A New Direction for Sesame Street?

As the classic children’s television program seeks a new home, a streaming-era makeover could be coming

By David Kamp

“A prime piece of TV real estate is hitting the open market: new episodes of Sesame Street. The long-running children’s series is looking for a new home for its original episodes, after Warner Bros. Discovery opted not to renew the Sesame output deal with HBO and Max…. Sesame Street will get a new look, dropping the ‘magazine’-style format it has had for years, and leaning into longer narrative-led segments.” —The Hollywood Reporter

A24

Season 56 centers on the duo Safdie and Bert. A new Muppet serving as an emotional proxy for swarthy, neurotic young viewers, Safdie takes over from 55-year Sesame Street mainstay Ernie. When a sketchy new landlord (Eric Bogosian) acquires 123 Sesame Street, roomies Safdie and Bert face a choice between a steep rent hike and eviction. By befriending a sentient egg sandwich (voiced by Natasha Lyonne) who teaches them how to count cards, Safdie and Bert make a fortune at Mohegan Sun and return triumphantly to Sesame Street with 10 years’ rent.