Episode 0001
| Episode 0001 | |
|---|---|
| Sesame Street episode | |
| File:SSEp1Animation.jpg An image of the opening screen, showcasing the episode number | |
| Episode no. | Season 1 Episode 1 |
| Directed by | Neil Smith |
| Featured music | "Gavotte" "Everybody Wash" "Hey Cow" "Consider Yourself" "Two Song (Song of Two)" "Jazz #2" "One of These Things (Is Not Like the Others)" |
| Original air date | November 10, 1969 |
| Running time | 1:00:00 |
| Guest appearance(s) | |
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"Episode 0001" is the series premiere of the American educational children's television series Sesame Street. The episode was directed by Neil Smith and was filmed on the 21st of October, 1969. It would eventually be released on the 10th of November, after being previewed in the promotional special This Way to Sesame Street two days prior. The episode features the first appearances of multiple characters in the show itself, and features a guest appearance from Carol Burnett.
Upon the episode's release, it, alongside the show itself, would receive positive reviews from critics, and the episode's writers would be nominated for an Emmy in the Outstanding Achievement in Children's Programming category for their work on the episode, which they won. The episode would later be re-released through various means, including the first installment of Sesame Street's Old School DVD series and the American video streaming service HBO Max. It is currently available to view at the Museum of Broadcast Communications Archives.
Plot
The episode begins with Sesame Street resident Gordon Robinson (played by Matt Robinson) introducing his new neighbour, Sally, to the street. During their tour, Sally meets Gordon's wife, Susan (played by Loretta Long), Hooper's Store founder Mr. Hooper (played by Will Lee), Bob Johnson (played by Bob McGrath), and Jennie (played by Jada Rowland). The duo also meet Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch (played by Caroll Spinney) and Kermit the Frog (played by Jim Henson).
During their tour, they take a peek at the apartment of Bert and Ernie (played by Frank Oz and Henson respectively), stop at Susan's apartment for cookies and milk, learn how to knit with Jennie, visit Bob's apartment, view a magic trick with Bob and Kermit, and, by the episode's end, sit at the stairway to 123 Sesame Street alongside Susan, Ernie, and Bert. Before the credits, Will Lee (as Mr. Hooper) announces the letter and number sponsors of the episode.
Cast
Human actors
- Matt Robinson as Gordon Robinson
- Loretta Long as Susan Robinson
- Will Lee as Mr. Hooper
- Bob McGrath as Bob Johnson
- Jada Rowland as Jennie
- Brandon Maggart as Buddy
- James Catusi as Jim
- Carol Burnett as herself
"Muppeters"
- Caroll Spinney as Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch
- Jim Henson as Kermit the Frog and Ernie
- Frank Oz as Bert and Cookie Monster
- Various as Anything Muppets
Background and production
Sesame Street began production around late 1968 to early 1969. During the beginning of production, a "pitch reel" was created to pitch the show to television networks. The reel starred Kermit the Frog (who would later appear in the series premiere) and Rowlf the Dog (both played by Jim Henson), as they tried to give the show a name. The reel presented the show's curriculum and format, which consisted of a scene from the episode itself, followed by a series of segments interspersed between scenes. Two versions of the show were created, one from before the name of the show was conceived, and one from after the name was chosen. The second version adds a scene where Kermit thinks of the show's name, to which Rowlf excites in glee, kissing Kermit in the mouth. Both versions feature an intro and outro presented by the show's creator, Joan Ganz Cooney.
From the 9th to the 18th of July, 1969, five "test shows" were recorded to be shown to test audiences of children. These test shows featured the first appearances of notable characters, including Bert and Ernie, Cookie Monster, the Robinson family, Mr. Hooper, and Bob, alongside appearances from Kermit, who had previously appeared in the pitch reel, and would later become a mainstay throughout the series. Through test results, it was revealed that the children watching liked both the Muppet segments and the animated portions, but were bored when the street scenes came up. Due to this, Muppets were added to the street, including Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch. Segments from both the pitch reel and the test shows, alongside Muppet designs, characters, sets, and the format were later used throughout the series, specifically the show's first season, although Garret Saunders' role of Gordon would be given to Matt Robinson.
After reformatting the show based off test results, production of the first season fully began. "Episode 0001" was filmed on the 21st of October, 1969, and was produced by Neil Smith.
Release and reception
Two days before the series premiere, on the 8th of November, 1969, the Xerox-sponsored promotional special This Was to Sesame Street was broadcast through NBC stations. The special, hosted by Jim Henson and Frank Oz (performing Ernie and Bert respectively), featured a preview of the first episode, alongside segments that would later appear in the episode. The episode itself would premiere on the 10th of November, to commercial and critical acclaim. Due to the positive reception of the episode, it would win its writers an Emmy in the Outstanding Achievement in Children's Programming category.
Legacy
After the positive commercial and critical reception of Sesame Street from its first episode alone, the show would stay successful for the rest of its run, and is still ongoing as of 2025, with 55 seasons and 4,731 episodes, alongside other miscellaneous forms of media stemming from the franchise, including movies, toys, and international co-productions. As for the episode itself, it would be referenced and reissued multiple times. A portion of the episode was included in a montage made for the 2004 television special The Street We Live On.
The episode itself would be included on the first disc of the Old School: Volume 1 DVD (2006), alongside numerous segments from the show's first season and the show's pitch reel, and it would also be included in a bonus disc released for the book 40 Years of Life on the Street (2009). It would later be included on the first Sesame Street Classics iTunes set in 2011, named "The First Sesame Street". It is currently available to view on HBO Max and at the Paley Center for Media, alongside the Museum of Broadcast Communications Archive.
References
This article "Episode 0001" is from Wikipedia. The list of its authors can be seen in its historical and/or the page Edithistory:Episode 0001. Articles copied from Draft Namespace on Wikipedia could be seen on the Draft Namespace of Wikipedia and not main one.
