Season 51 (2020-2021)

Sesame Street
Premiere	November 12, 2020 (5101)
Finale	July 8, 2021 (5135)
Episodes	35

Sesame Street’s 51st season premiered on HBO Max on November 12, 2020, marking the first time the show aired first-run episodes on a video streaming service before being broadcast on television. The episodes will later premiere on PBS in Fall 2021. The season's main curricular goal is demonstrating playful problem solving.

Production

Regular production took place from January 13 through March 6, 2020,^[1] before a hiatus of several months due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Taping of new "Cookie Monster's Foodie Truck" segments, originally planned for the following week,^[2] resumed by the week of September 28.^[3]

Celebrities

Several celebrities visited the set during production of season 51, some of whom will feature as guest stars. Celebrities who visited the set during production of the season include: Kelsea Ballerini,^[4] Stephen and Ayesha Curry,^[5] Billy Porter,^[6] Issa Rae,^[7] Maggie Rogers,^[8] and Hailee Steinfeld.^[9]

Episodes

Episode 5101 -- Ramp Racers
Episode 5102 -- Camp Out
Episode 5103 -- Measuring Big Bird
Episode 5104
Episode 5105 -- Cardboard Castle
Episode 5106 -- Holiday at Hooper’s
Episode 5107
Episode 5108
Episode 5109
Episode 5110
Episode 5111 -- Tough Monster Race
Episode 5112
Episode 5113
Episode 5114
Episode 5115
Episode 5116
Episode 5117
Episode 5118
Episode 5119
Episode 5120 -- Potluck Pickle
Episode 5121 -- Twinkle Twinkle Little Band
Episode 5122
Episode 5123
Episode 5124 -- Elmo and Rosita’s Tallest Block Tower Ever
Episode 5125
Episode 5126
Episode 5127 -- Karli’s Life Box
Episode 5128
Episode 5129
Episode 5130
Episode 5131
Episode 5132 -- Family Day
Episode 5133
Episode 5134 -- Cinderella’s Clockworks
Episode 5135

Cast

Sesame Street Muppet™ Performers

Pam Arciero, Jennifer Barnhart, Tau Bennett, Lindsey "Z" Briggs, Warrick Brownlow-Pike, Tyler Bunch, Leslie Carrara-Rudolph, Frankie Cordero, Austin Costello, Stephanie D'Abruzzo, Ryan Dillon, Stacey Gordon, Chris Thomas Hayes, Eric Jacobson, Haley Jenkins, John Kennedy, Kathleen Kim, Peter Linz, Spencer Lott, Lara MacLean, Paul McGinnis, Carmen Osbahr, Martin P. Robinson, David Rudman, Matt Vogel, Bryant Young

Puppet Captain: Matt Vogel
Assistant Puppet Captain: Martin P. Robinson

Credits

Executive Producer: Benjamin Lehmann
Senior Producer: Stephanie Longardo
Coordinating Producer: Mindy Fila
Senior Producer: Karyn Leibovich
Content Producer: Autumn Zitani Stefano, M.A.
Producer: Ken Scarborough
Post Producer: Todd E. James
Line Producer: Aimee Blackton
Co-Producer: Matt Vogel
Directors: Marilyn Agrelo, Ken Diego, Rick Fernandes, Shannon Flynn, Kimmy Gatewood Jack Jameson, Benjamin Lehmann, Julie Lorusso, Alan Muraoka, Liliana Olszewski, Scott Preston, Matt Vogel
Head Writer: Ken Scarborough
Writers: Molly Boylan, Jennifer Capra, Jessica Carleton, Geri Cole, Joe Fallon, Christine Ferraro, Elizabeth Hara, Ron Holsey, Keion Jackson, Raye Lankford, Wendy Marston, Andrew Moriarty, Jessie Nicholas, Michael Rodriguez, Luis Santeiro, Ken Scarborough, Pilot Viruet, Autumn Zitani Stefano, M.A.
Film Producer: Kimberly Wright
Digital Producer: Andrew Moriarty
Associate Producers: Christina Elefante, Kelly Ferrara, Bryce-Loren Walker
Executive Vice President and Creative Director: Brown Johnson
Senior Vice President of Curriculum and Content: Rosemarie T. Truglio, Ph.D.
Sesame Street Curriculum and Content Team: Jessica DiSalvo, Susan Scheiner, M.A., Autumn P. Zitani Stefano, M.A.
Puppets, Costumes, Props: The Jim Henson Company NY Creature Shop - David Bizzaro, Rosa Douglas, Ben Durocher, Victoria Ellis, Joel Gennari, Tyler Hall, Michelle Hickey, Anne Marie Holdgruen, Rollie Krewson, Sarah Lafferty, Lara MacLean, Laura Manns, Tom Newby, Anney Ozar, Constance Peterson, Kate Rusek, Sierra Schoening, Polly Smith, Kelly Snook, David Valentine, Jason Weber, Stacey Weingarten
Production (Jim Henson): Melissa Creighton, Joseph Roddy, Carolyn Fanelli
Music Director: Bill Sherman
Music Director (Arrangements and Orchestrations): Joe Fiedler
Music Director (Vocals): Paul Rudolph
Music Copyist: Joe Fiedler
Music Coordinator: Tyler Hartman
Composers: Eli Bolin, Nicholas Dayton, Dominic Fallacaro, Joe Fiedler, Christopher Jackson, Toby Lightman, Stephan Litrowink, Kathryn Raio, Benny Reiner, JP Rende, Paul Rudolph, Tallulah Ruff, Bill Sherman, Josh Tangey, Craig Thomas
Lyricists: Molly Boylan, Jessica Carleton, Geri Cole, Christine Ferraro, Elizabeth Hara, Ron Holsey, Christopher Jackson, Raye Lankford, Luis Santeiro, Ken Scarborough
Music Editor/ADR Mixer: Paul Rudolph
Supervising Music Editor: Michael Croiter
Sesame Street Band: Randy Cohen, Michael Croiter, John Deley, Doug Derryberry, Joe Fiedler, Rob Jost, Gary Meyer, Kenny Rampton
Production Designer: Katie Akana
Art Director: Naomi Munro
Prop Coordinator: Keith Olsen
Celebrity Talent Booker: Bella Harkins
Child Talent: Carolyn Vole, Ph.D.
Supervising Editors: Todd E. James, Memo Salazar
Post Production Graphics: Ryan Denora, David Cowles, Jeremy Galante, Ed Mundy
Associate Directors: Frank Campagna, Emily Cohen, Ken Diego, Julie Lorusso
Key Control Room Production Assistant: Christina Elefante
Control Room Production Assistants: Kelly Ferrara, Noelle Scindian, Elena Sporillo
Sesame Workshop Animation Team
- Co-Director / Creative Director: Ian Chernichaw
- Co-Director / Creative Producer: Justin Simonich
- Lead Designers: Dagan Moriarty, Michael Scanlon
- Lead Animator: Joe Andriola
- Compositor / Visual Effects: Danya Gonzalez, Kat Llewellyn
- Smartie: Deborah Grausman
- Basket: Ulyana
Sound Effects Editor / Re-Recording Mixer: Dick Maitland, C.A.S.
Supervising Sound Editor / Re-Recording Mixer: Steve "Major" Giammaria
Sound Editor / ADR Mixer: Chris Sassano
Technical Directors: Mary Crowley, Richard Drummond, Tom Guadarrama,
Cameras: Frank Biondo, Mark Britt, Jerry Cancel, Rich Freedman, Jonny Harkins, Shaun Harkins, Mark Renaudin, Mark Sparrough, Jim Tufaro
Senior Video: James Meek
Recordists: Ernie Albritton, Barbara Bianco, Michael Hawrylak
Utility (video): Barbara Bianco, Christian Carmody, Asa Elmfords, Keith Guadarrama, Rosa Howell-Thornhill, Liz Ip, Michael McCormack
Utility (audio): Gordon Price
Stagehands: Steve Dannenberg, Russell Hooton, Karen Sunderlin
Script Supervisor: Jennifer Capra
Script Coordinator: Lynda Holder-Settles
Sesame Street Research Team: Jennifer Kolter Clarke, Ph.D., David I. Cohen, Becca K. Seibert, Courtney B. Wong Chin, M.A.
Costume Designer: Brian C. Hemesath
Special Thanks: Sound Lounge, The Hidden Fortress, Magnetic Dreams, Studio G Brooklyn
Taped at Kaufman Astoria Studios in New York