The following is a list of debut (and first known) appearances of Sesame Street characters.
Season 1 (1969-1970)[]
- Oscar the Grouch — Episode 0001.
- Ernie and Bert — Pilot episodes and Episode 0001.
- Kermit the Frog — Test Show 4 and Episode 0001; first appeared on Afternoon in 1955.
- Cookie Monster — Test Show 4 and Episode 0001.
- Gordon, Susan, Bob and Mr. Hooper — Pilot episodes and Episode 0001.
- Buddy and Jim — Pilot episodes and Episode 0001.
- Jennie — Episode 0001.
- Beautiful Day Monster — Episode 0004; previously appeared as a stock monster
- Guy Smiley — Appears as an unnamed salesman in Episode 0010.
- Granny Bird — First appears in Episode 0030 as the Big Bird puppet with a flowered hat, shawl, glasses and purse. Converses with Big Bird off screen.
- Betty Lou — Episode 0072 in name ("The Mr. and Mrs. Game")
- Granny Fanny Nesselrode — Episode 0112 (originally made from the Southern Colonel puppet; switched to Large Lavender Live Hand Anything Muppet pattern the following season)
- Grover — Episode 0125 in name (not fully-formed until season two); appeared earlier as a previously established monster (see: proto-Grover).
Season 2 (1970-1971)[]
- Herry Monster — Episode 0131
- Farley — Episode 0131
- Larry and Phyllis — Episode 0131
- Willy — Episode 0131
- Marty — Episode 0171
- Twiddlebugs (Anything Muppets) — Episode 0178
- Prairie Dawn — Episode 0173 (as an AM in "Surprise!"), Episode 0252 (named)
- David — Episode 0244
Season 3 (1971-1972)[]
- Mr. Johnson — Episode 0276
Season 4 (1972-1973)[]
- Sam the Robot — Episode 0406
- Gladys the Cow — appears as a generic cow as early as Episode 0419
- Smart Tina — Episode 0517
Season 5 (1973-1974)[]
- Twiddlebugs (family) — Episode 0603
Season 6 (1974-1975)[]
Season 7 (1975-1976)[]
Season 8 (1976-1977)[]
Season 9 (1977-1978)[]
- Barkley — appeared in Episode 1177 and Episode 1184 as Woof Woof before being renamed in-show during the 10th season premiere.
Season 10 (1978-1979)[]
Season 11 (1979-1980)[]
- Elmo — Episode 1439 in name; first appeared as an unnamed monster in "We Are All Monsters" (Episode 1405)
Season 12 (1980-1981)[]
- Forgetful Jones and Clementine — Episode 1446; a season 12 press kit mentions them as new characters this season (Buster the Horse is also referred to as a new character, though the puppet had been around since at least 1974).
- Dr. Nobel Price — A season 12 press kit refers to this as his debut season, appearing as early as Episode 1455
Season 13 (1981-1982)[]
Season 14 (1982-1983)[]
Season 15 (1983-1984)[]
- Uncle Wally — introduced in Episode 1929, starts appearing regularly the next season.
Season 16 (1984-1985)[]
- Hoots the Owl — earliest found appearance is "Good Night, Wake Up Lullaby" in Episode 2020
Season 17 (1985-1986)[]
Season 18 (1986-1987)[]
Season 19 (1987-1988)[]
Season 20 (1988-1989)[]
- Vincent Twice and Watson - Episode 2569
Season 21 (1989-1990)[]
- Mr. Handford — Episode 2616; properly introduced in Episode 2620
- Benny Rabbit — Episode 2730; properly introduced in Episode 2815.
Season 22 (1990-1991)[]
- Baby Bear and Goldilocks — Episode 2866
- Chicago — Episode 2826 as a generic lion; earliest named appearance is Episode 2911
Season 23 (1991-1992)[]
- Rosita — Episode 2887; introduced in Episode 2888
- Joey and Davey Monkey — Episode 2953 (40 Years of Life on the Street page 132 incorrectly cites Season 24 as their debut).
Season 24 (1992-1993)[]
- Papa Bear and Mama Bear — Episode 3018
Season 25 (1993-1994)[]
- Sherry Netherland — Episode 3136
- Ingrid — Episode 3136
- Ruthie — Episode 3136
- Carlo — Episode 3136
- Tarah — Episode 3136
- Celina — Episode 3136
Season 28 (1996-1997)[]
Season 29 (1997-1998)[]
Season 30 (1998-1999)[]
Season 31 (2000)[]
Season 32 (2001)[]
Season 33 (2002)[]
- Ralphie — Episode 3985 (as Ralph)
Season 34 (2003)[]
Season 36 (2005)[]
- Murray Monster — debuts as a nameless monster interviewing kids. He would later get a name during Season 38.
Season 37 (2006)[]
- Abby Cadabby — Episode 4109; appeared on The Today Show just a few hours earlier.
- Mrs. Crustworthy — Episode 4116 (unnamed customer at Hooper's Store, named and introduced as a Toaster Lovers Society member in Episode 4141)
Season 38 (2007)[]
Season 39 (2008)[]
- Leela — Episode 4161; properly introduced in Episode 4164
Season 41 (2010)[]
Season 44 (2013-2014)[]
Season 46 (2016)[]
Season 47 (2017)[]
- Julia — Episode 4715; appeared illustrated beginning in 2015
- Frankie — Episode 4719
- Maggie Cadabby — Episode 4731 (previously referenced back to 2006 and illustrated back to 2007)
- Norbert the Robot — Episode 4709
- Rudy — Episode 4731
Season 48 (2017-2018)[]
- Gonger (previously appeared on The Furchester Hotel)
Season 50 (2019-2020)[]
Season 51 (2020-2021)[]
- Dave, Frank, and Mia — Episode 5132
- Wes — Coming Together (initiative) and later in Episode 5321
- Elijah — Coming Together (initiative)
Season 52 (2021-2022)[]
- Tamir (previously appeared in The Power of We)
- Tango — Episode 5201 (previously appeared animated in Furry Friends Forever: Elmo Gets a Puppy)
- Marisol
Season 53 (2022-2023)[]
- Ji-Young (previously appeared in See Us Coming Together)
- Grandma Nell
- Kayla (Tamir's Mom)
- Niamh (animated and photo only)