US – Saturday, March 20
Published 23:21, November the 9th, 2009
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The gang’s all here for the 40th anniversary of “Sesame Street.”The gang’s all here for the 40th anniversary of “Sesame Street.”
Photo: RICHARD TERMINE/SESAME WORKSHOP
 

Forty years of sunny days on ‘Sesame Street’

Hitting on more than one level

In the show’s great tradition of pop culture parodies, this year the series will spoof “Mad Men.”

“‘Sesame Street’ has always been written on two levels. The children don’t understand these parodies, but the adult does,” says Dr. Rosemarie Truglio, vice president of education and research for Sesame Workshop.

“I hope I don’t give too much away, but think about the title ‘Mad Men’ and think about the emotional curriculum that might be linked to that,” she hints at the segment’s premise.

 

As adults, tuning into “Sesame Street” is like a trip back to your childhood hometown — some of the faces in the neighborhood have changed, but an undeniable familiarity and comfort endures. Forty years after it premiered on public television, “Sesame Street” remains the highest-caliber educational program for preschoolers and parents to enjoy together — even if the old Cookie Monster mom and dad remember didn’t find carrots just as delicious as chocolate chips.

But adapting to the times is exactly how Big Bird and his crew have remained so relevant. “What we try to do is stick with what is the tradition for ‘Sesame Street,’ which is stay up to date with the media that we’re using, pay attention to what kids are watching and enjoying on other shows, and go out and ask them whether they like the stuff that we’re making,” says Miranda Barry, executive vice president in charge of content for Sesame Workshop. “If [companies] can use advertising to teach children to drink Pepsi or go to McDonald’s, why can’t we use that attractive medium to teach kids their letters and numbers?”

Mid-life changes

‘Sesame Street’ hasn’t lasted so long by standing still. Changes to year 40:

New format
Each hour will be broken into segments both classic and new, woven into a cohesive episode by host Murray the Muppet.

Science and nature
The show will introduce a science curriculum through the lens of nature “because we know that when you connect children to their natural world around them, they’ll develop positive attitudes and want to keep the world beautiful around them,” explains Truglio.

CGI
“Sesame Street” marks its first foray into CGI animation with “Abby’s Flying Fairy School,” a segment that encourages critical thinking.

 
AMBER RAY