Short Answer Responses Supplemental—Sesame Street: 1969 to Present
Here are some highlights from Sesame Street's over fifty years on the air:
- 1969: Sesame Street debuts on November 10th on NET (the predecessor to PBS)
- 1970: Kermit debuts "Bein' Green" (AKA "It's Not easy Bein' Green")
- 1972: The first international editions of Sesame Street begin in Brazil and Mexico
- 1983: Big Bird comes to understand what death is when Mr. Cooper dies
- 1984: In an effort to familiarize kids with emerging technologies, the first personal computer comes to the Fix-It Shop
- 1985: Mr. Snuffleupagus is finally seen by the adults
- 1988: Maria and Luis get married
- 1996: Tickle Me Elmo mania hits America during the holiday season
- 1998: As part of Cinco de Mayo celebrations, Abelardo from Mexico's Plaza Sésamo meets Big Bird
- 2002: Takalani Sesame, South Africa's version of Sesame Street, introduces Kami, an HIV+ Muppet
- 2006: Caroll Spinney, voice of Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch, receives a Lifetime Achievement Emmy
- 2011: Lily, Sesame Street's first homeless Muppet, debuts
- 2013: The New Yorker puts Bert and Ernie on the cover to mark the Supreme Court's historic same-sex marriage ruling
- 2015: Julia, an autistic Muppet, joins the show
- 2016: Sesame Street moves to HBO for Season 46
- 2019: Confronting the opioid addiction crisis, Karli explains to Elmo that her mother is in recovery
- 2021: Dave and Frank, Sesame Street's first same-sex parents debut