Dave Finch. Made my lol for real.
posted by edgeways at 11:08 PM on October 8, 2010


Yes! Thanks Sys Rq!
posted by jeremy b at 1:32 AM on October 9, 2010


Oh, man, I remember watching the Casablanca one when I was 3 or 4. It depressed me so much. I felt so bad for Sam, singing the alphabet until morning! I'd totally forgotten about it until now, but it's probably why I hated the real movie the first few times I tried to watch it.
posted by coppermoss at 5:15 AM on October 9, 2010


American Idol parody.
posted by fings at 5:47 AM on October 9, 2010


I love Six Feet Under.
posted by sonika at 8:46 AM on October 9, 2010


Waiting for Elmo. OMG.
posted by kenko at 10:22 AM on October 9, 2010 [3 favorites]


Other commercial parodies:

Do you know me?
If you've got the time

And not a commercial parody, but I love this: here's the men of Sesame Street spoofing The Floaters.
posted by evilcolonel at 10:36 AM on October 9, 2010


I've always loved their musical parodies. Like this one!
posted by PhoBWanKenobi at 10:27 PM on October 9, 2010


I've worked with Elmo a number of times...

If this isn't on your CV, it needs to be.

And yeah. I've heard that from a number of people. Bill Lawrence (the Scrubs writer/producer) showed me some absolutely incredible/hilarious discarded footage of one of those rehearsals -- Elmo's puppeteer is incredible at what he does, even if the writers do make the character a bit obnoxious at times. You'll also probably never guess what he looks like.

Quite a few of my coworkers got to work with the Muppets a few years ago, before I joined the place. All of them have the photos of it up on their office walls, despite the fact that most of them have worked with far more famous people throughout their employment.

posted by schmod at 11:38 PM on October 9, 2010


The celebrity music appearances are also great: Feist and REM are my favorites.
posted by schmod at 11:44 PM on October 9, 2010 [1 favorite]


Grey's Anatomy parody.
posted by thadman at 12:59 PM on October 11, 2010


I've read that the Muppets will get very defensive if people try to talk to the Muppeteer instead of the Muppet itself. In your experience, is that true?
posted by zooropa


To be perfectly honest with you, I've never seen anyone do this, in maybe 10 or so times working with them. And by "this," I mean anyone trying to talk to the Muppeteer rather than the Muppet. I'm not sure whether it's because you're standing there talking to an actual Muppet, or because they're (the Muppeteers) so damned amazing at what they do, but when you're talking to them, generally you are talking to him/her as if they are an actual being. It's uncanny. They track you as you're moving around, they gesture like a real person might (brush something off their lip, fix a stray hair, etc), their affect is so.....real. Sitting here writing this it's kind of idiotic, but when you're there, they're alive and distinct beings.

That being said, I've read that also. Not defensive in a bad way, more like "why are you not acknowledging this person in front of you?" I've just never experienced that....in my experience, the Muppeteers become invisible.

Every time I've interacted with the Muppeteer, it was interacting with them personally about concrete, show-related things: "Does that cushion give you the right angle? Is your monitor aligned so you can see well enough? Here's the moves I'll have to make, then I'll be here to help you get settled in." But things like cleaning the table in front of the Muppet, while he/she watches your movements and then makes a comment on what you're doing or whether Endust is a good cleaning product? Endlessly entertaining.

I've said it before here....I've seen and met and been around every celebrity in the world, as have all the people I work with...we're all cynical, crazy hateful bastards who are bored and jaded by it all. But we all get excited about the Muppets...no one ever wants a picture with Brad or Angelina or whoever, but when the Muppets are on, you see a lot of quiet coaching about camera operation in anticipation of picture-taking with them. (Oh, and baby wild animals...we're all suckers for little tigers and koalas.)
posted by nevercalm at 2:06 PM on October 11, 2010 [2 favorites]


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