Ten Shows Brought to You by the People Behind Sesame Street
Though best known for the hit tv series Sesame Street, Sesame Workshop is a global nonprofit that has been helping children everywhere grow smarter, stronger, and kinder since 1969 (and was originally named The Children’s Television Workshop). As part of that mission, the Workshop has produced a number of television series aiming to provide critical early education and entertainment to children across the globe.
Here are ten shows that you might not have known were brought to you by the same people who brought you Sesame Street.
1. The Electric Company
HEY YOU GUYYYYYS! Following the early success of Sesame Street, The Workshop created The Electric Company to promote literacy and help elementary school-aged children with basic grammar skills. The show, which first aired on PBS between 1971 and 1977 and was revived from 1999 to 2003, saw cast members and celebrity guests like Morgan Freeman, Jim Boyd, Judy Graubart, and Skip Hinnant. Today, the 780 original episodes of The Electric Company, as well as special compilation episodes, continue to educate and entertain a new generation of children through reruns.
2. Dragon Tales
One of the first shows to premiere on PBS Kids in 1999, this beloved animated series followed the adventures of siblings Emmy and Max as they discover and explore a magical place called Dragon Land, only accessible to them after holding a magical dragon scale and reciting a special rhyme.
3. 3-2-1 Contact
Children of the ‘80s will remember this PBS classic, which emphasized basic science concepts and showed kids everywhere the power of asking questions about the world around them.
4. Pinky Dinky Doo
This sweet animated series followed seven-year-old Pinky Dinky Doo and her brother, Tyler, as they used their imaginations to solve problems big and small. First airing in 2005, the program aired on Noggin until its end in 2010.
5. Esme & Roy
This adorable, animated show, which began streaming on HBO in 2018, follows the “monstersitting” adventures of a girl named Esme and her monster friend, Roy. Little ones can play and sing their way through Monsterdale and help the dynamic duo to solve all kinds of problems using their creativity.
Mecha Builders reimagines three of the Sesame Street Muppets you know and love as animated robot superheroes-in-training. Join Mecha Elmo, Mecha Cookie, and Mecha Abby as they use their STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) superpowers to “Plan it, Test it, Solve it,” all the while encouraging children to think critically about the world around them.
7. Ghostwriter
This Emmy Award-winning series follows the adventures of a group of friends as they work to solve the mystery surrounding the ghost that haunts their local bookstore. Watch along and experience the magic of reading in this exciting series, streaming only on Apple TV.
8. Helpsters
There’s no problem too big or too small for this one-of-a-kind team of vibrant and friendly monsters to solve. Children develop important critical thinking and collaboration skills as they help Cody and the rest of the Helpsters team to plan parties, climb mountains, and make pancakes in this Sesame Studios series, streaming now on Apple TV.
9. The Not-Too-Late Show with Elmo
Everyone’s favorite three-and-a-half-year-old monster is now on the air for a (not too) late-night talk show featuring Sesame Street friends and fun celebrities like Drew Barrymore and the Jonas Brothers. Children and adults alike can watch, play, and laugh along with this silly series, now available on PBS Kids.
10. Bea’s Block
The newest show from the makers of Sesame Street, Bea’s Block follows the adventures of 5-year-old Bea and her best friends Ty and Lexi as they model kindness and embark on playful adventures in Blocktown. Tune in now on Max!
