B is for Birthday: Sesame Street Turns 40, Airs Prime-Time Special for Families Tonight

Sesame Street turns 40 this year. By now, several generations have grown up with familiar characters Bert and Ernie, Oscar, Grover and Big Bird.

Since 1969, rock stars and celebrities have clamored to be a part of a show that manages to be funny, creative and family-friendly. There have been plenty of adult spoofs of it, but kids are still glued to the TV, and it has always had the distinction of being one of the least annoying things kids were watching (no repetitive songs from purple reptiles here). Even when creator Jim Henson died in 1990, nothing could stop the phenomenon that was Sesame Street.

The iconic show celebrates its birthday this year with two commemorative hardcover books for adults, one pop-up book for children, special anniversary DVDs, and a tribute on this year's Daytime Emmy Awards. Barack Obama even made a video for the occasion entitled "Brought to You By the Number 40."

Forty years later, Sesame Street continues to be topical and relevant. Its creators co-produced a one-hour primetime special that will air on PBS tonight (Wednesday, Sept. 9) entitled "Families Stand Together," featuring Al Roker and wife Deborah Roberts. The special will be a reassuring but informative look at the economic recession and how families across the country are coping with the crisis. And so, even today, Sesame Street continues to help kids deal with important grown-up issues.

Related links:

News: Reading Rainbow's Final Episode Airs Today

List of the Day: 40 Best TV Theme Songs of All Time

News: Feist Teaches Kids to Count to Four on Sesame Street

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