Sesame Street still young at 40

First Lady Michelle Obama is shown in this undated publicity photograph as she plants a garden on "Sesame Street" with characters Big Bird and Elmo. "Sesame Street", the world largest informal children educator, celebrates its 40th birthday on November 10, 2009 with Obama's appearance on the show. (Xinhua/Agencies Photo)

"Sesame Street," whose opening theme song and goofy cast of characters are familiar to generations of children, is turning a ripe, middle-aged 40. To celebrate, "Big Bird" and friends recently had a get-together with the show's creators and loyal fans.

The show premiered on November 10, 1969, a sunny daytime interlude in a strife-torn decade.

Denizens have been calling Sesame Street home for four decades now, and "Big Bird" is still its biggest star.

Caroll Spinney has been playing the giant flightless emu from the very start.

Before every show, as he has done so many times before, he wriggles into the feathered yellow body suit.

He then adjusts the tiny television monitor harnessed to his chest that lets him see the outside world.

When he recites Big Birds's droll one-liners, he uses his hands to support the head and animate the mouth and eyes.

Spinney was 35 on the first show. He is now 75.

Caroll Spinney, "Big Bird", said, "I thought it would do well, but I don't think anyone could image 40 years"

The characters were created by Jim Henson, who died in 1990 at the age of 53.

He and so many other producers pioneered a strategy to harness the power of television to help underprivileged children.

Supported by generous donations and a non-profit organization, the mission continues, reaching out now to middle-income kids, too.

A recent study found that teens who watched "Sesame Street" in pre-school had higher grades than those who did not.

New York City once honored the show by temporarily naming a street Sesame Street, and has designated November 9th Sesame Street day.

And the show is still going strong.

Last season, "Sesame Street" averaged more than 5 million viewers each week.

By all accounts, the fuzzy gang is well on its way to a 41st birthday celebration.


File photo shows Gary Knell, president of Sesame Workshop, poses with puppets Sivan (R) and Moshe Ufnik during a news conference at the Israeli Presidential Conference in Jerusalem October 21, 2009. (Xinhua/Agencies Photo)


File photo shows UN Goodwill Ambassador and entertainer Whoopi Goldberg is kissed by Azibo (L), a newly introduced Muppet, and Elmo from Sesame Street, during a news conference in New York October 10, 2007. (Xinhua/Agencies Photo)


source: english.people.com.cn