Buzz
Debuting in 1969, Sesame Street has become a timeless childhood staple, entertaining and educating generations for over forty years. Featuring Jim Henson's Muppets, vibrant animations, catchy songs, and a deep understanding of children's needs, the show has turned into a worldwide cultural icon, generating massive revenue and even inspiring its very own theme park.
As noted by author Malcolm Gladwell, 'Sesame Street was built around a single, breakthrough insight: that if you can hold the attention of children, you can educate them.' Though designed primarily for young viewers, the show has consistently tackled significant societal issues that adult-targeted programs often overlook, such as death, racial tolerance, and human differences. Its mission extends beyond simply entertaining—it's dedicated to helping kids comprehend the world around them. Below, discover ten remarkable facts that have cemented Sesame Street’s legendary status.
10. Bert and Ernie
In recent years, as global advocates for gay marriage push for its legalization, a grassroots campaign emerged online urging the beloved Sesame Street characters Bert and Ernie to openly acknowledge their homosexuality and marry. While Sesame Street is celebrated for promoting messages of tolerance, the show's creators were quick to distance themselves from these claims, clarifying: 'Bert and Ernie are best friends. They were created to teach preschoolers that people can form strong friendships with others who are very different from themselves. Although they are male characters with many human traits, they are puppets and do not have a sexual orientation.'
9. Torture
While using loud music as a form of psychological torment is not a new tactic, its widespread use gained significant attention during the operation of the US’s Guantanamo Bay detention camp in Cuba. Established to detain and interrogate individuals captured in the 'War on Terror' post-9/11, the camp has become a source of intense controversy. Leaked images and stories from Guantanamo, coupled with President Obama's unfulfilled promise to close the facility, have sparked debates. Among the troubling tactics used, soldiers reportedly played loud, repetitive songs—including hard rock and the Sesame Street theme song—to break the mental resilience of detainees. Amnesty International has denounced this method, while the Pentagon has dismissed it as a 'disincentive.'
8. Death
One of the original human characters on Sesame Street, Mr. Hooper ran a general store that became a central gathering spot, offering unique items like birdseed milkshakes. After actor Will Lee passed away from a heart attack in 1982, the show's producers faced a difficult decision on how to handle the loss. While some considered having Mr. Hooper retire, they ultimately decided to address the situation head-on. A child psychologist was consulted, and the show presented Big Bird struggling to understand that his friend would never return. When Big Bird expressed that 'it won’t be the same' without Mr. Hooper, another adult reassured him, 'You’re right, Big Bird. It’ll never be the same without him. But you know something? We can all be very happy that we had a chance to be with him and to know him and to love him a lot, when he was here.'
The episode aired on Thanksgiving Day in 1983, so that children could watch it surrounded by family who could help them process their emotions. Looking back, many consider Mr. Hooper’s passing to be one of the most significant moments in television history.
7. Location
The heart of Sesame Street is a three-apartment brownstone building (where Bert and Ernie reside in the basement). While the show is filmed in Astoria, Queens, the actual location of Sesame Street has long been a topic of debate. The street is supposed to be set in a Manhattan neighborhood, though which one is unclear, even among the show's creators. Some believe it’s inspired by the Upper West Side, while others argue it mirrors the Alphabet City area on the Lower East Side. Detail-oriented fans have tried to pinpoint the exact location using clues from the show, such as zip codes on envelopes and background shots of characters walking around.
6. The Count
Although vampires are often feared for their menacing nature, they are, in fact, highly vulnerable creatures with a range of weaknesses: sunlight, garlic, and religious symbols being some of the most common, depending on the mythos you follow. One of the more unusual vulnerabilities in vampire lore is arithmomania—an obsession with counting things, a symptom of obsessive-compulsive disorder. In a pinch, one could simply scatter a handful of rice in front of a vampire. The creature would be compelled to count every grain, rendering it powerless. This quirky weakness inspired the creation of Sesame Street's 'Count von Count', the world's least frightening vampire, who helps children learn basic arithmetic.
5. Elmo
Elmo is one of Sesame Street's most iconic (and sometimes annoying) residents, recognized for his high-pitched voice and his tendency to refer to himself in the third person. Elmo has been part of the show for many years, though he was initially in the background until 1984, when young puppeteer Kevin Clash brought him to the forefront. Clash's performance gave Elmo new life, propelling him to stardom throughout the '80s and '90s. His popularity surged in the mid-'90s with the success of the 'Tickle Me Elmo' doll and the release of 'Elmo in Grouchland.' In 2012, Sheldon Stephens, a 22-year-old, accused Clash of engaging in inappropriate relations when Stephens was underage. Clash admitted to having a relationship with Stephens but insisted it was consensual between adults. Stephens later recanted, but other men came forward with similar allegations. Clash resigned from Sesame Street, stating, 'Personal matters have diverted attention away from the important work 'Sesame Street' is doing and I cannot allow it to go on any longer. I am deeply sorry to be leaving and am looking forward to resolving these personal matters privately.' Although Clash has faced ongoing allegations, he has recently garnered attention again, earning four Emmy Award nominations despite the controversy.
4. Snuffleupagus
Aloysius Snuffleupagus, a woolly mammoth Muppet, spent 14 years as Big Bird's 'imaginary' friend. Whenever an adult appeared, Snuffy would mysteriously disappear, and the adults would refuse to believe that Big Bird had ever seen him. In 1985, Snuffy was revealed to everyone. Martin P. Robinson, the actor who portrays Snuffy, explained that the show's producers made this change in response to concerns about child abuse. They wanted to avoid sending the message that children might not be believed by adults if they tell stories that are too unbelievable—like claims of sexual abuse by a family member.
3. Mourning
In 1990, Jim Henson, the creator of Sesame Street’s Muppets, died suddenly of a bacterial pneumonia. In the wake of his passing, two memorial services (one in New York and one in London) were staged wherein both characters from Henson’s “The Muppet Show” and “Sesame Street performed”, including a heartrending version of “Being Green” by Big Bird. Henson’s only request was that no one wear black. Although the services were open to the public, they were not televised, and only certain recorded segments exist. Along with Muppet performances and eulogies from friends and collaborators, excerpts from Henson’s correspondence to his children were read, including this passage: “Please watch out for each other and love and forgive everybody. It’s a good life, enjoy it.”
2. International
Africa is not the only place to host its own version of “Sesame Street.” There are varieties throughout the world, in Europe, Asia, Australia, and the Middle East. The earliest international adaptation was Brazil’s Vila Sésamo. Many other versions exist, each tailored to the specific language, environment, and social circumstances of the area in which it aired. While many of the characters carried over, others were added or replaced. In the Canadian version, the main character was a giant polar bear named Basil, who learned French from his bilingual friend. In the version from the Philippines, the Big Bird character is a giant pink turtle named Pong Pagong; in Israel it is a hedgehog named Kippi Kippod, and in Kuwait it is a camel named No’Man. According to Joan Ganz Cooney, one of the creators of the Sesame Workshop, she was stunned at the international interest in the show: “To be frank, I was really surprised, because we thought we were creating the quintessential American show. We thought the Muppets were quintessentially American, and it turns out they’re the most international characters ever created.”
1. HIV
AIDS has wreaked havoc across sub-Saharan Africa, unlike any other region in the world. Each year, hundreds of thousands of children are born with the disease, and tragically, most do not survive past the age of five. A vast number of children in the region have lost their parents to the virus. Kami, a five-year-old yellow Muppet introduced on the South African version of "Takalani Sesame" in 2002, serves as a symbol of resilience. With her ever-present sniffles, Kami's condition, which resulted in the death of her parents, is clear. Kami contracted HIV through a blood transfusion. Along with teaching children in South Africa and Nigeria about the disease, she helps them navigate the societal stigma surrounding HIV/AIDS and cope with the loss and fear that often accompany it. Kami has since been appointed as a representative for UNICEF projects worldwide.
