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Sesame Street creator Joan Ganz Cooney According to writer Michael Davis, by the mid-1970s the show had become "an American institution." The cast and crew expanded during this time, with emphasis on the hiring of women crew members and the addition of minorities to the cast. The show's success continued into the 1980s. In 1981, when the federal government withdrew its funding, CTW turned to ...
Oct 11, 2024 · Sesame Street: Bert and Ernie Bert and Ernie from Sesame Street. A pioneering children’s education series, Sesame Street features animations, live actors, and a core cast of puppet characters, the Muppets. Designed by Jim Henson, the Muppets—especially the impossibly cute Elmo, Big Bird, the inseparable Bert and Ernie, and Cookie Monster ...
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In 2004, the Walt Disney Company acquired The Muppets franchise from the Jim Henson Company. This transaction included all Henson-owned Muppet assets, including many Muppet titles from the company's catalog of television series, specials, films, and videos. Henson retained the rights to Fraggle Rock, The Dark Crystal, and other properties. Sesame Street and most specials, spinoffs, and related productions are produced and owned by Sesame Workshop.
The following is a list of Henson projects produced up until 2004, and how they are divided by their current rights holders. Select Sesame Street productions co-produced by The Jim Henson Company are included.
Disney
Production Duration Episodes Notes 1975-1993 44 [note 1] 1976-1981 120 [note 1] This was originally distributed by ITC Entertainment. The Jim Henson Company later purchased the distribution rights, which were subsequently included in the 2004 sale. 1984-1990 107 [note 1] 1985 3 [note 1] (Muppet Segments) 1989 9 (30 min.) 1 (15 min.) 1 (60 min.) [note 1] Segments include: Outer Space (Louie Anderson), Oceans (Ted Danson), Power (Nylons, Today Show), First Show (Bobby McFerrin), Fitness (Smokey Robinson), Videotape (Buster Poindexter), Garbage (k.d. lang), Miss Piggy Goes to Hollywood, Secrets of the Muppets, Food, Movie Trailer Parody of Classic Muppets 1994 40 [note 1] 1996-1998 22 [note 1] 1997-2003 117 [note 1] 1999 60 [note 1]
Henson
Production Duration Episodes Notes 1983-1987 96 [note 2] (animated) 1987 13 [note 2] 1987-1990 39 [note 2] 1987-1989 9 [note 2] (Non-Muppet Segments) 1989 10 [note 2] Segments include: The Heartless Giant, Lighthouse Island, The Soldier and Death, Dog City, Monster Maker, The Song of the Cloud Forest, The True Bride, Sapsorrow, The Three Ravens, Living with Dinosaurs 1989 13 [note 2] 1990 4 [note 2] 1993-1994 13 [note 2] 1994 13 [note 2] 1994-1997 65 [note 2] One episode features Sam the Eagle. 1996 8 [note 2] 1996-1997 40 [note 2] 1998 13 [note 2] 1999 6 [note 2] 1999-2003 88 [note 2] 1999 52 [note 2] A "restricted retained entertainment property" by the Henson Company. 1999-2003 260 [note 2] 1999-2003 26 [note 2] 2000-2001 13 [note 2] 2000-2001 26 [note 2] 2001-2002 200 [note 2] 2002-2003 65 [note 2] 2003 30 [note 2]
Other Properties
Production Duration Episodes Owner/Notes 1955-1961 The characters are owned by The Walt Disney Company, but are a "frozen property", so Disney needs approval from The Jim Henson Company to use them. 1963-1966 The Jimmy Dean Estate/Donna Dean Stevens controls the restoration and TV airings of the series. 1975-1976 Broadway Video owns the existing Saturday Night Live episodes and appearances. Henson owns the characters and can produce derivative works (including new characters); as part of the 2004 sale of the Muppets to Disney, Henson agrees to not identify any of the SNL puppet characters as "Muppets" in any future works. 1991-1993 66 Produced by Michael Jacobs Productions and Jim Henson Productions in association with Walt Disney Television. The series and characters are owned by the Jim Henson Company; Disney has always held distribution rights. 1992-1995 31 Produced by Nelvana, in association with the Jim Henson Company. Streaming distribution controlled by Nelvana.
Disney
Production Year Notes 1970 [note 1] 1971 [note 1] 1972 [note 1] 1974 [note 1] 1975 [note 1] 1979 [note 1] This was originally distributed by ITC Entertainment. The Jim Henson Company later purchased the distribution rights, which were subsequently included in the 2004 sale. 1979 [note 1] This was originally distributed by ITC Entertainment. The Jim Henson Company later purchased the distribution rights, which were subsequently included in the 2004 sale. 1981 [note 1] This was originally distributed by ITC Entertainment. The Jim Henson Company later purchased the distribution rights, which were subsequently included in the 2004 sale. 1981 [note 1] This was originally distributed by ITC Entertainment. The Jim Henson Company later purchased the distribution rights, which were subsequently included in the 2004 sale. 1981 [note 1] This was originally distributed by ITC Entertainment. The Jim Henson Company later purchased the distribution rights, which were subsequently included in the 2004 sale. 1982 [note 1] This was originally distributed by ITC Entertainment. The Jim Henson Company later purchased the distribution rights, which were subsequently included in the 2004 sale. 1986 [note 1] Features Traveling Matt Fraggle and Sprocket, as well as clips from various Henson-retained productions. 1986 [note 1] 1987 [note 1] Features characters from Fraggle Rock. 1990 [note 1] Walt Disney Television has always retained the distribution rights to this special. 1990 [note 1] Walt Disney Television has always retained the distribution rights to this special. 1991 1992 Walt Disney Pictures has always retained the distribution rights to this film. 1995 [note 1] 1996 Walt Disney Pictures has always retained the distribution rights to this film.
Henson
Production Year Notes 1965 [note 2] 1968 [note 2] 1969 [note 2] 1977 [note 2] The 2004 deal specifies this as a "restricted retained entertainment property", and that the Henson Company shall "delete the appearances by Kermit the Frog at the beginning of each of The Christmas Toy and Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas." Although this has applied to subsequent video releases, this was retracted for a special TV airing on ABC Family in 2015 and a home video release in 2017. 1982 [note 2] Produced under ITC Entertainmant, and originally distributed by Universal. The Jim Henson Company purchased theatrical distribution rights around the time it was released. Sony retains home video and streaming distribution. 1983 [note 2] 1984 [note 2] Features appearances by Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy, as well as clips from a number of productions later purchased by The Walt Disney Company. 1985 [note 2] 1986 [note 2] Originally distributed by TriStar Pictures, distribution rights still held by Sony. 1986 [note 2] A "restricted retained entertainment property" by the Henson Company; according to the 2004 deal for the sale of the Muppets to the Walt Disney Company, Henson shall "delete the appearances by Kermit the Frog at the beginning of each of The Christmas Toy and Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas." Although this has applied to subsequent video releases, this was retracted for a home video release in 2019. 1987 [note 2] 1987 [note 2] 1989 [note 2] One of the few Sesame Street productions produced by The Jim Henson Company, and the only Sesame Street production distributed by the Henson Company.
Other Properties
Production Year Owner/Notes 1970 This project is not listed in the Disney-Henson deal. However, Buena Vista Home Video did release this as a special feature on The Muppet Show: Season Three. 1970 1974 One of the few Sesame Street productions produced by The Jim Henson Company, in association with Sesame Workshop and ABC. 1979 The John Denver Estate retains ownership. 1980 1983 The John Denver Estate retains ownership. 1984 Sony (originally distributed by TriStar Pictures) 1990 Warner Bros. 1997 Sony (produced by Jim Henson Pictures, distributed by Columbia Pictures) 1999 Sony (originally distributed by Columbia Pictures) 1999 Sony (originally distributed by Columbia Pictures, produced by Jim Henson Pictures and Sesame Workshop) 2002 Sony (originally distributed by Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment) 2002 NBC Universal 2002 2003
Disney
Video(s) Year Notes Playhouse Video Muppet Show compilations 1985 [note 1] Videos include: The Kermit and Piggy Story, Fozzie's Muppet Scrapbook, Children's Songs and Stories, Gonzo Presents Muppet Weird Stuff, Rowlf's Rhapsodies with the Muppets, Muppet Treasures, Rock Music with the Muppets, The Muppet Revue, Muppet Moments, Play-Along Video 1988 [note 1] Videos include: Hey, You're as Funny as Fozzie Bear, Sing-Along, Dance-Along, Do-Along, Wow, You're a Cartoonist!, It's the Muppets! 1993 [note 1] and Muppet Classic Theater 1994 [note 1] 1994 [note 1] Includes a clip from A Muppet Family Christmas that features Fraggle Rock characters 1995 [note 1] 1996 [note 1] 1996 [note 1]
Henson
Video Year Notes 1984 [note 2] 1984 [note 2] 1988 [note 2] 1988 [note 2] 1993 [note 2] The only Muppet Sing Alongs video retained by the Henson Company.
Other
Video(s) Year Notes 1988 A View-Master Interactive Vision release. 1988 A View-Master Interactive Vision release. 2002 2002
1.Shemin, Craig ToughPigs interview with Craig Shemin
Notes
1.listed as an Identified Entertainment Property in 2004 Disney/Muppets purchase agreement, archived on Kenny's Blog - Disney-Henson: Who Owns What
2.listed as a Retained Entertainment Property in 2004 Disney/Muppets purchase agreement, archived on Kenny's Blog - Disney-Henson: Who Owns What
- Sesame Street is produced by a nonprofit called Sesame Workshop. Though best known for the hit television series Sesame Street, Sesame Workshop is a global impact nonprofit that, since 1969, has worked at the intersection of education, media, and research to help children in over 150 countries grow smarter, stronger, and kinder.
- Sesame Street was almost named “123 Avenue B” During original conversations surrounding naming the show, “123 Avenue B” was suggested. However, because the address is a real-life spot in New York City’s East Village, the name was ultimately scrapped.
- Elmo was an “Anything Muppet” before his official debut in 1980. Before he was Elmo, he was just a furry, red “Anything Muppet” used as an extra in certain Sesame Street segments.
- Oscar the Grouch was originally orange. Early viewers might remember that, in the first season of Sesame Street, Oscar the Grouch was actually orange.
- Abby Cadabby. An imaginative and playful 4-year-old, Abby is the daughter of the Fairy Godmother; she’s also a fairy-in-training herself at her after-school program!
- Snuffleupagus (“Snuffy”) Snuffy loves playing with his best friend Big Bird; they share many adventures on Sesame Street as they help each other make sense of their world.
- Baby Bear. Baby Bear, borrowed from the enduring “The Three Bears” story, continues to engage young viewers through his adventurous spirit and artistic abilities.
- Bert. Bert is the long-suffering best friend of Ernie.
For the fictional street, see Sesame Street (location). For the current season, see Season 54 Sesame Street is an educational television program designed for preschoolers, recognized as a pioneer of the contemporary standard which combines education and entertainment in children's television. Sesame Street also provided the first daily, national television showcase for Jim Henson's Muppets, an ...
The Mecha Builders will be there on the double to “plan it, test it, solve it!” Join Elmo, Cookie Monster, and Abby Cadabby as robot heroes-in-training...with amazing STEM superpowers! Plus, these heroes help problem-solve the dilemma of getting big and little ones to watch and learn together, while laughing along with Sesame Street friends.
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