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Sesame Street's 50th Anniversary Celebration
By Polly Conway,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Cute musical special is nostalgic fun for fans of all ages.

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Sesame Street's 50th Anniversary Celebration
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Based on 1 parent review
good night.
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What's the Story?
Sesame Street's 50th Anniversary Celebration is a special hosted by actor Joseph Gordon-Levitt. Known to Sesame Street inhabitants as "Mr. Joe," Gordon-Levitt is thrilled to finally visit the street he's spent so much time watching on TV. Together, they revisit classic songs like "The People In Your Neighborhood" and "It's Not Easy Being Green." The whole crew is there, from Maria and Luis from the original cast to newer additions like Elmo and Abby Cadabby (even Roosevelt Franklin and Guy Smiley make appearances). His biggest dream? To get a group photo next to the classic Sesame Street sign. The problem? It's disappeared!
Is It Any Good?
This lively special has lots of nods to the original viewers of Sesame Street, who are all grown up, but it's a fun adventure for the new generation, too. Kid viewers (though they may not know or care who Norah Jones or Nile Rodgers are) will love watching the gang's mishaps as they try to find the iconic sign. And grown-ups will enjoy the jokes, including one where Cookie Monster is teaching Sterling K. Brown his cookie-eating technique. After the crumbs fly, Brown regretfully says "I don't think I got any in my mouth." "That happens," says Cookie. A duet between Elvis Costello and Kermit the Frog may bring tears to fans' eyes, and there's an ultra-cool remix of the classic "Loaf of Bread" sketch. This isn't a clip show only featuring classic sketches and animations, but an all-new visit to the 50-year-old Street.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the longevity of Sesame Street. What do you think has kept it popular for so many years?
Which puppet is your favorite? Why do you like them the best?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming: November 17, 2018
- Cast: Joseph Gordon-Levitt , Sonia Manzano
- Director: Jack Jameson
- Inclusion Information: Female actors
- Studio: Sesame Workshop
- Genre: Documentary
- Run time: 49 minutes
- MPAA rating: NR
- Last updated: August 29, 2022
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