On the air for more than 50 years, Sesame Street is not just the winner of multiple Grammy and Emmy Awards. It has also always been a show with intelligent writing, often bringing up cultural and social questions to a young audience in a transparent, informative way. Many special guests have already visited the famous street in unforgettable episodes.
Still, the show’s large ensemble of richly detailed, carefully crafted characters is what makes the show stand out. Over the years, they came to create a unique, special bond with their global audience. It is not surprising that, for years now, the show has been explored as a never-ending source of all kinds of memes, many of them as funny as the original show itself.
Bad Mood At Work
Big Bird is a cultural icon. Even if that statement is true about pretty much all of Sesame Street’s characters, Big Bird has something else about him – first of all, he is big. When he is not remembered for his kindness – or teaching the alphabet with one of the best songs ever – it is his height that comes to mind. For some reason, the image of a tall, lovable character in weird situations is very efficient in causing instant bursts of laughter.
Cookie Monster’s Fitness
Which child is not fascinated by amazing, glorious patties of dough and chocolate? An adorable blue monster with unquiet eyes, Cookie Monster cannot stop talking about cookies. The kids watching the show over generations have always identified greatly with such an obsession with sweet baked goods.
And for all the adults who still love the show, Cookie Monster is the personification of how difficult it is to follow a healthy diet when there are so many delicious treats around.
Elmo On Fire
It would be hard to declare which Sesame Street character is most successful in memes. Bert and Ernie, for example, have inspired many hilarious ones. Elmo’s popularity, however, is undeniable, and he has gained a lot of space on the show as years went on. It is too funny to imagine such a cute, high-pitched whimsical furry friend getting desperate in front of a fire – and that is why that very image became one of the biggest memes ever.
The Count’s Infinite Memes
In one of the best puns ever, the creators of the show imagined a vampire, The Count – just like Count Dracula – who teaches children to count! And he does not serve only as the accountant of the group: the Count has big ambitions, like trying to explain complex concepts like infinity.
For all those reasons, Count Memes have become widespread to make fun of famous figures who don’t get along well with mathematics – or keep on doing something for longer than they should.
Halloween Elmo
A direct descendant of the Elmo On Fire meme, the Halloween Elmo meme was a hit when it came out to show all of us how remembered the little red guy is. In 2018, 2D artist Megan Cheever got creative in a pumpkin-carving contest and made Elmo. Although the pumpkin itself is probably long gone, the image has been immortalized ever since all over the internet. Proof that even what’s perfect can be perfected.
Doctor Grover
Grover is just too friendly: furry, polite, kind – there is no reason not to adore him. It also helps that he is great with aliases, most famously as Super Grover. The possibilities that present themselves in the meme medium with such a charismatic actor are endless.
A famous one is Doctor Grover, always ready to give some very punny medical news. Such great acting skills sure might come in handy if the Sesame Street movie ever actually happens.
Cookie Monster Everywhere
Yeah, he’s made it to art. After watching the show for afternoons without end – or sometimes even years –, it is hard not to start noticing the Cookie Monster everywhere. With his easy lines and instantly recognizable uneasy eyes, the hungry blue fellow has been spotted in numerous pieces of art, everyday objects, clouds, or really anywhere that imagination allows him to be. In this particular meme, his eyes are not even that accurately portrayed – but it does not matter, it is enough to catch the eye of the Sesame Street fan.
Elmo Goes To Chernobyl
A simple image of Elmo with his red fur turned green and voilà – the internet has made him a radioactive version of his former self. Good old Elmo looks so cutely scared in the picture that it is impossible not to smile looking at him.
This meme gently touches the ocean of dark Sesame Street memes, where the characters are put in very adult, non-adequate-for-children situations. And yes, it’s hilarious.
Bert And Ernie’s Love Has No Boundaries
This one is a very fan-oriented meme. Bert and Ernie’s sketches are brilliantly hilarious, full of the sarcasm that only two very different people could have between them. What makes it sweet is that they also love each other. And while there has been some polemic after one of the show’s writers told the news that he always wrote the two friends as a gay couple, most fans are in support of it. The only thing that matters is that they love each other, and their relationship inspires millions of people around the world.
Oscar’s Motivational Memes
One of the first characters to live in Sesame Street, Oscar The Grouch lives in a garbage can, and sometimes he is, well, a grouch. But even though he may be at odds with the other inhabitants of the street sometimes, he demonstrates great heart by keeping things that no one else values. As he commonly proclaims, he loves trash – and lives in close contact with his biggest love. In a world where people often feel worthless, it is good to remember that there is a treasure in everyone.