Herry Me!

By Joe Hennes

We have some die-hard fans of Arrested Development here in the Sesame Workshop offices, so we’re incredibly excited about the show’s return this weekend.  Our infatuation makes a lot of sense, since Tobias shares our love of blue things, Bert and Ernie know all about the Banana Stand, and everyone knows that what comes first is family (unless you’re talking about the things you eat, then it’s breakfast).

The connections between both shows don’t end there.  Several cast members from Arrested Development have ridden the stair car to Sesame Street.  The clearest connection is Will Arnett, who plays GOB Bluth, when he appeared on Sesame Street as Max the Magician.  He’s a natural, since GOB is known for his magic tricks (sorry, “illusions”).  GOB and Max even use similar-sounding theme songs.  They’re also not very good magicians.  Of course, the Sesame gang figures out Max’s illusions pretty quickly, which might threaten his membership in the Magicians Alliance.

Jason Bateman, who plays Michael Bluth on Arrested Development, brought his signature snark to Sesame Street to help explain the word “comfort”.  Getting cooperation from a penguin, a squirrel, and Elmo isn’t nearly as tough as wrangling the members of the Bluth family, but the end result is still just as satisfying.

Ron Howard, who serves as Arrested Development’s narrator and Executive Producer, and Henry Winkler, who plays the Bluth family lawyer Barry Zuckercorn, have been working together since their time on Happy Days as Richie Cunningham and the Fonz.  Richie and Fonzie appeared together on Sesame Street to teach body parts, on and off (with the help of Fonz’s trademark jab at the jukebox), and the letter “Ayyyyyy!”  He’s very good.

Several recurring actors on Arrested Development have popped up on Sesame Street over the years, like Julia Louis-Dreyfus, who played blind District Attorney Maggie Lizer, when she portrayed TV reporter Kathie Lee Kathie in the Sesame Street’s All-Star 25^th Birthday special.  Amy Poehler, who played GOB’s nameless wife, taught Elmo the word “challenge” in a Word on the Street segment.  Dave Thomas, who made for a very threatening British man, played a slightly less threatening carnival owner in Sesame Street’s first feature film Follow That Bird.

And that’s not all!  Arrested Development had their fair share of celebrity cameos, like Andy Samberg, Andy Richter, Ben Stiller, Richard Belzer, and Martin Short, all of whom have appeared on Sesame Street, in Sesame Street specials, and in exclusive videos made for the Sesame Street YouTube channel.  The fact that these two shows have so many connections is as Ann as the nose on plain’s face.

So as you watch the fourth season of Arrested Development, keep an eye out for more Sesame Street connections wherever they’re hiding.  They could be in a chicken dance, in an ice cream sandwich, or even a puppet named Franklin.

Sesame Workshop Announces Partnership with Teaching Strategies

By Sesame Workshop

Today Sesame Workshop, the nonprofit educational organization behind Sesame Street, announced a multi-year partnership with Teaching Strategies, the educational company that publishes The Creative Curriculum and Teaching Strategies GOLD. The partnership will develop a series of educational offerings for the preschool classroom that utilizes Sesame Street’s proven content. Over the next five years, Sesame Workshop and Teaching Strategies will work together to develop new ways to educate young children both at home and in school.  Read More

Sesame Street Announces its Newest Sponsor: Party City

By Graydon Gordian

On Sesame Street, we love celebrating milestones. From a child’s first birthday to their first day at school, these are special moments that we believe are worth celebrating. That’s just one of the many reasons Party City is excited to be one of Sesame Street’s newest sponsors. Read More

There’s a New Neighbor on Sesame Street!

By Graydon Gordian

It’s a wonderful day, and not just cause the sun is shining on Sesame Street. It’s a wonderful day because this morning we learned a new friend was moving in to the neighborhood. Armando, or “Mando” as the gang on Sesame Street has nicknamed him, is join the cast on the upcoming 44th season.

Played by actor Ismael Cruz Córdova, Mando is part of Sesame’s increased focus on engaging with and educating children in the Hispanic community in the United States. The show is constantly evolving and has a long-standing history of modeling a diverse community.  As producers were identifying the realities of the changing American population, it was important to represent that diversity in the new addition to the cast. “Armando,” a writer from Puerto Rico, will join Maria (played by Sonia Manzano), Luis (Emilio Delgado) and Muppets™ Rosita and Ovejita (Carmen Osbahr) as part of Sesame Street’s bilingual community.

To learn more about Mando and his new home on Sesame Street, check out the video above.

Solutions, Not Just Ideas: Finding Ways to Help Kids in Need

By Maura Regan

On June 6, K.I.D.S – Kids in Distressed Situations – will be honoring Maura Regan, Sesame Workshop’s Senior Vice President and General Manager, Global Consumer Products, at their annual Women in Industry Luncheon. 

Throughout Sesame Street’s history, we’ve seen the power that our characters have. When children interact with Cookie Monster, Big Bird, Elmo and the gang, their faces light up and even a bad day can turn around quickly. And while a gently used item can elicit the same effect, there’s  something special about a brand new toy, shirt, or similar item. Knowing that this is yours – and only, and always yours – carries a bit of extra weight.

A few years ago, a friend in my professional network introduced me to an organization called K.I.D.S. – Kids in Distressed Situations – which provides new, in package items to children in need around the globe. Even in our own backyard, we’ve seen this need pop up; for example, when Hurricane Sandy struck the Eastern Seaboard, thousands upon thousands of children found their foundations shaken. As active members of our communities, both Sesame Workshop and K.I.D.S. look for ways to help.  And like Sesame Street, K.I.D.S. goes in with solutions, not just ideas.

The nuances of the retail world result in a significant amount of product – all new, never used – which goes unsold. Sometimes those items sit in warehouses until they eventually become unusable or are otherwise destroyed. But K.I.D.S works with licensees and others in the retail supply chain to get those products into the hands of children like those affected by Sandy, and for free.  Their work is done with immediacy, and they are able to make a meaningful difference in the lives of children.

Sesame, also being an organization which is committed to empowering the lives of children, is glad to be working with K.I.D.S whenever we can. In fact, they may be honoring me, but the true honor is ours.

How Sesame Street Got Its Name

By Susan Tofte

NEW! Meet the Newest Member of the Neighborhood, Armando! >>

Susan Tofte is Sesame Worskhop’s archivist.

There is a scene in the promo film for Sesame Street where ad-men type Muppets in business suits meet around a large conference table debating potential names for the show. Ridiculous titles are suggested like the Two and Two Ain’t Five Show and the Itty-Bitty, Farm-and-City, Witty-Ditty, Nitty-Gritty, Dog-and-Kitty, Pretty-Little-Kiddie Show. Rowlf the Dog fires the entire group of Muppets and Kermit the Frog eventually comes up with the name Sesame Street. “You know, like ‘Open Sesame.’ It kind of gives the idea of a street where neat stuff happens,” he suggests. Read More

The Longest Street in the Galaxy: Star Wars on Sesame Street

By Joe Hennes

Joe Hennes works at Sesame Workshop and is the co-proprietor of Tough Pigs.

The 4^th of May has become an unofficial holiday for fans of the Star Wars films.  While the date seems arbitrary, it’s a day when we can all break out the pun, “May the Fourth be with you”.  A play on words like that absolutely deserves its own holiday.

But why, you may be asking, is the Sesame Workshop blog writing about Star Wars? That’s a perfectly good question, and much easier to answer than “What’s a Midichlorian?”  You might be surprised to learn that R2-D2 and C-3PO traveled from their galaxy far, far away to visit the most famous street in the world (or perhaps the universe??). Read More

5 Photo Tips for Capturing Your Child’s World

By Me Ra Koh

Sesame Workshop and professional photographer and TV photo expert Me Ra Koh have joined forces to bring you the “My World” photo contest with grand prizes that include a luxury, family vacation from Sandals or one-on-one coaching from Me Ra Koh and more! Click here to enter your own My World photos! Deadline is May 4th! Find Me Ra at www.merakoh.com.

I will never forget the afternoon it happened.  Pascaline, my daughter, was 18 months old and playing on the living room floor.  The afternoon sun began to spill into the room and illuminated her with this magical, golden light.  Everything in me wanted to capture that moment, to make time stand still.  But I didn’t even own a camera.  At thirty years old, I decided to buy my first camera.  Ten years later I’m still in love with the magic of photography. For years I assumed good photography was out of my reach.  I’m so glad I found I was wrong. Whether we are documenting the latest blanket fort our child has built or our baby’s chubby legs, there are several simple ways to tell their story and capture their world through the photos we take, even if you don’t have a professional photography background.

Here are five photo tips for capturing your child’s world.  You don’t have to own an expensive camera for these photo tips.  The built in camera of your SmartPhone will do the trick.  Knowing what story to tell is the focus. Read More

How to Read Comics: Part I

By Dan Lewis

Elmo can help with lots of things. Even reading comic books.

Stay tuned for more information about the Sesame Street comic book available as part of Free Comic Book Day on Saturday.

Wonder Child: Richie Havens on Sesame Street

By Joe Hennes

Joe Hennes works at Sesame Workshop and is the co-proprietor of Tough Pigs.

Folk singer-songwriter Richie Havens passed away this week at the age of 72. In 1969, he brought his unique voice and rhythmic guitar style to Woodstock, where he performed as the festival’s opening act. And in 1975, Havens brought the same raw talent and enthusiasm to Sesame Street.

Richie Havens was brought into the studio to record four songs for the sixth season of Sesame Street, all of which were captured in one day of filming. His best known contribution was “Wonder Child”, a beautiful tune celebrating imagination and the innocence of youth. Read More