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rocketdave β€” Bert and...uh... Ernie?

Published: 2012-12-28 23:40:22 +0000 UTC; Views: 8692; Favourites: 140; Downloads: 50
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Description Thanks to both *Granitoons and *Chopfe , I'm now aware of Peppermint Park, an educational series of videos that attempted (unsuccessfully, I assume) to emulate Sesame Street. It would seem that one way in which they endeavored to set themselves apart from "the Street" is by giving their puppets their own distinctive look, i.e. completely hideous and unsettling. In the past, I may have turned up my nose slightly at kids' shows whose puppets resembled Jim Henson creations a little too closely, but now I get why you don't mess with success.

in the YouTube clips I've viewed, some of the comments have described the puppets as looking like kids with Down syndrome or products of inbreeding. To me, they look like mutants that have suffered strokes. Their stiff rubber faces can barely articulate and yet their eyes move around in their heads and the result is just plain disturbing. A big mistake was trying to make their puppets look more human. It's the Uncanny Valley of puppetry. The Muppets don't look "real" and yet they're infinitely more life-like and cute.

Yes, Peppermint Park really did name this character Ernie. Why give your puppet the same name as one of the most famous and beloved puppets of all time? That's just inviting unflattering comparisons. Why not just name him Kermit?

This drawing doesn't do justice to how creepy this thing really is. Check it out for yourself. If you dare:

[link]
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Comments: 55

LizzyChrome [2020-08-08 20:49:47 +0000 UTC]

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Nweintraub [2020-04-01 16:06:13 +0000 UTC]

My reaction to WWE 2K20 in its incomplete state.

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XxRobotChaoxX [2019-12-06 12:42:57 +0000 UTC]

What about WeeSing tapes, does this look like the uncanny valley is visually rare?

Also i knew under the sea and grandfather's toys are Definery RARE. How you been watching these childhoody stuff eh?

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RJToons In reply to XxRobotChaoxX [2022-12-06 22:25:51 +0000 UTC]

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LizzyChrome In reply to XxRobotChaoxX [2020-08-08 20:50:51 +0000 UTC]

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Nweintraub In reply to XxRobotChaoxX [2020-04-01 16:06:52 +0000 UTC]

I watched that stuff when I was a kid...except for that uncanny valley stuff.

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PG1224 [2019-08-10 19:17:17 +0000 UTC]

That's hilarious

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KalpanaCartoons [2018-07-04 11:30:42 +0000 UTC]

Hard to believe that someone recently found the entire series and upload it on YouTube

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rocketdave In reply to KalpanaCartoons [2018-07-04 17:57:22 +0000 UTC]

I didn't know that, but I find it easy to believe.Β  You never know what you're going to find on YouTube.Β  It's hardly surprising someone would upload every episode of some crappy old kids' show. Β 

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KalpanaCartoons In reply to rocketdave [2018-07-04 17:58:09 +0000 UTC]

It better off be lost

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KittyChanImproved [2018-03-04 05:52:18 +0000 UTC]

HAHAHAHHAHAHAAAAA!!!

MMMARVELOUS! MMMMMAGNIFICINT!

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KennethV2000 [2017-10-29 19:15:15 +0000 UTC]

BEST IDEA EVER!!Β  Β 

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THEPORCELAINDOLL69 [2017-09-18 20:23:07 +0000 UTC]

He's Joseph Joestar

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Wabuu-The-Raccoon [2017-07-07 20:17:33 +0000 UTC]

H O W Β C O U L D Β Y O U Β O R D E R Β M & M ' S Β W I T H O U T Β T H E Β L E T T E R Β M

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rocketdave In reply to Wabuu-The-Raccoon [2017-07-08 01:07:19 +0000 UTC]

Just ask for the candy that melts in your mouth, not in your hand.Β  But I guess you couldn't say "melt" or "mouth," soΒ  instead you could ask for "the candy that turns to chocolate goo in your pie hole, not in your hand."Β  Hmm, that slogan's not as catchy. Β 

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VideoGameFan15 [2017-05-16 21:18:04 +0000 UTC]

Hahaha! Nice one!

BTW, after seeing the Sesame Street episode about Autism on YouTube, I've started watching Sesame Street videos more than Peppermint Park videos.

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rocketdave In reply to VideoGameFan15 [2017-05-18 01:36:44 +0000 UTC]

I don't know how you could even watch more Peppermint Park than Sesame Street. Β I mean, for one thing Peppermint Park, from what I understand, didn't last very long, whereas Sesame Street has been around nearly fifty years. Β But more than that, I don't know why someone would willingly watch Peppermint Park... except for the lulz, of course. Β But I don't fully understand why there are people who are passionate about watching movies that they know are bad when there are so many good ones out there to see.

I saw the introduction of Julia on Sesame Street as well. Β It was cute, though I was a little distracted by how different Big Bird sounds from when I was a kid. Β I suppose it's not too surprising considering the fact that Caroll Spinney is almost twice as old as he was when I started watching that show.

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VideoGameFan15 In reply to rocketdave [2017-05-18 01:51:24 +0000 UTC]

Well, I found Peppermint Park to be very interesting because it's old and is very rare.

Also, Carol Spinney is definitely getting very old. He's in his 80s.
Also, I heard on one of the comments on the video of the Julia episode that Carol has been diagnosed with Dystonia, which is affecting him badly.

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rocketdave In reply to VideoGameFan15 [2017-05-18 02:16:01 +0000 UTC]

That's unfortunate about Caroll Spinney; I hadn't heard that before. Β I'd read that his hope is to keep playing Big Bird until Sesame Street hits its fiftieth anniversary so he can say that he did it for half a century. Β It would be nice if he manages it. Β Big Bird and Sesame Street were a major part of my childhood, as I'm sure is the case with a lot of people. Β 

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Ayronstorkarynx [2017-05-11 04:20:30 +0000 UTC]

Today we will learn a word that start with letter M.... and is Murder and why, because we will learn how to Murder.

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FlamePointBambi666 [2017-03-16 02:49:03 +0000 UTC]

OH god not Peppermint Park. Β 

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OldNickelodeonLover [2017-03-11 20:25:09 +0000 UTC]

Umm...My name starts with M...

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rocketdave In reply to OldNickelodeonLover [2017-03-11 21:27:45 +0000 UTC]

Wow, what a coincidence. Β My brother's name starts with M, too! Β It's such a greeeaaat letter!

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KalpanaCartoons [2017-01-23 12:08:26 +0000 UTC]

Don't forget Piggle, Maynard, Little Bit, those dinosaur-dragon things and those guys that blew bubbles.

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Waluigi333 In reply to KalpanaCartoons [2018-04-18 19:03:28 +0000 UTC]

And the rhinos, the Scarecrow, and that creepy Ms. Red.Β 

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KITTYKINKIN [2017-01-13 17:24:54 +0000 UTC]

Even the beginning song from Peppermint Park is a rip off of "Sunny Days".
Where did the real Ernie go?? Β 

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itsdjsparta [2017-01-05 12:01:31 +0000 UTC]

The letter M.

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SomeRandomDoofus42 In reply to itsdjsparta [2024-11-08 15:38:49 +0000 UTC]

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shamandigi [2016-09-14 01:04:14 +0000 UTC]

looks like ernie is about to kill bert

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SuperSmashLexi [2016-08-23 23:08:04 +0000 UTC]

No one has lyrics to that fucking song?

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DotLover1000 [2014-03-22 14:57:51 +0000 UTC]

Which songs from Avenue Q did you commit to memory?

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rocketdave In reply to DotLover1000 [2014-03-22 17:09:52 +0000 UTC]

"The Avenue Q Theme," "What Do You Do With a B.A. in English," "It Sucks to be Me," "If You Were Gay," "I'm Not Wearing Underwear Today," "My Girlfriend Who Lives in Canada," "Schadenfreude," "I Wish I Could Go Back to College," "School For Monsters."

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DotLover1000 [2014-03-21 22:40:47 +0000 UTC]

Suddenly, I have Avenue Q on the brain.

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rocketdave In reply to DotLover1000 [2014-03-22 04:17:50 +0000 UTC]

I sort of know what that's like. I have a number of the songs from that committed to memory.

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DotLover1000 In reply to rocketdave [2014-03-22 11:39:11 +0000 UTC]

Can you name them?

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AngusMcTavish [2013-08-06 19:22:26 +0000 UTC]

As a fan of the classic Street, I had no idea the Park existed.Β  Then along came YouTube.

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rocketdave In reply to AngusMcTavish [2013-08-06 19:46:23 +0000 UTC]

Yes, YouTube has much to answer for.

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AngusMcTavish In reply to rocketdave [2013-08-06 21:46:12 +0000 UTC]

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Ross-Sanger [2013-01-07 16:01:03 +0000 UTC]

The puppets kind of reminds me of the ones from shows like "The Riddlers", "Lazy Town" and "The Rotten Trolls" but somehow they're far more disturbing... I think it's the eyes and the weird smooth faces.

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rocketdave In reply to Ross-Sanger [2013-01-10 23:00:31 +0000 UTC]

I haven't actually seen any of the shows you mentioned, but I googled them and the puppets from those do look rather creepy as well.

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Ross-Sanger In reply to rocketdave [2013-01-11 01:13:47 +0000 UTC]

I guess there's varying levels of creepy, I do think the Lazy Town puppets are a bit weird. It all comes down to uncanny valley vs. dead eyes.

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Yuxtapuestoelmono [2012-12-29 15:47:59 +0000 UTC]

JEEPERS PAL O_O

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TopperHay [2012-12-29 15:33:37 +0000 UTC]

I remember when I first showed Peppermint Park to *Granitoons . He had a look of confusion/horror on his face that I can't describe. That started our weird love affair of crappy kids TV shows.

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LintySkittle [2012-12-29 11:47:17 +0000 UTC]

It's like somebody had sex with a Cabbage Patch Kid doll and this is their unholy offspring.

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Granitoons [2012-12-29 10:49:07 +0000 UTC]

Hahaha! Indeed! Cold they noy at least have used another name instead of the same one as a popular Sesame Street character! You're quite right about the realism thing. I see Bert, Ernie, Kermit and Grover as more 'human' than the likes of Maynard, Piggle Little Bit and (FAKE)Ernie. Bert's reaction's very appriopriate.

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Chopfe [2012-12-29 07:26:43 +0000 UTC]

LOL Brilliant pic! Though I do have to apologize for showing you (and everybody else) the horrror of PEPPERMINT PARK. That shit needs to rot away, despised and forgotten.

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technosasquatch [2012-12-29 04:23:13 +0000 UTC]

holy hell that show is messed up [link]

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Daphnesecretgarden [2012-12-29 03:07:52 +0000 UTC]

Oy, vey!

That's even creepier than the old Clutch Cargo series I *didn't* watch when I was a kid. [link] I loved adventure shows like Jonny Quest, but Clutch gave me the heebie-jeebies.

Peppermint Park would have screwed me up even more than I already am!

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rocketdave In reply to Daphnesecretgarden [2012-12-29 05:28:34 +0000 UTC]

Oh, right, I'm vaguely aware of Clutch Cargo. I've seen clips of it as well as parodies. I don't know who thought that was a good idea.

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Daphnesecretgarden In reply to rocketdave [2012-12-29 05:45:49 +0000 UTC]

Eek! Me neither! I was about eight or nine when it was on and I really wanted to like it, but I felt weird watching it. And that's saying a lot considering how creepy much of my childhood was.

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