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Established 1961 Lifestyle

MONDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2019

In this file photo, Sesame Street Live characters (left to right) Ernie, Bert, Elmo, Abby Cadabby, Zoe and Cookie Monster (front) celebrate the renaming of the corner of 31st Street and Eighth Avenue to ‘Sesame Street’ outside Madison Square Garden in New York. — AFP Photos

enerations of children around the world Winning formula countries offering their unique spins. In the 1980s, have grown up learning their ABCs and “Sesame Street” was the brainchild of Joan as he presented a cultural exchange program with G123s from the lovable muppets on “Sesame Ganz Cooney and Lloyd Morrisett, who co-found- the then Soviet Union, US president Ronald Street,” and as the pioneering television program ed the nonprofit Children’s Television Workshop Reagan went so far as to express the hope that turns 50, it’s as popular as ever. It’s also about to (now known as Sesame Workshop) in 1968. The young Soviets would watch “Sesame Street.” earn one of America’s top cultural awards, to go following year, the show launched-and just a few In South Africa, the show featured an HIV-posi- along with a pile of nearly 200 Emmys-at a gala years later, was already an American icon. The pair tive character. In Afghanistan, the female character in Washington on Sunday, it will be the first TV will accept the Kennedy Center Honors award on Zari promoted gender equality. In Ethiopia, Tsehai show to earn the Kennedy Center Honors. behalf of the program, which also featured the the giraffe spoke in Amharic about deforestation. Since its debut in November 1969 on artistry of the late Muppets creator Jim Henson. In the United States, “Sesame Street” has featured American public television, the famous address “Yes, it was entertaining. But it really did try to everyone from first ladies to actors, to pop stars to has taken on many forms, in more than 150 coun- teach a series of substantial pieces of curriculum. sports icons to United Nations leaders. Michelle tries. In Afghanistan, it’s “Baghch-e-Simsim.” In There were lessons taught on Sesame Street,” Obama appeared to promote her campaign Latin America, it’s “Plaza Sesamo.” And in Arabic- Thompson said. against obesity. Hillary Clinton appeared to dis- speaking countries, it’s “Iftah Ya Simsim.” But the “It was often like school-very entertaining cuss health tips. NBA legend Kareem Abdul- message-one that an estimated 86 million school, but school nevertheless.” And as the show Jabbar talked with Big Bird about subtraction. American children alone have watched and was carried on public television network PBS, the “For 50 years, the cozy little neighborhood has absorbed-is the same: the importance of educa- series was able to reach children from all back- taught us much more than numbers and words,” tion, inclusiveness, acceptance and kindness. grounds-contributing to its overwhelming popu- Abdul-Jabbar wrote in a column for The It just happens to be delivered by a cast of larity. “Sesame Street really aimed at a demo- Hollywood Reporter earlier this year. “While we colorful characters from Bert and Ernie to Big can count on Count von Count to give us the good graphic, a target audience that didn’t necessarily So how long can the show run? Sesame Workshop Bird, Elmo and Oscar the Grouch. They mingle word on numbers, the other characters preach the Big Bird (left) and other have the luxury of other kinds of curriculum,” now produces the show in partnership with premi- with children-and a massive rotating cast of gospel of compassion, kindness and fairness.” Sesame Street puppet char- Thompson noted. “There were immigrants, Spanish um cable network HBO, though content is still celebrity guest stars-to teach children the basics Beyond the nostalgia factor for Generation X par- acters pose next to street speakers and people of color on ‘Sesame Street’,” available on PBS with a short delay. Will its in a captivating mix of live action, songs, pup- ents who grew up watching the show, its evergreen sign at West 64th Street and he added-a welcome haven of diversity, even in streaming home on HBO Max be enough in the era petry and laughter. “They figured out that if in 30 success comes from its ability to adapt, taking on Broadway in New York on the 1970s America. of YouTube? For Thompson, “those kind of values seconds you could sell toothpaste and soft drinks, issues as they come. eve of the 40th anniversary are never going to go out of style.”— AFP why couldn’t you sell how to count, ABCs, decent Going global Cookie Monster has embraced healthier eating of the broadcast of the chil- social manners and behavior?” Robert The show about what Thompson calls a “naively habits. Oscar the Grouch no longer lives in a drenís television show. Thompson, a professor of pop culture at good and happly place” slowly gathered steam, garbage bag, but in a recycling bin. This year, the Syracuse University, told AFP. and gradually was exported around the world, with US show welcomed Karli, a Muppet foster child.

Sesame Street character Cookei Monster shows a large cookie with the figure five to celebrate the fifth anniversary of Hollywood theme park Universal Studios Japan in Osaka, while other characters Earnie (center) and Bert A person dressed as ‘Sesame Street’ character Elmo greets people on 42nd Street in New In this file photo, US Former First Lady Michelle Obama dances alongside smile. Generations of children around the world have grown up learning their York. Sesame Street character Elmo during an event announcing free licensing of ABCs and 123s from the lovable muppets on ‘Sesame Street,’ and as the pio- Sesame Street characters to promote and market fresh fruit and vegetables. neering television program turns 50, itís as popular as ever.