To Those Who Wait

Patience is a virtue.

Self control is the hardest ability to master.  And, as our lives become more advanced, instant gratification is always a button away.  Especially, when it comes to our art and entertainment.  With little effort, we can track down exactly what movie we want to watch, what song we want to hear, or what season of television we want to consume in one sitting.  So, when I say that a trip to an art museum is a test of strength, I'm not being facetious.

Everything about the place is challenging you to break the rules.

Welcome to the First Circle of Hell, Cookie Monster.

At first glance, the plot of the 1983 Sesame Street special Don't Eat the Pictures has little to do with the name.  The title refers to Cookie Monster's feeble attempts to refrain from eating the paintings of food that look good enough to eat.  And, being trapped in the Metropolitan Museum of Art all night long, there is quite a toll being placed on Cookie's character.

But why is he trapped in the museum all night?  Well, at the end of a day trip to the institution, Big Bird realizes that he has yet to see Snuffy who promised he'd meet him there.  This was during the time that Snuffy was thought to be imaginary, so, when Big Bird strays away from the adults to find his friend, the whole gang resolves to track him down.  Why they didn't alert the security guard is anyone's guess, but here we are.  The cast of Sesame Street have the museum to themselves all night.

Each character has a little moment to themselves to reflect on the art inside, which reminds us that the passage of time in a museum is a strange concept.  Try to do some people watching the next time you go, and you'll realize that many people struggle to "take in" the art for an appropriate amount of time.  Not including those who are actually educated on the subject of art history, you'll find that many just don't know what to do with themselves.

How long should you stand in front of a painting or a statue to actually experience it?  How long is too short?  Too long?  The point of a museum is to preserve for an eternity.  And at times, it can certainly feel like it.

Oscar amuses himself by admiring the broken statues, considering them to be "the most beautiful trash" he's ever seen.

Is that distasteful?

Bert and Ernie engage in some witty banter, trying to decipher just what exactly is going on in Washington Crossing the Delaware including a safety lesson on whether or not you should stand on such a small boat?

It counts as appreciating art if you make jokes about it.

And Cookie Monster?  Well, he slowly declines into madness over his moral dilemma.

Hallucinations are a normal part of the museum experience.

But just what does Big Bird get into all night?  Well, he meets the spirit of a 4,000-year-old Egyptian prince who has been trapped in the museum and is unable to become a celestial body until he correctly answers Osiris's  nightly riddle.  He also has a permanent smugness about him that probably comes from being an immortal child.

So what if I can't solve a stupid riddle.  At least I got a cool ghost cat.

Big Bird tries to help him solve the riddle "Where does today meet yesterday?"  And, I bet that even before you finished reading that sentence, you know what the answer is going to be.  SPOILER ALERT: It's "a museum."  Yet, we have to follow this story for an hour before they reach that conclusion.  And thus, we, too, learn what eternity is like.

I waited 4,000 years for a giant bird and shaggy elephant to save me.  Just as the prophecies foretold.

The characters aren't the only ones who get cabin fever.  Even Osiris himself, who instituted this idea in the first place, has grown weary of asking this question for nearly 1.5 million nights in a row.  The fact that an eternal powerful deity can succumb to impatience shows how ill-equipped we lowly beings are for the task.

"I even made it an easy question!  It was funny for the first couple centuries, but now it's just sad."

As we live our lives, we get used to the routine and the speed at which we receive what we want and what we need.  But at any moment, the universe can intervene.  And we find ourselves stuck, trapped, and without access to our usual amenities.  It is in those moments we must master our own patience and self control to reach enlightenment.

Take a breath, look inward, and don't eat the pictures.

Light Bird and Dark Grouch

The Taoist concept of "Yin and Yang" refers to the interconnectedness of lightness and darkness.  One cannot exist without the other.  While this concept had been expanded by other cultures to involve similar dichotomies (good/evil, positive/negative), the core idea that both qualities must exist is essential.

Big Bird could not exist without Oscar the Grouch.  Oscar could not exist without Bird.  And neither could exist without Caroll Spinney.

Light, dark, and the bond that holds them together.

Born on December 26, 1933 (Happy 79th Birthday!), Caroll was so named because it was so close to Christmas.  Like a traditional song, Caroll grew up to be one of the most reliable and trustworthy people to ever go into entertainment.  Caroll's interest in puppetry led him to perform on Bozo's Big Top where he showcased his original puppets, Picklepuss and Pop.

The revamped, Muppetized-versions of Picklepuss and Pop that Spinney later revisited.

Henson admired his work, and asked him for the role on the upcoming Sesame Street.  Spinney wasn't sure what he was getting into, but one does not say no to Jim Henson without a lifetime of regret.  Spinney ended up portraying two characters that would immortalize him forever.  Unlike other Muppet performers, who had a handful of signature characters (and played dozens more), these two were all Spinney needed, and it could have worked out more perfectly.

One was a dim-witted giant, small-headed, yellow bird who would play the fool to the humans on the street (both children and adults alike).  The other was an orange, trash-can dwelling monster who would antagonize the neighbors.  Both characters rapidly evolved into the Big Bird and Oscar we know today, but there was more than just a change in the puppets' appearances.

Eventually, it was decided that having the puppeteer visible was just to unsettling.

Oscar, as we know, was based on a child's tendency to be moody, self-centered, and complaining.  Armed with the voice of an unfriendly cab-driver that Spinney witnessed on the way to the studio, Oscar represented all that was wrong with life.  His pessimistic attitude rained on every pleasant occasion, and only the unwanted and disgusting elements of life gave him pleasure.  This may sound unbearable, but frankly, having someone playing devil's advocate to the bright, sunny world of Sesame Street allowed for intelligent conversations and observations.

We love you, you grubby, filthy, ill-tempered beast!

Big Bird, meanwhile, became less of an imbecile and more of a child.  He lacked knowledge, but he was curious and encouraged other children to persevere.  He became the face of optimism, always ready to sing and be merry.  As a result, troubling instances, such as death, unexpected changes and destruction, would hit even harder for the bird, showing that producers were aware of how to approach sensitive topics.

Big Bird ponders his own existence.

The fact that both of these characters are such permanent fixtures to the show is no mystery.  At times in our lives, everyone can identify with Oscar and everyone can identify with Big Bird.  Both even have their own fan clubs (the Grouchketeers and Birdketeers respectively), implying that neither character is inherently "better" than the other.  If the world were black and white, Big Bird would be the hero, Oscar the villain, and that would be final.  But both need to remain on Sesame Street to give the show its necessary depth.

In 2003, Spinney wrote an autobiography explaining what he has learned about life through the viewpoints of these two characters.  It's called The Wisdom of Big Bird (and the Dark Genius of Oscar the Grouch) and is well worth your time.

Although we rarely see the man behind these characters, it is clear that he is a wonderful human being.  He has landed one of the best jobs in the world and, at 79, he still feels like a kid every day.  In 2013 a documentary titled I Am Big Bird shall premiere, and judging by the trailer, life behind the scenes is just as magical as life in front of the camera.

At a time when all other original puppeteers are retiring, he is remaining strong, vowing to continue playing these characters "as long as [he] can keep [his] hand in the air."  Happy Birthday to this wonderful legend, who reminds us to embrace our inner grouch and our inner child.

A hero in bird's legs.

The Greatest Gift of All

On Christmas Day, 1985, Sesame Street got a little stranger.

In 1974, Roscoe Orman, who played Gordon, had originally pitched the idea that Susan and Gordon Robinson should have a child, but the idea was shelved since taking care of an infant on a TV show would be a huge responsibility (especially, when Gordon and Susan have all of those puppets to take care of).  10 years later, Orman had a son named Miles and Caroll Spinney (or his wife) suggested that the baby should play Gordon's son.  This was prior to the relationship of Luis and Maria, and while birth had been dealt with previously on the show, it was never the child of a permanent cast member.  Besides, Miles was already 11 months old.  It would seem kind of hokey to pretend that Susan got pregnant and had a full-grown infant all of a sudden.

So, the Robinsons chose to adopt.

The happy family

The producers decided to introduce Baby Miles to the neighborhood over the Christmas holiday since families would be able to watch with their children and share in the experience.  On Christmas Eve, Gordon and Susan prepared for the big day.

How to Put Together a Crib: Step 1: Make sure you have a giant bird present at all times.

Gordon and Susan are filled with excitement as they struggle to prepare the apartment for Miles.  They are almost radiating with glee, so, although they must remain the rational adults in this situation, they can't help but give in to their joy.  At night, Gordon lets out a "Whoopee!" at the prospect that he is about to be a father, proving that Miles is ready to enter a completely loving environment.

The whole situation is seen through the eyes of Big Bird, who has practically been adopted by Gordon and Susan himself.  The origin of Miles is barely discussed, with the only explanation being that "some children need people to take care of them."  This was done to alleviate fears from the viewing audience, and Big Bird accepts this without question.  However, since Miles is treated like a baby brother, there are still some anxieties from Big Bird.

First, he doesn't understand that, as a baby, Miles won't be able to play with him right away, even if he is no longer a newborn.  He prepares a surprise party filled with games and toys, but Gordon and Susan don't have time to stick around.  As they leave to pick up Miles, Big Bird begins to worry that they'll run out of love when the baby is around, as per suggested by Telly.

This is why you should never listen to Telly when you are having an existential crisis.

As soon as the new parents return home, they have to quickly rush inside to take care of Miles, leaving no time for Big Bird's party.  Big Bird gets swept up in the ruckus and tries to remain relevant as Gordon and Susan change their first diaper.

Hopefully, baby Miles will not be traumatized by any of this.

But all of Big Bird's fears come to fruition as it becomes evident that Miles demands more attention than he does now.

All Big Bird is good for now is holding baby powder.

When Miles finally falls asleep, Big Bird jumps at his chance, but is once again shut down and told to be quiet.  At the end of his rope, Big Bird becomes a basket case, and Gordon has to pull him aside and reassure him that it's impossible to "run out of love."  A baby is a large responsibility and now he will have less time to play with Big Bird, but that doesn't mean his love will decrease.  Big Bird learns that it is important for the baby to receive more attention, and him less.  Each of them are at different stages of their lives.

Big Bird happens to suffer from arrested development, so his concerns are justified.

Big Bird accepts his new situation and, finally, everyone can meet Miles proper at Big Bird's party.  The next few episodes continued the introduction of the baby, as Big Bird and others learn more about what being a parent/older sibling entails.  It means a lot of sacrifice, but loving parents wouldn't trade it for the world.  Everyone can enjoy the gift of a new life.

Even Oscar loves the fact that the baby keeps everyone up all night long.

That Christmas, everyone on the street received the greatest gift imaginable.  Yes, the gift comes with great responsibility and a relinquishing of old standards and comfort.  But it was a change that all needed to experience.  Gordon, Susan, Big Bird, the children at home, and especially, Miles.  Miles found a new home, probably the most loving home any baby could possibly find themselves in.  Many children grew up on Sesame Street, but Miles was the first to have the chance to grow up on Sesame Street.

Unfortunately, he never developed a healthy fear of vampires, as a result.

To all of you, a Merry Christmas!  May you receive what you desire, what you need and what you deserve, and may the love in your life never diminish.

The Bird Is the Word

One of the strangest experiences is when you are forced to acknowledge something had you have becomes so used to that you no longer think about it.  Earlier this month, when Big Bird's existence was threatened, the voices of thousands cried out in support.  Everyone just assumes that Big Bird is a constant in life, at this point.  Every child will grow up knowing who the big, yellow bird puppet is.  There was no need to fear for his safety.  But by drawing attention to his elimination, he became real.

Big Bird taught us the alphabet.  Not the individual letters, mind you.  He taught us the alphabet as a whole.

2. ABC-DEF-GHI - Big Bird

We expect a lot from our infants.  They need to learn how to move and communicate and think for themselves.  So when it comes time to learn the alphabet, we plunk them down in front of a string of 26 symbols and expect them to memorize it and understand each symbol's function.

This is a daunting task for a baby.

Enter Big Bird.  He sees the whole alphabet and interprets it to be a complex, multi-syllabic word with a unique vowel-consonant distribution.  He has made it harder for himself in order to make it easier for the children at home.  By managing to pronounce this impossible word, he has achieved an unnecessary feat so that we may not have to struggle.  He proves to us that it can be done, and everything after that is just cake.

We have become so used to seeing and hearing the alphabet that when it is presented to us in this new way, we really see how confusing it can be for those learning language for the first time.  Why is it in "alphabetical" order?  How are we supposed to get all of our thousands of words from that collection of symbols?  Why doesn't "U" follow "Q"?

 I have no idea what's going on here!

Sesame Street is not afraid to take that extra step, to make things a little bit more challenging.  Big Bird is just as absurd as the alphabet.  But without him, we would be lost.  Just because something becomes commonplace doesn't mean it should be forgotten.  Sometimes we need to take a step back and remember that just because we may not appreciate something anymore doesn't mean that the rest of us are through benefiting from it.

All About Elmo

The Top Ten Sesame Street Song Countdown continues with a simple yet significant song.  You may love it, you may hate it, but there's no denying that nothing is quite like...

9. Elmo's Song - Elmo, Big Bird, and Snuffy

The force that is Elmo did not occur overnight.  The character slowly built his presence on the street over a couple of years, edging his way into the spotlight gradually and confidently.  But if we were to pinpoint a pivotal moment in Elmo's career, it would be "Elmo's Song."

Elmo speaks in the third person.  While this was intended to be a sign of his youth and innocence, it also works as a sign of Elmo's solipsism.  The world revolves around Elmo.  He is the most important creature in the universe.  He is the ultimate being.

In this scene, Elmo has written a little jingle that lacks thought-provoking lyrics and only comments on the fact that Elmo has written a song.  But he hasn't just written any song.  He has written "Elmo's Song," the song to replace all other songs.  When his friends are depressed for lacking a song of their own, the great Elmo graciously lends them his song.  But while it may be "Big Bird's Song" or "Snuffy's Song" temporarily, it is always "Elmo's Song."

After all, he wrote the music.  He wrote the words.

This song quickly became Elmo's main theme music and an adapted version of it was used to introduce the "Elmo's World" segments of the 21st Century.  Right, one half of each Sesame Street was devoted to Elmo.  And he didn't just have a street.  He owned the world!

Time to take over the world! Ahahaha!

This song merely hints at the path Sesame Street would take at the dawn of the new millennium.  Elmo is not a monster to be trifled with.  He has laid his claim to all of music and has won over trusted friends, lulling them into a false sense of security.  By participating in his charade, Big Bird has lost the power he once held.  His era is over.  There's a new kid on the block.

Forget it, Big Bird.  It's Elmo's Town.

This One Time at Summer Camp...

In 1982, Big Bird spent a week at summer camp.  It was is first time away from home.  And to a kid, this was a life changer.  This was scarier than going on vacation and scarier than going to school.  This was complete isolation from the family you've spent your whole life with.  Sure, at first, Big Bird is excited about all of the fun things he'll get to experience at camp.

In fact, everyone is a little too excited.

But then, reality sets in as Big Bird realizes he'll be leaving all his friends behind and he won't be able to see them at the end of the day.  He is both happy and sad at the same time, and these mixed emotions confuse and overwhelm the bird.  Even Gordon starts crying because he knows Big Bird is growing up.

Crybaby.

Big Bird has no idea what he is in for, and how could he?  Summer camp is unlike anything else in a child's world.  It is a solid week of outdoor fun and games, yet there are also rules and regulations, not to mention the abundance of new faces who have no idea what is going on.  Big Bird meets his first new "friend" on the bus to camp, and this kid is a pain!

He's the only other Muppet on the bus.  I guess I'd better sit with him.

His name is Rusty and his main character trait is that he is completely unwilling to try new things until people coax him into it (or ignore him) and then he ends up doing the new thing anyway as if he had planned on it all along.  He's insufferable.  After everyone gets situated in their cabin and spends the first night, Rusty refuses to get up in the morning and holds everyone up, demanding they bring him breakfast in bed.  This kid quickly learns that the world of summer camp isn't going to cater to his every whim and he'll actually have to be productive.

This kid's begging to be short-sheeted!

Big Bird runs into similar troubles, as he insists on carrying his teddy bear with him to every activity.  He quickly learns that he'll have to leave the bear behind if he wants to participate.  He worries when he is called up to play baseball, since he has never played before.  But, through practice, he succeeds in getting a home run! Trying new things is good!

And he managed to do it with only one arm!

After an exciting day, Big Bird settles into bed, and then gets very homesick.  That morning when he woke up, the new surroundings confused him at first, but he learned to enjoy the camp.  But now that he has time to rest and reflect, he can't help but be sad.  Rusty also feels homesick (though he won't admit it, the punk) and together, the two share a good cry.

It isn't a good day at summer camp unless it ends in tears.

The next day, Big Bird tries many new things, with his biggest accomplishment being swimming!  I don't even want to think about how they dealt with the aftermath of the Big Bird puppet being dunked in a lake.  Poor Carroll Spinney.

Sure, Big Bird looks happy, but inside is a man gasping for air.

The following day is a hike, and Big Bird and Rusty spend their first night out in the wilderness.  The group gathers around the campfire for songs and stories.  And tacky rock and roll numbers.

Can't we just appreciate the peace?

Big Bird and Rusty share a tent and the two argue about space issues.  Eventually, they manage to settle into a configuration that makes both of their puppeteers happy.

Rusty's just upset that he can never take off his baseball cap.

Finally, after a weeks worth of new adventures, the campers get ready to head home.  Everyone wins obligatory camp awards.  Is this a summer camp tradition?  Everyone gets an award on the last day?  I never heard of it before.  Anyway, after the nameless extras win "Tidiest Bunk" and "Least Acorns Shoved Up Nostril," Big Bird wins "Best Swimmer" and Rusty wins "Most Willing to Try New Things Even If He Thought He Wouldn't Like Them."  And, true to his nature, Rusty doesn't care if he got an award, but he accepts it anyway if it'll make everyone happy.  What a little Pete Campbell.

Seriously, that kid is the worst.

Eventually, Big Bird says goodbye to camp and returns home.  He learns that Rusty lives just around the corner from him and he promises to visit him all the time now that camp is over.

And we never saw Rusty again.  Seriously.  Good riddance.

Summer camp is not an event.  It is a state of mind.  For Big Bird, it was a time to face fears and try knew things.  He learned a lot about himself, now that he was away from everything that was familiar to him.  Summer camp allows for introspection, and upon returning to the real world, you are faced with a new outlook on life.  Anything can happen in this world, and you've got to be ready to face it.

Otherwise you'll end up just like Rusty.  And that kid's a tool.

Don't be a rusty tool.  Be a happy camper.

Follow That Bird, Part 5: Bringing It Home

After Big Bird's dismal show, a couple of kids meet him backstage and he tells them to call Sesame Street for him.  They get in touch with Bob who relays the message to the traveling gang who are filling up at a nearby gas station.

Cookie Monster is filling up the most.

The team bands together to break Big Bird out of his cage.  Early in the morning, while the Sleazes are sleeping, Linda manages to swipe the keys to the cage.  Unfortunately, just as they manage to find the right key, the Sleazes wake up and drive off with Big Bird in tow.  Gordon and Olivia take off in hot pursuit, and Gordon decides that it's time for the movie's big action sequence.

Grab on to your seats!  It's going to get crazy.

Gordon decides that the best course of action is to have Olivia drive as close as possible to the cage(!), then he'll stand up in the hoodless trunk(!!), and Big Bird will have to jump from a moving vehicle onto another moving vehicle(!!!!!).  Big Bird and Gordon have a nice long discussion about how unsafe this is and how no child should ever do this and Big Bird shouldn't even be standing, but these are special circumstances and Gordon is giving his permission just this once.  The Nostalgia Critic summed up this moment quite nicely in his review:

Despite looking as if Big Bird is going to fall to his ghastly death, Big Bird manages to make it safely onto Gordon's car.

Seriously, kids, do NOT do this, EVER!

Big Bird finally gets to be reunited with his friends and Officer John Candy pulls over the Sleaze Brothers and sends them to jail for all the crimes they've racked up.  My personal favorite is "impersonating a nun."

It's an SCTV reunion!

We rejoin our friends back at Sesame Street where everyone turns out to see Big Bird's arrival.

Even Elmo showed up with barely any lines!  He'll get his revenge in the next movie...

Everyone is happy, but we still have Miss Finch to deal with.  She arrives to admit that while the Dodos may not have been a right fit for Big Bird, she has found an even better bird family for him.  But the citizens of Sesame Street protest, saying that Big Bird belongs with them.  They are his family.  Maria lists off the many types of creatures who live on Sesame Street in harmony.  Humans, cows, dogs, birds, monsters, grouches, even Bert and Ernie!

Why did she single us out, Bert?

Miss Finch finally relents and states that if Big Bird is truly happy here, she has no right to take him from the people who love him and take care of him.  It's a nice ending, though I which we had gotten a brief scene featuring the new family she had found, living in a bird mansion and being the most perfect family imaginable.

The new family has a swimming pool, but if you want to stay in your trash heap, fine by me.

After Miss Finch leaves, Big Bird goes to reunite with Snuffy who kept his nest warm this whole time. Aww, how nice!

Everything is back to the status quo.

And finally, Gordon and his posse arrives with a lot of 'splainin' to do to his wife.

Why did we even bring Cookie Monster in the first place?

The Count counts the credits for us and Follow That Bird draws to a close.

Follow That Bird is a movie that should and should not exist.  With so many episodes in the Sesame Street library, one grows used to a certain rhythm and flow.  The movie mostly abandons that and aims just to be it's own thing.  We spend very little time on Sesame Street itself, despite the effort that went into recreating the set so it looked nice for the camera.  It's still a good movie for kids, as it has a great message, catchy songs, and familiar characters.

But the movie is really divided into "Big Bird" and "everybody else," which creates a lopsided feeling. Big Bird spends a majority of the film in new locations and meeting new characters.  Like many of the "Big Bird travels" episodes of the show, it's fun to see this character under going new experiences.  Like Peewee's Big Adventure, we get to through this colorful character into the real world and see how he adapts.  Unfortunately, the people he meets are either too nice or cartoonishly evil.  It's as if Sesame Street has spilled out into the real world, rather than being a little haven unto itself.  As such, there is never a real sense of drama.

Big Bird longs to get home, yet the America he journeys through is quite pleasant.  Had there been more danger or unusual situations, then we as an audience would have felt Big Bird's pain.  The only negative moment he finds himself in is the "Bluebird" scene, and that's why the scene resonates so strongly with kids and adults alike.  Big Bird is finally in actual peril.

The rest of the cast as very little to do, both humans and puppets alike.  Each puppet does their main schtick, but none of it fits into the overall story.  Part of my issue is that I am confused about Big Bird's relationship with the people coming to rescue him.  On the show, Big Bird is closest with the humans, Snuffy, and, ironically, Oscar the Grouch.  Yet, the humans all behave a single unit of normalcy, and Snuffy stays home.  The reason I enjoy Oscar's scenes so much is because he's actually making the most of a bad situation and having fun.  I mean, it would have been nice if he showed he cared at least once (and he kind of does at the very end, when he takes a stroll around the block), but he still provides the funniest scenes and commentary on the whole situation.

BIG BIRD OR BUST!

On it's own the movie is very solid and it is a great addition to the Henson film canon.  Director Ken Kwapis (The Office, Freaks and Geeks, The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants) does a great job with the comedic aspects as well as the more tense moments towards the end of the film.  If I were to rank it with the original three Muppet movies, I would place it at #3, above The Muppets Take Manhattan.  I wish the movie had done a lot more with the premise and explored the drama a little more, but what we have is just fine.  It feels like a Sesame Street movie, even if it doesn't necessarily feel like a Sesame Street episode.

Follow That Bird, Part 4: Bluebird of Despair

We're almost at the best part of the movie, so I hope you don't mind if I fast-forward a bit.  Because, in all of Sesame Street history, there is nothing quite like the "Bluebird of Happiness" scene.

The rest of the movie can't compete with this image right here.

How does Big Bird get in this position?  Well...*takes a deep breath*...

Super Grover flies/crashes into Gordon's car thinking that it's Big Bird because it's big and yellow...

At least he's safe now.

...everyone ends up in the town of Toadstool where, since Bob, being the expert tracker he is, figured that's where Big Bird would end up and intersect with the paths of the cars (Don't ask me why they had to take separate cars if they were all going to the same place anyway, because I don't know.)...

All roads lead to Toadstool.

...Big Bird ends up in the middle of the Toadstool annual parade and everyone sees him but the parade prevents anyone from getting close enough to catch him (And even if they did, only Miss Finch brought a car that could fit Big Bird. Everyone else's car is full of tag-along puppets that should have stayed home.)...

Why is there always a parade in these kind of movies?

...and to escape Miss Finch, Big Bird hides in the "hiding cage" of a pair of helpful strangers.

Seems legit.

Now that the Sleaze Brothers have finally caught Big Bird, they realize that everyone will become suspicious when they showcase the giant yellow bird that everyone is looking for.  So, they do the only sensible thing and paint him blue. 

This is heartbreaking to watch.

They dub him the "Bluebird of Happiness" and present him to the giant crowd of children waiting to see the rare creature.  For the "show," he is supposed to sing for the kids.  So he sings "I'm So Blue," and it is the saddest song ever featured in a Muppet movie.

In every journey story, the hero has his "I want to go back" moment.  Big Bird sings his melancholy tune as he tries to remain optimistic.  But he knows that he is trapped and escape is utterly hopeless.  He  remains on the verge of tears with each line he sings, as the audience of kids stare in bewilderment.  And these aren't just actors.  These are all extra kids called in to see Big Bird in his brand new movie and he has hit rock bottom.  I have no idea what could possibly be going through their mind or how many had to be reassured after filming that everything is alright and make-believe.

Seriously, the song's ironic take on chasing your dreams is the last thing anyone would expect to see in a Muppet film.  The lyrics are basically the antithesis of "The Rainbow Connection."  Take a look:

I'll never lose my dreams

Even though this time it seems

Like I'm such a long way

From any rainbows that might keep my dreams from fading

In a different context, this could be uplifting.  It could be just what Big Bird needs to pull himself up and get ready to take on the world.  But the world has finally beaten him down.  He has given up.  He has been changed for good.

Tomorrow, we finish the movie on a lighter note as a rescue mission is under way!  So, cheer up!