Rumor: Big Bird only in four Season 41 episodes

I never said that.
Besides, the dark times of broken promises seem to be over because again, Micheal Eisner is gone. The Disney company has gotten better in a lot of ways. Things have gotten much better for the Muppets since Eisner left.
Lately the Muppets have gotten back into the public eye in full force thanks to both viral media and television.
Baby steps.

I just think that it was rude and insultive of you to cut down people who are being postitve and claim that you are being a "realist" while positive people are practicing "bind faith" Becuase that is not necessarily the truth.

And if the new Muppet Movie happens, I expect you to be big enough to admit that you were wrong and not to back-pedal.
If the film somehow does not get made, that would certainly be a shame, but generally speaking, there is nothing wrong with being positive.

I did not mean to turn this into a rant, but I had to get that off my chest and defend myself.
We can get back on topic now.

I didn't and wasn't singling you or anyone in specific out.

I didn't say I was being a realist, I said I was trying to be realistic, as in look at the situation through a realistic perspective, because again, after years of Disney saying "Oh, we've got a new project with the Muppets lined up", only to have the plug of said project pulled, how can one NOT look at the news of a new project, like the movie, and say "Here we go again, promises, promises." Yes, we HAVE gotten some new things recently, like you said, and I had to admit I was happy to see that the new Christmas special did indeed happen, so yes, on some occasions, a promise WAS kept; again, knowing Disney's past with the Muppets, irregardless of who has been in charge, I choose not to get my hopes up over something that could very well not happen, and find it hard to believe that others still do so.

I will be both very surprised, and very happy to see if the new movie does indeed happen; nobody is right or wrong in this scenario, but one thing I will admit that if this movie does see the light of day and hits the theater, that can build up a trust in Disney's control of the Muppets. We will just have to wait and see.

No, there isn't.
[quoteI did not mean to turn this into a rant, but I had to get that off my chest and defend myself.
We can get back on topic now.[/QUOTE]Again, I wasn't singling you or anyone out in the matter.

There are all sorts of rumors sparking up about season 41, actually... One was already denounced (it was briefly up on wikia's talk page) that Abby's Flying School would be dropped. Now, I wouldn't mind seeing it go if they still only have the same 10 episodes from this season. They COMPLETELY dropped the ball on that one. Now, it isn't true, and apparently it will continue... hopefully not every single episode, leading to multiple reruns a season. I really hope they learned their lesson with that.

All that's been confirmed for season 41 is Ryan Reynolds will play the letter A. Other than that, it's anyone's guess.

I really hope they have a better budget this time, but I doubt it.

I thnk we should take this quote from the Muppet Mindset into consideration:

WHY DOES SESAME STREET NEED BIG BIRD?
"It is obvious why the Bird is needed on the Street. In many ways, Big Bird is Sesame Street. Big Bird represents the love, innocence, curiosity, and hilarity of Sesame Street. He also represents the immense staying power of the show. Big Bird has been around for all of the show's 40 years. There is nothing more representative of Sesame Street's 40 years than the Bird, and that's why Sesame Street needs him. Without Big Bird, there really is no Sesame Street.

The Bird may have been overshadowed in recent years, but he is always there with a smile, a song, or a question. As he sang in yesterday's season premiere, "Sesame Street is my habitat. Sesame Street is my home." And Sesame Street finds a home in Big Bird. In his heart, his soul, and his hugs."

I just want to say this as well. Elmo is a terrific charatcer for Sesame Street today because of his ability to conect with the younger part of the audience, which is where the show is set up at today. Kevin, to me, is a great performer and I certainly seems to want to keep everyone on the show as much as posible, including Big Bird. Caroll Spinney does speak very fondly of him as well in case you all haven't noticed. As mentioned in Michael Davis' book "Street Gang", because the shows audience has gotten younger, Elmo has been used to give that traget audience someone they can relate to. In other word's, "he simply renewed the mission."

Big Bird will never be gone from Sesame Street as far as I know. I think it is safe to say that Caroll Spinney will not be around forever, and yet Matt Vogal will continue with the bird even if Caroll retires. I seriously doubt that the writers would want to get rid of Big Bird so easily, but they have to make sure that everything for the show goes smoothly. Some characters do get popular form time to time, but as Caroll Spinney once said in his autobiography, there is room for everyone on Sesame Street. And as I see it, Big Bird will always be on the Street, no matter how manny episodes he is featured in.

In a way, I can understand what Snowth is saying because if neither Carroll or Matt is available to play him, then they probably will limit his airtime. But I agree with DrTooth as well, they can't just phase out their most famous character. Well, I guess second most famous, next to Elmo. It just seems like each season they keep expirimenting with something new. Maybe their wondering if young kids who watch would really notice if BB isn't around that much. Maybe their just trying that out for this season, but if it doesn't work out he might be featured more prominently in season 42.

That was well said. Still, I hope we get a word back from Sesame Worksop and see what's really going on there.

I thought I previously read that next seaon will focus on cleaning and bathttime, yet the Muppet Wiki page for season 41 currently says nothing about it (while stating that a main curriculum theme will be science and geography).

How many episodes can one have focused on cleaning and bathtime!

If anything, here's synopsisisises (how the heck do you pluralize that?) of 2 of the episodes that will feature him, according to Muppet Wikia

That said:

I just wanna know what study they've read that says that kids aren't bathing.

Here is footage of them filming the rain episode in this Caroll Spinney interview;

The best part was that Caroll mentioned he has a contract for several more years on the show and that Big Bird still gets fan mail from kids (still as much as he used to and even with Elmo today).

I thought most Muppet performers aren't under contract, regardless of whether they work for Sesame Workshop, The Muppet Studios, or The Jim Henson Company.

It seems that some more information keeps getting added all the time but nothing about the Big Bird situation.


However, Big Bang Theory's Jim Parsons is going to do a word of the day segment. That has my interest piqued!

I really hope it DOESN'T air sometime in 2011... I don't think the series can do with yet ANOTHER season shift just yet.

Maybe it's just me, but I think Katy Perry's dressed a little too provocatively for an appearance on a kiddie show.

We're talking about someone who sang a song called "I Kissed a Girl and I Liked it."

Indeed. But still, I mean, she could've toned her outfit down if she was going to appear on a kiddie show.

But that could be just me.

I checked the website and despite BB not getting much airtime, the season sounds pretty good. I'm assuming they meant to say 'Herry (Monster)' when they described 'Harry' as Oscar's employee. It will be good to see him and Bert in a street scene.

It's also nice to see Barkley and a Telly and Oscar moment. Looks like we do have some good things in store for the next season.

You know, really, I've been watching more old school SST lately (not just the DVD sets, but like old tapes and everything), and I noticed something I haven't seen in a long time that I really miss - kids actually wanting Big Bird to play with them, in one way or another.

Not even verbally, like in Christmas Eve on Sesame Street, a little girl is wanting Big Bird to skate with her, while he nervously clings to the side railing, afraid he'll slip and fall; the little girl looks disappointed that Big Bird won't skate with her, so he tries to conquer his fear of falling to cheer her up.

Whatever happened to that? In fact, not just Big Bird really, but almost all of the Muppet characters... you watch footage from the 70s and 80s, and the kids they have on the set are obviously genuinely happy to be with their Muppet friends, and are really having a good time... nowadays, it seems like the kids are just there... they don't necessarily have a good time... there might be SOME genuine feelings sometimes... like in A Celebration of Me, Grover, one girl seemed to get a kick out of giving Grover a big hug in the garden, or from the Season 36 premiere, the little visit Antonio seemed to be having a good time with Papa Bear talking about the muscles they built up from exercizing. But other than that, the kids really don't seem to be enjoying themselves anymore... even the "You're the best monster I've ever met" moonlight chat with Grover seemed somewhat forced.

Snowth! I agree with you on this one! I'm wondering if maybe she was just dressed that way for the photos and would be dressed differently for the actual episode (perhaps dressed as a giant triangle or a cheese, that tends to happen to guest stars). I think it's a little too out there for Sesame Street (although they are an all-embracing show.)

Now, I heard that Gaga was doing a Word on the Street section...(I kid.)

Lol... and after Donny Osmond of all people recently denounced her.

I think a lot of it as to do with the fact that the studio can't have kids messing around on the set like they used to in the first 30 years. Ohter shows like Barney boo:) hired professional kids to act instead of be themselves. Ssame Street still does some of that in their episodes today, although just not as much.

Once again, Big Bird will never be gone from Ssame Street. He is still labeled as on of the shows top characters along side of Elmo. I think that is the main thing people are constantly looking over.