My Life as a Furry Red Monster - Kevin Clash [52]
After Alan announces his idea, everyone gets very excited about being able to sing along with the karaoke machine. Elmo is especially excited because it’s a nighttime event. “Boy,” he says with a laugh, “Elmo gets to stay up late and sing with everybody on Sesame Street!”
Adults and Muppets sign up to sing, and no one fights over who will be first or next—this is a very cooperative bunch, after all. Everyone is eager to share their talent and love of singing, but Telly is nervous as he waits for his turn onstage. His good buddy Baby Bear (played by David Rudman) continues to encourage him between the others’ songs. “I’ll sing before you and then you can see how easy it is,” he promises Telly (played by Marty Robinson). “There’s nothing to it.”
“Buh-Bay-Bay-Baby Bear, I-I-I’m not so sure about this.”
“Telly, if I can do it, you can do it, believe me.”
But Baby Bear’s enthusiasm gets the better of him, and he freezes up in front of the microphone, with all those people and Muppets watching him. Now, I did a lot of talent shows and variety shows in high school, and the typical audience there would not have responded the way the Sesame Street audience does. Everyone offers encouragement to Baby Bear, but it’s his friend Telly who comes to his aid.
“Oh no, Baby Bear’s in trouble! Don’t worry, Baby Bear, I’ll help you!” he calls out, rushing onto the stage. Once there, he forgets his own fear as he looks out into the audience and tells Baby Bear, “Everybody out there is your friend. They all just wanna hear ya sing. Come on, come on, I’ll do it with ya. Hit it, Alan.”
After they successfully deliver their song—as a duet—Baby Bear says, “Thank you, thank you, I did it!”
“I did it, too!” says Telly.
“We did it!” they cheer together, and the lesson is clear.
Because this is Sesame Street, though, the lesson is strengthened a few moments later when the karaoke machine goes on the fritz. It looks as if the evening will be cut short and those who didn’t get their turn will be disappointed.
“Sorry, everybody,” says Alan. “I think the machine is broken…what can I say, it’s a rental.”
Of course, the residents of Sesame Street come through in a spontaneous display of cooperation. Telly offers to get his tuba, Rosita her guitar, Zoe her tambourine, Gladys her harmonica, and Elmo his drum. Who needs a machine when you have a talented group of musicians who can accompany the singers? Who needs the spotlight when the entire cast has more fun together, singing “We Are the People in Our Neighborhood”?
With Elmo playing his drum and pigs and cows and monsters and birds all joining in, we’re reminded again of that joyful noise that music can be, and the even more joyful noise of people working together, sharing experiences, and making lasting memories as a group.
Working through the karaoke catastrophe was a wonderful example of a previous lesson taking root and bearing fruit. In an episode from an earlier season, UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan once had to resolve a dispute among the Muppets regarding who got to sing the alphabet. “There is no problem,” he tells them. “You simply need to cooperate. You can all sing the alphabet song together.” Afterward, the Muppets jostle each other to be first in line to congratulate Mr. Annan on this latest conflict resolution, but Telly says, “I know, let’s do this the United Nations way!” “Yeah, group hug!” cries Elmo, and Kofi Annan and Muppets all hug and congratulate each other at the same time.
IT TOOK A truly collaborative effort for Elmo to reach the level of recognition and popularity that he enjoys, and the same kind of cooperation was necessary to