Where are our ’80s and ’90s kids at? If you were born any time after 1975, we’ll bet you ate your Lucky Charms while watching Sesame Street. The show first aired on November 10, 1969, but Sesame Street reached peak popularity in the ’90s. One 1996 survey found that 95 percent of American toddlers had watched the show before they turned three.
By 2006, it had become the most popular children’s show in the world, broadcast in 120 countries. As of 2023, new episodes are still being released 54 seasons later. The timeless show and its beloved characters have reflected shifts in culture, psychology, and attitudes towards early childhood education. So while we may have all grown up, we still love the familiar characters of Sesame Street … although some more than others.
Here are the best Sesame Street characters of all time.
5. Bert
Sesame Street / Sesame Street Press Kit
Bert and Ernie are inseparable. Bert is a little dull, but it’s like the saying goes: Opposites attract. His organizational skills and paper clip collection balance out Ernie’s chaotic enthusiasm. The nature of the comedic duo’s relationship was up for debate for years, but a former Sesame Street writer, Mark Saltzman, said that the pair are, indeed, more than just roommates.
They were based on Saltzman’s own relationship, with film editor Arnold Glassman, affectionately known as Arnie. Sound familiar? The show never specifically defined Bert and Ernie’s sexual orientation, and the producers of the show claim they have none– They’re just best friends. We’d have appreciated more overt representation, but we’ll give the show a pass since the characters are great role models either way.
