Big Bird and Ted Cruz have had their COVID shot. Have you?

“Sesame Street” is an educational TV program for the young in age and heart. It first aired on public television on November 10, 1969. Jim Henson developed the Muppets for “Sesame Street” using his skills as an actor, composer, puppet master, animator, and inventor. The show incorporates developmental psychology, early childhood education, and cultural diversity. Our family has enjoyed it for 52 years, especially the specials featuring the Muppets, including Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy.

Since 1969, Big Bird, an eight-foot-two-inch forever six years old yellow aviancostumed character on “Sesame Street” has made millions of friends, young and not so young. In 1972 he encouraged children to get the measles shot helping many to avoid the disease. This year he appeared in a televised town hall with medical professionals to urge the young to get shots for COVID-19. He said “I got the COVID-19 vaccine today! My wing is feeling a little sore, but it’ll give my body an extra protective boost that keeps me and others healthy. Ms.@ Ericahill even said I’ve been given vaccine since I was a little bird. I had no idea.

Remember Texas Republican Senator from Texas Ted Cruz? One of Donnyt’s bosom buddy? Apparently, he never watched Sesame Street as a kid, so after the TV special he tweeted “Government propaganda…for your 5-year-old!” with a copy of the show. This was a few days after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended Pfizer’s pediatric vaccine for children ages 5-11. (Cruz has had his COVID-19 shots!) The irony is that In Texas at least seven vaccines are required for kids to attend elementary school .

This would not go unaddressed. Big Bird came back on Cruz using a Late Show comedy spot calling Ted the “Absolutelystupidisttoolinalltexas.” That beats supercalifragilisticexpialidocious, eh Mary

Poppins.

Last week, late-night talkshow host Jimmy Kimmel took Cruz to task for a similar situation. “Ted Cruz, who four years ago took permanent residence up the a— of a man who beat him in every election by calling his wife ugly and slandering his elderly father — says this is emasculating primarily because Ted Cruz is not human — he’s a moist, gelatinous tubeworm whose elastic band pants are filled with an inky discharge every time he speaks…..this is how they (Republicans) think: If the government says it, it’s propaganda. If Congress does it, it’s socialism. If the executive branch does it, it’s fascism. If the president says it, he’s a dictator. And if the media says it, it’s fake news. The elections are rigged. The deep state runs the world. And Big Bird is working for Merck now…. It’s interesting because not only is Ted Cruz vaccinated himself, Ted Cruz was born with an immunity that protects him from contracting any friends.”

This is not the first time Cruz has been the brunt of comedy. In 2016 Twitter held a “Ted Cruz looks like” search. The results were hilarious: Among the many were Mrs. Doubtfire, Grandpa Munster, a Blowfish, and the Count from Sesame Street.

In 2018 he appeared on The Late Night Show where he met his match in Triumph the Insult Comic Dog who turned Ted’s awkward jokes into zingers. Triumph is a puppet created by Conan O’brien with Robert Smigel as puppet master and voice.

In 2020, Cruz appeared on CNN’S Chris Cuomo’s show. Cruz tried to smear Joe Biden, but Cuomo wasn’t about to let Cruz get away with misdirection and deception calling it a “weak-ass argument.”

Last Thursday I got my Moderna booster shot. What’s your excuse?