Sesame Street… 20 Years & Still Counting

Sesame Street… 20 Years & Still Counting is a special aired in 1989 on NBC. It was made to celebrate the 20th season of the popular children's show, "Sesame Street".

This special, unlike most "Sesame Street" specials, was not made by Children's Television Workshop but by Jim Henson Productions (though an "Executive Producer for CTW" credit was included in the end credits) and was meant to air as part of "The Jim Henson Hour" but ended up airing as a solo special the week before the premiere episode aired.

In the special, comedian Bill Cosby tells us about the history of the show while interacting with various Muppet characters. From telling us about the curriculum, the show's adult humor and even the co-productions (e.g. "Plaza Sesamo" and "Rechov Sumsum"). There are also more guest appearances. Opera singer Plácido Domingo sings with Placido Flamingo and Ray Charles sings "It's Not Easy Bein' Green". Meanwhile, Ernie and Bert are taping the street with their video camera so they can watch Sesame Street on television. Every now and then, we cut to Kermit the Frog in his Muppet News attire asking people (all of which are Grover) how to get to Sesame Street, occasionally running into people who were on the show when they were kids. The show ends with the characters all singing "Sing". The program was dedicated to the memory of Joe Raposo.

Credits

* Executive Producer: Jim Henson
* Executive Producer for CTW: Dulcy Singer
* Director: Peter Harris
* Producer: Diana Birkenfield
* Writers: Judy Freudberg and Tony Geiss
* Host: Bill Cosby
* Guests: Ray Charles and Plácido Domingo
* Muppet Performers: Caroll Spinney, Jim Henson, Frank Oz, Richard Hunt, Jerry Nelson, Pam Arciero, Fred Garbo, Fran Brill, Camille Bonora, Judy Sladky, Martin Robinson, Bryant Young, David Rudman, Kevin Clash
* Cast: Emilio Delgado, Sonia Manzano, Bob McGrath, Loretta Long, Roscoe Orman, Miles Orman, Linda Bove, Bill McCutcheon, Alison Bartlett, Northern Calloway
* Music: Joe Raposo