Sesame Street "Snuffy's Parents Get a Divorce" (partially found episode of children's puppetry TV series; 1992): Difference between revisions

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{{InfoboxLost
{{InfoboxLost
|title=<center>"Snuffy's Parents Get a Divorce"</center>
|title=<center>"Snuffy's Parents Get a Divorce"</center>
|image=SnuffysParentsGetaDivorce.jpg
|image=SesameStreetDivorce-40YearsScreenshot.jpg
|imagecaption=Screenshot from the episode, taken from ''Sesame Street: A Celebration - 40 Years of Life on the Street''.
|imagecaption=A screenshot from the episode, taken from ''Sesame Street: A Celebration - 40 Years of Life on the Street''.
|status=<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span>
|status=<span style="color:orange;">'''Partially Found'''</span>
}}
}}
Originally intended to air on April 10th, 1992, as ''Sesame Street''’s 2985th episode was '''"Snuffy's Parents Get a Divorce"'''; the episode was pulled before airing after extremely negative reactions following multiple test screenings and is notorious for being the only installment of ''Sesame Street'' to have never been aired, even to this day.<ref>[https://uproxx.com/tv/on-the-first-time-sesame-street-tried-a-divorce-episode/ Uproxx article on the Episode's cancellation.] Retrieved 16 Feb '19</ref><ref>[https://womansday.com/relationships/dating-marriage/a42197/the-sesame-street-episode-your-kids-will-never-see-15220/ Woman's Daily article on the episode's cancellation.] Retrieved 16 Feb '19</ref>


Originally intended to air on April 10, 1992 as ''Sesame Street''’s 2895th episode was '''"Snuffy's Parents Get a Divorce"'''; the episode was pulled before going to air after extremely negative reactions following multiple test screenings and is notorious for being the only installment of ''Sesame Street'' to have never been aired, even to this day.<ref>[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snuffy's_Parents_Get_a_Divorce Wikipedia article on the episode.] Last retrieved 06 Oct 2014.</ref><ref>[http://muppet.wikia.com/wiki/Snuffy's_Parents_Get_a_Divorce Muppet Wiki article on the episode.] Last retrieved 06 Oct 2014.</ref>
As the title suggests, the episode attempted to deal with the sensitive subject of divorce, by depicting Snuffy's parents going through a separation. Many children allegedly came away from the test screening confused and with mixed messages; some of them interpreted the episode to mean that their parents no longer loved them while others were led to the impression that their parents, like Snuffy's, were also going to get a divorce. It was decided that the topic was simply too difficult for children of that age to fully comprehend and the episode was scrapped entirely; "Episode 2985" was shortly thereafter replaced with a repeat of a season 21 episode focusing on Jenali helping Hoots the Owl in Birdland.


As the title suggests, the episode attempted to deal with the sensitive subject of divorce, by depicting Snuffy's parents going through a separation. Many children allegedly came away from the test screening confused and with mixed messages; some of them interpreted the episode to mean that their parents no longer loved them while others were lead to the impression that their parents, like Snuffy's, were also going to get a divorce. It was decided that the topic was simply too difficult for children of that age to fully comprehend and the episode was scrapped entirely; episode 2895 was shortly thereafter replaced with an episode focusing on Oscar the Grouch getting a visit from his brother Ernest.<ref>[http://muppet.wikia.com/wiki/Episode_2895 Muppet Wiki article on episode 2895 (ie. the replacement episode that went to air).] Last retrieved 06 Oct 2014.</ref>
Aside from the aforementioned test screenings, the episode has never been shown in public, despite being fully complete. For roughly eight years, the only physical evidence of the episode's existence available was a single screenshot as found in the 2009 publication ''Sesame Street: A Celebration - 40 Years of Life on the Street''.


Aside from the aforementioned test screenings, the episode has never been shown in public, despite being fully complete. The only physical evidence of the episode's existence available is a lone screenshot as found in the 2009 publication ''Sesame Street: A Celebration - 40 Years of Life on the Street''. Notably, ''Sesame Street'' eventually tried tackling the topic of divorce once more in late 2012, with the production of a limited audience video and resource guide, (the first in their ''Little Children, Big Challenges'' series), in which Abby Cadabby discusses her parents' prior divorce.<ref>[http://muppet.wikia.com/wiki/Little_Children,_Big_Challenges:_Divorce Muppet Wiki article on ''Little Children, Big Challenges: Divorce''.] Last retrieved 06 Oct 2014.</ref>
Notably, ''Sesame Street'' eventually tried tackling the topic of divorce once more in late 2012, with the production of a limited audience video and resource guide, (the first in their ''Little Children, Big Challenges'' series), in which Abby Cadabby discusses her parents' prior divorce.


==References==
On October 2nd, 2019, it was announced that The Museum of the Moving Image in New York City would screen the episode on November 24th, 2019 as part of a "Lost and Found" event celebrating ''Sesame Street'''s 50th anniversary. The screening will also be accompanied by [[Sesame Street "Episode 847" (found "Wicked Witch of the West" episode of children’s educational TV series; 1976)|the controversial 847th episode of the series]], and a discussion panel with Jim Henson Legacy president Craig Shemin, former ''Sesame Street'' head writer Norman Stiles, and Sesame Workshop's Rosemarie Truglio.<ref>[http://movingimage.us/visit/calendar/2019/11/24/detail/sesame-street-lost-and-found The Museum of the Moving Image's official website where it announces "''Sesame Street'' Lost and Found”.] Retrieved 05 Oct '19</ref>
<references/>
 
On March 25th, 2021, it was announced that ABC would air a special to celebrate the 50th anniversary of ''Sesame Street'' titled ''Sesame Street: 50 Years of Sunny Days''.  The special aired on Monday, April 26th, 2021, at 8 p.m. EST, featuring never-before-seen footage of "Snuffy's Parents Get a Divorce".<ref>[https://ew.com/tv/sesame-street-to-celebrate-50th-anniversary-with-star-studded-tv-special/ Entertainment Weekly article on ''Sesame Street: 50 Years of Sunny Days''.] Retrieved 23 Apr '21</ref>
 
==Gallery==
{{Video|perrow  =2
  |service1    =youtube
  |id1          =jrllOQ_sp_8
  |description1 =The ''Sesame Street: 50 Years of Sunny Days'' special, featuring clips of "Snuffy's Parents Get a Divorce" (starts at 6:06).
  |service2    =youtube
  |id2          =UXjmqfg0Iw8
  |description2 =A selection of clips taken from ''Little Children, Big Challenges: Divorce''.
}}
==See Also==
*[[Sesame Street (partially lost children's educational TV series; 1969-present)]]


==External Links==
==External Links==
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UXjmqfg0Iw8 A selection of clips taken from ''Little Children, Big Challenges: Divorce''.] Last retrieved 06 Oct 2014.
*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snuffy's_Parents_Get_a_Divorce A Wikipedia article on the episode.] Retrieved 06 Oct '14
*[http://muppet.fandom.com/wiki/Snuffy's_Parents_Get_a_Divorce A Muppet Wiki article on "Snuffy's Parents Get a Divorce".] Retrieved 06 Oct '14
*[http://muppet.fandom.com/wiki/Little_Children,_Big_Challenges:_Divorce A Muppet Wiki article on ''Little Children, Big Challenges: Divorce''.] Retrieved 06 Oct '14


==References==
{{reflist}}
[[Category:Lost puppetry]]
[[Category:Lost TV]]
[[Category:Lost TV]]
[[Category:Lost puppetry]]
[[Category:Partially found media]]
[[Category:Historic]]
 
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Revision as of 01:59, 26 June 2022

SesameStreetDivorce-40YearsScreenshot.jpg

A screenshot from the episode, taken from Sesame Street: A Celebration - 40 Years of Life on the Street.

Status: Partially Found

Originally intended to air on April 10th, 1992, as Sesame Street’s 2985th episode was "Snuffy's Parents Get a Divorce"; the episode was pulled before airing after extremely negative reactions following multiple test screenings and is notorious for being the only installment of Sesame Street to have never been aired, even to this day.[1][2]

As the title suggests, the episode attempted to deal with the sensitive subject of divorce, by depicting Snuffy's parents going through a separation. Many children allegedly came away from the test screening confused and with mixed messages; some of them interpreted the episode to mean that their parents no longer loved them while others were led to the impression that their parents, like Snuffy's, were also going to get a divorce. It was decided that the topic was simply too difficult for children of that age to fully comprehend and the episode was scrapped entirely; "Episode 2985" was shortly thereafter replaced with a repeat of a season 21 episode focusing on Jenali helping Hoots the Owl in Birdland.

Aside from the aforementioned test screenings, the episode has never been shown in public, despite being fully complete. For roughly eight years, the only physical evidence of the episode's existence available was a single screenshot as found in the 2009 publication Sesame Street: A Celebration - 40 Years of Life on the Street.

Notably, Sesame Street eventually tried tackling the topic of divorce once more in late 2012, with the production of a limited audience video and resource guide, (the first in their Little Children, Big Challenges series), in which Abby Cadabby discusses her parents' prior divorce.

On October 2nd, 2019, it was announced that The Museum of the Moving Image in New York City would screen the episode on November 24th, 2019 as part of a "Lost and Found" event celebrating Sesame Street's 50th anniversary. The screening will also be accompanied by the controversial 847th episode of the series, and a discussion panel with Jim Henson Legacy president Craig Shemin, former Sesame Street head writer Norman Stiles, and Sesame Workshop's Rosemarie Truglio.[3]

On March 25th, 2021, it was announced that ABC would air a special to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Sesame Street titled Sesame Street: 50 Years of Sunny Days. The special aired on Monday, April 26th, 2021, at 8 p.m. EST, featuring never-before-seen footage of "Snuffy's Parents Get a Divorce".[4]

Gallery

The Sesame Street: 50 Years of Sunny Days special, featuring clips of "Snuffy's Parents Get a Divorce" (starts at 6:06).

A selection of clips taken from Little Children, Big Challenges: Divorce.

See Also

External Links

References