Oscar the Grouch and Philosophy

Well everyone, I have made an amazing discovery. Sesame Street set into motion the steps which made me, much later in my life, become a philosopher.
You see, while everyone else was laughing at Elmo's bizarre voice, and becoming accepting of homosexuality via Bert and Ernie, I was intently watching the actions of my favorite Sesame Street character: Oscar the Grouch. (Side note: Grover is way cooler than Elmo.)
How did my affections for Oscar the Grouch manifest themselves later in life? Well, its obvious now! Oscar the Grouch IS Diogenes of Sinope, the cranky cynical Greek philosopher known as the dog. The parallels are innumerable. Let me just lay them out, to prove my point:
Both Oscar and Diogenes are, well, grouchy. Oscar, for one, loves to argue.--what a philosopher. Diogenes seemed to hate people in general.
Oscar lives in a trash can; Diogenes lived in a bath-tub.
Oscar lives and acts unconventionally; Diogenes not only did the same, but it was also the foundation of his philosophy. Diogenes hated custom. Oscar the Grouch even hates Christmas.
Diogenes reportedly walked around in the middle of the day with a lantern--when asked what he was doing, he said he was "looking for a real human being," saying he only could find rascals and scoundrels.
Diogenes lived among dogs and rats. Oscar does as well, living amongst many pets in his trash can, most notably a rat.
Diogenes once masturbated in a public square...well, ok, Oscar never did that. But its a children's show.

The point is, the parallels are to great to ignore. Oscar is Diogenes! Sesame Street is deeper than you once thought.