The X account of Sesame Street's Elmo, a beloved children's TV character, shared antisemitic and anti-Donald Trump posts after being hacked on Sunday.&nbsp;A slew of messages calling for the extermination of Jewish people and labeling the US president a "puppet" of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu were shared on the account.&nbsp;Around 650,000 users follow Elmo, the fuzzy red monster who teaches his young audience about kindness and patience.&nbsp;An archived version of the X account showed several messages were published on Sunday afternoon. They were later removed, although a link to a Telegram page apparently associated with the hack remained in the account's bio section.&nbsp;Sesame Workshop, the nonprofit behind Sesame Street, said that an unidentified hacker was behind the posts.&nbsp;"Elmo's X account was briefly compromised yesterday by an unknown hacker who posted disgusting messages, including antisemitic and racist posts," a spokesperson told AFP in a statement.&nbsp;"The account has since been secured," they added.&nbsp;The hacking on Elon Musk's X platform is the latest in a string of hate speech incidents since the billionaire bought then-Twitter in 2022 and axed moderation policies that he considers censorship.&nbsp;On Saturday, his xAI startup apologized for antisemitic posts published on X by its artificial intelligence assistant Grok, which praised Nazi leader Adolf Hitler.&nbsp;&nbsp;Antisemitism is facing particular scrutiny in the United States after two Israeli embassy staffers were killed outside a Jewish museum in Washington in May.&nbsp;&nbsp;A firebombing attack at a protest in Colorado supporting Israeli hostages held in Gaza left over a dozen people wounded in June, and an 82-year-old woman later died from her injuries.&nbsp;Anger over Israel's conduct of its war in Gaza resulted in widespread protests on US university campuses, with the government cracking down on the demonstrations after accusing them of antisemitism.

Around 650,000 users follow Elmo, the fuzzy red monster who teaches his young audience about kindness and patience. On Sunday, the X account of the beloved character shared antisemitic and anti-Donald Trump posts after being hacked. 

The X account of Sesame Street's Elmo, a beloved children's TV character, shared antisemitic and anti-Donald Trump posts after being hacked on Sunday. A slew of messages calling for the extermination of Jewish people and labeling the US president a "puppet" of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu were shared on the account. Around 650,000 users follow Elmo, the fuzzy red monster who teaches his young audience about kindness and patience. An archived version of the X account showed several messages were published on Sunday afternoon. They were later removed, although a link to a Telegram page apparently associated with the hack remained in the account's bio section. Sesame Workshop, the nonprofit behind Sesame Street, said that an unidentified hacker was behind the posts. "Elmo's X account was briefly compromised yesterday by an unknown hacker who posted disgusting messages, including antisemitic and racist posts," a spokesperson told AFP in a statement. "The account has since been secured," they added. The hacking on Elon Musk's X platform is the latest in a string of hate speech incidents since the billionaire bought then-Twitter in 2022 and axed moderation policies that he considers censorship. On Saturday, his xAI startup apologized for antisemitic posts published on X by its artificial intelligence assistant Grok, which praised Nazi leader Adolf Hitler. Antisemitism is facing particular scrutiny in the United States after two Israeli embassy staffers were killed outside a Jewish museum in Washington in May. A firebombing attack at a protest in Colorado supporting Israeli hostages held in Gaza left over a dozen people wounded in June, and an 82-year-old woman later died from her injuries. Anger over Israel's conduct of its war in Gaza resulted in widespread protests on US university campuses, with the government cracking down on the demonstrations after accusing them of antisemitism.

Around 650,000 users follow Elmo, the fuzzy red monster who teaches his young audience about kindness and patience. On Sunday, the X account of the beloved character shared antisemitic and anti-Donald Trump posts after being hacked.&nbsp;

Sesame Street puppet Elmo's X account gets hacked, shares antisemitic and racist messages

Sesame Street Character Elmo's single tweet asking 'How are you?' has sparked a huge discussion online around mental health. This after many responded to the question with candidness, saying they were not okay. It begs the question, will 2024 will be the year of depression?

Gravitas | Elmo's simple tweet triggers a tsunami of angst | Is the world depressed?

Elmo had no idea that "the world around us was burning" until he asked how everyone was doing on X. On January 29, Elmo, the red puppet character from the children's TV show Sesame Street, posted on X, "Elmo is just checking in!

Elmo had no idea that "the world around us was burning" until he asked how everyone was doing on X. On January 29, Elmo, the red puppet character from the children's TV show Sesame Street, posted on X, "Elmo is just checking in! How is everybody doing?" In response, thousands of people unloaded their existential dread and life problems on him. The question prompted several internet users to vent out and share their issues with the iconic children's show character who became their therapist for the day. A user replied, "Elmo I’m suffering from existential dread over here." The post has garnered 167 million views and over 11,000 people have replied to it. It has 101,000 likes and 44,000 reposts. Another user posted, "Every morning, I cannot wait to go back to sleep. Every Monday, I cannot wait for Friday to come. Every single day and every single week for life." Celebrities also joined the chain of replies to Elmo's post. Chance The Rapper said, "Honestly, I’m in a really good place rn." The famous American TV personality, who often provides mental health advice to people, replied, "We've Got Issues." Actress Rachel Zegler said, "Resisting the urge to tell elmo that i am kinda sad." ALSO READ | Sophie Turner makes her relationship with beau Peregrine Pearson Insta-official Most replies on Elmo's post made it a collective grievance-airing session. A user said, "I'm at my lowest. Thanks for asking." Another user replied, "elmo im depressed and broke." Some people also shared memes and jokes on how the massive trauma dump might be too much for the poor puppet. A user posted, "Based on the replies we won’t be hearing from Elmo for a while." The responses to Elmo's post were so overwhelming that the official X account of Sesame Street shared links to mental health resources. Despite the comments, Elmo tried his best to keep up. "Wow! Elmo is glad he asked! Elmo is glad he asked! Elmo learned that it is important to ask a friend how they are doing. Elmo will check in again soon, friends! Elmo loves you.#EmotionalWellBeing." Many people wondered online whether Elmo himself might need some love. An X user asked, "Has anyone checked on you @elmo?" Several users appreciated Elmo's initiative. NASA replied to his post saying, "Thanks for checking in @Elmo. Reminding you all that you are made of star stuff." (With inputs from agencies)

Sesame Street's Elmo asked netizens how are they doing. What followed was unreal

Daytime-Emmy-winning composer for `Sesame Street` Stephen J. Lawrence is no more. He was 82 when he breathed his last. Lawrence died on December 30, at Clara Maas Medical Center in Belleville, New Jersey, his wife Cantor Cathy Lawrence confirmed to The Hollywood Reporter. 
 
The cause of his death is yet to be ascertained. Born on September 5, 1939, Lawrence served as a composer, music director, arranger, and conductor on the longtime children`s television series `Sesame Street` for over 30 years. He composed over 300 songs and scores for the program, including `Fuzzy and Blue (and Orange)`, co-written with David Axelrod. He received three Daytime Emmy awards for outstanding achievement in music direction and composition for his work on the show. 
 
With an interest in children`s education, Lawrence also collaborated with The Jim Henson Company when composing the score for `The Wubbulous World of Dr Seuss`. He later co-founded the nonprofit Quill Entertainment Company with Granville Burgess in 1998. 
 
In addition to `Sesame Street`, Lawrence is also recognised as the musical director and co-music producer on the 1972 album `Free to Be You and Me`.Other composer credits include the 1973 Robert DeNiro-starrer `Bang the Drum Slowly`, `One Summer Love` (1976), cult horror film `Alice, Sweet Alice` (1976), live-action musical `Red Riding Hood` and the 1991 HBO animated musical `The Tale of Peter Rabbit`, starring Carol Burnett.He also composed the film score for `AKA Communion` (1976), which received the Music Award from the Paris Festival of Fantasy and Science Fiction in 1977. 
 
Lawrence was the music director and the co-writer of four songs for the film `Sooner or Later` (1979), including the gold single `You Take My Breath Away`. 
 
Lawrence is survived by his wife Cantor Cathy Lawrence, brother Robert, daughter Hannah Jones Anderson, son-in-law Seth Anderson, grandson Arthur and stepsons Sam and Nick Kline.&nbsp;

Daytime-Emmy-winning composer for `Sesame Street` Stephen J. Lawrence is no more. He was 82 when he breathed his last. Lawrence died on December 30, at Clara Maas Medical Center in Belleville, New Jersey, his wife Cantor Cathy Lawrence confirmed to The Hollywood Reporter.

Daytime-Emmy-winning composer for `Sesame Street` Stephen J. Lawrence is no more. He was 82 when he breathed his last. Lawrence died on December 30, at Clara Maas Medical Center in Belleville, New Jersey, his wife Cantor Cathy Lawrence confirmed to The Hollywood Reporter. The cause of his death is yet to be ascertained. Born on September 5, 1939, Lawrence served as a composer, music director, arranger, and conductor on the longtime children`s television series `Sesame Street` for over 30 years. He composed over 300 songs and scores for the program, including `Fuzzy and Blue (and Orange)`, co-written with David Axelrod. He received three Daytime Emmy awards for outstanding achievement in music direction and composition for his work on the show. With an interest in children`s education, Lawrence also collaborated with The Jim Henson Company when composing the score for `The Wubbulous World of Dr Seuss`. He later co-founded the nonprofit Quill Entertainment Company with Granville Burgess in 1998. In addition to `Sesame Street`, Lawrence is also recognised as the musical director and co-music producer on the 1972 album `Free to Be You and Me`.Other composer credits include the 1973 Robert DeNiro-starrer `Bang the Drum Slowly`, `One Summer Love` (1976), cult horror film `Alice, Sweet Alice` (1976), live-action musical `Red Riding Hood` and the 1991 HBO animated musical `The Tale of Peter Rabbit`, starring Carol Burnett.He also composed the film score for `AKA Communion` (1976), which received the Music Award from the Paris Festival of Fantasy and Science Fiction in 1977. Lawrence was the music director and the co-writer of four songs for the film `Sooner or Later` (1979), including the gold single `You Take My Breath Away`. Lawrence is survived by his wife Cantor Cathy Lawrence, brother Robert, daughter Hannah Jones Anderson, son-in-law Seth Anderson, grandson Arthur and stepsons Sam and Nick Kline.

'Sesame Street' composer Stephen J. Lawrence passes away

Back in 2012, when the then-Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney professed his affection for Big Bird but nonetheless vowed to cut funding for PBS, “Saturday Night Live” brought in Big Bird himself to explain that he wasn’t a political creature and didn’t “want to ruffle any feathers.”

Almost a decade later, after the fictional, good-natured Big Bird said in a tweet that he had received a COVID vaccine, he has drawn the ire of Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas, who complained that the tweet was “government propaganda for your 5-year-old.”

This time around, “SNL” didn’t get the support of any actual Muppets, so the show created its own alternate version of “Sesame Street,” which it called “Cruz Street.”

Aidy Bryant, who played Cruz in the opening sketch, stood in front of what looked like a familiar brownstone and explained, “For 50 years I stood by as ‘Sesame Street’ taught our children dangerous ideas, like numbers and kindness.”

She continued: “But when Big Bird told children to get vaccinated against a deadly disease, I said enough. And I created my own ‘Sesame Street,’ called ‘Cruz Street.’ It’s a gated community, where kids are safe from the woke government.”

Following the show’s theme song, Bryant was joined by Cecily Strong as Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, toting what she said was an AR-15.

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Strong said she was “just taking a break from releasing the phone numbers of Republicans who voted for the infrastructure bill so they and their families get death threats, and I thought I’d stop by.”

Bryant’s Cruz was also visited by Kyle Mooney, dressed in a makeshift Big Bird costume that probably wasn’t fabricated by Sesame Workshop. He said that in the week since he had gotten the vaccine, his feathers had fallen out (among other physical side effects he claimed to be experiencing).

To help out Mooney, Bryant brought out Pete Davidson, who played comedian and podcast host Joe Rogan. He offered his own unreliable remedies, which consisted of “zinc and ayahuasca and some horse medicine.”

Other cast members played alternate versions of “Sesame Street” characters, including Alex Moffat and Mikey Day as Bert and Ernie; Chris Redd as a furry green creature called Oscar the Slouch (“Papa Joe Biden gave me so many stimmies, I decided to quit working and live in this trash can”); and Aristotle Athari as the Recount Count.

And hey, for good measure, the sketch brought out Chloe Fineman as Britney Spears, newly released from her yearslong conservatorship. “Oh, my God, you guys, we did it,” she said.

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Fake Ad of the Week

Spare a thought for all the men who discovered during the pandemic that they didn’t know how to form adult friendships and are now bereft of peer groups.

For their support — and for the benefit of their spouses and significant others — “SNL” has given us the Man Park, a dog parklike place where these well-meaning recluses can come together and share useless trivia, argue about “Rick and Morty” or communicate with one another simply by saying “Marvel” over and over.

We’re not saying we’re the target audience for this particular service, but when Andrew Dismukes asked “Who’s the GOAT, Michael Jordan or Tom Brady?” and Athari answered “How about Bo Burnham?” it felt so real.

Musical Performance of the Week

Taylor Swift got only one song on the show, but boy did she make it count: She delivered a blistering, 10-minute rendition of “All Too Well” from her newly released album of rerecordings, “Red (Taylor’s Version).”

Her performance — which ran even longer than Prince’s fabled eight-minute, three-song medley from an “SNL” appearance in 2014 — was accompanied by a short film that Swift directed, starring herself and actors Sadie Sink and Dylan O’Brien. The reemergence of “All Too Well” (a shorter version of which was originally released in 2012) has also resurfaced speculation on who the song might be about — speculation that the film seems to be reinforcing? — and we recommend that you give the song a full listen if you want to at least understand the leadoff joke on Weekend Update.

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Weekend Update Jokes of the Week

Over at the Weekend Update desk, anchors Colin Jost and Michael Che riffed on the indictment of Stephen Bannon, the Kyle Rittenhouse trial and, yes, Taylor Swift.

Jost began:

Well, guys, I think the lesson we all learned this week is, never break up with Taylor Swift. Or she will sing about you for 10 minutes on national television. At the very least, return the scarf.

He continued:

But in real news — I don’t really know what’s real anymore — ex-Trump adviser Steve Bannon, seen here moments after shooting out of a sewage pipe — sorry, I should use his full name, Stephen K. Bannon; the K stands for three Ks — was indicted this week for contempt of Congress. If convicted, Bannon would face up to two years in prison. Which from the looks of him, might be a life sentence.

Che pivoted to Rittenhouse:

Legal experts are saying that Kyle Rittenhouse crying on the stand as he described how he shot his victims will help him with the jury. Man, is there a White Tears Law School that I don’t know about? I notice that every time y’all get in trouble, you start crying, and everything just works out for you, whether you’re trying to beat a murder charge or trying to be a Supreme Court justice. [His screen displays a picture of Justice Brett Kavanaugh.]

This article originally appeared in The New York Times.

Back in 2012, when the then-Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney professed his affection for Big Bird but nonetheless vowed to cut funding for PBS, “Saturday Night Live” brought in Big Bird himself to explain that he wasn’t a political creature and didn’t “want to ruffle any feathers.

Back in 2012, when the then-Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney professed his affection for Big Bird but nonetheless vowed to cut funding for PBS, “Saturday Night Live” brought in Big Bird himself to explain that he wasn’t a political creature and didn’t “want to ruffle any feathers.” Almost a decade later, after the fictional, good-natured Big Bird said in a tweet that he had received a COVID vaccine, he has drawn the ire of Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas, who complained that the tweet was “government propaganda for your 5-year-old.” This time around, “SNL” didn’t get the support of any actual Muppets, so the show created its own alternate version of “Sesame Street,” which it called “Cruz Street.” Aidy Bryant, who played Cruz in the opening sketch, stood in front of what looked like a familiar brownstone and explained, “For 50 years I stood by as ‘Sesame Street’ taught our children dangerous ideas, like numbers and kindness.” She continued: “But when Big Bird told children to get vaccinated against a deadly disease, I said enough. And I created my own ‘Sesame Street,’ called ‘Cruz Street.’ It’s a gated community, where kids are safe from the woke government.” Following the show’s theme song, Bryant was joined by Cecily Strong as Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, toting what she said was an AR-15. 'Red Notice' records biggest opening day in Netflix history Strong said she was “just taking a break from releasing the phone numbers of Republicans who voted for the infrastructure bill so they and their families get death threats, and I thought I’d stop by.” Bryant’s Cruz was also visited by Kyle Mooney, dressed in a makeshift Big Bird costume that probably wasn’t fabricated by Sesame Workshop. He said that in the week since he had gotten the vaccine, his feathers had fallen out (among other physical side effects he claimed to be experiencing). To help out Mooney, Bryant brought out Pete Davidson, who played comedian and podcast host Joe Rogan. He offered his own unreliable remedies, which consisted of “zinc and ayahuasca and some horse medicine.” Other cast members played alternate versions of “Sesame Street” characters, including Alex Moffat and Mikey Day as Bert and Ernie; Chris Redd as a furry green creature called Oscar the Slouch (“Papa Joe Biden gave me so many stimmies, I decided to quit working and live in this trash can”); and Aristotle Athari as the Recount Count. And hey, for good measure, the sketch brought out Chloe Fineman as Britney Spears, newly released from her yearslong conservatorship. “Oh, my God, you guys, we did it,” she said. Watch: Social media anxiety is real: Celebs call out toxic culture Fake Ad of the Week Spare a thought for all the men who discovered during the pandemic that they didn’t know how to form adult friendships and are now bereft of peer groups. For their support — and for the benefit of their spouses and significant others — “SNL” has given us the Man Park, a dog parklike place where these well-meaning recluses can come together and share useless trivia, argue about “Rick and Morty” or communicate with one another simply by saying “Marvel” over and over. We’re not saying we’re the target audience for this particular service, but when Andrew Dismukes asked “Who’s the GOAT, Michael Jordan or Tom Brady?” and Athari answered “How about Bo Burnham?” it felt so real. Musical Performance of the Week Taylor Swift got only one song on the show, but boy did she make it count: She delivered a blistering, 10-minute rendition of “All Too Well” from her newly released album of rerecordings, “Red (Taylor’s Version).” Her performance — which ran even longer than Prince’s fabled eight-minute, three-song medley from an “SNL” appearance in 2014 — was accompanied by a short film that Swift directed, starring herself and actors Sadie Sink and Dylan O’Brien. The reemergence of “All Too Well” (a shorter version of which was originally released in 2012) has also resurfaced speculation on who the song might be about — speculation that the film seems to be reinforcing? — and we recommend that you give the song a full listen if you want to at least understand the leadoff joke on Weekend Update. John Oliver wraps 'Last Week Tonight' season finale with George Clooney, Will Ferrell, Cardi B Weekend Update Jokes of the Week Over at the Weekend Update desk, anchors Colin Jost and Michael Che riffed on the indictment of Stephen Bannon, the Kyle Rittenhouse trial and, yes, Taylor Swift. Jost began: Well, guys, I think the lesson we all learned this week is, never break up with Taylor Swift. Or she will sing about you for 10 minutes on national television. At the very least, return the scarf. He continued: But in real news — I don’t really know what’s real anymore — ex-Trump adviser Steve Bannon, seen here moments after shooting out of a sewage pipe — sorry, I should use his full name, Stephen K. Bannon; the K stands for three Ks — was indicted this week for contempt of Congress. If convicted, Bannon would face up to two years in prison. Which from the looks of him, might be a life sentence. Che pivoted to Rittenhouse: Legal experts are saying that Kyle Rittenhouse crying on the stand as he described how he shot his victims will help him with the jury. Man, is there a White Tears Law School that I don’t know about? I notice that every time y’all get in trouble, you start crying, and everything just works out for you, whether you’re trying to beat a murder charge or trying to be a Supreme Court justice. [His screen displays a picture of Justice Brett Kavanaugh.] This article originally appeared in The New York Times.

‘SNL’ gives Ted Cruz his own version of ‘Sesame Street’

US children's television show "Sesame Street" has released videos featuring two new muppets to educate children about race.

One of the videos, uploaded to the show's website Tuesday, features African-American dad Elijah and his son Wes talking to Elmo about differences in skin color due to melanin.

They stress the importance of not forgetting that despite differences in appearance we are all human.&nbsp;

The approximately three-minute segment is part of a new series of videos called the "ABCs of Racial Literacy."

They aim to "provide families with the tools they need to build racial literacy, to have open conversations with young children," Sesame Workshop, the non-profit behind the popular children's program, said in a statement.

In another video due out soon, muppets portraying characters of Hispanic origin will be confronted with "a racist incident in a grocery store," the statement added.

"The work to dismantle racism begins by helping children understand what racism is and how it hurts and impacts people," said Kay Wilson Stallings, Sesame Workshop's executive vice president of creation and production.

"Sesame Street," launched in 1969 and present in more than 150 countries, is the benchmark of educational programming.&nbsp;

In June, the show partnered with CNN to hold a town hall on racism following the death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police.

US children's television show "Sesame Street" has released videos featuring two new muppets to educate children about race. One of the videos, uploaded to the show's website Tuesday, features African-American dad Elijah and his son Wes talking to Elmo about differences in skin color due to melanin.

US children's television show "Sesame Street" has released videos featuring two new muppets to educate children about race. One of the videos, uploaded to the show's website Tuesday, features African-American dad Elijah and his son Wes talking to Elmo about differences in skin color due to melanin. They stress the importance of not forgetting that despite differences in appearance we are all human. The approximately three-minute segment is part of a new series of videos called the "ABCs of Racial Literacy." They aim to "provide families with the tools they need to build racial literacy, to have open conversations with young children," Sesame Workshop, the non-profit behind the popular children's program, said in a statement. In another video due out soon, muppets portraying characters of Hispanic origin will be confronted with "a racist incident in a grocery store," the statement added. "The work to dismantle racism begins by helping children understand what racism is and how it hurts and impacts people," said Kay Wilson Stallings, Sesame Workshop's executive vice president of creation and production. "Sesame Street," launched in 1969 and present in more than 150 countries, is the benchmark of educational programming. In June, the show partnered with CNN to hold a town hall on racism following the death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police.

'Sesame Street' introduces new muppets in videos on race

Six-year-old twins Noor and Aziz live in the largest refugee camp in the world. They are Rohingya Muslims who escaped ethnic cleansing in their native Myanmar for refuge in neighboring Bangladesh. They are also Muppets.

On Thursday, Sesame Workshop, the nonprofit that runs the early education TV show “Sesame Street” and operates in more than 150 countries, unveiled Aziz and Noor as the latest Muppets in their cast of characters.

The twins will appear with Elmo and other famous Muppets in educational programming about math, science, health and other topics that will be shown in the camps.

They will speak Rohingya, the language of a group of people that the Myanmar authorities have refused to recognize as a legitimate ethnicity. Sesame Workshop has created a new curriculum in Rohingya in partnership with the Lego Foundation, the International Rescue Committee and BRAC, a Bangladesh-founded charity.

“They are among the most marginalized children on earth,” said Sherrie Westin, president of social impact for the Sesame Workshop, who traveled to the Rohingya refugee camps several times to help formulate the Muppet twins’ characters and story lines. “For most Rohingya children, this will be the very first time that characters in media have looked like them, have sounded like them, and really reflect their rich culture.”

More than half the residents of the Rohingya refugee settlements in Bangladesh are children. Many suffered trauma after security forces in Myanmar forced them out of their villages, murdering some of their fathers and raping their mothers.

A survey by Doctors Without Borders, released in the wake of a brutal campaign in 2017 that compelled more than 750,000 Rohingya to flee the country in the span of a few months, found that at least 730 children younger than 5 were killed from late August to late September of that year.

The legacy of violence lingers in Bangladesh and has been incorporated into the Muppets’ histories. Noor, one of the Muppet twins, is scared of loud noises, just as many Rohingya children are today, as gunfire resounds in their memories.

Sesame Workshop has long sought to champion diversity and social justice. Muppets and their young playmates on Sesame Street have had autism, HIV and Down syndrome. They have been homeless and struggled with the stigma of having an incarcerated parent. An Afghan Muppet exemplified the importance of educating girls.

Noor and Aziz, as conceptualized by Sesame Workshop, are playful and get along well. Aziz, a boy, helps the family with household chores and is steeped in the Rohingya tradition of storytelling. Noor, a girl, is confident and loves learning. The programming chose to depict them specifically as twins so that they would able to play together as a girl and a boy in a way that other siblings in this traditional Muslim community might not be able to as easily.

“By modeling girls and boys being equal, by having characters that love to learn, it is important that we’re not only inspiring young girls, giving them a sense of possibility that they may not have had, but that we’re showing little boys that girls can have equal roles and responsibilities,” Westin said.

The programming depicts the Rohingya Muppets as living in a vast warren of tent shelters where more than 1 million mostly stateless people have been crammed with little hope of returning to Myanmar. U.N. officials have suggested that their exodus bears the hallmarks of genocide.

Life in the Rohingya refugee camps can be far harsher than what Noor and Aziz’s back stories suggest. Girls, who are often kept from school, tend to get married before they reach adulthood to ease the financial burden on their families. This year, hundreds of Rohingya girls spent months at sea in overloaded fishing vessels trying to get to Malaysia, where they had been promised as child brides to Rohingya men laboring as undocumented workers. Dozens died during the journey.

On Friday, in Kutupalong, the biggest of the Rohingya refugee camps in Bangladesh, Ajmat Ara, 8, shook her head when asked whether she knew of a furry collection of characters called the Muppets. Unlike many girls, she is lucky and goes to a school run by an educational charity.

“We’re learning English and Burmese in school,” she said, before running off to play.

Six-year-old twins Noor and Aziz live in the largest refugee camp in the world. They are Rohingya Muslims who escaped ethnic cleansing in their native Myanmar for refuge in neighboring Bangladesh.

Six-year-old twins Noor and Aziz live in the largest refugee camp in the world. They are Rohingya Muslims who escaped ethnic cleansing in their native Myanmar for refuge in neighboring Bangladesh. They are also Muppets. On Thursday, Sesame Workshop, the nonprofit that runs the early education TV show “Sesame Street” and operates in more than 150 countries, unveiled Aziz and Noor as the latest Muppets in their cast of characters. The twins will appear with Elmo and other famous Muppets in educational programming about math, science, health and other topics that will be shown in the camps. They will speak Rohingya, the language of a group of people that the Myanmar authorities have refused to recognize as a legitimate ethnicity. Sesame Workshop has created a new curriculum in Rohingya in partnership with the Lego Foundation, the International Rescue Committee and BRAC, a Bangladesh-founded charity. “They are among the most marginalized children on earth,” said Sherrie Westin, president of social impact for the Sesame Workshop, who traveled to the Rohingya refugee camps several times to help formulate the Muppet twins’ characters and story lines. “For most Rohingya children, this will be the very first time that characters in media have looked like them, have sounded like them, and really reflect their rich culture.” More than half the residents of the Rohingya refugee settlements in Bangladesh are children. Many suffered trauma after security forces in Myanmar forced them out of their villages, murdering some of their fathers and raping their mothers. A survey by Doctors Without Borders, released in the wake of a brutal campaign in 2017 that compelled more than 750,000 Rohingya to flee the country in the span of a few months, found that at least 730 children younger than 5 were killed from late August to late September of that year. The legacy of violence lingers in Bangladesh and has been incorporated into the Muppets’ histories. Noor, one of the Muppet twins, is scared of loud noises, just as many Rohingya children are today, as gunfire resounds in their memories. Sesame Workshop has long sought to champion diversity and social justice. Muppets and their young playmates on Sesame Street have had autism, HIV and Down syndrome. They have been homeless and struggled with the stigma of having an incarcerated parent. An Afghan Muppet exemplified the importance of educating girls. Noor and Aziz, as conceptualized by Sesame Workshop, are playful and get along well. Aziz, a boy, helps the family with household chores and is steeped in the Rohingya tradition of storytelling. Noor, a girl, is confident and loves learning. The programming chose to depict them specifically as twins so that they would able to play together as a girl and a boy in a way that other siblings in this traditional Muslim community might not be able to as easily. “By modeling girls and boys being equal, by having characters that love to learn, it is important that we’re not only inspiring young girls, giving them a sense of possibility that they may not have had, but that we’re showing little boys that girls can have equal roles and responsibilities,” Westin said. The programming depicts the Rohingya Muppets as living in a vast warren of tent shelters where more than 1 million mostly stateless people have been crammed with little hope of returning to Myanmar. U.N. officials have suggested that their exodus bears the hallmarks of genocide. Life in the Rohingya refugee camps can be far harsher than what Noor and Aziz’s back stories suggest. Girls, who are often kept from school, tend to get married before they reach adulthood to ease the financial burden on their families. This year, hundreds of Rohingya girls spent months at sea in overloaded fishing vessels trying to get to Malaysia, where they had been promised as child brides to Rohingya men laboring as undocumented workers. Dozens died during the journey. On Friday, in Kutupalong, the biggest of the Rohingya refugee camps in Bangladesh, Ajmat Ara, 8, shook her head when asked whether she knew of a furry collection of characters called the Muppets. Unlike many girls, she is lucky and goes to a school run by an educational charity. “We’re learning English and Burmese in school,” she said, before running off to play.

‘R’ is for Rohingya: Sesame Street creates new muppets for refugees

Sesame Street is bringing cheer in the lives of Rohingya children who have living inside the world’s largest refugee camp. While the kids have never seen TV in their lives, they are finally being entertained thanks to a battery-powered projector in which Sesame Street characters like Elmo make them laugh.&nbsp;

The clip shown to the children earlier this year, is just a preview. Sesame Street will soon become an integral part of their experience at their camps which is said to be home to more than 1 million Rohingya refugees who fled ethnic violence in neighboring Myanmar.

Sesame Workshop is rolling out its first Rohingya Muppets, revealed exclusively by NBC News. They feature characters, a pair of twins named Noor Yasmin and Aziz -- who are part of a $200 million effort to expand upon an innovative form of education at the camp.

On the initiative, Sherrie Westin, president of social impact for Sesame Workshop, said, “If we can help these children get off on the right start, where they can thrive, then they have so much more of a chance of succeeding later on.”

Westin is convinced that without a massive intervention by Sesame Street and its partners, the young Rohingya risk growing up unable to read and write or do simple math.

“Many of these children have experienced unthinkable horrors,” she said.

“Today, you have the neuroscience to show that if a child is exposed to traumatic experiences and prolonged stress that it literally debilitates brain development. For us to reach children in those critical early years, but especially children who've experienced trauma, we can play a significant role.”

Rohingya Muslims have been persecuted for years now and hundreds of them flooded into Bangladesh in August 2017 to escape a brutal crackdown by the Myanmar military. The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights has described the government campaign as a “textbook example of ethnic cleansing.” At least 6,700 Rohingya, including at least 730 children under the age of 5, were killed in the month after the violence broke out, according to the medical charity Doctors Without Borders.

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Sesame Street is bringing cheer in the lives of Rohingya children who have living inside the world’s largest refugee camp. While the kids have never seen TV in their lives, they are finally being entertained thanks to a battery-powered projector in which Sesame Street characters like Elmo make them laugh.

Sesame Street is bringing cheer in the lives of Rohingya children who have living inside the world’s largest refugee camp. While the kids have never seen TV in their lives, they are finally being entertained thanks to a battery-powered projector in which Sesame Street characters like Elmo make them laugh. The clip shown to the children earlier this year, is just a preview. Sesame Street will soon become an integral part of their experience at their camps which is said to be home to more than 1 million Rohingya refugees who fled ethnic violence in neighboring Myanmar. Sesame Workshop is rolling out its first Rohingya Muppets, revealed exclusively by NBC News. They feature characters, a pair of twins named Noor Yasmin and Aziz -- who are part of a $200 million effort to expand upon an innovative form of education at the camp. On the initiative, Sherrie Westin, president of social impact for Sesame Workshop, said, “If we can help these children get off on the right start, where they can thrive, then they have so much more of a chance of succeeding later on.” Westin is convinced that without a massive intervention by Sesame Street and its partners, the young Rohingya risk growing up unable to read and write or do simple math. “Many of these children have experienced unthinkable horrors,” she said. “Today, you have the neuroscience to show that if a child is exposed to traumatic experiences and prolonged stress that it literally debilitates brain development. For us to reach children in those critical early years, but especially children who've experienced trauma, we can play a significant role.” Rohingya Muslims have been persecuted for years now and hundreds of them flooded into Bangladesh in August 2017 to escape a brutal crackdown by the Myanmar military. The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights has described the government campaign as a “textbook example of ethnic cleansing.” At least 6,700 Rohingya, including at least 730 children under the age of 5, were killed in the month after the violence broke out, according to the medical charity Doctors Without Borders. Pharrell Williams sides with Taylor Swift in clash with Scooter Braun over music rights Dhanush joins Chris Evans, Ryan Gosling starrer 'The Gray Man'

Sesame Street characters bring cheer in the lives of Rohingya children

Broadway may be dark for several months to come, but actors from four shuttered shows have been given the opportunity — a rare one during the coronavirus pandemic — to put on their costumes and perform. The venue: Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.

The term parade is being used loosely this year. The helium-filled balloons and star-studded floats will not be traveling their typical jam-packed, 2 1/2-mile route starting at West 77th Street. They will be gliding just one city block down 34th Street, near the flagship department store, and without an audience.

But even if it’s more television show than crowd fest this year, the parade will provide a respite from the doldrums of a closed Broadway with performances by the casts of “Hamilton,” “Mean Girls,” “Jagged Little Pill,” and “Ain’t Too Proud: The Life and Times of the Temptations,” all shows that have not taken the stage since March.

Parade organizers said the Broadway performances will be filmed and then aired with the rest of the parade on the morning of Nov. 26. Given the virus and the long layoff since March, the appearances are requiring rigorous rehearsals and meticulous planning to make sure that the entertainers are back on game and the performers and production team do not pose a health risk to one another.

Sergio Trujillo, the Tony Award-winning choreographer of “Ain’t Too Proud,” said that he choreographed a new number to a medley of two Temptations songs, “My Girl” and “Get Ready.” Last year, the entire cast of the show performed at the outset of the parade broadcast, but this time, Trujillo kept the number to the five stars. He said he choreographed with social distancing in mind, making sure that the formations were staggered and the performers could keep separated while dancing.

“Anything we can do to make sure our Broadway lovers stay engaged and invested,” Trujillo said.

Anyone involved in the performance gets a coronavirus test and a temperature check before convening, and everyone will wear masks on the set, though the performers will be able to remove them to sing, he said.

In a typical year, Macy’s and NBC work together to select the Broadway shows that will perform live on Thanksgiving Day, usually emphasizing productions with flashy, dance-heavy numbers. This year, some producers said that they would not be able to make the performance work because their cast members were spending the pandemic shutdown period outside the state or country, said Wesley Whatley, the parade’s creative producer.

The four performances that ultimately came together are being paid for by NBC, giving the performers a welcome paycheck after months of no work.

This is the 94th Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, and it has been reimagined in almost every way. Usually, it has 8,000 to 10,000 people working the route, said Susan Tercero, the event’s executive producer. This year, there will be about 1,500. And there will be an in-person audience of zero (the area surrounding the parade route will be shut down, even during planning, so there will be no opportunity for street viewing).

Participants must be at least 18 years old and cannot come from outside the tri-state area. And the massive balloons will no longer be flown by smiling, uniformed handlers but instead driven by utility vehicles to limit the number of people involved.

“We still wanted to deliver what people expect on a Thanksgiving morning,” Tercero said. “But it’s going to look like a parade during COVID times: We’re going to have people in masks, and we’re going to be socially distanced.”

The show, to air on NBC, will be hosted by Savannah Guthrie, Hoda Kotb and Al Roker and will feature a typical roster of celebrities from the worlds of music and television. The lineup includes Lauren Alaina; Jimmie Allen; Noah Cyrus; Ally Brooke; Sofia Carson; CNCO; Jimmy Fallon and The Roots; Karol G; Tori Kelly; Patti LaBelle; Ella Mai; the current Miss America, Camille Schrier; the cast and Muppets of Sesame Street; Leslie Odom Jr.; Keke Palmer; Dolly Parton; Pentatonix; Bebe Rexha; Jordin Sparks; Sebastián Yatra; and Brett Young.

They will be followed, as usual, by Santa Claus, who is in good health despite the fact that the coronavirus has even made it to the Arctic.

In New York, where the worst impact of the virus has waned but cases are climbing again, the parade planning team at Macy’s aimed to feature artists who have been deprived of the opportunity to perform over the past several months. So one appearance will be by a ballerina with New York City Ballet who will dance as the Sugar Plum Fairy from George Balanchine’s “The Nutcracker,” which has been canceled entirely this season.

And in a display of empathy for their fellow parades of New York City, the event is integrating performers whose appearances at various events in recent months were canceled because of COVID-19. The pretaped entertainment will include those who had been scheduled to participate in the St. Patrick’s Day Parade, the Pride March, the National Puerto Rican Day Parade and the West Indian American Day Carnival Association, which were all canceled this year.

“Why not showcase New York at a time when a lot of people have missed being able to participate and watch these types of performances and cultural displays?” Tercero said.

Broadway may be dark for several months to come, but actors from four shuttered shows have been given the opportunity — a rare one during the coronavirus pandemic — to put on their costumes and perform.

Broadway may be dark for several months to come, but actors from four shuttered shows have been given the opportunity — a rare one during the coronavirus pandemic — to put on their costumes and perform. The venue: Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. The term parade is being used loosely this year. The helium-filled balloons and star-studded floats will not be traveling their typical jam-packed, 2 1/2-mile route starting at West 77th Street. They will be gliding just one city block down 34th Street, near the flagship department store, and without an audience. But even if it’s more television show than crowd fest this year, the parade will provide a respite from the doldrums of a closed Broadway with performances by the casts of “Hamilton,” “Mean Girls,” “Jagged Little Pill,” and “Ain’t Too Proud: The Life and Times of the Temptations,” all shows that have not taken the stage since March. Parade organizers said the Broadway performances will be filmed and then aired with the rest of the parade on the morning of Nov. 26. Given the virus and the long layoff since March, the appearances are requiring rigorous rehearsals and meticulous planning to make sure that the entertainers are back on game and the performers and production team do not pose a health risk to one another. Sergio Trujillo, the Tony Award-winning choreographer of “Ain’t Too Proud,” said that he choreographed a new number to a medley of two Temptations songs, “My Girl” and “Get Ready.” Last year, the entire cast of the show performed at the outset of the parade broadcast, but this time, Trujillo kept the number to the five stars. He said he choreographed with social distancing in mind, making sure that the formations were staggered and the performers could keep separated while dancing. “Anything we can do to make sure our Broadway lovers stay engaged and invested,” Trujillo said. Anyone involved in the performance gets a coronavirus test and a temperature check before convening, and everyone will wear masks on the set, though the performers will be able to remove them to sing, he said. In a typical year, Macy’s and NBC work together to select the Broadway shows that will perform live on Thanksgiving Day, usually emphasizing productions with flashy, dance-heavy numbers. This year, some producers said that they would not be able to make the performance work because their cast members were spending the pandemic shutdown period outside the state or country, said Wesley Whatley, the parade’s creative producer. The four performances that ultimately came together are being paid for by NBC, giving the performers a welcome paycheck after months of no work. This is the 94th Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, and it has been reimagined in almost every way. Usually, it has 8,000 to 10,000 people working the route, said Susan Tercero, the event’s executive producer. This year, there will be about 1,500. And there will be an in-person audience of zero (the area surrounding the parade route will be shut down, even during planning, so there will be no opportunity for street viewing). Participants must be at least 18 years old and cannot come from outside the tri-state area. And the massive balloons will no longer be flown by smiling, uniformed handlers but instead driven by utility vehicles to limit the number of people involved. “We still wanted to deliver what people expect on a Thanksgiving morning,” Tercero said. “But it’s going to look like a parade during COVID times: We’re going to have people in masks, and we’re going to be socially distanced.” The show, to air on NBC, will be hosted by Savannah Guthrie, Hoda Kotb and Al Roker and will feature a typical roster of celebrities from the worlds of music and television. The lineup includes Lauren Alaina; Jimmie Allen; Noah Cyrus; Ally Brooke; Sofia Carson; CNCO; Jimmy Fallon and The Roots; Karol G; Tori Kelly; Patti LaBelle; Ella Mai; the current Miss America, Camille Schrier; the cast and Muppets of Sesame Street; Leslie Odom Jr.; Keke Palmer; Dolly Parton; Pentatonix; Bebe Rexha; Jordin Sparks; Sebastián Yatra; and Brett Young. They will be followed, as usual, by Santa Claus, who is in good health despite the fact that the coronavirus has even made it to the Arctic. In New York, where the worst impact of the virus has waned but cases are climbing again, the parade planning team at Macy’s aimed to feature artists who have been deprived of the opportunity to perform over the past several months. So one appearance will be by a ballerina with New York City Ballet who will dance as the Sugar Plum Fairy from George Balanchine’s “The Nutcracker,” which has been canceled entirely this season. And in a display of empathy for their fellow parades of New York City, the event is integrating performers whose appearances at various events in recent months were canceled because of COVID-19. The pretaped entertainment will include those who had been scheduled to participate in the St. Patrick’s Day Parade, the Pride March, the National Puerto Rican Day Parade and the West Indian American Day Carnival Association, which were all canceled this year. “Why not showcase New York at a time when a lot of people have missed being able to participate and watch these types of performances and cultural displays?” Tercero said.

Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade revives Broadway for a day

Elmo, Cookie Monster and Muppets from Asia and the Middle East are joining forces for a special episode of 'Sesame Street'&nbsp;aimed at helping kids cope with a world turned upside down by the coronavirus pandemic. 
 
'Elmo's World News', airing over the next few weeks in 13 languages across Latin America, sub-Saharan Africa, Asia, and the Middle East, will share activities, play, and advice on how to manage "big feelings" like frustration and sadness. 
 
"Children are at home spending a lot more time indoors than before and families are really struggling with how to help them keep learning, keep engaged, how to play in new ways," said executive producer Scott Cameron. 
 
In the 25-minute special, Elmo hosts a news show from his bedroom, with Cookie Monster playing a special correspondent showing his 'Things That Make Me Happy'&nbsp;activity box. 
 
Grover plays a weather reporter who learns how to play inside, while Basma and Jad, the stars of the "Ahlan Simsim" Arabic version of "Sesame Street," shows how to manage feelings with dance. 
 
Schools and daycare centres have been closed for months in multiple nations because of the coronavirus, cutting children off from friends and leaving parents and family members in the role of teachers. 
 
Cameron said the universal message of the show was the importance of play. "Playing helps you manage some of the big feelings that are coming up for children and caregivers because play is such a powerful way for kids to express things that they might not otherwise be able to express," he said. 
 
'Elmo's World News'&nbsp;follows a 'Sesame Street'&nbsp;coronavirus special aired in the United States, Australia, Canada and the UK in April that featured guests Lin-Manuel Miranda, Anne Hathaway and Tracee Ellis Ross. 'Elmo's World News'&nbsp;is a collaboration with the Lego Foundation.

Elmo, Cookie Monster and Muppets from Asia and the Middle East are joining forces for a special episode of 'Sesame Street' aimed at helping kids cope with a world turned upside down by the coronavirus pandemic.

Elmo, Cookie Monster and Muppets from Asia and the Middle East are joining forces for a special episode of 'Sesame Street' aimed at helping kids cope with a world turned upside down by the coronavirus pandemic. 'Elmo's World News', airing over the next few weeks in 13 languages across Latin America, sub-Saharan Africa, Asia, and the Middle East, will share activities, play, and advice on how to manage "big feelings" like frustration and sadness. "Children are at home spending a lot more time indoors than before and families are really struggling with how to help them keep learning, keep engaged, how to play in new ways," said executive producer Scott Cameron. In the 25-minute special, Elmo hosts a news show from his bedroom, with Cookie Monster playing a special correspondent showing his 'Things That Make Me Happy' activity box. Grover plays a weather reporter who learns how to play inside, while Basma and Jad, the stars of the "Ahlan Simsim" Arabic version of "Sesame Street," shows how to manage feelings with dance. Schools and daycare centres have been closed for months in multiple nations because of the coronavirus, cutting children off from friends and leaving parents and family members in the role of teachers. Cameron said the universal message of the show was the importance of play. "Playing helps you manage some of the big feelings that are coming up for children and caregivers because play is such a powerful way for kids to express things that they might not otherwise be able to express," he said. 'Elmo's World News' follows a 'Sesame Street' coronavirus special aired in the United States, Australia, Canada and the UK in April that featured guests Lin-Manuel Miranda, Anne Hathaway and Tracee Ellis Ross. 'Elmo's World News' is a collaboration with the Lego Foundation.

'Sesame Street' special episode for kids to tackle with coronavirus pandemic

Caroll Spinney, the puppeteer who brought boyish vulnerability to Big Bird, the towering yellow-plumed character, during 50 years on the groundbreaking children's television show 'Sesame Street' and even made garbage-loving Oscar the Grouch loveable, died on Sunday at the age of 85, the Sesame Workshop said on Sunday (December 8).

Spinney, who suffered from the movement disorder dystonia, had provided only Big Bird's voice since 2015 while another puppeteer was in the costume.

Big Bird, Oscar and Spinney were part of 'Sesame Street' when it made its debut Nov. 10, 1969, with the goal of entertaining and educating young children, especially those in low-income families.

Spinney was close to Jim Henson, the man behind 'Sesame Street' and the Muppets puppet troupe, and he wore the full Big Bird costume when he sang the Muppet anthem 'Bein' Green'&nbsp;at Henson's funeral in 1990.

Spinney also gave life to Big Bird's antithesis, Oscar the Grouch, the furry green creature who offered his curmudgeonly views on the goings-on on Sesame Street. Oscar lived in a garbage can and sang about his love of trash - "anything dirty or dingy or dusty, anything ragged or rotten or rusty.

Caroll Spinney, the puppeteer who brought boyish vulnerability to Big Bird, the towering yellow-plumed character, during 50 years on the groundbreaking children's television show 'Sesame Street' and even made garbage-loving Oscar the Grouch loveable, died on Sunday at the age of 85, the Sesame Workshop said on Sunday (December 8).

Caroll Spinney, the puppeteer who brought boyish vulnerability to Big Bird, the towering yellow-plumed character, during 50 years on the groundbreaking children's television show 'Sesame Street' and even made garbage-loving Oscar the Grouch loveable, died on Sunday at the age of 85, the Sesame Workshop said on Sunday (December 8). Spinney, who suffered from the movement disorder dystonia, had provided only Big Bird's voice since 2015 while another puppeteer was in the costume. Big Bird, Oscar and Spinney were part of 'Sesame Street' when it made its debut Nov. 10, 1969, with the goal of entertaining and educating young children, especially those in low-income families. Spinney was close to Jim Henson, the man behind 'Sesame Street' and the Muppets puppet troupe, and he wore the full Big Bird costume when he sang the Muppet anthem 'Bein' Green' at Henson's funeral in 1990. Spinney also gave life to Big Bird's antithesis, Oscar the Grouch, the furry green creature who offered his curmudgeonly views on the goings-on on Sesame Street. Oscar lived in a garbage can and sang about his love of trash - "anything dirty or dingy or dusty, anything ragged or rotten or rusty.

Caroll Spinney, Sesame Street's Big Bird puppeteer, no more

Singer Linda Ronstadt, actress Sally Field, and music group Earth, Wind &amp; Fire received the United States' top awards for the arts on Sunday (December 8) with a rocking, rousing performance at the annual Kennedy Center Honors show in Washington.

Children's television program 'Sesame Street'&nbsp;and conductor Michael Tilson Thomas rounded out the group of five Kennedy Center honorees who were feted for successful, decades-long contributions to the small screen, large screen, and the stage.

With potential impeachment looming, President Donald Trump did not attend the event or hold the customary reception for the honorees at the White House.

The Republican president opted not to come to the annual show during his first year in office because of controversy over his policies and has not come since.

Politics dotted but did not dominate, the evening.

The crowd at the Kennedy Center gave Nancy Pelosi, the speaker of the House of Representatives, a standing ovation when she was recognized after intermission. Pelosi, a Democrat, has directed the impeachment process against Trump.

The overwhelming focus of the night remained on the artists and their work.

Field, who has won two Academy Awards and three Emmy Awards, drew tributes from actor Tom Hanks, who greeted her with a 'Hi Mama!'&nbsp;in reference to her role as his character's mother in 'Forrest Gump.'

Also known for roles in 'Places in the Heart'&nbsp;and 'Mrs Doubtfire,'&nbsp;Field told reporters ahead of the show that the award recognized a body of work that had resonated with society.

'Sesame Street,'&nbsp;beloved by children around the world, became the first television show to become a Kennedy Center honoree. The show teaches children numbers and letters and celebrates diversity.

A tribute was made to Caroll Spinney, the puppeteer who brought to life popular character Big Bird. Spinney died on Sunday, aged 85.

The night ended with invigorating performances by singers Cynthia Erivo, John Legend, Ne-Yo and the Jonas Brothers in honour of Earth, Wind &amp; Fire, whose members include Philip Bailey, Verdine White and Ralph Johnson. The group has sold more than 100 million albums worldwide.

The Kennedy Center Honors show will be broadcast on CBS on Sunday, December 15.

Singer Linda Ronstadt, actress Sally Field, and music group Earth, Wind & Fire received the United States' top awards for the arts on Sunday (December 8) with a rocking, rousing performance at the annual Kennedy Center Honors show in Washington.

Singer Linda Ronstadt, actress Sally Field, and music group Earth, Wind & Fire received the United States' top awards for the arts on Sunday (December 8) with a rocking, rousing performance at the annual Kennedy Center Honors show in Washington. Children's television program 'Sesame Street' and conductor Michael Tilson Thomas rounded out the group of five Kennedy Center honorees who were feted for successful, decades-long contributions to the small screen, large screen, and the stage. With potential impeachment looming, President Donald Trump did not attend the event or hold the customary reception for the honorees at the White House. The Republican president opted not to come to the annual show during his first year in office because of controversy over his policies and has not come since. Politics dotted but did not dominate, the evening. The crowd at the Kennedy Center gave Nancy Pelosi, the speaker of the House of Representatives, a standing ovation when she was recognized after intermission. Pelosi, a Democrat, has directed the impeachment process against Trump. The overwhelming focus of the night remained on the artists and their work. Field, who has won two Academy Awards and three Emmy Awards, drew tributes from actor Tom Hanks, who greeted her with a 'Hi Mama!' in reference to her role as his character's mother in 'Forrest Gump.' Also known for roles in 'Places in the Heart' and 'Mrs Doubtfire,' Field told reporters ahead of the show that the award recognized a body of work that had resonated with society. 'Sesame Street,' beloved by children around the world, became the first television show to become a Kennedy Center honoree. The show teaches children numbers and letters and celebrates diversity. A tribute was made to Caroll Spinney, the puppeteer who brought to life popular character Big Bird. Spinney died on Sunday, aged 85. The night ended with invigorating performances by singers Cynthia Erivo, John Legend, Ne-Yo and the Jonas Brothers in honour of Earth, Wind & Fire, whose members include Philip Bailey, Verdine White and Ralph Johnson. The group has sold more than 100 million albums worldwide. The Kennedy Center Honors show will be broadcast on CBS on Sunday, December 15.

Linda Ronstadt, Sally Field, 'Sesame Street' feted at 42nd Kennedy Center Honors

Warner Bros. and MGM's Sesame Street movie starring Anne Hathaway is set to release in theatres on January 15, 2021.

The studio also announced on Tuesday that it will release director Tim Story's Tom and Jerry film on April 16, 2021. Both films are yet to be titled.&nbsp;

The film Sesame Street will begin shooting in the month of June, according to studio insiders.&nbsp;

It will be helmed by Portlandia co-creator Jonathan Krisel while 21 Laps' Shawn Levy is producing alongside Michael Aguilar and Entertainment 360.

Apart from Anne Hathaway, it will have appearances from Sesame Street residents Big Bird, Oscar the Grouch and Cookie Monster, is said to be a musical.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, Tom and Jerry film will be a live-action hybrid based on the classic animated series created by William Hanna and Joseph Barbera that was first introduced in 1940.

Warner Bros. and MGM's Sesame Street movie starring Anne Hathaway is set to release in theatres on January 15, 2021. The studio also announced on Tuesday that it will release director Tim Story's Tom and Jerry film on April 16, 2021.

Warner Bros. and MGM's Sesame Street movie starring Anne Hathaway is set to release in theatres on January 15, 2021. The studio also announced on Tuesday that it will release director Tim Story's Tom and Jerry film on April 16, 2021. Both films are yet to be titled. The film Sesame Street will begin shooting in the month of June, according to studio insiders. It will be helmed by Portlandia co-creator Jonathan Krisel while 21 Laps' Shawn Levy is producing alongside Michael Aguilar and Entertainment 360. Apart from Anne Hathaway, it will have appearances from Sesame Street residents Big Bird, Oscar the Grouch and Cookie Monster, is said to be a musical. Meanwhile, Tom and Jerry film will be a live-action hybrid based on the classic animated series created by William Hanna and Joseph Barbera that was first introduced in 1940.

Warner Bros. announces release dates for films on Sesame Street, Tom and Jerry

The creators of 'Sesame Street' have filed a lawsuit against the distributor of an upcoming raunchy Hollywood film 'The Happytime Murders'&nbsp;to halt an advertising tagline that it claims falsely associates itself with the children`s television show.

An early trailer release for the film shows Muppet-like characters engaged in sex, coarse language, drugs, and violence.

Sesame Workshop alleges in the lawsuit, filed on Thursday in New York state court, that STX Productions has created confusion among the public into believing the film is connected to the show and infringed on the 'Sesame Street'&nbsp;trademark.

"As evidenced by a parade of social media posts, emails, and public comments, the `No Sesame. All Street` the tagline has confused and appalled viewers because of what they believe to be a serious breach of trust," the lawsuit alleges.

In response, STX issued a statement in the name of one of the film`s characters, the attorney Fred.

"STX loved the idea of working closely with Brian Henson and the Jim Henson Company to tell the untold story of the active lives of Henson puppets when they`re not performing in front of children," the statement said.

"While we`re disappointed that `Sesame Street` does not share in the fun, we are confident in our legal position," it added.

'The Happytime Murders,'&nbsp;scheduled for an Aug. 17 release, is directed by Brian Henson, the son of 'The Muppet Show'&nbsp;creator Jim Henson who also helped develop the puppet characters of 'Sesame Street' when it launched in 1969.

The film stars comedian Melissa McCarthy as a detective who is tasked with tracking down a serial killer in a world in which puppets and humans coexist.

The lawsuit also asks for punitive damages and a jury trial.

Sesame Workshop alleges in the lawsuit, filed on Thursday in New York state court

The creators of 'Sesame Street' have filed a lawsuit against the distributor of an upcoming raunchy Hollywood film 'The Happytime Murders' to halt an advertising tagline that it claims falsely associates itself with the children`s television show. An early trailer release for the film shows Muppet-like characters engaged in sex, coarse language, drugs, and violence. Sesame Workshop alleges in the lawsuit, filed on Thursday in New York state court, that STX Productions has created confusion among the public into believing the film is connected to the show and infringed on the 'Sesame Street' trademark. "As evidenced by a parade of social media posts, emails, and public comments, the `No Sesame. All Street` the tagline has confused and appalled viewers because of what they believe to be a serious breach of trust," the lawsuit alleges. In response, STX issued a statement in the name of one of the film`s characters, the attorney Fred. "STX loved the idea of working closely with Brian Henson and the Jim Henson Company to tell the untold story of the active lives of Henson puppets when they`re not performing in front of children," the statement said. "While we`re disappointed that `Sesame Street` does not share in the fun, we are confident in our legal position," it added. 'The Happytime Murders,' scheduled for an Aug. 17 release, is directed by Brian Henson, the son of 'The Muppet Show' creator Jim Henson who also helped develop the puppet characters of 'Sesame Street' when it launched in 1969. The film stars comedian Melissa McCarthy as a detective who is tasked with tracking down a serial killer in a world in which puppets and humans coexist. The lawsuit also asks for punitive damages and a jury trial.

'Sesame Street' creators sue backer of raunchy puppet film

Sesame Street, the popular pre-school educational&nbsp;TV show that launched in the US&nbsp;in 1969, has recently announced that for the first time ever it will have&nbsp;an autistic character:&nbsp;Julia is an autistic toy rabbit with orange hair who promises to keep the kids glued to the TV screens. The rabbit will make her debut in April in the US.&nbsp;

<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="430" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/wCsVSHT3tpY" width="970"></iframe>

In conversation with CBS News, the show&rsquo;s producers said, &ldquo;We struggled over how to talk about autism to a young audience, because it&#39;s different for every person.&rdquo;

The TV screenplay writer Christine Ferraro said that in her first episode, Julia will demonstrate some common characteristics associated with autism, such as ignoring the character Big Bird, an important character on the show when they&#39;re first introduced.

Christine said, Big Bird thinks &ldquo;Maybe she didn&#39;t like me&rdquo; but the other muppets tell him, &ldquo;She does things just a little differently&rdquo;.&nbsp;

In the story, Julia will also get overexcited while playing and react by jumping up and down. Instead of making fun of her, the other Sesame Street characters will join in. The writers hope that the children watching the show will address the new character as &ldquo;Julia&rdquo; and not &ldquo;Julia with autism&rdquo;.&nbsp;

According to Jeanette Betancourt, Sesame Workshop&#39;s senior vice president of US social impact,&nbsp;&quot;In the US, one in 68 children is diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. With Julia&#39;s introduction we&nbsp;wanted to promote a better understanding and reduce the stigma often found around these children. Just as we look at all children as being unique, we should do the same thing when we&#39;re looking at children with autism.&quot;

Sesame Street is one of the most engaging children shows known for its educational content and animated characters.

(WION)

The writers hope that the children watching the show will address the new character as 'Julia' and not 'Julia with autism'

Sesame Street, the popular pre-school educational TV show that launched in the US in 1969, has recently announced that for the first time ever it will have an autistic character: Julia is an autistic toy rabbit with orange hair who promises to keep the kids glued to the TV screens. The rabbit will make her debut in April in the US. In conversation with CBS News, the show’s producers said, “We struggled over how to talk about autism to a young audience, because it's different for every person.” The TV screenplay writer Christine Ferraro said that in her first episode, Julia will demonstrate some common characteristics associated with autism, such as ignoring the character Big Bird, an important character on the show when they're first introduced. Christine said, Big Bird thinks “Maybe she didn't like me” but the other muppets tell him, “She does things just a little differently”. In the story, Julia will also get overexcited while playing and react by jumping up and down. Instead of making fun of her, the other Sesame Street characters will join in. The writers hope that the children watching the show will address the new character as “Julia” and not “Julia with autism”. According to Jeanette Betancourt, Sesame Workshop's senior vice president of US social impact, "In the US, one in 68 children is diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. With Julia's introduction we wanted to promote a better understanding and reduce the stigma often found around these children. Just as we look at all children as being unique, we should do the same thing when we're looking at children with autism." Sesame Street is one of the most engaging children shows known for its educational content and animated characters. (WION)

Meet Julia, Sesame Street's first autistic character

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