Sesame Street – 20 Years …and still counting (1989/Lionsgate DVD)

 

Picture: C+     Sound: C+     Extras: D     Main Program: B-

 

 

Over 40 years later, Sesame Street continues to be one of the most successful TV shows of all time and that is even in the face of dozens of cable channels, home video and other alternate media.  In 1989, the show celebrated its first two decades with Sesame Street – 20 Years …and still counting hosted by alumni Bill Cosby in this nearly hour-long reflection of the history of the show.

 

We get new skits, behind the scenes look at the show, new set visit, some of the child stars all grown up and classic appearances by Placido Domingo and Ray Charles.  It reminds us the cultural importance of an educational show that changed TV for the better (even after so many 1980s shows ran counter to it, all the way to the time you are reading this) and reminds us how important the legacy remains.  This is a special worth revisiting.

 

The 1.33 X 1 image originated on analog PAL tape and looks good for its age, plus you can see the difference between the older and newer video.  The Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono is also good for its age and I doubt this could look or sound much better than it does here.  There are no extras.

 

 

-   Nicholas Sheffo