Moviefone Editorial

Tag: sesame-street

  • Every Muppets TV Show Ranked From Worst to Best

    (L to R) Sabrina Carpenter and the original Muppet cast in 2026's 'The Muppet Show'. Photo: Disney/Mitch Haaseth.
    (L to R) Sabrina Carpenter and the original Muppet cast in 2026’s ‘The Muppet Show’. Photo: Disney/Mitch Haaseth.

    Premiering on Disney+ and ABC February 4th is the new ‘The Muppet Show‘ special, which will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the groundbreaking original series.

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    Executive produced by Seth Rogen and featuring guest stars Sabrina Carpenter and Maya Rudolph, the new special will feature all your favorite Muppet characters including Kermit, Fozzie, Miss Piggy and Animal, and is a revival of the original 1976 ‘The Muppet Show‘.

    In honor of the new series, Moviefone is counting down every Muppets TV show from worst to best!

    Editorial Note: For this list, we are including any TV series that featured a Muppet character, which also includes ‘Sesame Street‘, ‘Fraggle Rock‘, and Muppet cartoons.

    Let’s begin!

    Related Article: Every Muppets Movie Ranked!

    12. ‘The Muppets‘ (2015-2016)

    (L to R) Miss Piggy and Kermit The Frog on 'The Muppets'. Photo: ABC Studios.
    (L to R) Miss Piggy and Kermit The Frog on ‘The Muppets’. Photo: ABC Studios.

    The Muppets return to primetime with a contemporary, documentary-style show. For the first time ever, a series will explore the Muppets’ personal lives and relationships, both at home and at work, as well as romances, breakups, achievements, disappointments, wants and desires. This is a more adult Muppet show, for “kids” of all ages.

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    11. ‘Sam and Friends‘ (1955-1957)

    ‘Sam and Friends’ was an early live-action/puppet television show created by puppeteer Jim Henson and his eventual wife Jane. It was taped and aired locally in Washington, D.C. on WRC-TV in black-and-white, and later, color on weekdays from May 9, 1955 to December 15, 1961.

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    10. ‘Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock‘ (2022-2024)

    The cast of 'Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock'. Photo: Apple TV+.
    The cast of ‘Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock’. Photo: Apple TV+.

    Join Gobo, Red, Wembley, Mokey, Boober, and new Fraggle friends on hilarious, epic adventures about the magic that happens when we celebrate and care for our interconnected world.

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    9. ‘The Jim Henson Hour‘ (1989-1993)

    ‘The Jim Henson Hour’ was developed as a showcase for the Jim Henson Company’s various puppet creations, including the popular Muppet characters. This hour-long anthology series was hosted by Jim Henson and generally included two segments. The first segment, ‘Muppetelevision’, included comedy skits starring the Muppets, as well as frequent guest appearances by popular entertainers. The second segment often featured rebroadcasts of original, Henson-created productions, such as episodes from Jim Henson’s ‘The StoryTeller‘ anthology series.

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    8. ‘Muppets Tonight‘ (1996-1998)

    (L to R) Pepe The King Prawn, Rizzo the Rat, Kermit the Frog and Clifford on 'Muppets Tonight'. Photo: Disney Channel.
    (L to R) Pepe The King Prawn, Rizzo the Rat, Kermit the Frog and Clifford on ‘Muppets Tonight’. Photo: Disney Channel.

    ‘Muppets Tonight’ is a live-action/puppet television series created by Jim Henson Productions and featuring The Muppets. Much like the “MuppeTelevision” segment of ‘The Jim Henson Hour’, ‘Muppets Tonight’ was a continuation of ‘The Muppet Show’, set in a television studio, rather than a theater. It ran on ABC from 1996 to 1998 and reruns ran on Disney Channel from 1997 to 2002.

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    7. ‘Muppet Babies‘ (1984-1990)

    (L to R) Gonzo the Great, Rowlf the Dog, Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy and Animal in 'Muppet Babies'. Photo: CBS.
    (L to R) Gonzo the Great, Rowlf the Dog, Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy and Animal in ‘Muppet Babies’. Photo: CBS.

    The Muppet Babies (Kermit, Piggy, Gonzo, Fozzy and company) live in a large nursery watched over by Nanny. The babies have active imaginations, and often embark upon adventures into imaginary worlds.

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    6. ‘Muppets Now‘ (2020)

    The Muppets on 'Muppets Now'. Photo: Disney+.
    The Muppets on ‘Muppets Now’. Photo: Disney+.

    Scooter rushes to make his delivery deadlines and upload the brand-new Muppets series for streaming. They are due now, and he’ll need to navigate whatever obstacles, distractions, and complications the rest of the Muppet gang throw at him.

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    5. ‘The Muppets Mayhem‘ (2023)

    (L to R) Zoot, Dr. Teeth, Floyd Pepper, Animal, Janice, and Lips in 'The Muppets Mayhem.' Photo: Disney/Mitch Haaseth.
    (L to R) Zoot, Dr. Teeth, Floyd Pepper, Animal, Janice, and Lips in ‘The Muppets Mayhem.’ Photo: Disney/Mitch Haaseth.

    The Electric Mayhem Band goes on an epic musical journey to finally record their first studio album. With the help of a driven young music executive, Nora (Lilly Singh), the old-school Muppet band comes face to face with the current day music scene as they try to finally go platinum.

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    4. ‘Fraggle Rock‘ (1983-1987)

    The cast of 'Fraggle Rock'. Photo: HBO.
    The cast of ‘Fraggle Rock’. Photo: HBO.

    The Fraggles are a fun-loving community of creatures who live in a subterranean fantasy land where they love to play, sing and dance their cares away, sharing their world with the tiny Doozers and the giant Gorgs. The series teaches empathy and tolerance and encourages children to understand people different from themselves.

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    3. ‘The Muppet Show‘ (2026)

    (L to R) Seth Rogen and Fozzie Bear in 2026's 'The Muppet Show'. Photo: Disney/Mitch Haaseth.
    (L to R) Seth Rogen and Fozzie Bear in 2026’s ‘The Muppet Show’. Photo: Disney/Mitch Haaseth.

    Music, comedy, and a whole lot of chaos is bound to ensue when The Muppets once again take the stage of the original Muppet Theatre with their very special guest, Sabrina Carpenter! The series is executive produced by Seth Rogen.

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    2. ‘Sesame Street‘ (1969–present)

    (L to R) Grover, Oscar The Grouch, Big Bird, Elmo, and Cookie Monster in 'Sesame Street'. Photo: Netflix.
    (L to R) Grover, Oscar The Grouch, Big Bird, Elmo, and Cookie Monster in ‘Sesame Street’. Photo: Netflix.

    On a special inner city street, the inhabitants—human and muppet—teach preschoolers basic educational and social concepts using comedy, cartoons, games, and songs.

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    1. ‘The Muppet Show‘ (1976-1981)

    (L to R) Kermit The Frog, Floyd Pepper, Miss Piggy, Dr. Teeth, Fozzie Bear, Animal, Rowlf the Dog, Scooter, Robin The Frog, and Gonzo The Great on 'The Muppet Show'. Photo: Henson Associates.
    (L to R) Kermit The Frog, Floyd Pepper, Miss Piggy, Dr. Teeth, Fozzie Bear, Animal, Rowlf the Dog, Scooter, Robin The Frog, and Gonzo The Great on ‘The Muppet Show’. Photo: Henson Associates.

    Go behind the curtains as Kermit the Frog and his muppet friends struggle to put on a weekly variety show.

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  • ‘Game of Thrones’ Fans React to Elmo’s Sit-Down With Cersei and Tyrion Lannister

    ‘Game of Thrones’ Fans React to Elmo’s Sit-Down With Cersei and Tyrion Lannister

    Sesame Street: Respect Is Coming still
    Sesame Street/YouTube

    Lessons from “Sesame Street” aren’t just for kids — they’re even applicable to the adults battling for control of the Seven Kingdoms.

    HBO released a “Game of Thrones”-themed “Sesame Street” video as part of the kids’ show’s 50th anniversary celebration campaign “Respect Brings Us Together.” The spoof teaches a lesson about respect using well-known characters — Elmo, Cersei Lannister (Lena Headey), and Tyrion Lannister (Peter Dinklage) — and a lot of fans were into it. They shared some hilarious reactions on Twitter on Thursday, including some wild fan theories, ranging from Elmo being the Night King to this clip being how the show really ends.

    First, here’s the video:

    And now, a selection of the tweets on the topic:

    “Game of Thrones” is in the midst of its eighth and final season. Episodes air Sunday at 9 p.m. ET/PT on HBO. Meanwhile, “Sesame Street” airs on the premium network, too, but on Saturdays at 9 a.m. ET/PT.

  • Live-Action ‘Sesame Street’ Movie Gets a Release Date

    Live-Action ‘Sesame Street’ Movie Gets a Release Date

    HBO

    The “Sesame Street” movie has a release date.

    The live-action version of the beloved children’s show is headed to theaters on January 15, 2021. That’s the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday weekend. So far, it’s the only film announced for the date.

    “Portlandia” co-creator Jonathan Krisel will direct the movie, which will be  a musical.

    Can we put in a request for classic nonsense hit “Mahna Mahna”?

    We don’t yet know the plot or which characters will be involved, but it’s a good guess that we’ll see Big Bird, Bert, Ernie, Grover, Oscar the Grouch, Cookie Monster, and Elmo.

    And maybe (if we’re lucky) Mr. Snuffleupagus

    Anne Hathaway was rumored to star in the film.

    Last year, it was estimated that 86 million Americans have watched the series since its debut in 1969.  As of 2018, “Sesame Street,” has won 189 Emmys and 11 Grammy awards, more than any other children’s show.

    It was on PBS until January 16, 2016, when it moved to premium subscription channel HBO.

    [Via Variety]

  • ‘Sesame Street’ Introduces Homeless Character

    ‘Sesame Street’ Introduces Homeless Character

    Sesame Workshop

    “Sesame Street” may be a children’s show, but it’s never shied away from tackling serious issues, whether it be death, AIDS, or in a new online series, homelessness.

    Sesame Workshop, the nonprofit that produces “Sesame Street,” announced this week a new initiative providing resources for families dealing with homelessness. At the forefront is Lily, 7-year-old Muppet who is homeless, and staying with friends on Sesame Street. Lily was first introduced in 2011, in a storyline that discussed her family being food-insecure.

    In one of the new videos, Lily expresses sadness when “everyone else is going home” from a playdate, and says she misses her apartment.

    “Now we don’t have our own place to live, and sometimes I wonder if we’ll ever have our own home again,” Lily says.

    In another video, Lily reveals that her family has a new apartment, and thanks her friend Elmo for his support. Elmo himself discusses the topic in another clip, saying he “has some friends who don’t have a house or an apartment to stay in right now, and that makes Elmo really sad. But Elmo’s mommy says that home can mean a lot of things.”

    According to Sherrie Westin, president of global impact and philanthropy for Sesame Workshop, Lily’s story is meant to connect on many different levels.

    “With any of our initiatives, our hope is that we’re not only reaching the children who can identify with that Muppet but that we’re also helping others to have greater empathy and understanding of the issue,” Westin told CNN.

    She continued:

    “The goal is really to give service providers, parents, teachers tools in order to address homelessness with children, in order to talk about it and raise awareness of the issue from a child’s perspective and also to help children experiencing homelessness feel less alone.

    “I think we tend to think of homelessness as an adult issue and don’t always look at it through the lens of a child, and we realize that Sesame has a unique ability to do that, to look at tough issues with the lens of a child.”

    More information about the program can be found here.

    [h/t CNN]

  • Report: Anne Hathaway Sought for ‘Sesame Street’ Movie

    Report: Anne Hathaway Sought for ‘Sesame Street’ Movie

    Warner Bros.

    Can Anne Hathaway tell us how to get to Sesame Street?

    According to Collider, the “Devil Wears Prada” star is the top choice to star in the upcoming “Sesame Street” movie.

    She has an in with The Muppets: She guest-starred on the 2007 holiday special “Elmo’s Christmas Countdown,” where she sang and danced with Big Bird.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wH3Qio6RL1Y

    Jonathan Krisel, the Emmy-nominated co-creator of “Portlandia,” is directing the film, which is expected to be a musical. And of course Hathaway has the chops, having won an Oscar for the musical “Les Misérables.”

    Hathaway might be playing Sally, who happens to be the name of the girl in the very first episode who is introduced to the residents of Sesame Street.

    The movie is being made at WB and most of Hathaway’s recent films — “Ocean’s 8,” “The Intern” and “The Dark Knight Rises” — have also been for the WB.

    [Via Collider]

     

  • What’s New on Digital, DVD/Blu-ray, TV, & Netflix This Week: November 12-18

    What’s New on Digital, DVD/Blu-ray, TV, & Netflix This Week: November 12-18

    Warner Bros.

    At a loss for what to watch this week? From new DVDs and Blu-rays, to what’s streaming on Netflix, we’ve got you covered.

    NEW ON DVD AND BLU-RAY

    ‘The Meg’ (November 13)

    The great white from “Jaws” would just be a light snack for the megalodon shark in this surprise sci-fi hit from Summer 2018.

    Jason Statham stars as a deep sea rescue diver who is called upon to save scientists researching the depths of the Marianas trench. The movie arrives on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray, and DVD on November 13 (and is already available on Digital HD). Bonus features include “Chomp On This: The Making Of The Meg” and “Creating The Beast.”

    Watch the cast discuss the difficulties of filming in water below:

    ‘Juliet, Naked’ (November 13)

    This music-focused romantic comedy boasts Ethan Hawke’s second best performance of the year, after his (likely award-nominated) turn in “First Reformed.” He plays a washed-up singer/songwriter named Tucker Crowe, whose biggest fan is a man named Duncan (Chris O’Dowd). Duncan’s girlfriend, Annie (Rose Byrne), is so fed up with his obsessiveness, she posts a scathing review of Tucker’s music. But in a twist, Tucker agrees with her — and the two begin an unlikely romance.

    The movie arrives on Blu-ray, DVD, and On Demand on November 13 (and is already available on Digital HD). Bonus features include the “Making ‘Juliet, Naked’” featurette.

    Watch an exclusive clip from “Juliet, Naked” below:

    ‘Mile 22’ (November 13)

    Mark Wahlberg teams up once again with director Peter Berg for another military-themed action thriller. This time, he plays a CIA agent tasked with escorting a high-priority asset to an extraction point. Much like their other collaborations –“Lone Survivor,” “Deepwater Horizon,” and “Patriots Day” — “Mile 22” is filled with noisy action sequences, clipped dialogue, and hard stares.

    It arrives on Blu-ray Combo Pack, DVD, and On Demand on November 13 (and is already available on Digital HD). Bonus features include a a behind-the-scenes look at stunts with actor and stunt choreographer Iko Uwais and a “Bad Ass Women” featurette with Lauren Cohan and Ronda Rousey.

    NEW VIDEO ON DEMAND, STREAMING, AND DIGITAL

    ‘Searching’ (November 13)

    Not only is the cyber thriller #StarringJohnCho, it pushes Hollywood boundaries by being set completely on screens — computers and smartphones. John Cho plays a dad desperately trying to find his missing 16-year-old daughter by tracking her online history and movements. Available on Digital HD.

    ‘The Equalizer 2’ (November 13)

    Denzel Washington flexes his special set of skills in reprising his role as retired Marine and spy Robert McCall. Now, he’s working as a Lyft driver, while still assisting people who need help. But when his friend and colleague is brutally murdered, he sets out on a course of revenge. There are a million other subplots, but the gist is — Washington kicks ass.

    Available on Digital HD.

    ‘Rising’ (November 13)

    This short film from director David Nutter (“Game of Thrones”) and Emmy-winning writer Lena Waithe asks the question, “Why does it take a disaster to bring us together?” It’s the story of a Muslim family and their diverse neighbors struggling to survive rising floodwaters and bias in the heart of America. Available on Digital HD.

    NEW ON NETFLIX

    ‘The Ballad of Buster Scruggs’ (November 16)

    The Coen brothers head West again, this time to spin six different yarns set in the wild frontier. Tim Blake Nelson leads a star-studded cast as the titular sharp-shooting songster. Originally meant to be a limited anthology series, Joel and Ethan Coen fashioned the parts together to make a whole that’s part “O, Brother Where Art Thou?,” a bit “No Country For Old Men,” and even a dash of “Inside Llewyn Davis.”

    ‘Narcos: Mexico’ (November 16)

    The fourth season of the drug cartel drama moves the action from Colombia to Mexico and introduces an entirely new cast. Michael Peña stars as undercover DEA agent Kiki Camarena, who recruits informants close to Félix Gallardo (Diego Luna), the leader of the Guadalajara Cartel and founder of the modern Mexican drug trade.

    ‘The Kominsky Method’ (November 16)

    Chuck Lorre has ruled the comedy roost on CBS and now he’s expanding his empire to Netflix. Michael Douglas and Alan Arkin as elderly best friends in Los Angeles who are trying to gracefully tackle life’s inevitable curveballs as they navigate their later years in a a city that values youth and beauty.

    For more, see what else is new on Netflix in November 2018.

    TV WORTH WATCHING

    ‘Sesame Street’ Season 49 Premiere, HBO (November 17)

    The beloved children’s show returns with favorite characters like Elmo, Big Bird, and the Cookie Monster. New this season is a segment called “Abby’s Amazing Adventures” with Abby Cadabby, which shows how girls and boys can take charge of their own journeys.

    ‘Escape at Dannemora’ Limited Series Premiere, Showtime (November 18)

    Amidst the true crime frenzy happening right now comes this fictionalized tale of a 2015 prison break in upstate New York that launched a massive manhunt for two convicted murderers. Benicio del Toro and Paul Dano star as the criminals, who are helped by a married prison worker (Patricia Arquette).

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RVbOjP1Ziec

    ‘My Brilliant Friend’ Miniseries Premiere, HBO (November 18)

    Elena Ferrante’s bestselling novel comes to life on the small screen in eight one-hour episodes to air weekly on HBO. The story follows the complicated friendship between two girls, Elena and Lila, who meet at a Naples school in the 1950s.

  • ‘Sesame Street’ Movie Finds Director in ‘Portlandia’ Co-Creator Jonathan Krisel

    ‘Sesame Street’ Movie Finds Director in ‘Portlandia’ Co-Creator Jonathan Krisel

    Sesame Workshop

    Can you tell me how to get to “Sesame Street”? “Portlandia” co-creator Jonathan Krisel certainly can — he’s found his way there to direct the big screen version of the beloved children’s show.

    The “Sesame Street” movie will be a live-action musical, according to Variety. The educational series is famous for its combination of live-action and puppetry, as well as animation. It has introduced dozens of beloved characters, including Big Bird, Oscar the Grouch, Bert and Ernie, Cookie Monster, and Elmo.

    Krisel earned six Emmys for his work on “Portlandia,” the quirky IFC comedy poking fun at the Oregon town. He also co-created the FX comedy “Baskets” starring Zach Galifianakis.

    After airing many years on PBS, Sesame Workshop signed a five-year deal with HBO in 2015, and the latter’s sister company, Warner Bros., got to work on developing a movie.

  • ‘Sesame Street’ Writer Says Bert and Ernie Are Gay, Show Insists They’re Best Friends

    Bert and Ernie
    Sesame Workshop

    A former “Sesame Street” writer is bringing Bert and Ernie out of the closet.

    Mark Saltzman confirmed to Queerty that the rumors of their romantic relationship are true, at least from his perspective.

    “I remember one time that a column from The San Francisco Chronicle, a preschooler in the city turned to mom and asked ‘Are Bert & Ernie lovers?’ And that, coming from a preschooler was fun,” Saltzman said. “And that got passed around, and everyone had their chuckle and went back to it.”

    He added, “I always felt that without a huge agenda, when I was writing Bert & Ernie, they were [lovers]. I didn’t have any other way to contextualize them.”

    Saltzman also explained that he based much of Bert and Ernie’s interactions on his own relationship with editor Arnold Glassman.

    “I don’t think I’d know how else to write them, but as a loving couple,” he noted. “I wrote sketches … Arnie’s OCD would create friction with how chaotic I was. And that’s the Bert & Ernie dynamic. The things that would tick off Arnie would be the things that would tick off Bert. How could it not?”

    Still, Saltzman never revealed his inspiration to the head writer or producers of “Sesame Street.”

    The show itself continues to insist that Bert and Ernie are just best friends and have no sexual orientation:

    https://twitter.com/SesameWorkshop/status/1042117602678587395

  • ‘Sesame Street’ Creators Sue Over ‘Happytime Murders’ Tag Line

    The original creators of “Sesame Street” are not happy with the marketing for “The Happytime Murders,” an R-rated Melissa McCarthy film featuring Henson puppets having sex, doing drugs and other very NSFW things.

    Variety reports that creators of the classic kids’ show filed a lawsuit against STX Entertainment, alleging that its marketing campaign — “No Sesame. All Street” — tarnishes the “Sesame Street” brand.

    The movie, which looks like an R-rated mash-up of “The Muppets” and “Who Framed Roger Rabbit,” features a human detective (McCarthy) teaming up with a puppet partner to solve a series of puppet murders. It’s set to open August 17.

    It’s actually a Henson film — Brian Henson, son of the late Jim Henson, directed it and the Jim Henson Company co-produced it — just one that the “Sesame Street” folks do not want to be associated with.

    The lawsuit argues that the film “seeks to capitalize on the reputation and goodwill of ‘Sesame Street.’”

    And, in what may be a legal first, the lawsuit contains screen captures of social media reactions. One tweet read, “I’ll never look at muppets/sesame street the same way.”

    The suit is not seeking to stop distribution or promotion of the movie (which they call “indescribably crude”), just get them to stop referring to “Sesame Street” in their marketing. The suit says that STX has sought to “commercially misappropriate ‘Sesame’s’ name and goodwill” and “infringed on and tarnished” their brand.

    STX’s cheeky response came today via a bespectacled puppet named Fred, Esq: “STX loved the idea of working closely with Brian Henson and the Jim Henson Company to tell the untold story of the active lives of Henson puppets when they’re not performing in front of children… While we’re disappointed that ‘Sesame Street’ does not share in the fun, we are confident in our legal position. We look forward to introducing adult moviegoers to our adorably unapologetic characters this summer.”

    Just don’t take the kids to this one, Mom and Dad!

    [Via Variety, The Wrap]

  • Watch ‘Sesame Street’s Funny OITNB-Inspired ‘Orange is the New Snack’

    Sesame StreetIn the “Sesame Street” version of “Orange is the New Black,” new inmate Piper Chapman — excuse us, student Piper Snackman — disrupts the usual Litchfield routine by introducing a new munchie at snack time: Not cookies, but a healthy orange!

    That confounds Red and “Mr. Mustache,” until they try an orange. Surprise, surprise, they love it! From now on, oranges for everyone! Even “Googly Eyes,” the kids’ show version of Uzo Aduba‘s “Crazy Eyes.”

    The hit Netflix series joins such classic parodies as “Mud Men” (the “Mad Men” parody) and “Law and Order: Special Letters Unit” (instead of the far-less kid-friendly “L&O: SVU”). Not to mention clever send-ups of “House of Cards” and “The Hunger Games.”

    The fifth season of the real “Orange is the New Black” premieres June 9 on Netflix.

    [Via Deadline]