Bert and Ernie a 'loving couple' claims writer; 'Sesame Street' disagrees

I knew it even when I was a kid.

Comes from a different age - best comparison is The Odd Couple, Oscar and Felix - they had their chicks. Come to think of it though, Felix was a bit fey but Oscar what like a proto-Homer Simpson with an IQ and a good job.

Now that is a thought: anyone in Hollywood want to resurrect that one? Admittedly though it would be pretty hard blending all the stereotypes they could come up with these days.

Can't people love each other without orgasms coming into it?

Why does everything need to be labelled and defined ... they are kid's puppets, when I was a kid I enjoyed the show not pulled it apart and defined every puppets sexual orientation. If that is the case miss piggy from the muppets would be a serial domestic violence offender that beat on Kermit the frog all the time.

What is it with the need to sexualize everything nowadays

Gogogo:

Ms Piggie + kermit would also be interspecies relations. Near bestiality.

Good grief! Next week Saltzman will announce that Bert was a woman and transitioned to a male puppet - whose sexuality is non-specific and exists on a spectrum. This guy has lost touch with reality.

Stan and Oliver used to sleep together in the same bed. Just saying.

And here I was thinking that for Ernie, his rubber ducky was "the one".

What is it with the need to sexualize everything nowadays

I haven't seen any sexualization in this story. What exactly are you talking about?

Don't forget Mr. Snuffleupagus was always "high" too!

Gay puppets when I was a kid. Now silicon doll brothels. What’s next? Anti gravity SpaceX orgies?

Anti gravity SpaceX orgies?

now that would be something worth paying for.

Sexuality is a broad spectrum, as has been noted since ancient times - hence, the term "Platonic relationship" - which, mind can be used for both homo- and heterosexuals. Why don't we just leave it at that.

They’re muppets. End of story

Very dismissive. Bordering on the muppoetphobic.

Why beat kids over the head with heterosexual sex or homosexual sex from ages 2 - 5?

The TV show has never had an episode where they addressed the nature of Bert and Ernie's relationship. That is your imagination. So, kids are only being beat over the head with ABCs and 123s.

Sesame Street:

Safe isn't really safe (New York)

Innocence and Schizophrenia (Big Bird)

Poverty and Anger Issues (Oscar)

Addiction and major chemical imbalance (Cookie Monster)

Drug abuse and Depression (Mr. Snuffleupagus)

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and Pimping (The Count)

Obsessive Compulsive Personality Disorder (Bert)

Big Bird is the most messed up character on the show! It was a great childhood

Don't think Jim Henson would say they are a couple. Maybe a couple of oddballs but not, you know, an item.

Hey, Bert!

"Even though they are identified as male characters and possess many human traits and characteristics (as most Sesame Street Muppets do), they remain puppets, and do not have a sexual orientation."

Kermit the frog is a puppet. He most definitely has a sexual orientation. It does seem odd that the "they don't need a sexual orientation" comment only comes out of the characters suspected of not being heterosexual.

StrangerlandToday  11:09 am JST

I haven't seen any sexualization in this story. What exactly are you talking about?

Well said! Sadly there are a lot of pervy homophobes out there who can't conceive of non-straight relationships that don't completely revolve around sexual intercourse.

It’s about selling sensationalism, pro or con.

It seems that there are a lot of homophiles who are always seeing homosex in every same sex friendship no matter how straight the paricipants may be.

Kermit the frog is a puppet. He most definitely has a sexual orientation. It does seem odd that the "they don't need a sexual orientation" comment only comes out of the characters suspected of not being heterosexual.

Kermit isn't a Sesame Street Muppet, so the statement which was carefully made as to Sesame Street Muppets doesn't apply to him.

This was taken out of context. The only thing Saltzman said was he wrote their relationship based on his at the time. He meant how they interact with eachother, not that they were gay. He has since explained this. Bert and Ernie still aren't gay. Saltzman did say he'd like to see gay characters on Sesame Street, but humans, not puppets.

Kermit isn't a Sesame Street Muppet, so the statement which was carefully made as to Sesame Street Muppets doesn't apply to him.

Kermit is (was?) on Sesame Street. I remember him doing 'reporting'.

Stupid adults.

They’re puppets for Pete’s sake. I can’t believe people are actually falling for this.

Mr. NoidallSep. 20 01:22 pm JSTToo bad a great children's program is being marred by the hypersexuality of adults who have to find sex in everything. Why beat kids over the head with heterosexual sex or homosexual sex from ages 2 - 5?

All this pettiness and fuss over a pair of Muppets. It looks to me that the adults are less mature and even more dirty-minded and stupider than any of the kids. Until you're about 11, you don't feel or desire anything that has to do with sexuality of any sort. Nothing. All this speculation is 110% stupid.