Sesame Street Completely Changing Format in New Season
If you’re wondering what Elmo, Bert, Ernie, Big Bird, and the rest of the Sesame Street gang are up to these days, we’re thrilled to tell you that the series is still going strong, even after 55 seasons.
But there are major changes coming to the series that fans will want to take note of going forward.
Major Formatting Changes
In a recent exclusive interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Sesame Workshop CEO Steve Youngwood stated that the iconic long-running series will be getting a facelift with its 56th season, and delve into new and exciting territory.
One significant change to the series that will undergo in 2025 is its departure from the magazine-style format in favor of longer segments separated by a new animated series entitled Tales from 123.
Two Longer Segments
If you watch Sesame Street with your kids every day, then you’re about to get your world rocked by the new format, which will consist of two longer 11-minute segments that will be more narrative-driven than episodes of the past.
This alone is a major change for the series as a whole.
More Sophisticated Stories
Executive VP and chief creative development and production officer for Sesame Workshop, Kay Wilson Stallings, is excited about the prospect of having an A and B story separated by the new animated series.
There will be potential to tell more sophisticated stories centered on whatever issue a core character is going through in a way that the old format wouldn’t have enough time to execute.
Focus On Character Struggles
In Stallings’ own words, the A story can focus on a singular core character’s struggles, while the subsequent B story will more heavily feature the entire Sesame Street ensemble that we all have grown to know and love over the past 55 seasons.
But Stallings knows that Sesame Street still needs to bring on the song and dance, and hopes to bring a new signature song to each episode. What’s more, she is excited about the prospect of bringing famous singers to join in on the fun and bring their musical talents to the neighborhood.
Tales From 123
With the introduction of Tales From 123, we may very well end up having a new Sesame Street spinoff on our hands in the coming years.
The new animated series, which will be set inside of the iconic apartment bearing the iconic address, will be introduced as a five-minute animated segment that highlights the antics of the show’s core characters and will function as a sort of intermission between the proposed A and B segment that the new format will boast.
In other words, the Tales from 123 segment will give us a refreshing new take on Sesame Street, and if it proves to be popular with audiences, has the potential to eventually evolve into its own stand-alone show at some point in time.
Working With Warner Bros
The upcoming Sesame Street changes will coincide with the end of Sesame Workshop’s current rights deal with Warner Bros. Discovery when season 55 concludes.
If Sesame Workshop decides to renew their deal, then the new season, as well as the back catalog will continue to be available on Max.
Though die-hard Sesame Street fans may be disappointed over the show’s departure from the magazine-style format, it’s beyond exciting to know that Sesame Workshop is revamping its flagship show for a new generation while capturing the hearts and minds of children the world over as it has for so many decades.
