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Mail re: Children [Sesame Street]
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Mail re: Children [Sesame Street]
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Records of the First Lady's Office (Clinton Administration)
Elizabeth "Liz" Bowyer's Files
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PHOTOCOPY
PRESERVATION
was
PHOTOCOPY
PRESERVATION
CTW
SESAME STREET®
children's television workshop
one lincoln plaza new york . new york 10023 212.595.3456
Photos by John Barrett
D1995 Children's Television Workshop
Sesame Street Muppets 91995 Jim Henson Productions. Inc.
JOIN BIG BIRD, SESAME STREET'S FAVORITE FRIEND,
IN CELEBRATING SESAME STREET'S 27TH SEASON.
The season begins November 20 on PBS. (Check local listing.)
Photo: John Barrett/CTW
Contact: Anna Bondoc/Ray Badner (212) 875-6925/6434
MUPPET TIME ON SESAME STREET (Left) Pals Elmo and Zoe having a swinging time. (Right) Bert and Ernie enjoy one of their
favorite books. Sesame Street kicks off its 27th season on PBS beginning Monday, November 20 (check local listings).
Photos: (Left) John Barrett/CTW; (Right) Eduardo Patino
Contact: Anna Bondoc/Ray Badner (212) 875-6925/6434
FAMILY FUN ON SESAME STREET (Left) Big Bird shares his magic and entertains his friends Maria (Sonia Manzano),
Luis (Emilio Delgado), Gabby (Desiree Casado), Elmo, Zoe and Rosita. (Right) Susan (Loretta Long), Gordon (Roscoe Orman),
Miles (Imani Patterson), Zoe and Elmo play together on the street. Sesame Street kicks off its 27th season on
Monday, November 20 on PBS (check local listings).
Photos: John Barrett/CTW
Contact: Anna Bondoc/Ray Badner (212) 875-6926/6434
ONE LINCOLN PLAZA NEW YORK, NY 10023 (212) 595-3456
ELLEN LEWIS GIDEON
Vice President, Publicity & Promotions
-
DIRECT DIAL: (212) 875-6396 . FAX (212) 875-6114
CTW
SESAME STREET
Ray Badner, Senior Publicist
Ellen Lewis, Vice-President,
(212) 875-6434 Fax: 875-6118
Promotion and Publicity
Anna Bondoc, Coordinator,
(212) 875-6396 Fax: 875-6114
Creative Services
Dana Zoran, Assistant
(212) 875-6925 Fax: 875-6114
Public Television Relations
Pauline Brooks, Vice-President,
(212) 875-6445 Fax: 875-6118
Public Television Relations
Ghostwriter Promotion Coordinator
(212) 875-6443 Fax: 875-6118
(212) 875-6652 Fax: 875-6114
Here are some bookmarks for you!
EXERCISE
CTW
SESAME STREET
writer
READ
Clinton Library Transfer Form
Case #, if applicable
2014-0483-S
Accession #
Collection/Record Group
Clinton Presidential Records
Series/Staff Member
Liz Bowyer
Subgroup/Office of Origin
First Lady's Office
Subseries
Folder Title
[Mail re: Children, Sesame Street]
OA/ID Number
12633
Box Number
Description
6 color slides depicting Sesame Street characters. @ 1995 from John E. Barrett, Barbara Nitke and @ 1994 Don Perdue all credited to
of Item(s)
the slide images
Donor Information
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Title:
Affiliation:
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City:
State (or Country):
Zip:
Transferred to:
Audio/Visual Department
Transfer Point
During Processing
Other (Specify):
New Location
12-2-3-6 AV regular storage
Transferred by:
Dan Brogden
Date of Tranfer
3/25/2014
Received by:
John Keller
Date of Receipt
3/26/2014
CHILDREN'S
NEWS
TELEVISION
WORKSHOP
STAR-STUDDED LINE-UP FOR 27th SEASON OF SESAME STREET
Premieres Monday, November 20th on PBS
NEW YORK, November 20, 1995 -- Tony Bennett, Ellen DeGeneres, Ray
Charles, The Spin Doctors, Shari Lewis, David Robinson, Patrick Stewart, Mary
Chapin Carpenter and Laurence Fishburne are among those set to guest star in
the 27th season of Sesame Street, the award-winning Children's Television
Workshop show, which begins on Monday, November 20th on PBS (check local
listings).
Sesame Street will continue with its internationally acclaimed method of
incorporating education with entertainment -- helping preschool children attain
basic reading, writing, literacy and pro social skills while having fun. With the
assistance of Big Bird, Elmo, Oscar the Grouch, Zoe, Rosita and Telly Monster,
the theme of "games" will be introduced this season on Sesame Street to help
teach children with diverse backgrounds how to interact, share, cooperate,
exercise and build self esteem together.
"This new season our child actors are really front and center," said Michael
Loman, Executive Producer. "We've certainly always had children on Sesame
Street, but this year we're trying to focus the show more on our five children as
principal characters so that children watching Sesame Street will identify with
them and learn the educational goals they're modeling. We hope these
individual children will become as well known as Maria, Gordon and all of the
other live actors that children love so much," comments Loman.
-more-
ONE LINCOLN PLAZA
NEW YORK, NY 10023
(212) 595 3456
CABLE SESAMEST NEW YORK/RCA TELEX 236168
Sesame Street is one of the most honored and respected programs in television
history. Having garnered more than 96 awards (including 62 Emmys, 2 George
Foster Peabody Awards, 1 Clio, 4 Parent's Choice Awards, an Action for
Children's Television Special Achievement Award and the Prix Jeunesse
International), Sesame Street has also and, more importantly, earned the trust
of parents and the loyalty of children throughout the world.
In addition to extensive and continued critical acclaim, Sesame Street has
scored highly among academicians and education experts. A recent long-term
study conducted by the University of Kansas determined that Sesame Street is
an extremely effective learning tool and provides a powerful educational
foundation for preschoolers. The study proved that as early as age two,
preschoolers who watched Sesame Street scored higher on standardized tests
of math and verbal abilities, and the more preschoolers watched Sesame Street
the better they performed on those tests 2-3 years later. Additionally, teachers
reported that children who watched Sesame Street when they were younger are
better adjusted to school.
Sesame Street is a production of Children's Television Workshop, the world's
leader in educating and entertaining children, having reached over 120 million
children in more than 130 countries. The Company's expertise extends over a
range of media including television, home video, software, publishing, as well as
licensed products and community outreach efforts. The Company's roster of
projects includes Sesame Street, Ghostwriter, CRO, and the magazines
Creative Classroom, Kid City and 3-2-1 Contact.
###
Contact:
Ellen Lewis / CTW
(212) 875-6396
Ray Badner / CTW
(212) 875-6434
CTW
SESAME STREET®
Sesame Street Cast
Carlo
Lexine
Carlo Alban
Lexine Bondoc
01995 Fim Hanson Productions. Inc.
Gina
Carrington
Alison Bartlett O'Reilly
Carrington Bibuld
Sesame Street Muppet-
Linda
Muppet Performers
Linda Bove
Caroll Spinney
Ruthie
as Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch
Ruth Buzzi
Pam Arciero
Celina
Camille Bonora
Annette Calud
Fran Brill
Gabriela
Kevin Clash
Desiree Casado
Bruce Connelly
Luis
Louise Gold
Emilio Delgado
Jim Henson
Michael
Richard Hunt
Michael Bundy
Peter Linz
Susan
Noel MacNeal
Loretta Long
Jim Martin
Maria
Joe Mazzarino
Sonia Manzano
Jerry Nelson
Bob
Carmen Osbahr
Bob McGrath
Frank Oz.
Gordon
Martin P. Robinson
Roscoe Orman
David Rudman
Miles
Judith Sladky
Imani Patterson
and Bryant Young
Tarah
Tarah Lynne Schaeffer
Mr. Handford
David Langston Smyrl
CHILDREN'S TELEVISION WORKSHOP
ONE LINCOLN PLAZA NEW YORK . NEW YORK 10023 (212) 595-3456
Sesame Street Production Staff
Senior Vice President for Production
Muppet Creators
Stage Managers
Marjorie Kalins
Fred Bucholz
Ed Christie
Chris Kelly
Executive Producer
Larry Jameson
Tom Newby
Hank Smith
Michael Loman
Mark Ruffin
Carlo Yannuzzi
Curriculum Coordinator
Supervising Producer
Connie Pererson
Cher Jung
Lisa Simon
Steven Rotoondaro
Production Assistants
Directors
Ann Marie Timinelli
Tim Carter
Ted May
Mark Zeszotek
Lara MacLean
Heather Dick
Lisa Simon
Musical Director
Kim J. Kennedy
Emily Squires
Robby Merkin
Talent Coordinator
Producer
Associate Music Director
Danette De Sena
Arlene Sherman
Dave Connor
Child Talent Coordinator
Line Producer
Music Coordinator
Gabrielle Howard
Yvonne Hill-Ogunkoya
Danny Epstein
Script Coordinator
Associate Producers
Production Supervisor
Thelma Moses
Carlos Dorta
Frieda Lipp
Technical Director
Teri Weiss
Editing Supervisor
Ralph Mensch
Head Writer
Robert J. Emerick
Lighting Designer
Norman Stiles
Associate Directors
Bill Berner
Writers
Ken Diego
Sound Effects
Lou Berger
Robert J. Emerick
Dick Maitland
Molly Boylan
Cheryl Ann Jung
Audio
Sara Compton
Ted May
Blake Norton
Christine Ferraro
Arlene Sherman
Camera
Judy Freudberg
Toni Siegel
Frank Biondo
Tony Geiss
Production Designer
Dave Driscoll
lan Ellis James
Victor DiNapoli
Mark Whitman
Emily Perl-Kingsley
Costume Designers
Videotape Editor
David Korr
Bill Kellard
Evamarie Keller
Sonia Manzano
Terry Roberson
Makeup
Joey Mazzarino
Graphic Designers
Joe Cuervo
Jeff Moss
Mike Pantuso
Hair Stylist
Adam Rudman
Pete Ortiz
Karen Specht
Nancy Sans
Set Decorator
Wardrobe
Luis Santiero
Nat Mongioi
Colleen Noe
Josh Selig
Art Director
Chairman, Board of Advisers
Cathy Rosenberg-Turow
Bob Phillips
Gerald Lesser, Ph.D.
Belinda Ward
Production Stage Manager
John Weidman
Chuck Raymond
Mo Willems
Sesame Street Research Staff
Assistant VP/Director of
Sesame Street Research
Valeria Lovelace, Ph.D.
Senior Researcher, Sesame Street
Sue Freund-Scheiner
Assistant Researcher, Sesame Street
Susan Dollberg
Sexume & Street Muppets
01995 Im Herson Productions. Inc.
Biographical
CARLO ALBAN (Carlo) begins his third season on Sesame Street
and this year will be working in Mr. Hooper's store. His stage
Sketches:
experience includes roles in Sarah and Abraham, Roebling
Steel, Something Wonderful and the Pearl Theatre Company's
Cast of Sesame Street
production of The Trojan Women. He also played the lead in
Oliver at the Children's Theater Project and participated
in a reading of Columbus: The Discovery of Japan at the Public Theatre.
Carlo recently appeared in an episode of Fox television's House of Buggin'.
A 14-year-old honor student, Carlo sings, sculpts, plays the flute and
saxophone and speaks fluent Spanish.
ALISON BARTLETT O'REILLY (Gina) has been a member of the Sesame Street cast
for eight years. This season, she begins working at the Family Day Care
Center. Alison began her acting career in John Guare's Landscape of the
Body, directed by Gary Sinise. She later co-starred with William Hurt and
Candice Bergen in the Broadway production of Hurly Burly, directed
by Mike Nichols, and worked on the off-Broadway project The Love You
Make, with a score by John Lennon and Paul McCartney. On television,
Alison was an original member of Kaleidoscope, and she also appeared
in the film Right to Kill.
LINDA BOVE (Linda) became Sesame Street's librarian in 1976. Her tenure
represents the longest-running role of a hearing-impaired person
in a television series, providing a positive role model for hearing and non-
hearing children. A founding member of Deaf West Theatre Company
in Los Angeles, Bove has played numerous roles for the National Theater
of the Deaf and performed in both the national touring company
production and the film of the Tony Award-winning play Children of a
Lesser God. Her other television credits include Search for Tomorrow
and Happy Days. The many honors Bove has received include an hon-
orary doctorate and a humanitarian award from her alma mater,
Gallaudet University. She has authored two Sesame Street books and
released an award-winning home video, Sign Me a Story.
LEXINE BONDOC (Lexine) begins her second season as one of the kids on
Sesame Street. Her theater credits include Tam in Miss Saigon. Her
regional theater credits include The King and I in which she played one
of the king's children, and South Pacific in which she played Ngana.
MICHAEL BUNDY (Michael) has been a member of the Sesame Street cast for three
years. He is an active six-year-old who loves to dance. Currently, he is
studying ballet and tap dancing. Michael has developed an affection for all
the Muppets on Sesame Street and wants to be a puppeteer. He is very fond of
animals and has cats, fish, chickens and rabbits at home.
RUTH BUZZI (Ruthie) continues as the owner of "Finders Keepers," the thrift shop
located "around the corner." The award-winning actress has been a regular
on numerous TV series, such as Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In, Carol Burnett's
The Entertainers and That Girl, and appeared as a guest star on scores of
shows, including Here's Lucy, Major Dad and Medical Center. Buzzi's movie
credits include Chu Chu and the Philly Flash and The Apple Dumpling
Gang Rides Again. On stage, she played on Broadway with Gwen Verdon in
Sweet Charity, acted in off-Broadway, regional and summer stock
productions, appeared in 18 musical revues and has performed her own club
act throughout the country. Buzzi has received numerous honors, including
four Emmy nominations, a Golden Globe, a Presidential commendation
for outstanding artist in the field of entertainment (1980), a NAACP Image
Award and induction into the Rhode Island Hall of Fame.
ANNETTE CALUD (Celina) is continuing in the role of the dance instructor whose
studio is "around the corner." Previously, Annette starred in the leading
role of Kim in the hit Broadway musical Miss Saigon. She has performed in
regional theater productions of such shows as A Funny Thing Happened
on the Way to the Forum, Hair, Gypsy and Anything Goes. She has done a
number of commercials and industrial films and appeared on the 1990
Tony Award telecast. Calud, who received a doctorate from the Illinois
College of Optometry, practiced optometry in Chicago while pursuing her
theatrical interests and still works part-time to keep her skills honed.
DESIREE CASADO (Gabriela) is playing the daughter of Maria and Luis in her third
season on Sesame Street. The third grader, who has always wanted to
be an actress, was recently cast in the feature film Blackout, winning the part
after going out on her very first audition. Her other film credits include
Joe's Apartment, Wishful Thinking, Emilia and The King of Plants. Eight-year-
old Desiree enjoys dancing, singing, tap and ballet, drawing, aerobics and
swimming. She loves all the characters on Sesame Street, especially Elmo, and
is thrilled to be part of the show.
EMILIO DELGADO (Luis) has been a regular on Sesame Street since 1971. He is
particularly proud of his work on the program and believes that his role has
provided viewers with an accurate portrayal and positive role model of
a contemporary Latino man. Delgado's other television credits include the
series Lou Grant and Falcon Crest and the award-winning drama / Will Fight
No More Forever. He has also done theater work on both coasts, as a member
of the Inner City Repertory Theatre in Los Angeles and on Broadway, where
he understudied a leading role in Two Gentlemen of Verona and originated
the role of Emilio Hernandez in the musical Working. Delgado gives live
concerts and makes personal appearances throughout the country and con-
tributes his time and talent to many organizations benefiting children.
LORETTA LONG (Susan) has been with Sesame Street since its very first season, and
has enjoyed watching Susan's part evolve from housewife to nurse to working
mother over the years. Before coming to Sesame Street, Long had done
television and club appearances in Australia, summer stock productions of
Guys and Dolls, Milk and Honey, Sweet Charity and the public television
program Soul. In addition to her work on the show, Long is a professional
educator, a former school teacher who holds a doctorate in education from
the University of Massachusetts.
SONIA MANZANO (Maria), who has been with Sesame Street since the show's
fifth season, has had the added pleasure of acting with her daughter, Gabriela,
who played her child on the series the past several years. Working on
Sesame Street has also given her the opportunity to develop her talent as a
writer. After 10 years on the set, she began writing scripts for the show
and has earned seven Emmy Awards as a member of the Sesame Street writing
staff. A member of the Ensemble Studio Theater, Manzano has appeared
in numerous off-Broadway productions, including the original
staging of Godspell. Her feature film credits include Death Wish,
Fire Power, and Night Flowers. Manzano has received the
Key to the City of Indianapolis for achievement in
children's television.
Sexame Street Muppers
01995 line Henson Produc nons, Inc.
BOB McGRATH (Bob) is a Sesame Street original, having been with the program
since its inception in 1969. A successful recording artist and live performer,
he has released five solo albums for children, performs family pop concerts
across the country and has appeared with over 100 symphony orchestras
in the U.S. and Canada. A tireless champion for children, McGrath annually
participates in telethons raising funds for children in need. He has served
as chairperson of National UNICEF Day and hosted World Children's Day
at the United Nations. He has also been the host and artistic advisor for
the International Children's Festival at Wolf Trap in Virginia for the past five
seasons. McGrath has produced a series of six books and companion audio
cassettes for children. Before joining Sesame Street, McGrath sang with
the Robert Shaw Chorale and Fred Waring's Pennsylvanians and was featured
on the TV series Sing Along With Mitch.
IMANI PATTERSON (Miles) plays the adopted son of Susan and Gordon
in his first season on Sesame Street. A fourth grader who wants to be an actor,
he was bitten by the acting bug after appearing in his school production of
Insect Mania. Imani played the role of the mosquito. This nine-year old likes
to read, draw, sing, rollerblade, snow ski and play basketball.
ROSCOE ORMAN (Gordon) marks his 21st anniversary on Sesame Street
this season. Orman, who made his acting debut in 1962 with the Next Stage
Theatre Company, was an original member of the New Lafayette Theatre
Company, where he performed in such plays as The Duplex and The Fabulous
Miss Marie. His extensive work on the New York stage has included
appearances with Negro Ensemble Company, the New York Shakespeare
Festival (where he played Brutus in Julius Caesar), Manhattan Theatre Club,
New Federal Theatre and American Place Theatre, where he was recently
acclaimed for his performance in the title role of The Confessions of Stepin
Fetchit. He also played the role of Gabriel in the award-winning Broadway
production of Fences. Orman has appeared in the feature films Willie Dynamite,
F/X and Striking Distance, and his television credits include Sanford and Son,
Kojak, All My Children and Langston Hughes: The Dream Keeper.
TARAH LYNNE SCHAEFFER (Tarah) returns to Sesame Street this year. Although
Tarah has a physical disability that keeps her in a wheelchair, she is an active
eleven-year-old who swims and participates in wheelchair sports, for which
she has won two trophies. Tarah is not only artistic and musical, but an
excellent science student who hopes to be a doctor someday.
DAVID LANGSTON SMYRL (Mr. Handford), who came to Sesame Street in 1989,
has had a varied career over the past three years as an actor, writer, comic and
musician. Crowned "Poet Laureate of Greenwich Village" for three years
running in the early 1960s, Smyrl played New York clubs and college
concerts as a comic, poet, lecturer and folk singer. He appeared in several
plays and musicals both on and off-Broadway and hosted Express Yourself, a
public television program. Smyrl had several plays commissioned by
Joseph Papp at the Public Theatre and worked as a staff writer on the comedy
series The Cosby Show and Benson (for which the writers received a People's
Choice Award). His other television credits include roles in the documentary
film Langston Hughes: The Dream Keeper and the HBO movie Long Gone.
David also designs and produces radio and television commercials through
his own production house.
Behind the Scenes
MICHAEL LOMAN (executive producer) Since joining the Sesame
Street team in December 1992, Loman has won, in succession,
a
Sesame Street
two Emmy awards for best children's series. He came to the
series after spending 17 years in Hollywood as an independent
television producer and writer. He was a staff writer for All in
the Family, a writer/co-producer for The Cosby Show (for which he won an
Emmy), co-producer for Newhart and story editor for Happy Days. He
produced The Hogan Family and Sugar and Spice and wrote episodes of Alice,
Fish, All's Fair, One Day at a Time and When Things Were Rotten. He also wrote
for the PBS programs The Great American Dream Machine and VD Blues.
Loman has a broad background in theater, from his early days as an actor and
singer in New York and on tour, to writing the libretto for The Little Rascals, an
original musical comedy based on the Our Gang comedies, for which Joe
Raposo was composer/lyricist. Before embarking on his career in the
entertainment field, Loman had taught language arts and reading to junior
high school students in New York for five years.
LISA SIMON (supervising producer/director) has won ten Emmy Awards for her
work on Sesame Street and co-produced the award-winning special "Don't Eat
the Pictures: Sesame Street at the Metropolitan Museum of Art." Simon was
a student at Hunter College when she began a summer job at CTW just in
time for Sesame Street's first test shows. She found her on-the-job training
experience so exciting that she stayed on as a production assistant, eventually
completing her college education in the evenings while working full-time.
Simon also directed the off-Broadway musical, Letters to Ben.
ARLENE SHERMAN (producer) who commissions Sesame Street's live action and
animated films, joined CTW in 1978 as a production coordinator and served
as coordinating producer from 1987 to 1994. She was executive producer
on the 25th birthday special-Sesame Street Jam: A Musical Celebration. She
also co-produced "Don't Eat The Pictures: Sesame Street at the Metropolitan
Museum of Art." Before coming to CTW, Sherman, a graduate of the
NYU School of Film and Television, had worked in both media in Europe,
producing and directing a number of award-winning shorts.
NORMAN STILES (head writer) began his writing career writing freelance stand-up
comedy. His first full-time writing job was as a staff writer for the Merv
Griffin Show. He started writing for Sesame Street in 1970, taking a few years
off in the mid-1970s to go to Hollywood to work on nerwork comedy and
variety shows (and to work on that tan!). He co-created the television series
When Things Were Rotten and worked on Fernwood Tonight, America Tonight,
The Bad News Bears-which he also co-produced-and summer shows
for Frankie Avalon and the Captain and Tennille. Stiles served as head writer
for a special co-produced by Soviet Television and the Free To Be Foundation
called "Free to Be a Family."
JIM HENSON'S SESAME STREET MUPPETS: Muppet creator Jim Henson began his
television career in 1954 as a puppeteer on a local program in Washington,
D.C. In 1976, Henson introduced The Muppet Show, a popular weekly TV
series starring the classic Muppets. He brought the Muppets to the big screen
in 1979 with the feature film The Muppet Movie,
followed by The Great Muppet Caper and
The Muppets Take Manhattan. Other Henson
films include the fantasy features, The Dark
Crystal and Labyrinth.
Henson's innovative work in television
includes Fraggle Rock, an award-winning live-
action puppet series which was HBO's
first original children's program; the animated
series Muppet Babies for CBS, which won
four consecutive Emmy Awards;
The Storyteller, an Emmy-winning anthology
of traditional folk tales on NBC; and
The Jim Henson Hour, which won Henson
an Emmy for Outstanding Directing.
Although Jim Henson died in 1990, his legacy lives on.
Sevone Street Muppers
01995 Jin Herson Productions, inc.
Under the direction of president and chief executive officer Brian Henson,
Jim Henson Productions continues its long-term philosophy of producing
quality entertainment for the entire family.
The company remains firmly committed to the ongoing presentation of
Sesame Street under the direction of Vice President Cheryl Henson and Art
Director Ed Christic, who maintains all the favorite characters, such as Big
Bird, Oscar the Grouch, Bert and Ernie, Cookie Monster, Grover, Prairie
Dawn, The Count, and Elmo. With the series entering its 27th year, the
Sesame Street Muppets continue to break ground with the introduction of
such characters as bilingual Rosita, H. Ross Parrot, and a little girl monster
named Zoe.
The task of breathing life into the Muppets falls to the brilliant cast of
Jim Henson Productions' Sesame Street Muppeteers: Frank Oz (Bert, Cookie
Monster, Grover); Caroll Spinney (Big Bird, Oscar the Grouch); Muppet
captain Kevin Clash (Elmo, Hoots the Owl); Jerry Nelson (The Count,
H. Ross Parrot); Fran Brill (Prairie Dawn, Zoe); Joey Mazzarrino (Joey Monkey,
Colambo, Merry Monster, Stinky Stinkweed); Carmen Osbahr (Rosita);
and David Rudman (Baby Bear, Davey Monkey, Sonny Friendly).
ROBBY MERKIN (musical director) is spending his second season on Sesame Street.
He was the musical director/arranger for the Academy Award- and Grammy-
winning The Little Mermaid and the Academy Award- and Grammy-nominated
Little Shop of Horrors (stage and screen). Known for successfully adapting
rock music to the stage, he arranged and/or music directed Buddy (The Buddy
Holly Story), Ray Davies' 80 Days and Carole King's Tapestry. He has com-
posed, arranged, produced and/or conducted for The Tonight Show, The Joan
Rivers Show and Saturday Night Live. A governor of the New York Chapter
of NARAS, he has won numerous ASCAP awards and Meet the Composer
grants. Merkin recently scored the teen soap opera Swans Crossing and
arranged and produced the songs for The Little Mermaid animated TV series.
VICTOR DINAPOLI (production designer) has worked with CTW since 1982,
when he served as art director for "Big Bird in China" and "Don't Eat the
Pictures: Sesame Street at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. "As the production
designer for Sesame Street since 1981, he has won four Emmy Awards and
eight nominations. He has also been the production designer for the CTW
programs Shalom Sesame, 3-2-1 Contact and Encyclopedia. Other credits
include Little Muppet Monsters, The Muppets at Walt Disney World, Eureeka's
Castle (Nickelodeon), Ryan's Hope and A World Apart. DiNapoli has
worked in the theater as a scenic designer for several regional theaters and the
off-Broadway show Uncommon Holidays.
CTW
SESAME STRELI®
®
The Principals
BIG
BIRD He's an 8'2" six-year-old yellow bird who is
"everychild." Children understand and identify with Big
Bird's excitement over new things as well as his disappointment when things
don't work out or he makes mistakes. They also see his willingness to try
again, correct his mistakes and-just by being persistent-find solutions to
problems. He is the one Muppet character who possesses the broadest range
of universal emotions in a given situation. Big Bird's birthday is March 20th.
ELMO
A small, red Muppet with a high-pitched voice, Elmo has all the traits
of a two-year-old child. Enthusiastic, friendly and cheerful, he always wants
to be part of everything that goes on. However, like most two year olds,
he sometimes doesn't have the skills or the knowledge to do what he wants.
But that never stops him. He has a very positive, optimistic view of himself
and life. Elmo, like Cookie Monster, speaks a "monster language" that
younger children can identify with. He never uses pronouns, often referring
to himself by name: "Elmo wants to go to the park." Elmo is the official
mascot for Sesame Street PEP. His birthday is February 3rd.
OSCAR THE GROUCH He's the resident grouch on Sesame Street. Oscar loves collect-
ing junk and trash, standing in line, arguing, rainy days, anchovy milkshakes,
01995 lim Henson Productions. Inc.
etc. He hates anything nice and sweet. He lives in a trash can that houses
Sesame Sireet Muppers
several elephants, a swimming pool, a music room and just about everything
else. Oscar is used to teaching children about differing perspectives, e.g., that
the world is made up of many different people who may look upon the same
situation in different ways, and that these differences must be respected
and tolerated as long as their actions don't impinge on others' rights.
ROSITA Her full name is "Rosita, la Monstrua de las Cuevas,"
which means "The Monster of the Caves." An exuberant,
warm, expansive, playful turquoise blue monster, she is from
Mexico and is bilingual, often mixing in Spanish words
with her English sentences. She is very physical, touching,
hugging, using her hands when she speaks, etc.
CHILDREN'S TELEVISION WORKSHOP
ONE LINCOLN PLAZA
NEW YORK
NEW YORK 10023
(212) 595-3456
TELLY MONSTER An intense and earnest monster who worries about disasters that
could never happen. He has tremendous compassion and empathy for
everything and everyone. Telly is also the "Monster on the Spot" correspondent.
ZOE A furry, three-year old girl monster who is so excited about everything she
can't get her words out fast enough. She is one of the newer Muppets,
introduced 2 seasons ago.
Supporting Cast
BABY
NATASHA She is an infant Muppet whose vocabulary is
limited to baby gurgles and sounds. She crawls very
fast, making it difficult for her babysitters to keep an eye on her. Her parents,
Ingrid and Humphrey, manage the elegant but chaotic Muppet hotel,
The Furry Arms.
BARKLEY A very large, friendly, shaggy dog. Unlike
some of the show's other animal characters,
Barkley has no human characteristics, he's
simply a dog. Because Linda is his owner, Barkley
understands sign language commands such as "sit" and "stay,"
and he is very obedient with her. However, others on
Sesame Street have a difficult time controlling his high spirits.
BERT Bert is the long-suffering, serious and often eccentric sidekick to Ernie.
Bert seems the older of the two-more domestic, responsible and analytic.
His favorite pastimes are bottle cap and paper clip collecting, brass band
music (his favorite instrument is the tuba) and playing with his pet pigeon
Bernice. In his interactions with Ernie, he usually ends up with the short
end of the stick or having the tables turned on him. He is hesitant to
participate in Ernie's games, but he finds he enjoys the games once he starts
to play. Basically affectionate, Bert always forgives Ernie for his jokes,
remaining Ernie's "old buddy Bert".
COOKIE MONSTER The google-eyed monster who loves cookies, the
lovable and affectionate Cookie was originally solely a cookie gobbler.
Over the years he has become much more nutrition conscious,
and even though cookies are still his favorite, he has acquired a taste for
everything from apples to zucchini. He also eats non-food
stuff. He speaks in "monster language" which is simple and direct,
e.g., "Me want cookie". Pre-school children learning and exploring the
Sesume Street Mappers 01995 Im Henson Productions, Inc.
E
language understand and identify with Cookie's manner of speaking.
Watching Cookie Monster as he hunts and schemes for food, children often
see there are many ways to solve problems. Along with Cookie, they
learn how to approach problems, test out solutions, try various methods or
enlist the aid of tools or other people.
COUNT VON COUNT (aka THE COUNT) He bears a comical resemblance to
Count Dracula, but that is where the similarity ends. The Count's passion for
counting knows no bounds-bats, raindrops, buttons, grains of sand are
all worthy of being counted. His totals are always accompanied by thunder
claps. His counting mania usually ends up causing comic problems for
somebody because he counts things, lots of things.
ERNIE Ernie is free spirited and outgoing. He is constantly trying to get
Bert involved in fun and games which usually end up to Bert's
disadvantage. He often teases, but his games and jokes are never
meant to hurt. Ernie is also good at explaining things, but sometimes
he is too smart for his own good, falling prey to his own jokes or
getting caught in his own explanations.
GROVER
A lovable, furry, wide-eyed, blue monster who sees the
world from a four year old's point of view. Excitable and
compulsive, he is always willing to help, but he rushes into
things without thinking of the consequences. He has
limited experience and few analytical skills, so he usually
ends up doing things the long way around. Children
identify with his difficulties when trying to be helpful and with
his long suffering bewilderment with adult logic. They also
identify with his fantasy as "Super Grover" as a way of feeling more
confident and competent. His speech pattern is meticulous, and he never
uses contractions.
HOOTS THE OWL A wise old jazz-playing owl, he sleeps during the day and jams
all night. He plays the saxophone and sings both scat and jazz with a scratchy
blues voice a la Louis Armstrong. Hoots speaks using jazz slang and performs
regularly at Birdland, the jazz club in the basement of The Furry Arms.
HUMPHREY He and his wife Ingrid work and reside at the Muppet hotel,
The Furry Arms. He is Baby Natasha's father and has an unusual voice, not
unlike Natasha's, but with words.
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INGRID
Ingrid and her husband Humphrey manage
The Furry Arms. She is Baby Natasha's mother.
PRAIRIE DAWN She is a level-headed Muppet with blond
hair and a sweet disposition. Prairie organizes and
plays the piano at the Sesame Street school pageants. She
often appears on game shows-usually the only one with any
intelligence in the silly presentations! Prairie often contemplates
future career possibilities.
SHERLOCK HEMLOCK The Muppet version of Basil Rathbone's interpretation of
Sherlock Holmes. He tries to solve mysteries by guessing from clues,
sometimes successfully, sometimes not.
ALICE SNUFFLEUPAGUS Snuffy's two-year-old sister who is just learning about
the world. She is a toddler and wants to do whatever her brother does.
Alice's vocabulary, like that of other two-year-olds, is limited. She learns by
repetition, often repeating the last word she hears. Alice is half the
size of Snuffy.
ALOYSIUS SNUFFLEUPAGUS (aka SNUFFY) A huge, shaggy, rust-colored
pachyderm who is Big Bird's best friend. They enjoy playing and discovering
things together. Snuffy is four years old and has the personality of a
child that age. When he has difficulties, his first impulse is to give up, but
with a little prodding he can solve the problem himself.
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CTW
SESAME STREET®
On The Street
At first appearance, it could be an ordinary street. Parents
are leaving for work. Children are late for school. You pass a
Where We Live
corner store, a neighborhood newsstand, a daycare center
and a small hotel. But look a little closer.
Someone named "Oscar" lives in a trash can that houses several elephants,
a swimming pool and a music room. A bright blue monster gobbles up
cookies, and a bunny bellhop named Benny sweeps the steps of the Muppet
Hotel. A red furry monster named named Elmo plants eggs and spaghetti
because he wants to be a farmer, and an enormous yellow bird glides through
the center of town on rollerskates.
This is no ordinary avenue, after all. This is Sesame Street.
Premiering on Monday, November 20 in its twenty-seventh season,
Sesame Street, the award-winning series from Children's Television Workshop
(CTW) is still as meaningful to parents as it is to pre-schoolers. The
most research-driven series on television, Sesame Street is designed, written
and produced with the specific goal of teaching reading, writing, social
and cognitive skills. But can we help it if you have a lot of fun along the way?
If you do your math (and Count von Count is always here to help)
you'll discover that the 27-year span of the Sesame Street series has meant that
millions of children who learned their ABC's from Bert
CTW
and Ernie are now enjoying the show all over again as
parents. Characters like Polly Darton,
27 YEARS AND STILL "COUNTING"
Renata Scotty and
Sherlock Hemlock may get a
giggle from a child, but
are even more amusing to the
plugged-in adult.
A wellspring of imaginative
family entertainment, Sesame
Street is not only on the map as
the pioneer in children's
programming, but has established a
Sexame Street Muppers
(21995 lim Heason Productions, Inc.
CHILDREN'S TELEVISION WORKSHOP
ONE LINCOLN PLAZA . NEW YORK NEW YORK 10023 (212) 595-3456
reputation for innovative and educational products including books,
magazines, games, CD-ROMS, toys, and videotapes. In fact, Children's
Television Workshop (CTW) has distributed more than 10 million copies of
quality family videos.
Although rapidly expanding to meet the diverse needs of families all
over the world, Sesame Street continues to be guided by a strong curriculum
rooted in the essential skills of reading, writing and problem-solving.
And it's making a difference.
In May of 1995, an important long-term study on
children and television from the University of Kansas
concluded that regular viewing of the series by pre-
schoolers leads to higher scores on standard tests of
verbal and math abilities, as well as overall school
readiness. The study also found that children who
watch Sesame Street spend more time reading and pursuing other educational
activities than non-viewers. And the younger the child was when viewing, the
stronger Sesame Street's positive influence on their adjustment in school.
"We are especially proud that a single program effort like Sesame Street-
costing less than a penny per child-has a positive measurable impact on
the lives and future of millions of children," said David B.V. Britt, President
and CEO of Children's Television Workshop.
What's Happening
There is no better place on earth to make a friend than on
On The Street?
Sesame Street, where a warm and friendly family of characters
greets you every day. Sprinkled with children, adults, and
a cast of imaginative Muppets, the street is a magical place where good
friends and neighbors share the fun of learning while becoming more adept
in literacy, math and social interactions.
In the season premiere on November 20, Big Bird has a bad
case of the memory flu, with no recollection of any of his
pals, including his best friend Snuffy. Each cast member
tries to jog his memory with songs and stories until
finally, his Teddy Bear, Radar, brings his memory back.
Among the highlights of the upcoming season: Gina
will leave Hooper's store and open a wonderful
Family Day Care Center where we will see a lot of
children and puppets. Our teenager Carlo will work
part time after school with Mr. Hanford at
Hooper's store. Big Bird gets the Birdie
Security Street Mupp 1995 Im Henson Productions. The
Pox. And in another show Big Bird and our children Gabby, Miles and Lexine
get lost in the park while following a butterfly in a "Wizard of Oz" kind of
show. Luis inadvertently becomes a father by sitting on a honker egg which
hatches. Baby Bear deals with separation anxiety when he stays overnight with
Gina while Papa Bear and Mama Bear are away on business. Snuffy learns to tap
dance. Elmo gets a clearer understanding about deafness from Sesame Street's
librarian, Linda Bove. Oscar joins the business world when he buys the
newsstand. And Sesame Street's favorite worm, Slimey, participates in the Worm
World Music Festival. Conceived and created to introduce specific goals, each
episode follows a daily theme. Characters learn inventive ways to remember
the alphabet as well as numbers, and to confront their emotions in
constructive ways. "The 27th season will again highlight our literacy
program, Let's Read and Write! and we will also be focusing more on our
child principal actors, Michael, Tarah, Miles and Gabby. There is nothing
more effective than having natural children model what we want to teach our
child audience," said Executive Producer Michael Loman.
Out-Of-Town
Over the years, the Sesame Street family has hosted many
Visitors
special guests who stop on the street to sing, tell stories, or
play a game. From opera legends to rock and roll stars, a visit
And Special Guests
to Sesame Street is a highlight for many celebrities who often
call and ask to be a part of the show.
This year, both old friends and new will drop by to share their own special
interpretation of the ABC's and a compilation music video will be assembled.
Some of the seasons special guests include esteemed actor Patrick Stewart,
singer Tony Bennett, comedienne Ellen DeGeneres, performer Ray Charles, actress
Susan Sarandon, basketball great David Robinson, singer Mary Chapin Carpenter,
the rock group The Spin Doctors, actor Laurence Fishburne and Shari Lewis and
Lambchop.
Let's Play
In the season ahead, the residents of Sesame Street will not only
continue to explore literacy, health, math, social interactions
SESAME STREET
and problem-solving, but the well-defined curriculum will focus
on a theme of "Games" which blends education with entertain-
ment to help pre-school children attain simple physical,
intellectual and social skills. The games will convey messages to
young children and their parents about sharing, play, exercise,
the importance of practice and cooperation, building self-
GAMES
Sesame Sireet Mappets 01995 I'm Henson Productions, In
esteem as well as friendships with children of diverse backgrounds.
"We are really excited about the Games initiative which will provide even
greater opportunities for children and their families to become acquainted
with Sesame Street," says Pamela Green, VP Sesame Street Project Director, of
CTW. "Furthermore, it offers new ways to incorporate the curriculum of our
show into new educational products and services."
Throughout the year, the Sesame Street magazines and book publishing tie-
ins will build awareness of Games, along with local events, contests,
sweepstakes, media exposure, and the "I Can Do It!" theme song which will
underline the goals of the Games initiative.
Top Dogs of Live
This season, artist-filmmaker William Wegman is creating a
Action Shorts
film series of seven nursery rhymes that will "star" his well
known family of Weimaraners. Among his previous works are
a complete alphabet and a delightful retelling of the classic fairy tale
Goldilocks and the Three Bears.
"He's unique and it's wonderful that he's able to adapt his rather quirky
point of view about life for our purposes," says producer Arlene Sherman.
Life Imitates Art
Sesame Street has received permission from museums and
artists' estates to animate works by Picasso, Leger, Chardin, Demuth and
Klee. "The primary goal is to teach and the secondary goal is to expose
children to fine art," explains Sherman." This season, Picasso's Three
Musicians will teach children how to practice and cooperate.
Other commissioned works this year include a Toulouse Lautrec
poster from the Moulin Rouge, Can Can Dancers, as well as Van Gogh's
First Steps and Rousseau's Football Players.
In addition, Sesame Street will explore the popular world of 3-D CGI
animation in a song called "If I Were Small" which has Snuffy keyed into a
3-D world created in computer animation. He imagines sleeping in a
buttercup and taking a bath in dewdrops.
The Maestro
You have to see it to believe it! The Maestro Plays is a
Plays
delightful and amusing children's book that encourages and
reinforces the theme of literacy with word play that is
punningly and cunningly conceived. Written by Bill Martin, Jr. with
illustrations by prize-winning artist, Vladamir Kadunsky, the
book will be animated by Bill Davis, and Sesame Street's musical director
Robby Merkin will compose a full symphony score.
Goin' Hollywood
In a move to capitalize on emerging opportunities in the
family entertainment marketplace, Sony Music Entertainment,
Imaginative Family
Columbia Pictures and Children's Television Workshop
(CTW) have signed an exclusive, long-term agreement to
Entertainment
develop, produce and distribute Sesame Street home video,
audio, book and feature film titles.
Sony Wonder, the children's and family division of Sony Music and
Epic Records, will license Sesame Street home video, audio, book and tape
rights, while Columbia Pictures will produce and distribute feature films.
"The move is a natural step for CTW and Sesame Street," said Emily
Swenson, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, CTW.
"There's a wide-ranging demand for high-quality, educational entertainment,
especially features that families can enjoy together."
Puttin' On
Nothing pleases parents more than to know that the monies
earned on Children's Television Workshop licensed products
The Hits
are put right back into Sesame Street and other CTW
educational projects.
Imagine having Big Bird drop into your home whenever you want him!
Two new Sesame Street home video titles were recently released by Sony
Wonder, the family division of Sony Music & Epic Records. "Big Bird Sings!"
and "Cookie Monster's Best Bites" are now available in stores everywhere;
each with its own surprise inside.
In 1996, everyone's favorite muppets will be back in three new videos;
"Do the Alphabet," "Elmocize" and "Sesame Street Kids' Guide to Life:
Learning to Share."
In "Learning to Share," Katie Couric is the special guest star who proves that
cooperating can make a difference; she shares some helpful hints for parents too!
"Elmocize" will twist and shout as singer Cyndi Lauper gets into shape
with "Coach Elmo."
Read All
Sesame Street has been
called the world's
About It!
largest (and most
entertaining)
classroom, introducing millions
of children to the joy of
reading each season. But the
Sesame Street Muppets 01095 lim Henson Productions, Inc.
carefully programmed creative learning on the shows doesn't stop there-it
leaps from the screen to a range of magazines and books!
Long before we entered the information superhighway, the term "interactive
media" was alive and well at Children's Television Workshop-with a rich
assortment of family publications that entertain and inform while extending
the season's curriculum's goals.
Sesame Street Magazine, published ten times per year, allows a youngster to
individually control his/her time and involvement level with colorful and intrigu-
ing stories and games in an ad-free environment. Sesame Street Parents (with a
base of 1,000,0000 readers) gives adults ideas to help their kids learn and
development successfully. Readers of the parents' magazine are also treated to
special show previews and "behind-the-scenes" briefs about what goes on the air.
Padres de Sesame Street, for Hispanic-American families, combines the two
magazines for parents and children into one Spanish language edition.
CTW also has a library of over 600 book titles based on the Sesame Street
characters which develop a love of reading and writing in a child's early years.
Western Publishing, CTW's partner for story
and activity books will be debuting books
featuring the series' newest star, Zoe,
and will introduce a book geared
to the Sesame Street "Games"
theme.
CTW's trade publisher, Random
House, will publish Sesame Street
Stays Up Late! based on the New
Year's Eve television special, and
will also introduce a "bewitching"
new series, Monster Tales, starring
the Muppets in Is There a Monster in
the House? and Ten Scary Monsters.
For The Kid
If you've ever watched
a new father play with
In All Of Us
Sesame Street Tub Toys or
sing-along with Musical
Crib Keys, you'll see that children aren't the only
ones who enjoy the colorful lineup of our toys
and games.
A number of exciting developments in
Secure Sircer Mappets 21995 Im UNIT Productions Inc.
licensing have strengthened the Sesame Street presence
in the marketplace, including the debut of Tyco as a principal licensee.
What's ahead in '96?
Tyco's tot-sized Ride-On Train that runs on real tracks with sound effects
and remote control features. A new line of talking toys called Talktronics
includes baby's First Talking Books, First Words from Baby Big Bird, Baby
Cookie Monster and Baby Elmo, among others.
Fisher-Price's new talking electronic toy What's My Letter? features
Guy Smiley as game show host for an exciting alphabet game show.
Sesame Street Computer Tutor helps kids learn the keyboard and simple
prompts while learning letters, numbers shapes and other preschool skills.
Among our other key licensing partners are Sony Wonder, Applause,
Fantasma, S. Goldberg, and J.C. Penney.
Interactive
With so many computer-savvy kids pushing a mouse around
Media
a pad, or clicking on buttons which burst into elaborate
animation, it's no wonder that families have been targeted as
the largest growing audience for new media. And, as a leader in the world of
educational entertainment, perhaps it's only natural that Children's'
Television Workshop has evolved into one of the largest developers of
educational software in the world.
Since 1991, Sesame Street has been available on-line to Prodigy subscribers,
providing a colorful monthly menu of activities and stories. Although created
for children, the Prodigy service also provides parents with background
information, tips and at-home learning ideas.
Already in stores are four popular CD-ROM games produced in partnership
with Creative Wonder. Sesame Street: Numbers teaches skills such as
early number recognition, classification and concepts such as near and far. It
combines with exciting CD-ROM technology and brings the Sesame Street
characters to life. Kids can also call their favorite characters on the
telephone and enjoy more than an hour's worth of songs and video from
the Sesame Street show.
In Sesame Street: Letters, pre-schoolers get a lively introduction to letter and
sound recognition, rhyming and shape identification while having fun
exploring America's favorite street. Guided by hosts Oscar and Telly, kids can
play interactive learning games about letters as they romp through the
neighborhood and the homes of Big Bird, Snuffy, Bert and Ernie. They can call
their favorite Muppets on the telephone, discover enchanted storybooks and
enjoy classic Sesame Street songs and videos.
Sesame Street "Lets Make A Word" features America's favorite game show
host, Guy Smiley, as well as many favorite Sesame Street friends who
escort children to the marvelous set of the "Let's Make A Word" game show.
Children will be entertained by the unique game show design which
lets them create 24 distinct world game experiences by mixing and matching
"Muppet word experts" with different neighborhood locations. It's been
lauded by such media outlets as USA TODAY: "This super software offers a
hilarious way to let beginning readers expand their skills. The graphics,
sound and pace are Sesame Street at its best all are first rate."
Sesame Street Art Workshop is our latest release developed in partnership
with Creative Wonder. This focuses pre-schoolers' attention on picture
composition, shape recognition and creative expression. It also has the ability
to incorporate the finished artwork into a screensaver for parent's home or
office. Numbers, Letters and Let's Make a Word are available on both Windows
and Macintosh platforms; Art Workshop is currently only
available to Windows users.
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CTW
SESAME STREET®
New Study From University
VIEWING OF NON-EDUCATIONAL TV HAS NEGATIVE INFLUENCE
of Kansas Reveals
New York, NY, May 31, 1995 - An important new long-term
Sesame Street
study on children and television from the University of
Kansas has concluded that regular viewing of Sesame Street by
Viewers Are
preschoolers pays off for children when they get into school.
The research demonstrates that watching Sesame Street leads
Better Prepared
to higher scores on standard tests of verbal and math abilities
and other measures of overall school readiness. In addition,
teachers report that children who watched Sesame Street when
For School
they were younger are better adjusted to school. The study has
also determined that youngsters who consistently watch adult
and children's non-educational programming scored lower on these same tests.
The new four-year study was conducted by independent researchers
John C. Wright and Aletha C. Huston of the Center for Research on the
Influence of Television on Children ("CRITC") at the University of Kansas.
Drs. Wright and Huston founded CRITC, a research center devoted to
conducting studies of how children interact with television. CRITC's goals
are to add to scientific knowledge about children's development, and to find
ways to use the medium to teach children and enrich their lives. The four-
year study concluded that Sesame Street is an extremely effective learning
instrument and provides a powerful educational foundation for preschoolers.
Key findings in the study include:
As early as age two, preschoolers who watched Sesame Street and other
PBS educational programs, scored higher on standardized tests of verbal
and math abilities.
The more preschoolers watched Sesame Street, the better they performed
on those tests even 2-3 years later.
Children who watch Sesame Street spend more time reading and pursuing
other educational activities than non-viewers.
CHILDREN'S TELEVISION WORKSHOP
ONE LINCOLN PLAZA NEW YORK NEW YORK 10023 (212) 595-3456
The younger the child was when viewing, the stronger Sesame Street's
positive influence on school readiness and later adjustment in school.
Youngsters who regularly watch adult and children's non-educational
programming performed less well on school readiness tests.
Children who regularly watched adult and children's non-educational
programming spent less time reading or pursuing other educational activities.
The above findings held true regardless of parental education and familiarity
with the English language as well as quality of the home environment.
More than 250 low-income families with a preschool child participated in
the study titled, "Effects of Educational TV Viewing of Lower Income Pre-
schoolers on Academic Skills, School Readiness and School Adjustment One to
Two Years Later." Children were either two or four years old at the beginning
of the study, and either five or seven at the end. Families were evaluated through
periodic home and office visits, as well as bi-monthly telephone calls. Addition-
ally, parents kept time-use diaries for their children. The study was paid for in
part by a grant from the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation
and was commissioned by the not-for-profit Children's Television Workshop.
"Many people think we have an education crisis in this country.
Educational television for young children is a cost-effective way of giving
children a good educational foundation," says Aletha C. Huston.
Notes John C. Wright, "Television is a marvelous medium for education
that is vastly untapped. It has immense potential. The more you watch good
programming, the better you do when you get to school. That's
news, that's important."
"We are especially proud that a single program effort
like Sesame Street-costing less than a penny per
lesson-has a positive measurable impact on the lives
and future of millions of children," said David V.B.
Britt, President and Chief Executive Officer,
Children's Television Workshop.
The Kansas study reinforces earlier findings
by Westat, Inc., a Washington DC-based
research firm which provides survey and
consulting services to agencies of the U.S.
Government and to institutional and
business clients. Westat conducted a special
analysis of data from the 1993 National
Household Educational Survey, a large-scale
(10,000 children) national telephone survey
commissioned by the U.S. Department of
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Education, representing children from all socio-economic levels. The findings
affirmed Sesame Street's effectiveness in reaching its target audience and in
predicting positive, longer term success for young children in school.
Westat also concluded:
First and second graders who watched Sesame Street prior to starting
school were more likely than non-viewers to be reading storybooks on their
own (91% compared to 84%).
Only 19% of children who watched Sesame Street before kindergarten were
found to be receiving help in school for reading problems, compared to
26% of those who didn't watch Sesame Street prior to starting school.
"Findings from this research project are thrilling to everyone
at Children's Television Workshop and Sesame Street. It's exciting
to know that all of our efforts these past 26 years, in reaching
children and preparing them for school and the world around them, have
reaped such tremendous results," comments Emily Swenson, Executive
Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Children's Television Workshop.
CRITC, the Center for Research on the Influences of Television on
Children, was founded in 1978 by its Co-Directors, John C. Wright and
Aletha C. Huston. CRITIC has published more than a hundred
scientific and scholarly articles, with several thousand children and families
participating in its ongoing research studies. CRITC is a research center
devoted to conducting studies of how children interact with television.
Its goals are to aid scientific knowledge about children's development, and to
find ways to use the medium to teach children and enrich their lives.
A husband and wife team, John C. Wright and Aletha C. Huston are both
professors of human development at the University of Kansas.
Children's Television Workshop is a leader in using research to develop
and assess the impact of educational media. The Educational Testing Service
presented evidence of Sesame Street's educational impact in its premiere
season in 1969-70 and then again the next year. Over the years, Children's
Television Workshop has consistently utilized the services of some of
America's most respected research institutions to continually assess and monitor
Sesame Street's impact on and progress in child development.
Children's Television Workshop is the world's leader in educating and
entertaining children, having reached over 120 million children in more than
130 countries. The Company's expertise extends over a range of media
including television, home video, software, publishing, as well as licensed
products and community outreach efforts. The Company's roster of
projects includes Sesame Street, Ghostwriter, CRO, Creative Classroom,
Kid City and 3-2-1 Contact.
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CTW
SESAME STREET®
Fact Sheet
What Are We?
An educational program for pre-schoolers designed to help
children make a successful transition from home to school.
The most research-driven series on television. Every segment of the show is
written with the specific goals of teaching basic cognitive or social skills.
When Are We On?
The 27th season begins Monday, November 20, 1995.
Our season consists of 130 hour-long programs airing weekdays on most
public television stations. Many stations broadcast Sesame Street in the morning
and afternoon, with repeat showings on weekends, throughout the year.
Who Makes Us?
The producer is the Children's Television Workshop
(CTW), a multimedia educational institution encompassing TV, home video,
software, magazines, books and community outreach. The
creation of the Sesame Street Muppets is a collaborative
effort between CTW and Jim Henson Productions.
What Have We Won?
Since 1970,
Sesame Street has received 96 awards,
including 62 Emmys (13 for Outstanding
Children's Series), the Prix Jeunesse
International, 2 George Foster
Peabody Awards, A Clio, 4 Parents'
Choice Awards and an Action
for Children's Television Special
Achievement Award.
We have also earned the trust
of parents and the loyalty of children
throughout the world.
CHILDREN'S TELEVISION WORKSHOP
ONE LINCOLN PLAZA . NEW YORK NEW YORK 10023 (212) 595-3456
Sexame Street Muppets 01995 [im Henson Productions. Inc
Who Watches Us?
The series is aimed at pre-schoolers with a special
emphasis on children from low-income and minority families. Based on
a study conducted by the U.S. Department of Education in 1993, seventy-
seven percent of preschool children watch Sesame Street once a week
or more*. According to Nielsen Media Research, approximately 16 million
people view Sesame Street in an average week**
More than 100 million kids outside the U.S. have benefited from the
show since its premiere, making it the most widely-viewed children's series in
the world. The English language version is currently seen in 43 countries
and has been aired in 120 nations during the past 27 years. There have been
15 international co-productions of Sesame Street.
What Are Our Goals?
The Sesame Street curriculum is designed to
address the academic and social needs of pre-school children as we prepare
them for their first grade experiences. The curriculum has evolved over 27
years to incorporate changes in educational approaches and findings from our
ongoing research with pre-school children. This season marks the second year
of the Literacy Initiative. A new selection of exciting storybooks will
be presented on Sesame Street and characters will show children the joy of
writing personal messages and their names.
What Else Do We Do?
The Sesame Street Pre-school Educational
Program (Sesame Street PEP) is a national outreach effort targeting child-care
programs, pre-school children and families. It combines Sesame Street viewing
with children's book reading and related developmentally appropriate
activities. Children's Television Workshop (CTW) has worked closely with
local public television stations, child-care professionals and community
organizations since launching the project in 1991.
Where Do We Get Money?
The show is funded by CTW through
income derived from its self-supporting activities, including international
broadcast sales, magazine sales and licensed products that reinforce the
program's learning messages.
Additional funding comes from public television stations.
*Source: Zill, N., Davies, F.., & Daly. M. (1194). Viewing of Sesame Street by Pre-school Children in the United States and
its Relationship to School Readiness. (Analysis of data from the 1993 National Household Education Survey. National
Center for Education Statistics. U.S. Department of Education(. Rockville. Maryland: Westart. Inc.
"Source: Based on a commissioned study done by Nielsen Media Research for CTW. representing a six-week analysis of the
Sesame Street audience. This measurement period consists of the month of February 1994 plus a week on either side.
Who
Counts?
You do.
By buying any Sesame Street product, you're
supporting Children's Television Workshop (CTW),
a not-for-profit organization created to benefit all
children. The money that we
earn when you buy CTW
licensed products is
put back into
Sesame Street
and other CTW
educational
projects.
Thanks for
helping!
Sesame S, Street Muppers
01995 lim Heason Productions, Inc.
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PRESERVATION
PHOTOCOPY
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