“Sesame Street”, The popular and long-running children’s television show has touched on various topics with the intent of spreading awareness. Some of the topics that “Sesame Street” has talked about include HIV, parents divorcing, same-sex couples, bullying, having a parent in prison, and most recently bringing in Julia, a character with Autism to help spread awareness and to combat any negative stereotypes against individuals with autism.
Now, the children’s beloved television program is set to premiere on HBO in January and audiences will see new and exciting changes for the show. According to Sesame Workshop, some of these changes will include different style of sets, shorter episodes, a new theme song, and a new real-life Latina character Nina.
Nina, who will be played by Suki Lopez, is a young bilingual woman who has a great sense of humor, is considerate, and very charismatic. She’ll be giving a helping hand to many of the “Sesame Street” characters who will surely come across various predicaments.
Additionally, the new season of “Sesame Street” will show the children’s beloved Muppet characters in different settings. Big Bird will have a new nest, Elmo has relocated to 123 Sesame Street Brownstone house, Cookie Monster has moved above Hooper’s Store, and Oscar the grouch will be residing in a more central location in the “Sesame Street” neighborhood.
The celebrity cameos for the new season of “Sesame Street” will include appearance by Gwen Stefani, Pharrell, Nick Jonas, Sara Bareilles, Fifth Harmony, Ne-Yo, Alan Cumming, Gina Rodriguez, Aloe Blacc, and Tracee Ellis Ross.
These new changes can be attributed to HBO and Sesame Workshop’s new partnership which was announced in August. The length of their joint venture is five-years which will make the new seasons of “Sesame Street” available first on HBO and its on-demand and mobile services. Brown Johnson, the EVP and creative director of Sesame Workshop stated the new season of “Sesame Street” will “bring fun and fresh changes to ‘Sesame Street’ and (families) can depend on their favorite Muppet friends to provide them with engaging and educational content.”
The 46th season is set to premiere on Saturday, January 16 on HBO. However, “Sesame Street” has historically (over 40 years) been broadcast in the United States on PBS, which is publicly funded and free for TV viewers. With the new partnership between HBO and “Sesame Street” the episodes of the upcoming new season won’t run on PBS until fall of 2016.