#Play with me sesame ernie says food plus#

'She's touched a lot of people's lives.' An estimated one of every 68 U.S. 'She has different verbal difficulties, but is included by the Sesame Street gang,' Lehmann says. J - Julia: In 2017, the show introduced this Muppet on the autism spectrum.

#Play with me sesame ernie says food plus#

I – Inclusion: From the very beginning, Sesame Street has been a place where people of all ethnicities, walks of life and abilities - plus a wide array of Muppets - are free to ask questions and learn how our differences make us stronger. Not only did he create many of the show's most recognizable characters - including Bert & Ernie, Oscar the Grouch, Elmo and Big Bird - he voiced a few, too, including Kermit and Ernie. H – Henson, Jim: Without the creative genius of Muppet master Jim Henson, Sesame Street would not be what it is. Johnson, who's a big, blue, round-headed guy.' 'He does these segments with a character we call Mr. G – Grover: This iconic Muppet 'has a long history on the show of doing every single job, like being a waiter or a mail carrier,' Lehmann says. Despite Cookie Monster's involvement, the segments focus on healthy eating habits. Lehmann says the 1998 introduction of the 'Elmo's World' segment changed the way kids watch TV, thanks to its interactive components.į – Foodie Truck: The food truck craze hit this street in season 48, when Cookie Monster's Foodie Truck pulled up.Ĭookie Monster and the chef, Gonger, don't always have the right ingredients, so they take trips to farms or factories so kids can learn about food sources. By 1996, a shortage of Tickle Me Elmo dolls had parents fighting in toy stores. The Emmy-winning episode epitomizes the show's mission to educate young children.Į – Elmo's World: The ever-optimistic Elmo graduated from a scene-stealing background Muppet to a named character in 1984. Hooper, died in 1983, the show's producers, writers and curricular experts decided the character should pass away as well, opening the door for a thoughtful and age-appropriate discussion about death. Hooper: When Will Lee, the actor who played store owner Mr.

Cookie Monster represented that for me as a kid, and to this day I love him.'ĭ – Death of Mr. Sometimes emotions can get the better of you, especially when you're a kid and things can seem so big. 'He's so sweet and adorable, yet you always know he's going to go kind of bonkers at the end and eat a cookie - or a lamppost if there are no cookies around. Lehmann says the number-one question people ask when they learn where he works is: 'How tall is Big Bird?'Ĭ – Cookie Monster: Lehmann has always had a soft spot for Cookie Monster. Now Matt Vogel is performing as Big Bird - he's a huge talent and was identified by Caroll years ago and studied under him.' 'Caroll Spinney, who performed Big Bird for over 50 years and retired this year, is an icon, a beloved performer and an amazing guy.

With a star-studded 50th-anniversary special planned for November (airing on HBO and PBS), Lehmann shares some of his favorite things about the show's first half-century, and he does so in classic Sesame Street fashion: alphabetically.Ī – Abby Cadabby: It didn't take long for this perpetually four-year-old Muppet to make friends and win fans when her family moved to the neighborhood in 2006.ī – Big Bird: With a heart as big as his eight-foot, three-inch frame, Big Bird is among the most famous of the original Sesame Street characters. He joined Sesame Street as a production assistant in 2001 and has gone on to direct and produce the show, winning two Primetime Emmys and 11 Daytime Emmys for his work there. 'We're making a show that has an impact on kids, helps them get ready for school, get ready for life and gives them a leg up - especially if they don't have a formal preschool education,' executive producer Ben Lehmann says. It might have seemed like just fun and games with songs, but the program's core mission has always been to help children grow smarter, stronger and kinder.

Children's television changed forever on November 10, 1969, when a colorful community of Muppets and humans invited us to come and play on Sesame Street.