Watch: ‘Sesame Street' stars Oscar the Grouch, Bert and Grover give L.A. ‘a big hug'
Los Angeles has been going through a tough time, but in the words of a few friends from 'Sesame Street,' we can get through this together.
Last week, some of the characters from the venerated children's television show — Oscar the Grouch, Bert and Grover — stopped by the Los Angeles Times to chat with Nicholas Ducassi, the host of 'Very Important Questions.' While we anticipated (and enjoyed) a light-hearted, fun conversation with these childhood favorites, it was also reminder of how important it is talk about 'big feelings' and to support one another, particular when we're going through a hard time. Emotional well-being is, after all, the emphasis of the latest season of 'Sesame Street,' which kicked off in January.
After last month's devastating wildfires, the city and many of its residents are now trying to process the heartache of having lost so much while trying to figure out what's next and how to rebuild. But where there's heartache, there also hope and optimism — something that 'Sesame Street' reminds us of on a regular basis.
'I cannot give you all a hug right now, even though I want to,' Grover said. 'So I'm going to ask Nick here to stand in for all of L.A. and I'm going to give L.A. a big hug. I love you L.A. You are going to be OK. Remember that you are strong and super and you can do hard things. Yes, you can.'
Yes, we can.
'You've gotta be there for your neighbors, your friends and community,' Bert said. 'I mean, we may lose our paper clips and bottle caps, but we always have each other.'
We always have each other. It's a reminder to all of us that our family and friends — even the furry ones — can help us move forward. Together.
'Sesame Street's' garbage-can dwelling green monster tells us about his favorite piece of trash and how to put on your best grouchy face.
In this segment, Bert tells us why his unibrow is sophisticated (and practical), how he handles big feelings and the best way to get through a tough time.
Grover tells us some tips on being a waiter ('Do not work at a restaurant with talking fruits and vegetables.'), how he asks for help and why he's Super Grover's biggest fan.
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Hamilton Spectator
20 hours ago
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AP WAS THERE: ‘Jaws' and the parental debates it set off
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The debate stems from the rating given to the movie — PG, meaning parental guidance suggested. Several critics and members of the movie industry have called the rating too lenient. Some use it as an example of flaws in the frequently criticized rating system. In practice, PG places no restrictions on who may see a film. Any child with the price of a movie ticket can view 'Jaws,' which climaxes with a man vomiting blood as a giant shark chews him up. Los Angeles Times critic Charles Champlin noted that the PG 'does not sufficiently warn parents that the giant shark includes children among its victims and that children are known to be particularly impressed by what happens to children on the screen.' Movie makers whose films recently were give the more restrictive 'R' rating — requiring an adult to accompany any child under 17 — have protested loudly. Some have even appealed to the rating board of the Motion Picture Association of America for a rating change. 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But Universal has no complaints about the PG rating, and, according to Rating Administration, no one may appeal a film's rating other than its producer and distributor. Scheider, who portrays the sheriff of the beach resort menaced by the killer shark, recalls that 'Jaws' was made with the intention of obtaining a PG rating. 'The picture was judiciously shot to avoid unnecessary amounts of gore,' he says, recalling that some bloody scenes were added after final footage was reviewed by the filmmakers. 'When the film was brought back to the post, the editor and director found that it was necessary to show, after an hour and a half, what the shark does. the audience demands it.' The scene of the girl covered with crabs was added later, he notes and the finale in which Robert Shaw is chewed up was embellished. 'I personally think that scene could have been modulated a bit,' says Scheider. But Jack Valenti, president of the MPAA and father of the seven-year-old rating system, defends the 'Jaws' rating. 'In the view of the rating board, 'Jaws' involved nature's violence, rather than man's violence against man,' Valenti has said. 'This is the same kind of violence as in 'Hansel and Gretel.' Children might imitate other kinds of violence, but not the kind seen in 'Jaws.'' Valenti declared that, 'If this were a man or woman committing violence as seen in 'Jaws,' it would definitely go in the R category. But it's a shark, and I don't think people will go around pretending they're a shark.' The rating controversy hasn't hurt business. Universal reports that 'Jaws' grossed an incredible $60 million in its first month and seems destined to grow richer than 'The Godfather,' the current record holder. Scheider says his own 12-year-old daughter has seen 'Jaws' twice — but only after he and his wife explained 'which things she was going to see were real and which ones were not real.' 'She was scared in many parts, but she knew it was a movie,' he says, suggesting that parents who let children see the movie explain first that 'This is going to scare you. It's going to be like a roller coaster ride.' 'Some kids understand his and some don't,' he concedes. '... I would be very careful about children under 10. If they're susceptible to nightmares, get scared easily and are impressionable, I'd say no, don't see it. If the child can handle it, fine, see it.' Scheider holds the cynical view that the rating system exists because 'most parents don't give a damn what their kids see.' But he is convinced that a child who sees 'Jaws' without guidance won't be permanently traumatized by it. 'It'll go away,' he says. 'You can live through it. Traumatic shocks in entertainment disappear. Traumatic shocks through the lack of love and ill treatment by parents and peers persist through all of life.'
