Best Sesame Street Characters, Ranked

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. 

Telly Monster normalized stressing out over little things, and we love him for it.

He was originally introduced as a monster who adored watching TV, but since that seemed like a bad influence, the writers of Sesame Street rebranded him as a large, anxious monster who panics over minor, everyday things. He’s terrified of making mistakes and trying new things, which is why we love him so much. 

Egad! The world’s greatest detective is amazing at one thing and one thing only: Solving his own crimes. Swiping half of a friend’s sandwich, for example. Sherlock makes us all feel more competent in comparison, and reminds us that introspection and self-awareness are highly underrated skills.

Rosita joined the cast of Sesame Street as the show’s first bilingual character. The fluffy blue monster is five years old and celebrates her Mexican heritage with her large, tight-knit family. Her enthusiasm about her culture is contagious, and it doesn’t hurt that she can fly. 

This four-year-old Sesame Street mainstay was another groundbreaker in children’s programming. Julia is on the autism spectrum, and her character was partly designed by the Autistic Self Advocacy Network.

She was invented to spread awareness about autism and to help young viewers understand how to support peers with autism and embrace our differences. Julia is also celebrated as a gifted artist, demonstrating unmatched focus when she’s wrapped up in a new creative masterpiece.