I want to take a moment to imagine all of the Avengers making an appearance on Sesame Street. This is very important to me.
It doesn’t take much for Steve to get on board with this. He’s THRILLED with easy public access television for children, especially when he learns that the original concept for Sesame Street came from creators wanting to target urban kids who might not have access to early learning because of their money status. Steve, in fact, makes multiple appearances on Sesame Street. He finds ways to help support them, and increasing support for international versions of Sesame Street. (he’s also made an appearance or two on the PBS funding drive circuit)
Once he finds out how popular his episodes are, he talks the others into going on.
Thor is also really easy to get on board, though at first the creative team isn’t so sure what to do with him. Then Thor opens up about Loki, so they do a special with Baby Bear and Curly Bear about the importance of always being open and honest with your siblings. Thor also inspires the creative team to come up with Muppet characters who are adopted or foster children, as they’ve been lacking in that area.
Bruce is hesitant at first, especially since his experiences aren’t always relatable to children. Steve brings him to the creative team, and he’s presented with a special with Big Bird. Big Bird breaks Susan Robinson’s new flower pots, and Bruce tells him about how sometimes big mistakes happen, but you have to be honest with the people around you, and they’ll still love you in the end. Bruce doesn’t find out that Natasha is the one who suggested the theme.
Clint is a little wary at first, but then decides to just go for it. He tells the creative team that he’ll be up for anything, and so his episode is also the introductory episode for a new deaf Muppet, a little girl named Francis who loves books.
Tony and Natasha are both adamant about not appearing on the show; neither one of them are good enough for it. Tony makes as many excuses as he can; he even throws multiple fundraisers to put enough funds into the Sesame Workshop’s accounts to help them through the next decade or so. But Steve is relentless, showing him pictures of kids in homemade Iron Man suits, telling him how important it is for kids to see their heroes be relatable. Finally, Tony agrees, and he teaches Elmo what the word “science” means.
And then there’s Natasha. Steve has to work on her for almost two years, following his first appearance on the show, and she keeps putting it down. She’s not a role model for kids, she’s got a terrible past, no one should be like her; Steve hears every excuse in the books, but all he hears is more reasons for her to go on. Natasha tells him that little girls who might be in her old shoes aren’t watching public access TV. Steve tells her it doesn’t matter, girls of all ages need to hear her talk. Finally, mostly to shut him up, Natasha agrees, and she’s given a special with Abby Cadabby, Zoe, and Rosita; they talk about how no matter what happens to you in life, you can always change what happens to you as long as you’re brave enough.
After Natasha’s episode airs, the team is called down to the studio, and they get a group picture with all of the cast and the Muppets. Each one of the team keeps that photo somewhere secret.
