These are what we call the 'YMMV items.' Things that some people find in this work. We call them 'your mileage might vary' because not everyone sees these things in the same way. This starts discussions in the trope lists, a thing we don't want. Please use the discussion page if you'd like to discuss any of these items.
YMMV: Avenue Q
Accidental Aesop: Although most of the show's many Aesops are clearly presented and framed, some are shown rather than stated. For example, Rod and Nicky are proof that being great friends doesn't make two people good roommates.
Some of the overt "lessons" may be justified by the show's premise of being "Sesame Street for adults."
One of the overall messages in the show though, that wasn't as lighthearted as the rest were presented was that not everyone knows their purpose. Some people may never find out what their calling is. And that's okay.
Family Unfriendly Aesop: "Everyone's a Little Bit Racist", "You Can Be As Loud As The Hell You Want (When You're Making Love)"
Somewhat averted with "Everyone's a Little Bit Racist" in that the song ultimately preaches a higher level of tolerance and peace in the world through a "don't sweat the small stuff" mentality.
"Everyone's a Little Bit Racist" promotes a Grey and Gray Morality view of racism, or maybe even Black and Gray Morality. Either of those is very different from the Black and White Morality more common to racism in fiction, especially racism in fiction aimed at children like Sesame Street. The Aesop of "Everyone's a Little Bit Racist" isn't necessarily incorrect or immoral, but it is still family unfriendly.
Also, given that racism is a learned behavior, stating that is the normal thing to be to children, who haven't necessarily learned it yet, would be very unfriendly. And that is assuming the premise is even true in the first place; if not, is someone who isn't racist weird?
Also the respective aesops of "The Money Song" and "For Now" are surprisingly family friendly.
In a way, "Schadenfreude" is one of these too. ("Sure it's not nice ... but everybody does it!")
"Funny Aneurysm" Moment: In the song "Purpose" Gary fears he's fulfilled his purpose and "is on a long slow walk to the grave". Gary Coleman is now dead.
Sucks to be him.
One production by an independent theater in Minneapolis had a bit in the end where Gary goes to change the "For Rent" sign, falls down the stairs and dies. A new sign was put up that said "Now Hiring" in its place.
Hilarious in Hindsight: A Sesame Street parody with a song called The Internet Is For Porn. Fast forward to 2011, which Sesame Street's official YouTube channel being hacked and pornographic videos being uploaded.
Pick any anime character ever made ever, and there will be three different AMVs featuring them: 1. Them singing about their lack of underwear. 2. Them convincing their friend to come out of the closet, as well as a video of their friend trying to convince them. 3. How much they ruv someone, but also want to kill them in equal measure. there are no exceptions to this rule.
Values Dissonance: According to the "Everybody is a Little Racist" song, intentionally telling jokes designed to insult a ethnic group, and using an ethnic slur while doing so, is only a "little racist", like unintentionally using an outdated term to refer to an ethnic group. And to be clear, it was "Polack" jokes, and the teller was Gary Coleman, so there was no N-Word Privileges.
The Woobie: Everyone. They are fuzzy. And angsty. How can you not want to give them a hug?
Woolseyism: The Hungarian production of the show is considered the best Hungarian localization of any work in recent years. The most significant change was the replacement of Gary Coleman with Michael Jackson; this was in part because Gary is all but unknown in the country, and mostly because Hungary has almost no black population and thus no one to play the role. In the original book, Jacko ended up on Avenue Q after two six-year-olds sued him for his entire estate; after the Pop King's death it was adjusted to say that he faked his own death to escape from his creditors.
Also a bit of Lucky Translation in the Hungarian production: Trekkie Monster is renamed Kuki Mumus. "Kuki" is a slang word for "penis", perfectly fitting his perverted personality, and it sounds exactly like "Cookie".
