Sesame Workshop, the educational nonprofit behind the show, has taken steps to ensure the process Elmo goes through is a simple one. "But the good thing about changes is they bring up new things you haven't done before." "It's always difficult when you go through changes, " noted Elmo, holding forth on the steps of the fabled 123 Sesame Street brownstone with Abby Cadabby while talking to staffers from Yahoo. HBO declined to make executives available for comment, but during a reporter's visit to the "Sesame Street" set in Queens, New York, another expert on the matter weighted in – and poignantly. "Offering distinctive, high-quality kids programming will maintain viewership year-round," she suggested, and help stem subscriber churn.Īt 100, Henry Kissinger asks tough questions of America "This is important for HBO's competition with Netflix, because kids' programming hasn't been a major part of its brand," said Amanda Lotz, professor of communication studies at the University of Michigan. To lure subscribers, the company has unveiled a slew of deals with distinctive creators like Jon Stewart, Vice Media, Bill Simmons, and, yes, the people who bring life to Grover, Big Bird, and Mr. The Time Warner service is gearing up for a battle for consumer dollars with video-streaming services like Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon. That's because HBO is no longer just a cable network, and, as such, "Sesame Street" is no longer something just for kids. 16, the first time its new episodes will not be seen initially on PBS.Īs it does so, it will function not just as one of America's best-loved tools for teaching preschoolers their first words, but also as a pillar in HBO's strategy to win new subscribers during one of the most confused times in media-industry history. "Sesame Street," the revered program that has taught preschoolers about letters, numbers, and even how to handle the death of a loved one over the course of nearly half a century, debuts on the Time Warner pay-cable service on Jan. Now they must also answer to HBO – and many other forces beyond their control. “It’s passed from one person to another to another.”Ĭookie Monster, Elmo, and Abby Cadabby, three of the most popular residents of Sesame Street, have long talked to children. One antidote is becoming attuned to the divine nudges to express kindness. But his goal is to encourage his audience to tune out the algorithms of fear that fill our phones with gloomy headlines. Williams says that the term “God” makes some fear that he’s going to start proselytizing. During a podcast interview with playwright Father Edward Beck, they discuss how stories can “inspire and heal because they connect us with the loving vitality of soul in each of us, and make it conscious to us.” Mr. Williams equates the process of creation to prayer. Another example is Thomas Keown’s charity Many Hopes, which helps free children in Africa from injustices such as modern-day slavery. Mr. “And yes, there’s horrible things happening, but in the midst of this darkness, there’s always a little flicker of light.”He cites how the husband of an editor of his book flew with ex-servicemen to Poland, loaded a truck with medical equipment, and drove into Ukraine to teach civilians battlefield triage. His new podcast and a forthcoming book focus on glimpses of God in everyday life.“I’m talking about moments of grace, tenderness, unexpected compassion,” Mr. He’s launched a multimedia project titled “Glimpses,” a counterpoint to the darkness in the news. Williams felt a divine nudge to quit Hollywood. The ensuing sitcom was “Home Improvement.”More recently, Mr. it will be a top 10 show.” The comic was Tim Allen. An inner voice told him, “Do this show with this man. During Matt Williams’ career in television, he often heeded “a divine nudge.” The writer, who got his start at “The Cosby Show” and later co-created “Roseanne,” recalls lunching with a Canadian comedian.
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