The end of 2021 means another year has gone by, and much like 2020 it has been a particularly challenging one for many, with Covid uncertainty dominating events and life in general around the world. When it comes to messages of support and reassurance, the puppets of Sesame Street have always been at the forefront of the charge to make sure that children- and in fact anyone who has come to the realization that you are never too old to enjoy childish things – never feel like they are out of touch or alone with their worries and thoughts. A message posted on the official Sesame Street Twitter account brought a much-needed uplifting reminder that the furry cast are always there when they are needed.
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“Through ups, downs, and unexpected challenges, we got through 2021 together,” the tweet reads. “And while we may not know what the next year will bring, we’ll be with you every step of the way!”
Sesame Street has come a long way since its early days when Jim Henson’s puppet creations were not the central focus of the show, but there are now few people who have not come into contact with the likes of Elmo, Cookie Monster, The Count, Big Bird and others. In the last year, the cast of Sesame Street characters has been greatly expanded to incorporate LGBTQ+ and Asian American, Pacific Islander and other groups, and it continues to be one of the most in touch children’s programs currently on television. Just how far reaching Sesame Street is can be seen in the tweeted replies below from across generations.
Sesame Street has always attempted to make sure that it delivers messages and more to children, and adults who are willing to listen, without being patronizing or heavy handed, which was always one of the main lessons of Jim Henson who often expressed his belief that children should be treated more like adults when it comes to learning about the world. Considering that same belief has now been resonating for over 50 years, it seems that there is maybe something in it that many other children’s shows could take note of.
In December, the new documentary Street Gang: How We Got to Sesame Street began streaming on HBO Max and included interviews with over 20 original cast members of the show as well as exclusive behind-the-scenes footage from the archives of Sesame Street. Exploring the history of the show from its early years, it looks at how the writers, educators and performers all came together to create one of the longest-running and most influential children’s television series in history.
For anyone interested in how the series has managed to keep itself relevant through decades of social and political upheaval, the documentary is an excellent look at how humor and continual evolution has helped to maintain Sesame Street’s relevance in the lives of generations of children and their parents, something that doesn’t seem likely to change anytime in the near future.
