Entertainment Weekly reports that Sesame Street will be introducing a new character named Lily. Lily’s an impoverished puppet “whose family faces an ongoing struggle with hunger issues.”
So hungry.
Lily will make her debut in a one hour primetime special that will “share the stories of real-life families to raise awareness of hunger issues in the United States, as well as strategies that have helped these families find food.” The special also hopes to dispel the myth that poor people are misanthropic, crazed trash-dwellers.
Don't know how kids got that idea.
This is not the first time that Sesame Street has used Muppets to address social issues. We all remember when Cookie Monster had to have his foot amputated (“D” is for Diabetes) or when Big Bird was committed for Schizophrenia and submitted to shock treatment until he could no longer see the “Snufflepagus”.
By the way, if you’re expecting a Bert and Ernie gay joke, you’re gonna be disappointed. Some dead horses are just too badly beaten.
You may even remember a few years ago when Takalani Sesame, the South African co-production of Sesame Street, introduced Kami, the HIV positive Muppet.
It's okay! You can hug me!
Kami was introduced to help remove some of the stigmas associated with HIV/AIDS. A great idea, seeing as HIV/AIDS is a huge problem in Africa and education is a great weapon against spread of the disease and mistreatment of it’s victims. Of course, conservatives saw this, assumed that Kali would be shown on the US Sesame Street and freaked the fuck out but that’s a story for another day. The point is that Muppets are a good way to teach kids about issues affecting society. With that in mind, I have an idea for a couple of new cast members.
Ponder – The Muppet that had to move back in with his parents after college because of his useless Philosophy degree.
Emo – The Muppet with depression. Teaches kids to not listen to shitty music.
Snookette – The Muppet that went on a reality show for fame and is now a constant tabloid punchline.
Turns out Sesame Street is in a real fucked up neighborhood.