Thursday, March 12, 2009

Economic Woes Hit Main Street . . . and Sesame Street

Yep, you heard it. Even Sesame Street is impacted by the economy. 20% layoffs.

You know, we track unemployment statistics, and everyone knows these are headed in the wrong direction right now.

A lesser known statistic is "underemployment" - people who are qualified for better jobs but take jobs beneath them in tough economic times to replace lost income.

A still lesser known statistic, apparently, is "muppet unemployment" - when increasing unemployment figures begin to affect non-human characters.

The budget stats aren't good - $141 million in operating costs to make Sesame Street generates only $145 million in revenue.

Makes you wonder. I mean, they've been doing the ultimate outsourcing for years. Forget Mexico, India, Eastern Europe. These people have been using PUPPETS. No labor union costs. No benefits. Clothing and makeup budget has to be pretty low for those things. Ernie and Bert have been wearing the same clothes for years. And half the muppets don't even wear clothes! Hell, I don't even know if Oscar the grouch actually even has a full body - he's in the trash can all the time.

They haven't changed their theme song for years, and they still recycle some of the old things I used to watch as a kid.

If Sesame Street can't make it in today's economy, who can?

Respectfully submitted,

The Wife

7 comments:

Betty Underground said...

Oh, this is HYSTERICAL!

Anonymous said...

And one of the characters appears to be a figment of another character's imagination. Kinda like that demon bunny in Donnie Darko.

SirFWALGMan said...

Wait, they are making 4 million and are a non-profit right? So is that not good? Why do they need to lay off Muppet? My God is nothing sacred? Did you ever see "The Muppets take Manhatten".. Do you know what Gonzo would be doing if he got laid off? Hell in these days and times he might become a transsexual prostitute with a heroine problem. Seriously though I think people are laying off because they think they are supposed to.

BamBam said...

You did not mention Animal. Please tell me that everything is OK with Animal. Did you not mention Animal for some reason? Please don't scare me. Is Animal OK?

A-N-I-M-A-L !!!!!!!!!!!!!

Animal is the best Muppet Drummer, like EVER!

Animal completes me.

I <3 Animal!

The Sister said...

Ma-na-ma-na...

Anonymous said...

As a frequent testosterone free zone, I thought the ladies here might enjoy:

http://plusev.keenspot.com/comics/plusev20071203.gif

DrChako said...

That cartoon from KenP is hysterical. I'm going to use that from now on whenever you catch me looking at Ferrari's and wondering what you were thinking when you married me.

"Yeah, well you got your money in good. Stop being so results-oriented."

-The Husband