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Sesame Street Season 45 Episode 4518: Friendship Day

Discussion in 'Season 45' started by Phillip, Feb 3, 2015.

  1. Phillip

    Phillip Administrator Staff Member

    Season 45 Episode 4518 - Friendship Day
    Tuesday February 3, 2015


    Subject: Self-Regulation
    Brought to you by: O & 10

    If you've seen "Friendship Day" please like this post and share your thoughts below.
  2. Drtooth

    Drtooth Well-Known Member

    I really like these deep, emotional moments with Elmo and Zoe. The characters work beautifully together, and they both get to emote off each other. Elmo rarely emotes due to his role in the show, but when the show finally gives him an opportunity, they run with it.

    Nice to see Big Bird and Snuffy, too, even though it was just a cameo.

    Also, nice to see Segi in another insert, but this time with regular characters. Even though it wasn't to make a big statement, it's nice to see the character hanging with others who are established. And she doesn't need to say something every time, which helps to get her a little more rounded.

    And seriously?! Did they have to show the Super Grover with the duckling 3 times this season? Even when it rotates with another skit?
    MikaelaMuppet and dwayne1115 like this.
  3. antsamthompson9

    antsamthompson9 Well-Known Member

    This episode was great! Not only do we finally get some Baby Bear this season, but it's also the only time we might see Ryan and Fran work together as Elmo and Zoe. I think their chemistry was pretty good. What do you guys think? Also the WOTD bit was nice. I liked the little argument about whether to do a fist bump or wing whack. The bit with Abby, Rosita and Segi was cute. That was obviously filmed after Fran left. Hopefully they'll find a new performer for Zoe but still keep Segi.
  4. Drtooth

    Drtooth Well-Known Member

    I try not to worry about character dynamics when a puppeteer leaves, I'm really hoping they have a plan to recast Zoe. I've said it a million times, Elmo and Zoe are a great pair. They need each other to work off of. Elmo and Abby? Not so much. It's like they adamantly refuse to give Abby any tension or drama, and when you mix that up with mostly hosting duties Elmo, you've got a recipe for a dull, tame story. Like I said with that Cookie Monster episode, they had to give Alan all the power to work things through, and it made the episode weak and safe. Why couldn't they actually show Abby getting upset? It would have given a level to the character not seen since she debuted.

    Zoe knows how to push Elmo's buttons in a way only the truest of friends can. Rocko drives Elmo up the wall, showing a very comedic annoyed side of Elmo that no one else can. But they also have their true friendship moments. Say what you will about Elmo in Grouchland, but that sequence where they fought over the blanket and then made up at the end was a great touch. I don't see them doing that with Abby. This episode showed just how great the Zoe and Elmo pairing are. Hopefully that won't just go away.
  5. Oscarfan

    Oscarfan Well-Known Member

    Just because it had Segi instead of Zoe? I doubt that. I see it as more giving Segi more material, what with them starting to develop her and all.
    Dominicboo1 likes this.
  6. Daffyfan4ever

    Daffyfan4ever Well-Known Member


    Hmmmm. That's a good thought. Maybe Fran's retirement could be why we're seeing more of Segi, so the show could have more of a female cast, but Zoe has been around for a long time so I am hoping they will keep her around with a new puppeteer.
  7. Drtooth

    Drtooth Well-Known Member

    I don't think they intend to replace any characters, and Segi is more of an audience surrogate voice for young African American girls. Sort of like Rosita with Latinos. Most of the other characters are ambiguous as to their backgrounds, and while that was the original intent with rainbow colored monster and human puppet characters, I really like the idea of creating some characters that other races can relate to.

    I don't think Segi is meant to replace Zoe because she's a completely different character meant for completely different things. Though it's true that Zoe was created to add more female characters to the show. But I feel that she broke out of that quickly and became endearing a character all her own. Segi was just recently and slowly added into the main cast, and I hope to see more of her with them.
  8. cahuenga

    cahuenga Well-Known Member

    who were the humans in the street story? thanks!!
  9. Oscarfan

    Oscarfan Well-Known Member

    Only skimmed through the show, but ya' know what I would've liked to see: instead of using the background puppeteers to do a random dog and chicken on the street, why not have them do Ernie and Bert, ya know, the two most recognized friends of the street. They wouldn't have needed to say anything, but it makes no sense why they wouldn't be involved.
    cahuenga and Drtooth like this.
  10. Drtooth

    Drtooth Well-Known Member

    My sentiments exactly. It doesn't even just need to be Ernie and Bert (though it would have been nice). When they have all these random background AM's and generic monsters, why not at least shove some familiar faces into the mix? They have the puppets, they have the characters. That would be the best place for them without having to give them any lines.
  11. Dominicboo1

    Dominicboo1 Well-Known Member

    It was such a cute episode. I actually wanted to hug Elmo so tight after Zoe hurt his feelings. The song was great. It's great that Segi is getting more roles. It's nice to see a humanoid once in awhile
  12. antsamthompson9

    antsamthompson9 Well-Known Member

    Chris, Leela, Mando and Gina. Gina didn't have any lines.
    cahuenga likes this.
  13. Drtooth

    Drtooth Well-Known Member

    Now that I think of it, I really don't like the Sesame Street News Flash bumpers. I mean, sure... the part where Murray talks to kids is actually cute and perfectly in style of what Sesame Street is all about. Outside of that, it's just repetitive and unnecessary. Murray had a Little Lamb and Peeps in the Neighborhood are far more interesting, as Murray and sometimes Ovejita get to react to real people. But this just introduces boring skits instead. And was this one used before? I didn't pay attention either time (boring, remember?), yet felt like I've seen it already.
  14. Dominicboo1

    Dominicboo1 Well-Known Member

    That may be because it was part of Penelope Penguin and we all know how you feel about that one.
  15. Drtooth

    Drtooth Well-Known Member

    Now that I think about it, yeah it was. UGH! I bet we're going to see that "Newsflash" bit at least one more time this season. I get what they're trying to do, but somehow it comes off poorly in execution.

    Side note... do you think little kids that the show is meant for actually like the obnoxious one off characters like Penelope and 15 this season? I mean, I'm one of the few that sort of likes Jar Jar, and even I find them utterly insufferable. I'll chalk 15 up to some passive aggressive parody of someone's kid. Even then, they blew the joke.
  16. Dominicboo1

    Dominicboo1 Well-Known Member

    Jar Jar is nothing like them. He's nice ..just not too bright. Fifteen is rude to everyone and demanding. She may have said thank you once and then whined about it
  17. Drtooth

    Drtooth Well-Known Member

    Now that I think about it, why so many side characters?

    What was refreshing about this episode (I have to tie it back in somehow, right?) was that it was about characters who are regularly on the street, established, and fleshed out. They've been doing way too many "let's help out this fairy tale character" type episodes the past several years. It's a fun way to get celebrity guest stars into the storyline, but lame one off characters seem to be the only thing in abundance. Though, Peter Piper was kinda fun.

    Kid's show or not, why do they refuse dramatic tension so many times to befall certain characters? it's what makes them whole. Tying it in, kind of a stretch, but this episode showed what they can do instead of an obnoxious Penguin flailing around for 10 minutes. Yeah, kids probably like hyper characters, but screaming little doofuses will cause headache ridden adults to change the channel.

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