Sesame street what the word on the street

What’s the Word on the Street? was a regular feature on Sesame Street from Season 38 to Season 45.

Murray Monster hosts this segment which precedes the corporate sponsor spots before each episode. Each segment begins with a shot of him saying, «Hi, I’m Murray from Sesame Street, and I’m looking for… the Word on the Street!» He then speaks with folks about what today’s word means and usually instructs the audience to «keep listening for the word today on Sesame Street!» The word is later featured in the «street scenes» and highlighted again as the Word of the Day.

Shalom Sesame and Plaza Sésamo have created their own versions of the segment.

In Season 46, the segment was removed and replaced with special cold opens for each episode of different Muppets introducing the topic of the day.

Segments

Season 38

• Squid (First: Episode 4135)
• Newspaper (First: Episode 4136)
• Dog (First: Episode 4137)
• Lazy (First: Episode 4138)
• Pumpernickel (First: Episode 4139)
• Ballet (First: Episode 4140)
• Tricycle (First: Episode 4141)
• Disappear (First: Episode 4142)
• Ticklish (First: Episode 4143)
• Frustrated (First: Episode 4144)
• Prepared (First: Episode 4145)
• Family (First: Episode 4146)
• Mystery (First: Episode 4147)
• Mail (First: Episode 4148)
• Predicament (First: Episode 4149)
• Windy (First: Episode 4150)
• Apology (First: Episode 4151)
• Gigantic (First: Episode 4152)
• Rhyme (First: Episode 4153)
• Amazing (First: Episode 4154)
• Expert (First: Episode 4155)
• Practice (First: Episode 4156)
• Pretend (First: Episode 4157)
• Sigh (First: Episode 4158)
• Angry (First: Episode 4159)
• Struggle (First: Episode 4160)

Season 39

• Octagon (First: Episode 4161)
• Pirouette (First: Episode 4162)
• Laundromat (First: Episode 4163)
• Compliment (First: Episode 4164)
• Insect (First: Episode 4165)
• Subtraction (First: Episode 4166)
• Toss (First: Episode 4167)
• Persistent (First: Episode 4168)
• Unanimous (First: Episode 4169)
• Rhythm (First: Episode 4170)
• Glockenspiel (First: Episode 4171)
• Half (First: Episode 4172)
• Disguise (First: Episode 4173)
• Curly (First: Episode 4174)
• Frightened (First: Episode 4175)
• Stuck (First: Episode 4176)
• Brush (First: Episode 4177)
• Cheer (First: Episode 4178)
• Penguin (First: Episode 4179)
• Mustache (First: Episode 4180)
• Friend (First: Episode 4181)
• Distract (First: Episode 4182)
• Cactus (First: Episode 4183)
• Scrumptious (First: Episode 4184)
• Robot (First: Episode 4185)
• Fabulous (First: Episode 4186)

Season 40

• Habitat (First: Episode 4187)
• Pair (First: Episode 4188)
• Pollinate (First: Episode 4189)
• Nature (First: Episode 4190)
• Season (First: Episode 4191)
• Quest (First: Episode 4192)
• Hibernate (First: Episode 4193)
• Surprise (First: Episode 4194)
• Brilliant (First: Episode 4195)
• Machine (First: Episode 4196)
• Crunchy (First: Episode 4197)
• Garden (First: Episode 4198)
• Camouflage (First: Episode 4199)
• Separate (First: Episode 4200)
• Metamorphosis (First: Episode 4201)
• Canteen (First: Episode 4202)
• Speedy (First: Episode 4203)
• Stumble (First: Episode 4204)
• Inspect (First: Episode 4205)
• Bones (First: Episode 4206)
• Miniature (First: Episode 4207)
• Booth (First: Episode 4208)
• Concentrate (First: Episode 4209)
• Spectacular (First: Episode 4210)
• Humongous (First: Episode 4211)
• Exquisite (First: Episode 4212)

Season 41

• Challenge (First: Episode 4213)
• Journal (First: Episode 4214)
• Comfort (First: Episode 4215)
• Cling (First: Episode 4216)
• Pasta (First: Episode 4217)
• Activate (First: Episode 4218)
• Investigate (First: Episode 4219)
• Appetite (First: Episode 4220)
• Binoculars (First: Episode 4221)
• Float (First: Episode 4222)
• Allergic (First: Episode 4223)
• Hexagon (First: Episode 4224)
• Accessory (First: Episode 4225)
• Arachnid (First: Episode 4226)
• Incognito (First: Episode 4227)
• Recipe (First: Episode 4228)
• Galoshes (First: Episode 4229)
• Identical (First: Episode 4231)
• Healthy (First: Episode 4232)
• Reporter (First: Episode 4233)
• Gem (First: Episode 4234)
• Celebration (First: Episode 4235)
• Volunteer (First: Episode 4236)
• Dozen (First: Episode 4237)
• Transportation (First: Episode 4238)

Season 42

• Engineer (First: Episode 4257)
• Experiment (First: Episode 4258)
• Liquid (First: Episode 4259)
• Observe (First: Episode 4260)
• Transform (First: Episode 4261)
• Baile (Dance) (First: Episode 4262)
• Fragile (First: Episode 4263)
• Exchange (First: Episode 4264)
• Include (First: Episode 4265)
• Empathy (First: Episode 4266)
• Embarrassed (First: Episode 4267)
• Fascinating (First: Episode 4268)
• Sibling (First: Episode 4269)
• Compare (First: Episode 4270)
• Ingredient (First: Episode 4271)
• Balance (First: Episode 4272)
• Amphibian (First: Episode 4273)
• Measure (First: Episode 4274)
• Stubborn (First: Episode 4275)
• Soggy (First: Episode 4276)
• Deciduous (First: Episode 4277)
• Senses (First: Episode 4278)
• Prickly (First: Episode 4279)
• Conflict (First: Episode 4280)
• Magnify (First: Episode 4281)
• Stupendous (First: Episode 4282)

Season 43

• Nibble (First: Episode 4301)
• Champion (First: Episode 4302)
• Remember (First: Episode 4303)
• Careful (First: Episode 4304)
• Patience (First: Episode 4305)
• Grimace (First: Episode 4306)
• Career (First: Episode 4307)
• Tool (First: Episode 4308)
• Proud (First: Episode 4309)
• Veterinarian (First: Episode 4310)
• Vote (First: Episode 4311)
• Brainstorm (First: Episode 4313)
• Paleontologist (First: Episode 4314)
• Splatter (First: Episode 4316)
• Amplify (First: Episode 4317)
• Reinforce (First: Episode 4318)
• Innovation (First: Episode 4319)
• Choreographer (First: Episode 4321)
• Attach (First: Episode 4322)
• Inflate (First: Episode 4324)
• Sculpture (First: Episode 4325)
• Vibrate (First: Episode 4326)

Season 44

• Jealous (First: Episode 4401)
• Respect (First: Episode 4402)
• Fragrance (First: Episode 4403)
• Sturdy (First: Episode 4404)
• Relax (First: Episode 4405)
• Texture (First: Episode 4407)
• Author (First: Episode 4408)
• Furious (First: Episode 4409)
• Impostor (First: Episode 4411)
• Courteous (First: Episode 4412)
• Strategy (First: Episode 4414)
• Translate (First: Episode 4415)
• Disappointed (First: Episode 4417)
• Adventure (First: Episode 4418)
• Unique (First: Episode 4419)
• Confidence (First: Episode 4421)
• Athlete (First: Episode 4423)
• Plan (First: Episode 4424)
• Imagination (First: Episode 4425)
• Absorb (First: Episode 4426)

Season 45

• Strenuous (First: Episode 4501)
• Repair (First: Episode 4502)
• Skin (First: Episode 4503)
• Flexible (First: Episode 4504)
• Enthusiastic (First: Episode 4505)
• Fiesta (First: Episode 4506)
• Diagram (First: Episode 4507)
• Ridiculous (First: Episode 4508)
• Astounding (First: Episode 4509)
• Coach (First: Episode 4510)
• Popular (First: Episode 4511)
• Empty (First: Episode 4512)
• Resist (First: Episode 4513)
• Awful (First: Episode 4514)
• Anxious (First: Episode 4515)
• Pattern (First: Episode 4516)
• Grouchy (First: Episode 4517)
• Friend (First: Episode 4518)
• Divide (First: Episode 4519)
• Artist (First: Episode 4520)
• Greeting (First: Episode 4521)
• Nimble (First: Episode 4522)
• Applause (First: Episode 4523)
• Technology (First: Episode 4524)
• Focus (First: Episode 4525)
• Explore (First: Episode 4526)

Behind the scenes

Chris Lange served as creative director and art director for the segments, Joey Mazzarino as the writer, Jolene Lew as producer, with music composed by Richard W. Meyer of Modern Music, and sound design by Dale Goulett of Wow & Flutter.^[1]

Many of the segments were filmed in Brooklyn, New York City.^[2]

Carly Tamer, a 6-year-old, was one of the kids in the segments; both the Sesame segment and Team Umizoomi (created by the creators of Blue’s Clues) where Tamer voiced a character, have the same sound crew.^[3]

Sources

1. ↑ Modern Music press release 9/7/07
2. ↑ Brooklyn Daily Eagle 5/4/07
3. ↑ Karen Forman, «Enjoying the ride to where talent takes her», Times Beacon Record, 16 October 2008.

See also

• What’s the Word on the Street? (book)
• Lehtšu la Lehono Word on the Street segment on Takalani Sesame

Sesame Street
Genre	Children’s television series Educational
Created by	Joan Ganz Cooney Lloyd Morrisett Jim Henson
Theme music composer	Joe Raposo Jon Stone Bruce Hart
Opening theme	«Can You Tell Me How to Get to Sesame Street?»
Ending theme	«Can You Tell Me How to Get to Sesame Street?» (instrumental; up until season 45) «Smarter, Stronger, Kinder» (season 46 onwards)
Country of origin	United States
Original language	English
No. of seasons	53
No. of episodes	4,633[note 1]
Production
Executive producers	David Connell (1969–72)[1][2] Jon Stone (1972–78)[3][4] Al Hyslop (1978–80) (credited as «producer» in season 10)[5] Dulcy Singer (1980–93)[6][7] Michael Loman (1993–2002)[8][9] Dr. Lewis Bernstein (2003–05)[10][11] Carol-Lynn Parente (2006–17)[12] Brown Johnson (2017–19) Benjamin Lehmann (2018–present)
Production locations	Reeves Teletape Studios (1969–92) Unitel Video, Inc. (1987–93) Kaufman Astoria Studios (1993–present)
Running time	60 minutes (1969–2015) 30 minutes (2014–present)
Production company	Sesame Workshop[note 2]
Release
Original network	NET (1969–1970) PBS (1970–present) HBO (2016–2020) HBO Max (2020–present)
Picture format	NTSC (1969–2008) HDTV 1080i (2008–present)
Original release	November 10, 1969 – present

Sesame Street is an American educational children’s television series that combines live-action, sketch comedy, animation and puppetry. It is produced by Sesame Workshop (known as the Children’s Television Workshop until June 2000) and was created by Joan Ganz Cooney and Lloyd Morrisett. It is known for its images communicated through the use of Jim Henson’s Muppets, and includes short films, with humor and cultural references. It premiered on November 10, 1969, to positive reviews, some controversy,^[13] and high viewership. It has aired on the United States national public television provider PBS since its debut, with its first run moving to premium channel HBO on January 16, 2016, then its sister streaming service HBO Max in 2020. Sesame Street is one of the longest-running shows in the world.

The show’s format consists of a combination of commercial television production elements and techniques which have evolved to reflect changes in American culture and audiences’ viewing habits. It was the first children’s TV show to use educational goals and a curriculum to shape its content, and the first show whose educational effects were formally studied. Its format and content have undergone significant changes to reflect changes to its curriculum.

Shortly after its creation, its producers developed what came to be called the CTW Model (after the production company’s previous name), a system of planning, production and evaluation based on collaboration between producers, writers, educators and researchers. The show was initially funded by government and private foundations, but has become somewhat self-supporting due to revenues from licensing arrangements, international sales and other media. By 2006, independently produced versions («co-productions») of Sesame Street were broadcast in 20 countries. In 2001, there were over 120 million viewers of various international versions of Sesame Street; and by its 40th anniversary in 2009, it was broadcast in more than 140 countries.

Sesame Street was by then the 15th-highest-rated children’s television show in the United States. A 1996 survey found that 95% of all American preschoolers had watched it by the time they were three. In 2018, it was estimated that 86 million Americans had watched it as children. As of 2022, it has won 222 Emmy Awards and 11 Grammy Awards, more than any other children’s show.^[14][15]

History

Sesame Street was conceived in 1966 during discussions between television producer Joan Ganz Cooney and Carnegie Foundation vice president Lloyd Morrisett. Their goal was to create a children’s television show that would «master the addictive qualities of television and do something good with them,»^[16] such as helping young children prepare for school. After two years of research, the newly formed Children’s Television Workshop (CTW) received a combined grant of US$8 million ($59 million in 2021 dollars)^[17] from the Carnegie Foundation, the Ford Foundation, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and the U.S. federal government to create and produce a new children’s television show.^[18] The program premiered on public television stations on November 10, 1969.^[19] It was the first preschool educational television program to base its contents and production values on laboratory and formative research.^[20] Initial responses to the show included adulatory reviews, some controversy,^[13] and high ratings.

According to writer Michael Davis, by the mid-1970s the show had become «an American institution.»^[22] The cast and crew expanded during this time, with emphasis on the hiring of women crew members and the addition of minorities to the cast. The show’s success continued into the 1980s. In 1981, when the federal government withdrew its funding, CTW turned to and expanded other revenue sources, including its magazine division, book royalties, product licensing, and foreign broadcast income.^[23] Its curriculum has expanded to include more affective topics such as relationships, ethics and emotions. Many of its storylines have been inspired by the experiences of its writing staff, cast and crew—most notably, the 1982 death of Will Lee, who played Mr. Hooper;^[24] and the marriage of Luis and Maria in 1988.^[25]

By the end of the 1990s, the show faced societal and economic challenges, including changes in young children’s viewing habits, competition from other shows, the development of cable television, and a drop in ratings.^[26] As the 21st century began, the show made major changes. Starting in 2002, its format became more narrative-focused and included ongoing storylines. After its 30th anniversary in 1999, due to the popularity of the Muppet Elmo, the show also incorporated a popular segment known as Elmo’s World.^[27] In 2009, the show won the Outstanding Achievement Emmy for its 40 years on the air.^[28]

In late 2015, in response to «sweeping changes in the media business»^[29] and as part of a five-year programming and development deal, premium television service HBO began airing first-run episodes of Sesame Street. The episodes became available on PBS stations and websites nine months after they aired on HBO.^[29] The deal allowed Sesame Workshop to produce more episodes—increasing from 18 to 35 per season—and to create a spinoff series with the Sesame Street Muppets, and a new educational series.^[30]

At its 50th anniversary in 2019, Sesame Street had produced over 4,500 episodes, two feature-length movies (Follow That Bird in 1985 and The Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland in 1999), 35 TV specials, 200 home videos, and 180 albums.^[15] Its YouTube channel has almost five million subscribers.^[31] It was announced in October 2019 that first-run episodes will move to HBO Max beginning with the show’s 51st season in 2020.^[32]

Format

From its first episode, Sesame Street’s format has utilized «a strong visual style, fast-moving action, humor, and music,» as well as animation and live-action short films.^[33] When it premiered, most researchers believed that young children did not have long attention spans, and the show’s producers were concerned that an hour-long show would not hold their attention. At first, its «street scenes»—the action recorded on its set—consisted of character-driven interactions. Rather than ongoing stories, they were written as individual, curriculum-based segments interrupted by «inserts» of puppet sketches, short films and animations. This structure allowed producers to use a mixture of styles and characters, and to vary its pace, presumably keeping it interesting to young viewers. However, by season 20, research showed that children were able to follow a story—and the street scenes, while still interspersed with other segments, became evolving storylines.^[34][35]

On recommendations by child psychologists, the producers initially decided that the show’s human actors and Muppets would not interact because they were concerned it would confuse young children.^[36] When CTW tested the new show, they found that children paid attention during the Muppet segments, and that their interest was lost during the «Street» segments.^[37] They requested that Henson and his team create Muppets such as Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch to interact with the human actors, and the Street segments were re-shot.^[38][39]

Sesame Street‘s format remained intact until the 2000s, when the changing audience required that producers move to a more narrative format. In 1998, the popular «Elmo’s World,» a 15-minute-long segment hosted by the Muppet Elmo, was created.^[40] Starting in 2014, during the show’s 45th season, the producers introduced a half-hour version of the program.^[41][42][43] The new version, which originally complemented the full-hour series, was broadcast weekday afternoons and streamed on the Internet.^[41] In 2017, in response to the changing viewing habits of toddlers, the show’s producers decreased the show’s length from one hour to 30 minutes across all its broadcast platforms. The new version focused on fewer characters, reduced pop culture references «once included as winks for their parents», and focused «on a single backbone topic.»^[44]

Educational goals

Author Malcolm Gladwell said that «Sesame Street was built around a single, breakthrough insight: that if you can hold the attention of children, you can educate them.»^[45] Gerald S. Lesser, the CTW’s first advisory board chair, went even further, saying that the effective use of television as an educational tool needed to capture, focus, and sustain children’s attention.^[46] Sesame Street was the first children’s show to structure each episode, and the segments within them, to capture children’s attention, and to make, as Gladwell put it, «small but critical adjustments» to keep it.^[47] According to CTW researchers Rosemarie Truglio and Shalom Fisch, it was one of the few children’s shows to utilize a detailed and comprehensive educational curriculum, garnered from formative and summative research.^[48]

Sesame Street‘s creators and researchers formulated both cognitive and affective goals for the show. They initially focused on cognitive goals, while addressing affective goals indirectly, believing it would increase children’s self-esteem and feelings of competency.^[49] One of their primary goals was preparing young children for school, especially children from low-income families,^[50] using modeling,^[51] repetition,^[52] and humor.^[46] They adjusted its content to increase viewers’ attention and the show’s appeal,^[53] and encouraged older children and parents to «co-view» it by including more sophisticated humor, cultural references, and celebrity guests; by 2019, 80% of parents watched Sesame Street with their children, and 650 celebrities had appeared on the show.^[15][54][55]

During Sesame Street‘s first season, some critics felt that it should address more overtly such affective goals as social competence, tolerance of diversity, and nonaggressive ways of resolving conflict. The show’s creators and producers responded by featuring these themes in interpersonal disputes between its Street characters.^[56] During the 1980s, the show incorporated real-life experiences of its cast and crew, including the death of Will Lee (Mr. Hooper) and the pregnancy of Sonia Manzano (Maria).^[24] In later seasons, it addressed real-life disasters such as the September 11 terrorist attacks and Hurricane Katrina.^[57]

In its first season, the show addressed its outreach goals by focusing on the promotion of educational materials used in preschool settings; and in subsequent seasons, by focusing on their development. Innovative programs were developed because their target audience, children and their families in low-income, inner-city homes, did not traditionally watch educational programs on television and because traditional methods of promotion and advertising were not effective with these groups.^[58]

Starting in 2006, the Workshop expanded its outreach by creating a series of PBS specials and DVDs focusing on how military deployment affects the families of servicepeople.^[59] Its outreach efforts also focused on families of prisoners, health and wellness, and safety.^[60] In 2013, SW started Sesame Street in Communities, to help families dealing with difficult issues.^[61]

Funding

As a result of Cooney’s initial proposal in 1968, the Carnegie Institute awarded her an $1 million grant to create a new children’s television program and establish the CTW,^[16][18][62] renamed in June 2000 to Sesame Workshop (SW).

Nixon administration offials argued: we can get Sesame Street to reach poor kids by spending sixty-five cents. Why would we spend thousands of Dollars for Head Start?»^[63]

Cooney and Morrisett procured additional multimillion-dollar grants from the U.S. federal government, The Arthur Vining Davis Foundations, CPB, and the Ford Foundation. Davis reported that Cooney and Morrisett decided that if they did not procure full funding from the beginning, they would drop the idea of producing the show.^[64] As Lesser reported, funds gained from a combination of government agencies and private foundations protected them from the economic pressures experienced by commercial broadcast television networks, but created challenges in procuring future funding.^[65]

After Sesame Street‘s initial success, its producers began to think about its survival beyond its development and first season and decided to explore other funding sources. From the first season, they understood that the source of their funding, which they considered «seed» money, would need to be replaced.^[66] The 1970s were marked by conflicts between the CTW and the federal government; in 1978, the U.S. Department of Education refused to deliver a $2 million check until the last day of CTW’s fiscal year. As a result, the CTW decided to depend upon licensing arrangements with toy companies and other manufacturers, publishing, and international sales for their funding.^[23]

In 1998, the CTW accepted corporate sponsorship to raise funds for Sesame Street and other projects. For the first time, they allowed short advertisements by indoor playground manufacturer Discovery Zone, their first corporate sponsor, to air before and after each episode. Consumer advocate Ralph Nader, who had previously appeared on Sesame Street, called for a boycott of the show, saying that the CTW was «exploiting impressionable children.»^[19] In 2015, in response to funding challenges, it was announced that premium television service HBO would air first-run episodes of Sesame Street.^[29] Steve Youngwood, SW’s Chief Operating Officer, called the move «one of the toughest decisions we ever made.»^[67] According to The New York Times, the move «drew an immediate backlash.»^[30] Critics claimed that it favored privileged children over less-advantaged children and their families, the original focus of the show. They also criticized choosing to air first-run episodes on HBO, a network with adult dramas and comedies.^[30][68]

Production

Research

Producer Joan Ganz Cooney has stated, «Without research, there would be no Sesame Street.»^[69]
In 1967, when she and her team began planning the show’s development, combining research with television production was, as she put it, «positively heretical.»^[69] Its producers soon began developing what came to be called the CTW Model, a system of planning, production and evaluation that did not fully emerge until the end of the show’s first season.^{[70][note 3]} According to Morrow, the Model consisted of four parts: «the interaction of receptive television producers and child science experts, the creation of a specific and age-appropriate curriculum, research to shape the program directly, and independent measurement of viewers’ learning.»^[70]

Cooney credited the show’s high standard in research procedures to Harvard professors Gerald S. Lesser, whom CTW hired to design its educational objectives; and Edward L. Palmer, who conducted the show’s formative research and bridged the gap between producers and researchers.^[71] CTW conducted research in two ways: in-house formative research that informed and improved production;^[72] and independent summative evaluations, conducted by the Educational Testing Service (ETS) during the first two seasons, which measured its educational effectiveness.^[20] Cooney said, «From the beginning, we—the planners of the project—designed the show as an experimental research project with educational advisers, researchers, and television producers collaborating as equal partners.»^[73] She characterized the collaboration as an «arranged marriage.»^[69]

Writing

Sesame Street has used many writers in its long history. As Peter Hellman wrote in his 1987 article in New York Magazine, «The show, of course, depends upon its writers, and it isn’t easy to find adults who could identify the interest level of a pre-schooler.»^[24] Fifteen writers a year worked on the show’s scripts, but very few lasted longer than one season. Norman Stiles, head writer in 1987, reported that most writers would «burn out» after writing about a dozen scripts.^[24] According to Gikow, Sesame Street went against the convention of hiring teachers to write for the show, as most educational television programs did at the time. Instead, Cooney and the producers felt that it would be easier to teach writers how to interpret curriculum than to teach educators how to write comedy.^[74] As Stone stated, «Writing for children is not so easy.»^[74] Long-time writer Tony Geiss agreed, stating in 2009, «It’s not an easy show to write. You have to know the characters and the format and how to teach and be funny at the same time, which is a big, ambidextrous stunt.»^[75]

The show’s research team developed an annotated document, or «Writer’s Notebook,» which served as a bridge between the show’s curriculum goals and script development.^[76] The notebook was a compilation of programming ideas designed to teach specific curriculum points,^[77] provided extended definitions of curriculum goals, and assisted the writers and producers in translating the goals into televised material.^[78] Suggestions in the notebook were free of references to specific characters and contexts on the show so that they could be implemented as openly and flexibly as possible.^[79]

The research team, in a series of meetings with the writers, also developed «a curriculum sheet» that described the show’s goals and priorities for each season. After receiving the curriculum focus and goals for the season, the writers met to discuss ideas and story arcs for the characters, and an «assignment sheet» was created that suggested how much time was allotted for each goal and topic.^[76][80] When a script was completed, the show’s research team analyzed it to ensure that the goals were met. Then each production department met to determine what each episode needed in terms of costumes, lights, and sets. The writers were present during the show’s taping, which for the first twenty-four years of the show took place in Manhattan, and after 1992, at the Kaufman Astoria Studios in Queens to make last-minute revisions when necessary.^{[81][82][83][note 4]}

Media

Early in their history Sesame Street and the CTW began to look for alternative funding sources and turned to creating products and writing licensing agreements. They became, as Cooney put it, «a multiple-media institution.»^[86] In 1970, the CTW created a «non-broadcast» division responsible for creating and publishing books and Sesame Street Magazine.^[87] By 2019, the Sesame Workshop had published over 6,500 book titles.^[31] The Workshop decided from the start that all materials their licensing program created would «underscore and amplify»^[88][89] the show’s curriculum. In 2004, over 68% of Sesame Street‘s revenue came from licenses and products such as toys and clothing.^{[90][note 5]} By 2008, the Sesame Street Muppets accounted for between $15 million and $17 million per year in licensing and merchandising fees, split between the Sesame Workshop and The Jim Henson Company.^[91] By 2019, the Sesame Workshop had over 500 licensing agreements and had produced over 200 hours of home video.^[15][31] There have been two theatrically released Sesame Street movies, Follow That Bird, released in 1985, and Elmo in Grouchland, released in 1999. In early 2019, it was announced that a third film, a musical co-starring Anne Hathaway and written and directed by Jonathan Krisel, would be produced.^[92] In November 2019, Sesame Street announced a family friendly augmented reality application produced by Weyo in partnership with Sesame Workshop in honor of the show’s 50th anniversary.^[93]

Jim Henson, the creator of the Muppets, owned the trademarks to those characters, and was reluctant to market them at first. He agreed when the CTW promised that the profits from toys, books, computer games, and other products were to be used exclusively to fund the CTW and its outreach efforts.^[66][94] Even though Cooney and the CTW had very little experience with marketing, they demanded complete control over all products and product decisions.^[88] Any product line associated with the show had to be educational and inexpensive, and could not be advertised during the show’s airings.^[95] As Davis reported, «Cooney stressed restraint, prudence, and caution» in their marketing and licensing efforts.^{[95][note 6]}

Director Jon Stone, talking about the music of Sesame Street, said: «There was no other sound like it on television.»^[96] For the first time in children’s television, the show’s songs fulfilled a specific purpose and supported its curriculum.^[97] In order to attract the best composers and lyricists, the CTW allowed songwriters like Joe Raposo, Sesame Street‘s first musical director, to retain the rights to the songs they wrote, which earned them lucrative profits and helped the show sustain public interest.^[98] By 2019, there were 180 albums of Sesame Street music produced, and its songwriters had received 11 Grammys.^[15][31] In late 2018, the SW announced a multi-year agreement with Warner Music Group to re-launch Sesame Street Records in the U.S. and Canada. For the first time in 20 years, «an extensive catalog of Sesame Street recordings» was made available to the public in a variety of formats, including CD and vinyl compilations, digital streaming, and downloads.^[99]

Sesame Street used animations and short films commissioned from outside studios,^[100] interspersed throughout each episode, to help teach their viewers basic concepts like numbers and letters.^[101] Jim Henson was one of the many producers to create short films for the show.^[100] Shortly after Sesame Street debuted in the United States, the CTW was approached independently by producers from several countries to produce versions of the show at home. These versions came to be called «co-productions.»^[102] By 2001 there were over 120 million viewers of all international versions of Sesame Street,^[103] and in 2006, there were twenty co-productions around the world.^[104] By its 50th anniversary in 2019, 190 million children viewed over 160 versions of Sesame Street in 70 languages.^[15][105] In 2005, Doreen Carvajal of The New York Times reported that income from the co-productions and international licensing accounted for $96 million.^[90]

Musical

Sesame Street the Musical opened at Theatre Row off Broadway on September 8, 2022 and will run through to November 27, 2022.^[106][107]

Cast, crew and characters

Shortly after the CTW was created in 1968, Joan Ganz Cooney was named its first executive director. She was one of the first female executives in American television. Her appointment was called «one of the most important television developments of the decade.»^[108] She assembled a team of producers, all of whom had previously worked on Captain Kangaroo. Jon Stone was responsible for writing, casting, and format; Dave Connell took over animation; and Sam Gibbon served as the show’s chief liaison between the production staff and the research team.^[109] Cameraman Frankie Biondo has worked on Sesame Street from its first episode in 1969.^[110]

Jim Henson and the Muppets’ involvement in Sesame Street began when he and Cooney met at one of the curriculum planning seminars in Boston. Author Christopher Finch reported that Stone, who had worked with Henson previously, felt that if they could not bring him on board, they should «make do without puppets.»^[18] Henson was initially reluctant, but he agreed to join Sesame Street to meet his own social goals. He also agreed to waive his performance fee for full ownership of the Sesame Street Muppets and to split any revenue they generated with the CTW.^[91] As Morrow stated, Henson’s puppets were a crucial part of the show’s popularity and it brought Henson national attention.^[111] Davis reported that Henson was able to take «arcane academic goals» and translate them to «effective and pleasurable viewing.»^[112] In early research, the Muppet segments of the show scored high, and more Muppets were added during the first few seasons. Morrow reported that the Muppets were effective teaching tools because children easily recognized them, they were stereotypical and predictable, and they appealed to adults and older siblings.^[113]

Although the producers decided against depending upon a single host for Sesame Street, instead casting a group of ethnically diverse actors,^[115] they realized that a children’s television program needed to have, as Lesser put it, «a variety of distinctive and reliable personalities,»^[116] both human and Muppet. Jon Stone, whose goal was to cast white actors in the minority,^[24] was responsible for hiring the show’s first cast. He did not audition actors until Spring 1969, a few weeks before the five test shows were due to be filmed. Stone videotaped the auditions, and Ed Palmer took them out into the field to test children’s reactions. The actors who received the «most enthusiastic thumbs up» were cast.^[117] For example, Loretta Long was chosen to play Susan when the children who saw her audition stood up and sang along with her rendition of «I’m a Little Teapot.»^[117][118] Stone stated that casting was the only aspect of the show that was «just completely haphazard.»^[89] Most of the cast and crew found jobs on Sesame Street through personal relationships with Stone and the other producers.^[89] According to puppeteer Marty Robinson in 2019, longevity was common among the show’s cast and crew.^[31]

According to the CTW’s research, children preferred watching and listening to other children more than to puppets and adults, so they included children in many scenes.^[119] Dave Connell insisted that no child actors be used,^[120] so these children were non-professionals, unscripted, and spontaneous. Many of their reactions were unpredictable and difficult to control, but the adult cast learned to handle the children’s spontaneity flexibly, even when it resulted in departures from the planned script or lesson.^[121] CTW research also revealed that the children’s hesitations and on-air mistakes served as models for viewers.^[122] According to Morrow, this resulted in the show having a «fresh quality,» especially in its early years.^[120]

Reception

Ratings

When Sesame Street premiered on November 10, 1969, it aired on only 67.6% of American televisions, but it earned a 3.3 Nielsen rating, which totaled 1.9 million households.^[123] By the show’s tenth anniversary in 1979, nine million American children under the age of 6 were watching Sesame Street daily. According to a 1993 survey conducted by the U.S. Department of Education, out of the show’s 6.6 million viewers, 2.4 million kindergartners regularly watched it. 77% of preschoolers watched it once a week, and 86% of kindergartners and first- and second-grade students had watched it once a week before starting school. The show reached most young children in almost all demographic groups.^[124]

The show’s ratings significantly decreased in the early 1990s, due to changes in children’s viewing habits and in the television marketplace. The producers responded by making large-scale structural changes to the show.^[125] By 2006, Sesame Street had become «the most widely viewed children’s television show in the world,» with 20 international independent versions and broadcasts in over 120 countries.^[126] A 1996 survey found that 95% of all American preschoolers had watched the show by the time they were three years old.^[127] In 2008, it was estimated that 77 million Americans had watched the series as children.^[126] By the show’s 40th anniversary in 2009, it was ranked the fifteenth-most-popular children’s show on television, and by its 50th anniversary in 2019, the show had 100% brand awareness globally. In 2018, the show was the second-highest-rated program on PBS Kids.^[128][105] In 2021, however, the Sesame Street documentary «50 Years of Sunny Days,» which was broadcast nationally on ABC, did not fare well in the ratings,^[129] scoring only approximately 2.3 million viewers.^[130]

Influence

As of 2001, there were over 1,000 research studies regarding Sesame Street‘s efficacy, impact, and effect on American culture.^[71] The CTW solicited the Educational Testing Service (ETS) to conduct summative research on the show.^[131] ETS’s two «landmark»^[132] summative evaluations, conducted in 1970 and 1971, demonstrated that the show had a significant educational impact on its viewers.^[133] These studies have been cited in other studies of the effects of television on young children.^{[131][note 7]} Additional studies conducted throughout Sesame Street‘s history demonstrated that the show continued to have a positive effect on its young viewers.^{[note 8]}

Lesser believed that Sesame Street research «may have conferred a new respectability upon the studies of the effects of visual media upon children.»^[135] He also believed that the show had the same effect on the prestige of producing shows for children in the television industry.^[135] Historian Robert Morrow, in his book Sesame Street and the Reform of Children’s Television, which chronicled the show’s influence on children’s television and on the television industry as a whole, reported that many critics of commercial television saw Sesame Street as a «straightforward illustration for reform.»^[136] Les Brown, a writer for Variety, saw in Sesame Street «a hope for a more substantial future» for television.^[136]

Morrow reported that the networks responded by creating more high-quality television programs, but that many critics saw them as «appeasement gestures.»^[137] According to Morrow, despite the CTW Model’s effectiveness in creating a popular show, commercial television «made only a limited effort to emulate CTW’s methods,» and did not use a curriculum or evaluate what children learned from them.^[138] By the mid-1970s commercial television had abandoned their experiments with creating better children’s programming.^[139] Other critics hoped that Sesame Street, with its depiction of a functioning, multicultural community, would nurture racial tolerance in its young viewers.^[140] It was not until the mid-1990s that another children’s television educational program, Blue’s Clues, used the CTW’s methods to create and modify their content. The creators of Blue’s Clues were influenced by Sesame Street, but wanted to use research conducted in the 30 years since its debut. Angela Santomero, one of its producers, said, «We wanted to learn from Sesame Street and take it one step further.»^[141]

Critic Richard Roeper said that perhaps one of the strongest indicators of the influence of Sesame Street has been the enduring rumors and urban legends surrounding the show and its characters, especially speculation concerning the sexuality of Bert and Ernie.^[142][143]

Critical reception

Sesame Street was praised from its debut in 1969. Newsday reported that several newspapers and magazines had written «glowing» reports about the CTW and Cooney.^[123] The press overwhelmingly praised the new show; several popular magazines and niche magazines lauded it.^[144] In 1970, Sesame Street won twenty awards, including a Peabody Award, three Emmys, an award from the Public Relations Society of America, a Clio, and a Prix Jeunesse.^[145] By 1995, the show had won two Peabody Awards and four Parents’ Choice Awards. It was the subject of a traveling exhibition by the Smithsonian Institution,^[146] and a film exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art.^[147]

Sesame Street was not without its detractors, however. The state commission in Mississippi, where Henson was from, operated the state’s PBS member station; in May 1970 it voted to not air Sesame Street because of its «highly [racially] integrated cast of children» which «the commission members felt … Mississippi was not yet ready for.»^[149][150] According to Children and Television, Lesser’s account of the development and early years of Sesame Street, there was little criticism of the show in the months following its premiere, but it increased at the end of its first season and beginning of the second season.^{[151][note 9]} Historian Robert W. Morrow speculated that much of the early criticism, which he called «surprisingly intense,»^[13] stemmed from cultural and historical reasons in regards to, as he put it, «the place of children in American society and the controversies about television’s effects on them.»^[13]

According to Morrow, the «most important» studies finding negative effects of Sesame Street were conducted by educator Herbert A. Sprigle and psychologist Thomas D. Cook during its first two seasons.^[152] Social scientist and Head Start founder Urie Bronfenbrenner criticized the show for being too wholesome.^[153] Psychologist Leon Eisenberg saw Sesame Street‘s urban setting as «superficial» and having little to do with the problems confronted by the inner-city child.^[154] Head Start director Edward Zigler was probably Sesame Street‘s most vocal critic in the show’s early years.^[155]

In spite of their commitment to multiculturalism, the CTW experienced conflicts with the leadership of minority groups, especially Latino groups and feminists, who objected to Sesame Street‘s depiction of Latinos and women.^[156] The CTW took steps to address their objections. By 1971, the CTW hired Hispanic actors, production staff, and researchers, and by the mid-1970s, Morrow reported that «the show included Chicano and Puerto Rican cast members, films about Mexican holidays and foods, and cartoons that taught Spanish words.»^[157] As The New York Times has stated, creating strong female characters «that make kids laugh, but not…as female stereotypes» has been a challenge for the producers of Sesame Street.^[158] According to Morrow, change regarding how women and girls were depicted on Sesame Street occurred slowly.^[159] As more female Muppet performers like Camille Bonora, Fran Brill, Pam Arciero, Carmen Osbahr, Stephanie D’Abruzzo, Jennifer Barnhart, and Leslie Carrara-Rudolph were hired and trained, stronger female characters like Rosita and Abby Cadabby were created.^[160][161]

In 2002, Sesame Street was ranked number 27 on TV Guide’s 50 Greatest TV Shows of All Time.^[162] Sesame Workshop won a Peabody Award in 2009 for its website, sesamestreet.org,^[163] and the show was given Peabody’s Institutional Award in 2019 for 50 years of educating and entertaining children globally.^[164] In 2013, TV Guide ranked the show number 30 on its list of the 60 best TV series.^[165] As of 2021, Sesame Street has received 205 Emmy Awards, more than any other television series.^[166]

See also

• List of accolades received by Sesame Street
• List of human Sesame Street characters
• List of songs from Sesame Street
• Sesame Street (comic strip)
• Sesame Street international co-productions
• The Not Too Late Show with Elmo
• Julia (Sesame Street)
• Mecha Builders

References

Informational notes

Citations

General and cited references

External links

• Official website
• Sesame Street at IMDb
• Sesame Street on Muppet Wiki
• Sesame Street at Curlie
• Sesame Street on PBSKids.org
• Sesame Street at The Interviews: An Oral History of Television
• Abdelfatah, Rund; Ramtin Arablouei; et al. (September 15, 2022). «Getting to Sesame Street». Throughline. National Public Radio. Retrieved September 25, 2022.

Sesame Street Muppet Characters
Sesame Street Human Characters
Autistic Sesame Street Character
Original Sesame Street Characters
Orange Sesame Street Characters
Female Sesame Street Characters
Blue Sesame Street Characters

Sesame Street Characters (Muppets)

Here are the favorite characters of Sesame Street in order of popularity. Ranking is based on internet search results in the USA:

26. Gonger:

Gonger joined the cast in the 48th season after previously appearing in The Furchester Hotel. He works with Cookie Monster in the «Cookie Monster’s Foodie Truck» segment, taking food orders from children. The character of Gonger is performed by Warrick Brownlow-Pike.

Sesame Street Human Characters — Sesame Street Cast

We’ve compiled a list of the human characters of Sesame Street. Some characters on the list are not currently in active casting; however, we included them because they deserve respect. The list is in random order.

18. Mando:

Played by Ismael Crúz Cordova, Mando appeared in seasons 44 and 45. It was first added to the cast in episode 4404. This episode was about the Latin Festival and the Puerto Rico booth hosted by Mando.

16. Gabi — Gabriela Rodriguez (1989 — 2013)

Her real name is Desiree Casado. Gabi is the daughter of Maria and Luis. She was born on Sesame Street in season 20. She was not included in the cast of the series after the 43rd season.

15. Bob — Bob Johnson (1969 — 2017)

His real name is Bob McGrath. He is one of the human characters in the casting of the series for the longest time. Bob is a music teacher on Sesame Street. He acted as a teacher for the Muppet characters. He took part in the 50th anniversary celebration but isn’t in the current cast.

14. Chris — Chris Robinson (2007 — ?)

The character of Chris is played by Chris Knowings. Chris has been in the cast of the series starting from season 38 to the present day. Because of the Muppets’ pranks, he often tries to deal with problems that he has to solve. He is also Gordon and Susan’s nephew.

13. Leela (2008 — 2015)

Leela is a woman of Indian descent. She is portrayed by Nitya Vidyasagar. Leela works in a laundromat in the series. She was a very popular character in the seasons she was in the casting. She also took part in Sesame Street’s 50th anniversary celebration.

Loretta Long played the character of Susan on Sesame Street. Susan was a prominent character on the show, who worked at the Fix-It Shop and often acted as a mediator among the Muppet characters. She was part of the cast from the show’s early years until the 45th season.

11. Nina (2016 — ?)

The character is played by Suki Lopez. Nina owns a bike store on Sesame Street. She is Spanish. She is bilingual and highly intelligent. She solves the problems faced by muppets with her intelligence. She is one of the few human characters in the current cast (as of 2022).

10. David (1971 — 1989)

David was a cheerful and singing character who worked at Hooper’s Store for a while and later took over the store after Mr. Hooper’s death. He and Maria were lovers for a while, but Maria eventually married Luis. David’s last name was never mentioned on the show. Northern Calloway, who played the character, died two years after leaving the cast. He will always be remembered with respect for his contributions to Sesame Street.

8. Gina — Gina Jefferson (1986 — 2017)

She initially worked at Hooper’s Store, then at a nursery and eventually at her own veterinary clinic. The character of Gina was originally thought of for only 1 episode in the casting. However, she later found a permanent place for himself. Gina was played by Alison Bartlett-O’Reilly.

Mr. Noodle appeared in the series with Elmo’s World segment. Mr. Noodle never speaks but uses body language well. Elmo always turns to Mr. Noodle when he’s helpless with Dorothy’s questions. He usually finds the right answer after several failed and foolish attempts. Mr. Noodle was successfully played by Bill Irwin.

6. Charlie — Charlotte (2020 — ?)

She is a 7-year-old girl (2022). Charlie moved to the street with her family in the 50th season. She also appeared in «The Magical Wand Chase» and in audience footage of The Not-Too-Late show. The character of Charlie is played by Violet Tinnirello. Charlie is one of five human characters in the current cast of the series. She is very talented and will become even more talented over time.

5. Linda (1971 — 2002)

Linda was a deaf character. She used American Sign Language to communicate. Through Linda, it was aimed to draw attention to the problems faced by deaf people. She was the librarian on Sesame Street. She and Bob were emotionally close to each other. Linda was played by Linda Bove.

Another of the most important human characters in the casting of the series is Gordon. I am still waiting for him to come out of a corner and come back to the street. Gordon is married to Susan and they have adopted a child named Miles. Gordon is a father model with a mature character. He created a positive father figure for children watching the series. He was played by Matt Robinson and Hal Miller in the first seasons of the series, and was played by Roscoe Orman starting in season 6. I was a fan of Roscoe Orman’s «Gordon», I miss him…

3. Miles — Miles Robinson (1985 — 2008)

Miles is the adopted child of Susan and Gordon. Miles represented the younger generation in the series. He graduated from high school at the same time as Gabi and worked with Alan for a while at Hooper’s Store.

2. Maria — Maria Rodriguez (1971 — 2015)

Maria is a female character of Puerto Rican descent. Maria would solve problems between muppet characters. She married another important name of the show, Luis. When Maria became pregnant, this was handled as a story in the episodes of the series. They had a son named Gabi and Gabi became one of the main women of the show. Maria was played by Sonia Manzano.

1. Alan (1998 — ?)

He’s still in the show’s current cast. (2022) Alan is a character of Japanese descent. After Mr. Hooper’s death, Hooper’s Store was temporarily owned by Mr. Handford and David. After them Alan took over Hooper’s Store. Chris is currently her assistant. Another feature of Alan is that he represents the people of the Far East in the show. Alan was played by Alan Muraoka.

Autistic Sesame Street Character

Julia is an autistic character on Sesame Street. She is a 4-year-old muppet with green eyes and orange hair. Autism is a genetic condition that typically presents in the first three years of life and lasts for a lifetime. People with autism often have difficulty with social interaction and communication, and it’s important to avoid stigmatizing or isolating them, as this can hinder their personal development.

Here’s the story of Julia in episode 4715: Julia, Abby and Elmo painting out in the arbor. Alan is with them. Big Bird greets Julia but gets no response from her. Julia is painting the cute toy bunny Fluffster. Big Bird wants to congratulate him on his work, but Julia panics and walks away, flapping her arms.

Big Bird is upset about this and thinks Julia doesn’t like him. Alan explains that this is not true what Big Bird thinks, Julia has autism and may act differently.

At the end of the episode, Big Bird and Julia become good friends, and Big Bird introduces his toy, Radar, to Julia.

Original Sesame Street Characters

Who were the original Sesame Street characters? To answer the question of who are the original Sesame Street characters, we will now travel back in time with you to 1969.

Original Sesame Street Human Characters:

6. Gordon:

Three people played the character of Gordon throughout the series. The character of Gordon was first played by Matt Robinson in 1969. Matt was in the cast until 1972.

5. Susan:

Gordon’s wife, Susan Robinson, was also a human character in the cast in the first season of the series. (Loretta Long)

4. Mr. Hooper:

Mr. Hooper was running the candy store Hooper’s Store in season 1. (Will Lee)

3. Bob:

Music teacher Bob Johnson was another character featured in the original cast in 1969. (Bob McGrath)

2. Jennie:

Jennie only appeared in the first season of the show, but she was also in the original casting. She would draw pictures and play guessing games with the children. (Jada Rowland)

1. Buddy and Jim:

Orange Sesame Street Characters

It is possible to see muppet characters of all colors on Sesame Street. Because the creators of the show love multicolor. It is aimed to prepare children for a world where there is a lot of diversity. Orange color has been used in many muppet characters from past to present.

Orange is the warmest color after red. Orange is an exciting, happy and dynamic color. So who are the popular orange muppets on Sesame Street and what are their names? Then let’s get started.

4. Murray:

Murray Monster is described as an «energetic monster» in some sources. He was known as the «Orange Monster» when he joined the cast of the show in 2005. The energy of the orange color is evident in Murray.

3. Ernie:

One of the show’s classic muppets, Ernie is an orange Sesame Street character. All the effects of the color orange are seen in the character: he is playful, funny and always likes to move. Bert is usually a quiet muppet. Ernie leads him into action and an active lifestyle.

2. Rudy:

Another orange muppet of the show is Rudy. Rudy’s historical origins don’t go far back. He was included in the series in the 47th season. Rudy made an animated appearance in the «Abby’s Amazing Adventures» segment. It is possible to see the positive effects of the color orange in Rudy: a self-confident personality who loves humor, adventure and exploration.

1. Zoe:

The last character in orange color that I will present to you is Zoe. It is said that Zoe was designed in orange to complement Elmo. This is partially true, but not entirely true. In fact, the color orange was chosen because it reflects the movement-loving and dynamic features of the character. We see the dynamism-enhancing effects of the orange color in Zoe. Zoe loves to dance and act. That’s why she appeared in the «dancing» and «jumping» episodes of the «Elmo’s World» series.

Female Sesame Street Characters

Sesame Street has many female characters. These female characters are confident, talented and very cute. We can divide these characters into two as muppet and human. Human female characters often guide the muppet children and try to find solutions for the problems faced by the muppets. We tried to list the Sesame Street female characters for you below. Muppets are first on the list, then humans.

Blue Sesame Street Characters

The Sesame Street blue characters are actually outnumbered. Here we will only consider popular blue characters. By the way, it is necessary to mention the psychological effects of the color blue. Blue is a color that reduces stress and gives confidence and peace. But the blue characters in Sesame Street are often marginal. Many muppets of varying colors have appeared and disappeared from the show over time. Blue muppets, on the other hand, continued their popularity with their unusual features and some obsessions. Then now is the time to get to know them.

4. Herry Monster

3. Mr. Johnson

2. Grover 

Grover is a popular blue character appearing in the series since 1970. The original Grover wasn’t blue unfortunately, it had a terrible color as if it had come out of the garbage. Grover is one of the most active characters in the show in my opinion. Because we see that it does not always come to the forefront in a single aspect.

1. Cookie Monster

The #1 most popular blue Sesame Street character is definitely Cookie Monster. Cookie Monster is known for eating cookies with a loud noise and splashing pieces of it. He presented the «Letter of the Day» segment with Prairie Dawn. Prairie wanted to keep him from eating the letter of the day. Prairie wasn’t very successful, however, because Cookie Monster had a strong urge when it came to cookies. 

Celebrating 40 Years of Sesame Street

According to the Sesame Street Workshop, Sesame Street was the number one show recalled by mothers of children ages 6 months to 11 years when asked to name any children’s program. It’s no wonder this incredibly popular and educational program has stayed on the air for 40 years! In honor of Sesame Street‘s milestone birthday, we’ve put together a list of fun facts and trivia that even the most die-hard Sesame Street fan might not know.

Grover Wasn’t Always Blue

In the very first season of Sesame Street, Grover, the cuddly blue creature everyone loves, was actually brown. In addition, Oscar made his debut as an orange grouch, not the green grump we know him as today.

Cookie Monster Had Another Job

Speaking of lovable blue creatures, Cookie Monster wasn’t an amateur when he joined the Sesame Street cast. In fact, he’d started his acting career almost three years prior, starring as «The Wheel Stealer» in an unaired General Foods commercial. He then went on to appear in an IBM training film and a Munchos commercial.

Cookie Monster is also the only Muppet character who has five fingers. Everyone else has four.

What Exactly is Rosita?

Most people know Rosita as the only Hispanic Muppet on Sesame Street, but few know what she actually is. Are you curious? Rosita is a fruit bat.

Sesame Street Has Won Emmys Galore

To date, this children’s series has won 118 Emmy Awards — that’s more than any other show in television history. Around 8 million people tune in every week. Sesame Street has aired in over 120 countries since its inception, making it the most widely viewed children’s series in the world.

Ernie Has a Hit Song

Ernie’s song «Rubber Ducky» was released as a single in 1970, and made it to #16 on the Billboard chart.

Ernie is also the only Sesame Street Muppet to have a built in smile. His rubber ducky sure makes him happy!

Sesame Street Has Had Its Share of Visiting Celebrities

In the 4,212 episodes that have aired over the past 40 years, over 440 celebrities have visited Sesame Street, including four first ladies: Barbara Bush, Hillary Clinton, Laura Bush, and Michelle Obama. James Earl Jones was the first celebrity to make an appearance.

Where did Sesame Street Get Its Name?

The search for a catchy name was long and arduous, until one of the show’s writers suggested Sesame Street. The word «sesame» was meant to invoke a sense of excitement and mystery, as in the old Arabian Nights saying, «Open Sesame!» The word «street» was used because of the show’s urban setting — Sesame Street was the ideal combination of these two words.

Big Bird Is No Canary

Most people think Big Bird is a giant yellow canary. Au contraire — he’s actually an 8’2 golden condor.

Elmo Was Behind the Scenes

Elmo, a kids’ favorite, didn’t debut until 1984, but if you look closely, you’ll see he’s worked as a background Anything Muppet since the early 1970s. He is also the only Muppet in history to have testified before Congress. Twenty-five years after he appeared on the scene, Elmo is still only 3 ½ years old.

Snuffleupagus Was Imaginary

From 1971 to 1985, Snuffleupagus was Big Bird’s imaginary friend. It wasn’t until 1985 that he became a character on the show that everyone could see. Because nobody believed Big Bird about Snuffleupagus, and parents tended not to believe their children about imaginary friends, producers were afraid that this disbelief would lead to children being afraid to speak out about sexual abuse.

And if you’re curious about type of animal Snuffleupagus is, he’s a Pachyderm.

Birdseed Milkshakes Are Expensive

Big Bird’s favorite snack cost a mere 20 cents at Hooper’s Store back in 1969. Today, these frothy creations go for a whopping $2.99.

Most Popular Slideshows

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29
On «Sesame Street» in 1982, a superhero debuted appearing to be a purple rabbit wearing a cape and carrying a carrot and a bunch of celery. While he sings a song, he converts Andy, who is addicted to candy, and Eddie, who eats spaghetti, to lovers of vegetables. What is this Muppet’s name, which also is the title of the song?

Answer:
Captain Vegetable

Jim Henson was the original performer of Captain Vegetable, and later the role was taken on by Richard Hunt. However, John Leguizamo later played a human version of the hero with the same name.

The song was written by Jeff Moss. During its original performance, the rabbit superhero has one huge black eyebrow for eyes, two very tall pink and purple ears, a mop of shaggy fire-red hair, and long, thick, curly white whiskers. As he approaches Andy and Eddie, each one respectively asks, «Who are you? Some kind of bad dream?» and «What are you? Are you some kind of weirdo?» Captain Vegetable, completely oblivious to how odd he appears, responds each time with «Do I look like a bad dream?» and «Do I look like a weirdo?» While Andy and Eddie roll their eyes, Captain Vegetable explains, «It is I, Captain Vegetable / With my carrot and my celery. / Eating crunchy vegetables is good for me, / And they’re good for you, so eat them too . . . «

Your options:

[ Super Grover ]

[ Cauliflower Hare ]

[ The Purple Pumpernickel ]

[ Captain Vegetable ]

  From Quiz: Sing a Song of Sesame Street!