Sesame Street doesn’t enjoy the untouchable status it once did. In recent years, the TV show has come in for some mean academic scru-tiny that finds it as ineffective (in its alleged “educational” programming) as it is cloying. It certainly didn’t help to lose head Muppeteer Jim Henson, who died back in 1990. It also hasn’t helped that the folks entrusted with the copyrights have jumped at every opportunity to cross-promote Sesame Street with every two-bit burger-joint that wants to put Elmo in a Happy Meal. It’s a small wonder, then, that the show and its constellation of characters continues to capture the attention of our kids. We’d take Kermit over Tinky Winky or Barney any day of the week. (Which is really the point of the most hostile takedowns of Sesame Street—that its creators work too hard to convince parents that it’s good kids’ programming, when a bunch of soft shapes in felt suits saying “goo” is all the droolers really want.) Anyway, we’ve found Sesame Street Live is a great way to introduce your kids to live theater in a stadium setting—something that can be truly frightening, especially if your first experience of this kind is, say, a Vikings game. Target Center, (612) 673-0900, targetcenter.com
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