'Sesame Street' Celebrates 50 Years

It has been sweeping the clouds away for decades, and this year Sesame Street turns 50. To celebrate the anniversary, the beloved children’s show has some big plans for the entire year. Their 50^th TV season will culminate in a star-studded prime-time special in November that will offer fresh takes on classic segments and include visits from some Sesame Street favorites. (The first episode of the show aired on November 10, 1969.) Ten cities, including Chicago, will be visited by the show – more details on that to come! Sesame Street will also be sharing favorite memories from the show on social media throughout the year under #ThisIsMyStreet¸and invites you to do the same.

And, given that Sesame Street is a global phenomenon now seen in 150 countries in over 70 languages, this year will also see the launch of a new local version for displaced Syrian families and the countries they have been driven to, including Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria.

Some 4,000 episodes after Joan Ganz Cooney and Lloyd Morrisett first conceived of the show, Sesame Street continues to teach and delight young children in a prime developmental stage. It’s worth celebrating – especially as it continues to go strong.

Watch some highlights from 50 years of Sesame Street here.