What is Sesame Street about?

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

Sesame Street

"Kindness is in the air."

TV Show TV-Y 1969 54m/ep 7.1 /10 Returning

A PBS Original

Created by Lloyd Morrisett, Joan Ganz Cooney, Jim Henson

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Not Currently Available On (6 platforms)

Streaming availability last verified: February 03, 2026

About Sesame Street

Set on a bustling inner city block, Sesame Street mixes live-action, puppetry, animation, and music to teach preschoolers foundational skills. Episodes are made from short segments that introduce letters, numbers, problem solving, and everyday social lessons like sharing, patience, and empathy. Human neighbors and Muppet characters interact in simple scenes that turn learning into play, using recurring bits, songs, and playful humor so ideas stick. The show keeps episodes self-contained, so each installment reinforces basic concepts while staying flexible enough to bring in guest stars, topical public service pieces, and recurring storylines without relying on long plots or cliffhangers.

Created in 1969 by Lloyd Morrisett and Joan Ganz Cooney with Jim Henson lending his puppetry and characters, Sesame Street was produced by the Children's Television Workshop, later Sesame Workshop, and debuted as an innovative approach to educational TV.

Over its run the series has earned numerous Emmy Awards and other honors for children's programming, with recognition for its writing, music, puppetry, and overall contribution to early childhood education.

Sesame Street's cultural footprint is huge, thanks to memorable characters like Big Bird, Bert and Ernie, and songs such as "Rubber Duckie." Its segments and characters have crossed into mainstream comedy, advertising, and public discourse, and the show helped shape how generations think about public television and kid-focused media.

Critics and educators have consistently noted the series' effective mix of instruction and entertainment, reflected in its steady audience support and a 7.073/10 user vote average. Key themes include literacy and numeracy, emotional learning, diversity, and community. The show adapts its tone and content over time to address new educational priorities while keeping a playful, approachable style that families and teachers have trusted for decades.

Details

Release Date: November 10, 1969
Episode Length: 54m
Rating: TV-Y
User Ratings: 275 votes
Type: TV Series
Seasons: 56
Episodes: 3161
Network: PBS, HBO, National Educational Television, PBS Kids, Netflix, HBO Max, Max, HBO Max
Status: Returning Series
Genres: Kids, Comedy
Country: United States
Studio: Sesame Workshop +1 more
External Links: View on IMDB

Official Trailer

Cast

Frank Oz

Bert

Sonia Manzano

Maria Figueroa Rodriguez

Roscoe Orman

Gordon Robinson

Martin P. Robinson

Telly Monster/Aloysius Snuffleupagus/Irvine/Slimey (voice)

Suki Lopez

Nina

Violet Tinnirello

Charlie

Jennifer Barnhart

Zoe (voice)

Ryan Dillon

Elmo (voice)

Alan Muraoka

Alan

Created by: Lloyd Morrisett, Joan Ganz Cooney, Jim Henson

Seasons (56 seasons, 3161 episodes)

Season 1

130 episodes - 1969

Season 2

145 episodes - 1970

Season 3

130 episodes - 1971

Season 4

130 episodes - 1972

Season 5

130 episodes - 1973

Season 6

130 episodes - 1974

Season 7

130 episodes - 1975

Season 8

130 episodes - 1976

Season 9

65 episodes - 1977

Season 10

130 episodes - 1978

Season 11

130 episodes - 1979

Season 12

130 episodes - 1980

Season 13

31 episodes - 1981

Season 14

31 episodes - 1982

Season 15

40 episodes - 1983

Season 16

37 episodes - 1984

Season 17

34 episodes - 1985

Season 18

31 episodes - 1986

Season 19

33 episodes - 1987

Season 20

33 episodes - 1988

Season 21

32 episodes - 1989

Season 22

31 episodes - 1990

Season 23

30 episodes - 1991

Season 24

71 episodes - 1992

Season 25

31 episodes - 1993

Season 26

33 episodes - 1994

Season 27

32 episodes - 1995

Season 28

54 episodes - 1996

Season 29

130 episodes - 1997

Season 30

65 episodes - 1998

Season 31

65 episodes - 2000

Season 32

65 episodes - 2001

Season 33

50 episodes - 2002

Season 34

33 episodes - 2003

Season 35

26 episodes - 2004

Season 36

26 episodes - 2005

Season 37

26 episodes - 2006

Season 38

26 episodes - 2007

Season 39

26 episodes - 2008

Season 40

26 episodes - 2009

Season 41

44 episodes - 2010

Season 42

26 episodes - 2011

Season 43

26 episodes - 2012

Season 44

26 episodes - 2013

Season 45

27 episodes - 2014

Season 46

35 episodes - 2016

Season 47

35 episodes - 2017

Season 48

35 episodes - 2017

Season 49

35 episodes - 2018

Season 50

35 episodes - 2019

Season 51

35 episodes - 2020

Season 52

35 episodes - 2021

Season 53

35 episodes - 2022

Season 54

35 episodes - 2023

Season 55

35 episodes - 2025

Season 56

4 episodes - 2025

Frequently Asked Questions

Sesame Street is available to stream on Netflix and Max. You can also rent or buy it on Apple iTunes, Google Play, and Amazon Video.

Yes, Sesame Street is available to stream on Netflix.

Yes, you can buy on Apple iTunes, Google Play, and Amazon Video.

Sesame Street has 56 seasons with a total of 3161 episodes.

With a rating of 7.1/10 from 275 viewers, Sesame Street is well-regarded and recommended by viewers.

Sesame Street stars Frank Oz, Sonia Manzano, Roscoe Orman, Martin P. Robinson, and Suki Lopez.

Sesame Street was created by Lloyd Morrisett, Joan Ganz Cooney, and Jim Henson.

Sesame Street was released on November 10, 1969.

Sesame Street is a Kids and Comedy series.

Frank Oz performs Bert on Sesame Street. Bert is one of the Muppet residents who helps teach preschoolers basic educational and social concepts.

Maria Figueroa Rodriguez is a human resident of Sesame Street, and she's played by Sonia Manzano. She's a long-running character who interacts with both human and Muppet neighbors to help teach preschoolers.

Sesame Street is designed for preschoolers, focusing on basic educational and social concepts through comedy, songs, games, and cartoons. It's generally suitable for young children in the early childhood age range.

Martin P. Robinson voices Telly Monster, Aloysius Snuffleupagus, Irvine, and Slimey. These are Muppet characters who appear on the show and help illustrate educational and social lessons.