Hard to believe it's been 21 years since "Carl" was released. It's hard to believe he even sings, but he does. The songs aren't all that bad. Imagine a boring, G-rated Prince album . . . not really. Even stranger, Lady Elaine's name is dropped into a few songs.
Okay, let me write this quick before I start to cry. I've just woken up from a most hideous night tremor. They raised up arms against her, and forced her to drown in the D room of her own Museum-Go-Round. Then she was hauled down to the neighborhood tar pit, tossed in. In a chorus they laughed; all were overjoyed.
This, one of the lesser know storms on the planet Jupiter, which developed a few years back, was recently named "Lady Elaine". They should name the whole planet after her.
They got the name of the show wrong. It should have been titled "Lady Fairchilde's Neighborhood". Because, basically, the whole show should have been about her.
Lady Elaine and children are one in the same. Simply watch one episode of the Neighborhood of Make-Believe for proof. Fred Rogers intended her to be an easily identifiable, focal point for children. This may be why those of us who grew up with her have been so affected by her: a strange love/hate relationship developed for many of us. Some who fear her may merely see her as a hideous red puppet ,and have not reached beyond that point. One must look into her character though. Inside her is a complex mix of the following: swinging moods, hating authority, unwelcoming change, trying to fit in, longing to be loved - some of the very things that make being a child so difficult.