Times are tough for Cookie Monster. Peer pressure has forced Cookie Monster to think outside the cookie box.
In the world of Sesame Street, vegetables have always been cool, but Cookie Monster was allowed to be himself. Now thanks to a childhood obesity epidemic, Cookie Monster likes vegetables.
Since Cookie Monster is a monster, he takes on vegetables with the same fervor. And true to form, his new love of vegetables comes across as very sincere.
In a recent episode of "Sesame Street," Cookie Monster eats his way through carrots, cabbage, and celery. Mario Lopez appears out of nowhere to catch Cookie Monster eating vegetables and relabels him as the "Veggie Monster." Lopez works for a TV show ("Extra"?) as an investigative type reporter.
Cookie Monster is horrified to be relabeled as Veggie Monster. Sure, Cookie Monster eats vegetables and devours them with zeal, but he is still the Cookie Monster.
"Of course, me love carrots. They crunchy and delicious and good for me googly eyes."
When Cookie Monster eats cabbage, he doesn't realize that cabbage is a vegetable.
He does know celery is a vegetable, so he puts on a blonde wig to be "Rosemarie" to eat the celery. "Celery de-lovely. Celery delicious." Of course, Lopez catches him in the act.
Cookie Monster's frustration steers him into song "Me Am What We Am" about how he is the Cookie Monster. In the song, Cookie Monster points out that he also likes carrots, collard greens, broccoli, lettuce, lima beans, okra, eggplant, zucchini, mushrooms, peapods, and green beans. And still loves cookies.
Maria (Sonia Manzano) put it best about Cookie Monster: "no matter how much you like vegetables, you'll always be the Cookie Monster."
In the end, Cookie Monster gets his cookies after eating a lot of vegetables. And that is the way for Cookie Monster to find his "balance of food."
Sure, to cynical adults, Cookie Monster suddenly loves vegetables. But on Sesame Street, Cookie Monster is just being himself. Maybe he was hiding his love for veggies all along. Cookie Monster isn't a total sell-out; he still loves his cookies.
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