Sesame Street Grows A Pair (Sort of)

While watching Elmo's World tonight for what feels like the five-billionth time, I heard what seemed like a rather subtle, yet clever, swipe at the conservative pundits who claim that funding should be cut from public broadcasting for promoting the "gay agenda." (I'm sure everyone is aware of the rumor that Bert and Ernie are more than just roommates, and the uproar that this has caused for several years.) So in this episode, Elmo is just hanging out in his room, checking his emails and whatnot, when Bert busts through door. A rather disoriented Bert looks around and asks where he is, to which Elmo replies: "You're in Elmo's World!" (which is a little self-absorbed, but beside the point). Bert wonders how to get out and Elmo plays dumb (what kind of tool doesn't know how to get out of his own room?). Then, Bert turns and says "maybe I'll just take a left in the CLOSET and then straight on until morning." Maybe I'm reading too much into this, but did Bert just metaphorically out himself by stating that he is going back in the closet? It's like the writers of Sesame Street are saying "Yeah, maybe Bert's gay, but if you guys can't handle it, fine, we can live the lie until you're ready to accept the truth. Until then, just know in your heart that Bert and Ernie are the real deal." I don't really care if Bert and Ernie slide their twin beds together when cameras stop rolling, that's their business, and kudos to them for staying together for the kids for this long. How many couples (straight, gay, or puppet) do you know that have made it through disco, the Reagan years, and both Woodstocks? Just keep teaching the kiddies the letters E and B, boys, and I can live with whatever sexual-orientation you are assigned. Ever notice how nobody ever mentions Ernie's fondness for sheep in the middle of the night, or the fact that Grover likes to "dress-up" in a cape. Why? Because THAT would be ridiculous. To Bert and Ernie: Keep it real guys, and don't let the haters get you down. To everyone else: Do we really care if two guys share an apartment (and possibly a life-long commitment to one another) if they teach our kids how to read, count, and be nice to others?

Postscript: I am very bored, and trying to make the repeated viewings of Elmo's World a little more tolerable. This post is not meant as serious social or political commentary, its just a diversion from the "C is for Cookie" song that is playing on endless loop in my head. Furthermore, I am well aware of the fact that this post makes it painfully apparent that my life is extremely boring.