Elmo's Playdate is a simulcast Sesame Street primetime special airing on April 14, 2020.
An extension of the Caring for Each Other initiative, launched in response to the coronavirus pandemic, the half-hour special features Elmo and his Sesame Street friends having a virtual playdate. Anne Hathaway, Lin-Manuel Miranda, and Tracee Ellis Ross guest star. The special also features an edited version of Taye Diggs' cover of "Let's Go Driving."
The special was televised on PBS stations, HBO, TNT, TBS, Cartoon Network, Boomerang, and truTV. It also appeared on HBO's on-demand and streaming services, and was released on HBO Max at launch.[1] The special was also available on the PBS Kids streaming service.
Elmo's Playdate: Scavenger Hunt, a follow-up special, premiered in August 2020.
The program won a Rockie Award at the 2021 Banff World Media Festival, in the category "Live Action: Children (0-10)".[2]
Cast[]
- Special Guest Stars
- Anne Hathaway, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Tracee Ellis Ross
- Insert Guest Star
- Taye Diggs
- Sesame Street Muppet Performers
- Jen Barnhart, Tyler Bunch, Leslie Carrara-Rudolph, Frankie Cordero, Stephanie D'Abruzzo, Ryan Dillon, Eric Jacobson, Peter Linz, Carmen Osbahr, Martin P. Robinson, David Rudman, Matt Vogel
- Muppets
- Elmo, Grover, Cookie Monster, Bert, Rudy, Ernie, Prairie Dawn, Abby Cadabby, Zoe, Count von Count, Rosita, Big Bird, Telly Monster, Louie, Mae
Songs[]
- "Somebody Come and Play"
- "Old MacDonald"
- "Let's Go Driving"
- "Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes"
- "Sing"
Credits[]
- Executive Producers: Melissa Dino, Benjamin Lehmann, Jodi Nussbaum, Ken Scarborough
- Coordinating Producer: Mindy Fila
- Senior Producers: Karyn Leibovich and Stephanie Longardo
- Co-Producer: Matt Vogel
- Directed by Matt Vogel
- Insert Director: Lisa Simon
- Insert Associate Director: Ken Diego
- Head Writer: Ken Scarborough
- Insert Writer: Joseph Mazzarino
- Senior Vice President of Curriculum & Content: Rosemarie T. Truglio, Ph.D.
- Content Producer: Autumn T. Zitani Stefano, M.A.
- Audio Editor: Paul Rudolph
- Music Director: Bill Sherman
- Music Director (Vocals): Paul Rudolph
- Composers: Joe Raposo and Bill Sherman
- Insert Composer / Lyricist: Jeff Moss
- Special Thanks to The Jim Henson Company NY Creature Shop, Sandblast Productions, Matt Birkenholz, Michael Cargill, Taska Carrigan, Erica Carter, Annie Evans, Yonette George, Marca Leigh, Bridget Miles, Alexander Poulter, Phoebe Rudman, Noah Rudman, Craig Shemin, Jack Vogel, Kelly Vogel, Hunter Vogel
Notes[]
- When the special aired on PBS, one of the rotating Sesame Street outro segments, featuring Cookie Monster sharing a cookie with Rosita and a boy (First: Episode 4609), was shown after the credits.
Sources[]
- ↑ Niagara Frontier Publications - For the kids: WarnerMedia networks to air 'Sesame Street: Elmo's Playdate' special on Tuesday, April 14
- ↑ "2021 Winners", Banff World Media Festival, 2021.