Welcome to a fun journey into the world of Sesame Street! Today, we’re diving into some cool and surprising facts about this beloved show and its characters. Let’s get started!
Did you know that some of your favorite Sesame Street Muppets looked very different when they first appeared? Take Cookie Monster, for example. He was created by Jim Henson in 1966 for a snack food commercial that never aired. Back then, he was called the Wheel Stealer. He finally made his official debut on Sesame Street in 1969.
Big Bird also has an interesting backstory. Jim Henson designed a tall walking bird for a Stouffer’s food commercial in 1963, which also never aired. This design eventually became the Big Bird we know today. In the first season, Big Bird’s feathers looked a bit different, and Caroll Spinney, who played him, once said he wasn’t very attractive back then.
Oscar the Grouch started off as an orange character in the first season. Later, he turned green, and the show explained this by saying Oscar took a trip to a swamp. Interestingly, Oscar claims he’s still orange and that his green color is due to mold!
Elmo’s history is a bit of a mystery. Caroll Spinney mentioned performing a version of Elmo in the early 1970s, but the puppet design didn’t exist until the late 1970s. Elmo became a regular character in the 1980s and got his famous voice in 1984.
Mr. Snuffleupagus has been around since 1971, and his look hasn’t changed much. At first, he only appeared with Big Bird, making people wonder if he was imaginary. In 1985, everyone on Sesame Street finally met Mr. Snuffleupagus, which was a big moment for the show.
In April 2002, Elmo did something amazing. He testified before the House Appropriations Subcommittee to support funding for music education. His speech was so convincing that funding was approved for music research!
Many talented people have contributed to Sesame Street’s success. Joan Ganz Cooney co-founded the Children’s Television Workshop, which created the show. Her co-founder, Lloyd Morrisett, was inspired by his daughter’s love for TV. Johnstone worked on the show for many years and helped create Big Bird and Cookie Monster.
Loretta Long has played Susan since the beginning. Her audition involved singing “I’m a Little Teapot,” which really connected with the kids watching. Will Lee played Mr. Hooper, and after he passed away in 1982, the show handled his character’s death with great care.
Caroll Spinney, who played Big Bird, attended Jim Henson’s funeral in 1990 and sang a song as a tribute.
After Jim Henson’s death, there were rumors that Ernie would be removed from the show, but that was never true. Also, Ernie and Bert were not named after characters from “It’s a Wonderful Life.” Their names were based on their puppet designs.
In 2005, there was talk about Cookie Monster giving up cookies for vegetables, but don’t worry—he still loves cookies! He even sang a song about healthy eating.
A study published in 2015 looked at how Sesame Street affected children’s education and job outcomes. The researchers found that early exposure to the show was linked to better educational results for some groups. They concluded that Sesame Street is one of the most important and affordable early childhood programs in U.S. history.
Thanks for joining us on this journey through Sesame Street! Keep exploring and learning, and remember to be awesome!
Imagine you are a Muppet designer like Jim Henson. Create your own unique Muppet character. Think about their personality, what they love to do, and how they might look. Draw your Muppet and write a short story about their first day on Sesame Street.
Research the changes in appearance of your favorite Sesame Street Muppets over the years. Create a timeline showing how characters like Cookie Monster, Big Bird, and Oscar the Grouch have evolved. Present your timeline to the class and discuss why you think these changes were made.
Elmo once testified before Congress about the importance of music education. Hold a class debate on the importance of arts in education. Divide into two groups: one supporting arts funding and the other opposing it. Use Elmo’s testimony as inspiration for your arguments.
Conduct a mini-research project on the impact of Sesame Street. Interview family members or friends who watched the show as children. Ask them how it influenced their learning or view of the world. Share your findings with the class in a short presentation.
Choose a role from behind the scenes of Sesame Street, such as a puppeteer, writer, or producer. Research what this person does and role-play a day in their life. Share your experience with the class, explaining how your role contributes to the magic of Sesame Street.
Sure! Here’s a sanitized version of the provided YouTube transcript:
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Hi, welcome to Mental Floss! Today, we’re going to talk about Sesame Street. We might even share some interesting facts about it, so let’s get started.
Many of your favorite Sesame Street Muppets once looked quite different from how they do now. Some even had different names. For example, Cookie Monster was created in 1966 by Jim Henson for a snack food commercial that never aired. He was originally known as the Wheel Stealer and made his official debut on Sesame Street in 1969.
Big Bird also has an interesting origin. Henson designed a tall walking bird for a Stouffer’s food commercial in 1963, which never aired, but this design eventually became Big Bird. In the first season of Sesame Street, Big Bird’s feathers looked a bit different, and Caroll Spinney, who played Big Bird, once described him as not very attractive.
Oscar the Grouch was originally orange during the first season and later turned green. The show explained this change by saying Oscar took a trip to a swamp. Interestingly, Oscar has said he’s still orange and that his color is due to mold.
Elmo’s history is quite mysterious. Caroll Spinney mentioned that he performed a version of Elmo in the early 1970s, but the puppet design didn’t exist until the late 1970s. Elmo became a regular character in the 1980s and developed his signature voice in 1984.
Mr. Snuffleupagus has been around since 1971, and his appearance has changed little over the years. Originally, he only appeared with Big Bird, leading to questions about whether he was imaginary. In 1985, all of Sesame Street met Mr. Snuffleupagus, which was a significant moment for the show.
In April 2002, Elmo testified before the House Appropriations Subcommittee to advocate for funding for music education. He made a compelling case, and ultimately, funding was approved for music research.
There are many people behind the scenes who have contributed to Sesame Street’s success. Joan Ganz Cooney co-founded the Children’s Television Workshop, which created the show. Lloyd Morrisett, her co-founder, was inspired by his daughter’s love for television. Johnstone worked on the show for decades and helped create Big Bird and Cookie Monster.
Loretta Long has played Susan since the beginning, and her audition involved singing “I’m a Little Teapot,” which resonated with the children watching. Will Lee played Mr. Hooper, and after his passing in 1982, the show addressed his character’s death with sensitivity.
Caroll Spinney, who played Big Bird, attended Jim Henson’s funeral in 1990 and sang a song in tribute.
Now, let’s address some misconceptions about Sesame Street. After Jim Henson’s death, rumors circulated that Ernie would be killed off, but this was never part of the plan. Additionally, Ernie and Bert were not named after characters from “It’s a Wonderful Life.” Instead, they were named based on their puppet designs.
In 2005, there was speculation about Cookie Monster giving up cookies for vegetables, but he still loves cookies and participated in a song about healthy eating.
Lastly, a study published in 2015 examined the impact of Sesame Street on children’s education and employment outcomes. While the researchers found that early exposure to the show correlated with better educational outcomes for some groups, they concluded that Sesame Street is one of the most significant yet least costly early childhood interventions in U.S. history.
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This version maintains the key information while ensuring clarity and appropriateness.
Sesame Street – A popular educational television program for children that uses a combination of live-action, puppetry, and animation to teach various concepts. – Example sentence: “Sesame Street has been a valuable tool in early childhood education, teaching kids about numbers, letters, and social skills.”
Muppets – A group of puppet characters created by Jim Henson, known for their roles in educational and entertainment programs like Sesame Street. – Example sentence: “The Muppets, with their unique personalities, have been entertaining and educating children for decades.”
Education – The process of receiving or giving systematic instruction, especially at a school or university. – Example sentence: “Education is a fundamental right for every child, providing them with the knowledge and skills needed for the future.”
Music – The art or science of combining vocal or instrumental sounds to produce beauty of form, harmony, and expression of emotion. – Example sentence: “Music plays a crucial role in performing arts, helping to convey emotions and tell stories.”
Characters – The personalities or roles that actors or puppets portray in a play, movie, or television show. – Example sentence: “The characters on Sesame Street, like Big Bird and Elmo, help children learn important life lessons.”
Performance – The act of presenting a play, concert, or other form of entertainment. – Example sentence: “The students’ performance in the school play was met with applause and admiration from the audience.”
History – The study of past events, particularly in human affairs. – Example sentence: “Learning about history helps us understand how past events shape our present and future.”
Puppet – A movable model of a person or animal that is used in entertainment and is typically moved either by strings controlled from above or by a hand inside it. – Example sentence: “The puppet show at the community center was a hit, with children laughing and learning throughout the performance.”
Children – Young human beings below the age of puberty or below the legal age of majority. – Example sentence: “Children are often the target audience for educational programs like Sesame Street.”
Impact – The effect or influence of one person, thing, or action on another. – Example sentence: “The impact of educational television on children’s learning has been studied extensively by researchers.”
