I think Virtuaboi means that Children's Television Workshop just sees no benefits or profit from re-releasing a controversial episode when it was broadcasted only once on February 10th, 1976 for being too scary for children.
They released episodes from the first season or two under the guise that it's not suitable for kids (that included things like Cookie Monster smoking a pipe and one of the human characters taking some random kid he met on the street home for cookies), so it's not like they've never re-released controversial material. Plus, most of the people who might want to see the short are adults, most likely
I didn’t know that, thanks for the information anyway.
Despite the frustrations of normal day life we go through, the best thing to do about it is still being happy for our friends and family.
They released episodes from the first season or two under the guise that it's not suitable for kids (that included things like Cookie Monster smoking a pipe and one of the human characters taking some random kid he met on the street home for cookies), so it's not like they've never re-released controversial material. Plus, most of the people who might want to see the short are adults, most likely
I didn’t know that, thanks for the information anyway.
No problem! I just find it weird that they released the early episodes rather than this episode or Cracks (granted, they may not have the rights to distribute it anymore). It can't be any worse than the Wizard of Oz, and that's suitable for young kids (I probably saw it for the first time around the time I started watching Sesame Street, maybe before), and has been suitable for kids since it was first released decades before Sesame Street was conceived.
I didn’t know that, thanks for the information anyway.
No problem! I just find it weird that they released the early episodes rather than this episode or Cracks (granted, they may not have the rights to distribute it anymore). It can't be any worse than the Wizard of Oz, and that's suitable for young kids (I probably saw it for the first time around the time I started watching Sesame Street, maybe before), and has been suitable for kids since it was first released decades before Sesame Street was conceived.
That’s what’s so interesting to me about this. Even if CTW deemed the episode too scary for kids, surely there’s no way the Wicked Witch is more scary in the episode than she is in the actual movie?
Last Edit: Mar 21, 2018 21:00:07 GMT by royaltalon76
No problem! I just find it weird that they released the early episodes rather than this episode or Cracks (granted, they may not have the rights to distribute it anymore). It can't be any worse than the Wizard of Oz, and that's suitable for young kids (I probably saw it for the first time around the time I started watching Sesame Street, maybe before), and has been suitable for kids since it was first released decades before Sesame Street was conceived.
That’s what’s so interesting to me about this. Even if CTW deemed the episode too scary for kids, surely there’s no way the Wicked Witch is more scary in the episode than she is in the actual movie?
Plus, it's possible that today's kids might not even find it as scary. Wizard of Oz only aired like once a year on TV when the episode came out, so it might be scary if kids aren't used to what the Wicked Witch does. Meanwhile, the movie was like the first DVD my family ever bought, so I got used to it pretty quickly, and it's even more easily accessible 20 years later, which could lead to kids being totally cool with her being on TV. I also want to point out, kids get over this sort of thing. I wouldn't be surprised if some of the most terrified kids who watched it nowadays don't even remember the episode exists
Yes, this is going to be one of those pieces of lost media that if it's ever found the comments are going to be flooded with "This isn't scary"; well a. you're not a kid, and b. they said kids weren't scared when they viewed the episode in color
I just find it weird that they released the early episodes rather than this episode or Cracks (granted, they may not have the rights to distribute it anymore). It can't be any worse than the Wizard of Oz, and that's suitable for young kids (I probably saw it for the first time around the time I started watching Sesame Street, maybe before), and has been suitable for kids since it was first released decades before Sesame Street was conceived.
I think the fact that they themselves consider less controversial material to be adult-only only puts the nail in the coffin that they will never release it.
I think the fact that they themselves consider less controversial material to be adult-only only puts the nail in the coffin that they will never release it.
That's fair. Probably the difference for them is that the earlier episodes didn't cause so much of a controversy at the time of its premiere (or at least that I can find) whilst the Margaret Hamilton episode was actively terrorizing children from the beginning. These searches are probably the only reason I regret not going to University of Maryland (CTW archives are there). Probably could have bugged someone in person about this sort of thing to get information, or even if they have a copy there for whatever reason
I feel like finding this episode is gonna be a sit and wait situation. It’s been confirmed CTW still has it in their archives, right? We just have to hope they’ll release it at some point, as unlikely as that may be. Otherwise, we just gotta get lucky and hope someone has it on an old recording or something. I have faith it’ll be found, it’s just a matter of time.
As mentioned earlier, I find it a little ridiculous that they released the episode with Cookie Monster smoking, but an episode with the villain from what’s arguably one of the most popular films of all time? Oh, can’t let that get out.
Last Edit: Mar 21, 2018 23:09:49 GMT by royaltalon76
It’s been confirmed CTW still has it in their archives, right?
I'm actually not sure. I looked back through the thread, and someone from Jim Henson Legacy responded to an email saying he'd see if CTW/Sesame Workshop would do a screening. However, he never said that they for sure have it. It's mostly just been speculation it looks like
It’s been confirmed CTW still has it in their archives, right?
I'm actually not sure. I looked back through the thread, and someone from Jim Henson Legacy responded to an email saying he'd see if CTW/Sesame Workshop would do a screening. However, he never said that they for sure have it. It's mostly just been speculation it looks like
So, we need to somehow get confirmation that they even have it...
I feel like finding this episode is gonna be a sit and wait situation. It’s been confirmed CTW still has it in their archives, right? We just have to hope they’ll release it at some point, as unlikely as that may be. Otherwise, we just gotta get lucky and hope someone has it on an old recording or something. I have faith it’ll be found, it’s just a matter of time.
As mentioned earlier, I find it a little ridiculous that they released the episode with Cookie Monster smoking, but an episode with the villain from what’s arguably one of the most popular films of all time? Oh, can’t let that get out.
I'm convinced CTW has everything; like it's a sin what they're sitting on. They always upload clips/episodes to YouTube in pristine quality, and someone was somehow able to sneak out pristine copies of like the first ten episodes. This channel has 9 of the first 13 episodes (and I could have sworn all at one point) in mint. The fact that Cracks was sourced with a title card makes me feel that it may even be better than we think, but there is a 99.99% chance they have this episode in pristine quality.
The episode aired right around the time before home recording, so there's little hope for that; I mean, time has proven that media can found without anything being done, though they may just see this as just another episode.
I feel like finding this episode is gonna be a sit and wait situation. It’s been confirmed CTW still has it in their archives, right? We just have to hope they’ll release it at some point, as unlikely as that may be. Otherwise, we just gotta get lucky and hope someone has it on an old recording or something. I have faith it’ll be found, it’s just a matter of time.
As mentioned earlier, I find it a little ridiculous that they released the episode with Cookie Monster smoking, but an episode with the villain from what’s arguably one of the most popular films of all time? Oh, can’t let that get out.
I'm convinced CTW has everything; like it's a sin what they're sitting on. They always upload clips/episodes to YouTube in pristine quality, and someone was somehow able to sneak out pristine copies of like the first ten episodes. This channel has 9 of the first 13 episodes (and I could have sworn all at one point) in mint. The fact that Cracks was sourced with a title card makes me feel that it may even be better than we think, but there is a 99.99% chance they have this episode in pristine quality.
The episode aired right around the time before home recording, so there's little hope for that; I mean, time has proven that media can found without anything being done, though they may just see this as just another episode.
I'm pretty sure SW has it. (CTW is now SW) Also, there was some home recording at the time, but Sesame's target audience likely wouldn't be able to afford it in 1976.
Somehow I doubt that modern kids would be scared by 847. But if that's still the only reason CTW/SW won't release it, I can't blame them.
However, they released (arguably) more controversial material before. So why not Snuffy and why not 847? Sesame's policies here make no sense to me.
I don’t think there’s really anything that scary in the episode. But I could be wrong. But hopefully if this episode ever sees the light of day, hopefully the episode about Snuffy’s parents will too.