What's on TV: Monday, 29 July
Sesame Street
ABC Kids, 9am
The 49th (!!) season of Sesame Street kicks off this morning, and while much has changed, much remains the same. On the downside, I miss the hard edges and psychedelic vibe of the Sesame Street I grew up with. Like almost all kids' TV these days, this feels desperately inoffensive and risk-averse. On the upside, time has not diminished the magic of the Muppets - who remain ridiculously endearing – and old friends like Oscar the Grouch are still to be found. It is also – as its extraordinary 11 Grammy wins attest – still the home of absurdly catchy tunes, as well as all the educational stuff that form its bedrock. This episode is brought to you by the letter V, providing the added fun of seeing your own toddler attempting to pronounce "veterinarian".
Australian Ninja Warrior
Nine, 7.30pm
Holy moly. How does any human being actually complete this course? My shoulders are aching and my hands are blistered just watching from the sofa. It really is incredible. And as the final few competitors attempt the extraordinary collection of obstacles that constitute the Grand Final gauntlet, you'll gasp, you'll laugh, you'll cry, and you'll be applauding wildly even though they (a) can't hear you, and (b) the whole thing took place months ago. And to all those people tying themselves in knots over barracking at the AFL, check out how they do it here. These people really are family (not the faux-family of a footy club) and the cheering couldn't be louder or more passionate – but nor could it be more good natured, no matter how far someone makes it or who else does better.