'Sesame Street' celebrates 40 years

Both of my children grew up on Sesame Street and now my granddaughter is enjoying it just as much. My favorite memory of Sesame Street was in the late 1980's when one of the characters (don't remember now) adopted a little boy. Having two adopted children myself, this really hit home and made the whole adoption topic a little easier for my children to understand.

I was not allowed to watch much Tv as child but Sesame street was number 1 on Mom's list of allowed Tv. One year I sent a drawing of Big Bird that was shown on tv. I was thrilled! Now my children watch sesame street. What a wonderful world!

I was in kindergarten when Sesame Street started. I watched it everyday as did my brothers and sisters and all of our children have too. I always looked forward to see which number "todays show is brought to you by" because I loved the songs and little cartoons that were shown for that particular number! My favorites are the "Lady Bugs Picnic" and "Eleven Morning". I still sing that song to my boys, now 27 and 25.

My favorite Kermit the Frog moment is when he is telling the story of "Little Miss Muffett" and is scared by the spider who sat down beside him...still makes me laugh thinking of it!

My most FAVORITE character is Cookie Monster! You got to love him!!!!

Congratulations Sesame Street and thanks for being there for me!

Our friends at Nightly News have a nice look at Sesame Street's impact around the world...

Video: Sesame Street: 40 years of popularity around the world

Nov 6: Sesame Street is celebrating its 40th anniversary, with its 4,000th episode - broadcast next Tuesday - making it the longest running programme in children's television. During the last four decades generations of children in more than 140 countries have grown up with Big Bird, and the Cookie Monster. The tributes to its educational value and healing powers are coming from around the world - as ITV's Elodie Harper reports.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/33727487#33727487

Sesame Street has always been what children's television should be about....I danced with my son at his wedding to the "Rainbow song" from the Muppet movie (that was OUR song while he was growing up-from 2 on...) Goes to show that some good things do last! Congrats to Sesame Street and all that have ever been envolved.

I was 14 when Sesame Street debuted, but was hooked in by the music coming from the promo on "Garfield Goose" (a major Chicago kid show--on a commercial network)! My kids grew up watching Sesame Street, and we have lots of great memories--but my favorite was when the social event of the month--for those of us who had or taught children--was Luis and Maria's wedding.

My son & I danced at his wedding to "Why are there so many songs about rainbows" from the Muppet Movie...We both learned sign language and Spanish from SS...It is the best example that something good can last and evolve without compromising on quality. Congrat SS on 40 years!

Both of my children, now 27 and 29, grew up watching Sesame Street. And, of course, I watched it with them. We all still talk about certain segments of the show that we loved, sang along with, and made part of our lives. There was a particular segment that fascinated my daughter, a segment about how crayons were made - orange crayons. Of course, because of this particular part of Sesame Street, my daughter just had to be an orange crayon for Halloween that year. And whenever we see a llama, either in person or on tv, we all still sing, "Me and my llama, me and my llama, are going to the dentist today". Keep doing the fabulous job you are doing!!

Me and my sister and brother watched Sesame Street in black and white. We were very young when it first came out and probably the only show on television for kids or at least the show my mom reminded us was on and we came inside for! We all knew how to read by first grade that is for sure. I knew the puppets were puppets but always felt the adults were truly a part of my world. I was very sad when Mr. Hooper died. It's good to see them still doing this, my kids watched them and love them all, too.

when i took my grandaughter who was 1 and half years old to see sesame street at the fox theather detriot mich, i realized this was her micheal jackson when she seen elmo she went nuts screaming his name elmo! elmo!.adults who had children with them came over and bought her elmo ballons and other elmo merchandise their children were a little older, they told her and i that they enjoyed watching her through the whole show. autumn sky jackson who will be 2 on nov 18th 2009 watches sesame street everyday allday when she is at my home , she know all songs and even the sesame street characters dialouge.keep up the good work when autumn sky jackson starts school she will have learn colors letters number and the alaphabets because of u guys. love you all! gail jackson.

i am happy that after 40 years my four children and now my grandbaby can watch the wonderful characters who live on sesame street.

I was born the same year as Sesame Street. It was my absolute favorite show for many years, and I do believe I watched it in black and white the first few years of my life. My son also grew up watching it. I would still watch it if I could get away with it! (without any children left in the house). Big Bird was, and still is my hero! Happy 40th Anniversary Sesame Street!

I'd just turned 4 when Sesame Street made it's debut...so many memories! I learned quite a few words and how to count to 20 in Spanish (which has turned out to be very useful), learned to believe in myself even if no one else believed me (remember all those years that Big Bird KNEW Snuffy was real, even though everyone else dismissed him as a figment of Big Bird's imagination?), and good, ol Sherlock Hemlock (I wonder if my addiction to Law & Order has anything to do with him LOL?!?)! Now, I have young children of my own (8 years to 1 year) and our baby's first compound word was "Abby Dabby"! Wow, FOUR DECADES: Four-ever Young, Four-ever Relevant!

I loved it when Smokey Robinson sang "You Send Me" for the letter "U". It was sad when one of the characters died. (I was a kid, I don't remember who it was) My favorite character is Oscar. It was great that Spanish was also being taught on the show. I had to explain to my ex-husband why The Muppet Show was so big when it first aired (different generation).

I am 46 and I am 1st generation-I was six when SS first aired. I remember watching it after school. I loved it; wished I lived on Sesame Street. My son, now 16, grew up watching my old friends. He couldn't believe that there would have ever been a time when Snuffy was Big Bird's "imaginary" friend. I remember being surprised that they replayed material I saw when young. There is a ditty devoted to the number 8. The King of 8-I was abled to sit with my young one and relive my youth. It is so heartening to know that in this day and age we can all still go to Sesame Street and visit a while-sometimes I drop by, just to keep in touch!

I grew up watching Sesame St and can still remember singing some of the songs. My favorites were 10 Tiny Turtles, The Lady Bugs 12, and Grover's "G" song. But the most endearing memory I have are the songs The Little Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly and Wynken, Blyken and Nod.... I sang those songs to my daughter at bedtime for 2 years on the weekends when I had her after my divorce. Even now thinking about it makes me tear up and my daughter and I still sing them occasionally. And I'm not a girly man! Congrats Sesame St. on 40!

I am 30 and of course grew up watching Sesame Street. When I was 3, I remember going to our local PBS station and waving at a camera saying "Stayed Tuned for Sesame Street, stayed tuned for Sesame Street". My favorite memories include, the songs, "My Name is You", the beetles singing "Letter B", the record albums in vinyl of "Born to Add" and learning "Sing a Song" in Spanish. I took American Sign Lanuage because of Linda Adams. I also remember 20 years ago celebrating Sesame Streets 20th aniversary and watching a prime-time special with my little brother and cousin. Honestly it doesn't feel possible that it's been that long ago. Congratulations Sesame Street, thank you for the memories.

I was jut 9 years when I started watching Sesame Street, now I am 42 but I have never stopped talking about the richness in the programme and the great effect it had on me. Coming from and living in Nigeria presently does not afford me the opportunity to visit ss on her anniversary but surely I feel so proud that such a great educational programme has endured for 4 decades and still counting. I wish I could get hold of all the past episodes for my children who are 7, 5 and 1+ years now. Congratulations ss and keep up the good work.

I still tear up when I see Mr. Hooper's store. His death was difficult and I learned much about grief from Big Bird. I was shown that it was okay to cry and okay to be sad and okay to talk about it. It was a gift that I have carried close to my heart my entire life. I'm almost 42 and Sesame Street has always been a huge part of my "family." I have deeply enjoyed watching the "oldies" lately on the web and the simplicity of the Muppets just amazes me. They were pure magic when I was a child and I am grateful to see that same reflection of magic in my 6 year olds eyes when we watch together.

I watched Sesame Street since it started and both of my boys grew up watching it also. We lived in the outback of Australia for 3 years and had only 2 tv channels and one of those was a PBS station so Sesame Street was a great learning tool for my sons.  Now my grandkids are watching it  Thank You Sesame Street for 40 great years of fun and learning

I am 41 years old, so Sesame Street was always part of my life. As many have said, one of the few shows that we were encouraged to watch. My favorite has always been Grover, so hopeful and a little naive. My oldest son, now 19, loved "Momo" - that cute little red dude and my 6 year old was always surprised when I could sing along with his favorite songs. We all learned so much...Thank you Sesame Street...Happy 40th Anniversary and many, many more.

Sesame Street and I are the same age...there is a simple statement in my family that until I started school, my two best friends were my older brother and Kermit the Frog. I have such clear and distinct memories of so many Sesame Street milestones - Mr. Hooper's passing, Luis and Maria's wedding. In college my roommate and I would watch Sesame Street on the weekends before studying for finals. It was a wonderful way to "get back to basics", and helped us focus.

Now that I have children of my own, Sesame Street is once again a fundamental and daily staple in the house. And I wouldn't have it any other way. Happy 40th Sesame Street!!

I LOVE Sesame Street!! I was 2 yrs old when the show first aired...I have grown up watch this show and remeber that i couldnt wait until the next show came on...Snuffy was my favorite character, but i also loved the count as well...he is the one that helped me when i was 2 and 3 to count but i would count like he did, they are some great memories...Now my daughter who is 11 has also grown up watching SS..I rememer so many years and so many mornings we would sit there and watch it together singing along.... Together we have both learned alot form Sesame Street and hope it continues in the yrs to come...

Thanks Sesmae Street for all the great years you have provided to us and we hope for many more!!!

In my youth I was a professional model. I modeled mostly for photographers (typical beefcake of the time), but occasionally modeled for artists. My earliest memory of Jim Henson was as a model. He needed a model, and I was reccomended to him. During the modeling session we talked. He expressed at the time that he was entertaining a contract for a TV show and was not sure if he should put everything into it, or keep the job he supported himself with. I told him he should follow his heart, and the money would follow. He did just that; and fulfilled my prophecy.

My second encounter with Jim Henson was many years later; at the premier opening of "The Dark Chrystal", held at the Exploritorium in San Fransisco. I took a dear friend to the event as his birthday gift, along with the book "The Making of the Dark Chrystal".

Jim Henson was, in life, every bit the teddy bear he appeared to be on screen. A gifted talent we all miss dearly.

I remember sitting down on the floor to watch the very first Sesame Street Show with my daughter, who was one and a half years old, 40 years ago. It was amazing then, and it's continued to keep and build on it's high artistic and educational standards over the years. Our four kids grew and thrived on it - and I enjoyed watching it just as much as they did. Thanks for all you've given to families for the past 40 years! Happy, Happy Birthday!!