The Boston Globe from Boston, Massachusetts • G15

Remembering sunny days and sweeping the We asked some notable Bostonians about their favorite "Sesame Street" clouds away moments. rER IT WENT ON THE AIR, 'SESAME STREET' MSIT BY ADAPTING TO CHANGE you could even show a pipe. Political correctness has taken its toll. And aging down becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy." By the same token, many praise "Sesame Street" for incorporating societal changes into its cast and lesson plan and for exploring difficult issues like death with sensitivity. Forty years ago the program was attacked from many quarters, one psychiatrist warning a US Senate panel it was "fostering a new generation of drug takers" with its rapid-fire teaching style.

Feminists chided "Sesame Street" for its paucity of female characters, and questions about exposing young children to any TV at all have long hovered over "Sesame Street" and other kids' programs. Over the decades, however, "Sesame Street" has stayed remarkably faithful to its original mission. Set from the very beginning in a racially mixed urban neighborhood, it has diversified its cast more and more while including, inter alia, people with disabilities. Mr. Hooper's store has morphed into a bodega.

Cookie Monster now eats vegetables. "The show's creators have always taken criticisms to heart," says Spencer Downing. "But their attitude has also been 'OK, you try to do To Harvard Education School professor Joe Blatt, who lectures on children and media and who counts himself a longtime fan, "Sesame Street" has brilliantly fulfilled its original mission. "It's undisputable that the show is the most thoroughly researched educational invention ever," says Blatt. "Not only does it teach a specific curriculum, but it really helps kids achieve school-readiness and gives them a positive attitude toward academic achievement." By incorporating the latest educational research, adds Blatt, the show continues to hit the Refresh button in ways media-conscious parents can applaud.

In Cerf 's view, "Sesame Street" was and remains among the most important shows the medium has ever hatched. "It really was a revolutionary project when Joan and Gerry conceived it," he says, "and in many ways it has really worked, too." around sort of invisible to the adults in the show. I took this idea of an imaginary friend and applied it to my real life. For instance, my friend was dating a guy and we had never seen him so we started calling him Snuf-fleupagus. That sort of stuck." MICHAEL SCHLOW, chef "I'll never forget where I was standing in my mother's kitchen when she told me there was a new show she wanted me to watch when I got home from kindergarten.

Yes, I saw the very first episode of 'Sesame Street'! I always loved the counting segment, as it never failed to crack me up when they'd fall down after counting all the coconut cream pies. Secretly, I sti 1 1 use the 'Sesame Street' technique when doing inventory in the restaurants: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 5 pounds of sushi grade tuna! The staff always looks a little scared, but it works." DARRYL SETTLES, co-owner, Beehive 'Sesame Street' was one of the few shows that had diversity on the air. Everybody remembers when Stevie Wonder was on there. I was born in 1961, so I was 12 at the time, and that was a pretty big deal for me." MATT HUNWICK, Bruins de-fenseman "My favorite moment was probably the 'Letter B' song. I remember it being a catchy tune at the time and later realized how clever it was when I heard the actual 'Let It Be' song by the real band." JOHNNY EARLE, owner, Johnny Cupcakes "As a kid, I think the first movie to make me cry was 'Sesame Street's Follow That Bird' movie.

I watched it a ton growing up, and it made me really sad seeing Big Bird getting kidnapped!" AJ WILLIAMS, Creative Events "I'm originally from Jamaica, so 'Sesame Street' was my connection to the US as a child. I remember playing and singing songs to a 'Sesame Street' record with my two sisters. On Saturday and Sunday mornings the first thing we did was get up and play that record over and over until it drove our mom nuts. I loved the Cookie Monster and always find myself saying 'cooo-kieee' when in need, trying to mimic his voice." MICHELLE OBAMA ADAM SANDLER SHERYLCROW MM ANNE HATHAWAY CUBA GOODING JR. MARC HARRIS, owner, Marc Harris Salon "I loved when Smokey Robinson did 'You Really Got a Hold on with the letter U.

You've got this female carrying him and pulling and tugging him, and it was really just memorable." BETTY RIAZ, owner, Stil Clothing "Bert was my favorite. He was so lovable and infallible, and everyone could relate to him. I really loved the house-cleaning parts with him and Ernie in that messy room. They were like yin andyang." LIZ WITHAM, documentary filmmaker 'Big Bird Goes to China' left a huge impact on me as a kid. My grandma had just been to China in 1983 when it was just opening up, and to see that special from a kid's perspective was really great.

I ended up studying Chinese and living in China later on." JANE MILLER, owner, JEM "I was really in love with Snuf-fleupagus. I loved his long eyelashes and that he would come NATE DONMOYER, drummer, Passion Pit "I started to like math and numbers because of 'Sesame I used to be glued to the television every time The Count would come on the screen. That vampire is the reason I learned to count!" SAM MENDOZA, designer "I always appreciated the diversity in the show. My favorite Muppet was Rosita. The Spanish word of the day was always interesting for my younger brother and I.

We grew up speaking Spanish at home, and if someone pronounced aword wrong David and I were quick to correct them. It was just cool really to have our language on a show like this." GRETTA MONAHAN, owner, Gretta Enterprises "I always love the celebrity appearances! It's fun and surprising for kids as well as parents to see Alec Baldwin riding a tricycle, my pal Rachael Ray describing the word or Feist singing a kiddie version of her song HANNAH E. MARTIN 7, 2009 BOSTON GLOBE 15 Joseph P. Kahn can be reached at jkahn globe. com.

NOVEMBER G15 MASTER 11-07-2009 05-NOV-2009 Proofed Thu Nov 05 at 20:29: 14.