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in: Sesame Street Specials, Anniversary Productions

Changes: Sesame Street's 50th Anniversary Celebration

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[[File:Sesame Street's 50th Anniversary Celebration|thumb|300px|PBS promo for the special]]
  
 
[[File:SS50thSpecial-Kermit&Gang.jpg|thumb|300px|Kermit the Frog rejoins his ''Sesame Street'' pals in the special.]]
  
[[File:SS50thSpecial-Kermit&Gang.jpg|thumb|300px|Kermit the Frog rejoins his ''Sesame Street'' pals in the special.]]
  +
[[File:Kermit Elvis Costello 50th Bein Green.jpg|thumb|300px|Kermit and Elvis Costello]]
 
[[File:Sesame 50th special script pages.jpg|thumb|300px|Script pages]]
  
[[File:Sesame 50th special script pages.jpg|thumb|300px|Script pages]]
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[[File:Sesame-50thSpecialDVD.jpg|thumb|300px|DVD cover]]
  
 
[[File:SS50thSpecial-Group.jpg|thumb|300px]]
  
[[File:SS50thSpecial-Group.jpg|thumb|300px]]
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[[File:SS50thSpecial-Theme.png|thumb|300px|The [[Episode 0001|very first opening sequence]] played during the special's cold open.]]
  +
[[File:SS50thSpecial-MissingSign.png|thumb|300px]]
  +
[[File:SS50thSpecial-OldDudes.png|thumb|300px|The special includes many characters long retired from the show.]]
  +
[[File:SS50thSpecial-Lefty.png|thumb|300px]]
  +
[[File:SS50thSpecial-Duckie.png|thumb|300px]]
  +
[[File:SS50thSpecial-Martians.png|thumb|300px]]
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[[File:SS50thSpecial-Cakes.jpg|thumb|300px]]
  ⚫
[[File:SS50thSpecial-Hoomans.jpg|thumb|300px]]
  +
[[File:SS50thSpecial-Credits.png|thumb|300px|The special's end credits features recreations of favorite ''Sesame Street'' animations.]]
  ⚫
[[File:SS50thSpecial-Colorful.jpg|thumb|300px]]
  ⚫
[[File:SS50thSpecial-Ynot.jpg|thumb|300px|Norah Jones and [[Don't Know Y|her Y]].]]
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[[File:SS50thSpecial-ModernGang.jpg|thumb|300px]]
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[[File:50th crew.jpg|thumb|300px]]
   
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'''''Sesame Street's 50th Anniversary Celebration''''' is an upcoming primetime special commemorating ''[[Sesame Street]]''’s [[Sesame Street: 50th Anniversary|50th anniversary]]. The special will air on November 9, [[2019]] on [[HBO]], followed by a November 17th airing on [[PBS]]. The special kicks off the show's landmark [[Season 50 (2019-2020)|50th season]], which begins on HBO the following Saturday.
 +
'''''Sesame Street's 50th Anniversary Celebration''''' is a primetime special commemorating ''[[Sesame Street]]''’s [[Sesame Street: 50th Anniversary|50th anniversary]]. The special aired on November 9, [[2019]] on [[HBO]], followed by a November 17th airing on [[PBS]]. The special kicked off the show's landmark [[Season 50 (2019-2020)|50th season]], which began on HBO the following Saturday.
 
__TOC__
  
__TOC__
 
The special was announced as early as July 2018,<ref name "PRweek">''PR Week'' [https://www.prweek.com/article/1489073/leaving-neighborhood-sesame-street-muppets-travel-across-america-next-year "Leaving the Neighborhood"] by Diana Bradley, July 27, 2018</ref> where it was said to feature celebrity guests, along with "new takes on classic segments" and "visits from Sesame Street icons,"<ref name="press50">[https://www.sesameworkshop.org/press-room/press-releases/sesame-street-celebrates-50-years-and-counting Sesame Workshop Press Release] February 4, 2019</ref> while also focusing on "the show’s cultural impact."
  
The special was announced as early as July 2018,<ref name "PRweek">''PR Week'' [https://www.prweek.com/article/1489073/leaving-neighborhood-sesame-street-muppets-travel-across-america-next-year "Leaving the Neighborhood"] by Diana Bradley, July 27, 2018</ref> where it was said to feature celebrity guests, along with "new takes on classic segments" and "visits from Sesame Street icons,"<ref name="press50">[https://www.sesameworkshop.org/press-room/press-releases/sesame-street-celebrates-50-years-and-counting Sesame Workshop Press Release] February 4, 2019</ref> while also focusing on "the show’s cultural impact."
   
−
The special will be released for home video (DVD) on December 3.<ref name="amazon">[https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07XHT29Q5/ Amazon product listing]</ref>
 +
The special was released on [[Sesame Street's 50th Anniversary Celebration (video)|DVD and digital download]] on December 3.<ref name="amazon">[https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07XHT29Q5/ Amazon product listing]</ref>
   
 
==Press kit description==
  
==Press kit description==
 
{{quote|''Sesame Street’s 50th Anniversary Celebration'' is an all-ages primetime event that offers a sweeping look back at fifty years on the Street. Hosted by [[Joseph Gordon-Levitt]], the special reimagines classic segments and songs as the Sesame Street gang gets ready for a big party to celebrate the neighborhood’s 50th birthday. When the famous street sign goes missing before the party, it’s up to [[Elmo]], [[Rosita]], [[Grover]], and [[Abby Cadabby|Abby]] to track it down, while [[Big Bird]] and [[Mr. Snuffleupagus|Snuffy]] plan a surprise of their own.
  
{{quote|''Sesame Street’s 50th Anniversary Celebration'' is an all-ages primetime event that offers a sweeping look back at fifty years on the Street. Hosted by [[Joseph Gordon-Levitt]], the special reimagines classic segments and songs as the Sesame Street gang gets ready for a big party to celebrate the neighborhood’s 50th birthday. When the famous street sign goes missing before the party, it’s up to [[Elmo]], [[Rosita]], [[Grover]], and [[Abby Cadabby|Abby]] to track it down, while [[Big Bird]] and [[Mr. Snuffleupagus|Snuffy]] plan a surprise of their own.
   
−
This star-studded special includes cameos from rare characters like [[Roosevelt Franklin]] and [[Kermit the Frog]], and visits from celebrity guests. Joseph Gordon-Levitt serves as the audience’s guide, breaking the fourth wall to talk to viewers about his favorite Sesame Street memories. (He also pops up inside some of those classic moments, discovering a telephone with the [[the Martians|Yip Yip Martians]], practicing [[Near and Far|“near” and “far”]] with Grover, and joining the shocked crowd meeting Snuffy for the first time.)
+
This star-studded special includes cameos from rare characters like [[Roosevelt Franklin]] and [[Kermit the Frog]], and visits from celebrity guests. Joseph Gordon-Levitt serves as the audience’s guide, breaking the fourth wall to talk to viewers about his favorite Sesame Street memories. (He also pops up inside some of those classic moments, discovering a telephone with the [[the Martians|Yip Yip Martians]], practicing [[Near and Far|“near” and “far”]] with Grover, and joining the shocked crowd [[Episode 2096|meeting Snuffy for the first time]].)}}
   
  ⚫
==Songs==
−
[[Norah Jones]] sings "[[Welcome! (song)|Welcome to the Party]]" as neighbors from yesterday and today return to the street. On the roof of 123 Sesame Street, music legend [[Nile Rodgers]] sings "[[The People in Your Neighborhood]]" with a little help from Grover and [[Ernie]]. [[Sterling K. Brown]] masters [[Cookie Monster]]’s patented cookie-eating technique, and [[Elvis Costello]] joins Kermit in a touching rendition of “[[Bein' Green|It’s Not Easy Being Green]].” Elmo and Abby Cadabby join [[Meghan Trainor]] to sing the uplifting anthem “[[Count Me In]].” Before the big party, [[Hoots the Owl]] tries one more time to convince Ernie to “[[Put Down the Duckie (song)|Put Down the Duckie]],” with help from friends like [[Whoopi Goldberg]] and [[Itzhak Perlman]] on the violin. The celebration culminates with a big performance of “[[Sing]]” on the iconic stoop, led by [[Patti LaBelle]].}}
  
  +
*"[[Sesame Street Theme]]"
  +
*"[[Welcome! (song)|Welcome!]]"
  +
*"[[The People in Your Neighborhood]]"
  +
*"[[Roosevelt Franklin Counts]]" (score)
  +
*"[[Captain Vegetable (song)|Captain Vegetable]]" (score)
  +
*"[[Bein' Green]]"
  +
*Medley: "[[I Love Trash]]," "[[ABC-DEF-GHI]]," "[[Elmo's Song]]," "[[One of These Things]]," "[[Rubber Duckie (song)|Rubber Duckie]]," "[[C is for Cookie (song)|C is for Cookie]]"
  +
*"[[I Remember]]"
  +
*"[[Count Me In]]"
  +
*"[[Put Down the Duckie (song)|Put Down the Duckie]]"
  +
*"[[Sing]]"
  +
*"[[This Is My Street]]"
  +
  +
==Notes==
  ⚫
*The special was primarily shot during the week of May 14, 2019.<ref>[https://www.instagram.com/p/BxdR0rXgUEM/ Sesame Street Instagram post]</ref> Nile Rodgers' performance was shot a week prior on May 6.<ref>[https://twitter.com/nilerodgers/status/1125532175745540096 @nilerodgers Twitter, May 6, 2019]</ref><ref>[https://www.instagram.com/p/BxIcc8DF5fP/ Ryan Dillon on Instagram]</ref> The on-location cold open was shot on June 6.<ref>[https://www.instagram.com/p/Bybo-iYFRwb/ Clementine Kline on Instagram (June 7, 2019)]</ref><ref>[https://www.instagram.com/p/ByaXawMppqA/ Ben Durocher on Instagram (June 7, 2019)]</ref>
  +
  +
*For the PBS airing, between the main feature and the credits, a series of "[[Sesame Street Memories|Sesame Street Memory]]" videos play featuring [[Busy Philips]], [[Alessia Cara]], [[Jason Schwartzman]], [[Patton Oswalt]], [[Lucy Liu]], and [[Terry Crews]], followed by the celebrity shout-out montage that followed the credits in the HBO version.
  +
  +
*The PBS preview clips, published prior to the special's airing on both HBO and PBS, features a slightly different version of "[https://www.pbs.org/video/count-me-p7vyj2/ Count Me In]" in the opening.
  +
  +
==Characters==
  +
'''Muppets:'''
  +
:[[Abby Cadabby]], [[the Amazing Mumford]], [[Baby Bear]], [[Bert]], [[Big Bird]], [[Captain Vegetable (character)|Captain Vegetable]], [[Cookie Monster]], [[Count von Count]], Dish, [[Don Music]], [[Elmo]], [[Ernie]], [[Forgetful Jones]], [[Goldilocks]], [[Gonger]], [[Grover]] (and [[Super Grover]]), [[Grundgetta]], [[Guy Smiley]], [[Harvey Kneeslapper]], [[Herry Monster]], [[Honkers]], [[Hoots the Owl]], [[Horatio the Elephant]], [[Jackets|Jacket]], [[Julia]], [[Lefty the Salesman]], [[Alphabet Characters|Letters of the Alphabet]] (A, B, C, X, Y), [[Mama Bear]], [[the Martians]] (archival footage), [[Mr. Snuffleupagus]], [[Old MacDonald]], [[Oscar the Grouch]], [[Roosevelt Franklin]], [[Rosita]], [[Rudy (Sesame Street)|Rudy]], [[Sherlock Hemlock]], Spoon, [[Telly Monster]], [[Two-Headed Monster]]
  +
  +
'''Background Muppets:'''
  +
:[[AM Monsters]], [[Anything Muppets]], [[Betty Lou]], [[Biff]], [[Chickens]], [[Clam]], [[the Countess]], [[Ducks]], [[Gabrielle]], [[Gladys the Cow]], [[Hansel and Gretel (Sesame Street)|Hansel and Gretel]], [[Little Bird]], [[Louie]], [[Mr. Johnson]], [[Mrs. Crustworthy]], [[Numerical Characters|Number 50]], [[Pigeons]], [[Penguins]], [[Prairie Dawn]], [[Ovejita]], [[Sheep]], [[Sherry Netherland]], [[Sully]], [[Zoe]]
  +
  +
'''Animated'''
  +
:[[:Image:Yoyoman.boygetslost.jpg|Lost Boy and Man with Yo-Yo]], [[Donnie Budd]], [[The Alligator King]], [[The King of Eight]], [[Fruta Manzana]], [[The Bridgekeeper]], [[Martian Beauty]], [[Teeny Little Super Guy]], [[Cecille]], Little Girl ([[I Can Remember]]), [[Twiddlebugs]], [[Ladybugs' Picnic|Ladybugs]], [[Suzie Kabloozie|Suzie Kabloozie, Fef]], [[Dorothy]], [[The Typewriter]]
   
 
==Cast==
  
==Cast==
  +
'''Host'''
−
In addition to appearances from current human cast members [[Alan Muraoka]] ([[Alan]]), [[Chris Knowings]] ([[Chris]]), and [[Suki Lopez]] ([[Nina]]), returning cast members include [[Sonia Manzano]] ([[Maria]]), [[Emilio Delgado]] ([[Luis]]), [[Bob McGrath]] ([[Bob]]), [[Roscoe Orman]] ([[Gordon]]), [[Loretta Long]] ([[Susan]]), [[Linda Bove]] ([[Linda]]), [[Alison Bartlett]] ([[Gina]]), [[Olamide Faison]] ([[Miles]]), and [[Nitya Vidyasagar]] ([[Leela]]). Retired performers [[Fran Brill]] and [[Caroll Spinney]] are said to appear in the special, along with [[Bill Irwin]] as [[Mr. Noodle]] and [[Deborah Grausman]] (voice of [[Smartie]]) as a featured extra.
  
  +
*[[Joseph Gordon-Levitt]]
   
  +
'''Cast'''
⚫
Muppet performers in the special include [[Pam Arciero]], [[Jennifer Barnhart]], [[Tau Bennett]], [[Warrick Brownlow-Pike]], [[Tyler Bunch]], [[Leslie Carrara-Rudolph]], [[Frankie Cordero]], [[Stephanie D'Abruzzo]], [[Ryan Dillon]], [[Stacey Gordon]], [[Christopher Hayes]], [[Eric Jacobson]], [[Peter Linz]], [[Spencer Lott]], [[Paul McGinnis]], [[Noel MacNeal]], [[Carmen Osbahr]], [[Martin P. Robinson]], [[David Rudman]] and [[Matt Vogel]].
  
  +
*[[Gina]]: [[Alison Bartlett]]
  +
*[[Linda]]: [[Linda Bove]]
  +
*[[Luis]]: [[Emilio Delgado]]
  +
*[[Miles]]: [[Olamide Faison]]
  +
*[[Mr. Noodle]]: [[Bill Irwin]]
  +
*[[Chris]]: [[Chris Knowings]]
  +
*[[Susan]]: [[Loretta Long|Dr. Loretta Long]]
  +
*[[Nina]]: [[Suki Lopez]]
  +
*[[Maria]]: [[Sonia Manzano]]
  +
*[[Bob]]: [[Bob McGrath]]
  +
*[[Alan]]: [[Alan Muraoka]]
  +
*[[Gordon]]: [[Roscoe Orman]]
  +
*[[Leela]]: [[Nitya Vidyasagar]]
   
  +
'''Special Guest Stars'''
⚫
==Notes==
  
  +
:[[Fran Brill]], [[Sterling K. Brown]], [[Elvis Costello]], [[Whoopi Goldberg]], [[Norah Jones]], [[Solange Knowles]], [[Patti LaBelle]], [[Itzhak Perlman]], [[Nile Rodgers]], [[Caroll Spinney]], [[Debra Spinney|Deborah Spinney]], [[Meghan Trainor]]
⚫
*The special, written by [[Christine Ferraro]], was primarily shot during the week of May 14, 2019.<ref>[https://www.instagram.com/p/BxdR0rXgUEM/ Sesame Street Instagram post]</ref> Nile Rodgers' performance was shot a week prior on May 6.<ref>[https://twitter.com/nilerodgers/status/1125532175745540096 @nilerodgers Twitter, May 6, 2019]</ref><ref>[https://www.instagram.com/p/BxIcc8DF5fP/ Ryan Dillon on Instagram]</ref>
  
  +
  +
'''Sesame Street Muppet Performers'''
  ⚫
:[[Pam Arciero]], [[Jennifer Barnhart]], [[Tau Bennett]], [[Warrick Brownlow-Pike]], [[Tyler Bunch]], [[Leslie Carrara-Rudolph]], [[Frankie Cordero]], [[Stephanie D'Abruzzo]], [[Ryan Dillon]], [[Stacey Gordon]], [[Christopher Hayes|Chris Thomas Hayes]], [[Paul McGinnis]], [[Noel MacNeal]], [[Eric Jacobson]], [[John Kennedy]], [[Peter Linz]], [[Spencer Lott]], [[Carmen Osbahr]], [[Martin P. Robinson]], [[David Rudman]], [[Matt Vogel]]
  +
  +
'''Special Appearance By'''
  +
*[[Kermit the Frog]]
  +
  +
'''Extras'''
  +
:Rohan Agneshwar, Kaden Anderson, Adrianna Aquavella, Aydin Artis, Mark Christopher, Pierce Cravens, Lailene Delos Santos, Holanda Demeloitz, Saffron Faith, Adian Fong, Veronica Frazier, Kay Gaffney, Kafayat Gboladel, Lukas Gilkison-Parrish, Sheila Glenn, Zoe Glick, Kimberly Gorman, [[Deborah Grausman]], Chris Guttadardo, Anika Hatch, Connor Hawke, [[Leah Horowitz]], Joe Huu, Anna Kuchma, Sarah Lockwood, J. Elaine Marcos, Barry Mitchell, Erin Moore, Brianna Growalt, Hudson Loverro, Tayanah Jn Philippe, Kavon Newman, Martin Rohleder, Azra Tahirovic, Christina Williams, David Wong, Leonard Zimmerman
  +
  +
'''Special Extras'''
  +
:[[Greer Barnes]], [[Lorenzo Giliberti]], [[Clementine Kline]], [[Hazel Anne Raymundo]]
  +
  +
'''[[Numerosity|The Baker]] (Voice) By'''
  +
:[[Jim Henson]]
  +
  +
==Credits==
  +
*Executive Producers: [[Brown Johnson]], [[Benjamin Lehmann]], [[Ken Scarborough]]
  +
*Producers: [[Mindy Fila]], Todd E. James, [[Karyn Leibovich]], Stephanie Longardo, [[Autumn Zitani|Autumn Zitani Stefano, M.A.]]
  +
*Directed By [[Jack Jameson]]
  +
*Head Writer: Ken Scarborough
  +
*Writer: [[Christine Ferraro]]
  +
*Digital Producer: [[Andrew Moriarty]]
  +
*Senior Vice President of Curriculum and Content: [[Rosemarie Truglio|Rosemarie T. Truglio]], Ph.D.
  +
*[[The Muppet Workshop|The Jim Henson Company NY Creature Shop]]
  +
:Puppets, Costumes, and Props: Ben Durocher, Joel Gennari, Tyler Hall, [[Michelle Hickey]], Joshua Holden, [[Rollie Krewson]], Sarah Lafferty, [[Anney McKilligan Ozar|Anney Ozar]], [[Connie Peterson|Constance Peterson]], [[Sierra Schoening]], Keely Snook, [[David Valentine]], [[Jason Weber]], [[Stacey Weingarten]], [[James Wojtal]]
  +
:Production: [[Melissa Creighton]], [[Joseph Roddy]], Gabriella Degennaro, Carolyn Fanelli, Rich Dyar
  +
*Music Copyist: [[Joe Fiedler]]
  +
*Sesame Street Band: [[Randy Cohen]], [[Michael Croiter]], [[John Deley]], [[Doug Derryberry]], Joe Fiedler, [[Rob Jost]], [[Gary Meyer]], [[Kenny Rampton]]
  +
*Sound Effects Editor/Re-Recording Mixer: [[Dick Maitland]], C.A.S.
  +
*Music Editors: Tyler Hartman and [[Paul Rudolph]]
  +
*Supervising Music Editor: Michael Croiter
  +
*Music Director: [[Bill Sherman]]
  +
*Music Director (Arrangements and Orchestrations): Joe Fiedler
  +
*Music Director (Vocals): Paul Rudolph
  +
*Composers: [[Christopher Cerf]], Joe Fiedler, [[Tony Geiss]], [[Jeff Moss]], [[Joe Raposo]], Bill Sherman, [[Kenny Vaughan|William Vaughn]]
  +
*Lyricists: Tony Geiss, [[Bruce Hart]], [[Emily Perl Kingsley|Emily Kingsley]], [[Jason Kingsley]], Jeff Moss, Joe Raposo, Ken Scarborough, [[Norman Stiles]], [[Jon Stone]]
  +
*Sign Language Interpreter: Lynette Taylor
  +
*Associate Director: [[Ken Diego]]
  +
*Control Room Production Assistants: Christina Elefante and Andrew Moriarty
  +
*Stage Managers: [[Frank Campagna]], Phyllis Digilio-Kent, Shawn Havens
  +
*Production Designer: [[David Gallo]]
  +
*Cameras: [[Frank Biondo]], Jerry Cancel, Shaun Harkins
  +
*Cold Open Directed By Benjamin Lehmann
  +
*"[[I Remember]]" Directed By [[Matt Vogel]]
  +
*[[Magnetic Dreams Animation Studio|Magnetic Dreams]] Animation Team:
  +
:Creative Director: [[Rickey Boyd]]
  +
:End Credit Design (Based on Classic Animations): Rickey Boyd and [[Michael Lapinski]]
  +
*Taped at [[Kaufman Astoria Studios]]
   
  ⚫
<gallery widths=200 orientation=landscape spacing=small>
−
==Gallery==
  
⚫
<gallery widths=200 spacing=small orientation=landscape>
  
−
SS50thSpecial-Sterling.jpg|Sterling K. Brown and Cookie Monster
  
−
SS50thSpecial-Elvis.jpg|Elvis Costello and Elmo
  
⚫
SS50thSpecial-Norah.jpg|Norah Jones and Elmo
  
−
SS50thSpecial-Whoopi.jpg|Whoopi Goldberg and Elmo
  
−
SS50thSpecial-JGL.jpg|Joseph Gordon-Levitt with Big Bird and Snuffy
  
−
SS50thSpecial-Patti.jpg|Patti LaBelle and Elmo
  
−
SS50thSpecial-Izthak.jpg|Itzhak Perlman and [[Telly Monster]]
  
−
SS50thSpecial-PIYN.jpg|Nile Rodgers, Grover and Ernie
  
−
Meghan Trainor.jpg|Meghan Trainor, Elmo, and Abby
  
−
</gallery>
  
−
<gallery widths=200 spacing=small orientation=landscape>
  
⚫
SS50thSpecial-Cakes.jpg|
  
 
SS50thSpecial-Nora&Gang.jpg|
  
SS50thSpecial-Nora&Gang.jpg|
 
SS50thSpecial-NorahBand.jpg|
  
SS50thSpecial-NorahBand.jpg|
−
SS50thSpecial-Ynot.jpg|
  
⚫
SS50thSpecial-Colorful.jpg|
  
 
SS50thSpecial-ThisOneHasLetters.jpg|
  
SS50thSpecial-ThisOneHasLetters.jpg|
 
SS50thSpecial-JGLGuys.jpg|
  
SS50thSpecial-JGLGuys.jpg|
⚫
SS50thSpecial-ModernGang.jpg|
  
⚫
SS50thSpecial-Hoomans.jpg|
  
 
SS50thSpecial-GroupCelebrates.jpg|
  
SS50thSpecial-GroupCelebrates.jpg|
 
</gallery>
  
</gallery>

Revision as of 21:24, 21 March 2020

SS50thSpecial-Title
SS50thSpecial-GroupShot
SS50thSpecial-Kermit&Gang

Kermit the Frog rejoins his Sesame Street pals in the special.

Kermit Elvis Costello 50th Bein Green

Kermit and Elvis Costello

Sesame 50th special script pages

Script pages

SS50thSpecial-Group
SS50thSpecial-Theme

The very first opening sequence played during the special's cold open.

SS50thSpecial-MissingSign
SS50thSpecial-OldDudes

The special includes many characters long retired from the show.

SS50thSpecial-Lefty
SS50thSpecial-Duckie
SS50thSpecial-Martians
SS50thSpecial-Cakes
SS50thSpecial-Hoomans
SS50thSpecial-Credits

The special's end credits features recreations of favorite Sesame Street animations.

SS50thSpecial-Colorful
SS50thSpecial-Ynot

Norah Jones and her Y.

SS50thSpecial-ModernGang
50th crew

Sesame Street's 50th Anniversary Celebration is a primetime special commemorating Sesame Street’s 50th anniversary. The special aired on November 9, 2019 on HBO, followed by a November 17th airing on PBS. The special kicked off the show's landmark 50th season, which began on HBO the following Saturday.

The special was announced as early as July 2018,[1] where it was said to feature celebrity guests, along with "new takes on classic segments" and "visits from Sesame Street icons,"[2] while also focusing on "the show’s cultural impact."

The special was released on DVD and digital download on December 3.[3]

Press kit description

“Sesame Street’s 50th Anniversary Celebration is an all-ages primetime event that offers a sweeping look back at fifty years on the Street. Hosted by Joseph Gordon-Levitt, the special reimagines classic segments and songs as the Sesame Street gang gets ready for a big party to celebrate the neighborhood’s 50th birthday. When the famous street sign goes missing before the party, it’s up to Elmo, Rosita, Grover, and Abby to track it down, while Big Bird and Snuffy plan a surprise of their own.

This star-studded special includes cameos from rare characters like Roosevelt Franklin and Kermit the Frog, and visits from celebrity guests. Joseph Gordon-Levitt serves as the audience’s guide, breaking the fourth wall to talk to viewers about his favorite Sesame Street memories. (He also pops up inside some of those classic moments, discovering a telephone with the Yip Yip Martians, practicing “near” and “far” with Grover, and joining the shocked crowd meeting Snuffy for the first time.)”

Songs

Notes

  • The special was primarily shot during the week of May 14, 2019.[4] Nile Rodgers' performance was shot a week prior on May 6.[5][6] The on-location cold open was shot on June 6.[7][8]
  • The PBS preview clips, published prior to the special's airing on both HBO and PBS, features a slightly different version of "Count Me In" in the opening.

Characters

Muppets:

Abby Cadabby, the Amazing Mumford, Baby Bear, Bert, Big Bird, Captain Vegetable, Cookie Monster, Count von Count, Dish, Don Music, Elmo, Ernie, Forgetful Jones, Goldilocks, Gonger, Grover (and Super Grover), Grundgetta, Guy Smiley, Harvey Kneeslapper, Herry Monster, Honkers, Hoots the Owl, Horatio the Elephant, Jacket, Julia, Lefty the Salesman, Letters of the Alphabet (A, B, C, X, Y), Mama Bear, the Martians (archival footage), Mr. Snuffleupagus, Old MacDonald, Oscar the Grouch, Roosevelt Franklin, Rosita, Rudy, Sherlock Hemlock, Spoon, Telly Monster, Two-Headed Monster

Background Muppets:

AM Monsters, Anything Muppets, Betty Lou, Biff, Chickens, Clam, the Countess, Ducks, Gabrielle, Gladys the Cow, Hansel and Gretel, Little Bird, Louie, Mr. Johnson, Mrs. Crustworthy, Number 50, Pigeons, Penguins, Prairie Dawn, Ovejita, Sheep, Sherry Netherland, Sully, Zoe

Animated

Lost Boy and Man with Yo-Yo, Donnie Budd, The Alligator King, The King of Eight, Fruta Manzana, The Bridgekeeper, Martian Beauty, Teeny Little Super Guy, Cecille, Little Girl (I Can Remember), Twiddlebugs, Ladybugs, Suzie Kabloozie, Fef, Dorothy, The Typewriter

Cast

Host

Cast

Special Guest Stars

Fran Brill, Sterling K. Brown, Elvis Costello, Whoopi Goldberg, Norah Jones, Solange Knowles, Patti LaBelle, Itzhak Perlman, Nile Rodgers, Caroll Spinney, Deborah Spinney, Meghan Trainor

Sesame Street Muppet Performers

Pam Arciero, Jennifer Barnhart, Tau Bennett, Warrick Brownlow-Pike, Tyler Bunch, Leslie Carrara-Rudolph, Frankie Cordero, Stephanie D'Abruzzo, Ryan Dillon, Stacey Gordon, Chris Thomas Hayes, Paul McGinnis, Noel MacNeal, Eric Jacobson, John Kennedy, Peter Linz, Spencer Lott, Carmen Osbahr, Martin P. Robinson, David Rudman, Matt Vogel

Special Appearance By

Extras

Rohan Agneshwar, Kaden Anderson, Adrianna Aquavella, Aydin Artis, Mark Christopher, Pierce Cravens, Lailene Delos Santos, Holanda Demeloitz, Saffron Faith, Adian Fong, Veronica Frazier, Kay Gaffney, Kafayat Gboladel, Lukas Gilkison-Parrish, Sheila Glenn, Zoe Glick, Kimberly Gorman, Deborah Grausman, Chris Guttadardo, Anika Hatch, Connor Hawke, Leah Horowitz, Joe Huu, Anna Kuchma, Sarah Lockwood, J. Elaine Marcos, Barry Mitchell, Erin Moore, Brianna Growalt, Hudson Loverro, Tayanah Jn Philippe, Kavon Newman, Martin Rohleder, Azra Tahirovic, Christina Williams, David Wong, Leonard Zimmerman

Special Extras

Greer Barnes, Lorenzo Giliberti, Clementine Kline, Hazel Anne Raymundo

The Baker (Voice) By

Jim Henson

Credits

Puppets, Costumes, and Props: Ben Durocher, Joel Gennari, Tyler Hall, Michelle Hickey, Joshua Holden, Rollie Krewson, Sarah Lafferty, Anney Ozar, Constance Peterson, Sierra Schoening, Keely Snook, David Valentine, Jason Weber, Stacey Weingarten, James Wojtal
Production: Melissa Creighton, Joseph Roddy, Gabriella Degennaro, Carolyn Fanelli, Rich Dyar
Creative Director: Rickey Boyd
End Credit Design (Based on Classic Animations): Rickey Boyd and Michael Lapinski

Sources

  1. ↑ PR Week "Leaving the Neighborhood" by Diana Bradley, July 27, 2018
  2. ↑ Sesame Workshop Press Release February 4, 2019
  3. ↑ Amazon product listing
  4. ↑ Sesame Street Instagram post
  5. ↑ @nilerodgers Twitter, May 6, 2019
  6. ↑ Ryan Dillon on Instagram
  7. ↑ Clementine Kline on Instagram (June 7, 2019)
  8. ↑ Ben Durocher on Instagram (June 7, 2019)

See also

External links

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