Sesame Street : NPR

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Sesame Street

March 20, 2025 • Big Bird, politics, and the ABCs: how a television show made to represent New York City neighborhoods like Harlem and the Bronx became beloved by families around a divided country. This episode originally ran in 2022 as "Getting to Sesame Street."

Sesame Street

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Sesame Street characters pose under a "123 Sesame Street" sign at the "Sesame Street" 40th Anniversary temporary street renaming in Dante Park on November 9, 2009 in New York City. (Photo by Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images)

Sesame Street characters pose under a "123 Sesame Street" sign in celebration of their 40th anniversary in 2009. Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images hide caption

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Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images

Sesame Workshop will 'downsize significantly' with layoffs, CEO says

March 5, 2025 • The layoffs come after 200 Sesame Workshop employees announced they want to form a union.

Sesame Workshop will 'downsize significantly' with layoffs, CEO says

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'S' is for solidarity, not strike. 'Sesame Street' writers reach a deal

In this 2008 file photo, Big Bird reads to Connor Scott and Tiffany Jiao during a taping of Sesame Street in New York. Mark Lennihan/AP hide caption

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Mark Lennihan/AP

'S' is for solidarity, not strike. 'Sesame Street' writers reach a deal

April 18, 2024 • The deal offers writers minimums for animation and new media programs, paid parental leave, protections against artificial intelligence and new media residuals.

Do you need to talk to your kids about traumatic events? Sesame Street has some tips

Sesame Street characters Elmo, left, and Cookie Monster pose on the 86th floor observation deck of the Empire State Building to promote the return of the live limited run show "Sesame Street Live! Let's Party!" Evan Agostini/AP hide caption

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Evan Agostini/AP

Television

Do you need to talk to your kids about traumatic events? Sesame Street has some tips

January 27, 2023 • A program from the makers of Sesame Street is helping kids deal with traumatic incidents.

Do you need to talk to your kids about traumatic events? Sesame Street has some tips

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'Sesame Street' co-creator Lloyd Morrisett dies at 93

Sesame Street co-creator Lloyd Morrisett attends the 42nd annual Kennedy Center Honors at the Kennedy Center on Dec. 8, 2019, in Washington, D.C. Morrisett died at 93, Sesame Workshop announced Monday. Greg Allen/Invision/AP hide caption

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Greg Allen/Invision/AP

Obituaries

'Sesame Street' co-creator Lloyd Morrisett dies at 93

January 25, 2023 • Sparked in part by the civil rights movement, the show aimed to teach children basic skills. His hope was to "help those children who would otherwise not succeed in school, do better," he said.

'Sesame Street' hosts Matt Robinson (Gordon), Will Lee (Mr. Hooper) Loretta Long (Susan) and Bob McGrath (Bob) stand with Big Bird on set, circa 1969. Hulton Archive/Children's Television Workshop/Getty Images hide caption

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Hulton Archive/Children's Television Workshop/Getty Images

Throughline

Getting to Sesame Street

September 15, 2022 • In American history, schools have not just been places to learn the ABCs – they're places where socialization happens and cultural norms are developed. Arguments over how and what those norms are and how they're communicated tend to flare up during moments of cultural anxiety. Sesame Street was part of a larger movement in the late 1960s to reach lower income, less privileged and more "urban" audiences. It was part of LBJ's Great Society agenda. But Sesame Street is a TV show - not a classroom. And it was funded in part by taxpayer dollars. This story is about how a television show made to represent New York City neighborhoods – like Harlem and the Bronx – has sustained its mark in educating children in a divided country.

Getting to Sesame Street

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How the arts can help children think about gun violence

When Black Boys Die, a gunplay written and directed by William Electric Black. Jonathan Slaff hide caption

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Jonathan Slaff

Performing Arts

How the arts can help children think about gun violence

June 7, 2022 • The former Sesame Street writer is working with the NYPD to create a small pilot program on gun violence at an elementary school in East Harlem.

How the arts can help children think about gun violence

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Big Bird got 'vaccinated' against COVID-19, drawing outrage from Republicans

Big Bird of Sesame Street attends the 2018 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City. His announcement about getting the COVID-19 vaccine elicited a mixed response. Noam Galai/FilmMagic hide caption

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Noam Galai/FilmMagic

Coronavirus Updates

Big Bird got 'vaccinated' against COVID-19, drawing outrage from Republicans

November 8, 2021 • Big Bird, who is technically 6 years old, got his COVID-19 vaccine over the weekend. His announcement did not sit well with conservatives like Sen. Ted Cruz, who called it "government propaganda."

The Story Of 'Sesame Street': From Radical Experiment To Beloved TV Mainstay

Jim Henson, the puppeteer behind Ernie, and Frank Oz, the longtime voice of Bert, on the set of Sesame Street. Robert Fuhring/Courtesy Sesame Workshop hide caption

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Robert Fuhring/Courtesy Sesame Workshop

Television

The Story Of 'Sesame Street': From Radical Experiment To Beloved TV Mainstay

May 8, 2021 • A new documentary Street Gang: How We Got To Sesame Street recounts how the classic program reinvented children's television and continues to interpret the world with authenticity.

Elmo Sings! Watch Him Perform 'It Feels Good (When You Sing a Song)'

Richard Termine/JALC

Music

Elmo Sings! Watch Him Perform 'It Feels Good (When You Sing a Song)'

WBGO and Jazz at Lincoln Center

October 30, 2020 • Watch a duet between Elmo and Hoots the Owl on stage with the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis. Be careful not to sprain yourself smiling.

Swinging The Clouds Away: Jazz Takes Over Sesame Street

Richard Termine/JALC

Jazz Night In America: The Radio Program

Swinging The Clouds Away: Jazz Takes Over Sesame Street

WBGO and Jazz at Lincoln Center

October 23, 2020 • On this show, the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis invite the Sesame Street gang onstage. Plus, trombonist Joe Fielder's Open Sesame share rare songs from the Sesame songbook.

Swinging The Clouds Away: Jazz Takes Over Sesame Street

56:32

Caroll Spinney, Who Played Big Bird And Oscar On 'Sesame Street,' Dies At 85

Puppeteer Caroll Spinney who played Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch on Sesame Street, died Sunday at age 85. Albert L. Ortega/Getty Images hide caption

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Albert L. Ortega/Getty Images

Obituaries

Caroll Spinney, Who Played Big Bird And Oscar On 'Sesame Street,' Dies At 85

December 8, 2019 • The actor and puppeteer performed on the popular TV show from its very first episode in 1969 until his retirement last year.

After 50 Years On 'Sesame Street,' The Voice Of Big Bird And Oscar Is Retiring

Caroll Spinney and Oscar the Grouch at the Daytime Emmy Awards in 2007. After some 50 years on Sesame Street, Spinney is retiring. Noel Vasquez/Getty Images hide caption

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Noel Vasquez/Getty Images

Television

After 50 Years On 'Sesame Street,' The Voice Of Big Bird And Oscar Is Retiring

October 17, 2018 • Caroll Spinney, 84, has performed the roles since the show's very first episode. "I will always be Big Bird," he said. "And even Oscar, once in a while!"

Former Writer Saw Bert And Ernie As 'Loving Couple'; Sesame Workshop Disagrees

A former Sesame Street writer stepped into a longtime debate, saying he considered Bert and Ernie to be a gay couple. Revierfoto/picture alliance via Getty Images hide caption

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Revierfoto/picture alliance via Getty Images

Television

Former Writer Saw Bert And Ernie As 'Loving Couple'; Sesame Workshop Disagrees

September 18, 2018 • Mark Saltzman revived a longtime debate saying, yes, the beloved puppet pair were gay. Their producers and creators were quick to deny the claim.

With $100 Million Grant, Sesame Workshop Reaches Out To Refugee Kids

'Sesame Street' has many versions around the world. Above: its new Afghan characters, 6-year-old Zari (left) and her brother, Zeerak. Rahmat Gul/AP hide caption

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Rahmat Gul/AP

Goats and Soda

With $100 Million Grant, Sesame Workshop Reaches Out To Refugee Kids

December 29, 2017 • In January, Sesame Workshop will start creating programs for Syrian kids who've had to flee their homeland. The goal is to help them deal with the "toxic stress" of refugee life.

With $100 Million Grant, Sesame Workshop Reaches Out To Refugee Kids

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Thursday March 20, 2025

Sesame Street

Wednesday March 5, 2025

Sesame Workshop will 'downsize significantly' with layoffs, CEO says

Thursday April 18, 2024

Friday January 27, 2023

Do you need to talk to your kids about traumatic events? Sesame Street has some tips

Wednesday January 25, 2023

Thursday September 15, 2022

Getting to Sesame Street

Tuesday June 7, 2022

How the arts can help children think about gun violence

Monday November 8, 2021

Saturday May 8, 2021

Friday October 30, 2020

WBGO and Jazz at Lincoln Center

Friday October 23, 2020

WBGO and Jazz at Lincoln Center

Swinging The Clouds Away: Jazz Takes Over Sesame Street

Sunday December 8, 2019

Wednesday October 17, 2018

Tuesday September 18, 2018

Friday December 29, 2017

With $100 Million Grant, Sesame Workshop Reaches Out To Refugee Kids