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Joel Katz

Sesame Street Celebrating 55 Years of Educating and Entertaining Kids

Author Joel Katz
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 23: A view of the Sesame Street sign on the '1-2-3 Sesame Street' float at the 2023 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade on November 23, 2023 in New York City.

One of my favorite shows of all time debuted 55 years ago today (11/10), and it’s one that I absolutely loved as a child. Sesame Street played a huge role in my childhood; it was where I learned so many things while being entertained by the most beloved Muppet characters. I don’t remember them being called Muppets then, but it didn’t matter, I love the show and still love it.

After watching with my now adult children, I’ll watch some highlights from some of the Sesame Street episodes. The older ones, of course, are the most nostalgic for me. It came on the air on PBS today in 1969 and has been entertaining and educating kids of all ages ever since the first note of its theme song began to play on televisions across the country. It was first tested with preschool kids in my hometown of Philadelphia and in New York earlier that year.

The must-see TV for me every day was Sesame Street, followed by Mr. Rogers, and the Electric Company, which featured Morgan Freeman. On Sesame Street, some human actors played such characters as Mr. Hooper, Bob, Maria, Gordon, and Susan. I had the Sesame Street toys, the vinyl records (and still do), and the stuffed animals. This artwork hung in my room as a kid and is still displayed in my home office.

The stars of the show were the furry monsters and Muppets. Elmo hadn’t been born at the time, but as you can see Big Bird, Bert, Ernie, Oscar, Cookie Monster, and Grover were all there from the beginning. That’s an early version of Herry Monster at the top of the photo. You’ll notice that Grover isn’t blue in the artwork.

A piece of art featuring Sesame Street character in a wooden frame white background and yellow mat.

If you’re a fan of Sesame Street then you probably have a favorite character. For me, it was Grover. He was so fun and crazy when he was on the screen as himself or his alter ego, Super Grover.

On November 10th, 1969 this longest-running, most-viewed children’s show aired for the very first time. To celebrate the Sesame Street anniversary this weekend, Coventry Direct found the most popular Muppet in every state throughout the country.

New Jersey’s Favorite Sesame Street Muppet

The study found that the most popular Sesame Street Muppet in the country is Cookie Monster. Cookie was chosen by 36 states as their favorite overall. However, New Jersey is one of those states that’s not like the others (See what I did there?). New Jersey’s most beloved furry friend is Elmo. The only other to choose Elmo is Washington D.C.

As you can see below, the favorites by state are Oscar, Big Bird, The Count, and a few others. Check out the full map and study here, and here…

It’s so nice to know that these characters and Sesame Street will continue to entertain and educate forever. I’m hoping to be around for their 100th anniversary!

Joel Katz is the Morning Show Personality, Assistant Program Director, Podcast Host, Voiceover artist, audio producer, and Digital Content Writer for Magic 98.3. Joel has been working in New Jersey radio since college and started at Magic in 2002 as the Morning Show Host, “I can’t think of another place where I’d fit more perfectly; it’s just a great company with awesome people.” Joel is married to Kathleen, his elementary school sweetheart (they were each other’s first dates at age 9), shares a birthday with his oldest son, Ty, and has twins, Kiera and Liam. Joel runs at least 3.1 miles every day and enjoys playing basketball, doing laundry, saving his turn signal for when he really needs it, kissing dogs through a fence, using coasters, making that cool noise by rubbing his fingers on balloons, and chasing after ping pong balls on a windy cruise ship.

5 Life Lessons From Coaching Youth Sports

There are many life lessons to be taken from coaching youth sports. Sometimes, they can be the same lessons your little players are also learning. Perhaps as an adult, you are simply learning these lessons again. Or you may just be interpreting them through a different lens.

“If You Ain’t 15 Minutes Early, You’re A Half An Hour Late”

This is the first memory I have as a kid playing basketball. It’s a sentence I will never forget. My coach was a former standout at the University of South Carolina. He treated us as if he was the actual Division One South Carolina coach, and we were his 5-star recruit players about to enter March Madness. We were ten years old. It sounds intense, I understand, but herein lies the first rule of coaching youth sports. There are some values that are non-negotiable.

When you break it down, these values are all centered around respect. Respect for yourself and those around you. Respect becomes a way of life. It’s how an athlete carries themselves and how they approach the game. Therefore, it’s important as a coach to ask yourself if respect is present in the environment you and your team are creating. It has a way of applying to everything while also being an evolving process.

Speaking of which, more often than not, youth coaches are volunteers. This means that they are not paid. Sometimes, they never even played the sport they are coaching. However, they care enough to dedicate their time and attention to help make the sporting experience memorable for the youth program. So keep that in mind and cut them some slack. This is true of referees and umpires, as well.

Coaching youth sports can be a year-round commitment. We often end one season and immediately transition to the next sport. Here are five life lessons learned from coaching youth sports.

  • The Meaning of Hard Work

    There’s no better feeling than working tirelessly for something you really want, and then accomplishing it. Especially if you are an underdog. You learn to enjoy the struggle. It makes the reward that much sweeter. The most valuable lesson from this piece is that once you dedicate yourself to putting in whatever it takes, this becomes a mindset. No win comes for free. You aren’t entitled to playing time. Both of those must be earned. There’s nothing wrong with reminding yourself of that while preaching to your kids about how to get playing time.

    Boys having a fun with their school coach. Teacher and students enjoying a physical education session in a school ground.

    Stock Photo/Getty Images

  • The Importance of Exercise

    Your definition of exercise might be a sweaty cardio workout in the gym. But as a coach, exercise has a broad meaning. Certainly, getting yourself outside with a team and teaching them the importance of stretching and preparing your body is essential to physical success. Coaching a sport like football, for example, your two hours a day on the field are laser-focused on just that. There, you are giving yourself some mental exercise, taking a break from all the other work, stress, or life-circumstances. You can forget everything else when you hit the field, court, or rink.

    Field Hockey, coach and portrait of woman at stadium for training, fitness and cardio with group, happy and excited. Sports, trainer and female smile, confident and cheerful during game, match and sport

    Stock Photo/Getty Images

  • Treat Everyone The Same, But Coach Them Differently

    Whether you manage a soccer team or a sales team, you’re leading a collection of individuals. What makes your top performer tick is not the same as what makes a lesser player (or employee) with potential, tick. This lesson centers around relationship-building and listening. How you run your team is about you, and how your players apply these guidelines is about them.

    Group Of Children In Soccer Team Celebrating With Coach

    Stock Photo/Getty Images

  • Nobody Is Going Pro At 10 Years Old...

    …Nor are they getting a full scholarship offer to a top NCAA college at this age. You may see things in your kid or another on the team where your experience makes you think a certain player has a shot at the big time. But that time is not right now. Your coaching duty is to give the best experience possible to your players. How does creating an entire game plan around one super-talented 10-year old give the other 20 kids a fair chance? How does it give them a memorable experience? Or something to build off for next year. Or confidence. Again, those refereeing your games are most likely high school or college kids themselves. They’re just trying to work and earn some money. Again, cut them some slack.

    Basketball, hands and team of players high five for outdoor game.

    Stock Photo/Getty Images

  • You Matter

    Your tone in addressing your players, the refs, and the other team matters, too. Be cognizant of how you deliver your messages. You may have an incredibly impactful point to make, but if you don’t articulate it correctly, and cater to your audience, it can be useless. Coaching youth sports is about the overall experience, not the final score, and not the final record. Your stats don’t matter, your voice does.

    Boxing coach and kid training inside a boxing ring. Close up of a boxing kid in boxing gloves and headgear learning boxing from his coach.

    Stock Photo/Getty Images

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Author Joel Katz
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