Do you want to hear something remarkable? Sesame Street will be celebrating it’s 42nd year of being on the air come this September. Forty two years! I am one year older then Sesame Street.
I grew up watching Sesame Street. I think most people can say the same thing. I grew up on Sesame Street, my husband grew up on Sesame Street, my kids grew up on Sesame Street and I’m pretty certain that my grandchildren will also grow up on Sesame Street.
Forty two years! WOW! I still can’t get over it.
Sesame Street has always been a popular series for celebrities to stop by and visit. I think just about every celebrity has appeared on an episode of Sesame Street at one point or another. This new season is no exception. Check out this very impressive line up of A-List celebrities who will be featured in the 42nd season – Academy Award-winning and nominated actors Nicole Kidman, Robin Williams, Amy Adams, Naomi Watts and Mark Ruffalo; Golden Globe nominated actors Liev Schreiber, Mila Kunis, Sofia Vergara and Emma Stone; Emmy Award-winning and nominated actors Seth Rogen, Andy Samberg and Jesse Tyler Ferguson; X-Men’s James Marsden; Gone Baby Gone’s Michelle Monaghan; Bored to Death’s Jason Schwartzman; actor Jerry O’Connell; Grammy Award-winning and nominated musicians Juanes, Elvis Costello and Bruno Mars; LA Philharmonic’s Gustavo Dudamel; rapper Jay Sean; late night hosts Craig Ferguson, Jimmy Kimmel, George Lopez and Conan O’Brien; New Orleans Saints Quarterback and MVP of Super Bowl XLIV Drew Brees; The Harlem Globetrotters; NBA All-Stars and New York Knicks players Amar’e Stoudemire and Carmelo Anthony; The Daily Show’s Samantha Bee and Jason Jones; The Big Bang Theory’s Johnny Galecki; The Office’s John Krasinski; Community’s Joel McHale and Ken Jeong; CSI Miami’s Adam Rodriguez; Modern Family’s Rico Rodriguez; Broadway star Sutton Foster; Access Hollywood’s Maria Menounos and Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor.
In an effort to encourage school readiness, especially in the disciplines of science and math, areas where U.S. students are falling behind, the new season focuses on a STEM curriculum, an acronym for science, technology, engineering and math. Other season highlights include original songs and street stories; a brand new segment “Murray’s Science Experiments;” new “Super Grover 2.0” stories and new “Abby’s Flying Fairy School” animations. Also in season 42 are many humorous celebrity moments featuring Elmo, Oscar, Abby and their friends making keen observations and showing their interest in hands-on investigation…all of which reinforce and encourage preschoolers to say: “Let’s find out!”
The new season continues to bring laughter and learning to children by concentrating on STEM education; encouraging children to think critically about science, technology, engineering and math. Sesame Street’s furry residents are more curious than ever about the world around them, using a hands-on, ears-on, eyes-on approach to tackle complex problems and understand puzzling phenomena. From observing the properties of bubbles to experimenting to see “what worms like to squirm on best” to engineering a boat for Zoe’s pet rock, Elmo and the gang use the processes of scientific inquiry to make sense of their environment.
Season 42 of Sesame Street also introduces a new interstitial featuring the excitable, inquisitive and furry orange monster, Murray. In 11 new segments airing at the beginning of each STEM-related show, Murray poses a scientific question and sets up an experiment to find the best answer to his question. With help from some friends, Murray observes, investigates and discovers the answers to his questions! “Murray’s Science Experiments” furthers the season’s STEM curriculum focus and helps preschoolers say, “Let’s find out!”
Science and math topics are addressed in the street scenes, animations and live-action films. In the season premiere, Hubert the Human Cannonball visits Sesame Street to be launched out of a cannon, across the yard and into a bucket of blue gelatin. After Elmo and Telly have several unsuccessful attempts to land Hubert in the gelatin, Baby Bear engineers a launcher for Hubert using a giant rubber band and, it works! In another episode, Telly, Elmo and Rosita are playing Shape-O-Bots, robots that transform into shapes to help people. Andy, a guy in need of shapes, played by Andy Samberg, rushes in several times and asks the group to transform into octagons, triangles, pentagons and rhombuses!
WOW! Sesame Street has come a long way. There is so much more to Sesame Street then just cute songs like “Rubber Ducky” and “C is for Cookie“.
FYI… I used to have a LP Record of Sesame Street songs. My cousin and I used to listen to it all the time.
If you want to take a great trip down “memory lane” would recommend getting a copy of the book Sesame Street: A Celebration of 40 Years of Life on the Street. I have this book. It sits on my coffee table and I find myself flipping through the pages often. Every time I open the book I learn a little more about the show as well as reliving some memorible Sesame Street moments from the post. You can read my review of the book here, https://www.shescribes.com/2010/07/sesame-street-41-years-and-counting.html. I am sorry the font is a bit off. It’s one of the posts that got a bit messed up when I transferred blogging platforms.
One of the things on my “Bucket List” is to visit the set of Sesame Street. I would love to touch the stairs at 123 Sesame Street. Even my husband said he would love to visit the set. He wants to touch Oscar’s garbage can. I guess we’re just big kids at heart because that is something I have wanted to do for as long as I can remember. Even as a child I wanted to visit the set. I’m not sure if I will ever knock that off my Bucket List but if I do you know that I will be writing a super long blog post about that (with a lot of pictures too!). I think that would rank way up there right next to getting a hug and kiss from Sir Elton John. LOL!
The 42nd season kicks off on September 26. 2011. Check your local TV guide for channels and air times.
For more information about Sesame Street you can check out any of the links below.
The Sesame Street YouTube Channel
Do YOU have any special memories about Sesame Street? Do you have a favorite character or episode? What about a favorite song? I would love to hear from my readers about their memories of this amazing show.
Kimberly
*I was not compensated for this post, nor was I asked to share this information. I posted this for the benefit and enjoyment of my site readers. Any opinions expressed are my own.
blueviolet @ A Nut in a Nutshell says
Sesame Street is the one kid’s show that I can sit down (even without kids) and enjoy. Seriously.