Sesame Street Lecture Notes

Overview

• Sesame Street is an American educational children's television series.
• Combines live-action, sketch comedy, animation, and puppetry.
• Produced by Sesame Workshop, formerly Children's Television Workshop.
• Created by Joan Ganz Cooney and Lloyd Morrisett.
• Premiered on November 10, 1969, on PBS, moving to HBO in 2016 and HBO Max in 2020.
• Known for using Jim Henson's Muppets.
• Has aired over 4,731 episodes across 55 seasons.

Key Contributors

• Creators: Joan Ganz Cooney, Lloyd Morrisett
• Muppets Creator: Jim Henson
• Theme Music Composers: Joe Raposo, Jon Stone, Bruce Hart

Format and Evolution

• Initially used commercial TV production techniques.
• Pioneered the use of educational goals and curriculum in TV content.
• Developed the CTW Model for planning, production, and evaluation.
• Expanded to include affective topics: relationships, ethics, emotions.
• Introduced "Elmo's World" segment and narrative-focused format.
• Planned future reimagining to drop half-hour format for narrative-driven style.

Funding and Distribution

• Initially funded by government and private foundations.
• Became self-sufficient through licensing, international sales, and media.
• Faced funding challenges; partnered with HBO for first-run episodes.
• Plans to continue reaching broad audiences despite HBO Max not renewing contract.

Research and Impact

• Extensive research and evaluation used to shape the content.
• High educational impact evidenced by numerous studies.
• Aimed at preparing children for school, especially low-income families.
• Sesame Street's research model influenced later educational shows.
• Won 222 Emmy Awards and 11 Grammy Awards.

Global Influence

• Broadcast in more than 140 countries with independently produced versions.
• Celebrated for multicultural and educational content.
• Addressed real-life issues: 9/11, Hurricane Katrina, military family deployments.
• Engaged children through Muppets and diverse cast.

Criticism and Challenges

• Early criticism based on traditional views of children's media.
• Controversy over corporate sponsorships and exclusive HBO deal.
• Efforts to address representation and cultural inclusivity.

Legacy

• Described as one of the most researched TV shows globally.
• Praised for contributing to children's TV educational standards.
• Influenced later shows like Blue's Clues.
• Notable for breaking new ground in children's television programming.