"Sesame Street" (1969) TV series 1969-????

Creator:

Joan Ganz Cooney

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 19 | 21 | 22 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 36 | 37 | 38 | 39 | unknown

Release Date:

10 November 1969 (USA)

Genre:

Animation | Comedy | Family | Fantasy | Music

Plot:

On a special inner city street, the inhabitants, both human and puppet, teach preschool subjects with comedy, cartoons, games and songs.

Plot Keywords:

Puppet | Pre School | Monster | Children | Famous Opening Theme

Awards:

Won 7 Primetime Emmys. Another 123 wins & 160 nominations

Cast

Frank Oz	...	Bert / ... (69 episodes, 1969-2008)
Caroll Spinney	...	Big Bird / ... (63 episodes, 1969-2008)
Loretta Long	...	Susan / ... (62 episodes, 1969-2008)
Bob McGrath	...	Bob / ... (57 episodes, 1969-2007)
Sonia Manzano	...	Maria / ... (54 episodes, 1969-2008)
Jerry Nelson	...	Muppet / ... (49 episodes, 1970-2008)
Emilio Delgado	...	Luis / ... (46 episodes, 1971-2008)
Jim Henson	...	Ernie / ... (45 episodes, 1969-1988)
Roscoe Orman	...	Gordon / ... (44 episodes, 1974-2008)
Kevin Clash	...	Elmo / ... (40 episodes, 1985-2008)
Martin P. Robinson	...	Muppet / ... (38 episodes, 1982-2008)
Fran Brill	...	Muppet / ... (35 episodes, 1970-2008)
Alan Muraoka	...	Alan (34 episodes, 1998-2008)
Joey Mazzarino	...	Muppet / ... (34 episodes, 1991-2008)
Carmen Osbahr	...	Muppet / ... (32 episodes, 1991-2008)
David Rudman	...	Muppet / ... (32 episodes, 1992-2007)
Eric Jacobson	...	Muppet / ... (31 episodes, 2000-2008)
Stephanie D'Abruzzo	...	Muppet / ... (29 episodes, 1998-2008)
Desiree Casado	...	Gabi / ... (28 episodes, 1993-2008)
Steve Whitmire	...	Muppet / ... (28 episodes, 2002-2008)
Will Lee	...	Mr. Hooper / ... (28 episodes, 1969-1983)

Also Known As:

Open Sesame (New Zealand: English title) (new syndication title)
Sesame Street Unpaved (USA) (syndication title)
The New Sesame Street (USA) (new syndication title)

Runtime:

60 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Spanish | American Sign Language

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono | Stereo

Certification:

Argentina:Atp | Australia:G | USA:TV-G (1969-1996) | USA:TV-Y

Filming Locations:

Kaufman Astoria Studios - 3412 36th Street, Astoria, Queens, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Children's Television Workshop (CTW)

Trivia:

The character of Oscar the Grouch was inspired by two people. His attitude comes from a nasty waiter that served Jim Henson and former director Jon Stone at a restaurant called Oscar's Tavern in Manhattan. The voice was inspired by a cab-driver that used to drive 'Carroll Spinney' to the set every day during the first season.

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: During the final stanza of the Anything Muppets' song "J Friends", when the four Muppets jump up at the line "Let's jump with Jane", the hair and forehead of Muppet performer Frank Oz are briefly visible at the bottom of the screen.

Quotes:

Big Bird: Never refer to me as an item. I'm a bird.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Manhunt (2003) (VG)

Soundtrack:

BIG ROUND NOSE

Classic show, but lowering it's standards

This is a children's television classic. It's educational and entertaining, and not painful for parents to watch with their kids. At least it never used to be. It used to be quite edgy, high-brow, very adult-accessible. It's been dumbed down considerably over the years. This is a result of playing to lower age-groups, shorter attention spans, and competing with the run-of-the-mill trash in the kid's TV arena.

The adults have virtually vanished, the muppets have gotten annoying (I'm sure we're all familiar with Elmo by now), the show has shrunk to 40 minutes, the last 20 being a new show-within-a-show known as "Elmo's World". As if the 20 minutes of Elmo aren't enough, even more grating is that there are only about 10-20 episodes of Elmo's World, yet it runs every day! And rather than dealing with reading, writing, counting, nature, social skills, Elmo's World revolves around things like balls, puppies, hair, etc. Yes, this is not your parent's Sesame Street, or probably even the Sesame Street you grew up with. It's a more modern, simple, conformist Street that has considerably less charm but at least more educational value than the other, more commercial stuff out there.

The only reason to turn your kids on to television is rapidly shrinking into another Barney.