Sesame Street

About Sesame Street

"Sesame Street" is a beloved children's television show that first hit the airwaves in 1969. It is a lasting and influential blend of education and entertainment with a diverse cast of characters - both human and puppet. The show is known for its creative puppetry, animated segments, short films about numbers and letters, and its commitment to teaching children about the world around them in an innovative and engaging manner. In this lively and diverse urban neighborhood, friendly monsters, humans, and even birds learn together about language, math, science, music, art and so much more.

Making / Production

"Sesame Street" was the vision of Joan Ganz Cooney, a television producer in the 1960s. She saw an opportunity to use television as an educational tool for young children and thus, the show was born. The innovative puppet designs were created by Jim Henson's Muppet Workshop, and the writing has always balanced education with entertainment. Today, it's a global production with versions all around the world.

Actors

• Caroll Spinney (1969-2018) as Big Bird/Oscar the Grouch: Spinney played the kind and naive Big Bird and the cantankerous Oscar with humor and heart, earning him a Lifetime Achievement Emmy Award.
• Frank Oz (1969-2001) as Bert/Cookie Monster/Grover: Oz imbued each of his characters with a distinct personality becoming a primary reason for the timeless appeal of these characters.
• Sonia Manzano (1971-2015) as Maria Rodriguez: Manzano brought warmth and reality to Sesame Street as Maria who was not only a friendly neighbor but also the owner of the Fix-It Shop.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• "Sesame Street" was the first children's TV show that used a curriculum "roadmap" and research to help inform its content.
• The show has had many celebrity appearances over its run, from actors and musicians to former First Ladies.
• Big Bird’s design was inspired by a large puppet bird that Henson designed for a commercial in the 60s.

Awards

"Sesame Street" has won more Daytime Emmy Awards than any other children's show, with a total of over 150 wins to date. In addition, it has won several prestigious Peabody Awards.

Quotes

• "It is not so much how much you know, but the kind of person you become." - Big Bird
• "Sometimes me think, what is friend? And me think friend is someone to share cookie with." - Cookie Monster
• "Just because you can't think how it can happen doesn’t mean it can’t happen." - Rosita

Music, Soundtrack

• "Can You Tell Me How to Get to Sesame Street?" is the most well-known song from the series, serving as the show's theme song.
• Many memorable tunes have been a part of the show, like "Rubber Duckie," "C Is for Cookie," and "It's Not Easy Being Green."
• The music of Sesame Street has won multiple Grammy Awards over the years.