Timeless writing lessons from ‘Sesame Street’
The beloved children’s show keeps going strong after 50 years–and continues to offer a masterclass in tidy storytelling.
The creators of “Sesame Street” knew that the Muppet chickens were always good for a laugh. Apparently, the show had a rule of thumb: “When in doubt, throw a chicken.”
But the program isn’t just about being funny or clever. The show has always aimed to reach both children and their parents. A 2010 interview with the head writer, Joseph Mazzarino, explains:
“There’s no better way for the child to get the concepts we’re giving them than when they’re sitting down with their parents, watching.”
Some of the musical parodies are a natural. “Bruce Stringbean” sings Born To Add. “The Beetles” sing Letter B. Feist sings a version of her own 1,2,3,4, adding “monsters walking cross the floor.” You’ll find lots more on the Sesame Street YouTube channel, which now has 3,108 videos, 20.6 million subscribers and 17.7 billion views.
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