It’s Christmas Eve on Sesame Street and everyone in town is preparing for the big man to come deliver presents. However, as Big Bird (Caroll Spinney) looks forward to Santa Claus coming to town, the grouchy Oscar (Spinney) informs him that it’s unlikely that Santa will be able to fit down the chimney. Big Bird is now concerned as to whether or not everyone will get presents. Will Santa be able to deliver or will Oscar’s words become reality?
Nostalgia, nostalgia, and, well...more nostalgia! Christmas Eve on Sesame Street was one of my favorites as a child, and I found out just a few years ago that it was one of my wife’s as well. I’m now in my thirties (geeze) watching it for about the hundredth time with my beautiful wife, and while we certainly understand that it’s a tad cheesy, we love it just as much as we did when we were children. It brings back fond memories of when Christmas just sort of came to you; before you were stressed about getting the things together and simply sat back and let the magic happen, and as a result Christmas Eve on Sesame Street has stood the test of time (at least in my eyes) and delivers honest and genuine Christmas entertainment.
Sesame Street has always been informative--teaching children about letters and numbers, how to be good people, and that treating others with respect is one of the most important things. Christmas Eve on Sesame Street, while veering ever so slightly from the usual Sesame Street formula, works to educate viewers in a different way. Believing in one another, tenacity, and holding onto hope take the forefront in this Christmas special, and Christmas Eve on Sesame Street presents its viewers with something almost tangible as the story plays out.
Beyond the lessons to be learned, Christmas Eve on Sesame Street is truly fun. If you were to tell me that you don’t like Sesame Street I’d assume you were either lying to me or that you were simply crazy. A series of colorful puppets (and friends) take center stage, and characters like Bert (Frank Oz), Ernie (Jim Henson), Snuffy (Jerry Nelson), and Cookie Monster (Oz) are sure to entertain viewers of all ages. The relationships between the series of characters--both puppets and humans--are inspiring, entertaining, and full of life. Furthermore, while musicals aren’t exactly my forté, I have to say that the songs sung throughout Christmas Eve on Sesame Street are full of life and energy. It seems impossible not to appreciate the songs--songs such as True Blue Miracle and I Hate Christmas--as they are far better than any children’s song created in the past twenty years. The songs possess more meaning, they are catchy, and the vocals of all involved are spectacular.
There are numerous Christmas classics that I feel the need to watch every year. A Christmas Story, Elf, and Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town are just a few of the timeless Christmas films that, like Christmas Eve on Sesame Street, have stood the test of time. This is a sensational list of films of which to be compared, but Christmas Eve on Sesame Street does in fact compare to the likes of those aforementioned films. With inspirational lessons, endearing songs, and a slew of incredibly likeable characters, Christmas Eve on Sesame Street is a must watch for all ages.
Directed by Jon Stone.
Written by Jon Stone & Joseph A. Bailey.
Starring Jim Henson, Frank Oz, Jerry Nelson, Richard Hunt, Linda Bove, Northern Calloway, Debbie Chan, Will Lee, Loretta Long, Sonia Manzano, Bob McGrath, Roscoe Orman, Alaina Reed-Hall, Caroll Spinney, Jennifer S. Altman, Billy Mack, Kathleen Reilly, Christopher Wein, etc.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/10
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