The 42nd season of “Sesame Street” premiered yesterday, and the classic preschool educational series has added a few new things to its usual mix of song, dance and educational lessons. Elmo, Grover, Big Bird and the whole “Sesame Street” gang will focus on STEM education – science, technology, engineering and math – and will use clever spoofs and celebrity guests to teach kids. Among the famous names taking a walk down the “Street” this season are Elvis Costello, Amy Adams, Conan O'Brien, Nicole Kidman, Robin Williams, Joel McHale, Naomi Watts, Mark Ruffalo, Liev Schreiber, Mila Kunis, Sofia Vergara, Emma Stone, Seth Rogen, Andy Samberg, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Bruno Mars, Craig Ferguson, Jimmy Kimmel, Carmelo Anthony, Johnny Galecki, John Krasinski and Ken Jeong. Here are a few ‘Sesame Street” fun facts:
-
Sesame Street has won more Emmy Awards than any other series in
the history of television (122). It’s been on the air since November
1969 and airs in 125 countries. It is the most-watched children’s
program in the world.
-
The Muppets were created by the late Jim Henson. Big Bird,
Grover, Oscar the Grouch, Cookie Monster and Bert and Ernie are some of
the Muppets that have been around “Sesame Street” since the very
beginning.
-
Big Bird’s friend Snuffleupagus first appeared in 1971, and the
number-loving Count came along in 1972. Elmo arrived in 1979. At first,
he was known simply as Little Monster. Abby Cadabby became the newest
Muppet on the block in 2006. The fairy in training is also the most
modern Muppet: beginning last season, she is a digital creation rather
than a physical, fuzzy puppet.
-
The first episode of “Sesame Street” was sponsored by the letters W, S, and E and the numbers 2 and 3.
-
Creators of “Sesame Street” were thinking of calling the show “123 Avenue B.”
-
Big Bird is 8 feet, 2 inches tall.
-
Snuffleupagus wears size 65 GGG shoes
-
Oscar the Grouch was orange during the first season, before being changed to green.
-
Actor Caroll Spinney, now 75, has played Big Bird since the first episode. He also plays Oscar the Grouch.
-
Kermit the Frog made his last appearance on the show in 2001. He is the only original Muppet no longer on “Sesame Street.”
-
Over 77 million Americans have watched Sesame Street as children.
-
In 2002, producers of a South African version of “Sesame
Street” (which became “Takalani Sesame”) announced that they were adding
an HIV-positive Muppet named Kami.
