what's next, changing his name to Tofu Monster?

[jrtom]

Sesame Street's "Cookie Monster" Has Been Emasculated

Program producers say with the rise in childhood obesity, "Sesame Street" is focusing on teaching kids about healthy foods.

This is commendable . . . but, um, guys? He's a Cookie Monster. I can't help but think that another character would be a better "spokesmonster". (Almost any other character, really.)

Comments

travesty!

[amnesiadust.livejournal.com]

I think this is a situation where it's best to just let the kid's parents play bad cop. I mean, what, do they think the kids actually look up to Cookie Monster as a role model?

(well, maybe, actually -- not least the guy who wrote that column -- okay, whatever.)

That's our collective childhood they're messing with! Very no!

in fact...

[amnesiadust.livejournal.com]

There was even mention of a "Captain Vegetable" in the Progressive Boink page you linked earlier. So it seems they used even to have a dedicated character for this purpose. Maybe nobody remembers?