Sesame Street

Sesame Street premiered on public television on November 10, 1969. Joan Ganz Cooney and Lloyd Morrisett founded the Children's Television Workshop to make it, and Jim Henson built the Muppets who live on the street: Big Bird, Oscar the Grouch, Bert and Ernie, Cookie Monster, and later Elmo. It has been on the air for more than fifty years.

Shop officially licensed Sesame Street t shirts for grown-up fans: Cookie Monster and Elmo faces, Oscar's I Love Trash, Ernie's banana in my ear, Big Bird 1969, Elmo with his puppy Tango, birthday tees and Christmas designs. Plus size tees go up to 6XL and Tall on select designs, depending on the shirt color.
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  • Sesame Street He's a Rock T-Shirt

    Sesame Street He's a Rock T-Shirt

    Sesame Street He's a Rock T-Shirt
    $23.75
    $23.75
  • Sesame Street Furry Friends Forever! Cookie Monster T-Shirt

    Sesame Street Furry Friends Forever! Cookie Monster T-Shirt

    Sesame Street Furry Friends Forever! Cookie Monster T-Shirt
    $23.75
    $23.75
  • Sesame Street Existential Elmo T-Shirt

    Sesame Street Existential Elmo T-Shirt

    Sesame Street Existential Elmo T-Shirt
    $23.75
    $23.75
  • Sesame Street Zoe Face T-Shirt

    Sesame Street Zoe Face T-Shirt

    Sesame Street Zoe Face T-Shirt
    $23.75
    $23.75
  • Sesame Street 80th Birthday T-Shirt

    Sesame Street 80th Birthday T-Shirt

    Sesame Street 80th Birthday T-Shirt
    $23.75
    $23.75
  • Sesame Street Cookie Eyes T-Shirt

    Sesame Street Cookie Eyes T-Shirt

    Sesame Street Cookie Eyes T-Shirt
    $23.75
    $23.75
  • Sesame Street The Bert Mug T-Shirt

    Sesame Street The Bert Mug T-Shirt

    Sesame Street The Bert Mug T-Shirt
    $23.75
    $23.75
  • Sesame Street The Snuffle Shuffle T-Shirt

    Sesame Street The Snuffle Shuffle T-Shirt

    Sesame Street The Snuffle Shuffle T-Shirt
    $23.75
    $23.75
  • Sesame Street Elmo Scribble T-Shirt

    Sesame Street Elmo Scribble T-Shirt

    Sesame Street Elmo Scribble T-Shirt
    $23.75
    $23.75
  • Sesame Street Vintage Cookie Monster T-Shirt

    Sesame Street Vintage Cookie Monster T-Shirt

    Sesame Street Vintage Cookie Monster T-Shirt
    $23.75
    $23.75

Questions

When did Sesame Street premiere?
Sesame Street premiered on November 10, 1969, on NET, the forerunner of PBS.
Who created Sesame Street?
Sesame Street was created by Joan Ganz Cooney and Lloyd Morrisett and produced by the Children's Television Workshop, now called Sesame Workshop.
Where does the name Sesame Street come from?
The name comes from the phrase "open sesame," suggesting a place where exciting things happen.
How many seasons and episodes of Sesame Street are there?
The show has run for 56 seasons and more than 4,700 episodes. Episodes ran an hour long from 1969 to 2014 and have been 30 minutes since.
What was Jim Henson's role on Sesame Street?
Jim Henson created the Muppets for the show, including Big Bird, Oscar the Grouch, and Cookie Monster. He was credited with turning academic learning goals into fun, watchable television.
Who performed Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch?
Caroll Spinney performed both Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch from 1969 to 2018, nearly 50 years. Matt Vogel, his understudy since 1996, took over Big Bird in 2018.
How tall is Big Bird?
Big Bird stands 8 feet 2 inches tall. He is said to be 6 years old, with a birthday of March 20.
How does the Big Bird costume work?
The performer is fully inside the suit and watches a small TV monitor strapped to his chest to see where he is going. His right arm, raised overhead, works the head, while the right wing hangs from a fishing line tied to his left wrist.
What are Big Bird's feathers made of?
Big Bird's costume uses turkey feathers. According to the show, about 90 percent of the feathers selected are rejected for cleanliness reasons.
Was Big Bird almost sent into space?
Reportedly yes. NASA considered putting Big Bird on the 1986 Challenger space shuttle mission before teacher Christa McAuliffe took that seat.
How many Emmy Awards has Sesame Street won?
Sesame Street has won 222 Emmy Awards as of 2022, more than any other children's show, plus 11 Grammy Awards.
What made Sesame Street different from other kids' shows?
It pioneered the "CTW Model," which teamed TV producers with child development experts, built each season around a curriculum, and measured what kids actually learned. The approach was considered unheard of at the time.
Is Sesame Street shown in other countries?
Yes. By 2019, about 190 million children were watching more than 160 versions of Sesame Street in 70 languages.
Where can you watch Sesame Street?
Sesame Street has aired on PBS since 1970. New episodes moved to HBO in 2016 and later HBO Max, and the show began streaming on Netflix on November 10, 2025.
Who wrote the Sesame Street music?
Joe Raposo was the show's original musical director and composer, while director Jon Stone shaped its writing, casting, and format.