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'Sesame Street' celebrates 40 years of children's television
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Cover for Sesame Street: A Celebration of 40 Years of Life on the Street
November 10 celebrates a landmark event in children's television history. It was today, 40 years ago, that 'Sesame Street' debuted. Since that date in 1969 , 'Sesame Street' has gone on to entertain, enlighten, and education children in over 120 countries around the world.
'Sesame Street' is celebrating its birthday in style. First Lady Michelle Obama will be the special guest on the 40th anniversary episode, a book (Sesame Street: A Celebration of 40 Years of Life on the Street) has been released and the cast has appeared as Google doodles over the last week. Everyone that grew up watching 'Sesame Street', or watches it with their children (or grandchildren) has been waxing nostalgic over their favorite sketches, songs and characters (for the record, my favorites are, respectively, Grover's Far and Near, Big Bird's version of the alphabet and a tie between Snuffy and Grover)
In keeping with the celebration, here are some pieces of trivia (10, 10 pieces of trivia!) that have helped make 'Sesame Street' the landmark series it is today:
- Sesame Street was created as a result of experimental psychologist Lloyd Morrisett observing his daughter's fascination with the test pattern on their TV set. The story was recounted at a dinner party and the rest is history.
- Oscar was originally orange
- Mr. Snuffleupagus' real name is Aloysius Snuffleupagus
- James Earl Jones was the very first celebrity guest to appear on Sesame Street. This is interesting considering years later he co-starred with Grover...er, Frank Oz...sorry, Yoda...in the Star Wars trilogy. Interestingly, neither Frank Oz nor James Earl Jones appeared on screen; they merely provided voices to two of the most memorable characters in the trilogy.
- Big Bird's teddy bear, Radar, was given to him by Mr. Hooper
- Kevin Clash rescued Elmo from the trash pile. He (Elmo, not Kevin Clash) first appeared as a walk-on Muppet in 1984.
- The cookies that Cookie Monster eats are rice cakes painted to look like cookies
- Baby Bear is Jewish
- Abby Cadabby, introduced in 2005, was the first new female Muppet introduced in 13 years and first lead female Muppet on 'Sesame Street' ever (Miss Piggy, although a Muppet, was on the 'Muppet Show')
- Today's episode, number 4212, will make 'Sesame Street' the longest running children's show in history.
Sesame Street's impact on children, and children's programming, over the 40 years is undeniable. The lessons taught are timeless, and apply both on-screen and off. So thank you, 'Sesame Street', for all that you've done. May you have another happy and wonderful 40 years.
You can visit Sesame Street online at www.sesamestreet.org
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