Sesame Street, the long-running PBS children’s television show starring a cast of Jim Henson muppets who teach children basic learning concepts and introduce them to difficult issues, turns 45 this week. Here’s a look back at some defining moments in the history of the iconic show:
1966: The idea for Sesame Street is conceived after psychologist Lloyd Morrisett observes his young daughter watching cartoons and wonders whether the power of television can be harnessed to babysit young children
1968: Creation of the show is funded largely through government grants, ensuring that programming is free from the influence of corporate interests and completely subservient to the will of the state
1968: In one late-night meeting, the show’s creators hammer out the details of what will eventually become the alphabet
1969: Oscar the Grouch is introduced to teach children that poverty is the result of a poor attitude
1972: The show is criticized for soft-pedaling the subject of death in an episode where a visibly nervous Big Bird tells children that all their grandparents will live forever
1975-1980: A new character is introduced every three minutes until something sticks
1982: Mr. Snuffleupagus explains to the kids, through tears, exactly what Mr. Hooper did and why he had to die
1997: Pretty good song about elephants
2002: Kristin Chenoweth joins cast as Mr. Noodle’s assisted-living worker, Joyce
2013: Sesame Street is converted into luxury condo for a Russian oligarch’s daughter
