Nick Martel

We're talking Big Bird, Mr. Snuffleupagus, Oscar the Grouch, and the ultimate celebrity to toddlers everywhere, including my son Brooks, Elmo.

We're talking Big Bird, Mr. Snuffleupagus, Oscar the Grouch, and the ultimate celebrity to toddlers everywhere, including my son Brooks, Elmo.

Me neither, Elmo, because you led Sesame Street to a mid-90s bounce back that also made toy history. Tickle Me Elmo is one of the best-selling toys of all time, with a chunk of sales going back to Sesame Workshop as licensing revenue. As a nonprofit, Sesame's mission is not to keep that cash, but to reinvest it. And its mission to teach kids has inspired other shows to do the same. That's right.

Me neither, Elmo, because you led Sesame Street to a mid-90s bounce back that also made toy history. Tickle Me Elmo is one of the best-selling toys of all time, with a chunk of sales going back to Sesame Workshop as licensing revenue. As a nonprofit, Sesame's mission is not to keep that cash, but to reinvest it. And its mission to teach kids has inspired other shows to do the same. That's right.

Me neither, Elmo, because you led Sesame Street to a mid-90s bounce back that also made toy history. Tickle Me Elmo is one of the best-selling toys of all time, with a chunk of sales going back to Sesame Workshop as licensing revenue. As a nonprofit, Sesame's mission is not to keep that cash, but to reinvest it. And its mission to teach kids has inspired other shows to do the same. That's right.

Without Sesame Street, there'd be no Doc McStuffins, no Dora the Explorer, and no Bluey. This is the story about an unexpected trio of a TV producer, a psychologist, and a puppeteer built the ultimate Trojan horse learning product, bringing early childhood education to the masses in the form of an entertaining kid show.

Without Sesame Street, there'd be no Doc McStuffins, no Dora the Explorer, and no Bluey. This is the story about an unexpected trio of a TV producer, a psychologist, and a puppeteer built the ultimate Trojan horse learning product, bringing early childhood education to the masses in the form of an entertaining kid show.

Without Sesame Street, there'd be no Doc McStuffins, no Dora the Explorer, and no Bluey. This is the story about an unexpected trio of a TV producer, a psychologist, and a puppeteer built the ultimate Trojan horse learning product, bringing early childhood education to the masses in the form of an entertaining kid show.

Plus, we've got some intel on Cookie Monster's origin story that none of your playdates knew about. So, Jack, can you give me a countdown at the start of the episode? One, two, three. That's a count up. This episode is brought to you by the letter F for fantastic. Here's why Sesame Street is the best idea yet. From Wondery and T-Boy, I'm Nick Martel. And I'm Jack Kravici-Kramer.

Plus, we've got some intel on Cookie Monster's origin story that none of your playdates knew about. So, Jack, can you give me a countdown at the start of the episode? One, two, three. That's a count up. This episode is brought to you by the letter F for fantastic. Here's why Sesame Street is the best idea yet. From Wondery and T-Boy, I'm Nick Martel. And I'm Jack Kravici-Kramer.

Plus, we've got some intel on Cookie Monster's origin story that none of your playdates knew about. So, Jack, can you give me a countdown at the start of the episode? One, two, three. That's a count up. This episode is brought to you by the letter F for fantastic. Here's why Sesame Street is the best idea yet. From Wondery and T-Boy, I'm Nick Martel. And I'm Jack Kravici-Kramer.

And this is the best idea yet. The untold origin stories of the products you're obsessed with and the bold risk takers who brought them to life.

And this is the best idea yet. The untold origin stories of the products you're obsessed with and the bold risk takers who brought them to life.

And this is the best idea yet. The untold origin stories of the products you're obsessed with and the bold risk takers who brought them to life.

It's a gray winter day in Manhattan, 1966. The snow has turned to black slush. The hot dog vendors, they're wearing mittens. But inside Joan Ganz Cooney's chic apartment, a block from Gramercy Park, a cozy dinner party is keeping our guests toasty warm.

It's a gray winter day in Manhattan, 1966. The snow has turned to black slush. The hot dog vendors, they're wearing mittens. But inside Joan Ganz Cooney's chic apartment, a block from Gramercy Park, a cozy dinner party is keeping our guests toasty warm.

It's a gray winter day in Manhattan, 1966. The snow has turned to black slush. The hot dog vendors, they're wearing mittens. But inside Joan Ganz Cooney's chic apartment, a block from Gramercy Park, a cozy dinner party is keeping our guests toasty warm.

This quiet, tree-lined neighborhood, it's a far cry from the working-class brownstones and tenements that will one day surround 123 Sesame Street. But don't let the doorman or the French cooking fool you. Joan and her husband are outspoken advocates for the poor. Joan is a documentary TV producer for New York Public Television.

This quiet, tree-lined neighborhood, it's a far cry from the working-class brownstones and tenements that will one day surround 123 Sesame Street. But don't let the doorman or the French cooking fool you. Joan and her husband are outspoken advocates for the poor. Joan is a documentary TV producer for New York Public Television.

This quiet, tree-lined neighborhood, it's a far cry from the working-class brownstones and tenements that will one day surround 123 Sesame Street. But don't let the doorman or the French cooking fool you. Joan and her husband are outspoken advocates for the poor. Joan is a documentary TV producer for New York Public Television.