# Sesame Street

> American children's television program

**Wikidata**: [Q155629](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q155629)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sesame_Street)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/sesame-street

## Summary
Sesame Street is an American children's television program created by Joan Ganz Cooney and Lloyd Morrisett, premiering on November 10, 1969. Produced by Sesame Workshop, the series uses sketch comedy and educational entertainment to teach academic and social concepts, and is sometimes used to teach English as a Second Language (ESL).

## Key Facts
- **Created By**: Joan Ganz Cooney (American television producer) and Lloyd Morrisett (American psychologist).
- **Premiere Date**: November 10, 1969.
- **Country of Origin**: United States.
- **Genre**: Sketch comedy, children's television series, educational television, educational entertainment.
- **Production Company**: Sesame Workshop (American nonprofit organization; founded May 20, 1968).
- **Original Broadcast Networks**: National Educational Television, PBS, HBO, Cinemax.
- **Format**: Television series.
- **Awards**: Kennedy Center Honors.
- **Official Website**: http://www.sesamestreet.org/ and https://www.sesamestreet.org/.
- **Slogan**: "Helping kids grow smarter, stronger, and kinder."
- **Key Personnel**: Jim Henson (American puppeteer), Frank Oz (English and American director, actor, and puppeteer), Caroll Spinney (American puppeteer), Jon Stone (American writer, television producer and director), Malvina Reynolds (American folk singer).

## FAQs
**Who created Sesame Street?**
Sesame Street was created by Joan Ganz Cooney, an American television producer, and Lloyd Morrisett, an American psychologist.

**What organization produces Sesame Street?**
The show is produced by Sesame Workshop, an American nonprofit organization that was founded on May 20, 1968.

**What networks have aired Sesame Street?**
The series originally aired on National Educational Television and later PBS. It has also aired on HBO and Cinemax.

**What is the educational format of the show?**
The program utilizes sketch comedy and educational entertainment techniques. It is designed as a children's television series with the specific goal of teaching academic and social concepts, and is sometimes used for teaching English as a Second Language (ESL).

## Why It Matters
Sesame Street matters as a pioneering force in educational television, fundamentally changing how children learn academic and social concepts through media. By combining sketch comedy with curriculum-based content, it demonstrated that entertainment could effectively educate preschoolers, setting a global standard for children's programming. Its longevity and adaptation across various networks—from public broadcasting (PBS) to premium cable (HBO)—highlight its enduring relevance and ability to evolve within the media landscape.

## Notable For
- Pioneering the use of sketch comedy and educational entertainment in children's television.
- Receiving the Kennedy Center Honors, a prestigious annual American honor in the performing arts.
- Being produced by Sesame Workshop (formerly Children's Television Workshop), a nonprofit organization founded specifically to oversee its production.
- Utilizing the talents of iconic puppeteers Jim Henson and Frank Oz, who developed characters that became cultural touchstones.
- Serving as a tool for teaching English as a Second Language (ESL).

## Body
### History and Development
Sesame Street is an American children's television program that premiered on November 10, 1969. The series was created by Joan Ganz Cooney, an American television producer born in 1929, and Lloyd Morrisett, an American psychologist. The concept emerged from discussions on how to use television to help children learn, particularly those from low-income families.

The production is managed by Sesame Workshop, an American nonprofit organization established on May 20, 1968. The organization is headquartered in New York City and employs approximately 813 people.

### Broadcast and Networks
The series has transitioned across several broadcast networks throughout its history. It debuted on National Educational Television, a television network founded on November 21, 1952. Following the dissolution of NET, the series moved to PBS (Public Broadcasting Service), an American public broadcaster founded on November 3, 1969. In later years, the show aired on HBO, an American pay television network founded on November 8, 1972, and Cinemax, a movie-focused pay television network founded on August 1, 1980.

### Key Creative Personnel
The success of Sesame Street relied heavily on the contributions of key figures in puppetry and television production:
*   **Jim Henson**: An American puppeteer (1936–1990) who created The Muppets. He developed major characters for Sesame Street, including Big Bird, Oscar the Grouch, Cookie Monster, and Grover. He founded The Jim Henson Company in 1958.
*   **Frank Oz**: An English and American director, actor, and puppeteer. He served as a key creative force, performing and voicing characters such as Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, Animal, and Sam the Eagle. He also directed films like *Little Shop of Horrors* (1986).
*   **Caroll Spinney**: An American puppeteer (1933–2019) known for his work on the show.
*   **Jon Stone**: An American writer, television producer, and director (1931–1997) who contributed significantly to the show's format.
*   **Malvina Reynolds**: An American folk singer (1900–1978) associated with the program.

### Format and Genre
Sesame Street is classified as a television series, specifically within the genres of sketch comedy, children's television series, educational television, and educational entertainment. The show uses short comedy scenes and vignettes to engage young audiences. Its primary mission is educational, designed to teach academic and social concepts, and it is sometimes utilized to teach English as a Second Language (ESL).

### Awards and Recognition
The program has received significant recognition, including the Kennedy Center Honors. This annual American honor in the performing arts was established in 1978. The show's slogan, "Helping kids grow smarter, stronger, and kinder," reflects its ongoing educational mission.

## References

1. Česko-Slovenská filmová databáze
2. [fernsehserien.de](https://www.fernsehserien.de/sesame-street)
3. MusicBrainz
4. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
5. [Source](https://www.theverge.com/2019/10/3/20897104/sesame-street-streaming-hbo-max-warnermedia-pbs-disney-apple-streaming-wars)
6. BBC Things
7. Kinopoisk
8. Online-Filmdatenbank
9. Quora
10. The Movie Database
11. [Source](https://muppet.fandom.com/wiki/Sesame_Street?oldid=1297121)
12. National Library of Israel Names and Subjects Authority File
13. YouTube API
14. FilmVandaag.nl