History of Sesame Street

This article is a work in progress of the history of the children's television show Sesame Street.

The 1970s

In the second season of Sesame Street, the show quickly started to develop new elements, and polish off old ones.

Grover, as of yet unnamed, goes from having brownish-green fur to his trademark Fuzzy and Blue coat. Oscar, originally a bright, blinding orange fur with green eyes grouch, changes to his forever messy, dirty green fur, with white eyes. Originally just a gag monster, Cookie got his name in the premiere episode. Big Bird, who looked rather dim-witted in the first season because of little plummage above the head, grows new feathers. While his appearance changes to show more intelligence, his personality follows suit. No longer is a slow, pea-brained adult, but instead just a really tall, 6-year-old kid with lots of curiosity.

Throughout the decade, more Muppets were added, due to popular demand. Herry, The Count, Little Bird, Sherlock Hemlock, Roosevelt Franklin, and Herbert Birdsfoot all made debuts throughout the years. Roosevelt, a African-American puppet character would turn out to be on of the most popular, even spawning solo records. With gradual fears the character's out-going, snappy, occasionally smart-alec personality might be misinterpreted as a negative stereotype of blacks, the character left when its voice, the original Gordon, was replaced.

Sam the Robot, originally known as Sam the Machine, was a full-body puppet robot that strangly hung out on the inner-city New York streets. It both walked and talked slowly, just as it caught on very slowly, to slow to make the cut for future seasons, unfortunately. A dog named Woof-Woof is added as human librarian Linda's pet. His name later is changed to Barkley.

The human element of the neighbourhood expanded as well, bringing the friendly faces of Molly, Tom, Rafael, and longer lasting characters like David, Maria Figeuroa and Luis Rodriguez. David and Maria's character would show obvious affection toward each other; it would remain a mutual crush, as there was never any signs of a serious relationship. Their long-lasting love would continue into the early-to-mid-80s, when it became a love triangle with Luis.

Also added was deaf actress Linda Bove playing a character called Linda. She is the first deaf regular on any television series, let alone in children's television. As a librarian, she is both a positive role model to those with disabilities, and breaks down barriers for those without, proving that the and an example to those without, to show that the disabiled can certainly make valid contributions to the society.

The Sesame Street on Ice show is produced and tours around the United States. Also, the human cast tours in a live musical stage show, predecessor to Sesame Street LIVE!.

The 1980s

The 1980s brought more new muppets- Telly Monster, Elmo, the Honkers, the Dingers, Forgetful Jones and Placido Flamingo. Elmo would just start as an anything muppet in a parody of Othello; few guessed that he would become a legend in the coming decade. The major lasting human characters added to the show were Gina Jefferson and Bob's Uncle Wally.

Many major themes like birth, death and marriage were prodominant themes in the 80s. Easily the most important episode of Sesame Street was when Mr. Harold Hooper passed on. The actor potraying him died before the shooting of the 1983-84 season, leaving the producers with a dilema. Should they replace Mr. Hooper with another actor? Should they just write his character out? Both of these options would surely cause distress among the young viewers. Instead, what was later selected by the Daytime Emmys to be on the ten most influential moments ever on daytime television was written.

The episode dealing with Mr. Hooper's death was scheduled for Thanksgiving Day, so that parents would be home and help their children personally understand the passing. In this tasteful episode, Big Bird is all excited that he drew an amazing picture of Mr. Hooper, and wants to give it to him. Upon not finding him, Big Bird asks the adults on the street where Mr. Hooper is. They explain to him that Mr. Hooper has died, to which Big Bird asks when he will return. The adults must once again reinforce what death means, and that Mr. Hooper is never coming back. The cast agreed that it was one of the most painful episodes to do of the show.

The only other episode of the show that they have considered painful to do took place in 1985. The adults are sick and tired of Big Bird always using his "imaginary friend" Snuffleupagus as a skapegoat for anything that goes wrong when they're away. They urge Big Bird to say his good-bye to Snuffy once and for all, as they are driven to the brink with all the nonsense. Even the Sesame Street newspapers read with front page headlines saying that Snuffy's got to go. So, Big Bird and Snuffy sadly say their good-byes in Big Bird's nest area. They cry in remorse of their forced separation. Snuffy's tear falls onto Big Bird while they hug, leading Big Bird to the conclusion if he can even feel the water from the tears, Snuffy must be real.

On a brighter note, Gordon and Susan Robinson adopted little baby Miles in 1985. In 1988, Maria and Luis love culimnates, leading eventually to a marriage, in which Big Bird is a ring barrer. This is a twist to the plot, as Maria ends her truely evident crush on David. Maria and Luis lead an active romance of camera, Maria becoming pregnant just months later, and giving birth to baby Gabriella. Shortly after, the actor who played David died. This death isn't addressed on camera, the character itself is just handled as if nothing is missing. Producers likely didn't want to have a second death episode in the decade, as it might be considered cliché. Gina continues her operation of Hooper's Store, now becoming manager.

In 1985, everyone on Sesame Street finally sees Mr. Snuffleupagus. For years, Snuffy was merely considered by the humans on the street to be an imaginary friend of Big Bird. America was struck by multiple child rapings. Children's Television Workshop's producers of the show feared kids might think that, if nobody believes what Big Bird says, surely no one would believe them. Snuffy was finally revealed to the rest of the street to be real, causing an array of disbelief.

Sesame Place theme park opens in Pennslyvania, touting rides, attractions and parades themed to Sesame Street. Also, Sesame Street LIVE! arena tours were first organized with VEE Entertainment. These shows featured costumed characters based on the Muppets in the show, with multiple touring groups, each acting different plot lines. These were a replacement for the earlier shows featuring the human cast.

Joe Raposo, a lyricist for the show, passes away. Many diehard fans link his death to the start of a constant shrinkage of the irrelevance that originally helped the show's popularity.

The 1990s

As Sesame Street has always been a constantly progressive show, it is debatable, but its commonly agreed upon that the third full decade of Sesame Street brought the most dirastic changes. The decade brought deaths, resignations, the characters peak around the corner of the Street, and quickly return back to their end of the road, less letters sponsoring the show, and most critically, a little red Muppet that can be credited with saving the show's ratings with increased competition.

Theft of artifacts

In February 1996, the original Ernie and Bert puppets were stolen from a museum in Germany. In addition to a large man hunt, Snuffy was shown pleading on German national television for their eventual safe return.

The 2000s

Osama and Evil Bert

A photograph of a protest rally in Bangladesh supporting Osama bin Laden showed a poster of Osama bin Laden with a small but clearly identifiable images of Bert, a Muppet from the children's television show Sesame Street, over his right shoulder. For more on this event, see Bert.