"ARE THEY OR AREN'T THEY?"
At this year's Sundance Film Festival, Peter Spears' latest film, Ernest & Bertram, received critical acclaim for looking at the erotic relationship of Bert & Ernie. The mock documentary ("mockumentary"?) examines the agnst-ridden sexual tension between these the two "best friends". The Children's Television Workshop quickly submitted a cease & desist order to Mr. Spears, under threat of a copyright infringement lawsuit for portraying Bert & Ernie as gay lovers. But Mr. Spears was the far from the first person to suggest such a relationship.
In 1980, Kurt Andersen's book, The Real Thing, noted "Bert and Ernie conduct themselves in the same loving, discreet way that millions of gay men, women and hand puppets do. They do their jobs well and live a splendidly settled life together in an impeccably decorated cabinet." In 1993, TV Guide received some flack after attacking Sesame Street for condoning a [read: Bert & Ernie's] homosexual relationship. Not long after that, a preacher from North Carolina actually began a campaign to ban Bert & Ernie from the airwaves because of their "immorality". In lieu of this, Mr. Spears is far from alone in his belief in the orientation of the aforementioned muppets.
So what's the truth? CTW inists the two are just "very good friends". That could be the truth. I think Jozef and I have been mistaken for a couple before, and I can see why I would be suspect myself (e.g., I'm cultured, work out often, have a female roommate who I'm not having sex with, etc.). So, I can understand how the rumors may not be true. But at the same time, well . . . there's something different about Bert & Ernie. Check out the following lyrics, sung by Ernie himself:
Rubber Ducky, you're the one!
You make bathtime so much fun!
Rubber Ducky, I'm awfully fond of you!
Hmm . . . say what you will. I have my theories as to the coded subtext of that song. BtW, to the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and (in one case) self-proclaimed "omnisexual" readers of this site, I do not suggest that there is anything wrong with being (to cover all bases) "non-straight". My mantra has always been that so long as all parties involved are consenting, do whatever you like. I think that it is possible to acknowledge difference without inference of some assumed superiority/inferioriy. I just believe that, whatever your orientation, you should not be ashamed of it or yourself, and proudly embrace your sexuality. And that goes for every man, woman, and hand puppet in this great country of ours!
