Monsters and Rockets: Happy 40th, SESAME STREET!

Sesame Street is 40 years old today, so let's celebrate by looking back at some notable bits from this classic kids' show.

First, we have the strange little Claymation intro to the very first show, complete with an IN COLOR bumper.

Then we have the opening titles from the first season.

Next we have Big Bird's debut. The character obviously evolved quite a bit later, and thank goodness. He's kind of a pathetic idiot, here.

Then we have the debut of Bert and Ernie, featuring Ernie taking a bath in their living room. (WTF?) Their personalities and look seem pretty set already - Ernie even has his raspy laugh - although the sequence's punchline is a puzzler (Solomon Grundy?) and I don't know what the heck's going on in the bottom right. I think we're seeing part of Frank Oz's glasses.

Next we have Oscar the Grouch's debut. He was orange to start with... But I guess it's not so surprising that 40 years in a trash can would turn him green. Oscar is the kind of character who never fly on an educational kids' show today - a surly green monster who lives in a garbage pail! Lord love 'im.

Here's another Bert and Ernie bit from the first season, perhaps the very first instance of Ernie screwin' around with poor Bert's nose. As a kid I could watch these two goofballs all day, while ten seconds of Elmo made me want to end my life. Not much has changed since.