Big news for fans of the beloved children’s classic! This fall, PBS will be trimming the hour-long version of Sesame Street down to just 30 minutes. Why? Because apparently, some parents are clamoring for less of one of the most iconic kids’ shows ever! Seriously? Who are these people? Perhaps they’re the same folks who claim to strictly limit their kids to a half hour of TV per day. You know the type.
Now, how on earth are they going to fit in all the beloved segments—like “What’s the Word on the Street,” “Word of the Day,” “Number of the Day,” Abby’s Flying Fairy School, and Elmo’s latest antics—into just half an hour? Spoiler alert: they can’t!
The new shorter format will debut on November 16 at the 10 AM timeslot. According to Craig Reed, the executive director at the public TV ratings research company TRAC Media, both versions of the show are performing well. While the shorter format’s ratings are slightly lower than the hour-long version, it’s still successful in pulling in viewers right after the lead-in.
While PBS is likely to create new, exciting programs for that extra half hour, Sesame Street has always stood out for its unique blend of humans and puppets, tackling important topics like divorce, death, and equality in a way that resonates with kids.
Ironically, this news comes just after a study highlighted that watching Sesame Street can significantly boost children’s educational outcomes. As noted in the research, it’s an inexpensive and effective early childhood intervention, especially beneficial for boys, African-American youth, and kids from low-income families.
What a downer! First we lose Maria, and now this heart-wrenching news.
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In summary, Sesame Street is going to be a lot shorter this fall, and while some may cheer this change, many fans are left feeling disappointed.